American Security Quarterly - March 2014

8/12/2019 American Security Quarterly - March 2014

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www.AmericanSecurityProject.org 1100 New York Avenue, NW Suite 710W Washington, DC

American Security QuarterlyVision, Strategy, Dialogue

March 2014

V.3 Issue 1

Hart & Augustine:Why 9/11 Can Happen Agai

Cole: Te Cost of CreativityWallin: Digital Diplomacy: What are we rying to Achiev

Connell:Are We Underestimating the Benefits of US rade?Daniels: Benefit or Burden? Te Future of U.S. actical Nuclear Weapons

Holland: Europe Should Embargo Imports of Russian Natural GasMirzadeh : Te Future of Nuclear Power

Alvardo-Castle: Energy & Climate Security: A Necessary NexusBersch: Are the Olympics an Opportunity for Public Diplomacy?

American Security Quarterly - edited by Adin Dobkin


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AMERICAN SECURITY PROJECT

CONENS

National Security StrategyWhy 9/11 Can Happen Again Page 5

Gary Hart & Norman AugustineTe Cost of Creativity 6

August Cole

Cybersecurity: A Balanced Approach 7Nathan Alvardo-Castle

Climate SecurityCalifornia, Drought, and Climate Change 9

William Fassuliotis

National Security, Climate, and the Philippine yphoon 10Andrew Holland

What yphoon Haiyan Means for National Security 11Andrew Holland

Energy SecurityWhat is the Future of Nuclear in the US? First, Ensure that Current Nuclear Plants RemainOperational 13

Andrew Holland

NERC Geomagnetic Disturbance Events (GMD) Reliability Standards: Comments Due Soon 15Andrew Charles Wills

Te Future of Nuclear Power 16

Farhad Mirzadeh

Te Fizzling of the Nuclear Renaissance 17Farhad Mirzadeh

Energy & Climate Security: A Necessary Nexus 18Nathan Alvardo-Castle


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Public Diplomacy and Strategic CommunicationsAre the Olympics an Opportunity for Public Diplomacy? 19Madeline Bersch

op 10 U.S. Public Diplomacy Priorities for 2014 20Matthew Wallin

Digital Diplomacy: What are we rying to Achieve? 21Matthew Wallin

Gauging the Iranian Public 24Matthew Wallin

American CompetitivenessUntangling rade: How PP Can Help American Businesses 25Brendan Connell

Are We Underestimating the Benefits of US rade? 26Brendan Connell

Te Slow-Minded Myth about a Fast-racked Policy 27Brendan Connell

Te Tree Overlooked Grounds for PP 28Brendan Connell

Te Forgotten Partners of US rade 29Brendan Connell

Nuclear Security

Give First-step Iran Deal Chance to Bear Fruit 31Stephen Cheney

Benefit or Burden? Te Future of U.S. actical Nuclear Weapons 31Nathan Daniels


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Asymmetric OperationsA Dispatch from Our Man in Kiev 33

From our man in Kiev

Europe Should Embargo Imports of Russian Natural Gas 35Andrew Holland

Iran-Pakistan-India: Can a Pipe Dream Become Reality? 36Nathan Alvardo-Castle

Unemployment isnt working: the Arab Stabilization Plan andUnemployment in the Middle East 37

Kameron Simmons

Further Reading 39


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National Security Strategy

Why 9/11 Can Happen Again

Gary Hart & Norman AugustineLos Angeles imes

Feb 20, 2014

In February 2001, a bipartisan federal commission onwhich we served warned that terrorists would acquireweapons of mass destruction and mass disruption.Attacks against American citizens on American soil,possibly causing heavy casualties, are likely over thenext quarter-century, the Hart-Rudman Commis-sion said. In the face of this threat, our nation has nocoherent or integrated governmental structures. Weadded: Congressshould rationalize its current com-mittee structure so that it best serves U.S. nationalsecurity objectives.

We identified 50 ways to improve national security,none of which was implemented before 9/11. One

recommendation to create a single agency to dealwith homeland security was not acted on until ayear and a half after those tragic attacks.

One particularly consequential recommendation hasbeen altogether ignored. Congress has failed to re-view its structure systematically in light of likely 21stcentury security challenges, a critical step needed to

ensure both that important issues receive sufficientattention and oversight and the unnecessary duplica-tion of effort by multiple committees is minimized.

Put bluntly, congressional oversight of homelandsecurity remains an organizational maze. Instead ofdoing what our group and the 9/11 Commissionrecommended, Congress has made matters worse.

After the creation of the Department of HomelandSecurity, oversight was claimed by 79 committees andsubcommittees, but that number has expanded to atleast 108.

No major company could function with that kindof structure, and neither can the third-largest fed-

eral department. As former Homeland Security Sec-retary Michael Chertoff said, When many voicesspeak, its like no voice speaks.

Virtually everyone who has examined the matteragrees about the need to streamline congressionalsupervision of homeland security. Since the 9/11Commission made it a central recommendation, re-ports from think tanks such as the Heritage Founda-tionand the Brookings Institutionhave concurred,as did the Sunnylands-Aspen Institute task force, a

group of national security experts that met last yearand included 9/11 Commission Chairmen TomasKean and Lee Hamilton.

Because Congress has spurned this chorus of qualifiedcounsel, the country remains unprepared to thwartsome of the same kinds of terrorist attacks that we

warned about in the pre-9/11 days. Amid concernsabout a cyberattack on the power grid, air-traffic con-trol system or financial sector, the seven congressionalcommittees that claim jurisdiction over cyber securitycant even agree on whether responsibility for the is-sue should reside in the Department of HomelandSecurity or elsewhere.

Tere are other areas of vulnerability. For example,when you fly on a major airline from a major airport,you, your shoes, laptop and luggage are screened
http://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/u.s.-congress-ORGOV0000131.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/unrest-conflicts-war/terrorism/september-11-2001-attacks-EVHST000001.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/unrest-conflicts-war/defense/u.s.-department-of-homeland-security-ORGOV0000136.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/unrest-conflicts-war/defense/u.s.-department-of-homeland-security-ORGOV0000136.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/michael-chertoff-PEPLT007567.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/social-issues/heritage-foundation-ORNPR000157.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/social-issues/heritage-foundation-ORNPR000157.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/social-issues/brookings-institution-ORNPR000099.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/social-issues/aspen-institute-ORNPR000093.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/social-issues/aspen-institute-ORNPR000093.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/social-issues/brookings-institution-ORNPR000099.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/social-issues/heritage-foundation-ORNPR000157.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/social-issues/heritage-foundation-ORNPR000157.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/michael-chertoff-PEPLT007567.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/unrest-conflicts-war/defense/u.s.-department-of-homeland-security-ORGOV0000136.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/unrest-conflicts-war/defense/u.s.-department-of-homeland-security-ORGOV0000136.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/unrest-conflicts-war/terrorism/september-11-2001-attacks-EVHST000001.topichttp://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/u.s.-congress-ORGOV0000131.topic


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by the ransportation Security Administration. Butthere isnt necessarily such screening if you board aprivate jet at eterboro Airport in New Jersey, just adozen miles from Manhattan, or any number of smallairports across the United States. A potential hijackercould walk through the terminal straight to the plane.

And as Adm. Tad Allen, a former commandant ofthe U.S. Coast Guard, notes, when a small boat en-ters one of the harbors adjoining our nations cities,

whether it be Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Galves-ton, exas, or others, those responsible for nationalsecurity cant readily determine to whom it is regis-tered or what is in its hold.

Nor are these means of carrying danger onto our

shores the full extent of the problem. As formerSen. Bob Grahamof Florida, who headed a commis-sion on weapons of mass destruction from 2008 to2010, noted in the Sunnylands-Aspen report, the listof biohazards, including substances that could kill be-fore we become aware that they are in our air or water,hasnt been prioritized.

Unlike most stories about Congress not workingwell, this isnt a saga of left versus right, Republicansversus Democrats. Reports from across the political

spectrum have described the status quo as byzan-tine, wasteful and dysfunctional. Republican-appointed Homeland Security Secretaries om Ridgeand Michael Chertoff and Democrat-appointedJanetNapolitanohave all indicated that fragmented over-sight makes it more difficult for the department todo its job.

Te reason for congressional inaction is as simple as itis sad. As noted by the Center for Strategic and Inter-

national Studies/Business Executives for National Se-curity task force, Congress has protected prerogativeand privilege at the expense of a rational, streamlinedcommittee structure. Te result is a Department ofHomeland Security that is hamstrung by a system ofcongressional oversight that drains departmental en-

ergy and invites managerial circumvention.

A refrain emerged after 9/11: Why hadnt the mediCongress and the president paid more attention the warnings and recommendations of the Hart-Ruman report?

o that question we would now add: Must the country suffer another devastating, potentially preventabattack before more of its turf-protecting elected representatives forgo prerogative and privilege for thsake of our nations security?

Te Cost of Creativity

August ColeFlashpoint Blog

Feb 26, 2014

Money is a funny subject inside the Beltway.

