Happy new yearar and welcome to dense news with vago muradian. One think tank finding new ways to Counter Chinas structure courseeighbors in asia through fifirst, International Aid organizations that support he was Foreign Policy are usually part of the government or traditional charities. After the 9 11 terroris attacks, a california Venture Capitalist wanted to find a way to help u. S. Troops. He was moved by an Army Special Operator who asked his wife to send b baseball gloves for local after can after can local afghan kids. He wand to see if he could apply in entrepreneurial approach to solving specific problems for u. S. Trtroops and founded the spiririt of america. Based in cairo based in california, we caught up with jim from the Atlantic Council to explain his inspiration. After 9 11, i wanted to do some the two help america win. I learned about what a team i in afghanistan is doing, a special forces team, and it sparked the idea, and ability to bring private resources and assistance in support of ears after that u. S. Security objective spirit were supporting the initiative of american troops and diplomats who are in some of the worlds closest places. How ds spirit ofmerica work . How do you find up wiwith the milita needs . And then how do you find d the resours necessary to achieve those things . We are Nonprofit Organization. We would not take government funding. Our personnel are all military ve terans. They work sidebyside with conventional villa terry teams and special operations in places like afghanistan iraq, west africa, centralsouth america. We are with those teams. A simple question we ask is what are you trying do . What are y trying to accomplish . What do you need . How can we help . It is direct communication. The troops on the ground are identifying needs to help them succeed in the mission and help the local population. In afghanistan we have provided metal detectors for Afghan Local Police so they can find roadside bombs, ieds. Thatas saved lives of afghan civilians, surity forces, and our own troops. We provided sewing machines for afghan women to provide forhe family. It is part of aore security objected of u. S. Teams now, to improve stability. We do things like that all over the world. Talk about how you bring the resource part of this to bear. Th is always the challenge. Obviously, when starting a buness venture or doing somemething like this. How you g get t money and licit the money to apply to buy those sewing machines and ththose metal detectors . We have had supporters from 10 up to 500,000 and everywhere in betweeeen. It is privatelyfunded with some foundation suppo, but mainly individual americans. They do this for two main reason spirit one people care deeply about americas security leadership, and influluence in the world. Others certainly care about those things but are also trying to provide specic support to the troops on the ground and watch to see our troops be successful. Spiritofamerica. Net and people can select a project to help troops in afghanistan, iraq west afra, and they can give directly to that projeject. 100 of their money gs to executive at is needed. In iraq right now, were providing rubber boots for children who escaped isis, to help with the refugee situation. There are other security objectives and nationanal interest objectives behind this humanitarian project. But ople can go to our website and give 10 to buy five pairs of boots for children. And it is the giving season. You are basicly doing crowowdsourcing then. You are identified projects and letting people take what they want to be involved in. Yes, exactly. After 9 11, i wanted to some thing to help our country win. I look to the private sector. My background is as a techchnology and internet entrepreneur. There is terminus Creative Potential in t private sector. I knew there had to be ways to apply that to help achieve our objectives abroad to her to meet the direct doves we face to meet the threats we face across the world. How large is your averagee project . What are your important objectives projects range from a view hundred dollars up to a couple hundred thousand dollars. That is rather small, but we apply it directly to point of need to achieve very specific humanitarian him up and also securityrelated, objectives. A large project that we have underway right now i is helpingng man in west africa going into business as veterinarians so they can solve their communitys because prlems. That has been going on for about three years. The metal detectors with the Afghan Police cost 100 apiece. One of the Biggest Challenges you have as s a Venture Capitalists is figuring out over the hundreds of ideas that are brought to you, which ones are the ones you put resources into how do you make tse decisions . On the project with support we first make sure the Government Resources cannot be used to do what we are looking at doing to help. Some projects get eliminated based on that, because there may Government Resources available at we do not want to replicate that. The second thing is to understand where the idea comes from and how it fits in with the oader security objectives that the United States has in ctain areas. Usually it is a case that they do pretty well. The military and u. S. Government civilianhave learneded a lot from the last 13 years per its of the ideas come to us are actually quite good ones tytypically. The main thi we do is understand where they came frorom, what theeed really is, and if it ithe right idea for meeting that n need. You are not a neutral orzation. Yes, spirit of america is not neutral. We take a side, the side of americas troops