USGLC

As President Obama departs for Asia today, observers speculate whether foreign policy will be an even greater focus for him after Tuesday’s elections and a new Congress, which will focus heavily on a domestic agenda. For a look at what the elections mean for the International Affairs Budget, check out our Smart Vote 2010 Election analysis.

Big changes coming to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says Josh Rogin while Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the election results won’t change U.S. foreign policy, and free trade got an early evening boost in the Senate.

Through our Smart Vote 2010 initiative, folks across the country have been talking with candidates about the importance of the International Affairs Budget and how critical this funding is to our national security, economic prosperity and humanitarian values.

But under a new $1 million program being announced this week, the Obama administration is planning to expand its cultural diplomacy programs to include visual artists like painters and sculptors, who will be asked next year to create public art...

According to the most recent polls, the war in Afghanistan is barely on the radar in the upcoming midterm elections, as the economy and jobs dominate voters’ concerns. Moreover, Americans are growing war-weary, and public support for the war...

This morning we are pleased to announce George Rupp will join Bill Lane as co-president of the USGLC board of directors. Dr. Rupp is the president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee and a globally recognized leader in development and humanitarian assistance.

Given the drastic decline in the numbers of diplomats and development experts since the Cold War, it will take some time to bring new folks on board and get them properly trained. This is why it’s so important to fund capacity building and personnel in the International Affairs Budget.

Secretary Clinton lays out a vision for “Leading Through Civilian Power” in the new edition of Foreign Affairs. She calls for “a ‘smart power’ approach to solving global problems” and makes a strong case that State and USAID have “distinct roles and missions,” but that in today’s world, they must be “coordinated, complementary, and mutually reinforcing.”

Yesterday, the Washington Post gave “a sneak peek at Hillary Clinton’s new global strategy,” in advance of her upcoming Foreign Policy article on the QDDR. Hitting on the need for strong funding for the International Affairs Budget, Clinton spoke of the cost for Afghanistan and Iraq saying, “The diplomatic and development activities there represent a fraction of that cost, yet the funding often gets bogged down in old debates over foreign aid…These missions can succeed, but only with the necessary congressional leadership and support.”

Clinton says don’t give up on Mideast peace, John Kerry goes to Sudan, and one writer asks, “is there any way to fix Pakistan” in this week’s Friday roundup.