JOBS POLICIES, ANALYSIS, AND RESOURCES
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A Broken Student Loan System: Betrayal of the American Dream
Seth Frotman, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s Assistant Director and Student Loan Ombudsman, has resigned after sweeping changes were made in recent months by the Bureau’s new leadership headed by CFPB Director, Mick Mulvaney. Frotman addressed his resignation letter to Mulvaney, who was appointed by President Trump over deputy director Leandra English, stating that the Bureau abandoned the very consumers it was responsible for protecting by: (1) Undercutting enforcement of the law, (2) Undermining the Bureau’s independence, and (3) Shielding bad actors from scrutiny.
President Disregards America’s Tradition of Offering Asylum
Brief #50---Immigration Policy Summary In accordance with the travel ban covered in Brief 46, Trump claims he wants to “ensure that we are not admitting into our country the very threats our soldiers are fighting overseas.” Trump finds it absurd that the US offers...
Judge Demands Stalled Deportations and a Plan Amidst Chaotic Reunification Process
On August 16, Federal Judge Sabraw of San Diego extended a freeze on deportations of recently reunited families. Prior to the court ordered reunification of families who were separated at the US-Mexico Border in accordance with Trump’s Zero Tolerance Policy, Judge Sabraw banned the deportation of parents who had children taken from them at the border and were being held in US Custody.
Who Should Decide Industry Standards For Privacy Recognition Software To Prevent Misuse and Abuse?
In July 2018, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) published a blog post about the results of an experiment they conducted using Amazon.com’s facial recognition software known as “Rekognition.”
Income Inequality under Donald Trump Indicates Superficiality of Current Economic Growth
Throughout his time in office, Donald Trump has never shied away from touting the economic growth that the country has seen during his presidency. He’s boasted about job growth and the healthy stock market and G.D.P. It doesn’t stop there, though Trump has continuously touted the benefits of the global trade war brought on by his administration’s tariffs, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Check Your State: Register to Vote and Confirm or Change Registration
Learn if you’re eligible to vote, how to register, check, or update your information at USA.gov
California Wildfires Contend With Environmental Politics
Northern California is on fire. Throughout the summer, over 500,000 acres of Northern California has been up in flames, and has so far amounted in at least eight fatalities. One of the three massive fires has since been contained, but two are still burning, and the smoke generated is looming even as far as Oregon and Ohio. Many homes, schools and other structures are also reported to have been destroyed and it is unclear when the fires will die down.
Facebook’s Business Model Does Not Encourage Protecting Personal Data
Brief #55---Civil Rights Policy Summary: On April 21, 2010, Facebook launched Version 1.0 of the Graph API on its platform. This version remained in use on Facebook until it was closed on April 30, 2015. The Facebook Graph API worked at the application developer level...
President Trump Resorts To Bullying Tactics When Confronted With Racial Issues
On August 3, 2018, President Donald Trump remarked on his Twitter account that “Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made LeBron look smart which isn’t easy to do. I like Mike!” Don Lemon, a CNN broadcaster, and LeBron James, an NBA athlete, are both African – American.
