Rep. Eliot L. Engel, the senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement following today’s event on the challenges posed by a nuclear North Korea hosted by the National Committee on North Korea and the National Security Network. ” I would like to acknowledge John Bradshaw of the National Security Network (NSN), and Karin Lee of the National Committee on North Korea (NCNK), for their work on the joint report that seeks to tackle the difficult issues in dealing with North Korea. I also want to thank Ambassador Chris Hill, our former lead negotiator to the Six-Party Talks, who knows first-hand the challenge of negotiating with the North Koreans. To read comments in their entirety, please click here. Read More ›

Experts Call for Steps to Jump-Start North Korea Nuclear Engagement February 26, 2014   Rachel Oswald | Global Security Newswire   A new expert report recommends changing U.S. policy on North Korea denuclearization to focus more on interim steps and crisis-stability measures. A paper by the National Security Network and the National Committee on North Korea argues a change of approach is needed as the current policy of refusing to engage until Pyongyang first takes serious disarmament steps “risks de facto recognition of North Korea as a nuclear power.” …   For the original piece, click here. The article was also posted by the National Journal here, and by World News here. Read More ›

Major General Paul Eaton (Ret.) Interviewed By Ari Rabin-Havt on The Agenda on SiriusXM Progress  to discuss proposed cuts to the military budget. February 26, 2014 |  The Agenda: SiriusXM Progress   Major General Paul D. Eaton, who served more than 30 years in the United States Army in combat and post-combat assignments in Iraq, Bosnia and Somalia, joined Ari Rabin-Havt on The Agenda on SiriusXM Progress early Wednesday morning to discuss proposed cuts to the military budget. But his most interesting statements were in response to Dick Cheney’s divisive comments on Fox News reiterating the “Food Stamp President” cries of the far right. “It’s unfortunate that he has not followed the …model of his former boss, President Bush, and gone off quietly to write his… Read More ›

U.S. Policy towards North Korea Strategic Shaping and Interim Steps to Denuclearization For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the National Security Network and the National Committee on North Korea released the paper, “U.S. Policy towards North Korea: Strategic Shaping and Interim Steps to Denuclearization.” The paper’s release coincided with an event on Capitol Hill featuring Ambassador Christopher Hill, NSN Executive Director John Bradshaw, and NCNK Executive Director Karin Lee. Below is an executive summary of the paper. The paper can be read in its entirety by clicking here.  To read the full report, click here.  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: North Korea’s WMD program advances pose an increasing threat to the U.S. while its brinksmanship tactics create instability and the risk of conflict arising from miscalculation. The administration’s emphasis… Read More ›

Major General Criticizes Dick Cheney For Attacking Obama On Foreign Policy February 26, 2014 Paige Lavender | Huffington Post   Major General Paul D. Eaton criticized former Vice President Dick Cheney for hitting President Barack Obama on foreign policy. On Monday, Cheney criticized a proposal that called for shrinking the Army to its smallest size in 74 years, saying it would do “long-term damage to our military.” …   “Vice President Cheney is one of the architects of the worst foreign policy disaster of the 21st century,” Eaton said. “We’re young, but the decision to attack Iraq, and to do so in such an incompetent manner, does not give him a platform to say anything about the foreign policy under execution today.” “Vice President Cheney… Read More ›

Heather Hurlburt and Daniel Drezner Discuss Ukraine, Pentagon Budget & Academics February 26, 2014 | Blogging Heads   For the original piece, click here. Read More ›

Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman [U.S. Mission Geneva / Eric Bridiers, 10/16/13]Last week P5+1 negotiators met with their Iranian counterparts in Vienna for the latest round of nuclear negotiations, the first since the implementation of the Joint Plan of Action agreed to in November. While both observers and participants in the negotiations remain realistic about the potential for a deal, many have also noted that reaching a quick agreement in Vienna on a framework for the coming months of talks represents important progress. These negotiations will be difficult under the best of circumstances, making it vital for Congress to remain helpful and avoid making this important nuclear security initiative a partisan issue, and pushing for additional sanctions while negotiations proceed. Naysayers and… Read More ›

U.S. needs to do more in approach to North Korea talks: report   February 26, 2014 David Brunnstrom | Reuters   (Reuters) – U.S. foreign policy and North Korea experts said in a report released on Wednesday that the United States should engage more with North Korea as a way to revive talks aimed at ending Pyongyang’s nuclear-weapons program. The joint report from two think tanks, National Security Network and the National Committee on North Korea, said Washington needs to shift from an “all or nothing” approach requiring Pyongyang to meet conditions for the resumption of nuclear talks with major powers that were suspended in 2009. … John Bradshaw, executive director of the National Security Network, said the report would be circulated on Capitol Hill… Read More ›