diplomats locall people and partners that our troops and diplomats want to help. In the world of internation assistance, that is kind of a groundbreaki idea. E dominant model is one of being neutral. So whai learned is that there is something called universal humanitarian principles. Mostst nongovernmental organizations,id and assistance organizations, for good reasons, adhere t to those principles be at what they demand of organizations one is they be neutral. So they dnot take as ipo two, they are independent of any military or political objective. The gap that leaves is a gap that is not new troll. So we take a side. We only provide assistance in support of u. S. Missions abroad. Th is the only thing we do. That is a critical part of the ecosysm. Critical to the safety and success of our troroops. That is what we do, but it is unique in the ngo world. More of our conversation with the founder of spirit of america. Were back with more of our conversation with the founder and ceo of spirit of america. I asked aboutis oanizations most important projects. And main effort we are Getting Started with is in iraq and syria against isis and were working with state Department Personnel in that theater to push back, and as the president has said, ultimately defeat th organization. That is our main efforand we have projects underway in you it in west africa. It is a different situation. The special Operations Community is trying to prevent war there prevent the small problems that exist in west africa from snowbaing into an isislike situation. Care is an important part of it, and these areas become very destabilized, especially with Climate Change and encroachment, not to mention ebola challenges. Talk a little bit about some of the legal challenges that you guys have facein trying to do this. Pretty much everybody has agreed that it is areat idea. But in applying it, there have been challenges. Spirit of america has taken the idea of privatepublic cocollaboration which is actually part of the National Security strategy, and we operationalize that. We are a sidebyside, working with troops in these places. There was a prevaili military idea ang military attorneys atat one point in time that what we were doing could be categorized as diertation on the rt of the troops. If afghan women need sewing machines to provide for their families, that was an improper solicitation of gifts. That was resolved. It was a he issue in preventing the privatepublic collaboration which we pioneered. It was rolved or one of the most brilliant examples of simplicity and common sense out of the dod general counsel office. What was the solution . Thihis is how it works we ask what is needed. Troops then respond to her they say what is needed d what they are trying to accomplish. The general counsels office that if spirit of america has a request for informati about the needs of local nationals, military personnel m respond. That is what happens. It still happens today aired we ask what is needed and how we can help. Military personn should be able to respond to that he read that is the regulation and popolicy that is established. There is one person articulates why there should be a Sovereign Wealth Fund of the unitedtates. Many nations have it including china and norway. He says as opposed to giving military aid or security aid, it might be that are to have n just a Government Funds but also a Rapid ReactionVenture Capital force they can put investments into an area to stababilize and create jobs to create that stability. Do you think that is a good idea . The thing that we have learned in spirit of americas wo is the ideas that work in our private s sector, the ideas that made our economy dynamic and innovative and is a source of envy throughout the world they really do work. Those ideas work abroad also. O. To the extent we can apply those ideas in somome of these securitychaenged environments well, it does work. We have seen it with our organization. Tapping into that capability is critical for our country to prevail over the challenges we face. We had ideas, not just capital and resources, but we e have the entrepreneuri approaches which really do work. The autumnup approaches support the initiative of local people trying to achieve a better life. It is the kind of thihing our country shouould b good at and they are good at. We have not done as muchf it as we can. There is a t of war fatigue. Folks have been hearing about it for 13 years. There is some criticism of the strategy of reducing and afghanistan. There is overwhelming pular support to get out of afghanistan. There is concern that some amerericans have ok, now were getting back into iraq, and there is skepticism associated with that. Is there war fatigue that is going to be reflected in these kinds of smart power approaches that you want to continue over time to fund a mentally avoid conflict for the futurure . You want to fundantally avoid conflict the future question or people ask, why arent the good guys winning . The idea is the foundation of the most progres in human history. We have the best Service People in the world. We have an incredible dynamic economy. With all that, people ask, why arent we doing better . Why arent the good guys winning . I think it is not just fatigue with security challenges i wi was in a terrible example of the challelenges we fa as a nation and the ideals we stand for, the challenges have not gone away. People want to see better results. With spirit of america, w tfund a mentally do better in these environments. It is on top of what our government and military is good at. Doing b better is a great anecdote to fatigue. With