Key Reads
American Security Project Launches Business Council for American Security
Maggie Feldman-Piltch / American Security Project
American Security Project announces the launch of The Business Council for American Security (BCAS). The Council will be a permanent membership group supporting ASP.
Afghan Taliban Confirm Death of Mullah Omar, Say Group Has New Leader
Al Jazeera
Afghan Taliban sources confirmed to Al Jazeera that its reclusive leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, is dead. They also said that a high meeting of the Shura Council was held yesterday night and today, where the ruling council decided to elect Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, the head of the Quetta Shura, as his successor to be the new “Commander of the Faithful in Afghanistan.”
Indian Ocean Debris Almost Certainly from a Boeing 777: Malaysia
Joe Brock / Reuters
Malaysia is “almost certain” that plane debris found on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean is from a Boeing 777, the deputy transport minister said on Thursday, heightening the possibility it could be wreckage from missing Flight MH370.
American Competitiveness
Patent Protection for Drugs Puts Pressure on U.S. in Trade Talks
Jonathan Weisman / New York Times
With 12 nations pressing to conclude the largest regional trade accord ever, United States officials find themselves squeezed between activists pressing to secure access to low-cost pharmaceuticals and Republicans who say Congress will reject a deal without strong patent protections for the drug industry.
U.S. Economy Grew at 2.3% Rate in 2nd Quarter
Nelson Schwartz / New York Times
The American economy regained its footing last quarter, expanding at an annual rate of 2.3 percent amid a better trade picture, robust consumer spending and a healthy housing sector. The rebound in April, May and June was largely expected, after a dismal performance in the first quarter of 2015.
Obama, on China’s Turf, Presents U.S. as a Better Partner for Africa
Peter Baker / New York Times
At a time when China has surpassed the United States as a trading partner and left its mark throughout Africa, Mr. Obama essentially made the argument that Washington offers a better, more empowering vision for Africa’s future.
National Security & Strategy
China Says U.S. Militarizing South China Sea
Ben Blanchard, Manuel Mogato / Reuters
China’s Defense Ministry on Thursday accused the United States of “militarizing” the South China Sea by staging patrols and joint military drills there, ramping up the rhetoric ahead of a key regional security meeting in Malaysia next week. China has repeatedly urged Washington not to take sides in the escalating maritime dispute over the area, where the Asian giant last year stepped up its creation of artificial islands, alarming neighbors and provoking U.S. criticism.
‘Largely Symbolic’ NATO Meeting Concludes with ‘Strong Solidarity’ with Turkey
Frances Martel / Breitbart News
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) issued a statement in “strong solidarity” with Turkey following that nation’s emergency meeting to address a new anti-terrorism campaign against the Islamic State and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has stretched out of Ankara as far as northern Iraq in less than a week.
Asymmetric Operations
Turkish Military Says Three Soldiers Killed in PKK Attack in the Southeast
Humeyra Pamuk / Reuters
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants killed three Turkish soldiers in an attack on an army battalion in Turkey’s southeastern province of Sirnak on Thursday, the military said in a statement.
U.N. Envoy for Syria Seeks to Resume Peace Talks
Rick Gladstone / New York Times
The United Nations special envoy for Syria said Wednesday that he had invited a range of Syrians to participate in what he described as preparatory, separate discussions on how to restart peace talks after more than four years of war.
Climate Security
Obama Will Use Veto to Defend Climate Change if Necessary
Suzanne Goldenberg / The Guardian
Barack Obama will use all of his powers – including his veto – to defend his plan to fight climate change, the White House said, on the eve of new rules cutting carbon pollution from power plants. Obama is expected to unveil the new rules as early as Monday, according to those familiar with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plan.
The Climate Negotiations in Paris – Time for Change
David Nussbaum / Huffington Post
This year is a critical year for decisions about the future of the planet and its people. Two high-level government meetings will take place: the UN Summit on global Sustainable Development Goals in September, and the UNFCCC climate negotiations in Paris at the end of the year. These two meetings are the culmination of long, intensive processes, and present governments across the world with the chance to make bold decisions. If they rise to the challenge, they can set us all on a path to address the inter-connected crises of poverty, inequality, environmental degradation and climate change.
