Russian aid convoy ‘will not be admitted into Ukraine’
The Guardian
A Ukrainian security spokesman has said that a humanitarian convoy Russia has dispatched to eastern Ukraine will not be admitted into the country.
Liberia to give two doctors trial drug, Ebola toll at 1013
Clair Macdougall and Daniel Flynn / Reuters
Liberia said on Tuesday it would treat two infected doctors with the scarce experimental Ebola drug ZMapp, the first Africans to receive the treatment, while authorities in Spain said a 75-year-old priest had died of the disease.
New study finds fringe global warming contrarians get disproportionate media attention
John Abraham and Dana Nuccitelli / the Guardian
30% of fringe climate scientists who say carbon pollution causes little global warming report frequent media coverage, vs. just 15% of mainstream climate scientists
Kerry urges quick formation of new Iraqi cabinet
Jethro Mullen and Brian Walker / CNN
The United States hopes the newly-designated Prime Minister of Iraq can form a cabinet quickly and build a united front against ISIS rebels, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday.
‘Heroic’ mission rescues desperate Yazidis from ISIS
Dana Ford and Josh Levs / CNN
The face of 15-year-old Aziza says it all. Her mouth slightly agape, tears stream down her face as she glances around the inside of a helicopter with confusion in her eyes.
ExxonMobil starts drilling for oil in Russia’s Arctic
Reuters
U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil began drilling in Russia’s Arctic on Saturday, despite Western sanctions imposed on its Russian partner Rosneft, and was hailed by Russia’s president as an model of “cooperation.”
USO on Robin Williams’ Death: ‘He Will Be Sorely Missed’
NBC News
Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams, 63, who died Monday in California, was also known for his work with the United Service Organization, a nonprofit that works to lift the spirits of U.S. troops. In this role, Williams performed for American troops stationed in Afghanistan, Iraq and, in one of his most memorable appearances, in Kuwait.
Those families in Iraq fleeing in terror from Isis killers – they are our problem
Tom Watson / the Guardian
The Kurdish precedent could be used to secure a safe haven for minorities. It might require military action, but hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake
State Department: ‘Volleyball Diplomacy Strengthens U.S. – Iranian Relations
Jeryl Bier / the Weekly Standard
Besides centrifuges, uranium enrichment, and sanctions, this month the State Department turned to sets, digs, and spikes in diplomatic efforts with Iran. Samuel Werberg, a press and public diplomacy officer in the U.S. State Department, invoked the spirit of Jesse Owens to tout the Obama administration’s latest installment of sports diplomacy.
ASP Recent Reports
American Security Quarterly – August 2014
Adin Dobkin
The Russian annexation of Crimea and the scores of pro-Russia militants taking up arms in Eastern Ukraine — before it physically happened, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who labeled it a likelihood.
Paul Hamill
Fusion energy is real. It’s happening now in labs around the world.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Sonenshine: Cementing peace in the Middle East
Justin Tolentino
On Monday, August 11, 2014, ASP Consensus member and former Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Tara D. Sonenshine released an article titled “Cementing peace in the Middle East” through thehill.com.
Space: Is the DOD Procurement Culture the Next Challenge?
Naman Jain
According to a recent article by the National Defense Magazine, “A Pentagon budget crunch and the SpaceX lawsuit could be the catalysts that force the government to accept a new business model, said Charles Miller, president of the consulting firm NexGen Space.”
Upcoming Events
What’s Next? Fostering the Next Generation of Energy Security Conference
September 30 @ 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
The next steps in building a cleaner, more resilient energy system and economy will not be easy. The American Security Project intends to build on its years of research into energy security and climate policy by initiating a study into the next generation of energy policy. Join ASP and our panelists as we discuss the next generation of energy technology and climate policy.
The post What We Are Reading…August 12, 2014 appeared first on American Security Project.