The Foreign Policy Implications of the U.S. Midterm Elections

Screen Shot 2014-11-05 at 11.27.50 AMThe foreign policy implications of the U.S. midterms could be profound. How might Republican control of the U.S. Senate affect the sensitive nuclear negotiations with Iran? How would it impact President Obama’s Foreign Affairs budget requests. And what do the election results say about foreign policy debates within the Republican party? Here with me to discuss these questions and more is Boston Globe columnist Michael Cohen of The Century Foundation. Enjoy (or not, depending on your political preference!)

 

Episode 14: Douglas Ollivant on Iraq’s Violent Death Spiral

Iraq is in the midst of an unrelenting descent into violence. Every day brings news of another bombing or attack that leaves scores of people dead. This has been the case for the past several months, and it only seems to be getting worse.

I speak with Douglas Ollivant of the New American Foundation who helps put this current wave of violence in context. Ollivant served as a military officer in Iraq, then served on the Iraq team at the National Security Council under both President Bush and Obama. Ollivant offers an indepth analysis of what is driving this violence, what can be done to stop it and the regional implications (read: Syria) of it all. Have a listen.