POMED Notes: HFAC Hearing on Middle East Transitions
April 18th, 2011 by Ali
On Wednesday, the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia held the first in a proposed series of hearings entitled, “Shifting Sands: Political Transitions in the Middle East.” Testimony was given by a panel featuring, Elliott Cohen, Ph.D, Professor of Strategic Studies at The Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, J. Scott Carpenter, Keston Family Fellow at Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Michael Makovsky, Ph.D, Foreign Policy Director at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Statements and questions were issues by Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH), Ranking Member Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Brian Higgins (D-NY), and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA). Other committee members in attendance were Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Gerald Connolly (D-VA), and Theodore Deutch (D-FL).
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Posted in Civil Society, Committee Meetings, Congress, Congressional Hearing Notes (House), Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Islam and Democracy, Multilateralism, Neocons, Protests, US foreign policy, US politics | Comment »
POMED Notes: CSID Conference on Egypt and Tunisia
April 18th, 2011 by Ali
On Friday, the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID) held their 12th Annual Conference under the theme “Tunisia’s and Egypt’s Revolutions and Transitions to Democracy.” CSID President Radwan Masmoudi opened the conference by giving special attention to discerning real and fake stability and development in Egypt and Tunisia.
The first panel, chaired by George Washington University Visiting Scholar and Program Committee Chair for the event, Radwan Ziadeh, was entitled “The Jasmine Revolution’ and Transition to Democracy in Tunisia: Why and How?” Jaloul Ayed, the Tunisian Minister of Finance, opened the panel following a brief introduction by Tunisian Ambassador Mohamed Saleh Tekaya.
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Posted in Civil Society, DC Event Notes, Diplomacy, Elections, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Judiciary, Multilateralism, Muslim Brotherhood, Political Islam, Political Parties, Protests, Public Opinion, Reform, Sectarianism, Secularism, US foreign policy, US politics, Youth | Comment »
Analysts Defend Soft Power in U.S. Foreign Policy
April 14th, 2011 by Ali
In two similar pieces, Marc Lynch and Joseph S. Nye, lament budget cuts to U.S. State and Foreign Operations, defending the efficacy of soft power. Nye defends the relevant instruments of soft power, the term he coined: “public diplomacy, broadcasting, exchange programs, development assistance, disaster relief, military-to-military contacts.” He argues for an overarching governmental structure to coordinate these similarly minded efforts. Lynch focuses on public diplomacy particularly. Lynch vindicates the Obama administration’s use of it in the Middle East and applauds the administration’s early focus on youth, entrepreneurs and technology. This, he argues, gave it important out-of-the-mainstream contacts in the region during the protests. However, he faults the lack of a macro public diplomacy policy for the administration’s failure to better convey its “finely calibrated” positions on Libya and Egypt.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Protests, Public Opinion, US foreign policy, US politics | Comment »
Clinton, Kerry Offer Middle East Policy Remarks at Brookings Conference
April 13th, 2011 by Ali
Tuesday marked the opening of the U.S.-Islamic World Conference hosted by the Brookings Institution, the Qatari Government and the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a speech that emphasized U.S. commitment to cooperating with Middle East countries to achieve shared interests in values. Clinton said the region-wide uprisings have exposed the myth that “Arabs do not share universal human aspirations for freedom, dignity, and opportunity.” The Secretary gave particular attention to women’s rights, which she viewed as important to democratic consolidation. She noted that the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation will provide up to $2 billion to encourage private sector investments to the Middle East and North Africa, and encouraged closer economic integration across the region. She also called upon President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen to resolve the political crisis in his country in a orderly and peaceful manner and condemned the violence of the Syrian government in its crackdown on protests.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) spoke in a panel discussion moderated by Newsweek editor and CNN host Fareed Zakaria. He said that worries over Libya are unjustified given Mummar Gadhafi’s military and economic position. He counseled patience over increased military action, recommending more focus on Egypt’s transition. The Senator also hinted at a renewed push by the Obama administration for the Middle East peace process. He argued that it was counterproductive of the administration to publicly pursue the settlement issue and that a new dialogue should focus on borders.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Human Rights, Israel, Libya, Military, Multilateralism, NATO, Palestine, Protests, Qatar, Reform, US foreign policy, US politics, Women's Rights | Comment »
POMED Notes: Senate SFO Hearing on USAID’s FY 2012 Budget
April 12th, 2011 by Ali
On Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs held an open hearing to discussFY2012 budget appropriations to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Committee —Chaired by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and with Senators Ronald Johnson (R-WI), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) in attendance – requested the testimony of Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator.
