Center for Strategic Communication

How the Ukraine crisis ends

Henry Kissinger / Washington Post

Public discussion on Ukraine is all about confrontation. But do we know where we are going?

The Folly of Striking One Country to Send Signals to Another

Conor Friedersdorf / The Atlantic

In a thoughtful post on Ukraine and Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade it, Ross Douthat suggests that the incursion was plausibly connected to White House fumbling in Syria.

White House announces visa restrictions, asset freezes in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Isaacc Web / KyivPost

The White House on March 6 announced visa restrictions on Russian and Crimean officials responsible for “threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

Russia Spent $11Bln on Propping Ruble Amid Conflict Fears

Alexey Kudenko / RIA Novosti

Russia’s central bank said Wednesday it burnt through a record $11.3 billion during interventions earlier this week on currency markets as the ruble plummeted amid fears of conflict breaking out in Ukraine.

U.S. Hopes Boom in Natural Gas Can Curb Putin

Coral Davenport  & Steven Erlanger / New York Times

The crisis in Crimea is heralding the rise of a new era of American energy diplomacy, as the Obama administration tries to deploy the vast new supply of natural gas in the United States as a weapon to undercut the influence of the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, over Ukraine and Europe.

US military says climate change could increase wars, conflict

John McGarrity / RTCC

US military chiefs have warned climate change is becoming an increasing risk to global security, providing further pause for thought among the Washington political establishment sharply divided on how to tackle global warming.

US judge annuls Ecuador oil ruling against Chevron

BBC News

A judge in the US has ruled that lawyers representing Amazonian villagers used bribes to secure compensation worth billions of dollars from oil company Chevron in Ecuador.

China demands rich countries make 40% carbon cuts by 2020

Ed King / RTCC

China’s government says industrialized countries should commit to new 2020 emission reduction targets of 40% on 1990 levels by the end of next month.

Infrastructure Threatened by Climate Change Poses a National Crisis

Evan Lehmann  / Scientific American

Whether it’s water or communication systems, infrastructure is ill prepared to keep functioning under changing climate conditions

Qatar rift is pivotal test for disunited Gulf families

Angus McDowall and Sylvia Westall / Reuters

A breach between Qatar and some of its Gulf Arab neighbours is a pivotal test for a three-decade-old union of monarchies formed to stand united when threatened by common enemies.

ASP Recent Publications

Mapping the Conflict in Aleppo, Syria

American Security Project

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

ASP Briefing Note: The Ukraine Crisis and the Geopolitics of Energy

Andrew Holland 

Russian energy exports have created dependence in Eastern Europe and complex business relationships in Western Europe.

Climate Change: Threat Multiplier

Nathan Alvarado-Castle

Over the last decade, Leon Fuerth, former National Security Advisor to Vice President Al Gore, has been advocating for a radical shift in governance in a world of accelerating change and complex challenges – most notably in the context of Climate Change.

The U.S. Does Not Have As Much Leverage Over Russia’s Energy As You Think

Andrew Holland

I have seen a number of commentators over the last few days say that the American shale gas revolution means that the U.S. could simply announce new LNG exports and that would undercut Russian gas.

Secretary Kerry Follows the Military’s Lead on Climate Change

Consensus for American Security

Secretary of State John Kerry recently gave a speech in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he compared climate change to other transnational security threats such as “terrorism, epidemics, poverty, [and] the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”  But the U.S. military was already there.

QDR – the national security challenge of climate change

Paul Hamill

Today, the Department of Defense released the much anticipated Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). As the Pentagon notes, the “QDR is a legislatively-mandated review of Department of Defense strategy and priorities.

Europe Should Embargo Imports of Russian Natural Gas

Andrew Holland

The situation in the Ukraine is getting out of control. To put pressure on Russia, the Europeans should cease buying natural gas through the Nord Stream.

ASP in the News

ASP’s Andrew Holland in Mother Jones

American Security Project’s Andrew Holland, Senior Fellow for Energy and Climate, was quoted in a recent article on Mother Jones.

Hart and Augustine: Why 9/11 can happen again

In the LA Times this morning, ASP Board Members Sen. Gary Hart and Norman R. Augustine wrote an oped on the Congressional oversight over homeland security issues.

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.

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