ASP Highlighted Event
21st Century U.S.-Egypt Strategic Relations Conference
May 7 – 1:00-6:00 P.M.
Join us for in depth look into the current state of Egypt, the challenges the nation faces, and the future outlook for the government and people. Key Note Speaker – H.E. Amr Moussa; followed by 3 expert panels – U.S.-Egyptian Strategic Relations – Moving Forward, Counter-Terrorism & Regional Security, and Investment Climate & Entrepreneurship.
World News of Interest
Russia and Iran Reported in Talks on Energy Deal Worth Billions
Rick Gladstone / The New York Times
The Obama administration’s strategy of punishing Russia with economic sanctions over the Ukraine crisis encountered a new complication on Monday with word that the Russians are negotiating an $8 billion to $10 billion energy deal with Iran, another country ostracized by American-led sanctions, which partly depend on Moscow’s cooperation to be effective.
EU Adds 15, Including Key Russian Leaders, to Ukraine Sanctions List
Henry Chu / Los Angeles Times
The European Union on Tuesday named Russia’s military chief of staff, deputy prime minister and other members of President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle as new targets of sanctions in response to the worsening political tumult and security crisis in Ukraine.
Obama Cites Legacy of U.S.-Philippine Cooperation As He Concludes Asia Trip
Juliet Eilperin / The Washington Post
President Obama paid tribute to a shared history of sacrifice Tuesday, as he reflected on how the Philippines had surmounted the challenges of both a war and natural disaster with the aid of its American ally.
Militants Pose Threat on Eve of National Elections in Iraq
Tim Arango and Duraid Adnan / The New York Times
The vote will be Iraq’s first nationwide election since the withdrawal of United States forces at the end of 2011, and it is clear it will be held amid rapidly growing violence and sectarian bloodletting. On Monday, six suicide bombers struck polling sites around the country as security force members voted in advance, killing at least 27 people, officials said.
North Korea Conducts Live-Fire Exercises Amid Escalating Tensions
Euan McKirdy / CNN
North Korea conducted a live-fire drill Tuesday near its disputed western sea border with the South, immediately inviting a stern rebuke from its neighbor.
Turkey’s Erdogan Calls on U.S. to Extradite Rival Gulen
Gulsen Solaker / Reuters
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday he would ask the United States to extradite an Islamic cleric he accuses of plotting to topple him and undermine Turkey with concocted graft accusations and secret wire taps.
Ethiopia: 9 Media Workers Arrested
Jacey Fortin / The New York Times
Nine bloggers and journalists were arrested in Addis Ababa last week, according to local media and Human Rights Watch, just days before Secretary of State John Kerry’s scheduled visit to Ethiopia on Tuesday.
Central African Republic Crisis: MSF Aid Workers Killed
BBC News
Three aid workers are among 22 people killed in a rebel attack on a clinic in northern Central African Republic, officials have said. Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has condemned the killing of three of its local staff and says it is re-examining its operations.
ASP Recent Publications
Ten Key Facts – Climate Change
Andrew Holland & William Fassuliotis
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
This paper serves as a brief, but factual overview of active launch vehicles used by the United States, as well as a basis for progression within ASP’s national security and space initiative.
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
The Negative Effects of the United States’ Reliance on Russia for Rocket Engines – Undermining Ukraine Sanctions
Nathan Daniels
According to Fox News’s James Rosen, a top Russian official is still benefiting from a DoD contract that supplies the U.S. Air Force with RD-180 engines for its EELV Space Launch Program, despite White House sanctions in regard to the Ukraine crisis.
Top Ten Reasons for ITER
Kathy Duong
As climate change becomes a serious national security threat, we must look to the future for a clean, safe and sustainable source of energy for our future.
US-Japan Trade Talks Come Up Empty
Brendan Connell
In Tokyo on Thursday, US and Japanese sides negotiated into the night with hopes of hammering out a preliminary trade agreement that could act as a major building block for the coveted Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). But the efforts of USTR Michael Froman and Japanese Minister Akiri Amari stalled in the end.
Upcoming Events
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 – 9:30 A.M.
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.
EU Election Results: Implications for the United States
May 28 – 8:30-9:30 A.M.
Join the American Security Project for a conversation about the affects these elections will have on the United States. We will be joined by Paul Adamson, Philippe Maze-Sencier, and Geoffrey Harris who will be contributing their years of experience to the discussion.
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