On August 21, the committee charged with composing the GOP’s platform for the 2012 election season submitted their draft to the party for approval.  According to Fox News, the platform was “emphatically” given the nod on August 28^th.  While the usual news outlets have paid much attention to the sections of the platform concerning the party’s stances on abortion and gay marriage, the mainstream media has failed to address the Republican Party’s troubling take on the nexus between national security and climate change.

The language used by the GOP’s official platform is quite critical of the Obama Administration’s classification of climate change as a serious threat to national security. In fact, the new GOP platform states that the current national security strategy “elevates ‘climate change’ to the level of a ‘severe threat’ equivalent to foreign aggression.” If the GOP had done their homework, they would have encountered an overwhelming body of evidence coming from some impressive sources that outright contradicts their platform before it was approved and widely circulated.

Much has been made of the sizzling weather this summer. You've heard about it around the water cooler and in line at Starbucks. This week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that July was the hottest month in United States history. 3,215 daily high temperature records were set or tied in June. More than 63 percent of the country in the lower 48 states is experiencing drought. Whether the high temperatures are caused by a broader climate change trend is unclear, but the heat will inevitably affect short-term crop supply, meat prices, and land arability. Moreover, the heat, if part of a climate change regime, could also affect the frequency, duration, and intensity of armed conflicts. 

For the past two and a half years, a big part of my job at Global Solutions has involved managing the work of our political action committee, Global Solutions PAC.  I've met with congressional candidates from around the country, listened to their views on foreign policy, recommended endorsements and contributions to their campaigns, and attended fundraisers to show our support.  It's been a great experience, and one that has taught me quite a lot. 

Now, as I prepare to leave Global Solutions and embrace new opportunities, I look back on my time here and have a few thoughts and memories I'd like to share with you.

It doesn't take a genius or political pundit to know that most Americans are not primarily focused on foreign policy this year as they decide which candidates they want to send to the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives.  Most voters, understandably, are more focused on jobs and the economy.  However, there is plenty of evidence that voters do want to see a U.S. foreign policy that remains engaged outside our borders and works with allies and international institutions to build a better world.  For example, according to a recent survey by the Better World Campaign:

Saudi Arabian Women Athletes

Saudi Arabia is notorious for its troublesome human rights record and most especially for denying women an assortment of basic liberties.  However, in a brief moment of openness, the Saudi government announced it will allow two women athletes to compete in this year’s London Olympics.  It will be the first time that women are allowed to compete on behalf of the Islamic monarchy.  This represents a dramatic shift in policy given that women are not allowed to participate in physical education classes or attend a gym.  Their participation means that all competing countries at the Olympics will have women athletes after Brunei and Qatar relented this year.  

The two athletes are named Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani (competing in Judo) and Sarah Attar (competing in the 800-meter race).  The women will not be allowed to interact with men, must wear “suitable” clothing, and must be accompanied at all times.  While it is an encouraging development, it is unclear whether the announcement will have ripple effects for nearly fifteen million Saudi women.