Civil servants get by on proscribed grade-guided salries that often mean commuting dozens of miles

work while those on Capitol Hill learn to walk with

practiced lean against the steady gale of dollars bending and twisting American politics.

At the same time, the more than $1 billion in taxpaydollars spent daily on defense and national security essentially incomprehensible to the average Americabecause of its scale. Among wonks, it is just as easy get lost in the baroque aspects of Pentagon budgeing. Asking how much? instead of why? usualdominates conversation, particularly ahead of a fu

budget rollout, in part because its an easier questioto answer.

Tis week, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel makes hcase in Washington and to the troops for the Obamadministrations proposed fiscal 2015 budget pla
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that hew to at least $75 billion in cuts during the nexttwo yearsand an approximately $500 billion cap. At

wars end, the tension between spending money onpeople or things only gets higher with each fiscal year.It will worsen if sequestration returns.

Of all the comments that have been made aboutwhats ahead, its worth paying attention to whatAct-ing Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine Fox said

Wednesday at the American Enterprise Institute.Fox,the former head of the Pentagons own office of ea-gle-eyed budget skeptics, made two important state-ments, which outsiders might see as contradictory.

Te first was that the militarys four-year review duenext month, the Quadrennial Defense Review, usu-ally seen as an unconstrained wish list from top brass

and senior officials, would be rooted in fiscal reality.Te Pentagon could not put out a QDR, she said,that did not match the world that were living in.

Secondly, she called for more creativity in militaryspending and priorities. What more creative spendingshould entail is a focus on enablers, she noted, thetechnologies and systems such as electronic warfareor deception that can help a fighting force win withless. Yet these are also less costly investments without

political constituents to fight for them in lean times.Tis approach needs support from on high. Her suc-cessor, Robert Work, should speak to this point oncethe hold on his nomination to the Pentagons No. 2post is lifted.

Sadly, realism and creativity no longer play cards anddrink cheap bourbon together in Capitol Hills shad-ow, as they once did. Tey are on opposite sides of thefiscal divide.

Even if the vision in the next QDR is tied down bytodays constraints and budget politics, it need notlack creativity. Big-ticket weapons, such as Americasunrivaled aircraft carriers, formed an important part

of the narrative of U.S. military dominance and pow-er projection. oday they are endangered because oftheir expense and abiding questions about their true

wartime utility in the Pacific. How then to affordablyproject air power thousands of miles from Ameri-can bases? Te best answers will not be ones we have

heard before.

Creativity counts more than ever, as our irregular ad-versaries have shown. Peer rivals will also want con-front the U.S. on their terms, not ours. Pentagonplanning must take an adversarys imagination intoaccount just as seriously as it considers the operation-al readiness of Chinas carrier.

Fortunately, creativity is one of the few things in

Washington that is still free.

Cybersecurity: A Balanced Approach

Nathan Alvardo-CastleFlashpoint Blog

Feb 25, 2014Cybersecurity has become a growing field forindustries and governments alike. But what exactlyare we talking about when we speak of security in thecyber realm?

Whether its state advancements in cyber-operationslike Stuxnet, the National Security Agencys globalsurveillance apparatus, or the breaching of sensitivepersonal-data and critical infrastructure by cyber-criminals and foreign governments, the field of cy-bersecurity has become associated with a range ofthreats, impacts, and actors so numerous the termoften loses its distinction.

Te result has been a battle of threat inflation or
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121703http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121703http://www.aei.org/events/2014/02/26/defense-budget-priorities-for-2015-and-beyond-a-conversation-with-acting-deputy-secretary-of-defense-christine-fox/http://www.aei.org/events/2014/02/26/defense-budget-priorities-for-2015-and-beyond-a-conversation-with-acting-deputy-secretary-of-defense-christine-fox/http://www.aei.org/events/2014/02/26/defense-budget-priorities-for-2015-and-beyond-a-conversation-with-acting-deputy-secretary-of-defense-christine-fox/http://www.cape.osd.mil/http://www.cape.osd.mil/http://www.tofinosecurity.com/blog/summing-stuxnet-4-easy-sections-plus-handy-presentationhttp://www.theguardian.com/world/the-nsa-fileshttp://www.theguardian.com/world/the-nsa-fileshttp://www.theguardian.com/world/the-nsa-fileshttp://www.theguardian.com/world/the-nsa-fileshttp://www.tofinosecurity.com/blog/summing-stuxnet-4-easy-sections-plus-handy-presentationhttp://www.cape.osd.mil/http://www.cape.osd.mil/http://www.aei.org/events/2014/02/26/defense-budget-priorities-for-2015-and-beyond-a-conversation-with-acting-deputy-secretary-of-defense-christine-fox/http://www.aei.org/events/2014/02/26/defense-budget-priorities-for-2015-and-beyond-a-conversation-with-acting-deputy-secretary-of-defense-christine-fox/http://www.aei.org/events/2014/02/26/defense-budget-priorities-for-2015-and-beyond-a-conversation-with-acting-deputy-secretary-of-defense-christine-fox/http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121703http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121703


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threat deflation in the press, depending on the ac-tors position. For some, inflating the threat is ex-tremely lucrative for their industries. For others,depicting cyberattacks as existential threats is notonly empirically-unfounded(till this day no cyberat-tack has resulted in a death of a human), but can lead

to the erosion of fundamental civil liberties.

Allan Friedmanand P.W. Singer, recent publication,Cybersecurity and Cyberwar: What Everyone Needsto Know, argues the truth lies somewhere in themiddle of this debate.

According to Singer and Freidman, 97 percent ofFortune 500 companies have been hacked (and 3 per-cent likely have been too and just dont know it), andmore than one hundred governments are gearing up

to fight battles in the online domain . . . Te USDepartment of Homeland Securitys National CyberSecurity Division has doubled or tripled in size everyyear since its inception.

Cyberattacks, whether they be malware, distrib-uted denial of service attacks (DDoS), or advancedpersistent threats (APs), are not only numerous,but unique in their execution and effects.

As Singer & Freidman explain, A cyberattack is notconstrained by the usual physics of traditional at-tacks. In cyberspace, an attack can literally move atthe speed of light, unlimited by geography and thepolitical boundaries. Being delinked from physics alsomeans it can be in multiple places at the same time,meaning the attack can hitmultiple targets at once.

What does this suggest for security in a hyper-con-nected world like ours?

Because cyberspace relies on physical infrastructureand human users, traditional ideals in a globalized

world like sovereignty, nationality, and propertyare becoming increasingly difficult to conceptualizeas the flow of people, goods, and ideas become morefluid and diverse.

Te traditional roles of governments are beginning alter to reflect this change. Additionally, the privasector (which controls 90% of US critical infrastruture) has taken large steps to change as well.

But as Singer and Friedman point out, the inabilito streamline responses to cyberattacks by the goverment, and the plethora of varying standards of secrity set by the private industry, make preventative ancoordinated action extremely difficult.

Te result is cyberattacks will continue to persist our data-driven society. But ultimately, the degree impact these attacks have on our society at the publprivate and individual level, is wholly contingent othe structuring of the public-private relationship, anthe costs that would be accrued onto the attacker.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/cybertruth/2013/08/27/investors-saturate-cybersecurity-firms-with-cash/2702279/http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/dotmil/2012/05/30/cyber-attack-talk-may-outpace-the-actual-threathttp://www.cspri.seas.gwu.edu/allan-friedman.htmlhttp://www.brookings.edu/experts/singerphttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/01/14/cybersecurity-and-cyberwar-a-qa-with-peter-singer/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/01/14/cybersecurity-and-cyberwar-a-qa-with-peter-singer/http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/distributed-denial-of-service-attackhttp://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/distributed-denial-of-service-attackhttp://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/advanced-persistent-threat-APThttp://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/advanced-persistent-threat-APThttp://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/advanced-persistent-threat-APThttp://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/advanced-persistent-threat-APThttp://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/distributed-denial-of-service-attackhttp://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/distributed-denial-of-service-attackhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/01/14/cybersecurity-and-cyberwar-a-qa-with-peter-singer/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/01/14/cybersecurity-and-cyberwar-a-qa-with-peter-singer/http://www.brookings.edu/experts/singerphttp://www.cspri.seas.gwu.edu/allan-friedman.htmlhttp://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/dotmil/2012/05/30/cyber-attack-talk-may-outpace-the-actual-threathttp://www.usatoday.com/story/cybertruth/2013/08/27/investors-saturate-cybersecurity-firms-with-cash/2702279/


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Climate Security

California, Drought, and Climate Change

William FassuliotisFlashpoint Blog

Feb 20, 2014

California and much of the rest of the West Coasthave been gripped by drought for the past two years.90.2% of California has been categorized as beingin severe drought or worse, and more than two-thirds of the state is experiencing extreme drought

or worse, according to the most recent report fromthe United States Drought Monitor. 2013 was Cali-fornias driest year since records were first kept in July,1849. In 2013, San Francisco shattereda nearly cen-tury old record for lack of precipitation, experiencingonly 5.59 vs the previous low of 9.00 set in 1917(vs an average of 23.65). Te situation is not get-ting much better in 2014, as the most recent Januaryranked as the third driest January on record. Most

worrisomely, NOAA and the Drought Monitor re-

port: all timescales back to 48 months have beendrier than average.

