SCG International On Issues Facing President Obama 
SCG INTERNATIONAL OFFERS PERSPECTIVE ON SECURITY ISSUES FACING PRESIDENT OBAMA
NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2009 – SCG International, a U.S.-based global provider of fully integrated, domestic and international security services, today released the following assessment of how the inauguration of a new president will impact the world security landscape and key areas of focus for President Obama.
The following quotes are from Jamie Smith, CEO of SCG International and a former decorated CIA officer. Smith is widely recognized as one of the foremost authorities on international security.
- “Political and security progress in Iraq needs to continue. As we start reducing U.S. forces in the country we need to embolden Iraq’s neighbors to take up some of the slack.”
- “Helping the people of Afghanistan to secure and rebuild their country has been one of Obama’s campaign themes but again, he will need to recruit outside support for both security and economic development. Key here will be major Islamic nations publicly decrying the Taliban interpretation of woman’s rights and the education of children.”
- “There will need to be expanded partnerships with Pakistani authorities who are struggling to confront extremists operating in the border region between the two South Asian nations. Essentially, pressuring the already-weak civilian government in Pakistan without destabilizing it.”
- “Even though Africa will continue to play second fiddle to the problems in the Middle East and South Asia, it is imperative that the President provide the fundamental tools to ease the economic plight and support democratic reform in Africa. This will prove to be a significant investment in global stability, and America cannot afford to let our successes and improvements made during the last few years slip even one bit."
- “President Obama will need a solution for our aging stockpile of nuclear weapons, in light of his seeking a world without nuclear weapons. This program will cost a lot of money to track and account for all of the weapons and material out there. Again, it must fall to the international community to shoulder the public side to this effort.”
- “The president will have to decide whether or not to rebuild our relationship with Russia. We may need to leverage the political and economic side of NATO to bring the Soviet Union to the table now.”
- “Now that we are seven years into the Long War, we need to improve coordination among Defense, State, the CIA and others.”
SCG International is a global provider of fully integrated domestic and international peace and stability operations services to both the government and private sectors, and is recognized as a world leader in risk mitigation, intelligence support and training. Established in 1996, the organization offers clients practical solutions to promote stability and resolve conflict no matter how large or small. SCG International clients include Fortune 500 companies, entertainment and media conglomerates, financial institutions, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Intelligence agencies, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, U.S. Naval Special Warfare, the U.S. Marine Corps and high-profile individuals including dignitaries, politicians, celebrities, athletes, corporate executives, media personalities and other public figures.
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