For full notes, continue below. For pdf version, click here.
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Posted in Civil Society, Congressional Hearing Notes (Senate), Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Legislation, US foreign policy, US politics | Comment »
POMED Notes: “Reform and Development in Egypt: U.S. Goals and Priorities”
April 7th, 2011 by Ali
On Thursday, the Middle East Institute (MEI) hosted Hady Amr, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Middle East Bureau at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Thomas Garrett, Vice President for Programs at the International Republican Institute (IRI), to discuss “Reform and Development in Egypt: U.S. Goals and Priorities.” The event was moderated by Kate Seelye, Vice President at MEI.
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Posted in DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Foreign Aid, Muslim Brotherhood, Political Islam, Political Parties, Protests, US foreign policy, US politics, Women's Rights | 1 Comment »
Republican 2012 Budget Cuts International Affairs Programs
April 7th, 2011 by Ali
The 2012 budget proposal presented by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) will cut the budget for diplomacy and foreign assistance by 29 percent in 2012 and 44 percent by 2016, while increasing the defense budget by 14 percent in the same period. House Appropriations State and Foreign Ops Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) supports cutting the international affairs budget, as does House Foreign Affairs Committee, chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) and House Appropriations State and Foreign Ops ranking Democrat Nita Lowey (D-NY) oppose the cuts.
One analyst called the proposal a reflection of Republican values. Namely putting hard power over soft, and decreasing America’s leadership role. Another analyst proposes that the US take after Great Britain cutting its foreign aid budget through a country-by-country reassessment.
Update: Leslie H. Gelb argues against US interventionism in face of “humanitarian” needs at home.
Posted in Civil Society, Congress, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Military, NGOs, US foreign policy, US politics | Comment »
Syria: Commentators Criticize U.S. Policy
April 5th, 2011 by Ali
American commentators have criticized the Obama administration’s “tepid” response to violence in Syria, as well as Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton referring to Assad as a “reformer.” In contrast, Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), ranking member of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, said “Assad is not a reformer. Anyone who thinks so is at best fooling themselves, and at worst, serving as a useful idiot to a murderous dictator and a proud sponsor of terrorism.”
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POMED Notes: “Budget Hearing – USAID”
March 30th, 2011 by Alec
On Wednesday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations held a budget hearing for the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Administrator of USAID, Dr. Rajiv Shah, testified before the subcommittee. The Congressional panel was moderated by subcommittee Chairwoman Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX). Ranking Member Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) and House Appropriations Chairman Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) were also in attendance along with Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), and Adam Schiff (D-CA).
For full notes, continue below. For pdf, click here.
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Posted in Congressional Hearing Notes (House), Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Event Notes, Freedom, Human Rights, Legislation, Libya, NGOs, Tunisia, US foreign policy, US politics | Comment »
Senators Pass Three Week Continuing Resolution
March 17th, 2011 by Naureen
On Thursday, Senators passed H.J.Res. 48, a three-week spending measure to fund the government through April 8th by a vote of 87-13. The vote, which passed in the House on Tuesday, includes $6 billion in cuts to domestic spending. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim DeMint (R-SC), John Ensign (R-NV), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), James Inhofe (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Jim Risch (R-ID), Rand Paul (R-KY), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Patty Murray(D-WA), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Carl Levin (D-MI), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) voted against the measure.
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Arguments Against Libya No-Fly Zone Invalid
March 14th, 2011 by Alec
Anne-Marie Slaughter, former Director of Policy Planning at the State Department, counters the five main arguments against the U.S. implementing a no-fly zone over Libya, in an op-ed piece for The New York Times. Slaughter states that a no-fly zone is in the U.S. national interest as it presents a real chance to “support a real new beginning in the Muslim world,” and that detractors against such a policy argue in terms of oil which increases a negative view of the U.S. as not truly concerned about human rights and democracy. Support for the no-fly zone also has the most vocal support amongst Arab countries making it hard for Muammar Gadhafi or anyone to spin such a policy as unwarranted Western intervention in Arab affairs. Despite worries about political uncertainty in a potential post-Gadhafi Libya, a Gadhafi victory would embolden regimes by showing that force can be used to counter protests. Lastly, she argues that the compromise offer of arming the rebels and providing intelligence would backfire: ” [...] we would be providing arms not to a disciplined military, but to ragged groups of brave volunteers who barely know how to use the weapons they have. [...] Moreover, by the time arms and intelligence could take effect, it is quite likely that Colonel Qaddafi will have retaken or at least besieged Benghazi.”