NASA posted images of the same view, a year apart,illuminating the drier conditions and lack of snowcovering the Sierra Mountains. Mountain snowpackis about 12 percent the normal amount for this timeof year.

Te drought threatens homeland security. Farmershave been hit especially hard. Experts estimate nearly600,000 acres of farmland in the Central Valley re-gion will lay devoid of crops due to lack of water, and$11 billion lost in annual state revenue from agricul-ture in 2014. In addition to the economic problems

it causes in the industry, farmers, and workers, thedrought could threaten the US food supply with foodshortages, creating instability in prices and quantity.Drought increases the number and magnitude of for-est fires. Homes will be threatened, and firefightersand search and rescue teams potentially overwhelmed.

President Obama toured drought afflicted Californiathis past week, pointing out the linkbetween the wa-ter scarcity and climate change: Tese actions willhelp, but theyre just the first step. We have to be

clear. A changing climate means that weather-relateddisasters like droughts, wildfires, storms, floods, arepotentially going to be costlier and theyre going tobe harsher.

Te American Security Project released a report in2011, entitled, Pay Now, Pay Later, giving a state-by-state assessment of the potential costs of climatechange. Our report on California can be found here,and appears especially prescient. One quote from the

article sounds as if ripped from a current headline:Californias agriculture industry which employsover one million workers and is worth $30 billionisexpected to suffer heavy losses due to rising tempera-tures and water shortages.

Te water distribution system, which takes water fromthe mountains in northern California and distributesit to southern California, relies on the snowpack dur-ing the spring and summer months. Te system willbe further stressed as snowfall decreases throughoutthe Sierra Nevada Mountainsunder a high emis-sions scenario, snowpack is expected to decrease by70-90%.

Tis crisis did not occur without forewarning. Ina written testimony presented on April 27th, 2011,
http://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2014/merging-energy-security-with-climate-security/http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/MapsAndData/DataTables.aspx?westhttp://www2.ucar.edu/atmosnews/opinion/10879/california-dryinhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/2014/1/supplemental/page-4/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/2014/1/supplemental/page-4/http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=82910&src=eoa-iotdhttp://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/14/us/california-seeing-brown-where-green-used-to-be.html?_r=0http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/14/us/california-seeing-brown-where-green-used-to-be.html?_r=0http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/politics&id=9433720http://americansecurityproject.org/news/2011/report-series-pay-now-pay-later-a-state-by-state-assessment-of-the-costs-of-climate-change/http://americansecurityproject.org/resources/pnpl/California%20FINAL.pdfhttp://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=987da483-ffe5-a9e5-3a6f-077cf3bb6d23http://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=987da483-ffe5-a9e5-3a6f-077cf3bb6d23http://americansecurityproject.org/resources/pnpl/California%20FINAL.pdfhttp://americansecurityproject.org/news/2011/report-series-pay-now-pay-later-a-state-by-state-assessment-of-the-costs-of-climate-change/http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/politics&id=9433720http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/14/us/california-seeing-brown-where-green-used-to-be.html?_r=0http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/14/us/california-seeing-brown-where-green-used-to-be.html?_r=0http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=82910&src=eoa-iotdhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/2014/1/supplemental/page-4/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/2014/1/supplemental/page-4/http://www2.ucar.edu/atmosnews/opinion/10879/california-dryinhttp://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/MapsAndData/DataTables.aspx?westhttp://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2014/merging-energy-security-with-climate-security/


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before the Senate Committee on Energy and NaturalResources, Dr. Jonathan Overpeck, Professor of At-mospheric Sciences at the University of Arizona, testi-fied the following:

Te bottom-line is that New Mexico and the rest of

the broad Southwest extending from Californiathrough east exas and Oklahoma are at an in-creasing risk of unprecedented warming, drying anddrought, and should prepare accordingly to ensure se-cure water supplies through this century.

Tere is broad agreement in the climate science re-search community that the Southwest, includingNew Mexico, will very likely continue to warm. Tereis also a strong consensus that the same region will

become drier and increasingly snow-free with time,particularly in the winter and spring. Climate sciencealso suggests that the warmer atmosphere will lead tomore frequent and more severe (drier) droughts in thefuture. All of the above changes have already started,in large part driven by human-caused climate change.

National Security, Climate, and the

Philippine yphoon

Andrew HollandFlashpoint Blog

Nov 13, 2013

On Friday, November 8, Super yphoon Haiyanmade landfall in the Central Philippines, around theisland of Leyte, as possibly the most powerful tropicalcyclone on record. Reports of the death toll range as

high as 10,000; President Aquino believes the finaltoll will likely be in the range of 2,000-2,500. Afterthe yphoon passed through, the situation of the sur-vivors has become dire with over 600,000peopledisplaced and food and fresh water in short supply.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered the USS

George Washingtonand her battle group from HonKong to the Philippines to provide humanitarian asstance in the aftermath of the typhoon. Already, abo90 U.S. Marines and sailors have deployed from Oknawa to the Philippines and are on the ground proviing support. Prime Minister Cameron has ordered th

Royal Navys HMS Daring to the region as well. Tdisaster response mission is part of the Department Defenses growing humanitarian response mission help affected regions. Simply put, if the U.S. militadid not provide fast-acting logistical support to relimissions like this, there are no other entities that caprovide the heavy lift or logistical expertise necessato get large quantities of aid to a region in time.

Last week, prior to the storm, in reference to PacifiCommands disaster response mission and capabilit

the PACOM Commander Admiral Locklear said:

Its the right thing to do Also, if something is ging to happen in the Pacific that is going to creaa churn in the security environment, the most likething will be a humanitarian disaster problem of somkind whether it is horrific typhoons or tsunamis floods or something else.

Hes right. Beyond the clear threats to the huma

security of the residents of the affected area: loss life, home, food, electricity, and clean water, naturdisasters can act as a clear threat to national securityespecially when the government is unable to responeffectively. Tats because a government failure cacreate the opportunity for other security threats develop, ranging from crime and corruption to insugency or terrorism.

Unfortunately, we may already be seeing this in th

Philippines; there are reports of massive lootingaftthe storm passed over, and unverified reports that thFilipino military has engaged and killeda group frothe New Peoples Army, a communist rebel group Leyte, as they tried to attack a government relief covoy.
http://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2013/climate_security_-and_the_typhoon/http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/12/world/asia/typhoon-haiyan/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/10/us-philippines-typhoon-idUSBRE9A603Q20131110http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121100http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121100http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121094http://www.dw.de/looting-continues-as-desperation-rises-in-haiyan-hit-philippines/a-17219318http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/525797/2-npa-leaders-slain-in-failed-bid-to-ambush-relief-convoy-in-sorsogonhttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/525797/2-npa-leaders-slain-in-failed-bid-to-ambush-relief-convoy-in-sorsogonhttp://www.dw.de/looting-continues-as-desperation-rises-in-haiyan-hit-philippines/a-17219318http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121094http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121100http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121100http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/10/us-philippines-typhoon-idUSBRE9A603Q20131110http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/12/world/asia/typhoon-haiyan/http://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2013/climate_security_-and_the_typhoon/


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Im not going to spend much time debating whetheror not man-made climate change was responsible forthis storm in particular. Tere is an ongoing debateabout whether climate change will both increase thenumber of tropical cyclones as well as their inten-sity. Te latest IPCC report only expressed a low

confidence in the impact of climate change on trop-ical cyclones that doesnt mean theres no impact,but it means we dont know. What we do know isthat the water in the Pacific has been warmer thanaverage and that warmer water is an importantpart of cyclone intensity. Phil PlaitsBad Astronomybloghas a good explanation of the climate/cyclonelink. Suffice it to say that climate change is anotherrisk that must be considered when planning for se-curity threats in the region.

Tese are precisely the reasons that the U.S. Depart-ment of Defense has labeled climate change as anaccelerant of instability in the 2010 QDR. PA-COM, which has responsibility for all Americanforces in the Pacific region, has operationalized thatguidance from the QDR to include real and signifi-cant planning for the many natural disasters thathappen around the Pacific Rim. Admiral Locklearhas stated that climate changeis probably the mostlikely thing that is going to happen . . . that will crip-

ple the security environment, probably more likelythan the other scenarios we all often talk about.

As ASP has determined in our Global Security De-fense Index on Climate Change, the U.S. is not theonly country that is planning for the security threatsof climate change; over 70% of the world alsodeems climate change to be a security threat. TePhilippiness National Security Policy specificallygives the security forces the mission to Help Pro-tect the Countrys Natural Resources and Reducethe Risks of Disasters and goes on to say that thegovernment must focus on establishing disaster andcalamity preparedness and effective response mecha-nisms. Clearly, yphoon Haiyan has overwhelmedthe ability of the Filipino security services to effec-tively respond to this calamity; it is appropriate for

the U.S. and international community to help asmuch as possible.

