Center for Strategic Communication

Conservatives’ grand opportunity on energy

Bob Inglis / Politico

A recent poll from George Mason and Yale finds that only 35 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents agree with the GOP platform on climate change.

What If We Never Run Out of Oil?

Charles G Mann / The Atlantic

New technology and a little-known energy source suggest that fossil fuels may not be finite. This would be a miracle – and a nightmare.

Senators unveil nuke waste storage plan

Thomas Burr / The Salt Lake Tribune

A bipartisan group of senators wants to form a federal agency responsible for finding homes for the nation’s scattered stockpile of nuclear waste – but eventual storage sites would welcome the radioactive leftovers.

Nuclear Plants Next to Go in the Northeast

Conway Irwin / AOL Energy

An impending wave of nuclear plant retirements in the Northeast on the heels of coal plant retirements in 2012, raises the question of whether policies should be formulated to maintain existing capacity and protect fuel source diversity in the region’s power sector, according to UBS’ Director of US Electric Utilities Julien Dumoulin – Smith.

Perspective – Former White House WMD czar: No good military option for Syria chemical weapons

Kevin Baron / Foreign Policy

“Because the stakes are so high, the administration is not going to accept that chemical weapons were used even on a small scale unless there is very conclusive evidence…There’s a very high risk that there will be more chemical weapons use…The military options are really horrendous,” said former White House official Gary Samore on the news out of Syria.

S. Korea says it will withdraw remaining workers from joint industrial complex

Chico Harlan / The Washington Post

After North Korea on Friday rejected formal talks to resolve a standoff at a jointly operated border industrial complex, South Korea said it would call home its remaining workers from the facility, formally severing the last major connection between the two countries.

ASP Recently Published

International Progress on Fusion Energy – How American Leadership is Slipping

Theodore J. MacDonald

ASP’s fact sheet, “International Progress on Fusion Energy” outlines the steps other countries are taking in developing fusion energy. Meanwhile, the U.S. is considering budget cuts to its fusion program, which will cause irreparable harm to the development of fusion power.

Perspective: The Defense Industrial Base

August Cole

The defense industrial base is tied to American competitiveness 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.

On Our Flashpoint Blog

Defense industry faces big tests with Washington and Wall Street

August Cole

The defense industrial base in an important element of America’s economic, and strategic, edge, whether through the contribution to the U.S. economy of billions of dollars in aerospace exports or the employment of some of the country’s most public-minded engineers and programmers.

U.S. – China Agreement on Climate Shows Promise

Andrew Holland

The U.S. and China recognize the “dangers presented by climate change” and that a “more focused and urgent initiative” is needed.

In Economic Battle for Influence, Soft Power May Decide the Winner

Livia Pontes Fialho

A recent article highlights what may be a decisive factor in a battle between two rising powers in Africa: soft power. Brazil and China, in their efforts to expand their industries’ reach and secure natural resources respectively, have developed aggressive strategies in the continent.

U.S. must include skilled workers in immigration reform

August Cole

There remains important work to be done on getting America’s visa system for skilled workers and their families up to the standards of 21st century economy. This is not just a matter of addressing the short fall in STEM workers, which has become a front-burner corporate issue.

Tom Donilon – Global Energy and Climate is a National Security Issue

Danielle Parillo

“We are in the midst of two changes that have presented themselves with great speed: first, the substantial increase in the supply of available, affordable energy inside the United States … second, a transformation in the global climate…”

Upcoming Events

U.S. National Security and the New Somalia: Reflections from the Former Prime Minister

Join us for a conversation with Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, the former Premier of Somalia.

The last two years in Somalia has seen militant Islamists in retreat and a country rise from the ashes of chronic conflict and chaos. At the helm during this transformative period the former Prime Minister, argues that security and political progress in Somalia has boosted US national security interests.

If you would like to attend this event please RSVP by clicking here.