Energy Security
Speaker Calls for End to Oil Export Ban
Timothy Cama / The Hill
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) called Wednesday for Congress to lift the 40-year-old ban on crude oil exports. Boehner hadn’t taken sides in the debate until Wednesday, and his endorsement likely sets the stage for a major policy battle this fall on Capitol Hill.
Nuclear Security
Why the Naysayers Are Wrong About the Iran Deal
Nicholas Kristof / New York Times
Diplomacy is rarely about optimal outcomes; it is about muddling along in the dark, dodging bullets, struggling to defer war and catastrophe for the time being, nurturing opportunities for a better tomorrow. By that standard, the Iran deal succeeds. Sure, it is flawed, and yes, it makes us safer.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Clark Derrington
The United States is currently in the process of negotiating two major, multilateral free trade agreements. The two sets of negotiations include the US and 39 other countries – 11 around the Pacific Rim in one agreement and the 28 members of the European Union in the other. Though it will be many months until the completed treaties are up for congressional approval, negotiators in each case are close to reaching a final deal.
ASP Generals Argue for Renewable Fuels
William Furlow
Last week Retired Army Generals gathered in Iowa to discuss the importance of biofuels in strengthening America’s national security. Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark, Ret. Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton and Ret. Brig. Gen. Steven Anderson gathered to advocate on behalf of VoteVets.org.
DoD Report on Security Implication of Climate Change
Steven Eisen
On July 29th 2015 the US Department of Defense released the “Report on National Security Implications of Climate-Related Risks and a Changing Climate.” The report stated that global climate change will have “wide ranging implications for U.S. national security interests over the foreseeable future” due to exacerbating issues such as, environmental degradation, social problems, weak political institutions and poverty which could lead to more conflicts around the globe.
The Iran Nuclear Deal and the Middle East
Mahmood Abu-Rubieh
After the signing of the historic nuclear deal between the P5+1 nations and Iran, regional actors denounced the deal for fear it spelled a new regional balance of power, and added to the Islamic Republic’s regional influence.
BCAS Chairperson Dante Disparte Featured on 25 GES 2015 Attendees You Must Know
Maggie Feldman-Piltch
This weekend, Business Council for American Security Chairperson Dante Disparte spoke on entrepreneurship, innovation and fund raising as a guest of the White House at the GES 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Upcoming Events
Understanding the Iran Nuclear Deal
August 4th, 2015, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
The international community and Iran have just concluded two years of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. After a series of set-backs, continued negotiations, and international pressure on all sides, an Iranian Nuclear Deal was finally reached. This event will be an opportunity to push past the politics and understand the components and implications of The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Join the American Security Project as we host this lunch event and discuss the important implications this deal has for the United States, its partners, and Iran.
ASP Recently Published
Perspective: Energy and Geopolitics in the Eastern Mediterranean
American Security Project
Since 2009, there have been a succession of substantial natural gas finds in the Levantine Basin, under the Mediterranean Sea between Israel and Cyprus. How to regulate, tax, and export the gas continues to be controversial in Israeli politics. However, the strategic benefits of using energy resources to more closely tie Israel with its long-hostile neighbors are too compelling to ignore. This report analyzes the risks and opportunities involved in such an endeavor.
Perspective: Potential Areas of Cooperation Between the U.S. and Cuba
American Security Project
Latin America and the Caribbean are critical regions for U.S. security, but the lack of open communication between the U.S. and Cuba weakens America’s ability to operate in these areas. Open dialogue with Cuba will help the U.S. maintain security, and could also bring potential economic opportunities. Understanding that the isolation of Cuba has not proven to be an effective policy, this paper examines a variety of possibilities for cooperation between the United States and Cuba.
The post What We Are Reading appeared first on American Security Project.