The Cassidy-Graham Healthcare Bill
Pending Legislation
Vote scheduled for before the end of September 2017
Policy Summary
As Republican’s time to pass a healthcare bill under reconciliation runs out, Senators are rushing to gain support for one last repeal and replace bill. Reconciliation, the process that allows a bill to pass the House and Senate with only a majority, expires at the end of the September. Republicans, led by Sen. Bill Cassidy from Louisiana and Sen. Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, are working to win over a Senate majority before the impending deadline. According to Sen. Cassidy, they have 48 or 49 Republican votes right now, but they still need a couple more to pass the bill. As we have seen in the past, those last couple votes are the hardest to win over. Keep an eye out for the usual suspects in this coming week, such as Sen. John McCain, who thinks the bill needs more bipartisan support, and Sen. Rand Paul, who thinks the bill does not go far enough to repeal Obamacare. LEARN MORE
Analysis
The Cassidy-Graham bill would substantially cut federal funding for health coverage. The bill would replace the ACA Medicaid expansion program with inadequate block grants in 2020. Medicaid spending would survive through these block grant for the next decade and then would expire completely, cutting federal health care funding by $299 billion in 2027 alone. The bill would also cap and cut Medicaid per-beneficiary funding starting in 2020, which means that the federal government would cap Medicaid funding on a per-beneficiary basis, regardless of the state’s actual costs. Right now, the federal government pays a fixed percentage of each state’s Medicaid costs. A CBO report is in the works and will likely come out soon to provide more details about the effects of this new bill. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Sen. Bernie Sanders recently proposed a single-payer bill that would provide Medicare for all Americans regardless of their income.
- As always, contact your state’s elected officials and voice your concerns or support.
This brief was compiled by Ann Furbush. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact Ann@usresistnews.org.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Request To Destroy Detention Records
Proposed Federal Agency Action
Proposed on September 12, 2017
Policy Summary
On July 14, 2017, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) published a little-seen notice in the Federal Register that showed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had requested permission to destroy controversial detention records. The records that were targeted for destruction were of ICE detainee records and their incidents of sexual abuse, sexual assault, and deaths while in agency custody, among others. The request, as of September 15, 2017, has not yet been approved by NARA. LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE
Analysis
Victoria Lopez, senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Prison Project, said the proposed move does not give “sufficient opportunity for public scrutiny of [ICE’s] operations.” She went on to say that the records are also important in researching long-term trends and in determining how the issue of immigrant detention shapes law and policy. ICE’s request is also troubling because the perception is that ICE is trying to hide its pattern of abuses. American society today is bitterly divided on the issue of immigration and President Trump has taken a very hard line on immigrants coming to the U.S. Hiding the facts of previous abuses of immigrants by ICE will only inflame the current national debate and deprive policymakers of facts that could lead to more transparency and well-informed solutions. LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – nonprofit group’s info page on ICE’s current request.
- Community Initiative for Visiting Immigrants in Confinement (CIVIC) – non – profit group that monitors human rights abuses of immigrants in detention and that advocates for system change.
- Detention Watch Network – non – profit group that advocates for the rights of immigrants.
This brief was compiled by Rod Maggay. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief, please contact rod@usresistnews.org.
Interior’s Review of National Monuments
Final Report on National Monuments Review
Issued August 25, 2017
Summary
About four months after Trump’s Executive Order calling for the review of 27 National Monuments, Ryan Zinke, the Secretary of the Interior, has submitted his final report. While Zinke has not recommended the elimination of any monuments, a few have been suggested for resizing, including Bears Ears National Monument, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Cascade-Siskiyou. The next step is for Congress to review and vote on the recommendations outlined in the report. Since the release of Zinke’s recommendations, no further action has taken place, and there is not a date set for voting at this time.
Analysis
Obama’s establishment of Bears Ears National Monument in Southern Utah was the initial flashpoint for this review. Bears Ears was established in the last days of Obama’s presidency to protect the cultural sites of Native peoples in the region, and Utah legislators approached President Trump the day after his inauguration about eliminating the monument. It comes at no surprise that Bears Ears is on the list for resizing. While Trump says that he is returning the lands to the people, he has encountered a resistant public. Over 2.8 million comments were formally filed with the Department of the Interior, and over 99 percent were in favor of preserving the National Monuments. It seems that Zinke is aware of the public backlash to the President’s order and his recommendations. He did not originally release his final report to the public, and what was available initially contained no specifics. Legal organizations, tribal leaders, attorney generals of various states and conservation organizations have vowed to oppose these measures.
Engagement Resources
Although the window for comments has closed, there are still options for action before the proposed downsizing reaches Congress for decision.
- Write your senators or Secretary Zinke in defense of national monuments.
