American Diplomat

Why can't we just bomb our way to victory in Iran? Listen to Lt. General Karen Gibson, former Director of Intelligence for U.S. Central Command, tell tales of the three-legged stool of military, intel and diplomacy in Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq – when things go well and when they do not.

Former Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Todd Robinson spent much of his career under fire, of one kind or another. Listen to his candid views on corruption in Guatemala, blowing up ships without due process, and how to stop fentanyl from killing Americans.

Is it Burma, or is it Myanmar? Did its former leader Aung San Suu Kyi bring democratic reform or did she commit genocide? Both? Chris Milligan, former Agency Counselor for USAID, highlights breathtaking human resilience and the strategic value of foreign assistance.

What was USAID? How did DOGE destroy it, and with what impacts to global health and stability? Nick Enrich's book "Into the Wood Chipper" details the demolition of the agency that for less than 1% of the US budget saved 92 million lives globally. Listen to him tell the tale.

What is "dumping"? How does it hurt us? Who comes to the rescue? The Foreign Commercial Service! Judy Reinke, after leading the FCS, became Ambassador to Montenegro. Listen to her tales of service near and far.

How to get bomb-ready uranium out of the wrong hands? It's the mid-90s. The Soviet Union just fell. Andrew Weber, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs, tells of moose hunts, wild turkey, black ice and convoys under cover of night. How does past diplomacy help us understand the nuclear situation in Iran today?

Can the US get out of its own way and turn this into a win? Ambassador Gary Grappo tells us how to do that, in a conversation with Pete and ASU Barrett Honors students. And yes, the solution involves diplomacy with a touch of humility. The Diplomat Lounge is a spinoff project of American Diplomat. This is its third of its three pilot episodes.

By what dirty tricks exactly did Orban seize control of his country? And how then did his rival Magyar beat him? And between those bookends, we offer a look at what it was like to run the embassy in Budapest under Trump I. Could it be any more different than Trump now? Dave Kostelancik, former Chargé d'Affaires, regales us.

AMB Kurt Volker, who has known Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban for 30 years, helps us understand the man, his early vision for Hungary, how his quest to "never lose another election" led him to become the model for would-be authoritarians everywhere — and also led to his downfall in last Sunday's election. Things are never quite as simple as they may appear!

After a long and successful career as a U.S. diplomat, AMB Jeff Feltman went on to places where no US official has ever gone before, as the UN's Under Secretary General for Political Affairs. What was it like to meet with Ayatollah Khamenei or Iranian President Ahmadinejad? Or to visit Pyongyang and relay messages from the US president to the North Korean leadership? When is the UN at its most effective? Plus a bonus discussion of the best way to evacuate US citizens when their lives are in danger.

It's not too early to start thinking about the recovery of US influence in a post-Trump world. Gen Z has some answers that align with their (our) values. The kids are alright. The Diplomat Lounge is a spinoff project of American Diplomat. This is its second episode.

In Saudi Arabia women now drive, work and travel as they please, and the country has moved toward normalizing relations with Israel. Amb. Michael Ratney tells of change in Saudi and shares stories of Israel, where the only way forward is for all of us – Israelis, Palestinians and everyone – to humanize each other. Does the present war boil down to Iran against everybody in this intensely multifaceted part of the world? And what will Saudi do?

For many of us, the Middle East is a place of intractable conflict and endless complexity. Ambassador Stuart Jones lived those complications for much of his diplomatic career. Whether studying maps with Iran-backed militia leaders in Iraq, arguing troop withdrawals at the salad bar with John McCain, or sneaking food for hungry refugeess over the Syrian border, Stu Jones was there when it mattered. His insights may not end the current war — but will surely help you understand it better!

US Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella helps us understand why support for democracy and public health achieves the same objectives as "hard power": using our influence to advance US objectives overseas. For the cost of one aircraft on one aircraft carrier, we can save hundreds of thousands of lives. And what is the benefit to us? And who is Kennedy Mweene, anyway?

First, we welcome the wonderful Ambassador Dan Rosenblum as new co-host for the show. And we at American Diplomat still believe that the world will return to diplomacy! To help our youngest listeners prepare for that moment, our guest, Henry Haggard, has created a resource: The 25 Year Apprenticeship. So get in the room, listen and learn! As Henry likes to quote his mentors, "This is your apprenticeship, Henry! Pay attention!"

