Nations in Eastern Europe but thats a kind of a narrative that is very western i suppose but i lived there it was i dont have that same kind of feel for it ok though having said that im very glad those communist regimes are gone and the wall go ahead john. You know well like you peter i lived through those events very directly like you i was studying Eastern European studies at oxford at that point i spent that summer in 1909 in romania and in hungary and indeed in september 89 i was in west berlin and was there when the 1st east berlin as arrived in west berlin having driven through czechoslovakia hungry austria and and the whole of germany so i have a very strong memory of it as well i would make 2 points the 1st is that none of it would have happened without gorbachev decision to pull the rug on the Eastern European communist regimes that was decision he took in june and which he announced to the german chancellor helmut kohl at the time and all the events that we remember now the j
Vote vote the presiding officer are there any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or change their vote . If not, the yeas are 86, the nays are 2. The nomination is confirmed. Mr. Mcconnell mr. President . The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the the president be immediately notified of the senates action with respect to the nominations confirmed during todays session of the senate. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i move to proceed to legislative session. The presiding officer the question is on the motion. All those in favor, say aye. Those opposed, say no. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The motion is agreed to. Mr. Mcconnell i move to proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 387. The presiding officer question is on the motion. All those in favor, say aye. Those opposed, say no. The ayes appear to have it. The
Communist regimes are gone and the wall go ahead john. You know well like you peter i lived through those events very directly like you i was studying Eastern European studies at oxford at that point i spent that summer in 1909 in romania and hungry and indeed in september 89 i was in west berlin and was there when the 1st east berlin is arrived in west berlin having driven through czechoslovakia hungry austria and the whole of germany so i have a very strong memory of it as well i would make 2 points the 1st is that none of it would have happened without gorbachev decision to pull the rug on the Eastern European communist regimes that was decision he took in june and which he announced to the german chancellor helmut kohl at the time and all the events that we remember now the jangling of keys in Wenceslas Square in prague the torch is the candlelight the songs and so on all that was nothing but operetta it was political operetta it was froth. On the on the on the tidal wave of histor
Syria and us military leadership in conflict zones. This is an hour and 45 minutes. Good afternoon and welcome to our newly renovated headquarters. I am gerald feierstein, Senior Vice President at the middle east institute. Welcome to todays important and timely panel, examining centcoms approach to the middle east. This gives us an opportunity to reflect on the approach and explore prospects for an effective us military role in the region especially given current news from northeast syria. We have a great panel of experts to discuss this with you today. Kenneth pollack, dana stroll and we are pleased to welcome back senior fellow director of the defense of Security Program after a 1year fellowship in the department of defense. We are happy to have him back and look forward to hearing his insights from his upcoming article in the 2019 fall issue of the washington quarterly entitled broken partnerships, can washington get Security Cooperation right . Moderating todays panel of distingui
Natalie andrews covers congress for the wall street journal reporting at wsj. Com. On twitter, she is a w sj, thank you for joining us. Thank you. America hosted a discussion on ranked Choice Voting also called instant runoff voting. It takes voters second and third choices into account if no candidate receives the majority. This is one hour 20 minutes. [inaudible conversations] good evening and welcome to new america. Im glad we have a nice room, comfortable chairs. Im the director of the food and political reform and when i welcome you all to a discussion of the possibilities of ring Choice Voting as it approaches and revives our democracy in various ways potentially solving and bone jump different challenges. America was founded in 1999 with the idea of creating a home for new generation of both people and ideas across a wide range of Public Policy questions, i am one of the oldtimers although i was not here 1989 but i knew the founders and some of the creation and forming the polit