The Politics of National Security

National security has once again been thrust into the spotlight by recent nuclear tests by North Korea, Iran’s continued nuclear ambitions and Iraq’s record sectarian violence. On October 30, leading experts discussed the substance of national security decision-making among policy-makers and how those decisions will play out in the Congressional midterm elections and the 2008 presidential race. Participants included the co-authors of the new book, Hard Power: The New Politics of National Security: Kurt Campbell, senior vice president, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); and Michael O’Hanlon, senior fellow, the Brookings Institution.

John Harris, political editor at the Washington Post and co-author of The Way to Win: Taking the White House in 2008, also participated. Carlos Pascual, vice president and director of Foreign Policy Studies, moderated the discussion.