Climate change acts as a threat multiplier and anaccelerant of instability. Whether this storm wascaused by climate change is a moot point now.

Even with concerted international action to reducegreenhouse gas emissions, like those proposed at theUNFCCC negotiations in Warsaw, the Pacific willlikely see these disasters for decades to come. Effortsto reduce risk should include military preparationsfor response, readiness that increases the capacity toprevent such harm, as well as greenhouse gas miti-gation to reduce the chance of future storms. Tenet effect, unfortunately will be that the military islikely to have many opportunities to practice disas-ter response: it should be treated as a key mission.

What yphoon Haiyan Means for NationalSecurity

Andrew HollandTe Weather Channel

Nov 13, 2014

On Friday, November 8, Super yphoon Haiyanmade landfall in the Central Philippines, aroundthe island of Leyte, and was possibly the most pow-erful tropical cyclone on record. Estimates of thedeath toll range into the thousands, with PresidentCorazn Aquinobelieving the final toll will likelybe in the range of 2,000-2,500. Since the yphoonpassed through, the situation of the survivors hasbecome dire with over 600,000 peopledisplacedand food and fresh water in short supply.

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has orderedthe USS George Washingtonand her battle groupfrom Hong Kong to the Philippines to provide hu-manitarian assistance in the aftermath of the y-phoon. Already, about 90 U.S. Marines and sailorshave deployed from Okinawa to the Philippines and
http://www.climate2013.org/images/uploads/WGI_AR5_SPM_brochure.pdfhttp://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/11/12/supertyphoon_haiyan_a_glimpse_of_the_future_now.htmlhttp://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/11/12/supertyphoon_haiyan_a_glimpse_of_the_future_now.htmlhttp://www.defense.gov/qdr/images/QDR_as_of_12Feb10_1000.pdfhttp://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/03/09/admiral-samuel-locklear-commander-pacific-forces-warns-that-climate-change-top-threat/BHdPVCLrWEMxRe9IXJZcHL/story.htmlhttp://americansecurityproject.org/featured-items/2013/the-global-security-defense-index-on-climate-change-%EF%BF%BCpreliminary-results/http://americansecurityproject.org/featured-items/2013/the-global-security-defense-index-on-climate-change-%EF%BF%BCpreliminary-results/http://www.gov.ph/downloads/2011/08aug/NATIONAL-SECURITY-POLICY-2011-2016.pdfhttp://www.cnn.com/2013/11/12/world/asia/typhoon-haiyan/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/10/us-philippines-typhoon-idUSBRE9A603Q20131110http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121100http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121100http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/10/us-philippines-typhoon-idUSBRE9A603Q20131110http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/12/world/asia/typhoon-haiyan/http://www.gov.ph/downloads/2011/08aug/NATIONAL-SECURITY-POLICY-2011-2016.pdfhttp://americansecurityproject.org/featured-items/2013/the-global-security-defense-index-on-climate-change-%EF%BF%BCpreliminary-results/http://americansecurityproject.org/featured-items/2013/the-global-security-defense-index-on-climate-change-%EF%BF%BCpreliminary-results/http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/03/09/admiral-samuel-locklear-commander-pacific-forces-warns-that-climate-change-top-threat/BHdPVCLrWEMxRe9IXJZcHL/story.htmlhttp://www.defense.gov/qdr/images/QDR_as_of_12Feb10_1000.pdfhttp://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/11/12/supertyphoon_haiyan_a_glimpse_of_the_future_now.htmlhttp://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/11/12/supertyphoon_haiyan_a_glimpse_of_the_future_now.htmlhttp://www.climate2013.org/images/uploads/WGI_AR5_SPM_brochure.pdf


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are on the ground providing support. UK Prime Min-ister David Cameron has ordered the Royal NavysHMS Daring to the region as well. Tis disaster re-sponse mission is part of the Department of Defensesgrowing humanitarian response mission to help af-fected regions. Simply put, if the U.S. military and

allies did not provide fast-acting logistical support torelief missions like this, there are no other entities thatcan provide the heavy lift or logistical expertise neces-sary to get large quantities of aid to a region in time.

Last week, prior to the storm, in reference to PacificCommands disaster response mission and capability,the PACOM Commander Admiral Locklear said:

Its the right thing to do Also, if something is

going to happen in the Pacific that is going to createa churn in the security environment, the most likelything will be a humanitarian disaster problem of somekind whether it is horrific typhoons or tsunamis orfloods or something else.

Hes right. Beyond the clear threats to the human se-curity of the residents of the affected area loss oflife, home, food, electricity, and clean water naturaldisasters can act as a clear threat to national security,

especially when the government is unable to respondeffectively. Tats because a government failure cancreate the opportunity for other security threats todevelop, ranging from crime and corruption to in-surgency or terrorism. Unfortunately, we may alreadybe seeing this in the Philippines; there are reports ofmassive looting after the storm passed over, and un-verified reports that the Filipino military has engagedand killed a group from the New Peoples Army, acommunist rebel group in Leyte, as they tried to at-tack a government relief convoy.

Im not going to spend much time debating whetheror not man-made climate change was responsible forthis storm in particular. Tere is an ongoing debateabout whether climate change will both increase thenumber of tropical cyclones as well as their intensity.

Te latest IPCC reportonly expressed a low condence in the impact of climate change on tropiccyclones that doesnt mean theres no impact, butmeans we dont know. What we do know is that t

water in the Pacific has been warmer than averageand that warmer water is an important part of cyclo

intensity. Phil Plaits blog, Bad Astronomy, has a gooexplanation of the climate-cyclone link. Suffice it say that climate change is another risk that must considered when planning for security threats in tregion.

Tese are precisely the reasons that the U.S. Deparment of Defense has labeled climate change as an acelerant of instability in the 2010 QDR. PACOM

which has responsibility for all American forces in t

Pacific region, has operationalized that guidance frothe QDR to include real and significant planning fthe many natural disasters that happen around thPacific Rim. Admiral Locklear has stated that climachange is probably the most likely thing that is gointo happen ... that will cripple the security enviroment, probably more likely than the other scenari

we all often talk about.

As ASP has determined in our Global Security Dfense Index on Climate Change, the U.S. is not thonly country that is planning for the security threaof climate change; over 70% of the world also deemclimate change to be a security threat. Te Philipiness National Security Policy specifically givthe security forces the mission to Help Protect thCountrys Natural Resources and Reduce the Risks Disasters and goes on to say that the governmemust focus on establishing disaster and calamity prparedness and effective response mechanisms. Clealy, yphoon Haiyan has overwhelmed the ability

Philippines security services to effectively respond this calamity; it is appropriate for the U.S. and intenational community to help as much as possible.

Climate change acts as a threat multiplier and aaccelerant of instability. Whether this storm w
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121094http://www.dw.de/looting-continues-as-desperation-rises-in-haiyan-hit-philippines/a-17219318http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/525797/2-npa-leaders-slain-in-failed-bid-to-ambush-relief-convoy-in-sorsogonhttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/525797/2-npa-leaders-slain-in-failed-bid-to-ambush-relief-convoy-in-sorsogonhttp://www.climate2013.org/images/uploads/WGI_AR5_SPM_brochure.pdfhttp://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/11/12/supertyphoon_haiyan_a_glimpse_of_the_future_now.htmlhttp://www.defense.gov/qdr/images/QDR_as_of_12Feb10_1000.pdfhttp://americansecurityproject.org/featured-items/2013/the-global-security-defense-index-on-climate-change-%EF%BF%BCpreliminary-results/http://americansecurityproject.org/featured-items/2013/the-global-security-defense-index-on-climate-change-%EF%BF%BCpreliminary-results/http://www.gov.ph/downloads/2011/08aug/NATIONAL-SECURITY-POLICY-2011-2016.pdfhttp://www.gov.ph/downloads/2011/08aug/NATIONAL-SECURITY-POLICY-2011-2016.pdfhttp://americansecurityproject.org/featured-items/2013/the-global-security-defense-index-on-climate-change-%EF%BF%BCpreliminary-results/http://americansecurityproject.org/featured-items/2013/the-global-security-defense-index-on-climate-change-%EF%BF%BCpreliminary-results/http://www.defense.gov/qdr/images/QDR_as_of_12Feb10_1000.pdfhttp://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/11/12/supertyphoon_haiyan_a_glimpse_of_the_future_now.htmlhttp://www.climate2013.org/images/uploads/WGI_AR5_SPM_brochure.pdfhttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/525797/2-npa-leaders-slain-in-failed-bid-to-ambush-relief-convoy-in-sorsogonhttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/525797/2-npa-leaders-slain-in-failed-bid-to-ambush-relief-convoy-in-sorsogonhttp://www.dw.de/looting-continues-as-desperation-rises-in-haiyan-hit-philippines/a-17219318http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=121094


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caused by climate change is a moot point now. Evenwith concerted international action to reduce green-house gas emissions, like those proposed at the UN-FCCC negotiations in Warsaw, the Pacific will likelysee these disasters for decades to come. Efforts toreduce risk should include military preparations for

response, readiness that increases the capacity to pre-vent such harm, as well as greenhouse gas mitigationto reduce the chance of future storms. Te net effect,unfortunately will be that the military is likely to havemany opportunities to practice disaster response: itshould be treated as a key mission.

