Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal passes. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency Director John Morton. Development aid in Afghanistan. Living off the grid - not just for hippies.
Don't ask, don't tell repealed - what's next?
Don’t ask, don’t tell, the 17-year-old policy that allowed gays and lesbians to serve in the U.S. military provided they kept their sexual orientation a secret, was repealed by the Senate on Saturday. Democrats got the necessary votes with 8 Republicans crossing the aisle to pass the ban 65-31, with opponents citing concerns that having gays serving openly would hinder combat effectiveness despite a Pentagon report issued in November refuting this claim. President Obama is expected to sign the repeal this week, fulfilling a campaign promise and creating a bevy of new questions about implementation. How will having gays serve openly change our armed forces? What are the best steps to create a new military culture in light of the new rules?
Guest:
Tom Bowman, Pentagon Reporter, NPR
Rick Jacobs, Chair and Founder of the Courage Campaign, an advocacy organization for progressive issues
Tom McClusky, Senior Vice President for Family Research Council Action
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - more than “La Migra”
When you hear the word “ICE” you think of immigration enforcement and reform, right? Those are the hot topics here in Southern California, but the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has a plethora of other responsibilities too. Today, ICE Director John Morton joins Larry in studio to discuss how the agency deals with human trafficking, immigration benefit fraud, employers who hire and exploit illegal workers, and how undocumented criminals, even those who’ve ignored court orders, are tracked and deported. The agency also pursues domestic security investigations, combats product piracy, and collaborates with local law enforcement agencies to target transnational street gangs. This is your chance to put ICE on the hot seat. Call in with your questions and concerns for ICE Director John Morton.
Guest:
John Morton, Director, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency
Is development aid in Afghanistan helping or hurting the war effort?
For years now the U.S. government has pursued a counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan that uses both military and civilian components to stabilize war-torn regions. The philosophy is that the military can secure an area, while civilians implement quick impact development projects meant to win the support of Afghans. Hillary Clinton calls the strategy “smart power” and praises the inter-agency coordination it has brought to U.S. involvement there. But many humanitarian groups say that blurring lines between the military and civilians puts aid workers at risk as they try to improve the lives of Afghan people despite the war. Some experts argue that development aid married to military efforts fuels the rampant corruption already causing problems in the war torn country. Others say, like it or not, this is the best and most effective strategy we’ve got. Is “winning the hearts and minds” of Afghan people the only way to succeed in Afghanistan? Is it even possible?
Guests:
Ashley Jackson, Head of Policy and Advocacy, Oxfam in Afghanistan
Andrew Wilder, Director of Afghanistan and Pakistan Programs at United States Institute of Peace
Lt. Colonel Hal Kempfer, Retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel, CEO of KIPP (Knowledge & Intelligence Program Professionals)
Living off the grid – not just for hippies
Author Nick Rosen travels America to discover the motivations behind living without the U.S. electrical grid with surprising results. It might sound like the stuff of hippie delusions, but it turns out there are a lot of reasons people live off the grid, and sometimes it isn’t a choice. Whether he is talking with a staunch libertarian who sees this unique lifestyle as a good way to keep government out of his life, or to a die hard environmentalist who can’t imagine any moral alternative, Rosen delves into diverse views on American independence.
Guest:
Nick Rosen, author of Off the Grid, and editor of offgrid.com