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The Weekly GAB Friday, February 2, 2018
U.S. Global Leadership Coalition | www.usglc.org
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Who's in the news

THE HILL

Trump Goes Dark on Russia and the Real Threat to Our State of the
Union

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=uW5JnI0ScmFJkwwNdVVDpQ

Gen. Michael Hayden, former Director of the CIA and the National
Security Agency

Then the president called for legislation "to help ensure
American foreign-assistance dollars always serve American interests,
and only go to America's friends." It frankly sounded thuggish,
displayed ignorance of the dynamics of international diplomacy (the
"no" voters on the Jerusalem move included France, Germany
and the United Kingdom) and largely mischaracterized why we offer
assistance in the first place. It was, by my count, the only mention
of the all-important development budget in the entire speech.

THE FINANCIAL TIMES
Making the Right Choice on Education in Emerging Markets
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=7SyLqeP3efnJQwZgS1j9wQ

Former USAID Administrator Gayle Smith, President and CEO of the ONE
Campaign

It turns out that failing to invest in a good quality education for
every girl and boy is really expensive. New analysis from my
organisation, the ONE Campaign, shows that every day, in the poorest
countries, access to quality education could save 2,800 lives.
Delivering the same level of education for girls as for boys could
save these countries at least $308m every day. That's what could
happen if we get serious about investing in the right to learn how to
read, write and count, to know how to access key information on health
and nutrition, and to understand and shape the world and the society
in which we all live.

THE HILL
More Than Ever, American Business Is Committed to Africa

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=mF5oBBe9zKA13oeyYj05Cw

Myron Brilliant, Executive Vice President and head of International
Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

American businesses see extraordinary potential in Africa's
markets and recognize the long-term strategic planning it will take to
fully tap into that potential. To do so, Congress and the
administration must take action to help U.S. companies compete in
African markets. Africa boasts one of the fastest growing middle class
populations in the world, an enhanced role in shaping global peace and
security, a young and entrepreneurial population, and promising
economic growth trajectories. The U.S. private sector is committed to
Africa, and the U.S.-Africa Business Center is proud to make that
commitment our mission. We are in this relationship for the long haul.

Development & Diplomacy

THE ATLANTIC
The CDC Is About to Fall Off a Funding Cliff |

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=rEowCAVNtk2-v1FVraEb4w

Ed Yong

In December 2014, Congress appropriated $5.4 billion to fight the deal
with the historic Ebola epidemic that was raging in West Africa. Most
of that money went to quashing the epidemic directly, but around $1
billion was allocated to help developing countries improve their
ability to detect and respond to infectious diseases. The logic is
sound: It is far more efficient to invest money in helping countries
contain diseases at the source, than to risk small outbreaks flaring
up into large international disasters. But the $1 billion pot, which
was mostly divided between the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and USAID, runs out in 2019-a fiscal cliff with
disaster at its foot.

BROOKINGS

Trump's SOTU: Why Pegging US Foreign Assistance to
Countries' UN Votes Is a Bad Deal |

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=XohyRPQgApnzrQwrEFkgqw

Anthony F. Pipa

U.S. development and humanitarian aid to developing countries is one
of the few areas that enjoys strong bipartisan support in a Congress
defined by political divisions. Three major pieces of legislation were
passed in 2016, and funding levels for foreign assistance, which makes
up less than 1 percent of the overall U.S. budget, have held steady
over the past decade. The U.S. makes aid available for political,
economic, and moral reasons. By implying that aid is not always
serving U.S. interests, the president seems to be suggesting that
politics should hold sway over any other considerations.

THE WASHINGTON POST

Foreign Aid Goes to More Than Just "Friends," In the
National Interest |

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=pwg29W0qgdXErqMd6dol8w

Carol Morello

Trump has proposed steep cuts in U.S. foreign aid, amounting to 30
percent or even more in some areas. But that aid has strong bipartisan
support in Congress, where his proposed cuts have met great
skepticism. Foreign aid, which amounts to 1 percent of the federal
budget, is not just reserved for "friends" who vote with
the United States at the United Nations...A large slice of foreign aid
goes to help countries develop economically and to strengthen civil
and democratic institutions. It is considered an investment in our
national security. Defense Secretary James Mattis has famously said
that if the State Department's funding gets cut, he will need
more ammunition.