- Inter-Tribal Coalition – A group of five Native tribes dedicated to the conservation of Bears Ears cultural and environmental landscape.
- The Wilderness Society – One of the leading conservation organizations working to protect our wild lands and inspire other Americans to care for these places.
- Earth Justice – A legal organization with the goals of protecting the wild, healthy communities, clean energy, and a healthy climate.
- National Park Conservation Association – A non-profit protecting the national park system.
This brief was compiled by Megan Toney. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact megan@usresistnews.org.
Infrastructure Executive Order
Executive Order
Issued in August 2017
Policy Summary
Trump promised his voters that he would roll out a trillion-dollar infrastructure project to fix the country’s aging highways. He mentioned this plan when he addressed a joint session of Congress claiming that “Crumbling infrastructure will be replaced with new roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, and railways gleaming across our beautiful land. The time has come for a new program of national rebuilding.” Since he has been unsuccessful in getting infrastructure legislation passed or even started, Trump tried to address infrastructure through an Executive Order. The Executive Order lessens Federal Government requirements for environmental impact assessment and permitting on Federal projects. It rolls back Obama-era rules that attempted to reduce exposure to flooding, sea level rise, and other consequences of climate change. LEARN MORE
Analysis
This executive order covers almost all government infrastructure projects in every sector. Traditionally, infrastructure projects require environmental impact assessments and permitting. As a result of this executive order, Trump will lessen the rigor of these environmental impact statements and shorter the permitting process. Maintaining environmental assessments is crucial (especially after Hurricane Harvey and Irma) to protect our environment and mitigate the impact of climate change. Moreover, the relaxing of environmental impact requirements is not going to result in better infrastructure. In the era in which we live, new roads, bridges, and other types of infrastructure investments that take environmental issues into account are likely to be sustainable and beneficial to the communities they serve. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Laborers’ International Union of North America – The Build America union – half a million strong fighting for better wages and benefits, safer job sites and greater opportunity for construction workers.
- Town Hall Project– This project compiles the open-to-the-public events held by state and local representatives. This provides a great opportunity to tell them that this executive order will do more bad than good. You can also dial 1-844-6-RESIST to be redirected to the office of your local member of Congress.
- US Senate – Contact your local representatives to take a stance against this proposed legislation.
- US House of Representatives – Contact your local representatives to take a stance against this proposed legislation.
This brief was compiled by Vaibhav Kumar. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact vaibhav@usresistnews.org.
New Leads in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Investigation
After a lull in coverage roughly coinciding with Congress’ summer recess, the past two weeks have brought a flurry of reporting and speculation about various aspects of the federal and congressional Russia investigations. Special counsel Robert Mueller is again in the spotlight as his investigation progresses and new leads are being reported.
DoJ and Special Counsel
Much has been made of the recent activities of Mueller and his team. It is always worth noting that in the current media climate, small–and sometimes unverified–details tend to be overanalyzed, and overly enthusiastic reports may lead us to fallacious conclusions; this is particularly important to remember when looking at highly classified investigations and activities, since aside from leaks the DoJ will never volunteer information or verification on aspects of ongoing investigations subject to media attention. That said, there have been many recent reports on important details of the special counsel investigation, which are valuable to go through, albeit critically.
One of the most central characters in Mueller’s investigation has been former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. After last month’s reports about Mueller’s FBI raid on Manafort’s home, recent coverage indicates that Manafort is still very much in Mueller’s sights: Politico recently published a story outlining Mueller’s expanded angle of inquiry into Manafort and his finances. After seizing documents from Manafort’s home, Mueller began working with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to investigate Manafort’s financial transactions and connections. Mueller and Schneiderman’s teams are reportedly sharing evidence and information regarding those finances; although he has not been charged or formally accused of anything, Manafort is being investigated for money laundering in addition to his central role in the Trump campaign and connections to Russia. Schneiderman’s involvement in Mueller’s investigation is significant because as NY AG, he works on behalf of the state, and a president does not have the power to pardon state crimes–this means Mueller could potentially use the threat of a Schneiderman financial indictment to encourage Manafort to cooperate–perhaps even with information on former colleagues–in the Trump-Russia probe.
