Department of State
270 Articles
Grading the Pompeo Certification on Yemen War and Civilian Protection: Time for Serious Reconsideration
Former State Department official (stepped down in May 2017) and top expert on civilian casualties and targeting operations analyzes the State Department's certification to Congress,…
Why Trump’s Aid Cuts to Syria, Gaza and West Bank Heighten Risk to U.S.
The Trump administration recently announced, in a cascade of shortsighted decisions, that it will cut at least $700 million in aid to Syria and to the West Bank and Gaza, some…
New Russia Sanctions, Putin’s Economy, and the Shadow Over Planned U.S.-Russia Business Group
How US-Russia business ties hold up, even though a proposed Putin working group may not.
Human Trafficking’s Vicious Link to Anti-Immigration Action
It is logically irreconcilable to claim a position opposing the brutality of modern-day slavery while simultaneously pursuing an anti-immigration policy that perpetuates it.
Letter to the Editor: Why Larger Defense Budgets Don’t Need to Come at the Expense of “Soft Power”
In his recent post (“The National Security Threat of Trump’s Defense Budget”) Bishop Garrison argues that the Trump administration’s proposed increases to the defense budget…
The National Security Threat of Trump’s Defense Budget
As a former military officer and national security appointee under President Barack Obama, I know firsthand the value of U.S. defense spending for securing the United States and…
Maybe Dismantling the GTMO Closure Office Wasn’t Such a Good Idea
As recent events reinforce, dismantling the Office of the Special Envoy for Guantanamo Closure at the Department of State was not such a good idea. Although obscured by the political…
Trump’s Torture Appointees
While Trump’s executive picks have generated considerable publicity due to their support for or history with Bush-era torture and detention policies, his administration’s choices…
The Personnel Crisis Awaiting the Next Secretary of State
Although the personnel change was rumored for months, it was still stunning when President Donald Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday morning via Twitter, and…
One Year Later — New Remarks by Senior State Dep’t Official Discharged by Trump
[Introduction by Ryan Goodman, co-editor-in-chief: One year ago, Thomas Countryman delivered Farewell Remarks to his colleagues at the State Department. Days before, he and five…
State Dept. Shakeup: The Trump Administration Must Do More to Keep U.S. Diplomats Safe
It’s a tough time to be an American diplomat. The State Department is reeling as Secretary Tillerson presides over a management trainwreck that hardly seems fitting for a man…
Giving Thanks While Safeguarding Our Country’s Most Important National Security Assets
What are our country’s most important national security assets? While new weapons and hardware (drones, the latest fighter jet or technological wonder) receive a significant…