Energy Security

What is the Future of Nuclear in the US?First, Ensure that Current Nuclear PlantsRemain Operational

Andrew HollandFlashpoint Blog

Feb 26, 2014

Tis is a Cross-Post by ASP Senior Fellow AndrewHolland from the National Journals Energy

Experts blog. Holland was responding to the questionof whether the U.S. should invest in nuclear power?

Te U.S. is undergoing a decisive change in how weuse and produce energy. A clean-energy revolution isseeing wind and solar power grow at unprecedentedrates due to both government incentives andreductions in prices. Meanwhile, this is accompaniedby the shale gas revolution that has caused expertsto increase estimates of gas reserves to say that the

United States has more than a centurys worth ofreserves and had caused a drastic drop in the priceof natural gas. Te result of these two revolutions isthat, since 2008, total electricity produced by windhas increased by over 200%, the total produced bysolar has increased by an astonishing 970%, naturalgas production has increased by 26% but from a


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much higher base. Coal generation has fallen 20% (allnumbers from EIA).Left out of this revolution has been nuclear power.Over that same time period, it has stayed steady atbetween 19 and 20% of total electricity production.

Tis baseload capacity that nuclear energy provides,however, is crucial to the rest of the energy revolution.Tere are real hurdles to continued growth in bothrenewables and natural gas. Renewable power suffersfrom problems of variability; it is very difficult topredict how much the wind will blow or how strongthe sun will shine. Te American electricity grid built to connect massive, centralized, always onpower plants to consumers is unable today tohandle the unpredictability that a substantial increase

in renewable power would bring. Natural gas, faceseconomic hurdles the low gas prices of last yearhave quickly fallen from memory as consumers andutilities face a rate shock due to the cold winter.

We know that natural gas has a history of rapid andextreme price fluctuations: this has made utilitiesreluctant to rely on it.

For these reasons, it is important that Americas nuclearpower plants remain operational. Our electricitysystem requires a stable, cheap source of energy toprovide always on baseload power. Coal can providethat, but we know the environmental drawbacks ofcoal both the mining of, and the emissions from are extraordinarily harmful. Nuclear power, onthe other hand, can provide emissions-free baseloadpower at a low cost.

oday, a total of 102 nuclear reactors are operationalaround the country. No other electricity source cancombine the benefits of knowing that it will always

be on with its affordability and its lack of emissions.

Opponents of nuclear power will talk about the priceof building new nuclear plants. Tis is true buildingthem can be very expensive, and they almost alwaysare over-budget and behind schedule. However,

once those costs are sunk as they have been for thcountrys 102 nuclear power plants, they provide thcheapest form of electricity estimated at a third lethan coal and half of the price of gas.

Tis cheap, always available, zero-carbon power is a

important backstop to the growth of new technologieIt can help smooth the price fluctuations that naturgas is vulnerable to and it provides the always ocapacity that renewable power cannot.

For these reasons, the U.S. should not allow shorsighted reactions to either politics or to market pricclose nuclear reactors. In a reaction to public pressuafter the 2011 disaster at Fukushima Daiichi, tgovernments of Japan and Germany initiated plans

close their nuclear power plants. Te American pub to its credit was not so reactionary.

However, utilities today are doing what environmentcampaigners and hostile politicians could not: closinoperational nuclear power plants. When nucleplants have to compete with low natural gas spprices or with variable wind prices, utilities are nallowed to think for the long term. We see this wirecent decisions to begin closing Vermont Yanke

Wisconsins Kewaunee Power Station, and upcomindecisions on other plants.

Many of our nuclear power plants are approachinthe end of their initial 40-year life span. So long as tNuclear Regulatory Commission ensures a rigororeview of their safety and risk, their licenses should renewed. Utilities, likewise, should value the nucleplants as reliable sources of emissions-free power atcost that is stable and predictable.

Like any energy source, nuclear has its problemmost notably, our political and scientific leaders hanot yet found a long-term solution for storing thspent nuclear waste. Tis challenge is solvable, b

will require hard work, consensus and compromise


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As we look to the future, perhaps it is time for aleapfrog away from current nuclear technology.Instead of building the same nuclear power systemsthat were built for 1950s- era nuclear submarines, thegovernments role should be to fund pathbreakingresearch and development into the next generation

of power plants. Tis would include small modularreactors in development now, but it should alsoinclude a path to fusion energy the real source forsafe, secure, and sustainable energy. Research intofusion has made a series of scientific gains recently,both in the U.S. and in labs around the world, thatare proving that it can be an energy source for thefuture. Fusion Energy Sciences received $500 millionin the FY2014 omnibus legislation a victory that

will keep research going. It should receive much

more: the American Security Project has put forwarda 10 year plan for the development of fusion energy,costing $30 billion roughly the cost of a week ofU.S. energy consumption.

In the short term, we must make sure that short-term market forces do not shut down existing nuclearcapacity. In the longer term, the government shouldmake transformative investments into the nextgeneration of technology. Nuclear power has proveditself to be safe, clean, and sustainable. We shouldbenefit from the long-term investments made decadesago to ensure stable power with todays power plantsfor decades to come.

NERC Geomagnetic Disturbance Events(GMD) Reliability Standards: CommentsDue Soon

Andrew Charles WillsFlashpoint Blog

Mar 4, 2014

With over 200,000 miles of transmission linesspan-ning from coast-to-coast, purveyors of the North

American power grid, from the Federal Energy Regu-latory Commission (FERC) to the North AmericanReliability Corporation (NERC)and all the utilitiesand energy entities in between, must stay abreast ofpotential threats to the viability and reliability of con-

sistent energy. In meeting this goal, the Departmentof Energy and NERC hosted a workshop in 2010 todiscuss high-impact, low-frequency event risks to theNorth American bulk electric system, one of which

was the risk of Geomagnetic Disturbances (GMD).

It sounds otherworldly. So what exactly is a Geo-magnetic Disturbance and why should it matter tous right now?

GMDs are speculatively rare occurrences when geo-magnetically-induced currents cause saturation ofhigh-voltage transformers. In other words, the de-vices that are used transform the power from highvoltage (large transmission lines) to distribution lines(small residential lines) are overwhelmed by an addi-tional current added to the transmission system. Ac-cording to studies cited by FERC, this saturationoccurs because the interaction of Earths magneticfield and solar events (or solar storms) causes cer-

tain geomagnetic induced currents to flow up theground wires that stabilize and assist transmissionlines and through conductors such as transformersand transmission lines. Some studies suggest thatthis saturation could cause a sudden collapse of theBulk-Power System by overheating a transformer if aGMD event occurs at precisely the right time underthe right conditions.
http://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2014/merging-energy-security-with-climate-security/http://www.nerc.com/files/GMD_Draft_Proceedingst_Nov_10_2011_v3.pdfhttp://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2014/nerc/http://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2014/nerc/http://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2014/nerc/http://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2014/nerc/http://www.nerc.com/files/GMD_Draft_Proceedingst_Nov_10_2011_v3.pdfhttp://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2014/merging-energy-security-with-climate-security/


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Shortly after the 2010 DOE/NERC workshop,NERC created a Geomagnetic Disturbance askForce (GMDF) to study these events and later pub-lished a studywhich further defined the extent of thisrisk, its potential to cause damage to the bulk electricsystem, and the industrys need for operational stan-

dards to manage these high-impact low-frequencyevent risks. Notably, the only event that has ever beenofficially attributed to a GMD event occurred in 1989on the Hydro-Quebec grid, an event that caused ashort-term loss of power (about 9 hours) to the area.Equally notable, however, is ta recent assessment ofdamages of a four-day power outage in the UnitedStates in its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking forGMD Standards, FERC declared that the value of thedamage caused by four days of outage is between $4

billion and $10 billion.After the publication of these several reports and stud-ies across energy industry participants, the govern-ment took action on the possibility of GMD events.

FERC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemak-ing (NOPR) on October 18, 2012 citing variousstudies and the possibility of GMD events, request-ing that NERC address this problem by creating reli-ability standards to address the geomagnetic distur-bances. In Order 779, FERC issued its official requestfor NERC to develop standards for GMD eventsand requested development in two phases. First, theCommission compelled NERC [to] file one or moreReliability Standards that require owners and opera-tors of the Bulk-Power System to develop and imple-ment operational procedures to mitigate the effects ofGMDs consistent with the reliable operation of theBulk-Power System. In the second stage, the Com-mission suggested that NERC file one or more

Reliability Standardsthat require owners and op-erators of the Bulk-Power System to assess the impactof GMDs on Bulk-Power System equipment and theBulk-Power System as a whole.

NERC has currently drafted and published for com-ment three drafts of the stage 1 standards requested

by the Commission in its 2012 Final Rule. Knowas EOP-010-1 (Energy Operations Planning Stadard), the standard will require operators of certaaspects of the grid to develop and operating plan fcontrolling and mitigating damage from these GMevents. NERC filed its petition for approvalof the

standards on November 14, 2013, and on January 12014, FERC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaing to solicit comments from the industry particpants and the general public.

