Dave Harden (@Dave

Dave Harden

13.4K posts

Dave Harden

@Dave_Harden

Fmr USAID Ass't Admin Democracy, Conflict, Humanitarian Aid; Led USAID West Bank/Gaza, Iraq, Yemen, Sr Adv, ME Peace. Founder GeorgetownStrategy.org

Washington DC

georgetownstrategy.org

Joined September 2013

Pinned
Dave Harden
@Dave_Harden
Jan 17, 2024
Pleased to discuss the escalating risks in the Mid East today w/ @PoppyHarlowCNN & @Phil_Mattingly @CnnMorning. We saw fighting in Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan & Yemen yesterday - and are on course for a direct confrontation with Iran.
13K
Dave Harden
@Dave_Harden
Nov 15, 2023
🧵 A few observations regarding Israel’s operation at Al Shifa Hospital. When I was in seat, it was broadly suspected/understood as far back as 2014 that Hamas used the Al Shifa Hospital complex as a command center and base for operations.
1.6M
Dave Harden
@Dave_Harden
Dec 22, 2023
.@CatholicRelief tried to protect Gazan churches by sending GPS cords to the IDF via Congress @StateDept @USAID @usembassyjlm @USAIDWBG. The IDF received/confirmed the church & covenant GPS cords - and were later struck by rockets, snipers. @PowerUSAID
Congressional staff tried to protect Gazan churches by sending locations to Israel
From politico.com
916K
Dave Harden
@Dave_Harden
Nov 15, 2023
Replying to @Dave_Harden
I didn’t have direct evidence, but it was recognized by both trusted Palestinians and Israelis in my network. Further, Hamas used ambulances to move its people. This was based on my conversations with the then head of @ICRC.
1M
Dave Harden
@Dave_Harden
Nov 15, 2023
Replying to @Dave_Harden
I also know from first hand experience that Hamas shot at innocent Gazan civilians trying to escape firefights. None of my prior experiences can confirm what is actually happening, but I do know what did happen.
186K
Dave Harden
@Dave_Harden
Mar 1, 2024
Replying to @Dave_Harden
Air drops are inefficient, expensive, dangerous, and only helpful when there are no other delivery options. Air drops are primarily for the Biden administration’s benefit - to paper over a massive policy failure. @lrozen @BarakRavid @AkbarSAhmed @DanielEstrin @ewong
185K
Dave Harden
@Dave_Harden
Jun 9, 2023
🧵The typical Senior Foreign Service Officer has had a security clearance for two decades. Every day over those 20 years you ask yourself: Did I spin the lock on the classified safe three times to make sure it was really closed? Did I leave a paper in the classified printer?
263K
Dave Harden
@Dave_Harden
Mar 1, 2024
🧵 Here’s a primer on air drops in Gaza. But first, my bottom line up front: Air drops will not be effective in blunting the humanitarian crises in Gaza.
307K
Dave Harden
@Dave_Harden
Nov 15, 2023
Replying to @Dave_Harden
Within this context, I provide @ICRC’s analysis of “the protection of hospitals during armed conflicts” so you can make your own determination. According to international humanitarian law (IHL), health establishments and units, including hospitals, should not be attacked.
298K
Dave Harden
@Dave_Harden
Nov 15, 2023
Replying to @Dave_Harden
Specific protection of medical establishments is the general rule. Therefore, specific protection to which hospitals are entitled shall not cease unless they are used by a party to the conflict to commit, outside their humanitarian functions, an "act harmful to the enemy".
108K
Dave Harden
@Dave_Harden
Nov 15, 2023
Replying to @Dave_Harden
This protection extends to the wounded and sick as well as to medical staff and means of transport. The rule has few exceptions.
112K
Dave Harden
@Dave_Harden
Jun 9, 2023
Replying to @Dave_Harden
That was our life. We were honored to do it. We believed in the mission, we served, we loved America. We still do. #FSProud on this day in particular. [end] @afsatweets @OverheardWDC
20K
Dave Harden
@Dave_Harden
Nov 3, 2023
Biden & Blinken deserve substantial credit for deterring Hezbollah. This Administration effectively walked back a major regional risk. Aside from deep, substantive diplomatic engagement, quickly deploying two aircraft carrier groups to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea was key.
47K
Dave Harden
@Dave_Harden
Mar 4, 2024
🧵 Monday's humanitarian update; Gantz visit to DC. The US Air Force air dropped 38,000 meals on Saturday into Gaza, less than one truck load equivalent. By contrast a relatively small US NGO, @AneraOrg delivers 150,000 meals daily, 4x the amount of this US Air Force drop.
193K