Opposition Leaders Sign Deal with Yanukovych to End Ukraine Crisis
Will Englund and William Booth / The Washington Post
A deal designed to end Ukraine’s long-running crisis was signed Friday afternoon by President Viktor Yanukovych and the three leaders of the political opposition, but the accord appeared likely to be a hard sell among the thousands of demonstrators who have sustained months of protest.
U.N. Security Council to Vote on Syria Aid Resolution Saturday
Michelle Nichols / Reuters
The U.N. Security Council will vote on Saturday on a resolution to boost humanitarian aid access in Syria, where the United Nations says 9.3 million people need help, although it is unclear if Russia and China will support or veto the draft.
Iran’s Higher Enriched Uranium Drops, IAEA Says
Laurence Norman / The Wall Street Journal
Iran’s stockpile of higher enriched uranium fell almost 20% in the last three months as Tehran started implementing the interim nuclear deal reached with six powers, the United Nation’s atomic agency said in its last report.
Iran and 6 Powers Agree on Terms for Nuclear Talks
Steve Erlanger / The New York Times
In what officials described as a serious, workmanlike and conversational atmosphere, Iran and six world powers have agreed on a timetable and framework for negotiating a comprehensive agreement to end the confrontation over Iran’s nuclear program, the European Union’s foreign policy chief and Iran’s foreign minister said Thursday.
Venezuelan Troops to Quell Unrest
The Associated Press
National Guard troops and members of pro-government militias have swarmed through the streets of Caracas and other cities firing volleys, at times indiscriminately, in repeated spasms of nighttime violence in recent days.
South Korea to Develop Stuxnet-like Cyberweapons
BBC
The country’s defence ministry wants to develop weapons similar to Stuxnet, the software designed to attack Iranian nuclear enrichment plants. The South Korean military will carry out missions using the software, the defence ministry said.
11 Die in Attack by Militants on Somali President’s Compound
Abdi Sheikh / Reuters
At least 11 people were killed when Islamist militants attacked the Somali presidential compound on Friday, blasting through a gate with a car bomb and fighting a gunbattle with guards.
Former Rep. Tom Perriello Headed for the State Department
Al Kamen / The Washington Post
Former Virginia congressman Tom Perriello (D), most recently head of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, is moving to the State Department to oversee the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR). This effort, modeled after the Pentagon’s similar initiative, is to take a hard look at the efficiency, successes or failures of State Department efforts in diplomacy and foreign aid.
Japan, U.S. Remain Far Apart on TPP Trade Talks: Amari
Takaya Yamaguchi / Reuters
Japan and the United States remain far apart on bilateral trade talks that are key to a Pacific-wide trade deal, Japanese economy minister Akira Amari said on Friday.
ASP Recent Publications
Mapping the Conflict in Aleppo, Syria
David Kilcullen and Nathaniel Rosenblatt
Over the course of four months American Security Project supported Caerus Associates and First Mile Geo in what may be the highest fidelity, time series analysis of the ongoing human tragedy unfolding inside of Aleppo, Syria.
Fact Sheet — Executive Authority in US Trade Policy
Brendan Connell
There has been an increasing discussion regarding the possibility of Congress granting the US presidency “fast track” authority in free trade agreements. This report gives the facts.
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
California, Drought, and Climate Change
William Fassuliotis
California and much of the rest of the West Coast have been gripped by brought for the past two years. What role has climate change had to play and how will it impact the future?
Inside Aleppo: New Tools for Understanding the Syrian Conflict—Event Summary
Nathan Alvarado-Castle
What may be the most detailed, publically available assessment of the ongoing conflict in Syria to date.
Untangling Trade: How TPP Can Help American Businesses
Brendan Connell
As is the case among negotiating TPP members, the existence of overlapping FTAs can be vastly complex and confusing. So just how “tangled” is Pacific trade and why should this matter to American businesses?
Radley Horton on CNN New Day: “What is to Blame for Extreme Weather?”
William Fassuliotis
On February 5th, Dr. Radley Horton, a climate scientist at Columbia University, discussed the current extreme weather throughout the United States and climate change on CNN’s “New Day”.
Geopolitics of Energy in the Eastern Mediterranean – German Marshall Fund Panel Talk
William Fassuliotis
On February 11th, 2014, I observed a panel event hosted by the German Marshall Fund entitled “Geopolitics of Energy in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Iran-Pakistan-India: Can a Pipedream Become Reality?
Nathan Alvarado-Castle
Renewed interest in the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline has surfaced amid the Joint Plan of Action (JPOA) agreement outlined by the P5+1 with Iran.
The End of the New ICBM
Nathan Daniels
Yesterday, Defense One released an article detailing how at a Nuclear Deterrence Summit last week full of advocates that support modernizing the nuclear triad, the notion of developing new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) was dismissed.
ASP in the News
ASP’s Pittsburgh Event on Weather.com
A recent Weather.com article quoted American Security Project’s Brig. General Stephen Cheney, CEO, Andrew Holland, Senior Fellow for Energy and Climate, and Rear Admiral Dr. David Titley.
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.
Upcoming Events
SAN FRANCISCO EVENT – Climate Change: Risks for National Security
February 25 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Join Brigadier General Stephen A. Cheney, USMC (Ret.) and Brigadier General John Adams, US Army (Ret.) to discuss how climate change is creating new threats to America’s National Security.
TTIP – Trade and Investment: A U.S. and European Perspective
February 26 @ 8:30 am – 9:30 am
Paul Adamson, editor of the European magazine E!Sharp and Senior European Policy Advisor for Covington & Burling, and Peter Rashish, a Senior Advisor for Europe and Transatlantic Trade at Transnational Strategy Group LLC, 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
March 26 @ 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
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.
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