Why has climate legislation failed? An interview with Theda Skocpol
Brad Plumer / The Washington Post
A new report provides insight into why and how cap-and-trade legislation failed in Congress a few years back. Brad Plumer of The Washington Post interviews the author on the findings of the report.
Energy Secretary Chu Said to Plan Departure From Cabinet
Hans Nichols & Jim Snyder / Bloomberg
Secretary of Energy Steven Chu will announce his departure from the Department of Energy. While he can claim a lot of progress in renewable energy and fossil fuel development, his tenure was also marred by criticism.
U.S. Wind Power Accounted for 6% of Generation Capacity in 2012
Louise Downing / Bloomberg
The wind industry rushed to complete projects before the expiration of a key tax incentive at the end of 2012, making December the highest month for wind installations ever.
City Sizzles in Record Heat
Ilya Gridneff, Tom Arup, Jacob Saulwick / The Sydney Morning Herald
SYDNEY endured its hottest ever day on Friday, with records smashed across the city and thousands of people suffering from the heat.
US ‘Public Diplomacy’ Funded by Private US Companies
Barbara Slavin / Al-Monitor
With tight budgets, the State Department is reaching out to private companies to fund American public diplomacy efforts.
U.N. agency and Iran fail again to reach nuclear deal
Fredrik Dahl / Reuters
U.N. inspectors failed again in talks in Tehran this week to secure a breakthrough deal on Iran’s atomic activity in a setback for diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear dispute with the Islamic state peacefully.
UPF redesign effort now at 66 percent completion
Frank Munger / Knoxnews
A Y-12 spokeswoman today said the National Nuclear Security Administation’s approval is expected “soon” on the Critical Decision package for site readiness work on the Uranium Processing Facility.
Iran Strengthened Cyber Capabilities After Stuxnet: U.S. General
Andrea Shalal-Esa / Reuters
In response to the Stuxnet attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities in 2010, Iran has vastly improved its cyber capabilities. A senior U.S. Air Force official said Iran will be a “force to be reckoned with” in the future as a result.
Fifty Former Ambassadors And Top U.S. Officials Call on Senate to Confirm Hagel
Ben Armbruster / Think Progress
A collection of fifty former ambassadors and top U.S. officials sent a letter to the Senate Armed Services Chairman, expressing their support for former Senator Chuck Hagel’s nomination for Secretary of Defense.
Desert Siege: 100 of 132 Foreign Hostages Freed
Karim Kabir, Paul Schemm / Associated Press
The bloody three-day hostage standoff at a Sahara natural gas plant took a dramatic turn Friday as Algeria’s state news service reported that nearly 100 of the 132 foreign workers kidnapped by Islamic militants had been freed.
ASP Published Today
Former U.S. Commander Warns of Iran Attack Risks
AFP
A former US military commander warned Wednesday that a potential US strike against Iran would take weeks and probably only set back the country’s nuclear program by several years.
ASP Upcoming Events
Understanding the Strategic & Legal Context of Drone Strikes
Join us for a fact-based discussion with leading experts on counterterrorism about how we can better understand the effects of America’s drone campaign. This event will launch ASP’s latest paper on drone policy and doctrine, as part of a continuing project.
The event will take place:
Thursday, January 24, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
1100 New York Ave, NW Washington DC
Suite 710W – Conference Room E
Please RSVP by Monday, January 21 to events@americansecurityproject.org
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Iran Military Option – Event Review
Brian Kastner
A panel of distinguished military leaders joined ASP for a discussion of the costs and consequences of military action against Iran. ASP CEO BGen. Stephen Cheney (USMC, ret.), Admiral William Fallon (USN, ret.), and LtGen. Frank Kearney (USA, ret.) explored the strategic and tactical aspects of the military option, the expected costs and effects of a strike, and the role of military versus diplomatic and economic efforts.
Top brass fighting to keep military’s edge amid budget uncertainty
August Cole
Firing a shot across Congress’ bow in the fight for the future of the U.S. military, the nation’s highest ranking military leaders warned this week that across-the-board budget cuts will put the armed forces warfighting capabilities in serious danger.
