cover of episode Samatha Power’s Exit Interview

Samatha Power’s Exit Interview

2024/12/23
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Samantha Power: 我在 USAID 的工作重点是通过人道主义援助缓解冲突和苦难,特别是加沙、苏丹和乌克兰。我利用我的职位和影响力来推动政策变化,以减少平民伤亡。尽管取得了一些进展,但仍有许多挑战需要克服,例如援助物资的运送和获取问题。我选择留在政府中,利用我的权力来影响改变,而不是离开去抗议。我尊重那些选择离开的人,但我觉得我在这里能做得更多。全球各地都面临着严峻的人道主义挑战,包括叙利亚、苏丹等地。美国在应对这些挑战中发挥着关键作用,我们正在努力与中国竞争,并支持发展中国家的经济发展。我们正在努力增加对当地合作伙伴的直接援助,并利用技术手段简化流程。尽管存在一些批评,但我认为拜登政府致力于促进贸易,并通过贸易优惠措施支持发展中国家。美国在全球事务中发挥着不可替代的作用,各国都希望与美国建立更强的伙伴关系。 Ravi Agrawal: 采访中,我质疑了 Samantha Power 在解决加沙冲突和苏丹冲突中所取得的成果,并探讨了美国对外援助中资金分配的问题,以及拜登政府的外交政策所面临的批评。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why hasn't Samantha Power done more to stop the ongoing atrocities in Gaza?

Power focuses on negotiating small but impactful changes, such as food distribution and shelter for civilians, despite the scale of suffering. She emphasizes her role in advocating for policies within the administration and working with aid responders in Gaza, where aid workers face significant risks.

What is Samantha Power's stance on quitting over U.S. policy in the Middle East?

Power respects those who choose to leave their roles to protest, but she believes her position at USAID allows her to exercise significant leverage to push for changes. She considers the cost-benefit analysis of staying in power versus leaving to agitate from the outside.

What is the impact of American aid in Ukraine?

American aid in Ukraine has had a significant positive impact, particularly in agriculture, where every dollar invested by USAID has turned into $6 of benefit. Ukraine has restored its position as a major exporter of wheat, sunflower oil, and corn despite Russian attacks. Additionally, aid has supported Ukraine's path toward EU membership and economic resilience.

How has Samantha Power addressed the criticism of foreign aid going to large organizations rather than local communities?

Power acknowledges the challenge in humanitarian assistance but has doubled development assistance to local partners, increasing the direct aid percentage from 5.6% to 11%. She highlights efforts to simplify compliance requirements and leverage AI for translation to make it easier for local organizations to access U.S. grants.

What is Samantha Power's view on the Biden administration's foreign policy and its impact on U.S. soft power?

Power defends the Biden administration's foreign policy by emphasizing the desire for more partnership from global leaders. She notes the indispensability of U.S. leadership in diplomacy, particularly in crises like Gaza and Sudan, and highlights the administration's efforts to expand the U.S. development toolkit to compete with China and support global recovery.

How does Samantha Power foresee USAID's role under a second Trump term?

Power cannot predict specific outcomes but notes that many of Trump's potential cabinet nominees align with USAID's long-term objectives, such as standing up for human rights and combating corruption. She hopes the incoming administration will recognize USAID's expanded toolkit and its relevance to U.S. foreign policy interests.

What is Samantha Power's personal legacy as USAID administrator?

Power considers her legacy to be the expansion of USAID's toolkit, which has become more central to American foreign policy interests. She highlights the agency's relevance and the inspired workforce that continues to push for global development and humanitarian efforts despite challenges.

Chapters
Samantha Power reflects on her work at USAID, focusing on the challenges of providing aid in Gaza amidst ongoing conflict. She emphasizes the operational difficulties and the limited impact despite efforts to alleviate civilian suffering.
  • Limited success in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza due to ongoing conflict.
  • 22% of shelter commodities reached civilians.
  • Focus on negotiating changes to improve aid delivery.
  • Challenges in providing aid due to the scale of suffering and ongoing attacks on civilians.

Shownotes Transcript

Top humanitarian aid official and longtime diplomat Samantha Power discusses lessons learned from her post at USAID and what she’d like to share with the next administration in this bonus episode.

This conversation was taped before the passage of last week's Continuing Resolution.

Suggested reading (FP links are paywall-free):

Walter Kerr and Amanda Arch: U.S. Foreign Aid Is Broken but Fixable

Agathe Demarais: Aid Is the Next Battleground Between China and the West)

Laura Thornton: How a Second Trump Term Will Redefine Foreign Aid)

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