Iran Says May Modify Arak Reactor to Allay Nuclear Concerns – TV
Dubai / Reuters
Iran is prepared to modify its planned Arak heavy water reactor to help allay Western concerns, its nuclear energy chief said in published remarks that could be the first such suggestion by a senior Iranian official.
Egyptian Army Denies Report of Sisi’s Presidential Candidacy
Mary Casey and Cortini Kerr / Foreign Policy
The Egyptian military has denied a report that army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has announced his candidacy for presidency.
Jihadist Return Is Said to Drive Attacks in Egypt
David D. Kirkpatrick and Eric Schmitt / New York Times
In just the last two weeks, Islamist militants have detonated a car bomb at the gates of the capital’s security headquarters, gunned down a senior Interior Ministry official in broad daylight and shot down a military helicopter over Sinai with a portable surface-to-air missile.
White House Announces 7 Regional Climate Hubs
Coral Davenport / New York Times
On the heels of the Senate’s passage of a long-awaited farm bill, the Obama administration announced the creation of seven regional “climate hubs” on Wednesday to help farmers and rural communities respond to the risks of climate change, including drought, invasive pests, fires and floods.
UN Climate Chief, Figueres, Hails Potential of Ban Ki-Moon Envoy, Bloomberg
Sophie Yeo / Responding to Climate Change
New York’s former Mayor, Mike Bloomberg, is set to play a critical role in the development of a global emissions reduction deal, according to UN climate chief, Christiana Figueres.
Sochi 2014: US Warns Airlines of Russia ‘Toothpaste’ Bomb Threat
BBC News
The US has warned airlines with direct flights to Russia that explosives hidden in toothpaste tubes could be smuggled onto planes.
UN Sends More Troops to South Sudan
Machel Amos / Africa Review
The United Nations has dispatched 266 more troops to South Sudan in an effort to reinforce its peacekeeping operations in the conflict-ridden nation.
US Trade Deficit Up in December to $38.7 billion
Martin Crutsinger / Associated Press
The U.S. trade deficit increased in December after hitting a four-year low in November. But for the year, the deficit fell to its lowest point since 2009 as exports rose to an all-time high.
Six Car Bombs Hit Iraqi Capital
Aljazeera
A string of deadly car bombings has hit commercial areas in Baghdad, killing seven people, hours after American lawmakers criticised the Iraqi government for its lack of progress on political reconciliation.Police say all six of Thursday’s bombs were in parked cars.
Why Is a Major U.S. Counterterrorism Partner Harboring Terrorists?
Matt Vasilogambos / National Journal
Turkey is arguably America’s most important ally on issues in the Middle East—it’s a strong NATO member, it represents the interests of the United States in several area conflicts, and it’s a major partner in global counterterrorism efforts. But for a country that so publicly attacks violent extremism, it has also in several instances harbored and assisted terrorists within its own borders.
ASP Recent Publications:
Fact Sheet – Executive Authority in US Trade Policy
Brendan Connell / American Security Project
There has been an increasing discussion regarding the possibility of Congress granting the US presidency “fast track” authority in free trade agreements. But the shifting of trade authority to the executive has been a heated debate starting from the days of the Great Depression.
America’s Energy Choices – 2014
American Security Project
Three years after ASP first released “America’s Energy Choices” in 2011, the U.S. remains stuck in a political stalemate over energy. Even so, the energy choices made years or even decades ago by politicians, businesses, and consumers have led to a revolution in how the U.S. produces energy. The reality of change in America’s energy system is far different from the stagnation of the political debate.
On Our Flashpoint Blog:
Update: Negotiations on Iran’s Nuclear Program
Nathan Daniels
Yesterday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing providing an update on the P5+1’s negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, contributed the progress made to a combination of “tough diplomacy” and the most comprehensive targeted sanctions regime ever imposed on a country.
NOAA’s Significant Climate Anomalies and Events
William Fassuliotis
A look and analysis of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report on climate-related occurrences in 2013.
Energy & Climate Security: A Necessary Nexus
Nathan Alvarado-Castle
Energy and climate security should be treated as two sides of the same coin. But often, US national security analysts make a sharp distinction that separates the fundamental link the two issues share.
Are the Olympics an Opportunity for Public Diplomacy?
Madeline Bersch
It’s certainly possible for diplomacy to occur over the course of the Games; however, I’m skeptical that a setting in which nationalism rules would present a fair opportunity to create meaningful and lasting—as well measurable—public diplomacy outcomes, especially in an official government capacity. While bringing athletes together can have positive effects, the environment surrounding the Olympics does not lay sturdy groundwork for public diplomacy to flourish.
Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP): Infrastructure Resilience is Key
Andrew Charles Wills
Speculations and investigations related to national security have identified a growing concern: the potential exploitation of weaknesses in national infrastructure.
The Slow-Minded Myth about a Fast-Tracked Policy
Brendan Connell
The common discourse over fast-track mostly involves the alleged trade-off between effectiveness and accountability in US trade policy. But does a “slow-tracked” nation mean any more accountability than a “fast-tracked” one?
Upcoming Events:
American Security Project
Join us February 10, 2014 at 7pm on the campus of Washington and Jefferson College. In 2014-2015, the American Security Project (ASP) is undertaking a grassroots effort to build a consensus among Americans around the country from left to right, and especially among the non-political, that climate change is not simply a low-priority ‘green’ issue: but instead it is a pressing national security threat.
American Security Project
Join us February 11, 2014 at 12:15pm on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh. In 2014-2015, the American Security Project (ASP) is undertaking a grassroots effort to build a consensus among Americans around the country from left to right, and especially among the non-political, that climate change is not simply a low-priority ‘green’ issue: but instead it is a pressing national security threat.
PENNSYLVANIA EVENT: VFW Dinner on Climate Change and Energy in Regards to National Security
American Security Project
Join us February 11, 2014 at 6pm for a dinner at West View VFW Post 2754. In 2014-2015, the American Security Project (ASP) is undertaking a grassroots effort to build a consensus among Americans around the country from left to right, and especially among the non-political, that climate change is not simply a low-priority ‘green’ issue: but instead it is a pressing national security threat.
A View from the Ambassador’s Post: Ambassador Don Beyer on American Public Diplomacy
American Security Project
2014 is a year of opportunity and challenges in public diplomacy. Join us as Ambassador Don Beyer discusses his experiences as Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and explores the role public diplomacy plays in shaping America’s security, foreign policies and relationships abroad.
Inside Aleppo: New Tools for Understanding the Syrian Conflict
American Security Project
The American Security Project will host Dr. David Kilcullen and Mr. Nate Rosenblatt of Caerus Associates who will provide a briefing on findings from what may be the most detailed, publicly available assessment of the ongoing conflict in Syria to date.
Defense Budget Issues for FY15: A Conversation with Dr. Lawrence J. Korb
American Security Project
Since sequestration and passage of the new budget the Defense Department has been adjusting to a reduced funding environment. The speaker will discuss the outlook for Pentagon spending for FY15 from personnel costs to right sizing the nuclear arsenal.
TTIP – Trade and Investment: A U.S. and European Perspective
American Security Project
Paul Adamson, editor of the European magazine E!Sharp and Senior European Policy Advisor, and Peter Rashish, a Senior Advisor for Europe and Transatlantic Trade at Transnational Strategy Group LL, will discuss the key elements of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations, key aspects for the U.S. and the E.U., the 2014 trade-political climate, and key issues both parties will face going forward.
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