Is the Gen Z drive for authenticity exactly what the country needs now? Our guests ASU Barrett Honors Students Kate Kelley and Sophia Agelastos elucidate how they parse fact from fiction. Join Pete Romero, Ambassador Deborah McCarthy and our student guests to hear what really matters to the Zs.

At a time when Trump wages war against expertise, with scores of career ambassadors being recalled and a thinning of officers in the field, Undersecretary of State John Bass holds forth on why real estate and business experience, as well as AI, cannot substitute for diplomatic tradecraft.

You probably thought that an ambassador's job was to help Americans and work with local governments. And so did Ambassador Dan Rosenblum! But to his amazement he discovered that he was in charge of bioweapons campaigns designed to infect populations and plots to overthrow governments and destabilize society overseas! Not true, of course, but the disinformation machinery is hard at work. At what cost? And what can we do to combat this form of warfare? Listen to Dan's personal experience in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Have you ever heard of the teeny tiny Bureau of Intelligence and Research within the State Department? Pull up a chair, because we have Phil Goldberg and Dan Smith here – both career ambassadors (highest rank in the Senior Foreign Service), and both Assistant Secretaries of State for this small but mighty intelligence service. Have a look under the hood at what may be the coolest job in the world.

Israeli security has been the third rail of public discourse. Support all that Israel does or Hamas owns you. The result: waning support. Joel Rubin is back to unpack how Trump is changing the script.

Jewish-American political analyst Joel Rubin unpacks the reasons for the increase in hate crimes and why Jewish-American groups did not expect a rise in anti-Semitism.

Must our foreign policy be based on ego, resources and might-makes-right? Can we effectively meet future challenges with policies based on American values? Ambassador Mike Polt hopes so, and ASU is developing a plan for the long game.

Why hasn't Trump decided to keep US boots on the ground? Let us count the reasons. Hint, it's not because it would be a bad look.

An oldie but a goodie and one of our very favorites, our annual New Year's special: In Vodka Veritas with Dick Hoagland. Ambassador Dick Hoagland, having served many years in Russia and former Soviet republics, has had ample opportunity to consider the high-stakes drinking game of vodka diplomacy. Break a bottle over the bow of 2026 and Happy New Year!  

For the holidays, we asked diplomats to share their tales. We have Ken Quinn whose young kids' Christmas in Austria was saved by a team including the Chattanooga Choo Choo, a muslim Santa and a temporary North Korean "daugther". We have Peter Pham who, on his way home for the holidays from his post in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was diverted to Paris due to the US government shutdown, which turn of events led him to ensure the safety return of a recent Congolese Nobel Prize winner. And we have Kent Logsdon who shares a moving tale of singing in an ambassadors' version of a barbershop quartet the song War Is Over, when indeed, war had only just ended in that country. Have a lovely holiday season, everyone!

The Administration's new National Security Strategy document contains exaggerations, contradictions, insults, racism, posturing and slamming, which is to say nothing of the important topics it does not address. Amb. Charlie Ray takes the ideological manifesto apart for us, with discussion of the existential consequences for America and for our species.

Imagine a free and prosperous Venezuela. What would it take? We take you to a simulated White House Situation Room with diplomat and Venezuela expert Brian Naranjo. Are you ready for some ground truth?

The chainsaw was one thing. But the dog economists? Either way, $20billion is a nice bailout package for Argentina. Senior State Department economist Rich Sanders unpacks life in Argentina today, for their eccentric-in-chief and for the Argentine populace. 

State Department lawyer Mike Peay traces how, during a time of deep racial conflict,  black American jazz artists went overseas to promote the American experiment, winning the hearts of millions with their music and personas, but would it improve race relations at home? We share this episode once more to lift our hearts on Thanksgiving day.

There are no embassies in space, so why diplomacy? Space is everywhere on earth – in financial transactions, food supplies, GPS – and it is key to hybrid warfare, particularly in US competition with China. Space demands agreements before conflicts get hot. Major General Brook Leonard is back to help us understand the facts and the strategic implications.