Comments for this NOPR are due on March 22014. Industry responses may be similar to thomade to the previous NERC petitions for approval GMD Standards. See NERCs Consideration of Comments on Draft 1 here, and Consideration of Comments for Draft 2 here. Some industry participanfeel that compliance will be very costly and will buden energy consumers, and others have hinted ththe somewhat speculative nature of GMD evendoes not constitute such a drastic, potentially expesive response. At this point, it is up to administratiprocesses to determine whether these standards wbe approved as written.

o read the current standards, follow this link.

Te Future of Nuclear Power

Farhad MirzadehFlashpoint Blog

Nov 20, 2014

A 20-year deal between Russia and the United Stat

has just been completed with the last transfer blended uranium. Te deal, known as the megatonto-megawatts program, was agreed upon 20 years ag

when Russians agreed to dismantle its 40,000 nuclewarheads and blend them from highly enriched urnium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU).
http://www.nerc.com/files/GMD_Draft_Proceedingst_Nov_10_2011_v3.pdfhttp://www.nerc.com/files/GMD_Draft_Proceedingst_Nov_10_2011_v3.pdfhttps://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2012/101812/E-2.pdfhttps://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2012/101812/E-2.pdfhttps://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2012/101812/E-2.pdfhttps://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2012/101812/E-2.pdfhttp://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2013/051613/E-5.pdfhttp://www.nerc.com/FilingsOrders/us/NERC%20Filings%20to%20FERC%20DL/Petition%20for%20Approval%20of%20EOP-010-1%20GMD_FINAL.pdfhttp://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2014/011614/E-3.pdfhttp://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2014/011614/E-3.pdfhttp://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Project201303GeomagneticDisturbanceMitigation/Project_2013-03_response_to_comments_first_Posting_09042013.pdfhttp://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Project201303GeomagneticDisturbanceMitigation/ConsiderationofComments_final.pdfhttp://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Reliability%20Standards/EOP-010-1.pdfhttp://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2013/the-future-of-nuclear-power/http://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2013/the-future-of-nuclear-power/http://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Reliability%20Standards/EOP-010-1.pdfhttp://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Project201303GeomagneticDisturbanceMitigation/ConsiderationofComments_final.pdfhttp://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Project201303GeomagneticDisturbanceMitigation/Project_2013-03_response_to_comments_first_Posting_09042013.pdfhttp://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2014/011614/E-3.pdfhttp://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2014/011614/E-3.pdfhttp://www.nerc.com/FilingsOrders/us/NERC%20Filings%20to%20FERC%20DL/Petition%20for%20Approval%20of%20EOP-010-1%20GMD_FINAL.pdfhttp://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2013/051613/E-5.pdfhttps://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2012/101812/E-2.pdfhttps://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2012/101812/E-2.pdfhttps://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2012/101812/E-2.pdfhttps://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2012/101812/E-2.pdfhttp://www.nerc.com/files/GMD_Draft_Proceedingst_Nov_10_2011_v3.pdfhttp://www.nerc.com/files/GMD_Draft_Proceedingst_Nov_10_2011_v3.pdf


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At the time the deal was signed, Russias economy wasin shambles which allowed the US to import urani-um for its nuclear reactors at a dumping price.

Now, some analystsquestion where US policymakersare going to go from here. Unless new measures are

adopted, supplies of uranium are going to dwindleand prices will go up. Te reason for this is two-fold.First, Russia is now poised to continue blending ura-nium and exporting it to the world at market value.Second, countries like China and India are increasingtheir capacity for nuclear power, increasing the de-mand for uranium.

However, there are several developments underwaythat ensure a steady supply of uranium to meet our

energy demands. First, the increasing price of urani-um may entice new entrants into domestic uraniummining. Tey would tap into the worlds fourth larg-est uranium reserves.

Moreover, a new agreement has been reached theUnited States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) andRussias echsnabexport (ENEX) which will allowUSEC to continue purchasing uranium fuel fromRussia for power producers in the US.

Some have called for the reprocessing of spent fuel toalleviate a potential shortage of uranium. Tis pro-cess would take the leftover waste, and reprocess itfor more reactor fuel. More than 30 percentof spentnuclear fuel can be reprocessed. However, such tech-niques pose a problem for proliferation because re-processed fuel could be converted into plutonium.

But an interdisciplinary report, produced by the MIEnergy Initiative, finds that a type of breeder reactor,an enriched uranium-initiated breeder reactor, couldresolve uranium shortages and the problems of repro-cessing. It would add natural or depleted uranium tothe reactor core at the same rate nuclear materials areconsumed, making an efficient fuel cycle that does

not produce weapons grade waste.

In the past couple decades, and even within the lastfew years, nuclear technology has made great strides.It can supply a growing share of our energy needs

while avoiding harmful carbon emissions that con-tribute to global warming. Old arguments againstnuclear power dont stand up to the facts of today.

Te Fizzling of the Nuclear Renaissance

Farhad MirzadehFlashpoint Blog

Oct 25, 2013

A lot of enthusiasm has surrounded nuclear powerwithin the last debate. It seemed that the taboo onnuclear power was lifted as construction began fornew reactors in the U.S. and worldwide. Enthusiastsdubbed this as the nuclear renaissance. More com-panies and governments began to invest in nuclearprojects. However, this enthusiasm fizzled as quicklyas it picked up in the U.S., according to an article bythe Christian Science Monitor titled Nuclear power:

why US nuclear renaissance fizzled and plants areclosing.

Public opinion and market forces have merged tominimize interest in nuclear power. For example,safety concerns were heightened after the devastatingaccident at Fukushima, prompting many citizens toreject local plans to build new reactors or update ex-isting ones.

More importantly, market forces have favored a less-ened emphasis on nuclear power for energy needs.Te shale gas boom has dramatically decreased theprice of natural gas, making it a more attractive en-ergy option. Even in the realm of alternative energy
http://www.energybiz.com/article/13/08/nuclear-energy-plants-are-sweating-over-loss-russian-uraniumhttp://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/0412/energy-uec-uranium-nuclear-mining-texas-homegrown-fuel.htmlhttp://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/0412/energy-uec-uranium-nuclear-mining-texas-homegrown-fuel.htmlhttp://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Nuclear-Fuel-Cycle/Fuel-Recycling/Processing-of-Used-Nuclear-Fuel/http://phys.org/news203932788.htmlhttp://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2013/the-fizzling-of-the-nuclear-renaissance/http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2013/1010/Nuclear-power-why-US-nuclear-renaissance-fizzled-and-plants-are-closing-video/(page)/3http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2013/1010/Nuclear-power-why-US-nuclear-renaissance-fizzled-and-plants-are-closing-video/(page)/3http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2013/1010/Nuclear-power-why-US-nuclear-renaissance-fizzled-and-plants-are-closing-video/(page)/3http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2013/1010/Nuclear-power-why-US-nuclear-renaissance-fizzled-and-plants-are-closing-video/(page)/3http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2013/1010/Nuclear-power-why-US-nuclear-renaissance-fizzled-and-plants-are-closing-video/(page)/3http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2013/1010/Nuclear-power-why-US-nuclear-renaissance-fizzled-and-plants-are-closing-video/(page)/3http://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2013/the-fizzling-of-the-nuclear-renaissance/http://phys.org/news203932788.htmlhttp://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Nuclear-Fuel-Cycle/Fuel-Recycling/Processing-of-Used-Nuclear-Fuel/http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/0412/energy-uec-uranium-nuclear-mining-texas-homegrown-fuel.htmlhttp://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/0412/energy-uec-uranium-nuclear-mining-texas-homegrown-fuel.htmlhttp://www.energybiz.com/article/13/08/nuclear-energy-plants-are-sweating-over-loss-russian-uranium


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sources, consumers have tended to prefer derivingenergy from wind and solar power due to the cheap-ening costs and increasing supply of them. For many,these alternatives mean they dont have to even takethe risk of building new nuclear plants or dealing

with the potential of an accident. For governments,

it makes sense to invest in cheaper solutions such asnatural gas and solar power.

Despite low support in the U.S., countries like Chinaand Indonesia have plans to support nuclear powerproduction. Tere is even hope for yet another reviv-al; small scale modular reactors may become widelyavailable and are cheaper, safer alternatives to provid-ing nuclear power. According to some, the increas-ing emphasis on climate change and alternative en-

ergy technologies will mean funding for research anddevelopment into new technologies that will makenuclear power a competitive option.

Energy & Climate Security: A NecessaryNexus

Nathan Alvardo-Castle

Flashpoint Blog

Feb 4, 2014

Energy and climate security should be treated as twosides of the same coin. But often, US national secu-rity analysts make a sharp distinction that separatesthe fundamental link the two issues share.

