Key Reads

China appears to be working on third airstrip on disputed South China Sea islets: expert
David Brunnstrom / Reuters
China appears to be carrying out preparatory work for a third airstrip in contested territory in the South China Sea, a U.S expert said on Monday, citing satellite photographs taken last week.

Hungary shuts key refugee route amid widening clampdowns across Europe 
Roberts Samuels, Micheal Birnbaum and William Booth / Washington Post
A main gateway to central Europe slammed shut Tuesday as Hungary closed its border to refugees, finishing work on a 100-mile fence spooled with razor wire and arresting dozens of desperate migrants who tried to sneak across. 

 

American Competitiveness

U.S consumer spending rising solidly; manufacturing still weak
Lucia Mutikani / Reuters
U.S consumer spending appeared to grow at a fairly healthy pace halfway through the third quarter, pointing to solid domestic demand that could persuade a cautious Federal Reverse to hike interest rates on Thursday.

China falls stock back into red
Patrick Graham / Reuters
Concerns over China kept financial markets on edge on Tuesday, with an underwhelmed reaction to recent data and Beijing’s efforts at corporate reform pushing Asian stocks lower and keeping any gains in Europe minimal.

 

National Security & Strategy

Teen Arrested for Planning Alleged ISIS-Inspired Attack on Pope
Pierre Thomas, Mike Levine, and Jack Date / ABC News
The FBI quietly arrested a 15-year-old boy outside of Philadelphia last month for allegedly threatening to launch an ISIS-inspired assault on Pope Francis while the world leader tours the United States next week, ABC has learned.

 

Asymmetric Operations

Syria conflict: Russia ‘to continue Assad military aid’
BBC News
Russian president Vladimir Putin has pledged continued military support for Syria’s Bashar al-Assad despite growing concerns over Moscow’s role in the war.

Al Qaeda leader to ISIS: You’re wrong, but we can work together
Tim Lister / CNN
After a prolonged spell of silence, al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has come alive with a series of audio messages. And they’re raising few eyebrows because — in two separate message — al-Zawahiri has extended an olive branch to ISIS, even while describing ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s “caliphate” as illegitimate.

 

Climate Security

U.S and Chinese Climate Change Negotiators to Meet in Los Angeles
Coral Davenport / New York Times
President Obama’s top climate change negotiator will meet with his Chinese counterpart in Los Angeles on Tuesday to announce joint actions by cities, states and provinces in both countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Shell leaves climate project it helped set up amid Arctic drilling row
Terry Macalister / the Guardian
Shell has been forced to leave a Prince of Wales climate change project which it helped found after a row over the oil company’s controversial drilling programme in the Arctic.

 

Energy Security

EEF calls on Downing Street to scrap ‘complex’ energy tax system
Terry Macalister / the Guardian
EEF, one of Britain’s leading employer’s groups, has urged the government to scrap the carbon price floor and other green taxes, following on from a series of ministerial moves to slash subsidies on wind and solar schemes.

 

Nuclear Security

North Korea says it has restarted its nuclear facilities, threatens the U.S
Anna Fifield / Washington Post
North Korea Tuesday announced that it had restarted its Yongbyon nuclear reactor and was ready to use nuclear weapons “any time” against the United States.

 

On Our Flashpoint Blog

Admiral Fallon Testifies Before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Sam Hickey
On September 09, ASP Board Member Admiral William Fallon testified on the Implications of a Nuclear Agreement with Iran before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was joined in testifying before members of Congress by General Charles Wald, Vice Admiral John Bird, and Leon Wieseltier who is the Isaiah Berlin Senior Fellow in Culture and Policy at the Brookings Institute.

Brigadier General Stephen A. Cheney Interviewed on Climate Change
Ngoc H. Le
Brigadier General Stephen Cheney, USMC (Ret.) CEO of the American Security Project talked about climate change in an exclusive Climate TV interview for The Climate Group.

Understanding the Importance of Iraqi Unity
Asha Castleberry
My return home from the Middle East confronted me with a major U.S. foreign policy debate: how to counter the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIL), also known as “Daesh.” In DC, policy critics are overwhelmingly fixated on the Obama Administration’s alleged lack of strategy, but actions in Iraq by Iraqis will be the deciding factor in this fight.

Syrian Refugee Crisis Threatens the Security and Stability of the Middle East
Anil Powers
The civil war in Syria is in its fourth year with no clear end in sight.  While battles rage on between the forces of the Assad regime and rebel groups, civilians leave their homes and flee the country.  With millions having already fled Syria and still more to follow, a major refugee crisis exists that threatens the security and stability of the entire Middle East.

 

Upcoming Events

Conference – Cyber Security: Risk, Recovery, Resilience
September 16 @ 12:00pm – 5:00pm
ASP will host a half day conference to discuss the issues surrounding cyber security and challenges we will face moving forward.

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