Latest Briefings
Principles of a Sustainable Counterterrorism Strategy
May 20, 2013
At the National Defense University this Thursday, President Obama will outline a framework for a sustainable and effective counterterrorism strategy, in a speech billed as a second-term follow-up to his 2009 National Archives speech. Since 2009, the U.S. has seen great gains in the fight against al Qaeda, as Director of National Intelligence James Clapper [...]
One Month After Boston
May 16, 2013
Yesterday marked the one month anniversary of the terrorist attack in Boston, a time in which some key lessons have emerged. Law enforcement and counterterrorism professionals have received deserved praise for effective planning and response that solved the case swiftly, drove the perpetrators to make mistakes, and staved off potentially more-lethal events. Evidence suggests that [...]
“Double Whammy” on Defense: Against Backdrop of Furloughs, Defense Experts Urge Efficiency Reforms
May 15, 2013
Secretary Hagel announced yesterday that hundreds of thousands of civilian employees at the Department of Defense will face 11 days of furloughs as a result of sequestration. As training and readiness also take hits, nonpartisan analysts and senior military leaders point out that there are better, more comprehensive and sustainable ways to reform and reduce [...]
Sober Consideration on Iran
May 14, 2013
As the P5+1’s lead negotiator meets her Iranian counterpart tomorrow and Congress weighs new sanctions legislation, most observers expect little movement until after Iranian elections scheduled for one month from today. In this relative quiet, bipartisan voices are urging heightened Washington focus on a negotiated solution, even an imperfect one. Yesterday’s release of a CNAS [...]
The Benghazi Sideshow
May 13, 2013
The continuing political sideshow about the assault on Benghazi that resulted in the deaths of four Americans spilled into full view yesterday, as Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) used the Sunday shows to trade charges with Ambassador Thomas Pickering, chair of the State Department’s Accountability Review Board, and former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called Issa’s [...]
Mixed Signals on U.S. Russia Relations
May 9, 2013
Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Moscow this week highlighted progress as well as continued tensions in the U.S.-Russia relationship. Even as hostility has increased over the past year, Russia remains an important partner for many of America’s international priorities including Syria, terrorism, the Afghanistan drawdown, nuclear negotiations with Iran, handling North Korea and [...]
The U.S.-South Korea Alliance, Present and Future
May 8, 2013
Today, South Korean President Park Geun-hye will address a joint session of Congress, an opportunity afforded only to America’s closest partners. She speaks as U.S. and South Korean resolve and diplomatic coordination are showing progress in diminishing provocations from Pyongyang, which now appear to be tapering off. Going forward, sustained U.S. and South Korean coordination [...]
Myth vs. Fact on Benghazi Hearing
May 7, 2013
Last month, five House Republican committee chairmen issued a staff report on the attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, from which Democratic staff and members had been excluded. Tomorrow, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, chaired by Rep. Darrell Issa, is holding a hearing to follow up on that report. But the welter of [...]
Syria: “The Land of Bad Options”
May 6, 2013
This weekend raised new allegations of chemical weapons use inside Syria, while Israeli military strikes brought the critical regional dimensions of Iranian involvement and support for Hezbollah through Syria to the forefront. U.S. leaders stressed the need for caution and withholding judgment, even as they began to move to heighten assistance to Syrian rebels. Americans [...]
Mexico: America’s Most Neglected Vital National Interest?
May 2, 2013
President Obama began a two-day visit to Central America and Mexico today. On the trip, the president will meet with his new Mexican counterpart, President Enrique Peña Nieto. The meeting is expected to focus on trade and immigration, though the relationship is broad and security issues such as the drug war and guns will likely [...]
