The Arkin Group

In an interview with Bloomberg Markets AM with Pimm Fox and Lisa Abramowicz on August 14, 2017, TAG President Jack Devine talks about why it’s time for negotiation – not military action – with North Korea. Devine said, “It’s been a long, long time since I thought we were in a situation where it’s conceivable that we could have a military confrontation that could end up in some sort of nuclear incident.” Given the serious threat, Devine argues that “one way or the other, we have to get back to the table.”

Former CIA Acting Director Devine: ‘Very Concerned’ About Korea

Neither President Donald Trump’s “Fire and Fury” nor Kim Jong-Un’s most recent threat about Guam provide a path to sensibly resolve the growing North Korea nuclear crisis, according to TAG President Jack Devine and Japanese policy analyst Yoshi Yamamoto. In an article published August 10, 2017 in the Houston Chronicle, Devine and Yamamoto argue that South Korea’s new President, Moon Jae-in, and overtures to its neighbors to hold direct military talks is a much-needed opportunity to change the course of our dealings with North Korea. They believe that ultimately, the end goal is a treaty with Kim Jong-Un that includes the incremental denuclearization (or at a minimum a cessation on further development of its program) based on a robust verification protocol – in exchange for diplomatic and economic reintegration with the world.

It’s Time for Negotiation with North Korea, Not Military Action

The United States has been at war in Afghanistan since October 2001 – making this America’s Longest War. The challenges in Afghanistan are not new, but the Trump administration is looking for a new approach and currently weighing the options for US engagement in Afghanistan going forward. In this context, TAG Senior Director Amanda Mattingly moderated a panel on the war in Afghanistan at the August 8th Members Forum at the World Affairs Council of Atlanta. Speaking on the panel were Ken Keen, Retired Lieutenant General, U.S. Army, Senior Mentor, Joint Staff J7 and Jon Keen, Former Infantry Officer, U.S. Army – two generations of a military family who were able to provide insight from personal experience on the ground in Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as their views from a tactical and strategic perspective.