Nepalese democracy is strong but its economy is not. Social platforms gave voice to the aggrieved. When the government threatened access, young folks got down to business, and they got it done. How? Amb. Peter Bodde unpacks.

Senator/Ambassador Jeff Flake, one of POTUS' first targets, tells us why he believes that inclusiveness will win in the US and beyond.

POTUS has wide discretion in sending the standing military into American streets. Public and international law expert John Bellinger examines what our courts will do if he tries to deploy them.

Ex-National Security Council lawyer John Bellinger takes us into a hypothetical White House Situation Room to advise on the shaky legal grounds for any future attacks on Venezuela. Does Trump care?

Amb. Patrick Theros is back to parse just how the Gaza Peace Plan will likely unfold and why Trump will have to marshal his inner Tony Soprano to get it done.

Between Trump and the Nobel Peace Prize. Israel's Bibi crossed a redline with his attack on Qatar. The fabulously knowledgeable Amb. Patrick Theros parses this moment and its significance.

Blowing up small boats to stop drug trafficking? Or is it like swatting flies with a blowtorch? And what about those drug-laden planes still flying north? Ambassador James Story sets the record straight.

Polar opposites: Mexican President Sheinbaum – a fact-based scientist, an introvert, methodical, with high standards…and then there is Trump. Mexico expert Brian Naranjo explains how she manages to tame the beast.

After repeated Russian invasions and/or occupations and with a population only 0.89% the size of Russia, how do you defend yourself, particularly in the age of hybrid warfare? Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur breaks it down. And, most importantly, how best to create tolerance for others' views, when the goal is for us all to remain alive under the same sun?

Use entertainment as political discourse, distort reality, mock adversaries, distract the public from the real issues. The Romans started it and Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi put it on full throttle. Italy expert Steve Scherer shows us how elected populists gain and keep power.

What happens when our president operates from his own alternative reality?  A growing Axis of Upheaval against us? Elizabeth Shackelford is back to clarify the moment.

We fought, died, celebrated victories and became prosperous together. Canadians could count on us, until now. Journalist Steve Scherer walks us through the US boycotts and yes, the profound sense of betrayal.

What prompts someone to become a violent Muslim extremist? Even more, what would get them to turn against their comrades? Counter-terrorism guru Brig Barker demystifies this dark world.

Why is Kazakhstan safe from Russia? It juts into the heart of Russia and shares the longest continuous land border in the world. What is their secret? Ambassador Dan Rosenblum's analogy: walking a tightrope.

What happens when you are instructed to treat the aggressor as an innocent? Former Ambassador Bridget Brink's career reaches a fork in the road. What to do? Hint: Who's running in the Michigan Seventh Congressional District?  And most importantly, why?

He's charismatic, he's exciting, he's strong. How do elected autocrats woo their publics and then destroy the very countries they promised to elevate? What happens to the populace?  Kristie Kenney, ambassador to Ecuador, Thailand and the Philippines has a thing or two to say about these folks and the reasons that people elect them.  Repost from 2020, with oddly entertaining postscript from Pete.  Spolier alert: Things doesn't always turn out the way these guys expect.  

It is the 1950s. Senator Joseph McCarthy and his henchman Roy Cohn target and humiliate our diplomats for accurately reporting an eventual Mao victory in China. Jack Service and his family are at the center of the storm. Is history repeating itself before our eyes?  Enjoy this snapshot of diplomacy that is more relevant today than it was when we first posted it in 2020.

Secretary Rubio's stated goal is to reduce our diplomatic corps by 15%. Does it stop there? After four years of whim and chaos will the world ever trust us to lead again? Will we have the expertise and talent? Ambassador Eric Rubin lays it all out for us.

What happens when tariff policy becomes a whim? Career commercial officer Dan Crocker peers into the chaos and breaks down the stakes for businesses and national security.

The old approach to national security is breaking apart.  Americans demand change.  Young diplomats and global service professionals today have a once in a century opportunity to reshape how the US engages in the world.  Amb. Tom Shannon is back to inspire and share his awesome insights.  In his words, Liberate the Future. (FSJ Jan-Feb 2025)