Iran Admits Nuclear Agency Reshuffle to Pave Way for 5+1 Talks
Mehrdad Balali / Reuters
President Hassan Rouhani’s government confirmed rumors on Monday it had reshuffled the leadership of Iran’s atomic agency to sideline nuclear experts opposed to talks on its atomic program with the West.
Exclusive: U.S. Force in Afghanistan May Be Cut to Less Than 10,000 Troops
Missy Ryan and Arshad Mohammed / Reuters
The number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan may drop well below 10,000 – the minimum demanded by the U.S. military to train Afghan forces – as the longest war in American history winds down, Obama administration officials briefed on the matter say.
Ukraine: Photos Show Undercover Russian Troops
Arwa Damon, Michael Pearson, and Ed Payne / CNN
Ukrainian officials point to the pictures in a dossier obtained Monday by CNN, arguing that the images show Russian “sabotage-reconnaissance groups” acting in Ukrainian towns.
NATO Minesweepers Set Off on Baltic Deployment
The Associated Press
Five NATO mine-hunting ships set off Tuesday on a deployment in the Baltic Sea, part of the alliance’s efforts to strengthen its presence in Europe’s ex-communist east as members there worry about Russia’s intentions in Ukraine.
Iraq Oil Output Exceeds Hussein Era
Sarah Kent, Justin Scheck, and Matt Bradley / The Wall Street Journal
Iraq oil production was higher this year than since before Saddam Hussein took power. The problem: getting it out of the country. Iraqi oil fields pumped 3.6 million barrels of crude a day on average in February, 50% more than four years ago.
Syria Announces Presidential Election As Civil War Rages On
Holly Yan and Yousef Basil / CNN
As more reports of bloodshed and chaos emerged from Syria on Monday, the government announced it will hold presidential elections on June 3.
U.S. Drones and Yemeni Forces Kill Qaeda-Linked Fighters, Officials Say
Eric Schmitt / The New York Times
American drones and Yemeni counterterrorism forces killed more than three dozen militants linked to Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen over the weekend in one of the largest such attacks there in months, officials from both countries said Monday.
Price of Gas in U.S. Rises as Refiners Export More to Other Countries
Nicole Friedman / The Wall Street Journal
Drivers in the U.S. are facing rising gasoline prices ahead of summer-vacation season, just as refiners here are shipping more gas to other countries.
ASP Recent Publications
Ten Key Facts – Climate Changes
The facts about climate change are clear: the earth is warming, man-made emissions are causing the warming, and the effects will get worse over time. In order to clearly show the basics that policymakers need to know, this paper lays out 10 essential facts about climate change.
FACT SHEET – Current Space Launch Vehicles Used by the United States
Nathan Daniels
At present, the United States relies on Russian rocket engines to launch satellites into space. The U.S. also relies on Russia to transport its astronauts to the International Space Station, as the U.S. Space Shuttle program ended in 2011.
WHITE PAPER – National Security and Space – The Next Space Race: Competition
August Cole
This paper goes into detail on the next steps the United States should be considering to enhance our national security, secure our access to space, as well as to gain value for money from taxpayers.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Welcome, Undersecretary Stengel
Madeline Bersch
Rick Stengel was recently sworn in as the Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and sat down with CNN to discuss public diplomacy and his new role. He offered several interesting remarks, especially in light of Stengel’s previous experience as a journalist in Russia and recent events there and in Ukraine.
A Deeper Look Into the Melting Arctic
William Fassuliotis
The Arctic is melting because of global warming. Just how extensively is examined here.
Secured Space Access is Needed Now – Time to look at the Commercial Market
August Cole
Attention is focusing on how intertwined Russia is with the U.S. space program. What has caught the wary eye of lawmakers and Defense Department officials is the use of Russian rocket engines to power America’s heavy rockets, which frequently carry secret, and expensive, military and intelligence payloads.
Upcoming Events
Weather, Climate, & National Security
April 23, 12:30-1:30 PM
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, 6:00-8:00 PM
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.
May 13, 8:00-9:30 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.”
European Union Election Results: Implications for the United States
May 28, 8:30-9:30 AM
This May, the European Union will hold parliamentary elections to determine their parliamentary representatives for the next 5 years. The outcome of these elections will have a resounding economic, social, and political impact on the international community – including the TTIP negotiations.
We will be joined by Paul Adamson, Philippe Maze-Sencier, and Geoffrey Harris who will be contributing their years of experience to the discussion. Join the American Security Project for a conversation about the affects these elections will have on the United States.
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