International News Coverage
ISIS, Middle East, Terrorism and Counterterrorism
Jihadist Groups Find Recruits Among Women in the West
Steven Erlanger | The New York Times
Analysts estimate that 10 percent of those from the West joining radical Islamist groups in Syria and Iraq are women, often influenced by social media networks that offer advice, tips and logistical support for travel.
The U.S. and EU partnership to defeat ISIL
Paul Hamill and Fadi Elsalameen | E!Sharp
The ugly spectre of the ISIL terrorist group with its murderous rampage, total disregard of humanity, and its perversion of faith acts as a predator on both American and European young people. It is both a direct and indirect security theat. American leadership, working with European partners has put together a long term and multifaceted strategy.
East of Kobani, Turkish town appreciates ‘peace’ brought by Islamic State
Humeyra Pamuk | Reuters
Residents of a Turkish border town, an hour’s drive from where Islamic State is battling for control of Kobani, appreciate the quiet they say the Sunni militants brought when they swiftly seized neighboring Syrian territory
Syrians to be trained to defend territory, not take ground from jihadists, officials say
Rajiv Chandrasekaran | The Washington Post
The Syrian opposition force to be recruited by the U.S. military and its coalition partners will be trained to defend territory, rather than to seize it back from the Islamic State, according to senior U.S. and allied officials, some of whom are concerned that the approach is flawed.
Ebola
Ebola: Travelers From Stricken Countries Can Enter at Only 5 U.S. Airports
Kristina Peterson and Siobhan Hughes | Wall Street Journal
The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday will begin limiting flights carrying passengers from three West African countries affected by Ebola to arrival at five U.S. airports.
Ebola outbreak prompts food scarcity and threat of social conflict
Clar Ni Chonghaile | The Guardian
Fears are growing that the economic impact of the Ebola crisis could lead to unrest and political crises in West African countries.
Canada
Security stepped up at Canadian military bases following shootings
Justin Giovannetti | The Globe and Mail
Canadian Armed Forces personnel in the Ottawa area have been ordered not to wear their uniforms in public, unless on duty, following Wednesday’s shootings around Parliament Hill.
Ottawa shootings: Canada to toughen terror laws
BBC
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has vowed to strengthen the nation’s terror laws one day after a gunman rampaged through parliament.
Asia, Europe, Latin America
Hong Kong Official Rules Out Clearing Protest Sites—for Now
Chester Yung, Fiona Law and Prudence Ho | Wall Street Journal
A Hong Kong official said the government for now won’t attempt to clear areas that have been occupied by protesters for weeks, but he didn’t rule out a tougher approach to end the impasse eventually.
NATO jets ‘intercept Russian spy plane’ over Baltic
BBC
A Russian spy plane has been intercepted by NATO jets over the Baltic Sea, the alliance says, amid heightened tensions in the region.
Following Scottish vote, attention in Britain shifts to rights for the English
Griff Witte | The Washington Post
Just a month after the United Kingdom survived a near-death experience when nearly half of Scots voted to secede, the focus of British politics has rapidly shifted to that other hotbed of churning nationalist discontent: England.
Science and Technology, Energy Security
Backers of a Maglev Train Hope to Outpace Acela in the Northeast Corridor
Ron Nixon and Jonathan Soble | The New York Times
A group of Washington investors with high-level political backing and a $5 billion commitment from the Japanese government is pressing ahead with its vision of a high-speed train that could whisk passengers between New York and Washington in about an hour.
Scientists Consider Repurposing Robots for Ebola
John Markoff | The New York Times
Robotics scientists nationwide are pondering an intriguing possibility: Might robotic technologies deployed in rescue and disaster situations be quickly repurposed to help contain the Ebola epidemic?
A Florida city voted to split the state in two because of concerns over climate change
Hunter Schwarz | The Washington Post
The South Miami City Commission voted 3 to 2 for Florida’s 23 southern counties to secede and form a new state named South Florida because of frustration over environmental issues and a lack of concern by state leaders.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Canada’s Resilience in the wake of this week
AJ Degarmo
This week has tested the moral fiber of Canadians, and placed them in the center of the recent conversation of residents who aspire to travel to the Middle East with the intent of joining deadly terrorist groups.
Electricity: The Catalyst
Sophia Dahodwala
Electricity supply is a catalysts for economic development. Operating a factory, maintaining a business, transporting crops and goods are impossible without utilizing some form of energy. Electricity at a more basic level is indispensable. Without it, people cannot refrigerate, use household appliances or illuminate their homes.
Senator Gary Hart To Play Diplomatic Role for State Department
BGen Stephen A. Cheney USMC (Ret.)
The American Security Project congratulates Senator Gary Hart upon his appointment at the Secretary of State’s Personal Representative including on issues related to Northern Ireland.
Status After the Last Round of Nuclear Talks with Iran
Marylin Carino
Another series of intensive nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 (United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China) ended in Vienna last week.
The Green Side of Energy Security: EU event
Caroline Julia von Wurden
The EU delegation to the US and the US State Department hosted a discussion for World Energy Day on energy security and sustainability objectives.
Carbon Holdings to make massive investment in Egypt
Giancarlo Lima
The Egyptian economy has recently received some positive investment news.
Upcoming Events
Tampa Event – Climate Change: Risks for National Security
November 18 @ 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: University of Tampa, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606
Climate change is already a major concern for US military planners. Meanwhile, American politicians continue to ignore the issue of this growing threat. Join ASP at the University of Tampa on Tuesday, November 18th as we discuss this important issue.
Geography 2050: Mounting an Expedition to the Future
November 19
Location: Low Memorial Library, Columbia University, 2960 Broadway, Manhattan, NY 10027
The one-day inaugural event, to be held at Columbia’s Low Library in Manhattan, offers an opportunity for thought leaders in industry, government, the social sector, and academe to come together to think about collectively exploring the future, and to examine how geography, geographic thinking, and geospatial data and technologies will enable this new age of exploration.
FSC Event – Climate Change: Risks for National Security
November 19 @ 10:30am – 12:00pm
Location: Florida Southern College, 111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr., Lakeland, FL 33801
Climate change is already a major concern for US military planners. Meanwhile, American politicians continue to ignore the issue of this growing threat. Join ASP at Florida Southern College on Wednesday, November 19th as we discuss this important issue.
ASP Conference: Electricity Supply: What it Means for Security, Development and Geopolitics
November 19 @ 12:00pm – 4:30pm
The nexus of electricity, development, and security is significant, yet its nuances are too often overlooked. The half-day event will bring together development and energy experts, government officials, and policy makers to better establish the important linkages between power, security, and development, share successful implementation strategies and consider how these successes can be replicated in diverse contexts.
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