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Articles by Debra Cagan
Biden's new rule on Ukraine's use of US weapons is far from enough to help it win Original
President Biden has prevented Ukraine from using US weapons on targets inside Russian territory over fear that it would escalate the war. REUTERS Months after most other countries removed any restrictions on the use of weapons provided to Ukraine, the Biden administration finally just came to a new policy on the matter, per news reports. But the White House’s decision — made only after an excruciating delay — still falls well short of what needs to happen for Ukraine to turn the tide of this war.
Anti-Ukraine Republicans like J.D. Vance and Marjorie Taylor Greene don't speak for most voters
Senator J.D. Vance and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene are united against funding Ukraine. Senator J.D. Vance and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene are united in the belief that the worst thing America is doing right now is helping Ukraine stand up to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. They claim they speak for the nation. A new poll proves them wrong.
Sen. Vance Is Half Right, but Ukraine Is Not the Problem | Opinion
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Ukraine’s Summer Offensive Reflects a New Way of Waging War
Commentators assessing the Ukrainian counteroffensive now underway have a habit of putting developments in the context of the last war that they fought or studied. But the analogies have largely failed to fit with the reality of today’s war in Ukraine. This is not a traditional war, nor will this be a traditional counteroffensive. The offensive cannot be narrowly defined by retaken towns or forces headed in one direction and not another.
Ukraine ‘peace’ pushers: Who’ll put boots on ground to keep the peace? Original
Those who argued adamantly that the death knell for Ukraine as a sovereign nation sounded once Russian President Vladimir Putin put his jackboot to Ukraine’s throat have been proven wrong time and again. But Ukraine is still fighting for its very existence, its fate hanging by a thread, in a war a country that cannot abide freedom forced upon it.
Top Former Generals, Diplomats: US Must Arm Ukraine Now, Before It's Too Late
Nearly 20 of our fellow experts and national security professionals — whose digital signatures appear at the end of this op-ed — agree: The war in Ukraine has reached a decisive moment and that vital U.S. interests are at stake. Long before the Kremlin first invaded Ukraine in 2014, we have — from senior positions in the U.S. government and military — followed Moscow’s foreign policy and the grave dangers it presents to the United States and our allies.
US must arm Ukraine now, before it’s too late Original
Nearly 20 of our fellow experts and national security professionals — whose digital signatures appear at the end of this op-ed — agree: The war in Ukraine has reached a decisive moment and that vital U.S. interests are at stake. Long before the Kremlin first invaded Ukraine in 2014, we have — from senior positions in the U.S. government and military — followed Moscow’s foreign policy and the grave dangers it presents to the United States and our allies.
US MUST ARM UKRAINE NOW, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
Home » Politics 13.09.2022 US MUST ARM UKRAINE NOW, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE By DEBRA CAGAN, JOHN HERBST AND ALEXANDER VERSHBOW 08/17/22 The Hill Nearly 20 of our fellow experts and national security professionals — whose digital signatures appear at the end of this op-ed — agree: The war in Ukraine has reached a decisive moment and that vital U.S. interests are at stake.
Washington's potential hidden ace in rift with Russia: Kazakhstan
As the U.S. sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine tighten, more than 300 U.S. companies pulling out of Russia are in search of alternatives to set up their regional headquarters. Kazakhstan may prove to be the best bet, both from the economic and geostrategic perspective.
Team Biden is sacrificing Ukraine for Russian and Iranian oil
It should not have been a difficult decision for the Biden administration: Hammer Russian President Vladimir Putin into economic oblivion or hedge its bets with thousands of Ukrainian lives on the line and hope Russian fossils can fix soaring fuel prices. Unfortunately for those bearing the brunt of Putin’s murderous rampage, Team Biden failed to act on the economic engine powering his ambitions before he escalated into a devastating war.
America can — and must — act to limit Putin’s slaughter in Ukraine
In six short days, Russian President Vladimir Putin dealt himself a major defeat in his long-term campaign to reestablish substantial influence over the states of the former Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, and weaken NATO and the European Union.
West reluctant to admit new Russian Cold War, and Putin's counting on it
While many may cringe at even the mention of a Cold War, Russia has no problem carrying out the policies that allowed the Soviet Union its breadth of influence in the last century: From Europe to the Arctic to Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, the Russians have embraced full-on Cold War tactics, while the U.S. struggles to play catch up. The Russians have been doing this for years.
