Friend –

Much to share today, starting with how deeply saddened I am about our country’s loss of Congressman John Lewis. 

Our paths crossed on a several occasions over my years in Washington and like all the tributes, I was always inspired by his words and his passion – calling on America to be a beacon of freedom, justice, and equality. In my statement, I shared how he never lost sight of our fellow citizens around the globe – giving voice to the most vulnerable.

I also wanted to share a few insights of our incredible USGLC Town Hall last week with former Secretary of Defense Bob Gates that drew more than 1,500 participants from across the country. 

With global threats moving at a breakneck pace, I was particularly interested to hear the former Pentagon chief’s take on the challenges to emerge since his book went to press. See the video and wrap-up below with the “Cliff Notes” version of our conversation – including his views on COVID-19 and China. If you joined, let me know your thoughts. 

Lots moving in Washington with Congress back in session and face-to-face negotiations picking up on the next COVID emergency relief bill – more to share soon.

Best,

Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC

THE GLOBAL GAB – TOWN HALL WITH SECRETARY BOB GATES
July 23, 2020

Secretary Gates’ steadfast support for America’s civilian national security tools – diplomacy and global development – takes center stage in his new book, Exercise of Power, which offers a roadmap for what it will take for America to lead in the 21^st century.

Here are the former SecDef’s latest views on the global challenges and topics that have emerged since his book went to press that he shared during the USGLC Town Hall: 

• COVID-19. Pointing to the pandemics of the past, he said “the U.S. has [always] exercised the leading global role in terms of coordinating and orchestrating a world response.” He then shared some tough words: “We have not done that in this case.”

• THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. Gates called the decision to withdraw “a serious mistake.” He said that “when we withdraw from these international institutions, we basically just give the Chinese open field running to be able to play a dominant role.”
  
  
  • He said his own view on international organizations is that if “we don’t think they are working very well” then the answer is to “get in there and fight and fix them and not walk away” because “it's in our own national interest to be in them and to be leading.”
    
    
• COMPETITION WITH CHINA. In response to a smart question from the recently retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joe Dunford, Gates said he thinks that a NATO alliance for Asia and the Pacific is “probably not in the cards.”
  
  
  • But he added that that there’s a lot more the U.S. can be doing as an “honest broker” to bring countries in the region together “out of common interests.” Yet he says, “it requires understanding the importance of these alliances… because it's in our own self-interest.”

• INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS. The former defense secretary weighed in on recent decisions on international students studying in the U.S stating that he was “really happy” to see the administration “reverse their position” on international students being forced to go home if taking online classes. He added: “That would have been a disaster.”

• THE NEXT GENERATION. Prompted by a question from a young USGLC leader from Indiana, Ashley Eason, Gates said: “The truth is there's hardly any activity in the country today – whether it's foundations or charities, or universities or private business – that isn't international in one way or another.”
  
  
  • His message: “It's incumbent on the leaders of these organizations and these institutions to make that explicit to young people… so they understand how integrated we are into the rest of the world.”

» If you missed our short book review with 6 takeaways on Exercise of Power, you can find it here. 

» Click here to watch the entire USGLC Town Hall with Secretary Bob Gates