NationStates

Tallahasee News Station wrote:

Dentali wrote:

“How will you repair relations with NATO? Turkey?”

"I believe our relations with NATO are strong, and should be worked on so we keep it that way, its with Turkey that we have the problem. Expanding NATO out east after the Cold War was a good plan and Winston reversing it all the way back to an old member has just kicked up a whole wasp's nest of trouble. Turkey is a place where we can make good allies and bringing them back in should be a priority for us. They should have a place in NATO and in the European Union too, and I think we can make amends for all the craziness that made kicking them out happen, and that they may feel a little stung still, but they'll be ready to reconcile when we start bringing them back into our circles."

Dentali wrote:

Tallahasee News Station wrote:
"I believe our relations with NATO are strong, and should be worked on so we keep it that way, its with Turkey that we have the problem. Expanding NATO out east after the Cold War was a good plan and Winston reversing it all the way back to an old member has just kicked up a whole wasp's nest of trouble. Turkey is a place where we can make good allies and bringing them back in should be a priority for us. They should have a place in NATO and in the European Union too, and I think we can make amends for all the craziness that made kicking them out happen, and that they may feel a little stung still, but they'll be ready to reconcile when we start bringing them back into our circles."

"I don't believe we need to go try to refreeze the Cold War with Russia. They ain't the Soviets any more and they've got problems, but no different from some other countries with problems that we've been allies with before. I think we're in a unique position to negotiate out a peace over Crimea from where we stand. Setting up a referendum and some warmer relations with Russia on one hand and getting some security for Ukraine by starting them into NATO on the other looks like an ideal solution to me."
“How do we turn back Russia specifically in Ukraine?”

Tallahasee News Station wrote:

Dentali wrote:

"I don't believe we need to go try to refreeze the Cold War with Russia. They ain't the Soviets any more and they've got problems, but no different from some other countries with problems that we've been allies with before. I think we're in a unique position to negotiate out a peace over Crimea from where we stand. Setting up a referendum and some warmer relations with Russia on one hand and getting some security for Ukraine by starting them into NATO on the other looks like an ideal solution to me."
“How do we turn back Russia specifically in Ukraine?”

Dentali wrote:

Tallahasee News Station wrote:

“What should we do with states that are bad on human rights but are strategic allies?”

Tallahasee News Station wrote:

Dentali wrote:

“What should we do with states that are bad on human rights but are strategic allies?”

"Well, we've just got to be good influencers as much as we can. Going and breaking off relationships isn't going to do any good for their rights record and we can't invade everyone that's got problems, so we keep on nudging them closer to where they should be."

Dentali wrote:

Tallahasee News Station wrote:
"Well, we've just got to be good influencers as much as we can. Going and breaking off relationships isn't going to do any good for their rights record and we can't invade everyone that's got problems, so we keep on nudging them closer to where they should be."

“What foreign policy moves of the administration have you been most happy with?”

Tallahasee News Station wrote:

Dentali wrote:

“What foreign policy moves of the administration have you been most happy with?”

"I think the President's stop over in Saudi Arabia went over well. They're an important ally in the Arab world for us and it's good to keep relations up."

Dentali wrote:

Tallahasee News Station wrote:
"I think the President's stop over in Saudi Arabia went over well. They're an important ally in the Arab world for us and it's good to keep relations up."

“Which decisions or policies have you disagreed the most with?”

Tallahasee News Station wrote:

Dentali wrote:
“Which decisions or policies have you disagreed the most with?”

"It's still early, but by and large I don't think the President has done much in foreign policy that I disagree with. I could have a quibble here or there but he and Secretary Bell have done a fine job in my view."

Dentali wrote:

Tallahasee News Station wrote:
"It's still early, but by and large I don't think the President has done much in foreign policy that I disagree with. I could have a quibble here or there but he and Secretary Bell have done a fine job in my view."

"If confirmed as Secretary what would your first task be? Your top priority?"

Tallahasee News Station wrote:

Dentali wrote:
"If confirmed as Secretary what would your first task be? Your top priority?"