CNN
Amid Global Turmoil, Trump Leaves Ambassador Posts Empty |

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=K3Gq_MCQ80KH40GV0n5dBQ

Laura Koran, Joyce Tseng and Aaron Kessler

The Trump administration's decision to drop plans to nominate academic
Victor Cha as ambassador to South Korea...is the latest decision that
leaves a crucial diplomatic post in limbo. As the post sits empty, so
do dozens of other important ambassadorships. Numerous countries do
not currently have a Senate-confirmed US ambassador in place,
including key allies alike Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia. Of the vacant
posts, around 30 are still awaiting a nominee, while seven others have
nominees pending confirmation. President Donald Trump also has yet to
nominate people for senior roles at many international organizations,
and to oversee important regional and issue-based bureaus.

BROOKINGS
The Link Between Foreign Aid and Domestic Social Spending

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=OeJWNOvWxg7wiiHafjLGDA

Interim Vice President and Director Homi Kharas and Research Analyst
Lorenz Noe, ?Global Economy and Development

The controversial part of [Angus] Deaton's article [January 24
New York Times op-ed, The U.S. Can No Longer Hide From Its Deep
Poverty Problem] is his conjecture that "for years...the needs
of poor Americans (or poor Europeans) have received little priority
relative to the needs of poor Africans or Asians." The
implication, drawn from his own personal experience with giving, is
that funds should be reallocated from international aid [ODA]...toward
meeting urgent domestic needs...Deaton's conjecture merits
empirical analysis. Do countries that spend more on their own domestic
social priorities spend less on ODA? We find the opposite. Countries
that spend more domestically also spend more on foreign aid.

DEVEX
How Global Development Issues Fared in Davos |

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=1hFLms_UBa3gaW3TeSZ38A

Adva Saldinger

It can be easy to get caught up in the myriad of issues and debates,
in the whirlwind of formal speeches, side events, and cocktail
receptions that dazzle the Swiss town of Davos every January. The real
test of the World Economic Forum's worth for the global
development community will come later, in the form of follow-up
action. In the meantime, in a fast-moving set of conversations
tackling the world's geopolitical and business challenges, the
development issues can get lost. Here's what made a splash this
year and what didn't fare as well.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Top Career US Diplomat to Step Down in Blow to State Dept |

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=-Bkb4d1XGVs2N8b9tSA51g

Matthew Lee

The top career U.S. diplomat announced Thursday he will step down,
dealing a blow to the State Department as the Trump administration
confronts numerous international challenges. The State
Department's third-ranking official, Undersecretary of State for
Political Affairs Tom Shannon, informed agency staffers that he will
retire as soon as a successor for his Senate-confirmed post is chosen
and ready to assume the job. Shannon is a near 35-year veteran of the
U.S. Foreign Service and was the most senior department official to
remain in his job after the transition from the Obama to the Trump
administrations. He served under six presidents of both political
parties since 1984 and was widely seen as a symbol of diplomatic
continuity and professionalism during the tumultuous transition last
year.

Politics & Foreign Policy

POLITICO
GOP Faces New Shutdown Threat From Within |

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=lb8HkVyP7Kit-ygiVviHbg

Sarah Ferris and Seung Min Kim

Congress is a week away from another government shutdown. And if it
happens this time, the blame may lie with Republicans, who are
struggling to keep their lawmakers in line. Republicans have
considered a stopgap funding bill that could run one month or possibly
deeper into March, according to multiple sources. Discussions have
been fluid, however, as House and Senate Republicans gather this week
in West Virginia for their annual retreat. The House could vote as
soon as Tuesday, two days before funding runs dry. But many
rank-and-file GOP lawmakers who reluctantly backed the last temporary
funding bill, including conservatives and defense hawks, are balking
at yet another patch.

THE WASHINGTON POST

Disagreement on North Korea Policy Derails White House Choice for
Ambassador to South Korea |

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=BjdXBpeVfib6CfgHmxkPuA

David Nakamura and Anne Gearan

The White House's original choice for U.S. ambassador to South
Korea is no longer expected to be nominated after he privately
expressed disagreement in late December with the Trump
administration's North Korea policy, according to people
familiar with the matter. Victor D. Cha, an academic who served in the
George W. Bush administration, raised his concerns with National
Security Council officials over their consideration of a limited
strike on the North aimed at sending a message without sparking a
wider war - a risky concept known as a "bloody nose"
strategy.

POLITICO
Frelinghuysen Won't Seek Reelection |

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=SJNyYuZmLZkLSFdfWMDaNA

Elena Schneider

New Jersey Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, the chairman of the powerful
House Appropriations Committee, will not seek reelection, the 12-term
congressman announced on Monday. Frelinghuysen is the eighth
Republican committee chairman to forego reelection in the House ahead
of a midterm cycle that's building against the GOP. On Monday,
Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) and Kay Granger (R-Texas) both said
they planned to run for the chairmanship, while several more members
are seen as potential contenders, including John Culberson of Texas,
Tom Cole of Oklahoma and Tom Graves of Georgia.


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