john glaser is with the director of foreign policy studies at the cato institute. his research interests include grand strategy, facing posture you and foreign policy in the middle east, the rise of china and the role of status motivation international politics. john has appeared on numerous television and radio programs and is written for the "new york times", the "washington post", "l.a. times", foreign affairs and the national interest among others. john earned a ba in political science from the university of massachusetts amherst, and an inmate international security from the charter school public policy and government at george mason university. we will begin with the remarks. there will be plenty of time for questions at the end so please hold those until after the discussion has concluded. and with that will turn things over to gene. >> thanks, jeff. thank you to all of you for being here. as jeff know we're in the middle of a renewed debate here on the hill about what role, if any, that congress should play in the choice between war and peace. that's the mo