International News Coverage

 

NATO, Russia, and Ukraine

 

NATO Approves New Force Aimed at Deterring Russia
John-Thor Dahlburg and Julie Pace / Associated Press

Seeking to counter Russian aggression, NATO leaders approved plans Friday to create a rapid response force with a headquarters in Eastern Europe that could quickly mobilize if an alliance country in the region were to come under attack.

Estonia Angry at Russia ‘Abduction’ on Border
BBC

Estonia’s foreign ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador over what it calls the abduction of an Estonian security official by “unidentified individuals from Russia” on the border.

Poroshenko Announces Accord on Cease-Fire in Eastern Ukraine
Annie Gowen, Michael Birnbaum, and William Branigin / The Washington Post

The Ukrainian government and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine agreed Friday to a temporary cease-fire, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said, raising the prospect of at least a brief respite in an increasingly bloody conflict.

 

Climate Security

 

Russia Exploiting Arctic Melt Warns NATO
Sophie Yeo / RTCC

Russia is taking advantage of melting Arctic ice linked to climate change to gain a strategic advantage in the region, a senior NATO official has told RTCC.

 

ISIS, Terrorism, and Counterterrorism

 

U.S Forms Anti – ISIS Coalition at NATO Summit
Denver Nicks / Time

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry got diplomats from 10 countries at a NATO summit to agree Friday to join forces to fight an Islamic militant group that has seized territory across Syria and Iraq.

Exclusive: Islamic States Guides Egyptian Militants, Expanding its Influence
Reuters

Islamic State, fighting to redraw the map of the Middle East, has been coaching Egypt’s most dangerous militant group, complicating efforts to stabilize the biggest Arab nation.

Communication Errors Cited in Friendly-Fire Deaths in Afghanistan
W.J. Hennigan / LA Times

Communication errors by troops on the ground and in the air led to the deaths of five American soldiers and one Afghan during a June battle with insurgents in southern Afghanistan, a Pentagon investigation concluded in a report released Thursday.

NATO Allies Agree to take on Islamic State Threat
Lolita C. Baldor / Associated Press

The U.S. and 10 of its key allies on Friday agreed that the Islamic State group is a significant threat to NATO countries and that they will take on the militants by squeezing their financial resources and going after them with military might.

U.S. Confirms Death of al Shabaab Leader Godane in Somalia Strike
David Alexander / Reuters

The Pentagon confirmed on Friday that Ahmed Abdi Godane, a leader of the al Shabaab Islamist group, was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Somalia this week, calling it a “major symbolic and operational loss” for the al Qaeda-affiliated militants.

 

Nuclear Security

 

Iran ‘Misses’ Nuclear Probe Deadline
BBC

Iran has missed a deadline to answer questions about its nuclear programme, the IAEA global nuclear watchdog says.

 

Geopolitics

 

Hillary Clinton Reviews Henry Kissinger’s ‘World Order’
Hillary Rodham Clinton / The Washington Post Opinions

During the Cold War, America’s bipartisan commitment to protecting and expanding a community of nations devoted to freedom, market economies and cooperation eventually proved successful for us and the world. Kissinger’s summary of that vision sounds pertinent today: “an inexorably expanding cooperative order of states observing common rules and norms, embracing liberal economic systems, forswearing territorial conquest, respecting national sovereignty, and adopting participatory and democratic systems of governance.”

 

Health and National Security

 

Pharmacist Arrested over Fatal Meningitis Outbreak
BBC

An employee of a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy linked to a 2012 outbreak of meningitis that killed 64 people has been arrested.

WHO: Use Survivors’ Blood to Treat Ebola Patients
Associated Press

The World Health Organization recommends that doctors should use blood from survivors to treat patients in an effort to combat the biggest-ever outbreak of Ebola.

 

ASP Recent Reports

 

Briefing Note – Russian State Media
American Security Project

This briefing note’s purpose is to give an introduction to Russian state media and several issues surrounding its influence.

 

On Our Flashpoint Blog

 

ASP’s Smith on CCTV America
Adin Dobkin

ASP’s Adjunct Senior Fellow, Douglas Smith, spoke regarding the Islamic State and it’s recent actions on CCTV America.

Project LIBERTY – Advanced Biofuels for National Security
Andrew Holland

Perhaps the most important part to note about Project LIBERTY is its transatlantic nature. As some have bemoaned the lack of strategic engagement between the United States and Europe over the last decade, businesses have bucked this trend through their continued to increase the direct investment across the Atlantic. This project is a partnership between the American firm POET, one of the world’s largest ethanol producers, and the Dutch firm Royal DSM, a biochemical and pharmaceutical company.

How the Export-Import Bank Can Advance the U.S. National Interest in Ukraine
Andrew Holland

This is a cross-post of an article originally published on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Blog. Written by the CEO of  Holtec International, an American company trying to do business in Ukraine, this article shows how the Export-Import Bank can help American business and America’s national interest. This story touches on so many key goals of American policy: stopping nuclear proliferation, ensuring energy security, and building American competitiveness. 

Time for an Arab NATO?
Fadi Elsalameen

Last week, General Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, stated that ISIL/ISIS, “will only be defeated when we have a coalition in the region that takes on the task of defeating ISIS over time.” This is why actions taken against terrorists and insurgents in Libya are important.

 

Upcoming Events

INVITE – Under Secretary Richard Stengel: American Public Diplomacy in 2014 and Beyond
September 16 @ 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
The United States faces many challenges abroad. In a time when the actions of foreign publics are changing political and security landscapes, the need for effective public diplomacy is becoming more urgent. Understanding this need, how should the U.S. best build relationships and influence with target audiences overseas? Join us to hear from Richard Stengel, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, as he discusses his plans for America’s public diplomacy.

INVITE – Industrial Competitiveness & Worker Leadership
September 17 @ 06:00 PM – 09:30 PM

In cooperation with the Harvard Business Club of Washington, DC, we are pleased to present a conversation with Fred Stahl on Worker Leadership.  Worker Leadership is a new and innovative production system that creates jobs loaded with responsibility and authority—which workers love because they can be more productive.  Managers are thrilled with the dramatic improvements in enterprise productivity, while shareholders love the higher profits. and unions are attracted to a new and vital role.

INVITE –Future of the Middle East and America’s Role
September 18 @ 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
The Middle East is currently brimming with violence – bringing into question the future of the region and the role of the United States. The panel of experts will discuss the possible outcomes of the present turbulence in the Middle East. They will also discuss what options the United States has, and if it should be engaged in the region in the first place.

What’s Next? Fostering the Next Generation of Energy Security Conference
September 30 @ 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
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.

ASP Conference: Africa – Promoting Investment and Extending America’s Security

October 2 @ 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM

The half-day event will bring together expects from the public and private sector, as well as policy makers and members of the media to discuss the mutually beneficial impacts of US private investment on the African continent, opportunities for practical investment, and how to effectively manage the accompanying risk.

 

 

The post What We Are Reading … September 5, 2014 appeared first on American Security Project.