Hamilton, Hart, Hodes: Enlarging the Frame With the next round of talks between the P5+1 and Iran coming up on May 23rd in Baghdad, we know that the parties have concluded further talks could be useful. But it still appears that the central thrust of the P5+1 (the U.S., U.K., China, Russia, France and Germany) will be limited to immediate concerns over Iran's nuclear program and not the underlying issues that define Iran's relationship with the international community. While we must hope that approach bears fruit, we must not lose sight of the wider frame that represents the more strategic approach, and just possibly, offers a higher likelihood of long term success.

This article was written by Sen. Gary Hart and Rep. Lee Hamilton, members of PSA's Advisory Board, and Matthew Hodes, PSA Executive Director.

CPP Event with Senator Chuck Hagel On May 23, PSA will host a CPP reception with Senator Chuck Hagel, former US Senator from Nebraska and current Chair of the Atlantic Council and the President's Intelligence Advisory Board.

For information on PSA's Congressional Fellowship Program, please click here.

PSA Launches Spring 2012 Congressional Partnership Program Washington, DC - The Partnership for a Secure America (PSA) welcomes 30 Hill staff members into PSA's Spring 2012 Congressional Partnership Program schedule. Currently in its sixth session, the program brings together Republican and Democratic staff to develop the skills and relationships required to advance bipartisanship on national security and foreign policy issues. To view participants, click here.

PSA Hosts Ambassador Thomas Pickering for Congressional Partnership Program Dinner On May 3rd, Advisory Board member and former Undersecretary of State Ambassador Thomas Pickering met with participants in PSA's Congressional Partnership Program for an off the record discussion on critical issues of the day in foreign affairs and national security.

CPP Reception Featuring Michele Flournoy, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy PSA hosted a private reception for CPP participants featuring guest speaker Michele Flournoy, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

Dr. Andrew Semmel, PSA Board of Directors member, speaks at 2012 Challenge Accepted Dr. Andrew Semmel spoke at the recent 2012 Challenge Accepted youth conference at George Washington University. The discussion focused on current issues in nuclear security and proliferation, especially with regard to "bad actors" Iran and North Korea. Find out more at http://www.acceptthechallenge2012.org/.

Enlarging the Frame This article was written by Sen. Gary Hart and Rep. Lee Hamilton, members of PSA's Advisory Board, and Matthew Hodes, PSA Executive Director. The article originally appeared in The Huffington Post.

Enlarging the Frame

With the next round of talks between the P5+1 and Iran coming up on May 23rd in Baghdad, we know that the parties have concluded further talks could be useful. But it still appears that the central thrust of the P5+1 (the U.S., U.K., China, Russia, France and Germany) will be limited to immediate concerns over Iran's nuclear program and not the underlying issues that define Iran's relationship with the international community. While we must hope that approach bears fruit, we must not lose sight of the wider frame that represents the more strategic approach, and just possibly, offers a higher likelihood of long term success. We already know what one version of negotiations limited to the nuclear agenda can produce. In 2010, Brazil and Turkey brokered a potential deal with Iran, consistent with Iran's existing obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, that would have dealt with the enrichment issue currently under discussion but the U.S. government rejected that approach, choosing to pursue a stricter sanctions regime in the U.N. Security Council. At the same time, we also have evidence of what broader, more comprehensive negotiations .. Read Article

The Paradox of China's Reform Jamie Metzl served on the National Security Council in the Clinton Administration and is Co-Chairman of Partnership for a Secure America and a former Executive Vice President of the Asia Society. This article first appeared on Project Syndicate. NEW YORK -- The compelling drama of former Chongqing Communist Party chief Bo Xilai’s ouster amid allegations of corruption and murder, and of blind Chinese human-rights advocate Chen Guangcheng’s dash to safety in the US Embassy in Beijing, are more than just fascinating narratives of venality and courage. Unless China can purge the thousands of corrupt Party leaders like Bo, and empower people - like those Chen represents - who have been left behind or harmed by rapid growth, its economy will increasingly suffer. Like the Asian Tiger economies before it, China has excelled in the first phase of capitalist economic growth, benefiting from massive infusions of capital, low-cost labor, intellectual-property theft, and centralized planning. And, like many of them, China is now facing a “middle-income trap”: as wages rise, its low-end manufacturing is losing global competitiveness while government policies, endemic corruption, and dominant state-owned enterprises are stifling the type of private-sector innovation that China needs most to generate products and services with higher added value. China’s leaders understand this, which is why the government’s 12th Five-Year Plan calls for a gradual opening up of the Chinese economy. .. Read Article

Change In France: How Does It Impact The US? Laurie Dundon is currently living in France and is a PSA Senior Fellow. To read more about her, click here. A new President, Francois Hollande, was inaugurated in France this week and is already visiting the US just days after coming into office. Hollande rode into office on a slogan that "change is now".  So what does that mean for the US?  America and France have been working collaboratively in the last years under President Sarkozy.  How will that change? The short answer: not much. Although the US should expect some policy divergences at first and Hollande could come with a confrontational bravado this weekend -- especially on Afghanistan -- once President Hollande settles into office, expect more continuity than change.  Fundamentally, the US still has a partner in France. As we will see in the coming days at the G8 and NATO Summits, the US will face some real operational divergences with the new French administration.  The NATO Summit will be tricky.  Hollande will come with campaign promises that he used to set himself apart from Sarkozy such as expediting France's withdrawal from Afghanistan with all troops home by the end of this year (a year ahead of schedule), skepticism over missile defense, and considering the reversal of France's recent return to NATO's command structure. At today's G8 Summit, Hollande will be heavily engaged but could create nervousness with his economic agenda.  He has pledged to confront Merkel and reopen the EU's hard-won pact of .. Read Article