International News Coverage
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
Kerry in Turkey to Boost Support for anti-IS Coalition
BBC
US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Turkey to seek support for more military action against Islamic State (IS) fighters in Iraq and Syria.
U.S. Weakens al-Qaeda Groups Around the World but hasn’t Wiped Any Out
Greg Miller and Craig Whitlock / The Washington Post
In declaring that the United States would degrade and “ultimately destroy” an al-Qaeda offshoot in Iraq and Syria, President Obama articulated an objective that the United States has yet to achieve against any of the Islamist adversaries it has faced since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Iraq Premier Says France to Join Airstrikes Effort
Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Sameer N. Yacoub / Associated Press
France will join the U.S.-led airstrikes targeting extremists in Iraq as part of an expanding international effort to combat the Islamic State group, Iraq’s new prime minister said after talks with the French president on Friday.
Chinese Court Sentences Three to Death for Railway Station Knife Attacks
Jonathan Kaiman / The Guardian
A court in southern China sentenced three people to death and one to life in prison on Friday for perpetrating a gruesome knife attack on a railway station this spring, an incident that shocked the country and underscored the severity of ethnic conflict in the north-western region of Xinjiang.
Pakistan: Arrests Made in 2012 Attack on Malala
Joe Sterling and Adeel Raja / CNN
Pakistani security forces arrested 10 people in the attempt to kill teen activist Malala Yousafzai, the army said Friday.
Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Fight Against Islamic State Influence
Stefanie Kam and Robi Sugara / The Diplomat
The Indonesian government recently banned the Islamic State (IS), formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) also released a statement that it was “haram” or forbidden, for Muslims to participate in IS activities. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak also recently issued a strongly worded statement condemning the IS for its actions, which run counter to Islamic faith, culture and to common humanity.
First Claim by al-Qaeda Subcontinent Wing: Pakistan Navy Men Ours
Praveen Swami / The Indian Express
The newly-formed Indian subcontinent division of transnational terror group al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility for Saturday night’s attack on a Naval dockyard in Karachi — the organisation’s first strike since its existence was made public last month. The attackers, the statement said, were former Pakistan Navy officers-turned-jihadists who were attempting to hijack a missile frigate to stage an attack on a United States aircraft carrier.
The Ukraine Crisis
EU Raises Pressure on Moscow with Tougher Sanctions
Adrian Croft / Reuters
The European Union tightened sanctions on Russia on Friday over its role in the Ukrainian conflict, restricting access to financing for top Russian banks, defense and energy firms and freezing the assets of senior politicians and rebel leaders.
East Europe Stocks Up on Gas as Ukraine Crisis Drags On
Ladka Bauerova and Misha Savic / Bloomberg
Eastern European nations from Poland to Serbia are boosting stockpiles of natural gas after Russia reduced deliveries during the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine and concerns rose about a winter shutoff.
U.S. Enacts New Sanctions Against Russia
Katie Zezima / The Washington Post
The Obama administration announced new, punitive sanctions against Russia, taking aim at the nation’s largest bank and prohibiting some U.S. exports to deep-water and shale oil projects in Russia’s Arctic.
The Central African Republic Crisis
AP: More than 5,000 Dead in C. African Republic
Krista Larson / Associated Press
More than 5,000 people have died in sectarian violence in Central African Republic since December, according to an Associated Press tally, suggesting that a U.N. peacekeeping mission approved months ago is coming too late for thousands.
NASA
After a Two-Year Trek, NASA’s Mars Rover Reaches its Mountain Lab
Kenneth Chang / The New York Times
The Curiosity rover has reached the destination where it will begin its main science investigations, the base of a three-mile-high mountain that the science team has named Mount Sharp. As the rover makes it way up the mountain, it will cross layers of rock that contain clues to the early geological and environmental history of Mars when it was warmer and wetter.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
The New Digital Divide and Countering Extremist Propaganda
Matthew Wallin
A great deal of attention is being given recently to the State Department’s efforts to combat extremism online. Notably, a video recently released by the State Department’s “Think Again Turn Away” campaign contains graphic video of some of the many atrocities committed by ISIS in the name of creating a caliphate.
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.
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 12, 2014 appeared first on American Security Project.