Another important update on Mueller’s investigation is his reported desire to interview at least 6 White House aides in connection with various discussions they attended which are relevant to the special counsel probe. The Washington Post reported that Mueller informed the White House of his intention to speak with the following people in the near future:
- Reince Priebus – former White House chief of staff
- Sean Spicer – former press secretary
- Hope Hicks – close adviser, current White House communications director
- Don McGahn – White House counsel
- James Burnham – deputy to McGahn
- Josh Raffle – White House spokesman, Kushner aide
The incidents and conversations about which Mueller seeks information include Donald Trump Jr’s initial statement about his meeting with a Russian lawyer for information on Hillary Clinton, the President’s decision to fire FBI Director James Comey, and early warnings about former national security adviser Michael Flynn from the DoJ. McGahn and Burnham were briefed by former deputy AG Sally Yates after the inauguration about the DoJ and FBI’s concern that Flynn was withholding information about his connections to Russia, and could potentially be compromised by Russian intelligence. The White House took a long time to act on these warnings; by the time Flynn resigned, information had already been made public about his misleading Vice President Mike Pence and failing to disclose important information regarding his security clearances and connections to Russian interests. Sean Spicer was implicated in the Flynn matter after responding to questions about Flynn’s communications with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Reince Priebus was present for some of the interactions between Trump and Comey before Comey’s dismissal, and Hicks and Raffle were present for the crafting of Donald Jr’s first statement about his Trump Tower meeting. That statement was apparently dictated by President Trump, and claimed that the meeting was about Russian adoptions. The meeting and initial White House response has become an important part of Mueller’s investigation, because of the possibility that the President knew what the meeting was actually about–obtaining damaging information on the Clinton campaign–and intentionally sought to mislead the public by personally crafting his son’s response, which Trump Jr later amended.
Mueller’s interviews with these staffers have not yet been scheduled, and the special counsel team is reportedly still looking over relevant documents provided by the White House and potentially awaiting more. The special counsel is also expected to seek interviews with more people close to the President in the near future, including son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner, who has already been interviewed by the Senate and House Intelligence Committees.
Another special counsel update is Facebook’s recent revelation that an internal investigation found evidence of a widespread Russian-led campaign to disseminate politically divisive ads before and during the 2016 campaign. Facebook shared with Mueller information it found indicating that Russian interests likely spent about $100,000 on advertisements ostensibly intended to influence the US political climate and possibly the outcome of the election. The ads weren’t necessarily aimed at either candidate, but instead targeted highly controversial political and social issues. Facebook stated that over a period of about 2 years before and during the election around 3,000 separate ads were purchased by Russian operatives, and they also found a large number of fake accounts and pages connected to those ads. This evidence supports earlier US intelligence reports outlining the important role that the spread of false information on social media sites played in swaying public opinion and shifting the political climate prior to the election. Facebook has since taken steps to stop the spread of fake news, spam, and click bait. The information they gave Mueller reportedly includes details about the individuals who bought the ads in question.
Finally, in other DoJ news, new FBI director Christopher Wray recently gave a statement of confidence in Mueller’s investigation and its independent progression, as well as in the conclusions reached by the rest of the intelligence community regarding Russian interference in the election, which the President has repeatedly refuted.
