How could the corruption of Democrats in housing market be left off. B.Frank and C.Dodds should be identified as prime forces in the housing fiasco. The Congress has not done the citizens well.

McCaffrey's prediction that US - European relations would improve dramatically with the new administration was more wishful thinking that sound analysis.
The reaction of NATO to Joe Biden's recent visit, specifically regarding help in Afghanistan, was quite predictable. McCaffrey apparently preferred to believe that the only reason we got less help from NATO than one would expect for 50 years of protecting Europe from the USSR is that George W Bush's style was too harsh, independent, etc. The truth is, as it always has been, NATO is pretty much a one way street, with the US doing the heavy lifting, if you'll pardon the metaphors, just as was the US help to save Europe from the effects of WW I and WW II, Gulf War I, Bosnia, and the Iraq War. Our NATO allies talk a good game, but, with the exception of the newer Eastern European countries in NATO, don't really care about international security, only their own economic security.
As long as there are American servicemen willing to risk their lives to stabilize the world and US taxpayers to pay for it, the Europeans, for the most part, give only lip service to the NATO Charter.

I believe that McCaffrey, who I admire, misses the Elephant in the Room, which is the decline in importance of NATO to the United States. The US can achieve most of its objectives in Afghanistan w/o NATO support, and this lack of support among "old Europe" will spell the death of the alliance as political support for it declines among the American people.

BTW, props should have been given to former Secretary of State Rice, who did much to rebuild relations with the Europeans. However, the fact that this "alliance" remains a one-way street isn't something that will be solved by her successor. Our interests are diverging.

I agree with most of the comments posted. NATO has always been a figure head so to speak with no real intestinal fortitude of any sort.

The comment about Dodd and Franks is on the money, as well as the comment about our relationship with Europe. Can't really figure what we did that made Europe so pissed at us anyway. Other than the fact that we expect them to stand up in the face of tyranny.

I really don't see McCaffery's last bullet point. How does our health care system, social security, and medicare have anything to do with national security? I can see the impact of having stricter immigration policies and improving the transportation infrastrutcer to support evacuations routes where necessary, but the rest leaves me questioning the intent of putting that in the briefing. Seems that it's more of a political statement than a tactical assessment.

McCaffery makes an excellent point of conveying the terrorist intention during Obama's term. However, I do wonder why it wasn't the first point made. Apparently it was more important to highlight how much India likes us first. Don't get that at all.

I am all for trying to ensure our world image is improved, but, I am not interested in being involved in a love-fest with anyone. Sometimes you go into a fight alone. Sometimes your friends will help you out, other times they may let you get your butt kicked because you deserved it. I think Iraq has proven to us who our friends are and we should continue to strenghten our relationships with the Dane's, Aussies, Brits, and Lith's and others who are taking it to the terrorists. Those are the relationships I would make sure are solid. Do I really care what Russia, Portugal, or Spain think?