An Open Letter to Secretaries Blinken and Austin Regarding Afghan SIVs Signed by 100 Former Foreign Service and Military Officers
An Open Letter to Secretaries Blinken and Austin Regarding Afghan SIVs Signed by 100 Former Foreign Service and Military Officers
Note: The below letter was sent to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on May 10, 2021. MEI s Senior Vice President Gerald Feierstein, Distinguished Senior Fellow on National Security General (ret.) Joseph Votel, and MEI Afghanistan and Pakistan Program Director Marvin G. Weinbaum are among the signatories.
We are a group of former diplomats, military officers, and civil servants. Many of us have helped manage and support U.S. engagement with Afghanistan over the past twenty years. We are writing to you today to add our voices to the many Americans who have already expressed concern, both publicly and privately, about the fate of the many thousands of Afghans
The new office, which would be part of the State Department, would allow governors and mayors to influence foreign policy and try to align it with local needs.
In November, Biden met virtually with mayors from across the U.S. and pledged to work closely with them moving forward. He said his administration would “have an open door for mayors.”
Johnson has already taken some steps to this end in Dallas. Last January, he created the Mayor’s International Advisory Council, which is comprised of five former U.S ambassadors who are also Dallas residents. He said the council helps inform the city’s international agenda.
7 It was a big day for Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment. Not only were they graduating from Basic Combat Training but many had family members in attendance.
“Today marks a great day for the 193rd Brigade, the battalion and the Army Training Center, not only do we get to welcome over 650 new warriors to our ranks, for the first time in over a year we do so in front of a live audience,” said Lt. Col. Terrence Soule, 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment commander.
This is the second graduation to allow guests since the installation switched to virtual graduations last year.
Alawi holds talks with Qatari foreign minister
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MUSCAT: Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, received at the Foreign Ministry on Monday Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani, Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar.
The meeting reviewed the existing cooperation relations between the two brotherly countries and means of strengthening them, as well as issues of common concern.
The two sides exchanged viewpoints on situations at the regional and international arenas and the latest developments in the region, as well as supporting mediation efforts being exerted by Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabir al Sabah, Emir of sisterly State of Kuwait to reconcile views in a bid to resolve the current GCC crisis and maintaining security and stability of the GCC states, as well as the GCC joint action march.