House Intelligence Committee
At the end of August, the House Intelligence Committee issued identical subpoenas to the FBI and DoJ requesting documents related to the infamous–and so far unverified–dossier about Trump and his alleged deep connections to the Russian government. The subpoenas apparently came from Committee chairman Devin Nunes, who recused himself from the Russia investigation but appears to remain heavily involved in certain lines of inquiry. The subpoenas had a deadline for the 1st of September but received no response from either agency; after extending their deadline by 2 weeks, last Tuesday the Committee subpoenaed FBI director Wray and AG Jeff Sessions to testify about their refusal to comply with the initial document subpoenas. Nunes also unilaterally threatened to compel Wray and Sessions to testify, and even to hold them in contempt of Congress if they do not comply with the Committee’s request. House Intelligence Committee ranking member Adam Schiff later told MSNBC that the decision to subpoena the DoJ officials was not a collective one, and came as a surprise to the Democrats because they had not yet even requested voluntary disclosures from either agency. Schiff and other Democrats have decried their Republican colleagues’ fixation on the controversial dossier as being a politically motivated attempt to discredit, rather than investigate, the dossier’s contents.
Senate Judiciary Committee
Last week the Senate Judiciary Committee privately interviewed Donald Trump Jr about his pre-election Trump Tower meeting. Senate Judiciary chairman Chuck Grassley had threatened to subpoena Trump Jr, which reportedly prompted his cooperation. In his opening statement, Trump Jr denied any campaign collusion and told senators that he attended the meeting mainly to gather information on Hillary Clinton’s ‘qualifications’ for president. The interview lasted 5 hours, and Trump Jr also reportedly denied his father’s involvement in the drafting of his initial statement about the meeting. He maintained the rest of his other earlier statements about the meeting, and since the interview took place behind closed doors not much else is known about his responses. Before the Committee’s interview chairman Grassley received a call from President Trump, who pledged his support for ethanol, a key campaign issue for Grassley’s constituents. The Senate Intelligence Committee is also expected to interview Trump Jr in the near future, after hearing from others who attended the July 2016 meeting.
This blog was written by Stella Jordan. If you have comments on this blog, contact stella@usresistnews.org.
Companies Contracted to Build Border Wall Prototypes
Selection of Companies for Prototype Contracts
Announced on August 31, 2017
Additional Contracts announced on September 7, 2017
Policy Summary
On Thursday, August 31, the Trump administration announced its selection of four construction companies contracted to build prototypes of the border wall. Construction of the prototypes will take place in San Diego, where they could remain as permanent fixtures functioning as barriers in the city or be removed and relocated elsewhere, according to Ronald Vitiello, deputy commission of US Customs and Border Protection. Each prototype will be 30 feet long and 30 feet high and made of concrete. Construction for the prototypes is expected to start in early-mid September and be completed within 30 days of breaking ground, followed by a 30-60 day review by the Department of Homeland Security. DHS will test the security of the prototypes using small hand tools.
On Thursday, September 7, DHS issued additional contracts to four companies to construct border wall prototypes out of materials “other than concrete.” Two of the four companies awarded contracts are also received contracts to construct concrete border wall prototypes. These prototypes are slated to be 18-30 feet high and will also be built in San Diego. DHS did not specify what kind of materials would be used construct this group of prototypes.
Analysis
The border wall symbolizes the central promise to Trump’s campaign, which was essentially to make America safe again by stopping all Mexicans and Muslims from entering the country, thereby making America great again. Thus, there is added pressure to see the construction of the wall through. While Congress has set aside $20 million in this year’s budget to build prototypes of the wall, no money has been approved for actual border wall construction, which could cost up to $21 billion according to an internal DHS assessment. The House approved of $1.6 billion in border wall funding in 2018, a mere fraction of what construction is projected to cost, but Senate Democrats will most likely block the approved funds later this month. Therefore, prototype construction does not guarantee wall construction.
Engagement Resources
- Take Action With Southern Border Communities Coalition: SBCC formed in 2011 and has brought over 60 organizations together ensure fair border enforcement, promote policy and solutions improving quality of life in border regions, and support humane immigration reform. You can get involved with SBCC by donating and/or signing up for their newsletter.
