Center for American Progress senior economist Heather Boushey explains California First Lady Maria Shriver’s collaborative report on the needs of women workers in the United States. She lists labor standards, family and employee benefits, reform of anti-discrimination laws, modernization of U.S. social insurance system, and increased government support of child care and elder care.
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By Celia Canon- Talk Radio News Service
As the U.S-Russia summit from July 6th-8th nears, former Secretary of Defense William Cohen, who spoke at the Center for American Progress Thursday, delivered an optimistic message on the chances of cooperation between the two nations based on goals that both share.
“The distrust is long, it’s deep, but in my opinion it’s not irresponsible… [President Obama] has to decide what the nature of our relationship is going to be with Russia. He has to identify 5 or 6 areas of potential cooperation,” said Cohen.
Russian political experts and Washington think-tanks alike believe the upcoming summit could produce a renewal in Russo-American ties.
Cohen and Dr. Samuel Charap, a Fellow at the Center for American Progress, identified six points of common interest between the U.S. and Russia: Arms control and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, stability and security for the former Soviet region, the fight against violent extremism, the introduction of Russia to Western organizations such as the WTO, energy conservation, and the health and wellness of the two populations.
On the scheduled expiration of START, ratified by Russia and the United States in 1991 to achieve a dramatic reduction in strategic forces, Cohen said “If President Obama and his counterparts are dedicated to doing that [complete the renewal of START by the end of the year], it’s achievable.”
Cohen reiterated the importance of Russia’s role in foreign affairs, indicating that “the non proliferation of weapons of mass destruction: we both have interests in that; curbing Iranian and North Korean nuclear ambitions. Frankly I don’t really think we will be able to solve Iran’s ambitions for nuclear weapons capability without the help of Russia. Russia will have far more leverage than we will. The question is are they going to be wiling to exercise that leverage in their dealings with Iran. They have serious commercial interests in Iran…”
Charap agreed with Cohen that the U.S. should include Russia in international organizations.
“The administration’s policies should be guided by the long term goal of integrating Russia into western and other international institutions. integration in these structures, rather than isolation from them is in the U.S national interest because they require greater accountability,” said Charap.
In addition to national security issues, Cohen also discussed economic benefits of renewed ties between the two nations.
“[Russians] need to have Western investment and it has not exactly been a hospitable environment for Western investment. There are serious questions remaining concerning the rule of law… and safe investment,” said Cohen, adding that “The U.S should encourage the development of a democratic Russia that observes the universal values of human rights, political pluralism and the rule of law” in order to encourage foreign direct investment.
Tala Dowlatshahi Interviews Vanessa Cardenas, Director of Ethic Media for the Center for American Progress, January 19th, 2009 (05:57).
Elisabeth Kvitashvili of the U.S. Agency for International Development says the military’s humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan are short term solutions and not linked to long term societal goals, adding that the military has yet to learn teaching people to fish is more valuable than giving them fish to eat. (0:50)
Reuben Brigerty of the Center for American Progress says the defense establishment is asking itself how it can better advance US security interests and prevent conflict from emerging by engaging in non-kinetic, non-forceful military approaches. (0:28)
David Madland, director of the Center for American Progress discusses the “progressive” views of America’s youth during a conference call on young Americans and the economy. (0:34)
