The Rising and Sinking Threats to Our Cities
Gaia Vince / BBC
Sea-level rise due to climate change has already raised the risk of extreme floods in major coastal cities around the world, and many are slowly sinking into the oceans.
U.N. says 93,000 killed in Syrian conflict, fears for Aleppo
Stephanie Nebehay and Tom Miles / Reuters
The death toll in Syria reached at least 93,000 at the end of April, but the true number of victims from the violence now in its third year may be much higher, the United Nations human rights office said on Thursday.
Intel Outside
David Cole / Foreign Policy
Last week’s revelations about the scope of the National Security Agency’s surveillance shocked many Americans, who learned that the top-secret agency was keeping records on literally every time they picked up the phone — recording who they called, for how long, and their location when they called.
Top CIA official departing
Pam Benson / CNN
Seemingly the perennial bridesmaid, Deputy CIA Director Mike Morell is retiring after a 33-year career. His successor is Avril Haines, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama who will become the first woman to occupy the No. 2 spot.
Cuba’s Climate Change Threat Prompts New Coastal Strategy
Andrea Rodriguez / Huffington Post
After Cuban scientists studied the effects of climate change on this island’s 3,500 miles (5,630 kilometers) of coastline, their discoveries were so alarming that officials didn’t share the results with the public to avoid causing panic.
Bill Clinton on Bipartisan Ways to Boost U.S. Infrastructure Investment
Businessweek
Rarely short on advice, former President Clinton agreed to field questions on critical economic concerns from five U.S. civic and business leaders, including three CEOs. He replied in his unofficial capacity as consultant-in-chief.
BP: Global demand for energy slows
Danica Kirka / Associated Press
Global demand for oil, gas, coal, and nuclear power grew at a slower pace last year due to weak economic growth, recession and increased efficiency, energy company BP said Wednesday.
Egypt frets, fumes over Ethiopia’s Nile plan
Griff Witte / Washington Post
Since long before the Pyramids towered above the rich soil of this riverside town, Egyptians have given thanks to the muddy waters of the Nile. But trace the Nile about 1,400 miles upstream and there’s a rising colossus that threatens to upset a millennia-old balance.
NASA Eyeing Nuclear Fusion Rockets for Future Space Exploration
Mike Wall / Space.com
Rockets that harness the power of nuclear fusion may provide the next big leap in humanity’s quest to explore the final frontier, NASA’s science chief says. Traditional chemical propulsion systems can get humans to destinations in deep space, but with a lot of travel time.
Iranians pay ‘dear price’ for defiance
John Defterios / CNN
The eight years under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad can be marked for his defiance of the West in pursuit of nuclear development. But Iranians, especially in the past two years, have paid a dear price for that position.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Looking at the lessons since Black Hawk Down
Matt Freear
This October sees the twentieth anniversary of events that came to be known as Black Hawk Down, in which eighteen US military personnel and hundreds of Somalis died. Over a thousand Somalis were injured, hundreds of them civilians, though estimates vary greatly.
East Coast Missile Defense Site: is it Necessary?
Chelsea Sanchez
The FY-14 House Armed Services Committee National Defense Authorization Act markup occurred last Wednesday, June 5th 2013. During the markup, there was discussion on wheter to mandate an East Coast missile defense site by 2018.
The Tight Oil Boom
Nicholas Cunningham
The shale revolution that led to a surge in natural gas production in the last few years is doing the same for oil, according to panelists at a Washington conference on June 12. The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) hosted a half-day conference on “The Geopolitical Impacts of the U.S. Tight Oil Boom”
Dangerous Bedfellows in the Crime-Terrorism Nexus
Ollie Engebretson
The nature of asymmetric threats to U.S. security is changing, and so must our counteractive approach. Convergence, the intersection of normally distinct types of illicit organizations, has become a growing concern in the global fight against terrorism—a concern Adm. James Stavridis has voiced well.
Disinformation in Public Diplomacy
Christian Mull
Today, the term propaganda carries with it a negative connotation. However, it was originally a totally impartial and neutral term. Traditionally, propaganda is the information used to directly influence a target audience and comes in three different forms; black, grey and white.
Upcoming Events
The Future of Stability Operations: Lessons from Afghanistan
The international community has learned a great deal about how to conduct stability operations in the last 12 years. Join us for a fact-based discussion with leading experts on stability operations. The panel will discuss key lessons from the experience in Afghanistan and how they can be applied to future conflict environments. The discussion will take place on Monday June 17th from 12:30-1:30 pm. RSVP by emailing events@americansecurityproject.org.
North Koran Nuclear, Missile, and Space Programs: Imagery Brief Policy with Joel Wit
Join us for a lunchtime discussion with Visiting Scholar and former State Department official Joel Wit as he describes current North Korean nuclear, missile, and space programs using imagery slides. Mr. Wit will give his views on the policy options for dealing with this difficult and dangerous nation. The discussion will take place on Tuesday, June 25th from 12:30-2:00 pm. RSVP by emailing events@americansecurityproject.org.
Redefining US Energy Security for the 21st Century- New York Energy Week
With the United States in the midst of an oil and natural gas boom, long-held concerns about energy security are giving way to bold predictions of energy independence and diminishing concerns about climate change. These trends raise important questions for business leaders and policymakers alike. Please join us on Tuesday, June 25 from 4:15 until 5:30pm at 300 Madison Ave, New York, NY. as we explore them with some of the nation’s foremost national security experts. RSVP to events@theclimategroup.org.
