Bomb kills 71, wounds 124 at busy Nigeria bus station
USA Today
A massive explosion ripped through a bus station during the morning rush hour in Nigeria’s capital, killing at least 71 people and wounding 124 in a bombing that marked the bloodiest terrorist attack ever in Abuja.
In Ukraine: Pro-Russia Occupiers Defy Deadline, War Fears Grow
Mark Memmott / NPR
A deadline set by the Ukrainian government for pro-Russian gunmen to leave government buildings in eastern Ukraine and surrender weapons passed early Monday with no immediate sign of any action to force the insurgents out.
Deadly Virus’s Spread Raises Alarms in Mideast
Ellen Knickmeyer and Ahmed al Omran / The Wall Street Journal
Saudi Arabia on Sunday confirmed a surge of cases of MERS, a deadly virus, in the kingdom over the past two weeks, even as it tried to counter criticism that it wasn’t doing enough to contain the outbreak.
Fish losing survival instinct in acidic oceans, study says
Agence France Presse
Fish are losing their survival instinct — even becoming attracted to the smell of their predators — as the world’s oceans become more acidic because of climate change, new research said on Monday. The study of fish in coral reefs off the coast of Papua New Guinea — where the waters are naturally acidic — showed the animals’ behaviour became riskier.
Sanctions Are Eased; Iran Sees Little Relief
Rick Gladstone / The New York Times
Halfway through a six-month nuclear deal between Iran and major world powers that was meant to allow time to reach a comprehensive agreement, the Iranians have seen little in the way of a boost from the sanctions relief they had been expecting, trade lawyers and diplomatic analysts say. Whether Iran’s disappointment means that it will be more or less motivated to negotiate a permanent deal on its disputed nuclear program by the July 20 deadline remains unclear.
Hezbollah shifts tactics, narrative for Syria fight
Sara Hussein / Agence France Presse
Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement is gaining new combat experience in Syria, shedding its guerrilla tactics to fight alongside an army, and shifting its narrative to explain the battle against “Sunni extremists”.
Libya’s absurdist anarchy, as told by two militias
Abigail Hauslohner / The Washington Post
Last week, I sat down with two sides of an ongoing conflict in Libya. The up-close view provided a good illustration of just how anarchic – sometimes humorously so — Libya has become since the revolution that toppled Moammar Gaddafi three years ago.
Sarah Morrison / The Independent
Global greenhouse gas emissions over the past decade were the “highest in human history”, according to the world’s leading scientific body for the assessment of climate change. Without further action, temperatures will increase by about 4 to 5C, compared with pre-industrial levels, it warns, a level that could reap devastating effects on the planet.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
ASP’s Holland on KCRW’s To the Point: “Climate Change: Will we Have to Get Used to It?”
Andrew Holland
Andrew was interviewed by Warren Olney about climate change and national security. He was featured with Chris Field, IPCC Working Group II, David Keith of Harvard University, and Mark Fischetti of Scientific American. Asked what “Hot Spots” we have to worry about climate security, Holland answered Pacific and Bangladesh, but of course there’s many more.
Does the US-Japan Impasse Spell Doom for TPP?
Brendan Connell
With top US trade negotiators failing to reach a complete agreement with Japan over any of the most contentious trade issues, many are left feeling a sense of cynicism regarding the precious Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). But does that necessarily mean that TPP will be ultimately run off its tracks?
Ebola Outbreak a Regional Threat
Nathan Alvarado-Castle
Over the past week, a flight from Guinean capital, Conakry, has been quarantined. Neighboring countries have closed their boarders. France has gone on “high alert”. And investors are fleeing Guinea’s market concerned over what the WHO has called the “most challenging” outbreak of Ebola ever.
Castellaw and Adams in The Commercial Appeal: If military sees climate risk, why do we deny?
Adin Dobkin
Today, LTG John Castellaw, USMC (Ret.) and BGen John Adams, USA (Ret.) of ASP were invited to write a column for The Commercial Appeal of Memphis, TN regarding the impacts of climate change on the region.
ASP Recent Publications
WHITE PAPER – National Security and Space – The Next Space Race: Competition
August Cole
Of any of the armed services, the United States Air Force should know the most about speed. Their pilots, who historically rose to the service’s top ranks, fly the fastest fighters in the American arsenal. Yet, there are times when moving as fast as you can may not be fast enough.
Andrew Holland
Climate change threatens America’s national security around the world by acting as a “threat multiplier” that will undermine stability and draw American forces into conflict. However, we should not think that this is a problem solely for the rest of the world to deal with. Climate change presents clear threats to American livelihoods here at home – the effects of climate change threaten us, and are a growing mission for homeland security.
National Security and America’s Space Challenge
August Cole
The U.S. military and intelligence community is increasingly dependent on its satellite capabilities to do everything from communicating securely to targeting precision weapons. Billions of taxpayer dollars are spent trying to expand and protect this strategic edge.
American Security Quarterly V3 Issue 1
American Security Project
We see it in the news nearly every day. The world is rapidly shifting before our eyes as countries sprout up, struggle to gain a foothold in our international community, and sometimes fall just as quickly. One equally important trend is the interrelationship between the United States and international players on this stage. Never before have we seen the level of interdisciplinary security issues that we see today occurring in all corners of the globe.
ASP Upcoming Events
EVENT INVITE: Fusion Power: The Answer to an Uncertain Energy Future – A Discussion with Dan Clery
April 15, 12:00 – 1:30 P.M.
Our rapidly industrializing world has an insatiable hunger for energy and conventional sources are struggling to meet demand. Oil is running out, coal is damaging our climate, many nations are abandoning nuclear, yet solar, wind, and water will never be a complete replacement.
EVENT INVITE: Weather, Climate & National Security
April 23, 12:30 – 1:30 P.M.
Join ASP on Wednesday, April 23 at the Capitol Building, as BGen. Stephen A. Cheney and Mr. Bryan Norcross come together to discuss the national security implications of changing patterns in weather and the climate.
CHICAGO EVENT – The Multiplication of Threats: Climate Change & the Risks to National Security
April 30, 6:00-8:30 P.M.
Join Brigadier General Stephen A Cheney, USMC (Ret.) and Senior Fellow Andrew Holland to discuss how climate change is creating new threats to America’s National Security.
May 13, 8:00-9:30 A.M.
Join ASP Tuesday, May 13th as we host Bob Pozen for an informative discussion about corporate tax reform, as well as the many fiscal and political obstacles facing it. Mr. Pozen will present his unique strategy for a new corporate tax regime that could end up benefiting governments and US corporations alike.
The post What We Are Reading appeared first on American Security Project.