Posted in Libya, Military, US politics | Comment »
U.S. Military Intervention In Libya A Mistake
March 9th, 2011 by Alec
In an op-ed piece published in The Daily Beast, Leslie H. Gelb argues against the growing “hordes of humanitarians and neoconservatives,” who are pushing for American military intervention in Libya. He states that this would be tantamount to going to war with Libya, because in order to implement and enforce no-fly zones, the U.S. would first have to destroy Libyan air defenses on the ground. Even then, he argues, U.S. jets would not be able to spot Libyan helicopters at much lower altitudes and destroy them, effectively nullifying the supposed benefits of a no-fly zone. Gelb also states that the U.S. cannot be sure of exact nature of the rebellion given that most American policy makers know nothing about the rebel leaders. While he does not doubt that some are true freedom fighters and democracy advocates, he worries that, “Many of them could turn out to be thugs, thieves, and would-be new dictators.” Since the U.S. cannot guarantee the nature of the Libyan rebellion, “The United States would be crazy to hitch its star, in any military manner, to the new ‘freedom fighters.’” Better, he says, for the European, Arabs, and Africans to deal directly with the ongoing violence in Libya; and should any party decide to implement a no-fly zone or arm the rebels, the U.S. should neither support or thwart the effort. Gelb also notes that both Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, are both against any military intervention with both cautioning against “little steps” that will trap the U.S. in another war.
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Senator Kerry’s Statement At Senate Foreign Affairs Budget Hearing
March 2nd, 2011 by Alec
In his opening statement to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ national security and foreign affairs budget hearing, Committee Chair Senator John Kerry (D-MA), called the revolutions happening the Middle East, “one of the most important transformations in the history of the modern world.” Kerry went on to say that this is a time of great challenge to the U.S. and that “events this powerful demand a response of equal power.” Part of that response must be a package of longer term financial assistance to ensure that the, “new Arab awakening” is turned into a “lasting rebirth.” Kerry reiterated that the U.S. cannot send troops or tanks to refashion nations in America’s own image, but rather the focus must be on sending economists, elections experts, and humanitarian aid. He also said that the U.S. is being given the opportunity to forge new relationships in the region and repudiate al-Qaeda’s doctrine of change through violence and radicalization. Kerry asserted that international affairs funding is a comparatively small investment considering the positive returns the country receives compared to defense spending. The activities of the Foreign Service are vital to U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as international efforts in combating nuclear proliferation and climate change. Cutting these programs would do “almost nothing” to fix the deficit but will cost thousands of lives he argued: “This is not time for America to pull back from the world. This is time to step forward.“
Posted in Congress, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Reform, US foreign policy, US politics | Comment »
Sen. Mark Kirk Calls for a Middle East Stability Package
February 15th, 2011 by Kyle
As the debate continues this week in the House of Representatives on proposed budget cuts, including those to State and Foreign Operations, Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and other senators are “looking to add a generous foreign aid package for Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and other Middle Eastern countries.” In an interview at The Cable in Foreign Policy, Kirk stated, “A [continuing resolution] that had full year funding for the troops plus an Egypt, Israel, and Middle East stability package of full year funding would send the right signal from the United States.” Kirk states that senators on both sides of the aisle support the initiative which would “fully fund foreign aid accounts for a host of countries in the region at the level requested by the president and pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well.”
Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA) the ranking Democrat on the House of Foreign Affairs Committee also supports the proposed plan including increased aid for U.S.-based organizations that promote civil society in Egypt such as the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
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USGLC Applauds Obama’s Proposed International Affairs Budget FY 2012
February 15th, 2011 by Kyle
The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition recently commended the Obama administration’s proposed budget for International Affairs in FY 2012 as “a critical investment in America’s national security.” The USGLC goes on to state: “At a time of intense pressure to cut spending and in the context of an overall freeze on non-security funding, the President has presented an International Affairs budget that protects America’s security interests and maintains U.S. global leadership while also encouraging more efficient use of taxpayer dollars.”
The USGLC listed the direct effects of the proposed international affairs budget cuts currently being debated in the House of Representatives: Jeopardize critical national security investments in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq; reverse efforts of the Bush and Obama Administration to bolster civilian capacity and assume responsibilities that have been carried out by our military at a higher cost; diminish America’s ability to uphold its moral obligation by responding quickly and effectively to global disasters, such the Haiti earthquake last year; cripple the Feed the Future Initiative (a food security investment program); endanger lives (through reductions in global health spending); constrain U.S. leadership and limit the ability to leverage resources from other nations that address common global challenges.
For full USGLC report, click here.
