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Former CIA Director William Burns has a book deal for the memoir 'Diplomat Spy'

Former CIA Director William Burns has a book deal for the memoir 'Diplomat Spy'

Yahoo2 days ago

NEW YORK (AP) — Former CIA director and Biden cabinet official William J. Burns is working on a book about his years leading the intelligence agency.
Random House announced Tuesday that it would publish Burns' 'Diplomat Spy: A Memoir of Espionage in Revolutionary Times.' The release date is still to be determined.
'It was a profound honor to lead the men and women of CIA, and I hope in this new book to illuminate their remarkable service, and the crucial connection in this revolutionary new era between spycraft and statecraft,' Burns, who headed the CIA from 2021-23 and was elevated by President Joe Biden to a cabinet position. A veteran diplomat, he was a key adviser to Biden on Russia, Ukraine and other parts of the world.
According to Random House, Burns' book is 'a riveting firsthand account of dealing with the most difficult foreign adversaries in the most difficult crises, a candid look at the personal and professional pressures which come with espionage, and a reflection on the future of intelligence at a time of rapid technological change and relentless attacks on public institutions.'

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David Jolly, a Trump critic and former GOP congressman, to run for Florida governor as a Democrat
David Jolly, a Trump critic and former GOP congressman, to run for Florida governor as a Democrat

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

David Jolly, a Trump critic and former GOP congressman, to run for Florida governor as a Democrat

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Commentary: How big of a threat is China really?
Commentary: How big of a threat is China really?

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Commentary: How big of a threat is China really?

Last June, during an annual security conference in East Asia, then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underscored that the United States was not seeking conflict with China. Maintaining a consistent dialogue with Beijing, he hinted, was just as vital to effective deterrence as ensuring the U.S. military was fully equipped and prepared. Fast-forward a year later and the message from Washington is far different. Unlike his predecessor, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth name-dropped China in his speech to the same security conference multiple times, as if to shame the Asian superpower for running roughshod over the so-called rules-based international order. China, Hegseth warned, was trying to become a hegemon in Asia, where it could dominate its neighbors, exploit the South China Sea's vast natural resources and coerce other countries into accepting Beijing's demands. In Hegseth's words, 'It has to be clear to all that Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.' An invasion of Taiwan, he added, could be 'imminent.' If this all sounds scary, that's because it is. His comments raise the rhetorical gamesmanship to a level U.S. officials weren't comfortable with in the past. The Biden administration was no slouch on China policy, but it still didn't want to inflame things unnecessarily. The Pentagon, for instance, repeatedly emphasized that while China's military drills around Taiwan were aggressive and designed to wear down the island's will to resist, a conflict in the Taiwan Strait was 'neither imminent nor inevitable.' In other words, there was still an opportunity to defuse any tensions before they exploded into a war that could drag the United States in, kill tens of thousands of people and throw a heavy wrench into the global economy. The Trump administration, however, has deployed noticeably sharper words during its first four months. Although the fundamentals of its wider policy in East Asia mimic the Biden administration's own — reinforcing U.S. alliances; engaging in regular freedom of navigation exercises with Japan and the Philippines; and stressing the utility of preserving the status quo in the Taiwan Strait — Trump's advisers aren't afraid of poking Beijing in the eye. If managing the systemic rivalry with Beijing was a core component of Washington's overall strategy throughout Biden's four years, it increasingly looks like the guardrails that were put in place to prevent miscalculations are now eroding. Even so, does the Trump administration have a point? Is a conflict over Taiwan imminent as Hegseth suggests? And how real is the risk of China becoming Asia's hegemon? First, we should acknowledge that China is a threat in certain respects, particularly to its neighbors who have competing jurisdictional claims. The People's Liberation Army, or PLA, is arguably the strongest military in the region today, a consequence of Chinese President Xi Jinping's long-standing policy of pouring money into its coffers to fund a large-scale modernization campaign. China spent $314 billion on defense in 2024, a 7% increase from the year prior and a whopping 59% increase from a decade ago. The PLA boasts the largest ballistic missile arsenal in Asia and continues to invest in hypersonic missiles, which are difficult for conventional air defenses to intercept. The PLA is also throwing out the old rulebook that used to govern affairs in East Asia. As I mentioned last week, the median line that once served as an unofficial boundary separating Chinese and Taiwanese airspace is now imaginary as the Chinese air force flies closer to the self-ruled island to test Taiwan's defenses and wear down morale. Yet the United States would be wise to refrain from overestimating China's military capability and underestimating the capability of its allies like Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Australia — all of whom have an even greater interest in preventing Chinese hegemony in Asia than Washington does. China is its own worst enemy in this regard: The more it presses its territorial claims, the more incentive its neighbors have to balance Beijing. For the most part, this is exactly what China's neighbors are doing. Japan is the most obvious case study. Traditionally a pacifist country that kept to an artificially low defense budget relative to its wealth, Japan has spent the last three years adding resources to its so-called Self-Defense Forces and buying American weapons off the shelf. Tokyo's latest national security strategy, unveiled in 2022, was a sea-change in how Japan typically talks about its security environment. In that document, China was called out for challenging the international order, partnering with Russia in its war against Ukraine and trying to change the region's status quo by force. Japan's defense budget is set to double by 2027, and with more resources comes a greater capability to preserve the balance of power. The Philippines is another example. While the country can't possibly compete with China in conventional terms, the Philippine government under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has effectively given up on rapprochement with Beijing and thrown in its lot with Washington. China's incessant clashes with Philippine forces in the South China Sea have served as a wake-up call to a country whose previous administration under Rodrigo Duterte (who is now in custody at the Hague for war crimes) drifted into the Chinese camp and took a more suspicious view of U.S. intentions. Today, Manila is not only buttressing its navy and coast guard but also increasingly partnering with countries like Japan and Australia who have a similar threat perception about China. In short, Asia's middle-powers aren't standing still. Chinese coercion is bringing them together. And ultimately, this is more important for stability in this area of the world than whatever the United States chooses to do. ____ Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune. ___

