PRESS ROOM

In a discussion at the Center for International Policy, Lee identified the “greater motivating factors” behind the US talks with North and South Korea as Trump’s need to show a win before the 2020 election; Kim’s need to lift sanctions as part of his drive to improve North Korea’s beleaguered economy; and Moon’s need to make progress in inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation before his own term is up in 2022.

North Korea on July 16 warned that it could resume testing inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBM) if the United States and South Korea proceeded with planned joint military exercises. Ignoring the North’s warning risks throwing away what has in reality been a great deal for America.

Today, a global political system that for 350 years has been dominated by nations of the "West" finds itself approaching a crossroads. . . But the essential Westphalian principles of "live and let live," of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, and of the need for coexistence and co-operation among states run along deeply divergent lines have a value that is perhaps greater now than at any time since the unsettled years of 1640s.

The U.S. will not sell F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey, following Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, the White House announced. Joining us to discuss the U.S.-Turkey military relationship is William Hartung.

Henri Féron led this panel discussion on the North Korean Nuclear Crisis with other experts in the field. The event reached full attendance and had over 700 online viewers.

A planned merger between Raytheon and United Technologies will only further consolidate a bloated military-industrial complex.

"At $738 billion for Fiscal Year 2020 and $740 billion for Fiscal Year 2021," wrote Hartung, "the agreement sets the table for two of the highest budgets for the Pentagon and related work on nuclear warheads at the Department of Energy since World War II."

Today, a global political system that for 350 years has been dominated by nations of the “West” finds itself approaching a crossroads. The principles on which this system has been based until now are in question—many of them, quite rightly so.

According to Ben Freeman of the Center for International Policy, the many overtures to these three Congress members should raise eyebrows. “These are all fairly junior members that wouldn't otherwise get much attention from Saudi and UAE lobbyists unless those lobbyists thought there was a chance they'd vote their way,” says Freeman, who provided In These Times with the FARA documents cited in this report. “This vote is at least one indication those lobbyists bet right.”

As Hartung writes: “. . . there’s no question that spreading defense jobs around the country gives weapons manufacturers unparalleled influence over key members of Congress, much to their benefit when Pentagon budget time rolls around. In fact, it’s a commonplace for Congress to fund more F-35s, F-18s, and similar weapons systems than the Pentagon even asks for. So much for congressional oversight.”

Republicans and Democrats find themselves in the debate over how much money to give to the Pentagon in fiscal year 2020. The bid from the Republican controlled Senate is $750 billion. The just passed bid from the Democratic controlled House is $733 billion. Both have radically overbid on the price of the Pentagon.

“This sale is telling the Saudis that the U.S. is firmly in their corner,” Hartung said. “That might be the worst element of it, particularly in the post-Khashoggi murder period, to say the Trump administration more or less supports you to the hills.”