Both threats are existential in so far as they threat-en the very basis of our lives. Until this day, the ac-cess and geographical proximity to supplies for en-ergy has been the primary variable for determiningthe quality of living that has characterized advancedeconomies. In fact, Jared Diamonds, Guns, Germsand Steel, echoes this sentiment. Similarly, predictiveseasonal patterns, which have remained remarkably

stable for 8-12 thousand years, enabled significanadvances by humans in agricultural production, population growth, and technological innovation. It itherefore sensible to claim availability of energy anpredictability of climate have a nexus.

Nonetheless, even with the energy renaissancein thUS, energy security remains a major concern withinnational security circles. Yet, climate security remainon the margins, and seen predominately as an environmental issue.

Google rends show the significant difference insearch traffic for energy security in comparison tclimate security since 2005. Tis sharp difference ifurther emphasized when you utilize Google Ngram

which accounts the usage of these terms in publica

tions throughout the years.

Tis has begun to change, however, in recent yearsAs national security analysts have been forced to consider these events beyond solely an environmentaconcern given the frequency and volatility of highimpact climate-related events.

As early as 2004 and 2005, global climate eventwere seen as security threats. In 2004, an earthquak

followed by a tsunami in south Asia killed 230,000people spanning 14 countries. Te following yearHurricane Katrina damaged US critical industrial infrastructure in the Gulf amounting to the most costlnatural disaster in US history. From these eventsthe US has learned many lessons and have put themto good use. Tis was on display with the recenUS response to yphoon Haiyan in the Philippineas USS George Washington and three other US vessels alongside 300 Marines was first on the scene de

livering food, water, shelter and logistical advice foallocating resources effectively.

Amidst the current debate in the US regarding liftinthe moratorium on LNG exports and its geopoliticaramifications, it is paramount that the carbon-base
http://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2014/merging-energy-security-with-climate-security/http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/06/15/reviews/970615.15shreevt.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/books/97/06/15/reviews/970615.15shreevt.htmlhttp://science.house.gov/sites/republicans.science.house.gov/files/documents/HHRG-113-SY18-WState-DTitley-20131211.pdfhttp://science.house.gov/sites/republicans.science.house.gov/files/documents/HHRG-113-SY18-WState-DTitley-20131211.pdfhttp://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/2014/01/15/eia-u-s-oil-renaissance-stabilizes-world-oil-prices/http://www.theclimatechangeclearinghouse.org/ClimateChangeImpacts/ChangesStormIntensityFrequency/Pages/default.aspxhttp://www.theclimatechangeclearinghouse.org/ClimateChangeImpacts/ChangesStormIntensityFrequency/Pages/default.aspxhttp://americansecurityproject.org/featured-items/2013/perspective-the-u-s-tight-oil-boom-geopolitical-winner-or-long-term-distraction/http://americansecurityproject.org/featured-items/2013/perspective-the-u-s-tight-oil-boom-geopolitical-winner-or-long-term-distraction/http://americansecurityproject.org/featured-items/2013/perspective-the-u-s-tight-oil-boom-geopolitical-winner-or-long-term-distraction/http://americansecurityproject.org/featured-items/2013/perspective-the-u-s-tight-oil-boom-geopolitical-winner-or-long-term-distraction/http://www.theclimatechangeclearinghouse.org/ClimateChangeImpacts/ChangesStormIntensityFrequency/Pages/default.aspxhttp://www.theclimatechangeclearinghouse.org/ClimateChangeImpacts/ChangesStormIntensityFrequency/Pages/default.aspxhttp://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/2014/01/15/eia-u-s-oil-renaissance-stabilizes-world-oil-prices/http://science.house.gov/sites/republicans.science.house.gov/files/documents/HHRG-113-SY18-WState-DTitley-20131211.pdfhttp://science.house.gov/sites/republicans.science.house.gov/files/documents/HHRG-113-SY18-WState-DTitley-20131211.pdfhttp://www.nytimes.com/books/97/06/15/reviews/970615.15shreevt.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/books/97/06/15/reviews/970615.15shreevt.htmlhttp://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2014/merging-energy-security-with-climate-security/


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supply of energy and its effects on the environmentnot supersede the undeniable truth. Global climatechange threatens not only state and corporate assets,but the very foundation that has made the quality ofliving we have managed to enjoy all the more uncer-tain.

Since the 1970s we have sought solutions for our en-ergy-strapped world. It is now time to invest with thesame voracity towards a mitigation policy for climatechange. Tis starts with drastically and rapidly relin-quishing our global economy from its dependency oncarbon-based energy. o do this, we must shift ourconception of energy security to include the effectsour dependency creates. Public Diplomacy

Are the Olympics an Opportunity forPublic Diplomacy?

Madeline BerschFlashpoint Blog

Feb 4, 2014

Te Olympic Games are often touted as an opportu-nity for nations to set aside their differences and cometogether to celebrate excellence in athletics. A huge

production is made of the bi-annual event, whichcan cost billions of dollars and attracts leaders andspectators from around the globe. Tis years gamesare reportedto have cost Russia $51 billion (yes, youread that correctly billion with a B)making itthe most expensive Olympics in history. But are theyreally the best opportunity for public diplomacy?

Te Olympics are depicted as a feel-good event, away to celebrate a countrys best and brightest ath-letic stars. In the U.S., companies capitalize upon this

positive atmosphere, releasing television commer-cialsemphasizing their integral role in the event andmarketing products specifically geared towards theGames.

With this, nationalism abounds. In the opening cer-emonies and throughout the competition, athletes
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are outfitted in gear made exclusively for those rep-resenting their country. Athletes are there to bringhome the gold; in sports, there is only one winner.Te opening ceremony itself is also a huge display ofnationalism on behalf of the host country. Duringthe2012 Summer Olympics in London, the opening

ceremony featured eccentric, artistic performanceshighlighting Britains history and showcasing famousBrits. Te 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing waseven bigger, with the opening performance featuringthousands of drummers who had rehearsed for nearlya year leading up to the Olympics. In other words,politics and diplomacy take a back seat to the compe-tition and performance.

On the level of a spectator, the Sochi Games, whichare set to begin on Feb. 7, dont exactly encourage

citizen diplomacy, either. Tere are serious securityconcerns, including threats of terrorist attacks di-rected toward foreign spectators. A militant leaderrecently statedtourists would specifically be targetedin revenge for all the Muslim blood that is shed ev-ery day around the world. In December,two suicidebombingsin two days killed 34 and wounded numer-ous others, in attacks linked to a terrorist group in anearby province.

Tis environment, and the reported40,000-strong se-curity force to be used at the Winter Olympics, doesnothing to foster a welcoming atmosphere as specta-tors watch the games in Sochi. Furthermore, mediacoverage of the Games usually focuses on the athletesof the country in which that media outlet functions.Millions more people view the Olympics on televi-sion than attend the games themselves. Te emphasison nationalistic news coverage again excludes the op-portunity for cross cultural awareness by these view-ers, both in the U.S. and around the world.

In terms of politics, Russia has also been in the newsfor a recent lawrestricting gay right activities, whichhas received considerable outcry in the U.S. and else-

where. President Obama will not be attending thisyears Games due to his schedule, but namedseveral

openly gay and lesbian athletesto the U.S. openinand closing delegations to the Games. For the firtime in 20 years, the U.S. will not be sending the Preident, Vice President, or one of their spouses. Franand Germanyalso elected to not send their heads state. Many news sources speculate that leaders a

sences are due to a chilling in relations with the Rusian government.

Its certainly possible for diplomacy to occur over thcourse of the Games; however, Im skeptical thatsetting in which nationalism rules would presentfair opportunity to create meaningful and lasting

well measurablepublic diplomacy outcomes, espcially in an official government capacity. While brining athletes together can have positive effects, tenvironment surrounding the Olympics does not l

sturdy groundwork for public diplomacy to flourish

op 10 U.S. Public Diplomacy Prioritifor 2014

Matthew WallinFlashpoint Blog

Jan 9, 2014Its a new year for public diplomacy, and one thalikely to be filled with opportunities and challenge

With this in mind, I have assembled a top 10 list fpublic diplomacy priorities for 2014. While by nmeans serving as a complete list of all the importaissues facing U.S. public diplomacy, it is a reflectioof the numerous discussions I have held with officiapractitioners, and academics over the past year. In nparticular order:

