Center for Strategic Communication

WHITE PAPER – National Security and Space – The Next Space Race: Competition

August Cole / American Security Project

Of any of the armed services, the United States Air Force should know the most about speed. Their pilots, who historically rose to the service’s top ranks, fly the fastest fighters in the American arsenal. Yet, there are times when moving as fast as you can may not be fast enough.

Arab League chief backs peace talks

Lamia radi & Hamza Hendawi / Associated Press

The head of the Arab League said Thursday he is confident that Israel and the Palestinians soon will resolve a crisis over the release of long-held Palestinian prisoners and extend their U.S.-brokered peace talks beyond an April deadline.

U.S. needs to plan for the day after an Iran deal

David Petraesus & Vance Serchuk / The Washington Post

Advocates of the effort to reach a negotiated settlement with Iran over its illicit nuclear activities have emphasized the benefits an agreement could bring by peacefully and verifiably barring Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. Skeptics, meanwhile, have warned of the risks of a “bad deal,” under which Iran’s capabilities are not sufficiently rolled back.

Meet the First Companies Working on the Military’s ‘Iron Man’ Supersuit

Dan Lamothe / Foreign Policy

Will Tony Stark wear Air Jordans? Almost anything seems possible now that United States military has been in discussions with companies ranging from Nike to Boeing as it works to develop a new space-age suit for elite Special Operations troops that could include super-human strength, sophisticated sensors that respond to brain functions, and an exoskeleton made of liquid armor.

Russia warns Europe of gas supply cuts over Ukraine debt

Alexei Anishchuk / Reuters

President Vladimir Putin warned European leaders on Thursday Russia would cut natural gas supplies to Ukraine if it did not pay its bills and said this could lead to a reduction of onward deliveries to Europe.

UAE to play a role in space exploration: former American astronaut Buzz Aldrin

Alexander Cornwell / Gulfnews

The UAE will play a role in the next stage of space exploration as the industry moves from being government policy-driven to commercial development-driven, according to former American astronaut, Buzz Aldrin

Back to the Future Foreign Policy

Ben Freeman & Mieke Eoyang / Defense One

The 1980s are all the rage once again—from neon clothes to Robocop and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Even America’s 1980s foreign policy is back in fashion amongst Neo-Cold Warriors longing to return to the Reagan era.

U.S. natural gas exports poised for takeoff despite debate

Wendy Koch / USA TODAY

The export gas rush is on. From the Pacific Northwest to the Mid-Atlantic to the Gulf states, companies are moving forward with plans to export U.S. natural gas despite controversy over the impact on prices and pollution.

Hezbollah confident in Assad, West resigned to Syria stalemate

Samia Nakhoul & Laila Bassam / Reuters

Bashar al-Assad’s Lebanese ally Hezbollah said his Western foes must now accept he will go on ruling Syria after fighting rebels to a standstill – a “reality” to which his foreign enemies seem increasingly resigned.

Ebola Virus: A Grim, African Reality

David Quammen / New York Times

There’s nothing like an outbreak of Ebola virus disease to bring a small, struggling African nation to international notice. One week we couldn’t place it on a map; the next week, after Ebola virus disease strikes, we know the body count and the name of the capital and whether its airport has closed.

On Our Flashpoint Blog

Guest Post: Egypt’s Political Process Continues – but needs world support

Amr Badr

While every country in the world is important, Egypt merits the attention and concern of all nations due to its natural position as the leader of the Middle East and Africa; its counter-terrorism efforts; the importance of securing its border with Israel; the Suez Canal; and its key position on both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.

Cheney: The Pentagon’s review of the RD-180 engine is an important step for US space program as well as our national security

BGen. Stephen Cheney USMC (Ret.)

The nonpartisan American Security Project released Part 1 of its White Paper into Space and National Security:  The Next Space Race: Competition.

ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey 2014 Results Released

Madeline Bersch

On Monday, ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller released the results of its sixth annual Arab Youth Survey, a poll conducted to gain insight into the opinions, attitudes, and aspirations of the 200 million youth in the Middle East and North Africa.

U.S. Official: Iran Nuclear Agreement Moving Along, Drafting to Begin in May

Nathan Daniels

The six powers: United States, France, Britain, Russia, China, and Germany, known as the P5+1, are set to resume talks with Iran over its nuclear program Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. This will be the third meeting involving chief negotiators since February.

The Cuban Twitter: Doomed from the Start

Matthew Wallin

With news breaking this week about USAID’s creation of a “Cuban Twitter,” it’s a perfect time to discuss the alignment of public diplomacy goals and the tools used to accomplish them. In this case, the tools, goals, concept, and the executor of the plan were all misaligned, dooming the project from the start.

ASP Reports

WHITE PAPER – National Security and Space – The Next Space Race: Competition

August Cole

Of any of the armed services, the United States Air Force should know the most about speed. Their pilots, who historically rose to the service’s top ranks, fly the fastest fighters in the American arsenal. Yet, there are times when moving as fast as you can may not be fast enough.

Tennessee and Climate Change

Andrew Holland

Climate change threatens America’s national security around the world by acting as a “threat multiplier” that will undermine stability and draw American forces into conflict. However, we should not think that this is a problem solely for the rest of the world to deal with.

National Security and America’s Space Challenge

August Cole

The U.S. military and intelligence community is increasingly dependent on its satellite capabilities to do everything from communicating securely to targeting precision weapons. Billions of taxpayer dollars are spent trying to expand and protect this strategic edge.

American Security Quarterly V3 Issue 1

American Security Project

We see it in the news nearly every day.  The world is rapidly shifting before our eyes as countries sprout up, struggle to gain a foothold in our international community, and sometimes fall just as quickly.  One equally important trend is the interrelationship between the United States and international players on this stage.  Never before have we seen the level of interdisciplinary security issues occurring today on all corners of the globe.

Upcoming Events

Fusion Power: The Answer to an Uncertain Energy Future (w/ Daniel Clearly)

April 15, 12:00-1:30 P.M.

Our rapidly industrializing world has an insatiable hunger for energy and conventional sources are struggling to meet demand. Oil is running out, coal is damaging our climate, many nations are abandoning nuclear, yet solar, wind, and water will never be a complete replacement.

Weather, Climate & National Security

April 23, 12:30-1:30 P.M.

Join ASP as Brigadier General Stephen A. Cheney, USMC (Ret)., of American Security Project, and Mr. Bryan Norcross, of the Weather Channel, discuss changes in climate and weather and the relationship they have with our national security.

CHICAGO EVENT – The Multiplication of Threats: Climate Change & the Risks to National Security

April 30, 6:00-8:30 P.M.

Join Brigadier General Stephen A Cheney, USMC (Ret.) and Senior Fellow Andrew Holland to discuss how climate change is creating new threats to America’s National Security.

Building a Better Corporate Tax Regime & Strengthening our Economic Security – A conversation with Robert Pozen

May 13, 8:00 am – 9:30 am

Join ASP Tuesday, May 13th as we host Bob Pozen for an informative discussion about corporate tax reform, as well as the many fiscal and political obstacles facing it.  Mr. Pozen will present his unique strategy for a new corporate tax regime that could end up benefiting governments and US corporations alike.  Much of the discussion will revolve around Bob Pozen’s February article in The Wall Street Journal, “A Better Path to Corporate Tax Reform.”

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