October 23, 2012
Egypt Supreme Court to decide on constitutional panel
BBC News – Middle East
The Cairo Administrative Court that was expected to rule on lawsuits concerning the composition of Egypt’s constitutional panel has passed the case the Supreme Constitutional Court. The lawsuits have arisen from concerns that the panel is not representative of Egyptian society; supporters say the dissolution of the panel will stall the ongoing political transition in Egypt.
Defected woman general trains Syria’s rebels
Basma Atassi/Al Jazeera
Zubaida al-Meeki, a former general in the Syrian army, was the first female officer to formally defect from President Bashar al-Assad’s army. She now trains and fights with the Free Syrian Army.
Why Climate Change Has Become the Missing Issue in the Presidential Campaign
Bryan Walsh / Time
It might seem reasonable to think that climate change —and how the U.S. should respond to it — would be among the top issues of the 2012 presidential election. Yet neither Governor Romney nor President Obama seem to want to discuss the issue.
IKEA to move to clean energy by 2020, protect forests
Alister Doyle / Reuters
IKEA, the world’s largest furniture retailer, will shift to renewable energy by 2020 and grow more trees than it uses under a plan to safeguard nature that has won support from environmentalists.
Where energy independence peddlers go wrong
Meghan Gordon/Platts
Anne Korin talks about the good and bad news surrounding energy independence, specifically the decline in US demand for foreign oil.
Climate linked to conflict in East Africa, study finds
Jon Bardin/LA Times
A study relating climate to conflict in East African nations finds that increased rainfall dampens conflict while unusually hot periods can cause a flare-up, reinforcing the theory that climate change will cause increased scarcity in the region. The study was published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The case for nuclear power
Gregory Clark/Japan Times
The Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant disaster has made Japan reconsider the role of nuclear power in its future. But for some reason we hear little about the non-disaster at the nearby Onagawa nuclear plant
Govt should rethink nuclear subs: analyst
Max Blenkin/AAP
The government must consider the nuclear option for the next generation of submarines, with US Virginia class “nukes” far more capable and cheaper than anything else Australia could acquire, a new study says.
In the News
ASP Fellow Joshua Foust discusses drones in Financial Times
ASP Fellow Joshua Foust is quoted in the Financial Times on the subject of drones in the context of the US presidential election.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
The Presidential Debate Series-An Energy Question for the Final Presidential Debate
Xander Vagg
The third and final Presidential Debate of 2012 will feature President Barack Obama and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney discussing foreign policy issues in a one-on-one format. Here’s what should be asked on energy.
Exploring the options with Iran
Aaron Hesse
The closing down of Radio Svoboda’s Russian broadcasting is emblematic of exactly why it is still needed. The Russian law is nothing more than an effort to stifle the intrusion of Western democratic viewpoints and information into the greater political discussion.
The Presidential Debate Series-A Climate Change Question for the Final Presidential Debate
Xander Vagg
The third and final Presidential Debate of 2012 will feature President Barack Obama and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney discussing foreign policy issues in a one-on-one format. Here’s what should be asked on climate change
The Nuke Review, October 15 – October 22
Mitchell Freddura
Read about the latest E.U. sanctions on Iran, a reported agreement for meetings between the U.S. and Iran, Russia’s latest nuclear test, lessons from the Cuban Missile Crisis, and much more!
Foreign Policy Isn’t ‘Above Politics’—and Shouldn’t Be
Joshua Foust
Foreign policy isn’t just political after the fact; it’s inherently political when it is being executed. Whether on issues of trade, navigation rights, nuclear proliferation, or human rights, implementing a foreign policy requires constant political bargaining between the White House and Congress.
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
