doi:10.7916/qyj1-nb09Oral history interview with Antony "Tony" Blinken, 2020Blinken, Antony Joral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesNational security--United StatesIraq War, 2003-2011Afghan War, 2001-2021Arab Spring, 2010-Benghazi Consulate Attack, Banghāzī, Libya, 2012Syria--History--Civil War, 2011-United States Foreign relations RussiaUnited States Foreign relations AsiaLibya History Civil War, 2011-Blinken, Antony JBin Laden, Osama, 1957-2011 Targeted killingObama, BarackNational Security Council (U.S.)United States. Department of StateAntony Blinken discusses his contribution to the national security and foreign policy of the Obama administration, in which he served as national security advisor to the vice president from 2009 to 2013, deputy national security advisor from 2013 to 2015, and deputy secretary of state from 2015 to 2017. Blinken describes the internal debates and deliberations surrounding notable events with which he was closely involved, including the strategy reviews for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the reset of the relationship with Russia, the administration's Asia rebalance, military intervention in Libya and Syria during the Arab Spring protests, and the raid on the Osama bin Laden compound. Blinken provides details about the structure and design of the administration's national security apparatus, and explains the importance of incorporating the vice president's advisory staff seamlessly into the National Security Council system. Also discussed are Obama's trip to the Middle East during the summer of 2008, Blinken's development of a "counterterrorism-plus" strategy with General James Cartwright during the Afghanistan review process, Biden's role as a devil's advocate during national security meetings, and the political aftermath of the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya