U.S. Steps Up Public Diplomacy in Egypt Crisis
David D. Kirkpatrick / New York Times
A senior United States official arrived [in Cairo] Monday for meetings with the new military-led government as it tries to end a standoff with tens of thousands of Islamists camped out at a sit-in to protest the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood.
U.S. Repeals Propaganda Ban, Spreads Government-Made News to Americans
John Hudson / Foreign Policy
For decades a so-called anti-propaganda law prevented the U.S. government’s mammoth broadcasting arm from delivering programming to American audiences. But on July 2, that came silently to an end with the implementation of a new reform passed in January.
Israel’s Newly Discovered Gas Field Contains Significant Crude Oil Find
Hezi Sternlicht / Reuters
Explorations at Karish, Israel’s newest offshore gas field northwest of Haifa, reveal that underwater reservoir contains $1.3 billion worth of condensate, a crude oil used for fuel production, on top of potential 1.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Dunes, Reefs Protect U.S. Coasts from Climate Change
Wendy Koch / USA Today
As climate change brings higher sea levels, can sand dunes and coral reefs really protect U.S. coastlines? Yes, indeed, they help defend 67% of them, says a new study by Stanford scientists.
China Free Coal Policy in the North “Cut Lifespans”
BBC News
China’s policy of giving free coal for heating to residents in the north has contributed to shaving 5.5 years off life expectancy there, a study says.
Napolitano Departure Bares Gaps in DHS Leadership
Eileen Sullivan and Alicia A. Caldwell / AP
The leadership vacancy created by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s resignation is the latest and greatest blow to a department where one-third of the heads of key agencies and divisions have been filled with acting officials or remained vacant for months.
Canada’s Train Disaster Could Inspire New US Regulations
Jennifer A. Dlouhy / Fuelfix
The deadly derailment of a train heaving crude across Canada should inspire U.S. regulators to take a close look at existing federa mandates governing rail transport of oil, a former Obama administration energy adviser said.
America’s Corporate Tax System Ranks a Miserable 94 out of 100 Nations in “Tax Attractiveness”
Daniel J. Mitchell / Cato Institute
A couple of economists at a German think tank put together a “tax attractiveness” ranking based on 16 different variables. Unfortunately, the United States remains mired near the bottom.
Next Generations of Drones: Let the Sweepstakes Begin
Philip Ewing / Politico
Now that the Navy has proved a drone can do one of the most difficult things in all of aviation — land aboard an aircraft carrier — some of the country’s top defense industry players are lining up to build a new fleet of drones that can do it again.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Department of Energy Reveals Climate Change Risks to Energy Sector in New Report
Evan Meltzer
The steadily worsening effects of climate change – droughts, floods, heat, rising sea levels, and sever storms – pose a threat to the U.S. energy sector.
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 Competiveness: A National Security Crisis
Justin Winikoff
On Wednesday, ASP collaborated with the Harvard Business School for a panel discussion on slipping American Competitiveness. The panel, featuring competiveness expert Dr. Michael Porter, examined the business and national security implications of our diminishing global leadership
U.S. and China Agree to Climate Cooperation
Nick Cunningham
The United States and China came to an agreement on July 10 to work together on several key areas to reduce greenhouse emissions.
ASP in the News
ASP Board Member Norman Augustine and American Competitiveness Principles Quoted by National Defense Magazine
The National Defense Magazine recently published an article reviewing ASP’s American Competitiveness Day Panel Discussion. The article quotes Dr. Michael Porter and Dr. Jan Rivkin of the Harvard Business School as well as ASP Board Member Mr. Norman R. Augustine. The principals of the panel spoke to the effect slipping American Competitiveness has on our national security.
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. Principals of the HBS and ASP spoke about America’s slipping competitiveness and areas for reform.
Matthew Wallin Publishes Op-Ed on Current State of U.S. Public Diplomacy Medium
ASP’s Matthew Wallin published an op-ed today in Medium exploring the current state of America’s public diplomacy.
