Center for Strategic Communication

On Our Flashpoint Blog

Gaps in Physical Infrastructure Resilience: How a Sniper Attack May Change the Energy Industry

Andrew Charles Wills

Last year there was organized attack on a Silicon Valley substation, an attack which could have disabled the power supply across large portions of the California Bay area – find out why this was important.

Egypt – Challenges and Opportunities

Paul Hamill

Over the last few days’ business leaders from Egypt have been in D.C. discussing the challenges and opportunities facing the private sector in the new Egypt.

Fusion Power: Alcator C-Mod Returns to Operation

Andrew Holland

ASP strongly supports this move to regain US leadership in fusion research. After passage of the Omnibus Appropriations bill, fusion experiments at the Alcator C-Mod work in MIT resumed for the first time in months.

Unemployment isn’t working: the Arab Stabilization Plan and unemployment in the Middle East

Kameron Simmons

The Middle East and North Africa are experiencing one of the most detrimental jobs crisis in recent history. Throughout the region youth unemployment runs rampant, economic stagnation remains constant, and political unrest racks the population. The poor economic conditions continue to pose a threat to regional security and global stability. The Arab Stabilization Plan offers a possible solution.

American Security Project’s Andrew Holland, Senior Fellow for Energy and Climate, was quoted in a recent article by Defense One’s Patrick Tucker.

ASP in the News

ASP’s Andrew Holland on America’s Fusion Race in Defense One

American Security Project’s Andrew Holland, Senior Fellow for Energy and Climate, was quoted in a recent article by Defense One’s Patrick Tucker.

ASP Recent Publications

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.

In the News

UK floods open ‘window’ for climate change politics

Sophie Yeo / RTCC

According to two YouGov polls, public opinion on climate change has shifted since storms and floods started to batter the UK three months ago, providing a political space for politicians to take ambitious action to prevent climate change.

Kerry pledges security help to Tunisia

Matthew Lee/AP

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry congratulated Tunisia on its new post-revolutionary constitution and promised American assistance Tuesday in the North African nation’s battle against terrorists.

Iran, powers begin talks on final nuclear deal, dampen optimism

Parisa Hafezi & Louis Charbonneau / Reuters

Six world powers and Iran began talks on Tuesday in pursuit of a final settlement on Tehran’s contested nuclear program in coming months despite caveats from both sides that a breakthrough deal may prove impossible.

Mayhem Grips Ukrainian Capital, Shattering Calm

Andrew Higgins & Andrew E. Kramer / New York Times

Mayhem gripped the center of the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday as riot police officers broke through barricades on the outer rim of a protest encampment and, pelted with rocks and fireworks, massed on the edge of Independence Square, the focal point of more than two months of protests against President Viktor F. Yanukovych. There were unconfirmed reports that three protesters had been killed.

Arctic thaw significantly worsens global warming risk

Jeff Hecht/ New Scientist

Melting ice is cooking the planet. Shrinking Arctic sea ice means the ocean is absorbing more energy from the sun, and it’s now clear the effect is twice as big as thought – adding significantly to heating from greenhouse gases.

US Navy ready to deploy new laser gun

The Associated Press

Some of the Navy’s futuristic weapons sound like something out of “Star Wars,” with lasers designed to shoot down aerial drones and electric guns that fire projectiles at hypersonic speeds.

17-year-old dies during Venezuelan protests

Osmary Hernandez & Holly Yan /CNN

A 17-year-old was hit by a truck and killed during a protest in Carupano, Venezuela, a government official said.

Authorities are investigating the death of Jose Ernesto Mendez, elected official Cesar Rincones said Monday.

Upcoming Events

Inside Aleppo: New Tools for Understanding the Syrian Conflict

­American Security Project

Join us: February 13, 2014 at 8am to hear Dr. David Kilcullen and Mr. Nate Rosenblatt of Caerus Associates provide a briefing on findings from what may be the most detailed, publicly available assessment of the ongoing conflict in Syria to date.

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.

Save the Date: Defense Budget 2014 Discussion

American Security Project

Since sequestration and passage of the new budget the Defense Department has been adjusting to a reduced funding environment – and 2014 won’t be much different. The speaker will discuss the outlook for Pentagon spending in 2014.

 

The post What We Are Reading appeared first on American Security Project.