As summer turns to fall, we take a moment to remember the hard work of Americans in many industries throughout history who have worked to protect and strengthen this nation. The work continues in big and small ways.
Here’s a look at what we’ve been reading and listening to from the Ukraine to Venezuela (August 25 – September 2, 2024).
1. We start this week looking back and honoring the life of Black trailblazer Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg, who passed away at age 96. (We Are The Mighty; August 23, 2024) When he retired in 1981 as a Lieutenant General, Gregg was the highest-ranking Black officer in the U.S. military. On April 27, 2023, Fort Lee, Virginia was renamed Fort Gregg-Adams for Lt. Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley.
2. Ukraine’s Zelenskiy to present plan to Biden to end war with Russia (Reuters; August 28, 2024).
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that the war with Russia would eventually end in dialogue, but that Kyiv had to be in a strong position and that he would present a plan to U.S. President Joe Biden and his two potential successors.
The Ukrainian leader, addressing a news conference, said Kyiv’s three-week-old incursion into Russia’s Kursk region was part of that plan, but that it also comprised other steps on the economic and diplomatic fronts.
3. We found this episode of The Daily podcast – The War That Won’t End (August 28, 2024) – to be a really helpful update on where things stand between Israel and Hamas, and why it feels like whiplash when both “ceasefire negotiations are making progress” and “a regional war is imminent” feel true. Patrick Kingsley, the Jerusalem bureau chief for The New York Times, explains why the war is still going, and what it would take to end it.
4. US general, pointing to Maduro, says democracy is under attack globally (Reuters; August 29, 2024).
A senior U.S. general accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday of undermining the democratic will of Venezuela’s people following July’s disputed presidential election, and said it was an example of how democracy was under attack around the world.
Venezuela’s electoral council has proclaimed Maduro, in power since 2013, as the winner of the July 28 election, but has not published complete voting tallies. Venezuela’s opposition has published its own tallies showing a landslide win for its candidate.
5. Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, UN says (AP News; August 30, 2024). Troubling news about Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels in defiance of international demands, a confidential report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog said Thursday.
Less than 10 weeks until Election Day 2024!
Our Voting Ambassadors are busy helping military-connected voters around the world prepare to cast a ballot this year. Voting Ambassador Meg Paone recently hosted a Voter Registration drive at an Army family event, and it was a great success!
Meg said one highlight was when an active duty service member approached her table with a determined look on his face and said, “I’ve been meaning to do this since I got here, which was about a year ago. It just kept falling down the priority list. I’m so glad to be getting it off my plate.”
Sometimes all it takes is a gentle reminder or sharing the right resources to help folks vote! And EVERYONE can do that! Find our resources for military-connected voters at https://securefamiliesinitiative.org/vote/.
A reminder that if you are a military voter registered in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, or Texas, take extra care and check that your vote will be counted as these states are particularly tricky for military voters. Some have onerous registration or voting regulations. Some have expunged voters from their registration rolls, which requires eligible voters to re-register! For more specific details and advice, visit the SFI blog post about Tricky States for Military Voters.
Double check your voter registration today!