the projects we have had, our support has actually increased this year substantially. We have over 1000 people who recently sported just a small project in iraq. I think people are fatigued with poor results to my people wanted to support great results. We still have that going g for us as a nation. Intro quick questions two quick question spirit how is t rest of the Development Community regarding your efforts . There has always been a certain dedegree of skepticism to anything that is not sort of seen as your classical nongovernmental involvement . Once nongoverental organizations and usaid unrstand the process that we use to decide to do a project they are very supportive. But they do knowledge is see is people wre are out freelancing doing good work for no real reason and no real effect. They do not want to see people who do not understand t consequenceses of providing support in a certain area. When you understand the behindthescenes and he thought because into the work we do and the selection of where we go the relationships are great. There is some suspicion at first based onur new mel, not new jewel, privately havenfunded working directly with the u. S. Military no one has ever seen it before. Once they understand how we operate, the relationships are great. , and people are using your model . S spirit of america is feeling Nonprofit Organization that directly supports the safety and success of u. S. Oops and diplats. One of the reasons we pioneered this and one of my motivations was to get many more organizations and people to join the right, as it were, and to help our counntry in these environments. Sir, thanks so much for joining us. Ave a fantastic show. I am honored to be on it. Next, how the center for new American Security wants to help i stood outside, assessing the situation. I knew it could rough in there but how rough . There was no way to know for sure. Hey guys. Daddy, its pink but hey. A new house its a blank canvas. And we got a great one thanks to a really low Mortgage Rate from Navy Federal Credit union. Pink so shes a princess. You got a problem with that . Oorah oorah open to the armed forces and their families for over 80 years. Navy federal credit union. The center for a new American Security has launched an ambitious effort to help the u. S. Govovernment and its allies shape a new approach toward asia. Cnas wants to help u. S. Officials and allies Counter China is multifaceted strategy to use its military, diplomatic, and economic might to course neighbors into making territorial concessions in the South China Sea. The e maritime strategegy asia in project, we have the senior director of asiapacific wallace he at cnas asiapacific policy at cnas. Welcome to her tell me about your project. It is the dominant area for the 21st century. The growth of the economy in this region will be a great opportunity for the United States in the 21st century, but we have to stay strong and be engaged on a daily basis. We have to grow that engagement comprehensive lee economically, politically, and distaste on militarily. Were looking at an integrated strategy for comprehensive longterm policy in this region. You he been at this game for a long time, but you are taking a slightly different angl how is it you are going about to create this, sort of, deep strategy you are looking for . At the center for new American Security, we are a thing tank that works across our different programs. I run the asia program, but i work with our defense team, jerry hendricks, to understand the military. Im working with those who understand technology. Were working with the middle east program othe Energy Program so we can lolook at this in a comprehensive way and take a truly integrated approach, a longterm approach toward u. S. Interests s in this region, but one that is integrated with our allies and partners in the region. I am in the region 15 days a month and him talking to the allies and partners on a regular basis. You say there is a need for u. S. Sategy to her just as china is trained to coerce everybody, we need a strategy with allies to impose costs on china for that. The administration does have an asia strategy that it is somewhat proud of, the rebalance of asia. Is that on the right track question mike how would you tweak the strategy . Ie nor the bumper stickers and just say that we need a longterm, integrated approach for engaging asiapacific. Staying strong militarily. So we need to invest in our to it we need to make sure we have a stronger daily presence throughout the region. That means following through on the allies like the philippines and new opportunities like india and indonesia and malaysia. We need to make sure that the United States h vision for engaging china and trying to integrate a rising china. But engaging china does not mean forgiving bad behavior. Cost and position against thatt behavior is something g we need to inject into our policy. Speaking of that, there were recent, last year, agreements bebetween beijing and washington. Two were seen as significant. Do you think there were significant or do you think they were optical windowdressing . The two memoranda of understanding are a framework for talking. They are not fixed rules. We do not have any fixed rules with china right now in the maritime and air space, and the east and South China Sea, and beyond. There are many disputes. I was recently in china having this debate with the chinese. They do not want binding rules that limit their ability to create a greater influence over the regi. What are some of the most important trends in the region from your standpoint . Nationalism from the