2. Existential Security Threats to the United States

TL;DR

This analysis explores the existential security threats that the United States is facing, such as nuclear terrorism and regional nuclear war, and discusses the potential actions the next president should take.

Transcript

[APPLAUSE] DAVID KENNEDY: Well, good evening. My name is David Kennedy. And on behalf of my colleagues, Rob Reich from the Department of Political Science and Jim Steyer from Common Sense Media, I want to welcome you all to this second class session of our continuing studies course on the 2016 election. Our purpose in putting this course together h... Read More

Key Insights

• 🇰🇵 Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea pose significant nuclear risks, and the next president should address these threats.
• 💗 Cyber attacks are a growing concern, and the focus should be on deterrence by denial and building resilience.
• 💦 Restoring trust with the American people and working towards a bipartisan approach to national security are crucial.
• ❓ Depersonalizing US-Russian relations and finding areas of cooperation are necessary to address geopolitical tensions and prevent escalation.

Questions & Answers

Q: Is ISIS an existential threat to the United States?

While ISIS poses a threat to the US, it is not an existential threat. The focus should be on preventing nuclear terrorism and addressing other strategic challenges.

Q: What can the next president do to restore the US's ability to deal with these threats?

The next president should reaffirm actions like the Nuclear Security Summit and work towards ratifying the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Building resilience and educating the public about cyber threats are also important steps.

Q: How can the next president de-escalate tensions with Russia?

The president should depersonalize the relationship with Russia, focus on areas of cooperation like nuclear disarmament, and work towards a more objective approach to US-Russian relations.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The current threat environment is more uncertain and dangerous than ever before, with challenges from rising and declining states, weak and failed states, and non-state actors.

• The United States needs to address nuclear threats from countries like Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea and focus on issues like cyber attacks and territorial aggression.

• The next president needs to prioritize healing and rebuilding trust at home and abroad, address immediate and long-term security threats, and work towards a bipartisan approach to national security.