Note from Steve Clemons on my Sidewire Intvw w/ Sen John McCain -- and some links to 2016 Washington Ideas Week

Greetings Colleagues & Friends:

 

FIRST.   I had the opportunity to interview SENATOR JOHN McCAIN on Sidewire and wanted to pass on the link and highlights.  Senator McCain and I discussed a wide range of national security issues and what he thought about the posture of Presidents now and into the future.  Some highlights are pasted below and the full link is here:  https://sidewire.com/politics/articles/2fb2dbe68f6791c71ff552cb294158bd

 

Sidewire is becoming a high profile platform for political players and policy hands and thought you might be interested.

SECOND.   For those of you who want more McCain and Clemons -- here is the YouTube clip of my interview of the Senator last September at the 2015 WASHINGTON IDEAS FORUM:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IwxMYRRdIc

 

THIRD.  For those of you who want to attend or check out the 2016 WASHINGTON IDEAS WEEK organized by The Atlantic and the Aspen Institute, here is the link to learn more:

http://www.theatlantic.com/live/events/washington-ideas-week-2016/2016/

 

All best to you,

 

Steve Clemons

Washington Editor at Large, The Atlantic

@SCClemons on Twitter

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Atlantic’s Steve Clemons and US Sen. John McCain Talk Obama’s Hiroshima Visit and Foreign Policy on Sidewire San Francisco, CA – This morning, Senator John McCain joined The Atlantic’s Washington Editor-at-Large Steve Clemons on Sidewire. Senator McCain discussed President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima, Japan, the administration’s deal with Iran and the tough foreign policy choices the next President faces. To view the conversation, download Sidewire HERE or visit this link.   Highlights: The Atlantic’s Steve Clemons and US Sen. John McCain Talk Obama’s Hiroshima Visit and Foreign Policy on Sidewire Question from Steve Clemons on President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima, Japan:   “Let's start with the opening news of the day....President Obama has decided to visit Hiroshima -- the first city to know the devastation of an atomic bomb. Wondering if you think that this is healing or hurtful when it comes to US posture” – Steve Clemons, The Atlantic (http://sdw.re/1T7AHu5) US Sen. John McCain “I think it depends on the message. As horrific as the bombing was I think it remains justified because of the loss of American and Japanese lives that the invasion would have caused.” – John McCain, U.S. Senate (R-AZ) (http://sdw.re/1OIEhtq)   Question from Steve Clemons on the tough choices facing America’s next president: “I think one of the things I have heard you talk about is the tough choices a President faces, hard choices - and you have suggested Pres. Obama has made many of the wrong ones -- that he is a declinist. What would you like to see in the next President?” – Steve Clemons, The Atlantic (http://sdw.re/1T7B87Y) US Sen. John McCain “An acknowledgement of the importance of American leadership in the world. That leadership may require the sacrifice of American blood and treasure, but is crucial to stability around the world. There is no substitute for American leadership.” – John McCain, U.S. Senate (R-AZ) (http://sdw.re/1T7BkUF)   Question from Steve Clemons on President Obama’s Iran deal: “Some have suggested that Obama's "Nixon Goes to China" moment is Iran and you disagree with his approach & this shift. What do u think the major errors in Obama's course have been? If there are no nukes in Iran in say 20 years, will he be vindicated?” – Steve Clemons, The Atlantic (http://sdw.re/1Wn8RuW) US Sen. John McCain “Nuclear weapons, although paramount, are not the only threat posed by Iran. Their ambitions in the region remain unchecked as we see their destabilizing activities in Syria, Yemen and Iraq to name a few.” – John McCain, U.S. Senate (R-AZ) (http://sdw.re/1OIHwRq)   Question from Steve Clemons on Senator McCain’s foreign policy priorities: “Apologies for running different lines of questions and areas of world at same time. Guess it's like what a global leader has to deal with, multiple issues simultaneously. Wondering what McCain strategic priority list is when so much is chaos out there.” – Steve Clemons, The Atlantic (http://sdw.re/1Wn8tN2) US Sen. John McCain “Every military leader before the Armed Services Committee has stated that the number one challenge to American security is Russia. Cyber is now a new and extremely important dimension in global challenges.” – John McCain, U.S. Senate (R-AZ) (http://sdw.re/1OIGJjq)   Question from Steve Clemons on Obama aide Ben Rhodes’ foreign policy role: “You've reacted strongly to the Samuels article in the NY Times Magazine about Ben Rhodes' role in shaping foreign policy - suggesting that the President is more committed to a news angle than to taking substantive stock of global realities. share more?” – Steve Clemons, The Atlantic (http://sdw.re/1Wn9q80) US Sen. John McCain “The President assumed office with the commitment for the US to get out of wars. What he didn't understand is that wars don't end because he says so. The world is in more turmoil with more refugees than any time in the last 70 years.” – John McCain, U.S. Senate (R-AZ) (http://sdw.re/1T8URRw)