The General And The Ambassador: A Conversation

Who crosses the US Mexico border? How do poverty in Central America, major trafficking organizations and US immigration law affect the flow? Can we seal the border when we share a common culture? Former NORTHCOM Commander General Jacoby and Ambassador Wayne explain the complexities.

General Jacoby and Ambassador Wayne discuss their unified efforts to overcome traditionally difficult US-Mexican military relations, to work with Mexico to fight the drug cartels in an era of high violence and widespread corruption and the capture of notorious drug kingpin Chapo Guzman.

What is the role of diplomacy and of the military in building alliances, in addressing the challenges of China and Russia and of the grey zone including cyberspace? How can the huge imbalance of resources between the Department of Defense and the Department of State be righted? What happens to public service when it is denigrated?

Has there been a “militarization” of US Foreign Policy since 9/11?  General Lute and Ambassador Grossman talk about the aftermath of 9/11 & the war in Afghanistan- how the counterterrorism mission moved to a military/diplomatic campaign, negotiating with the Taliban while continuing the counterinsurgency effort, and... flying to dinner in Pakistan.

Former Finnish Chief of Defense General Jarmo Lindberg and Ambassador Bruce Oreck talk about the deep US-Finnish defense relationship, Finland’s key role vis a vis Russia, Nordic security and receiving the Legion of Merit from General Dunford.

Former CENTCOM Commander Lloyd Austin and former US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson talk about the importance of trust between US military and diplomatic leaders and how they managed the prickly relationship with Pakistan. They discuss the strategic importance of Pakistan to US interests in Afghanistan, India and China, the difficulty of working with a country which supports terrorist groups, and the very real dangers of the tense Pakistan/India relationship.  

In this conversation, General Taylor and Ambassador Kaidanow talk about their joint work to prevent ISIS recruitment efforts in the US and abroad, to develop counter messaging to ISIS propaganda and to make sure key information was shared with local US communities. They discuss the surprising findings on who was vulnerable to recruitment….

In this conversation, General Taylor and Ambassador Kaidanow talk about their joint work to prevent ISIS recruitment efforts in the US and abroad, to develop counter messaging to ISIS propaganda and to make sure key information was shared with local US communities. They discuss the surprising findings on who was vulnerable to recruitment….

Hosted by Ambassador (ret) Deborah McCarthy, this conversation with General Hickman and Ambassador Bennett gives an inside view of the challenging work of the U.S. civilian-military teams operating in Iraq to rebuild the country.

General Kelly McKeague and Ambassador Charles Ray talk about efforts led by the Department of Defense and supported by the Department of State to account for the over 82,000 missing personnel from WWII through Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The U.S. Response to ISIS attacks in Europe, the role of Special Operations Command Europe, and building deterrence vis a vis Russia with General Gregory Lengyel ( fmr. Commander Special Operations Command Europe) and Ambassador Susan Elliott (fmr. Civilian Deputy, U.S. European Command). 

In 2011 Japan was hit by an earthquake, a tsunami and a nuclear disaster. Admiral Robert Willard (fmr. Commander, U.S. Pacific Command) and Ambassador John Roos (fmr. U.S. Ambassador to Japan) talk about the devastation, nuclear radiation fears and coordinating the massive U.S. disaster assistance program for this key ally.

General Alexander and Coordinator Painter discuss U.S. responses to cyber attacks from Russia, Iran and China, the urgent need for stronger defense & cyber as a tool of national power.

Ambassador Ian Kelly & Defense Attaché Brigadier General Harmon discuss US efforts to build deterrence against Russia and support Georgia's Euro Atlantic integration & NATO membership

General Sean MacFarland and Ambassador Stu Jones discuss their partnership in building Iraq’s ability to fight ISIS, negotiating the Iraqi/Kurdish relationship, the role of Iranian militias, Operation Tidal Wave II and the challenge of public messaging.

General Sean MacFarland and Ambassador Stu Jones discuss their partnership in building Iraq’s ability to fight ISIS, negotiating the Iraqi/Kurdish relationship, the role of Iranian militias, Operation Tidal Wave II and the challenge of public messaging.

General Allen and Ambassador Cunningham on grief and loss, current settlement negotiations and the importance of cultural intelligence.

General Allen and Ambassador Cunningham describe the US pivot in the war, the key role of allies and the handling of burning of the Koran and civilian casualties.

General Goldfein and Ambassador Susan Ziadeh discuss the value of integrated diplomatic/military training, their partnership in Qatar which expanded US and Coalition air force power in the region, and the role of US military power in supporting US diplomatic negotiations for peaceful outcomes. 

General Nicholson and Ambassador Llorens discuss their unity of effort in the field and their partnership in developing the new Afghanistan strategy adopted by the Trump Administration.