Turkey, Syria escalate their war of words
Joshua Foust / PBS
On Friday, Syria shot down a Turkish military jet. While accounts vary, it seems an unarmed Turkish military jet was flying off the coast of Syria, probably in international waters, when Syrian air defenses fired at the aircraft. The plane eventually crashed just off the coast of Syria, near the coastal town of Latakia.
Blast hits Damascus as Turkey sends troops to border
Erika Solomon and Khaled Yacoub Oweis/Reuters
While Turkey deploys troops and anti-aircraft artillery to its border with Syria, an explosion in Damascus occurred, described as a “terrorist explosion” by state media.
China starts “combat ready” patrols in disputed seas
Reuters
China has begun combat-ready patrols in the waters around a disputed group of islands in the South China Sea, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday, the latest escalation in tension over the potentially resource-rich area.
Iraq bomb attacks kill 15, wound scores
Reuters
Bombings in and around Baghdad killed 13 people and wounded more than 50 on Thursday, the latest in a wave of sectarian attacks in Iraq, hospital sources and police said.
Russia says Syrians should decide Assad’s fate
Gabriela Baczynska/Reuters
Russia said on Thursday that international talks on the Syria conflict should seek a framework for a political transition but must not determine whether President Bashar al-Assad is barred from a possible national unity government.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Limitations of Hard Power in the Pacific
Zachary Miller
Earlier this year, the Obama administration outlined a strategy for military rebalancing in Asia in order to provide a strategic military presence and enhanced cooperation with regional allies. In a time of fiscal uncertainty for the Defense Department, the United States must utilize all other forms of instruments to achieve favorable outcomes in Asia.
Climate Change Policy: A Nearsighted Failure
Carl Grote
The negative impacts of climate change are well understood and have shown themselves with increasing frequency. Policy makers must look beyond the current costs of climate legislation, and recognize the long term benefits of a more secure climate.
Will Sanctions on Iran Work?
Nicholas Cunningham
U.S. and E.U. sanctions are set to take effect in the next few days. Already, Iran’s oil sector is being hit, but will it be enough?
The Nuke Review: June 18 – June 24
Daniel Painter
Putin and Obama issued a joint statement in which they vowed to continue their “commitment to strengthening close and cooperative relations.” The statement, which covered a variety of topics, also acknowledged that the U.S. and Russia had a special responsibility in regards to nuclear arms control and nonproliferation.
American Sovereignty and the Law of the Sea
Prachi Naik
On the eve of the third Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Law of the Sea treaty, I find public dialogue on the convention (still) divided between two camps: one of expansive, enthusiastic support and another of small, stubborn opposition.
Can the U.S. put a Price on Carbon?
Carl Grote
Carbon pricing offers a cost effective method for emissions reduction and climate mitigation. Yet, a weak economy hinders the near-term possibility of a carbon tax or economy-wide cap-and-trade system.
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