Center for Strategic Communication

International News Coverage

 

ISIS, Terrorism, and Counterterrorism

 

The Moderate Middle East Must Act
Yousef al Otaiba / WSJ

Over the past few weeks the international community has been stirred to action against the rising threat of extremism—the most destabilizing and dangerous global force since fascism.

Kerry in Iraq Backs Government, to Build Support Against Islamic State
Jason Szep / Reuters

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was in Baghdad on Wednesday, beginning a tour of the Middle East to build military, political and financial support to defeat Islamic State militants controlling parts of Iraq and Syria.

Obama Outlining Mission to Fight Islamic Militants
Julie Pace / Associated Press

President Barack Obama will outline in an address to the nation Wednesday night an expanded military and political effort to combat Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, possibly including airstrikes in Syria, officials said.

Explosion in Syria Kills Senior Leadership of Ahrar al-Sham
Martin Chulov / The Guardian

The senior leadership of one of the most influential Syrian rebel organisations has been wiped out in a devastating blast that is likely to greatly diminish the group as a fighting force.

UAE Ready to Join anti-ISIL Coalition
Taimur Khan / The National

The UAE is “ready to join a coordinated international response” to combat Islamist extremists in Iraq and Syria, the ambassador to Washington has said, signalling that Abu Dhabi is prepared to contribute to international military action against the militants.

‘ISIS’ vs. ‘ISIL’ vs. ‘Islamic State’: The Political Importance of a Much-Debated Acronym
Jaime Fuller / The Washington Post

On Sunday, President Obama went on “Meet the Press” to talk with new host Chuck Todd. They talked at length about terrorism and the administration’s plans to counter it, but they didn’t couldn’t quite agree on what to call the enemy.

Colorado Woman Pleads Guilty in Terror Case
Sadie Gurman / Associated Press

A 19-year-old suburban Denver woman who federal authorities say intended to wage jihad despite their repeated attempts to stop her pleaded guilty Wednesday to trying to help the Islamic State militant group in Syria under a plea deal that requires her to help authorities find others with the same intentions.

 

Ukraine, EU, and NATO

 

Ukraine Crisis: Poroshenko Offers Rebels More Autonomy
BBC

Ukraine’s president says he will grant more autonomy to separatists in the east to keep the country together.

Ukraine Says Russia Withdrawing Forces from East, Sees Boost for Peace
Pavel Polityuk and Gareth Jones / Reuters

Ukraine’s president said on Wednesday Russia had removed the bulk of its forces from his country, raising hopes for a peace drive now underway after five months of conflict in which more than 3,000 people have been killed.

Poland Receiving 24 Percent Less Gas from Russia
Monika Scislowska / Associated Press

Russian natural gas deliveries to Poland have dropped by almost a quarter this week, Poland’s gas monopoly said Wednesday, though the reason remained unclear.

 

Climate Change

 

UN Says CO2 Pollution Levels at Annual Record High
John Heilprin / Associated Press

Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reached a record high in 2013 as increasing levels of man-made pollution transform the planet, the U.N. weather agency said Tuesday.

The Weather of our Future: The Weather Channel’s 2050 Forecast
Jason Samenow / The Washington Post

Sea level rise inundation in Miami. A record-setting heat wave in Chicago. A megadrought in the Southwest. Tourism at the North Pole. And the Summer Olympics in Anchorage.   Those are the top weather and climate stories in September, 2050 according to a futuristic video, produced by The Weather Channel.

 

The Scottish Referendum

 

UK Leader Rushes to Fend Off Scottish Independence
Jill Lawless and Paul Kelbie / Associated Press

Spooked by recent polls, Prime Minister David Cameron and other British political leaders rushed north to Scotland on Wednesday, where Cameron begged Scots not to break his heart by voting to become independent from the United Kingdom.

 

On Our Flashpoint Blog

 

Domestic Sources power ITER
Caroline Julia von Wurden

Twelve high voltage surge arresters (to protect the electrical system against lightning strikes) were shipped from New York and delivered to ITER on September 4th.

ASP’s Business Council for American Security member Dante Disparte Cited in africainvestor
Naman Jain

ASP’s Business Council for American Security (BCAS) member, Mr. Dante Disparte, was recently quoted in an article from the September – October 2014 edition of the africainvestor magazine. The article is written by Dr. Barbara Samuels and titled “Scoping out the Solutions.”

Confronting ISIL – What Next?
Fadi Elsalameen

During the NATO Summit in the United Kingdom last week, world leaders acknowledged the real and legitimate threat that ISIL (aka ISIS and IS) poses to the people of the Middle East and the whole world.

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. 

 

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.

National Security and Climate Change – Perspectives from the Military
September 22 @ 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
The Morgan Library, 225 Madison Avenue, New York City, NY 10016

The American Security Project, the non-partisan national security think tank, will host a panel discussion on the afternoon of Monday, September 22 as a part of the Climate Group’s launch of Climate Week, taking place at The Morgan Library, 225 Madison Avenue.

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 10, 2014 appeared first on American Security Project.