7 November 2012

Iran cool to re-elected Obama and talk of talks

Reuters

Iran reacted coolly to Barack Obama’s re-election on Wednesday, as the head of its judiciary condemned the “crimes” of U.S. sanctions and indicated the president should not expect rapid new negotiations with Tehran.

Bahrain revokes 31 opposition activists’ citizenship

BBC News – Middle East

As popular unrest continues in Bahrain, the government has revoked the citizenship of 31 opposition activists, claiming that Article 10 of the nation’s Citizenship Law permits the “re-evaluation of nationality.”  The government also banned all public gatherings and rallies last week.

Harsher energy regulations coming in Obama’s second term

Reuters

With a pledge to cut oil imports by half by 2020, Obama during the campaign advocated what he called an “all of the above” approach to developing a range of domestic energy sources. He said, however, that he would roll back subsidies for oil companies and reduce the nation’s reliance on oil by mandating production of more fuel-efficient vehicles.

U.S. sets diplomacy to music in Russia

Kathy Lally/Washington Post

Russia has been doing its best to suppress American influence here, but somehow it must have managed to overlook a woman in a bright red dress, with a commanding voice, operating on behalf of the U.S. State Department. She is touring Russia as part of a public diplomacy program.

‘A Period of Persistent Conflict’

Micah Zenko/Foreign Policy

Since September 11, 2001, the president has been able to threaten or use military force to achieve a range of foreign policy objectives with few checks and balances or sustained media coverage — to an extent unprecedented in U.S. history. Anything short of deploying large numbers of U.S. ground troops is tolerated, and any executive branch justification for using lethal force is broadly accepted.

In Egypt streets , Islamists throw weight around

Yasmine Saleh/Reuters

There are concerns that Islamists are pushing hardline ways on Egyptian society: “Although reliable data on social trends is hard to find in Egypt, many people believe that cases of religious intimidation have increased.”

Japan Takes Different Tack on Climate-Change Efforts

Mari Iwata And I Made Sentana/Wall Street Journal

Japan is sidestepping multilateral efforts to limit greenhouse-gas emissions, working with Indonesia and other Asian countries on a bilateral basis to tackle climate change.International climate-change negotiators will meet in Doha, Qatar, later this month to try to firm up an outline pact reached in South Africa a year ago, under which all countries would cut emissions starting in 2020.

 

In the News

Sandy shows costs of climate change

Andrew Holland/The Hill

ASP Senior Fellow Andrew Holland discusses the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy as a harbinger of future effects of climate change – damaged coastlines, crippled infrastructure, and billions in economic losses. He notes that if we fail to take action through investment in adaptation measures, things will only get worse.

ASP Climate Security Report quoted in E&E ClimateWire

American Security Project

E&E ClimateWire (subscription only) ran a story on ASP’s newly released “Climate Security Report.” The article focused on the security aspect of climate change, and how ASP’s report emphasizes that climate change represents threats that cannot be addressed only through a nation-state military perspective.

ASP’s Andrew Holland Quoted in CQ

American Security Project

Last week, ASP launched a major publication, the “Climate Security Report.” Congressional Quarterly (CQ) discussed the report in an article, quoting ASP Senior Fellow Andrew Holland. The article (subscription only) looks at the potential for legislation addressing climate change adaptation in the wake of the destruction left by Hurricane Sandy.

 

On Our Flashpoint Blog

Public Diplomacy After the Election

Matthew Wallin

Regardless of who wins the elections today, America’s public diplomacy must remain a priority in the course of foreign policy. These five priorities for public diplomacy should serve the next administration.