[ by Charles Cameron -- and what about climate change, Mike Mazarr? ] . Is there even a Cheney-esque one-percent possibility that 97% of climate scientists (NASA’s estimate) are right? . . ** I just opened up Michael Mazarr‘s NDU Strategy Study Group report, Discriminate Power: A Strategy for a Sustainable National Security Posture. It’s [...] Read more »
Monitor
The latest links from the blogosphere on Strategic Communication, Terrorism & Public Diplomacy. CSC provides these links as a service to its audience, but is not responsible for and does not necessarily endorse their content.
Great question!
[ by Charles Cameron -- from Paradise Regained: Overcoming Terrorism in Star Trek Into Darkness ] . . Matt Ford, guest-blogging at Grand Blog Tarkin [includes spoilers] asks: How many young Americans learned Arabic and Pashto or studied counterterrorism and international relations because nineteen men flew three planes into a building and one into the [...] Read more »
Discriminate Power: A Strategy for a Sustainable National Security Posture
By: SWJ Editors Discriminate Power: A Strategy for a Sustainable National Security Posture by Michael J. Mazarr and the NDU Strategy Study Group, Foreign Policy Research Institute. Read more »
Tornado in Oklahoma – Hopes for Rescues, and Weather as a Security Threat
It was with a heavy heart that all of us here at the American Security Project watched news of the devastating tornado in Oklahoma. We are encouraged by news reports revising down the death tolls, and we hope that more lives are saved. Yet again, we are reminded that weather is an issue of national security. Six months ago, the Marines deployed to Staten Island and the New York area in response to Hurricane Sandy. In every major disaster, America’s armed forces are called to assist in disaster relief. That is appropriate because of the expertise and organization that these units can bring. Today, the Oklahoma National Guard is providing critical assistance in relief and recovery efforts. We hope their presence saves lives. Read more »
Book excerpt: Chemical attack in Iraq
US Marine CWO-5 Jim Roussell (L) and Captain Jason Brezler stand in the crater left by a chlorine truck bomb detonated in the village of Albu Aifan south of Fallujah on March 16, 2007. Photo courtesy of Jason Brezler. The following ex... Read more »
Usama bin Laden Called Yunus Khalis “the Father Sheikh:” Weird But Possibly True
Many authors have tried to fill in the gaps in the historical account of how al-Qa’ida’s central leadership came to reside in Jalalabad for part of 1996, with mixed results. Yunus Khalis has become a fixture in these narratives largely because he was the best known person that Bin Laden interacted with in the summer [...] Read more »
Resources and Information for Those Affected by Oklahoma Tornadoes
Ed. Note: You can help people affected by the recent tornadoes through American Red Cross Disaster Relief. If you are in the affected areas, you can also register as "Safe and Well" to let your friends and family know you are okay. Check back here for more information — we'll continue updating this post as the response effort develops.
5/21/13
Update 2: This morning, President Obama delivered a statement on the devastating tornadoes and severe weather that impacted Oklahoma. He described the response efforts underway, and assured the people of Moore and all the affected areas that they "would have all the resources that they need at their disposal."
For there are homes and schools to rebuild, businesses and hospitals to reopen, there are parents to console, first responders to comfort, and, of course, frightened children who will need our continued love and attention. There are empty spaces where there used to be living rooms, and bedrooms, and classrooms, and, in time, we’re going to need to refill those spaces with love and laughter and community.
"Americans from every corner of this country will be right there with them, opening our homes, our hearts to those in need," President Obama said. "Because we're a nation that stands with our fellow citizens as long as it takes. We've seen that spirit in Joplin, in Tuscaloosa; we saw that spirit in Boston and Breezy Point. And that’s what the people of Oklahoma are going to need from us right now."
Update 1: The President continued to receive updates overnight from his team on the ongoing response to the devastating tornados and severe weather that impacted Oklahoma Sunday night and Monday. Last night, following his call to Governor Mary Fallin, the President also spoke with Congressman Tom Cole to express his concern for those who had been impacted and his deep condolences for the many who have lost loved ones as a result of the horrible tornados. The President praised the brave first responders, and made clear that the country would stand behind the people of Oklahoma as they continued to respond and recover.
Last night, the President approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Oklahoma, making federal funding available to support affected individuals, as well as additional federal assistance to support immediate response and recovery efforts.
This morning the President received a briefing in the Oval Office on the response by Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco and other senior members of the President’s response team.
President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin in the Oval Office, May 20, 2013. The President spoke with Gov. Fallin to express his concern for those who have been affected by the severe weather beginning last night and continuing today. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
5/20/13
This evening, the President spoke with Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin to express his concern for those who have been affected by the tornadoes last night and continuing today.
As the President told Governor Fallin tonight, the administration — through FEMA — is committed to providing all the assistance it can to Oklahoma as the response effort unfolds. Already, FEMA has deployed an Incident Management Assistance Team, Urban Search & Rescue Teams, and an Medical Emergency Response Support Team to provide resources to hard-hit areas in Oklahoma.
FEMA is urging those in impacted areas to listen carefully to instructions from local officials, and to take the recommended protective measures. Residents should monitor local radio or TV stations, or the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov.
As the response effort develops, here is a list of resources for those affected:
Department of Homeland Security
On Twitter: @DHSgov
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/homelandsecurity
FEMA
On Twitter: @FEMA
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/FEMA
Blog Updates from FEMA
American Red Cross
Latest updates
On Twitter: @RedCross
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/redcross
21 May SWJ Roundup
Applying Early Lessons to Build Afghan Security
By: SWJ Editors Applying Early Lessons to Build Afghan Security by Thom Shanker, New York Times. Read more »
Is the War on Terrorism Over? Long Live Unconventional Warfare
By: David S. Maxwell The threat exists and continues to operate. But more importantly we must understand that it is waging unconventional warfare and only using terrorism as one of the means of its... Read more »