Uncle Sam Abroad

In this episode, we chat with a former CIA analyst about Egypt.... its relationship with the U.S.... what it was like to monitor fast-moving events of the Arab Spring for the CIA.... whether the $1.3 B in annual military assistance the U.S. sends to Egypt is disproportionate.... U.S. contributions to Egyptian health & hygiene... the CIA as a bureaucracy.... and more.

------> OUR GUEST is Julia Santucci, who spent a decade as a Middle East analyst at the CIA from 2005 until 2015. She also served on the staff of the White House's National Security Council (NSC) for 2 years as an Egypt specialist before joining the State Dept. to work on global women's issues. Currently she's a senior lecturer in Intelligence Studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

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The "Uncle Sam Abroad" podcast - through direct interviews - delves into U.S. foreign policy issues and the ways in which the United States projects its power.
(Grab a listen. Be more informed.)

In this episode, we speak with Ambassador Elin Suleymanov of Azerbaijan. We discuss military security cooperation between the U.S. and Azerbaijan... European energy security... Russia's invasion of Ukraine... the Oklahoma national guard's formal partnership with Azerbaijan... the U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce efforts to promote business ties... Green energy efforts... and more.

------> OUR GUEST is Elin Suleymanov. Currently Azerbaijan's ambassador to the U.K., he spent a decade as his country's ambassador to the U.S. until 2021. He was the first Azerbaijani to graduate from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and he holds degrees from Azerbaijan State University, Moscow State University, and the University of Toledo in Ohio.

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The "Uncle Sam Abroad" podcast - through direct interviews - delves into U.S. foreign policy issues and the ways in which the United States projects its power.
(Grab a listen. Be more informed.)

In this episode, we speak with Princeton professor Aaron Friedberg about his new book "Getting China Wrong" and hear sharp analysis about rising tensions between China and the U.S.

Among the topics discussed are: China's leadership feeling threatened by the U.S.... The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) worldview of mistrust, control, and manufactured nationalism.... CCP intentions of dominating Asia and arranging a bloc of authoritarianism worldwide... the tug-of-war over Taiwan... the ascendant relationship between Beijing & Moscow... how the U.S. is positioning itself... etc.

------> OUR GUEST is Dr. Aaron Friedberg, a professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton University and a specialist in US-China relations, great-power competition, and US foreign and defense policy. From 2003 to 2005, Dr. Friedberg served as deputy assistant for national security affairs in the Office of the Vice President of the United States. He's the author of several books and articles, and currently serves on serves on the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. He earned a PhD and a Bachelor's degree in government from Harvard University.

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The "Uncle Sam Abroad" podcast - through direct interviews - delves into U.S. foreign policy issues and the ways in which the United States Projects its power.
(Grab a listen. Be more informed.)

In this episode, we continue our discussion with Texas A&M University professor Christopher Layne about whether the U.S./China can ultimately avoid war.

Topics include: Prospects for mutual accommodation... How Taiwan's dominance in advanced chip manufacturing presents a major risk.... China's strength as "restoration" of its great power status.... The idea of "threat inflation".... Whether the U.S. policy mindset leaves any room for steering away from a collision course.

------> OUR GUEST is Prof. Christopher Layne, University Distinguished Professor of International Relations, and Robert M. Gates Chair in National Security at Texas A&M.

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The "Uncle Sam Abroad" podcast - through direct interviews - delves into U.S. foreign policy issues and the ways in which the United States projects its power.
(Grab a listen. Be more informed.)

In this episode, we speak with a senior professor of international relations at Texas A&M University.

Topics include: how this blistering competition between 2 superpowers mirrors tensions that immediately preceded World War 1... how America's foreign policy establishment views China... how China's re-absorption of Hong Kong works against prospects for avoiding war... and the importance of status, prestige, and honor.

------> OUR GUEST is Prof. Christopher Layne, University Distinguished Professor of International Relations, and Robert M. Gates Chair in National Security at Texas A&M.

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The "Uncle Sam Abroad" podcast - through direct interviews - delves into U.S. foreign policy issues and the ways in which the United States projects its power.
(Grab a listen. Be more informed.)