Senate confirms Froman as next trade representative
Jim Abrams / The Washington Post
Michael Froman, a senior White House economic adviser and classmate of President Obama at Harvard Law School, won Senate confirmation Wednesday to be the next U.S. trade representative.
Is Limitless Green Energy in Our Near Future?
Darden Adams / theSOP
When we think of nuclear power these days most of us probably picture radioactive hazard signs, nuclear meltdown, or the problem of radioactive waste disposal. But what if there were an alternative with no dangerous waste and even greater efficiency than traditional nuclear plants.
Two G.O.P. Senators Are Close to a Deal on Border Security
Ashley Parker / The New York Times
Two Senate Republicans closed in on a deal regarding stronger border security on Wednesday evening with the bipartisan group of eight senators that drafted an overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws, hoping to find a resolution to an issue that for two weeks has dominated — and at times bedeviled — the immigration debate on the Senate floor.
How Immigration Reform Would Help the Economy
Simon Johnson / The New York Times
After many months of rival assertions by interested parties, we finally have an authoritative assessment by an impartial referee of the effects of the so-called Gang of Eight senators’ proposed legislation on immigration.
Obama Readying Emissions Limits on Power Plants
John M. Broder / The New York Times
President Obama is preparing regulations limiting carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants, senior officials said Wednesday. The move would be the most consequential climate policy step he could take and one likely to provoke legal challenges from Republicans and some industries.
Tata Wins Over IBM, Dell With Solar Cheaper Than Grid
Natalie Obiko Pearson / Bloomberg
Tata Group’s solar unit is expanding its business building plants for customers, forecasting that offices and factories will be paying more for grid power than solar by 2016 in most Indian states.
Singapore Smog Reaches ‘Hazardous’ All-Time High on Fires
Kyunghee Park & Jasmine Ng / Bloomberg
Singapore’s smog level reached a all-time high today, as officials head to Jakarta to discuss ways to stem the pollution caused by forest burning on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Silent or public diplomacy in Azerbaijan?
Anar Mammadli / European Voice
Ilham Aliev, Azerbaijan’s president, will visit Brussels this Friday (21 June) to meet José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, and Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council. The conversations are likely to touch on a pending decision on a pipeline carrying Azeri gas to Europe, energy issues, and the European Union’s Eastern partnership.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
The Arctic’s Ticking Time Bomb
William Joyce
The Arctic is home to vast amounts of methane gas, trapped beneath a thick layer of permafrost. Every year these organic carbon reservoirs grow as the cold climate traps plants and animals below the topsoil and prevents decomposition. These Arctic reservoirs account for nearly half of all organic carbon stored within the planet’s soil.
Cyber Legislation Needed to Protect American Competitiveness
Ben Secrist
The coincidental timing of the recent California summit between President Obama and his counterpart Xi Jingping and the Edward Snowden/NSA ordeal has brought the many issues surrounding cyber security back into focus. National security and American competitiveness are deeply intertwined; hacking and theft of data from the Defense and private industry is a constant concern.
G8 Stresses Food Security and Climate Change as Key Threats
Evan Meltzer and Kareem Chin
Yesterday, leaders from the Group of Eight (G8) concluded the 39th annual G8 Summit in Northern Ireland and published a final communiqué detailing their commitment to addressing food security and climate change. These issues were two of many points raised at the Summit, which also touched on foreign policy, the global economy, and nuclear safety.
David Cote’s Keys to American Competitiveness- Event Review
Justin Winikoff
“Are we so focused on our entitlements that we’ve forgotten what has made us great?” ask posed the keynote speaker at the National Journal’s “Back in Business Forum” on June 19th
ASP in the News
ASP’s Global Security Defense Index on Climate Change Cited in RTCC Article
Ed King of Responding to Climate Change released an article today citing ASP’s report on global security perspectives on climate change. The article described the G8’s recent statements and how they illustrate the growing trend for governments to link climate change with economic and security concerns
ASP Statement on President Obama’s Brandenburg Gate Speech
BGen Stephen A. Cheney USMC (Ret.)
The American Security project supports President Obama’s call for reductions of nuclear arsenals. The Department of Defense and Joint Chiefs of staff, along with many military members support a one-third reduction of the U.S. arsenal.
ASP Board Member Christine Todd Whitman featured in The Daily Rundown
ASP senior board member and former Governor of New Jersey Christine Todd Whitman was featured on last Friday’s The Daily Rundown to discuss the threats of climate change.
ASP Board Member Adm. Fallon quoted on Syrian conflict
American Security Project Board Member Admiral William Fallon (US Navy Ret.) was recently quoted by Lara Jakes of the Associated Press in an article detailing the debate regarding the implementation of a no-fly-zone in Syria. Competing arguments as to the applicability of the lessons learned in Iraq with regards to the viability of a no-fly-zone are presented throughout.
Upcoming Events
Redefining US Energy Security for the 21st Century- New York Energy Week
Tuesday, June 25 from 4:15 until 5:30
300 Madison Ave, New York, NY
With the United States in the midst of an oil and natural gas boom, long-held concerns about energy security are giving way to bold predictions of energy independence and diminishing concerns about climate change. These trends raise important questions for business leaders and policymakers alike. Join us as we explore them with some of the nation’s foremost national security experts. RSVP to events@theclimategroup.org.
North Korean Nuclear, Missile, and Space Programs: Imagery Brief Policy with Joel Wit
Tuesday, June 25th from 12:30-2:00 pm.
Location: 1100 New York Avenue, 7th Floor West Tower.
Join us for a lunchtime discussion with Visiting Scholar and former State Department official Joel Wit as he describes current North Korean nuclear, missile, and space programs using imagery slides. Mr. Wit will give his views on the policy options for dealing with this difficult and dangerous nation. RSVP by emailing events@americansecurityproject.org