1.) Confirm a new Under Secretary for Public Diplmacy and Public Affairs

As of late, the Senate confirmation has been a dirpartisan political business. Key national security psitions, like that of the Under Secretary for Publ
http://teamusa.ralphlauren.com/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/28/sports/olympics/in-olympic-opening-ceremony-britain-asserts-its-eccentric-identity.html?_r=1&pagewanted=allhttp://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics--beijing-s-greatest-show-on-earth-set-the-bar-for-olympic-opening-ceremony-standards.htmlhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/20/us-russia-olympics-militants-idUSBREA0J0CX20140120http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/30/volgograd-bombers-dagestan-militant-group-russiahttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/30/volgograd-bombers-dagestan-militant-group-russiahttp://swampland.time.com/2014/01/31/sochi-russia-olympics-obama/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/22/opinion/russias-anti-gay-crackdown.htmlhttp://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/12/17/president-obama-announces-presidential-delegations-opening-and-closing-chttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2013/12/18/obama-names-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi-olympic-delegation/http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/12/18/sochi_watch_to_attend_or_not_to_attend_that_is_the_questionhttp://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/12/18/sochi_watch_to_attend_or_not_to_attend_that_is_the_questionhttp://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/sochi/2013/12/17/white-house-sochi-olympics-delegation-to-include-gay-athlete/4051581/http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/sochi/2013/12/17/white-house-sochi-olympics-delegation-to-include-gay-athlete/4051581/http://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2014/top-10-u-s-public-diplomacy-priorities-for-2014/http://americansecurityproject.org/issues/public-diplomacy-and-strategic-communication/the-new-public-diplomacy-imperative/http://americansecurityproject.org/issues/public-diplomacy-and-strategic-communication/the-new-public-diplomacy-imperative/http://americansecurityproject.org/blog/2014/top-10-u-s-public-diplomacy-priorities-for-2014/http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/sochi/2013/12/17/white-house-sochi-olympics-delegation-to-include-gay-athlete/4051581/http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/sochi/2013/12/17/white-house-sochi-olympics-delegation-to-include-gay-athlete/4051581/http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/12/18/sochi_watch_to_attend_or_not_to_attend_that_is_the_questionhttp://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/12/18/sochi_watch_to_attend_or_not_to_attend_that_is_the_questionhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2013/12/18/obama-names-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi-olympic-delegation/http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/12/17/president-obama-announces-presidential-delegations-opening-and-closing-chttp://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/22/opinion/russias-anti-gay-crackdown.htmlhttp://swampland.time.com/2014/01/31/sochi-russia-olympics-obama/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/30/volgograd-bombers-dagestan-militant-group-russiahttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/30/volgograd-bombers-dagestan-militant-group-russiahttp://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/20/us-russia-olympics-militants-idUSBREA0J0CX20140120http://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics--beijing-s-greatest-show-on-earth-set-the-bar-for-olympic-opening-ceremony-standards.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/28/sports/olympics/in-olympic-opening-ceremony-britain-asserts-its-eccentric-identity.html?_r=1&pagewanted=allhttp://teamusa.ralphlauren.com/


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Diplomacy and Public Affairs, continue to remainunfilled.

Tis is becoming a tired story for public diplomacy.Vacancy has been a continuing issue for this particu-lar position: remaining unoccupied approximately

32% of the time since its creation in 1999, and with-out leadership since July 2013.

2.) Keep an eye on IIP

2013 saw the release of an Inspector General reporton the Bureau of International Information Pro-grams (IIP). Of particular note was State Depart-ment spending on Facebook campaigns, which washeld to particular scrutiny by the media. While the

IG criticism offered on this issue was valid, it alsonoted that State Department spending was done toincrease its Facebook audience reach, NO to simplyattract likes for the purpose of likes. Te real questionhere, reflected in the IG report, is not that the StateDepartment spent money on expanding its audience,but how it then taps and interacts with that audiencein order to further foreign policy goals. Tat said, anumber of changes, including leadership, have beenbrought to IIP recently, and the direction its heading

will be important to objectively observe.

3.) Merge the analog and digital

If trends continue as they are, the world will contin-ue to connect to the internet at an astonishing rate,meaning its important to stay ahead of the curve.

While digital diplomacy provides certain advantages,it works best as a component to real world personto person communication. Not all portions of the

world are as connected as the West, so maintainingnon-virtual proficiency is still incredibly important.Considering all of this, practitioners should directa certain level of attention when engaging online toseek tangible results that occur offline.

4.) Incorporate metrics

Some have referred to reliable metrics as the holy grailof public diplomacy. Tough some aspects of pub-lic diplomacy may be immeasurable, it is a fallacy tobrush off the necessity of developing metrics to de-termine whether U.S. efforts in this realm are havingan effect. Public diplomacy has goals, and progress

towards those goals can be measured. In order forpublic diplomacy to justify its budget to critics onthe Hill, practitioners must make concerted efforts todevelop short, medium, and long term metrics, that

while difficult, will only help them become more ef-fective in the long-run.

5.) Define a strategic narrative

Events since the turn of the century have created a

great deal of confusion about Americas strategicpurpose. What does America stand for? What doesit believe in? While there are many answers to thesequestions, and some can be found in the foundingprinciples and the history of this country, the partisanbickering occurring at home has not been painting

American democracy as a shining example to be fol-lowed. American politics confuse audiences abroad.Questions of security vs. liberty vs. privacy have fur-ther clouded the outward message that the U.S. issending. U.S. infrastructure is crumbling, andAmer-

ican competitivenessin many fields has decreased. Itis thus difficult to construct a credible strategic nar-rative for the context of public diplomacy that can beused to further U.S. foreign policy goals.

Tis issue will not be easy to fix, but it is one thatdeserves attention.

6.) Get serious about U.S. International Broadcasting

U.S. international broadcasting has seen growingcompetition from well-funded outlets like R andCCV. TeBroadcasting Board of Governors(BBG)has gained several new board members recently, butstill has two vacancies. Questions continue arise overthe mission of U.S. international broadcasters and

which broadcasting mediums are best. Tere has
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also been ongoing discussion about the creation ofa CEO position at the BBG. With the moderniza-tion of Smith-Mundt last year, Americans are startingto become more exposed to what their internationalbroadcasters are producing. Its time to start payingmore attention, and determine how international

broadcasting can effectively serve Americas needs.

7.) rain the next generation

Comprehensive training goes beyond what the StateDepartment does at the Foreign Service Instituteor in the process of simply training new employees.Several universities around the country are educatingstudents and professionals in the history, theory, andpractice of public diplomacy. Te expansion of uni-versity public diplomacy programs needs to continue,

and become available for more students, especiallyat the undergraduate level. Te State Department,BBG, and Department of Defense would all be wiseto increase involvement, opportunities, and assistance

where appropriate to the current crop of these uni-versity programs. Te private sector stands to gain as

well, benefitting from the skills, knowledge, and pas-sion possessed by these students.

8.) Inform the Homeland

It is time to better connect the American public topublic diplomacy efforts. American business, govern-ment, and education are far too tied to the global com-munity for American citizenry to draw a blank whenthe term public diplomacy is used. Many Americanssee public diplomacy practiced daily, often in the formof academic or cultural exchange. But this needs to beincreased and expanded, especially towards Middle

America. Te best way to educate Americans is to ex-pose them to the material and offer opportunities forparticipation. More Americans need to be sent abroadon international exchanges and build relationshipsoverseas. Whether that is sending bluegrass to Cen-tral Asia or scientists to the Middle East, opportuni-ties need to be made available for more Americansto learn about the world and teach about the United

States.

Furthermore, our leaders should not be afraid to prmote and discuss these programs in the public diplmacy context, many Americans could benefit from aawareness of how and why their government is reacing out to audiences overseas.

9.) Iran

Te U.S. and Iranare at a critical juncture in thehistorically troubled relationship. Tis is an opportnity that neither the United States nor Iran can aford to pass up. Irans President Rouhani has madincredible progress in changing the tone of rhetorcoming out of that country, and has openly engagin public diplomacy aimed directly at an America

audience. Sanctions have brought the Iranians bato the negotiating table, but domestic politics in bocountries has the potential to derail a peaceful soltion to the nuclear situation. For the sake of creaing mutual understanding, the U.S. should be wato not cede the public diplomacy realm completely Iran and increase the use of PD as a tool in the effoto change the relationship between the two countriePD has the potential to assist in reaching a diplomatsolution to the nuclear crisis in a way that both wor

for Iran and satisfies the legitimate security concerof the U.S. and international community.

10.) Egypt

U.S. understanding of the situation in Egypthas beless than superb. Recent years have seen controversmoves by the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, and dangers the diplomatic staff stationed there. Te importanof maintaining a relationship with this key ally the Middle East cannot be underestimated. Te U.

should make efforts to increase its on-the-ground uderstanding of the situation in Egypt, and assist wheappropriate in the progress towards democracy.
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Digital Diplomacy: What are we rying toAchieve?

Matthew WallinFlashpoint Blog

Nov 27, 2013

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the DigitalDiplomacy Open House held at the Canadian Em-bassy by the Digital Diplomacy Coalition. Te eventfeatured small booths and presentations by variouscountries with embassies in DC.

During their presentations, I noticed a few trendswith regards to the conduct of digital diplomacy aspracticed by the participating organizations.

One: A few countries are starting to understand whatit takes to get noticed online. In particular, the Brit-ish Embassy has set itself apart by embracing internetculture and tapping into the viral factories of outletslike Buzzfeed. Te British presentation proposedthat rather than trying to attract audiences to theirembassy website, it was better to go to the people.Tis included participating in a mix of online outlets,as well as real world and cultural events where theycould build their online audience.

wo: Tere is still a general overall confusion aboutwhat to actually do with online tools. Of all thepresentations, I got the impression, especially afterasking direct

American Security Quarterly - March 2014

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Transcript of American Security Quarterly - March 2014