maritime countries of the asia pacific. I thought this in india recently. There is a new loading dock working across the pacific. Indonesia, a dramatic change in the policy that is looking at willingness to sink boats to show that they are determined to protect their sovereign interests. We have seen that inapan because of the Abe Administration andnd in australia. If the United States is other to protect our interests and engage these countries and others, we will have diminished influence in this region. There is a sense that by not being firmer and some of the statements the united s states made in 2013 when chi declared the South China Sea area, as well as grab any grabbing territories, and some of t the moves against vietnam, that it is actually a betting china. What does from this mean in this context . The chinese grab territory in both facilities. We have to cooperate but do so through strength. While we do not take a position on sovereign issues, we have to insist that there be rules of the road for how we resolve disputes per the fact that china will not engage in a binding code of conduct, will not engage in the International Legal arbitration with the phililippines, the fact they are willing to have reclamation projects to build artificial islands that our future military installations, the fact that they are willing to use things against our air and sea assets, the fact that they will be moving oil rigs in disputed waters there is no legal basis in international law, and all of these and many other moves are documenting a pattern of coercion on the part of china. It is a strategy of two steps forward, grow the influence, and ththen one step that, and that is the policy. We saw that at the end of last year. Summit diplomacy with the president or t United States now needs to move and engagage both positively, butut also impose costs on bad behavior. Sir, thank you for joining us. Lets my pleasure. On money minute, a personalfinance experts tells us where activeduty retirees should go if they want to start their own busine. First, thank you for your service and congratulations your retirement or transitionining into entrepreneurship is amazing. There are three basic things you need tonow to get started. First, you have to know what you want to do. Make sure people want to that service or product. Next, you have to o put together a solid Business Plan. After that, youll have to secure a business loan. Assuming y do know what type of business you want over the next step is finding out if there is a need in your market. Research will be your best friend. Start that right now, the sooner the better. The Small Business administration sba. Gov, has a lot of resources to help you with market research. The next step is formulating a Business Plan. There is an excellent online resourcelike score. Org they can walk you through the process. The Business Plan takes time, but it will pay off to sleep. According to a survey by palo alto software, by completing a Business Plan, youre twice as likely to secure a loan and successfully grow your business. That brings us to the importance of a relationship with a business advisor at a trusted Financial Institution. You can get a loan that matches your needs and gets u off the ground faster. It is about getting persosonal attention and expert advice to your Financial Institution does not have a business department, then think about finding one that does and establishing a Good Relationship here it it will be crucial in the successful running of your business. Best of luck. Thanks very much good we will see you next week. If you have any financial western, please let us know. Coming up each year brings with it unknown and known challenges. In 2015, washington and its allies will have to continue to transition in afghanistan and keep up the fight againinst isis spewed the administration was d a better job to define the rolole of u. S. Forces in the e middle east and stop talking about usbs on the ground. More than 2000 amecans are already there. U. U. S. Tros must support iraqi forces, and the me sometimes getting close to the action and even going into combat. More amerins will we needed to trny rocky and moderatsyrian forces over a a prolonged mission. Russia a china must face penalties for coinuing to intimidate neighbors. Those priotieses and ohers will fall o on the shoulders of the new defense seetary. Carter will need to prioritize a nation a reform thee ongoing ededge of battle. Carter must ensure the term innovation is not hijacked as the jump transformation was a decacade ago. Not everything is i innative or offsetting. Technogies must beested, and readadiness damaged by budget cs must be restored to 2015 will hold a new set of cllges because,e, while some threats are known, u. S. S. Forces also have to be ready for the unknown. Thanks f for wating. I am vagago muradian. Visit us at defensenews. C. Com and there is a special report on people and programs to watch in 2015 hewitt if you have comments about this show or suggestions please email me at vago de fensenews. Com. I wille here next t week at [music] and there are people in situations and circumstances for example, theyre facing a divorce maybe. Or maybe their children are. And maybe they have a note due on the house and right now, they dont have any money. And they would say to us, well listen. I have a reason to be anxiouxi and worried. You have a reason to be anxious and worried when you hear about it, but then what do you do about it . God does not intend for us to live with that. Today on in touch, dealing with anxiety. 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