Fareed Zakaria / Time Magazine
Those urging the U.S. to intervene in Syria are certain of one thing: If we had intervened sooner, things would be better in that war-torn country. Had the Obama Administration gotten involved earlier, there would be less instability and fewer killings.
Hans M. Kristensen and Robert S. Norris / Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Russia is in the middle of modernizing its nuclear forces, replacing Soviet-era ballistic missiles with fewer improved missiles. This is best available unclassified estimate of Russian nuclear forces.
Kazakhstan says working with U.S. on Boston bomb probe
Lidia Kelly and Mariya Gordeyeva / Reuters
Kazakhstan said on Thursday in condemned any form of terrorism and was cooperating with the United States after two of its citizens were charged with interfering with the investigation of the Boston Marathon bombing.
North Korea sentences American to 15 years hard labor
Ju-min Park / Reuters
North Korea sentenced U.S. citizen Kenneth Bae to 15 years hard labor on Thursday for what it said were crimes against the state, a move that will likely see him used as a bargaining chip in talks with Washington.
U.K. Must Balance Trident Renewal with Ability to Conduct Traditional Military Campaigns
Rachel Oswald / NTI
Budget difficulties have left the United Kingdom with a tough decision to make in the next few years – whether to pour billions of dollars into building a new fleet of ballistic missile submarines or use the money to maintain its diverse conventional armed forces capabilities.
Somalia famine ‘killed 260,000 people’
BBC
Nearly 260,000 people died during the famine that hit Somalia from 2010 to 2012, a study shows.
ASP Recently Published Reports
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 to 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 sector must take steps to thrive during a draw down 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
Bringing Russia in from the Cold
Robert Fojtik
Russia’s legal development, economic health, and ability to contribute as a global partner are all intricately linked. Too much of the United States’ policy towards Russia has been aimed at punishing the country for not being Western enough, when the goal should be making Russia a team player in the international order.
Why Oil Prices Will Remain High Despite the U.S. Oil Boom
Andrew Holland
The truth appears to be that demand for oil in the developing world – particularly (but not exclusively) in Asia – is effectively insatiable (at least over the medium term). These are fast growing economies with rising middle classes. For every new barrel or oil produced by the United States, there are refiners in China willing to buy it to satiate their country’s ever-growing demand.
This week in Public Diplomacy, read about #SoftPower, #China, #Russia, #Google and more!
The Governator – The immigration solution the nation needs
BGen Stephen A. Cheney USMC (Ret.)
Immigration reform is an economic and national security issue. The United States is in desperate need to improve its competitiveness – and that includes ringing the brightest and best to our country to work, live, start business and become American.
Syria Update: President Obama’s Tuesday Press Conference
Eric Harris Bernstein
At Tuesday morning’s press conference, President Obama confirmed the use of chemical weapons in Syria but did not yet commit to an action plan.
Upcoming Events
U.S. National Security and the New Somalia: Reflections from Former Prime Minister
Join us for a conversation with Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, the former Premier of Somalia. The last two years in Somalia had seen militant Islamist 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 the 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.