America’s Security, Under the Weather
Juliette Kayyem/ Boston Globe
We are not alone in our concerns. The American Security Project, a bipartisan think tank, analyzed military assessments worldwide. From China to Rwanda, Belarus to Brazil, over 70 percent of nations view climate change as a top threat to their national security.
A Threat to National Security?
Kilaparti Ramakrishna/ Korea JoongAng Daily
It is time to recognize the threats posed by a rapidly changing climate for what they are.
Poll Questions Shift Public Views on Global Warming
Dan Vergano/ USA Today
How you ask the question skews the results when it comes to public opinion on global warming, finds an analysis of hundreds of polls. The public mostly agrees on global warming’s reality, it says.
What Happens When Natural Gas Is No Longer Dirt Cheap?
Brad Plumer/ Washington Post
The recent plunge in U.S. carbon emissions isn’t likely to last — at least not without further changes to energy policy. One big reason? Natural gas prices are starting to creep back upward again.
Secretary of State Kerry Makes Unannounced Visit to Afghanistan
Arshad Mohammed/ Reuters
Secretary of State John Kerry paid an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Monday for talks with President Hamid Karzai, an official said, with both sides hoping to stabilize the country before most foreign troops leave by the end of 2014.
Erdogan: No Quick Restoration of Ties With Israel
Diaa Hadid and Danile Estrin/ AP and Arizona Daily Star
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested “normalization” of ties with Israel would take time, hinting that Turkey wanted to ensure the victims of a flotilla raid were compensated and Israel remained committed to the easing of restrictions of goods to Gaza before relations are restored between the two nations.
Leader of Syria’s Opposition Coalition Steps Down
Daniel Arkin and Ayman Mohyeldin/ NBC News
The leader of the Western-backed Syrian opposition coalition resigned Sunday, destabilizing the rebels’ two-year uprising against President Bashar Assad.
Focus on Syria: Chemical Weapons Frightful, Relatively Inexpensive
Laura Smith-Spark
Whatever the truth of the latest allegations, military analysts say they believe Syria may have one of the largest stockpiles of chemical weapons in the world. Specifically, the supply could include sarin and VX gases — both nerve agents — and mustard gas, which are banned under international law.
U.S. and South Korea Sign Plan to Counter North
Choe Sang-Hun/ New York Times
Throwing its weight behind an ally, the United States military said Monday that it had signed an agreement two and a half years in the making to support South Korea in countering North Korean provocations.
Tough Times for Cyprus After EU Bailout
Mark Thompson/ CNN Money
The €10 billion European Union rescue that Cyprus secured at dawn on Monday will prevent a chaotic financial collapse and secures the island’s future in the eurozone. But it will also exact a toll on the Cyprus financial sector and economy.
ASP Recently Published
The Global Security Defense Index on Climate Change: Preliminary Results
Andrew Holland and Xander Vagg
The Index analyzes how governments around the world and their militaries plan for and anticipate the strategic threats of climate change. The results show that over 70% of the nations in the world view climate change as a serious national security issue.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Making the Case for U.S. Leadership in the Pacific
August Cole
Last week, Deputy Secretary of Defense Ash Carter visited U.S. allies in Asia, the latest emissary sent forth to reinforce the shift of U.S. military and diplomatic focus from the Middle East and Central Asia to the Pacific.