"My first priority would be to ask the President what his first priority is. As a cabinet member I don't believe I should be running off with an independent agenda, I'm just supposed to help the President with his."

Dentali wrote:

Tallahasee News Station wrote:
"My first priority would be to ask the President what his first priority is. As a cabinet member I don't believe I should be running off with an independent agenda, I'm just supposed to help the President with his."

"If the president asked your advice what would you say his first priority should be?"

Tallahasee News Station wrote:

Dentali wrote:

"If the president asked your advice what would you say his first priority should be?"

"I would say I think his first priority would be filling out the whole Department before he tries anything too big internationally. It's a messy business in politics even if we wish it wasn't and international politics is even messier. I would tell him to have his Secretary, have his Deputy, and have all his Ambassadors and staff all ready before he dips his toes in even if it does slow things down a few months."

Dentali wrote:

Tallahasee News Station wrote:
"I would say I think his first priority would be filling out the whole Department before he tries anything too big internationally. It's a messy business in politics even if we wish it wasn't and international politics is even messier. I would tell him to have his Secretary, have his Deputy, and have all his Ambassadors and staff all ready before he dips his toes in even if it does slow things down a few months."

“What is the biggest misstep in the foreign policy of the White House so far?"

Tallahasee News Station wrote:

Dentali wrote:
“What is the biggest misstep in the foreign policy of the White House so far?"

"I'd say it's about the same as what I recommended about, with going out and starting all the foreign policy gears and wheels without having everything ready before you began. I'm glad that we weren't in the middle of nuclear treaties or something big when Secretary Bell had his medical emergency but it would have been a lot worse if it had been that and there wasn't a successor ready to go."

Dentali wrote:

Tallahasee News Station wrote:
"I'd say it's about the same as what I recommended about, with going out and starting all the foreign policy gears and wheels without having everything ready before you began. I'm glad that we weren't in the middle of nuclear treaties or something big when Secretary Bell had his medical emergency but it would have been a lot worse if it had been that and there wasn't a successor ready to go."

"Will you execute the will of the President? Even when you disagree?"

Tallahasee News Station wrote:

Dentali wrote:

"Will you execute the will of the President? Even when you disagree?"

"Well I wouldn't do anything morally wrong for him, lying for Congress or something like that, but I would follow his orders even where we had some political or diplomatic disagreements."

Dentali wrote:

Tallahasee News Station wrote:
"Well I wouldn't do anything morally wrong for him, lying for Congress or something like that, but I would follow his orders even where we had some political or diplomatic disagreements."

“Do you have aspirations for any other political office?"

Tallahasee News Station wrote:

Dentali wrote:
“Do you have aspirations for any other political office?"

"Frankly, I was about retired already when the party came by and convinced me to get up to run for Governor. Whether I finish there or here I'm thinking it'll be my last position."

Tumblrena wrote:

Washington D.C.
White House
Vice President's Office
0947
Friday
30 June
2017

(Image)

Buck is back at the White House not long after his return with two jobs to do while meeting with his old friend William Brennan. They have known each other for ten years in the delegation from Connecticut together and after he finishes the first job the less public second job that Buck has given himself with his fellow veteran must be done without the same openness of the only partially secret first section.

Buck puts his feet up on his desk and he waits for Brennan to come in.

Tumblrena wrote:

Washington D.C.
White House
Vice President's Office
0949
Friday
30 June
2017

(Image)

"Ah Bill, it's good to see you again!" Buck pumps the handshake.

"I don't think we've talked since On20 in December it's been too long. I'm fine, toes like steel. Sit down I've got that red wine you like for us." Buck says pulling out a bottle.

Dentali wrote:

Tallahasee News Station wrote:
"Frankly, I was about retired already when the party came by and convinced me to get up to run for Governor. Whether I finish there or here I'm thinking it'll be my last position."

“The President wants a more forceful containment policy towards China, including the potential stationing of a Carrier Group in the South China Sea. As Secretary of State what strategies would you pursue to help achieve that goal? Diplomatically."