Iran Elects Moderate Cleric Hasan Rouhani President
NPR
Moderate cleric Hasan Rouhani replaces Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has been in power since 2005. David Greene talks to Thomas Erdbrink, a reporter for The New York Times in Tehran, about Iran’s newly elected president.
“Engagement” Is More Convenient Than Helpful: Dissecting a Public Policy Term
Craig Hayden / The CPD Blog
Matthew Wallin of the American Security Project posed an interesting question in a recent blog post titled “Engagement: What does it mean for public diplomacy?” This question touched a nerve for me, because there are no ready definitions for the term – despite the fact that it appears across statements articulating the purpose of U.S. public diplomacy.
Extreme Energy, Extreme Implications: Interview with Michael Klare
Peakoil.com
If oil and gas is a profoundly dynamic phenomenon, then so too must be environmental risk and conflicts over natural resources—and we are not getting the full picture from the mainstream media…
Rupee Drop Imperils $670 Million Solar Projects: Corporate India
Natalie Obiku Pearson / Bloomberg
The rupee’s 9 percent slide this quarter to a record may reduce returns for $670 million of solar power projects in India as higher import costs hurt developers grappling with a rise in panel prices.
F-35 Fight Jet Info Called ‘Major Problem,’ Could Help Rivals
Luis Martinez / ABC News
A top Pentagon official said the cyber theft of unclassified design information about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is a “major problem,” but added he was confident that classified information about the military’s next-generation stealth warplane was “well protected.”
Kerry Heads to Doha for Syria Talks
Scott Stearns / VOA News
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry travels Friday to Doha for a meeting of foreign ministers backing Syrian rebels. It is the first session of the so-called “Friends of Syria” group since Washington announced plans to arm the rebellion.
In Syria chemical weapons claim, criticism about lack of transparency
Column Lynch & Joby Warrick / The Washington Post
Despite months of laboratory testing and scrutiny by top U.S. scientists, the Obama administration’s case for arming Syria’s rebels rests on unverifiable claims that the Syrian government used chemical weapons against its own people, according to diplomats and experts.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier: What It Is and Why It Matters
Kareem Chin
Last week, the U.S. Department of Energy announced it would make available up to $9 million in new funding to accelerate the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for use in vehicles, backup power systems, and hydrogen refueling components. These investments aim at strengthening U.S. leadership in cost-effective hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, and will help the industry introduce hydrogen technologies to the market at lower cost.
“Statements don’t make a peace agreement”: Aqab Malik on Pakistan/Taliban Negotiations
Katrina Trost
Thursday visiting National Defense University Assistant Professor, Aqab Malik, spoke at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies on Talking with the Taliban: A Strategic Dilemma for Pakistan. Having spent significant time with the Taliban in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, Malik offered insights to negotiation potential with the Pakistani Taliban and central Pakistani government.
The Future of Flying Wind Turbines
William Joyce
In May, Google purchased a small start-up company, Makani Power, which specializes in flying wind turbines. Although still far off, flying wind turbines promise increased wind energy production by harnessing the strong winds in the sky.
High-Skilled Immigration Reform Needed to Enhance Competitiveness
Wes Reichart
The political capital and motivation pushing immigration reform should not reside solely with the demand for stricter border security and the prevention of a mass influx of illegal aliens.
World Bank: Turn Down the Heat – What Climate Change will mean for the World’s Poor: Video and Infographics
Andrew Holland
The World Bank is out with an important new report, “Turn down the heat : climate extremes, regional impacts, and the case for resilience.” The Bank details how 2 degrees and 4 degrees of warming will impact food, water, and livelihoods in three of the world’s most vulnerable places, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
ASP in the News
Matthew Wallin’s Piece on Engagement Discussed at Center on Public Diplomacy
Dr. Craig Hayden of American University published an article at the USC Center on Public Diplomacy discussing a recent blog post by ASP’s Matthew Wallin which challenged the use of the term “engagement” in public diplomacy circles.
ASP’s Global Security Defense Index on Climate Change Cited in RTCC Article
Ed King of Responding to Climate Change released an article today citing ASP’s report on global security perspectives on climate change. The article described the G8’s recent statements and how they illustrate the growing trend for governments to link climate change with economic and security concerns.
Upcoming Events
Redefining US Energy Security for the 21st Century- New York Energy Week
Tuesday, June 25 from 4:15 until 5:30
300 Madison Ave, New York, NY
With the United States in the midst of an oil and natural gas boom, long-held concerns about energy security are giving way to bold predictions of energy independence and diminishing concerns about climate change. These trends raise important questions for business leaders and policymakers alike. Join us as we explore them with some of the nation’s foremost national security experts. RSVP to events@theclimategroup.org.
North Korean Nuclear, Missile, and Space Programs: Imagery Brief Policy with Joel Wit
Tuesday, June 25th from 12:30-2:00 pm.
Location: 1100 New York Avenue, 7th Floor West Tower.
Join us for a lunchtime discussion with Visiting Scholar and former State Department official Joel Wit as he describes current North Korean nuclear, missile, and space programs using imagery slides. Mr. Wit will give his views on the policy options for dealing with this difficult and dangerous nation. RSVP by emailing events@americansecurityproject.org
About the American Security Project: The American Security Project is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy and research organization dedicated to fostering knowledge and understanding of a range of national security issues, promoting debate about the appropriate use of American power, and cultivating strategic responses to 21st century challenges.
For more information, visit www.americansecurityproject.org. info@americansecurityproject.org
