‘Iranian Fighter Jets Deployed’ to Help Iraq Fight ISIS
Jonathan Marcus / BBC
Strong evidence has emerged to suggest that Iran has supplied Iraq with Sukhoi Su-25 “Frogfoot” aircraft to help it try to halt the Isis offensive.
 
Dempsey Discusses Use of Military Instrument of Power
Jim Garamone / DoD News
Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey told the members of the International Forum at the Pacific Club here that the military instrument is powerful, but also nuanced.
 
Turkish Premier Runs for President, an Office He Has Plans to Strengthen
Tim Arango and Ceylan Yeginsu / The New York Times
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Tuesday that he would run for Turkey’s presidency in elections next month, a move that is likely to position him as the country’s dominant political figure for years to come.
 
Japan Ends Ban on Military Self-Defense
Kirk Spitzer / Time
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced a major revision to Japan’s pacifist postwar defense policy amid wide public protests Tuesday — but don’t expect to see Japanese troops sweeping across foreign battlefields anytime soon.
 
Ebola Outbreak ‘Tip of the Iceberg,’ Experts Say
Maggie Fox / NBC News
An “out of control” outbreak of Ebola in West Africa that’s being called the deadliest ever is far from over and it’s likely to get worse before it gets better, experts predict.
 
Caribbean Coral Reefs ‘Will Be Lost Within 20 Years’
Jessica Aldred / The Guardian 
Most Caribbean coral reefs will disappear within the next 20 years, primarily due to the decline of grazers such as sea urchins and parrotfish, a new report has warned.
 
On Our Flashpoint Blog 

Violence Renewed in Ukraine Just Hours After Expiration of Ceasefire
Victoria Burnside Clapp
Today, Ukrainian military forces began operations in eastern Ukraine, just hours after the expiration of President Poroshenko’s ten-day ceasefire. Violence has escalated sharply, with heavy fire and airstrikes coming from the national military, directed toward the pro-Russian separatists. Parliamentary Speaker Oleksandr Turchynov today told chamber officials that the military efforts are “effective and yielding results.” 

McLarty, “Stop Campaigning and Start Budgeting” on HuffPost
Maggie Feldman-Piltch
A new Huffington Post op-ed by Thomas “Mack” McLarty, Chief of Staff to President Clinton and chairman of McLarty Associates and The McLarty Companies, warns against the impacts of the partisanship plaguing Washington. Compromise is necessary for progress but seen as a weakness and avoided at all costs.
 
ASP in Las Vegas: Threat from Climate Change in the Desert 
Andrew Holland
On Wednesday and Thursday, June 11 and 12, representatives of the American Security Project visited Las Vegas, Nevada for a series of meetings, public events, and briefings on how climate change is affecting security, and how institutions in the region are planning for it.
 
ASP in Dallas: Climate Change and America’s National Security
Andrew Holland
On Monday and Tuesday, June 2 and 3, representatives of the American Security Project visited Dallas, Texas for a series of meetings, public events, and briefings on how climate change is affecting security, and how institutions in the region are planning for it.

Upcoming Events

Invite – Iraq in Crisis: Recent Development and Risk Management Strategy 
July 16 @ 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Join the American Security Project and Clements Worldwide on July 16th, as an expert panel will discuss the latest situation in Iraq, assess some potential outcomes, and determine how individuals and businesses can effectively manage risk in the region moving forward.

The post What We Are Reading…July 2, 2014 appeared first on American Security Project.