Center for Strategic Communication

Michael Porter: America Must Increase Competitiveness

Staff / Washington Free Beacon

Michael Porter, the creator of the competitiveness advantage theory, stressed that the economic divide in America is only set to get worse during a panel discussion hosted by the American Security Project and the Harvard Business School.

Fracking Pushes U.S. Oil Output to Highest Since 1992

Asjylyn Loder / Bloomberg

U.S. oil production jumped last week to the highest level since January 1992, cutting consumption of foreign fuel and putting the U.S. closer to energy independence.

Climate Change Will Cause More Energy Breakdowns, U.S. Warns

John M. Broder / New York Times

The nation’s entire energy system is vulnerable to increasingly severe and costly weather events driven by climate change, according to a report from the Department of Energy to be published Thursday.

U.S. Defense Chief Mans Hotline to Cairo

Adam Entous / Wall Street Journal

Since Egypt’s military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi last week, the job of trying to coax the Egyptian military to restore order and democracy in ways that satisfy Washington’s standards has largely fallen to newly minted Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

Getting to Yes on Transatlantic Trade

Thomas J. Bollyky and Anu Bradford / Foreign Affairs

Hammering out a transatlantic trade deal won’t be easy. Beyond the traditional barriers to free trade — tariffs and quotas — negotiators will need to address the real obstacle to transatlantic commerce: inconsistent regulations.

U.S. and China to Extend Co-Operation in Effort to Curb Climate ChangeSuzanne Goldenberg / The Guardian

New initiatives announced in Washington by both countries – who jointly account for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Clean Energy Investment Rises 22% Led by U.S., China

Sally Bakewell / Bloomberg

Clean-energy investment rose 22 percent in the second quarter from the prior three months as increased spending in the U.S., China and South Africa countered a slump in Europe.

North Korea Says Could Resume Nuclear Talks If U.S. Ends Hostility

Stephanie Nebehay and Tom Miles / Reuters

North Korea said on Wednesday that it would not give up its nuclear deterrent until the U.S. ends its “hostile policy” towards Pyongyang, but that it was ready to revive international talks on its nuclear program frozen since 2008.

Syria Chemical Weapons “Most Worrying Terror Threat to UK”

BBC

Al-Qaeda could gain access to Syria’s stockpiles of chemical weapons with “catastrophic” consequences, a parliamentary committee has warned.

Making Sense of Russia’s “Soft Power”

Yelena Osipova / Center on Global Interests

Over the past decade, soft power has become one of the hottest issues around the world. Trying to regain its international status, Russia, too, has joined the long list of countries spending millions on charming foreign publics.

The State Department’s Arabic Outreach Team Spoofed an al-Qaeda Video

Caitlin Dewey / Washington Post

In the war for Middle Eastern hearts and minds, the U.S. Digital Outreach Team is on the virtual front lines. But that outreach appears to have crossed a new line.

On our flashpoint blog

Pentagon Feeling the Bite of Sequestration

Ben Secrist

Hyperbole and broad assertions of devastation to the military was already tried to get Congress to act in a more responsible way, that has not worked. It’s time for specifics on the effects of sequestration.

Event Recap: Restoring American Competitiveness: A National Security Crisis

Justin Winikoff

On Wednesday, ASP collaborated with the Harvard Business School for a panel discussion on slipping American competitiveness.

U.S. and China Agree to Climate Cooperation

Nicholas Cunningham

The United States and China came to an agreement on July 10 to work together on several key areas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Former CIA Director James Woolsey on Energy Security

Warren Dym

On July 8th, 2013, former C.I.A. Director James Woolsey spoke at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) on the subject of energy security.

US Air Force Outlines Future Energy Strategy in New Report

Evan Meltzer

The U.S. Air Force recently published a report outlining its strategic vision for science and technology over the near-, mid- and long-term.

Independence Day-An Opportunity for Cultural Diplomacy

Christian Mull

Cultural diplomacy’s aim is to promote understanding between two nations based in the knowledge of one other’s customs and mores.  It is through this cultural understanding that meaningful relationships can be built and developed.  These meaningful relationships are the building blocks on which future diplomatic interactions can be built.

Imminent National Security Threat: Climate Change & Flood Risk

Kareem Chin

Climate Change is increasingly recognized as a direct national security threat. Rising greenhouse gas emissions contribute to an increasing frequency and severity of floods, droughts, wildfires, and hurricanes. The damage of these disasters is vast. Swiss Re estimated the property damage of Hurricane Sandy at $ 70 billion and of Hurricane Katrina at $ 230 billion.

ASP Podcast- American Competitiveness

Paul Hamill

This week we keys issues around America’s Competitiveness and how they impact national security. The United States ranked 7th in the World Economic Forum’s 2012/2013 global competitiveness report, just a few years after being ranked first – and this has big impacts on our national interest and overall security.

Breakthrough Technologies for Our Long-term Energy Challenges

William Joyce

Basic and early research is critical for developing the breakthrough technologies of the future, and this research is essential for solving our long-term energy challenges. However, many speculative energy projects are simply too risky for investors, so the U.S. created a new type of research organization in 2007 to explore the vast potential of these future technologies.

ASP in the news

Dr. Michael Porter Quoted at ASP’s American Competitiveness Panel

Harvard Business School professor Dr. Michael Porter’s remarks at the American Security Project’s Capitol Hill Panel Restoring American Competitiveness: A National Security Crisis were quoted by The Washington Free Beacon.

Matthew Wallin Publishes Op-Ed on Current State of U.S. Public Diplomacy in Medium

ASP’s Matthew Wallin published an op-ed today in Medium exploring the current state of America’s public diplomacy.

ASP congratulates its Chairman Gary Hart on his appointment as the chair of the State Department’s International Security Advisory Board

The American Security Project congratulates it’s Chairman Gary Hart on his appointment as the chair of the State Department’s International Security Advisory Board (ISAB).

ASP’s Andrew Holland Featured in Ethanol Producer Magazine’s Article Discussing Renewable Fuels and National Security

Andrew Holland, Senior Fellow for Energy and Climate with the American Security Project, was recently quoted in a piece by Ethanol Producer Magazine about a survey conducted by Research Now that identifies American attitudes towards oil and renewable fuels as a response to high gas prices.

ASP’s Andrew Holland Quoted in The Detroit Bureau’s Article on Renewable Energy Options

Andrew Holland, Senior Fellow for Energy and Climate with the American Security Project, was recently quoted in a piece by The Detroit Bureau about American interest in renewable fuel options in response to recent gas price jumps.