Congress comes to the aid of Libyan people, passing bill ordering probe into war crimes and torture
Last Friday the U.S. Congress passed two important measures that have the potential to help Libyans in their struggle to break through ongoing political gridlock in the country. Rep. Ted Malinowski (D-N.J.) introduced amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. The first requires that the president review alleged arms embargo violators for sanctions under Executive Order 13726 (81 Fed. Reg.
We're going to pay for 'exit at any cost' for years to come
This past week our nation lost the bravest amongst us: United States Marines, Navy and Army warriors dedicated to providing safety and security for Americans and Afghan allies as they scrambled to depart.
Giving Europe a Pass on Nord Stream 2 Is Another Putin Victory
The Biden administration is understandably attempting to repair what it perceives as damage done to relationships with some of America’s closest European allies. But there is a cost, often substantial, to pleasing one's allies when there is no clarity of reciprocity.
With US sidelined, Macron's hubris and hypocrisy are on full display
French President Emmanuel Macron [Photo: Ludovic Marin / POOL via AP]President Emmanuel Macron is facing daunting economic problems at home, and his party’s recent foray into local elections has led to some stunning defeats. With German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s long-time European leadership phasing out, Macron’s cozying up to Vladimir Putin and embarking on foreign adventures is designed to solidify yet another bid to place France fully at the helm of Europe.
With US sidelined, Macron's hubris and hypocrisy are on full display Original
President Emmanuel MacronEmmanuel Jean-Michel MacronTrump insulted UK's May, called Germany's Merkel 'stupid' in calls: report The Hill's Morning Report - COVID-19 alarms escalate; Trump under fire over Russia Feehery: The more radicals try to remove history, the more the president looks to repeat it MORE is facing daunting economic problems at home, and his party’s recent foray into local elections has led to some stunning defeats.
Don't Let Putin's Pipe Dreams Become Reality - The American Interest
With the world distracted by pandemic, Putin is seeking to circumvent U.S. sanctions and give Nord Stream 2 a new lease on life. We should sanction those enabling him—starting with Gerhard Schröder. While the world has been preoccupied with the global coronavirus pandemic and the ravaged economies it has left in its wake, Russia has actively sought to use the crisis as a distraction to circumvent U.S. sanctions.
This is how to identify friend from foe, Mr. President
There are foreign policy hiccups and then there are inexplicable decisions that defy any sense of logic.
Comment: In maintaining Jones Act, the winner is Putin
Debra Cagan June 19, 2019Updated: June 19, 2019 5 a.m. The Jones Act, which requires vessels moving cargo between two U.S. ports to be U.S. built, owned and crewed, has kept American LNG from getting delivered to U.S. regions, particularly New England, that experience natural gas shortages. MICHAEL STRAVATO, STR / New York Times The Russians are invading Boston Harbor and natural gas and diversion are their weapons of choice.
Comment: In maintaining Jones Act, the winner is Putin
The Russians are invading Boston Harbor and natural gas and diversion are their weapons of choice. Forget about elections, this is about staying warm or keeping the lights on. While an endless number of Americans are lecturing Europe to just say no to Russia’s “Nordstream 2” pipeline in the Baltic Sea, few noticed Russian tankers recently delivering natural gas to New England.
What to do about Hungary's cozy relationship with Moscow
When is an ally not really an ally? If this was only about NATO members who have flouted democracy, the list would be too numerous to address. But this is about Allies who have gone many steps further to embracing the one person for whom targeting NATO is an everyday occurrence.
Russia's latest gambit is just another Middle East foray gone awry
Syria’s civil war long ago morphed into a playground for both real and wannabe regional hegemons. Until recently, Israel has for the most part shown remarkable restraint in engaging the hostiles intent on surrounding Israel on three sides as a tempting side benefit of helping Assad murder huge swathes of his own people.
Trump's Middle East policy looks a lot like Obama's - that’s not a good thing
One would think that President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate Dem calls on Mattis to testify following resignation Hirono: Trump trying to blame Democrats for shutdown would be 'such bullsh-t' Court delays discovery in Trump emoluments case MORE and his current White House denizens might pay at least a little attention to the mistakes of their predecessors and try really hard not to replicate them in any appreciable way.
Russia pays no price for piracy in Kerch Strait
It would be easy to dismiss Russia’s latest ploy: The recent actions of Russian brigands and pirates masquerading as sailors, FSB troops, and air forces on the high seas, in the tiny Kerch Strait. Why should the Europeans or Americans care about this small parcel of water? It connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, separating the Kerch Peninsula of Crimea in the west (which is international recognized as part of Ukraine) from the Russian Taman Peninsula in the east.
