International News Coverage
ISIS, Iraq, Egypt
Effort to Arm Sunni Tribes in Iraq against Islamic State Faces Hurdles
Loveday Morris | The Washington Post
The mass killings of Sunni tribesmen battling the Islamic State have added urgency to Iraqi government efforts to support pockets of resistance against the insurgents. But distrust, a lack of financing and corruption threaten to slow the process, tribesmen and officials say.
Islamic State Leader’s Fate Unclear After Latest Strikes
Zaid Sabah and Daivd Lerman | Bloomberg
U.S. and Iraqi officials are working to determine if recent airstrikes may have injured or killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was targeted along with other senior members of the Sunni extremist group.
Egyptian Militant Group Pledges Loyalty to Islamic State in Audio Clip
Clarence Fernandez | Reuters
Egypt’s most active militant group, the Sinai-based Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, has sworn allegiance to Islamic State.
Africa & Asia
Suicide Bomber Kills 48 Students in Nigeria
Adamu Adamu and Michelle Faul | Associated Press
A suicide bomber disguised in a school uniform detonated explosives at a high school assembly in the northeastern Nigerian city of Potiskum on Monday, killing at least 48 students.
Ebola Today Could Mean Illiteracy Tomorrow in West Africa
Jon Hamilton | NPR
Ebola is threatening to reverse years of educational progress in West Africa. The virus has kept school closed for months in a part of the world where literacy rates are low and school systems are only now recovering from years of civil war.
APEC Summit: China and Japan in Ice-Breaker Talks
BBC
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Beijing.
In Beijing, Obama Stresses America’s ‘shared future’ with Asia
David Nakamura | The Washington Post
At the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Obama pushed forward on efforts to establish deeper economic partnerships in a region that his administration has pledged to make a cornerstone of its foreign policy.
Indian Woman Paraded Naked on Donkey
BBC
A woman in northern India has been stripped naked and paraded on a donkey on the orders of village elders after being accused of killing her nephew.
US, Europe & Latin America
Aid Agency Rules Would Ban Risky Undercover Work
Desmond Butler and Jack Gillum | Associated Press
The U.S. global development agency is preparing internal rules that would effectively end risky undercover work in hostile countries, such as the once-secret “Cuban Twitter” program it orchestrated.
Catalan Leaders Weigh up Independence Poll Results
Associated Press
The Catalonia region’s president is riding a wave of enthusiasm among independence seekers Monday, a day after a non-binding vote on secession from Spain showed strong though not overwhelming support for breaking away.
In Cuba, Misadventures in Regime Change
New York Times
American efforts to destabilize the Cuban government haven’t worked and are counterproductive. It’s time for a new approach.
Climate Change, Energy & Technology
Climate Change Moves up Investment Agenda
David Ricketts | Financial Times
Given the size of assets under pension funds’ control, there is a growing recognition that failure to adapt asset allocation to account for climate change risk could lead to significant losses.
Elon Musk’s Next Mission: Internet Satellites
Rolfe Winkler and Andy Pasztor | Wall Street Journal
Elon Musk shook up the automotive and aerospace industries with electric cars and cheap rockets. Now, he is focused on satellites, looking at ways to make smaller, less-expensive models that can deliver Internet access across the globe.
The Benefits of the U.S. Oil And Gas Boom Are Permanent, Says Citi
Tim Treagold | Forbes
Chinese diplomatic and military staff went on buying sprees for illegal ivory while on official visits to Tanzania, sending prices soaring, an environmental activist group said Thursday.
Solar Bike Path Opens this Week in the Netherlands
Bill Chappell | NPR
A Dutch project that integrates solar panels into a bike commuter path will officially open this week, on a special roadway outside Amsterdam. Power generated by the SolaRoad’s panels will be funneled into the national energy grid.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
U.S. Military Medicine Drives Innovation and Affects Civilian and Ebola Patients
This is a Guest Post from Jay Lopez, President and CEO of Estill Medical Technologies. In this post, the topics of medical innovations on the battlefield, affects on civilian life, and the medical needs for Ebola patients are covered. Jay is a member of ASP’s Business Council for American Security.
After Election, Republicans Must Prepare their own Climate Policy
Andrew Holland
The Republicans have won a clear victory. They will take over the Senate, expand their control of the House, and deserve congratulations for their win. Now, it is time to govern
Optimism or Reality: US-China Cooperation on Shale Gas
Andrew Holland
Chinese investment in unconventional fossil fuels is aimed at China’s goal of restricting coal use and increasing domestic natural gas production. It also presents an opportunity for increasingly difficult Sino-US bilateral relations.
The U.S. – E.U. Partnership: Looking Ahead
Maggie Feldman-Piltch
The EU-US partnership has been integral in successfully addressing many of the most serious threats to peace, stability, and democracy across the globe in the two decades since its formalization.
The Rise of Lithuanian LNG: A Long-term Opportunity for the U.S.
Hidetoshi Azuma
Lithuania officially made its debut in the global LNG market with the arrival of its floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) Independence on Monday, October 27, 2014.
Is an “Arab-style NATO” in the works?
Giancarlo Lima
Arab states, led by Egypt and its Gulf allies, are working on a military alliance to tackle the region’s security concerns.
UN IPCC Climate Change Report Reaffirms Nexus between Climate Change and National Security
AJ Degarmo
This past weekend United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released their fifth assessment report covering climate change.
Upcoming Events
ASP Conference – The US – EU Strategic Partnership: Trade, Energy, and Security
November 12 @ 12:30PM – 1:30PM
Location: American Security Project, Suite 750W – 1100 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Numerous strategic challenges and opportunities face the United States and European Union in 2015. Join ASP on November 12, 2014 as our high-level panel discusses what options are ahead of the US and the EU.
Orlando Event – Climate Change: Risks for National Security
November 17 @ 8:00AM – 10:30AM
Location: Pegasus Ballroom – Student Union Building – University of Central Florida: 12715 Pegasus Dr., Orlando, FL 32816
Join us for a discussion with senior flag officers as they discuss the steps the US military has taken and future implications for our national security.
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 18, 2014 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 the University of Tampa on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 as we discuss this important issue.
ASP Conference: Electricity Supply: What it Means for Security, Developments and Geopolitics
November 19 @ 12:00PM – 4:30PM
1100 New York Avenue, NW – 7th Floor – West Tower
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.
ASP Conference – Pakistan: Aid, Trade, and Security
December 9 @ 12:00PM – 2:00PM
Location: TBA
Join ASP and FTI Consulting as we host an event that will discuss current conditions of economic aid, trade and security in Pakistan, and will feature experts of military and development backgrounds.
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