These U.S. ‘diplomats’ wield fiddles and dance moves, not briefcases
Maria Recio / McClatchyDC
East Carolina University’s Greg Hurley is going abroad again for a two-week trip this month, but not exactly for a classic vacation. It will be Beirut for the viola and violin teacher, who’s left Greenville, N.C., every summer for the last five years and gone to places “emerging from conflict” as part of a program for students in formerly war-torn areas.
U.S. launches airstrikes against Islamic State in Iraq
Karen DeYoung and Loveday Morris / Washington Post
U.S. military jets carried out two airstrikes Friday on Islamist militants outside the Kurdish regional capital of Irbil, hours after President Obama authorized attacks against the Sunni extremists advancing on the northern Iraq city.
Hawaii Feels Iselle’s Force, With Another Big Storm Close Behind
Ian Lovett / New York Times
After more than two decades without a hurricane hitting the state, two major storms are not laying siege to Hawaii. High wilds from Hurricane Iselle began to hit the Big Island of Hawaii on Thursday night, though the center of the storm remained offshore hours after it had been expected to make landfall.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan the favorite to win Turkey’s first presidential election
Constanze Letsch / Guardian
Turks will on Sunday cast their ballots in the country’s first direct presidential elections, and few doubt that the prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will easily beat his main rival. The Turkish head of state used to be chosen by parliament, but a 2010 referendum allowed Turks to choose their president in direct elections.
In traumatized Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, Ebola chaos
Gail Sullivan and Justin Moyer / Washington Post
The images and reports from Liberia, hard hit by a historic Ebola outbreak, are starting to recall scene from post-apocalyptic films such as “Contagion” and “World War Z.” Number of cases: 516. Number of dead: 282.
Mexican Congress Approves New Rules for Oil Industry
Elisabeth Malkin / New York Times
Mexico’s Congress approved on Tuesday a sweeping overhaul of the energy industry that cleared the way for international giants to tap Mexico’s rich reserves of oil and gas.
In Afghanistan, rivals pledge to work together to speed audit of presidential vote
Anne Gearan and Pamela Constable / Washington Post
The rivals to become Afghanistan’s never leader pledges Friday to work together to speed audit of the disputed election and accept its results after weeks of delays and partisan squabbling.
ASP Recent Reports
Paul Hamill
Fusion energy is real. It’s happening now in labs around the world.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Future US-Africa Trade Hinges on Ex-Im Support
Day Day
Africa is home to 7 of the 10 fastest growing economies. If the US wants to tap this market, it needs to reauthorize Ex-Im’s charter come September 30.
Replacing the Beretta M9: Is it Truly Necessary?
Matthew Wallin
With the war in Afghanistan “winding down,” the U.S. military is assessing its current stock of equipment and weaponry to determine its needs for the future. Over more than a decade of war, there is little doubt that the America’s military equipment ahs been used and abused.
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The next steps in building a cleaner, more resilient energy system and economy will not be easy. The American Security Project intends to build on its years of research into energy security and climate policy by initiating a study into the next generation of energy policy. Join ASP and our panelists as we discuss the next generation of energy technology and climate policy.
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