Foreign Policy

Tomorrow, we plan to discuss Asia (broadly). We agree on “Implications of the Trump Administration’s Decision to Recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel” as this week’s topic when we met last week.

But now we have several somewhat related topics to discuss as well:

Iran–Another Green Revolution?, and

Trump and Pakistan–Where Will This Lead?, and

Kim Jong-Un: Softening Stance?

Should be lots of fun for the foreign policy enthusiasts.

10:30 in the Bass Room. (We’ll probably be evicted at 12:15.)

Given the developments of the last few days, it looks like we presciently (fortuitously?) chose “North Korea” as our topic for next Monday. We can discuss questions such as:

• What should the US policy be towards North Korea?
• How do we best leverage the Chinese relationships with NoKo and the US to achieve our goals?
• What are realistic goals for US policy?
• How do the new South Korean president’s views on engagement with NoKo factor in?
• Should US policy adopt Susan Rice’s “red line”–which I take to mean “annihilation of North Korea” upon “proof that North Korea has transferred nuclear weapons to another state or nonstate actor”? Or are these just empty words?

This is obviously a very difficult puzzle–one that has eluded the UN Security Council’s attempts to solve. While we’ve focused on NoKo in past Beyond Labels discussions, it seems particularly timely to revisit now that the degree of bellicosity has ramped up on both sides.

Remember: We start at 10:00am (instead of 10:30am) for the month of August.

In attempts to 1) be responsive to Beyond Labels participants who prefer to know each week’s topic so they can come prepared and 2) motivate Court Haight to join us tomorrow, we chose “Russia” as the topic of the week.

Sorry about the short notice! And see you tomorrow.