Transportation investment is a matter of (local) perspective | Brookings Institution
After a boom-and-bust decade, the return of consistent macroeconomic growth and low interests rates makes it a great time to invest in infrastructure. Larry Summers, one of infrastructure’s chief advocates, often focuses on the country’s shrinking investment rates. My colleague David Wessel built on those arguments by showing that federal infrastructure investment barely keeps up with long-term maintenance needs.
The H-1B visa race continues: Which regions received the most? | Brookings Institution
Major league baseball’s opening day is still a few days away, but this week marks another opening day for America’s businesses: H-1B visa cap season. Every April 1st, employers submit applications to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for temporary employment visas for foreigners in specialty occupations. And every year businesses report frustration with both the limited number of visas and the first-come first served system for allocation.
The Search for Skills: Demand for H-1B Immigrant Workers in U.S. Metropolitan Areas | Brookings Institution
UPDATE: Click here for a detailed response to methodological issues raised in an October 2014 Washington Post article (PDF). Get daily updates from Brookings An analysis of the geography of H-1B visa requests — particularly in the metropolitan areas with the highest demand between 2001 and 2011 — reveals that: Demand for H-1B workers has fluctuated with economic and political cycles over the last decade and reflects a wide range of employers’ needs for high-skilled temporary workers.
An innovation district grows in Chattanooga | Brookings Institution
In the past, my colleagues and I have highlighted Kendall Square in Cambridge, Mass. as an emblematic innovation district. Anchored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and home to dozens of technology and life sciences companies, the district may be the most innovative ZIP code in the country. But not every city can replicate Kendall Square, because, frankly, not every city has an MIT. Get daily updates from Brookings A recent visit to Chattanooga, Tenn.
Cities and the presidential tech agenda | Brookings Institution
One curiosity of this presidential campaign is that the candidates—with one exception—have largely ignored issues related to cities and communication technology, even though all claim economic growth as a top priority. This is patently short-sighted. Digital technologies like broadband, smartphones, and sensors could be core enablers of future economic growth if we confront gaps in broadband adoption and outdated infrastructure.
Older adults have much to offer—and much to gain from—innovation districts | Brookings Institution
Innovation districts—dense geographies that concentrate innovation capacity and encourage entrepreneurial activity—have decided appeal for those who want to live and work in walkable, amenity-rich urban areas. We tend to think of these neighborhoods as places for millennials and Gen Xers working in the innovation economy. But many of the factors that make innovation districts attractive to those in their 20s, 30s, and 40s make them good places for older adults as well.
It’s time to use local assets in the global campaign against ISIS | Brookings Institution
This week in Washington, foreign ministers from more than 60 countries will convene for another meeting of the global anti-ISIS coalition. The focus will again be limited to what national governments can do to accelerate efforts to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and eliminate its affiliates, which now cover about 28 countries across Asia and Africa.
Mayors can lead the way on waterfront revitalization | Brookings Institution
A riverine renaissance is under way in urban areas around the world, as cities recognize the potential of waterways to create new transit options, revitalize underused land, protect against the impacts of climate change, and provide recreation, entertainment, and quality of life benefits.
The 5 kinds of cities we’ll see in the populist era | Brookings Institution
Last summer, as Donald Trump was pledging to Make America Great Again through tariffs and a “great wall” along the United States’ southern border, the Leave campaign in the United Kingdom urged Brits to “take back control” of their country by exiting the European Union. Although many urban voters in both countries rejected these ideas, they won out at the polls. The populist tide sweeping Britain out of the EU and Donald Trump into the White House has unmoored the status quo in both countries.
AdiEU: The impact of Brexit on UK cities | Brookings Institution
The market volatility and financial uncertainty that has gripped the United Kingdom after the Brexit referendum is a major concern for the U.K.’s cities. As a new report by Metro Dynamics, “AdiEU: The Impact of Brexit on U.K. Cities,” makes clear, it is critical that city and metro leaders have a significant voice within their national government both during exit negotiations with Brussels and in the creation of a new national budget.
Hardwiring urban innovation: RD&D partnerships for 21st century cities | Brookings Institution
Smart meters and streetlights. Autonomous vehicles. Air quality sensors. These and other “smart city” innovations have the potential to generate vast quantities of data for cities and their residents, and universities are stepping up by investing in new efforts to catalyze the research, development, and deployment (RD&D) of such urban technologies.
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