Welcome to Talking Feds, a round table that brings together prominent former federal officials

and special guests for a dynamic discussion of the most important political and legal topics

of the day.

I'm Harry Littman.

The Biden administration turned its attention outward this week to a world that suddenly

appears more dangerous to U.S. interests than at any time since the end of the Cold War.

Director of National Intelligence Avril Hain cited multiple challenges in her annual threat

assessment to the Senate Intelligence Committee.

These included China's emergence as a near-pier competitor.

Russia's continuing cyber espionage.

Iran's effort to destabilize them in the east, North Korea's military build up and global

and domestic terrorism.

The president seems to be matching his ambition in domestic policy with an early assertiveness

in foreign affairs, designed in part to undo the consequences of President Trump's

lack of approach to foreign mischief.

In the first 60 days of his presidency, Biden has had dust-dots with China, which has

emerged as the U.S. is most formidable long-term adversary, and with Russia, which compensates

for a relatively weak economic hand through sophisticated cyber espionage and the bullying

of its regional neighbors, especially Ukraine.

At the end of the week, Biden dropped the thunderous announcement that he was withdrawing

U.S. troops from Afghanistan and thereby ending the United States' longest war.

Biden and his advisors concluded the no amount of United States force could sustain a durable

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