Trump Says Putin Could Help in Iran Nuclear Negotiations
Trump Says Putin Could Help in Iran Nuclear Negotiations

Newsweek

timean hour ago

  • Newsweek

Trump Says Putin Could Help in Iran Nuclear Negotiations

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to join talks on Iran's nuclear program and may help bring the negotiations to a close. In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump described an "over hour-long" call with Putin, during which they discussed Iran, nuclear weapons, and Russia's response to a Ukrainian drone strike. Trump wrote both leaders agreed that Iran "cannot have a nuclear weapon," and claimed Putin suggested he could "be helpful" in reaching a quick resolution. He also accused Iran of "slow walking" talks and urged urgency. Newsweek has reached out to the White House as well as the Kremlin and Iran's foreign ministry for comment. Why It Matters An offer from Putin to join the nuclear negotiations would coincide with a growing strategic alliance between Russia and Iran, both of which seek to counter Western power. Russia's entrance into the nuclear talks could add pressure to Iran, but it could also shift the diplomatic balance away from Washington's preferred framework. It also marks a moment where Moscow, despite its war in Ukraine and increasing isolation from the West, asserts its role in shaping high-stakes global security issues. President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. Susan Walsh/AP Photo What to Know According to Trump, Putin said he would be willing to join discussions and "could, perhaps, be helpful" in pushing Iran toward a final nuclear agreement. While Russia was previously a party to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—a multilateral agreement that placed limits on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief—it has taken a backseat amid shifting diplomatic dynamics and the U.S. withdrawal under Trump's prior administration. After the call, Putin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed Trump's account, saying the U.S. president believed "Russia's assistance may be necessary" and would welcome Moscow working with the Iranian side. Donald J. Trump Truth Social 06.04.25 01:56 PM EST — Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) June 5, 2025 Moscow and Tehran Ties Earlier this year, Russia and Iran signed a 20-year strategic partnership agreement, formalizing cooperation across military, economic, and technological sectors. The treaty, ratified by both nations' parliaments, includes provisions for joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, and collaboration on energy projects. This deepening alliance reflects a shared intent to counter Western influence and navigate around sanctions, which they both face. U.S.-Iran Talks So far, negotiations between Washington and Tehran have failed to produce a new agreement. The U.S. wants Iran to halt uranium enrichment to prevent it building nuclear weapons, while Iran says its program is for peaceful, civilian energy purposes. No breakthrough has been reached, and prospects have dimmed further after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that the latest U.S. proposal contradicts Iran's national interests. In this picture released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, speaks with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Sept. 7, 2018.... In this picture released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, speaks with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Sept. 7, 2018. A portrait of the late Iranian revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini hangs on the wall. More Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP photo What People Are Saying President Donald Trump: "President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion." Yury Ushakov, aide to President Putin: "Donald Trump believes that Russia's assistance may be necessary here, and he would appreciate it if Russia could work with the Iranian side accordingly." Negar Mortazavi, senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, editor and host of The Iran Podcast told Newsweek: "President Trump's suggestion that Putin could assist in the Iran talks signals a continued interest in striking a nuclear deal. Putin may indeed be in a position to help, given his leverage with both Washington and Tehran." What Happens Next With Russia signaling a new role in nuclear diplomacy and Iran holding firm on its enrichment program, the coming weeks may see increased trilateral engagement — though it is unclear whether Putin's involvement would hastens an agreement or reinforce Iran's determination.

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