- Support Alliance San Diego: Alliance SD, a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization responsible for creating SBCC, organizes coalitions to promote justice and social change in San Diego. You can support Alliance SD through donating, volunteering, or attending an Alliance SD event.
- Get Involved With the American Civil Liberties Union: The ACLU is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.” They have been actively involved in court cases challenging the Trump Administration on Immigration.
This brief was compiled by Allie Blum. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact allie@usresistnews.org.
Trump Travel Ban Settled in Court
Legal Decision
Settled on August 31, 2017
Policy Summary
On Thursday, August 31, Darweesh v. Trump the legal challenge in response to Trump’s travel ban was settled in a courtroom in Brooklyn. The settlement agreement stipulates that the federal government must identify and send a letter to every person who was wrongfully barred from the country, enclosing a list of free legal services that can help these individuals secure visas and/ or other documents necessary for legal entry. Though approval is not guaranteed to those who apply for visas and other legal documents, the government assured that all applications would be processed “in good faith.”
Analysis
Because the number of people affected by the travel ban is an estimate, the number of people covered by the settlement is also an estimate. While one of the goals of the settlement is to find out exactly how many were affected by the travel ban and who those people are, it is possible that people who should receive letters with free legal resources will not receive them. Additionally, the settlement does not cover individuals who were never able to reach US airports after being barred from boarding airplanes headed to the country. Thus, the scope of the agreement does not appear to match the scope of travel ban itself, and individuals who should be able to legally enter the country are still wrongfully prevented from doing so.
Engagement Resources
- Take Action with the National Immigration Law Center: Since 1979, NILC has been exclusively dedicated to defending immigrants with low income. Through impact litigation, policy analysis and advocacy, and strategic communications, NILC advances the rights of those who came here in search of a better life. You can help NILC advance its mission by donating or attending one of their training or educational events.
- Support the International Refugee Assistance Project: IRAP, a project sponsored by the Urban Justice Center, mobilizes law students and lawyers to provide direct legal aid and advocate for public policy to protect refugees and immigrants affected by Trump’s travel ban. You can support IRAP and those affected by the travel ban by donating, signing up for action alerts, starting a local chapter, or applying for available volunteer opportunities.
- Get Involved With the American Civil Liberties Union: The ACLU is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.” They have been actively involved in court cases challenging the Trump Administration on Immigration.
This brief was compiled by Allie Blum. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact allie@usresistnews.org.
Trump Moves to End DACA
Presidential Announcement
Announced on September 5, 2017
Policy Summary
On September 5, 2017, President Trump ordered an end to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Attorney General Jeff Sessions made the announcement, stating that the program will start to be phased out within the next six months. Shortly thereafter, Trump called upon Congress to “Legalize DACA!” and draft new legislation to replace the policy as part of his plan to overhaul the current immigration system. DACA is a policy established by the Obama administration in 2012 that protects young undocumented immigrants from deportation by providing those who entered the country as minors with a two-year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit. It is estimated that approximately 800,000 young people, known as “Dreamers,” are enrolled in DACA.
Analysis
Shutting down DACA is a hugely cruel misstep that completely upends the lives of the estimated 800,000 Dreamers, making all of these young people eligible for deportation. Many DACA recipients came to the United States at such a young age that they know no other country to be home, only to be forced back to a land that is now foreign to them.
The economic impact of ending DACA would also be devastating: shutting down the program could cost the federal government an estimated $60 billion over the next 10 years, with an overall economic impact of $200 billion according to a CATO Institute study.
Now, it is up to Congress to pass the Dream Act in order to protect the Dreamers enrolled in DACA.
Engagement Resources
- Urge Your Representative to Support the Dream Act through ACLU Action: Send a message to your representative asking them to support the Dream Act by clicking here.
