Canada Foils ‘Al-Qaeda Linked’ Terror Attack on Train
BBC News
Two foreign men living in Canada have been charged with plotting a terrorist attack on a passenger train with support from al-Qaeda elements in Iran.
Glenn Thrush and Jennifer Epstein/Politico
That delicate balance was shattered by the Boston Marathon attack, thrusting a downplayed anti-terror campaign into the spotlight and the issue of terrorism to the top of Obama’s second-term priorities, at least in the short term.
Investigators Dig For Roots of Bomb Suspects’ Radicalization
Eric Schmitt and Michael S. Schmidt/The New York Times
The two men suspected in the Boston Marathon bombings were armed with a small arsenal of guns, ammunition and explosives when they first confronted the police early Friday, and were most likely planning more attacks, the authorities said Sunday.
Afghanistan, Pakistan, U.S. to Meet for Talks in Brussels: Afghan Official
Reuters
Afghan President Hamid Karzai will travel to Brussels on Tuesday to meet U.S. Secretary of State of State John Kerry and senior Pakistani officials to discuss the flagging Afghan peace process, an Afghan presidential spokesman said on Monday.
China Says on Guard for Possible Fourth North Korean Nuclear Test, Calls for Talks
Associated Press/The Washington Post
China’s top general said a fourth North Korean nuclear weapons test is a possibility that underscores the need for fresh talks between Pyongyang and other regional parties.
NATO Condemns North Korea as Nuclear Evidence Emerges
Nicole Gaouette/Bloomberg
North Korea’s continued pursuit of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons threatens international security and “seriously undermine regional stability,” the 28 foreign ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization said in a statement today.
With Provinces Slipping Away, Syrian Regime Focuses on Shoring Up Hold on Damascus and Coast
Associated Press/Washington Post
After watching much of Syria’s territory slip into rebel hands, President Bashar Assad’s regime is focusing on the basics: shoring up its hold on Damascus and the strip of land connecting the capital with the Mediterranean coast.
Israel Says Syria Has Used Chemical Weapons
Jodi Rudoren and David E. Sanger
Israel’s senior military intelligence analyst said Tuesday that the Syrian government had repeatedly used chemical weapons in the last month, and criticized the international community for failing to respond, intensifying pressure on the Obama administration to intervene.
Hosting U.S. Defense Chief, Israel Hints at Patience on Iran
David Alexander and Dan Williams/Reuters
Israel suggested on Monday it would be patient before taking any military action against Iran’s nuclear program, saying during a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel there was still time for other options.
Solar Jobs Outnumber Ranchers in Texas, Actors in California
CNN Money
Those stats come from solar research group The Solar Foundation, which rolled out a map last week showing which states have the most solar jobs. Unsurprisingly, sunny states like California and Arizona are near the top of the list. But some Northern states like New Jersey and Michigan — not known for their splendid weather — also show a high number of solar jobs.
Google Wants to Pay More for Renewable Energy, and Power Companies are Listening
Jacob Kastrenakes/The Verge
Google announced on Friday that it would be partnering with Duke Energy, the largest energy utility in the US, to promote a plan that would increase the development of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Under the plan, large companies looking to go green could pay more to use green power, which would give electrical providers such as Duke the incentive to rapidly invest in renewable energy.
A Republican Senator on Climate Change: It’s Real, We Need to Fight It
Brian Dumaine/CNN Money
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski on climate change, the Keystone pipeline, and how technology can make us energy independent.
ASP Recently Published
PERSPECTIVE – The Defense Industrial Base
August Cole
The Defense industrial base is tied to American competiveness in the 21st Century. For that reason, leaders in the private and public sector must take steps to thrive during a drawn out period of changing expectations while also remaining committed to keeping the country strong through innovation, long-term investment and disciplined management.AMERICAN SECURITY QUARTERLY
Read our latest collection of our writings in this edition of American Security Quarterly – with a special lead of American Competitiveness.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
The North Caucasus—A Long History of Violent Insurgency
Daniel Painter
The North Caucasus has a long history of violent insurgency. The first instance goes back to the late 18th century, when local ethnic groups waged gazavat –or jihad– against the Russian empire. More recently, the struggle for Chechen independence engulfed the region in bloody conflict throughout the 1990’s. During this period, radical Salafi extremism gained a foothold through the import of international terrorists and efforts of Islamist charity organizations.
August Cole
That silence also offered a chance to show unity in the face of the bombing. A similar unity of purpose, more than fear, was also what drove the area’s residents to follow a request to stay inside well beyond the siege-like streets of Watertown.
Event Recap: A Conversation on Climate Adaptation at the Local and National Level
Andrew Holland
On Monday, April 22, the 43rd anniversary of the first Earth Day, the American Security Project hosted a roundtable discussion on “Climate Adaptation at the local and national level” in partnership with the Ecologic Institute and the Emerging Leaders in Environmental and Energy Policy (ELEEP).