Posted in Civil Society, Congress, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, US foreign policy, US politics | Comment »
US Officials Call for Calm in Egypt, Support for “Democratic Aspirations”
January 26th, 2011 by Kyle
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs urged all parties in Egypt to refrain from violence and called for the Egyptian Government to respond to protests peacefully: “We have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and free of corruption; and the freedom to live as you choose – these are human rights and we support them everywhere.” Phillip J. Crowley, US State Department spokesman, stated: “We want to see reform occur, in Egypt and elsewhere, to create greater political, social, and economic opportunity consistent with people’s aspirations.”
Although President Obama did not address Egypt directly in his State of the Union Address on Tuesday, he did support democratic freedoms generally: “We saw that same desire to be free in Tunisia, where the will of the people proved more powerful than the writ of a dictator. And tonight, let us be clear: the United States of America stands with the people of Tunisia, and supports the democratic aspirations of all people. We must never forget that the things we’ve struggled for, and fought for, live in the hearts of people everywhere.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Human Rights, Protests, Tunisia, US foreign policy, US politics | Comment »
Forecast of US Aid to the Middle East
January 14th, 2011 by Kyle
On January 10, former Congressmen Dan Glickman and Vin Weber addressed a special Policy Forum luncheon at The Washington Institute. The discussion focused on the future of US Foreign Policy in the Middle East in regards to the incoming Congress and potential new initiatives under the Obama Administration. Glickman suggested that, “If the President can recapture the agenda in a State of the Union message with a couple of big bold ideas, he can be the prime determiner on a lot of issues including foreign aid and foreign assistance.” Weber addressed fears of an isolationist Congress, “Illeana Ros-Lehtinen…has strong views but she is very definitely an internationalist and she is a passionate supporter for instance of democracy and democracy assistance around the world.”
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Addressing the Foreign Aid Budget Debate
January 10th, 2011 by Naureen
Rich Tafel, writing at the Huffington Post, called on Republicans and the Obama administration to join forces to sharpen USAID’s focus, and establish relationships between the agency and the private sector to make it more innovative and effective. In response to calls to dramatically cut foreign aid, Tafel argues: “Bring a butcher knife to US foreign aid? Not a good idea. Sharpen it? Yes, make it a double-edged sword to address America’s economic health and security.”
Appropriations Chairs Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Harold Rogers (R-KY) have recently called for cuts and increased scrutiny on the foreign aid budget. Speaking on the Hugh Hewitt Show, Rogers stated, “I’m no big foreign aid person [...] we will fund what we have to fund, but not a penny more.”
Posted in Foreign Aid, US politics | Comment »
Reactions to the QDDR
December 16th, 2010 by Jason
The release of the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) has so far been received with cautious optimism. Josh Rogin writes that several development NGOs have “praised” the QDDR, while also expressing skepticism: “Paul O’Brien, vice president of policy and advocacy campaigns for Oxfam America, noted that while the QDDR clearly puts ambassadors and chiefs of missions at the head of country teams as the so-call ‘CEOs’ of American diplomacy, it doesn’t tackle how the inevitable conflicts between short-term foreign policy objectives and longer-term development goals are resolved.”
Connie Veillette, writing at the Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance blog, says that there are “many things to like,” including a “focus on improving hiring, staffing, and filling the mid-level gap through more flexible mechanisms.” However, she does list several points of “unfinished business,” including “how will State and USAID grapple with managing more than two dozen government agencies engaged in some type of foreign assistance program?” Siddartha Mahanta sounds a pessimistic note: “the United States diplomatic corps might get a major boost in power and personnel. Realistically? They probably won’t.” He goes on to describe the political roadblocks facing the reforms, and how Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), who has advocated for cuts in the State Department budget and is set to become the chairperson of the House Foreign Services Committee, may prove to be uncooperative.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, NGOs, US foreign policy, US politics | Comment »
Senate Releases FY2011 Budget Text
December 14th, 2010 by Jason
The Senate Appropriations Committee has released the text of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 Omnibus Appropriations Act late Tuesday. Under the $1.1 trillion spending bill, $53.5 billion would be spent on State, foreign operations, and related programs, $3.1 billion less than requested. Should the language of the bill remain unchanged, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) would receive $128.5 million, $23.5 million more than requested and $10.5 million more than FY 2010 levels, while bilateral economic assistance would be funded at $22.97 billion, $1.6 billion below the requested amount and $1.12 billion above the FY 2010 level . Egypt, Israel, the West Bank/Gaza, and Jordan would be funded at the level requested, while Lebanon would be funded at the level requested, “subject to conditions.” The House and the Senate have until Saturday to either agree on an omnibus bill or pass a continuing resolution.
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