- Get Involved with Here to Stay: Here to Stay is a campaign run by United We Dream aimed at defending DACA. The organization hosts local Defend DACA rallies and other events, holds community calls, and provides resources for understanding DACA, as well as mental health resources for anyone who is affected by Trump’s decision to end DACA.
- Take Action with the National Immigration Law Center: Since 1979, NILC has been exclusively dedicated to defending immigrants with low income. Through impact litigation, policy analysis and advocacy, and strategic communications, NILC advances the rights of those who came here in search of a better life. You can help NILC advance its mission by donating or attending one of their training or educational events.
This brief was compiled by Allie Blum. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact allie@usresistnews.org.
Trump Speaks About Involvement in Afghanistan
National Address
Speech from August 21, 2017
Policy Summary
On Monday, August 21st, President Trump spoke at Fort Myer, Virginia about future U.S. engagement in Afghanistan. He committed to victory in the region, ultimately defeating the terrorist organizations which operate in the country –including ISIS, al Qaeda, and the Taliban. While President Trump did not enumerate specific policies –claiming that providing details aids the enemy– national security staffers said there would be an increase of around 4,000 troops. This would bring the troop total to around 15,000 in a country the United States has been engaged with for almost 16 years. ACCESS THE FULL SPEECH HERE
Analysis
President Trump missed the mark on almost every tenet of this speech. First, he looked unnatural as he read from a teleprompter, clearly hoping to look presidential in his address crafted by the national security team. President Trump contradicted his former instincts about Afghanistan, previously calling for an immediate withdrawal of troops. The speech criticized Pakistan and vaguely threatened India but made no mention of a huge player in the region: China. Beyond these relatively minor mistakes, the entire pith of the plan followed poor international logic. He failed to mention our victory conditions, something which consistently injures American prospects at peace, and the idea of a military win in the Middle East is archaic and misguided. The President’s insistence on leaving out the details leaves the United States with a lot of unanswered questions, and while this plan is better than the short-guided blunder of immediate withdrawal, President Trump once again closed the door on diplomacy for the political convenience of military strength.
Engagement Resources
- American Involvement in Afghanistan — Read an easy-to-digest photographic history of the United States and Afghanistan by Business Insider
- Interactive Map and Charts — Visualize Taliban control and death tolls with this New York Times piece.
This brief was compiled by Jacob Malinowski. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact jacob@usresistnews.org.
North Korea Fires ICBMs Near Japan
Weapons Test
Launched on August 29th, 2017
Crisis Summary
North Korea fired an intermediate range missile into the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, August 29th, 2017. Tensions have escalated sharply this year as North Korea has already launched 13 missiles. Earlier this month, in response to harsher United Nations sanctions, the North Korean regime successfully launched missiles with the capability of carrying nuclear weapons to Guam or the mainland United States. President Trump responded with a series of tweets and harsh words, calling for “fire and fury” in retaliation. Regarding the most recent test near Japan, the Trump administration released a statement saying that “all options are on the table”. LEARN MORE
Analysis
As many Americans have seen throughout the standoff with North Korea, this administration is ill-equipped and diplomatically-incapable of handling a delicate situation. President Trump continues to make incendiary comments and remarks in an attempt to demonstrate strength. Instead, the President confuses our allies and scares the American people. Beyond the rhetoric, the Trump administration lacks appropriate strategy relevant to the crisis. The State Department is understaffed, President Trump understands little about nuclear weapons, and the administration refuses to consider peaceful methods of negotiations. Opportunities to negotiate are disappearing and North Korea may already be nuclear-capable. While the world desperately needs calm, collected, and thoughtful American leadership, President Trump delivers uncertainty, ignorance, and dangerous ideas.
Engagement Resources
- Appropriate North Korea Policy — A long piece by Tom Malinowski for Politico about a peaceful and reasonable response to North Korea
- Chinese Complications — Adam Mount writes on the biggest player in the region and how the United States can work with –or against– China.
This brief was compiled by Jacob Malinowski. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact jacob@usresistnews.org.