Press Calls

Getting the Facts on Benghazi Monday, October 19, 2015 3:00PM EST In anticipation of Secretary Clinton’s appearance before the House Benghazi Committee on October 22, the National Security Network is hosting a press call on Monday, October 19 at 3PM, with two former Obama Administration officials who are familiar with the events surrounding the 2012 Benghazi attack as well as the broader situation in Libya. The officials will provide background information and will answer questions on-the-record to assist reporters in understanding the timeline and consequences of the attack on the American Consulate in Benghazi. EXPERTS Matthew Olsen is a Former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, and currently is a lecturer at Harvard and a National Security Analyst for ABC News. Prior to joining NCTC,… Read More ›

Iran Showdown: Analysis of the Iran Framework Friday, April 3, 2015 11:30AM EST The National Security Network will be hosting a press call on Friday 4/3 at 11:30 AM Eastern time. The discussion will focus on analysis of the substantive aspects of the framework announced between the P5+1 nations and Iran in Lausanne, as well as its implications for the Middle East, Israel, and US politics. The call will be moderated by NSN Executive Director John Bradshaw. Our speakers will include Suzanne DiMaggio of the New American Foundation, Ilan Goldenberg of the Center for a New American Security, and Dr. Jim Walsh of MIT’s Security Studies program. You can find a short bio of each of the participants below. EXPERTS Suzanne DiMaggio is a Senior Fellow and the Director of the Iran Initiative… Read More ›

Iran Showdown: Bibi’s Address to Congress Hosted by NSN and Rethink Media March 2, 2015 at 3:00 pm EST Controversy continues to swirl around Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu’s joint address before Congress. Accepting Speaker Boehner’s invitation without the consultation of the White House weeks before the Israeli elections breached protocol and aimed to politicize the special relationship between Israel and the U.S. As negotiations between the international community and Iran continue with the hopes of reaching a successful conclusion in the near future, Bibi’s address has the potential to scuttle progress and to convince members of Congress to reject any final deal reached between the P5+1 and Iran. The manner in which this invitation was extended without White House knowledge and the fallout since its announcement has… Read More ›

Showdown with Iran Monday, January 26, 2015 10:00 AM EST ABOUT THE CALL In his 2015 State of the Union address, President Obama told Congress that he would veto any sanctions legislation against Iran, stressing that such action could possibly lead the United States down the path of war with the Islamic Republic and all but destroy the diplomatic efforts being made to ensure that Iran’s  nuclear program remains peaceful. As a showdown in Congress begins over whether to implement further sanctions against Iran, the National Security Network invites you to join us for a press call with Iran nuclear experts Ilan Goldenberg of the Center for New American Security, Dr. Edward Levine retired senior professional staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Alireza Nader… Read More ›

Reaching a Deal with Iran  DATE & TIME Thursday, November 13, 2014 12:00PM ET   PRESENTERS Laicie Heeley: Heeley is the Director of Middle East and Defense Policy, Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation. Her work focuses on weapons proliferation, defense analysis, and Iran. She has published several reports on Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the effects of sanctions. Heeley has been a frequent contributor to CNN and her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Foreign Policy. General Shlomo Brom: Gen. Brom is a Visiting Fellow with the National Security and International Policy team at the Center for American Progress where he focuses on U.S.-Israeli relations, Middle East security issues, and the Iranian nuclear program. Brig. Gen. Brom is also a senior research associate at… Read More ›

Iran, Iraq and Regional Security Threats Wednesday, June 25, 2014 9:00 AM Eastern Time As the violence in Iraq continues to swell and ISIS expands its controlled territory,  the Obama administration plans to send 300 military advisers to Iraq to assist the Iraqi military against the Sunni insurgents. At the same time the White House is attempting to manage the situation in Iraq, they are considering what role neighboring Iran could and should play in quelling the sectarian uprising. With increased diplomatic ties between Iran, the U.S., and its allies and the impending July 20th deadline to reach a final nuclear accord with the Islamic Republic, the idea of partnering with Iran holds promise for some and peril for others. EXPERTS Dr. Colin H. Kahl, Senior Fellow… Read More ›

Pay reform unlikely for years, budget experts say Critics say House committee members ‘chose pork and hardware over readiness’ By Leo Shane III May 14, 2014 | Army Times Meaningful military compensation reform is likely years away, and even then will happen only if the White House insists on a major overhaul, defense budget experts said Wednesday. In a conference call with reporters, a panel of progressive defense critics with the National Security Network blasted the House Armed Services Committee’s recently passed defense authorization bill for fiscal 2015, calling it a shortsighted plan that ducks budget realities. Committee members “chose pork and hardware over readiness,” said Gordon Adams, a former Clinton administration defense budget official. “They seem to imagine a parallel future where defense budgets… Read More ›

 Iran Nuclear Talks: Drafting a Final Deal Wednesday, May 14, 2014 11:00 AM Eastern Time Negotiators from the six world powers and Iran are meeting in Vienna to begin drafting a comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. The panelists on this call will discuss prospects for the negotiations, essential elements of a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, and the effects of domestic politics on the international negotiations. Speakers Laicie Heeley Director of Middle East and Defense Policy, Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation Heeley’s work focuses on weapons proliferation, defense analysis, and Iran. She has published several reports on Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the effects of sanctions. Heeley has been a frequent contributor to CNN and her work has appeared in the Wall Street… Read More ›

Pentagon Budget: Insights into the NDAA Wednesday, May 14, 2014 9:00 AM Eastern Time The Pentagon Budget Campaign co-hosts press call with the National Security Network. With the full House of Representatives preparing to consider the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the experts on this call will provide insights into some of the contentious issues that might arise during the debate. The experts will also discuss questions surrounding the Overseas Contingency Operations account, and assess the impacts of sequestration on the Defense Department. Speakers, Gordon Adams Professor of International Relations at the School of International Service, American University Dr. Adams served as Associate Director for National Security and International Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget, from 1991 through 1997. In that position he… Read More ›

Relations with Russia: What Next? Wednesday, April 2, 2014 3:00 PM Eastern Relations with Russia remain tense after Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergay Lavrov met on Sunday in an attempt to make diplomatic progress on the situation in Ukraine. Russian troops have amassed along Ukraine’s eastern border as the Obama administration and officials in Kiev raise alarm and warn Russian President Vladimir Putin that further incursion into the country will have consequences. Join the National Security Network for a press call on Wednesday, April 2, as we explore the future of U.S.-Russia relations, the Crimea crisis and what it means for Russian expansion, how the ongoing conflict will affect current negotiations with Iran and the P5+1 countries and further attempts to… Read More ›