Category: Events

May 28, 2014

The United States and Global Missile Defense
Date: May 28, 8:30 am
Location: Atlantic Council, 1030 15^th Street NW, 12^th Floor (West Tower) Washington DC

Please join the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security for our annual Global Missile Defense conference, which will take place on May 28, 2014 at the Atlantic Council headquarters.

Our annual conferences have enabled the Atlantic Council to take an active, leading role in discussions and debate concerning the role of missile defense in US security policy. Building upon last year’s conversations, this year’s event will focus on the recent developments concerning the emerging regional missile defense architectures in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and, it will feature a panel addressing how missile defense operations are likely to evolve out to 2030.

Full schedule of events available here; Register here.

Statesman Forum on Cybersecurity Policy and Diplomacy
Date: May 28, 11:00 am
Location: School of Media and Public Affairs, Jack Morton Auditorium, 805 21^st Street NW, Washington DC 20052

On Wednesday, May 28, 2014, the George Washington University Cybersecurity Initiative will host Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of the Republic of Estonia, for a wide-ranging discussion on the state of play of the current cyber threat; policies and actions that Estonia has taken to address the challenge; the significance of U.S.-Estonia cooperation on cybersecurity; the role of other international alliances and organizations, including NATO; and recent political and military events in the region.

Following President Ilves’ opening remarks, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Mike Rogers and Dutch Ruppersberger, and Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, will join in a moderated Q&A session on cybersecurity, as well as U.S. perspectives on the geopolitical implications of the conflict in Ukraine.

Register here.

“Fighting to the End: The Pakistan Army’s Way of War” Book Talk
Date: May 28, 12:00 pm
Location: Hudson Institute, 1015 15^th Street NW, 6^th Floor, Washington DC 20005

What was said of the Prussian state and its military is true of Pakistan: It is an army with a state. Pakistan’s army has dominated the state ever since its independence in 1947. Pakistan’s security-intelligence establishment has locked the country in an enduring rivalry with India that has included four full-scale wars, none of them a clear-cut Pakistani victory, and one of them (in 1971) resulting in the loss of Pakistan’s most populous province, modern Bangladesh, to independent statehood. Unable to compete with India using conventional military forces, Pakistan’s army has employed non-state actors and continued to build its nuclear arsenal.

In Fighting to the End, Dr. C. Christine Fair answers the critical question: “Why does Pakistan’s army persist in pursuing revisionist policies that have come to imperil the very viability of the state itself?” After analyzing decades’ worth of the army’s own defense publications, Fair concludes that “from the army’s distorted view of history, it is victorious as long as it can resist India’s purported drive for regional hegemony as well as the territorial status quo. Simply put, acquiescence means defeat.”

To discuss Fighting to the End in the context of Pakistan, its army, and the U.S.-Pakistan relationship, Hudson Institute will host a book talk with Dr. Fair, assistant professor in the Peace and Securities Studies program at Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. Hudson Senior Fellow and former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States Husain Haqqani will moderate the event.

Books will be available for purchase and signing by the author. Register here.

From Dayton to Europe: A New Beginning for Post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Date: May 28, 2:00 pm
Location: U.S. Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave NW, Washington DC

After several failed attempts to move Bosnia-Herzegovina beyond political and economic stalemate, last month’s joint commitment by top leaders to European values and identity, a social market economy and the rule of law might mark an opportunity for change.  Five major political parties from Bosnia’s two entities reached agreement to sign the joint declaration amid the deepest institutional crisis since the end of the war in 1995. It remains to be seen whether the parties will be able to generate support for their united stance in the run-up to the October 2014 elections.

Please join us on May 28, 2014, for a conversation with Martin Raguž, a Member of the Parliament of Bosnia-Herzegovina and President of the HDZ 1990 Party, and Edward P. Joseph, Senior Fellow at Johns Hopkins SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations who has worked for a dozen years in the Balkans most recently as Deputy Head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo. They’ll discuss the recent turmoil in Bosnia, the significance of the joint declaration by the five parties, the upcoming elections and how to move the country forward. USIP’s Renata Stuebner will moderate the discussion, which will include presentations by the two speakers and a question-and-answer period. This event follows an April 2 discussion at USIP with a Bosnian civic activist and two other panelists on the ramifications of protests for the October elections.

RSVP here.

 

May 29, 2014

What Good is Grand Strategy? Power and Purpose in American Statecraft from Harry S. Truman to George W. Bush
Date: May 29, 12:00 pm
Location: Heritage Foundation, Lehrman Auditorium, 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington DC

Grand strategy is one of the most widely used and abused concepts in the foreign policy lexicon. In his new book, Hal Brands explains why grand strategy is a concept that is so alluring – and so elusive – to those who make American statecraft. He explores what grand strategy is, why it is so essential, and why it is so hard to get right amid the turbulence of global affairs and the chaos of domestic politics. At a time when “grand strategy” is very much in vogue, Brands critically appraises just how feasible that endeavor really is.

Brands takes a historical approach to this subject, examining how four Presidents – Harry S. Truman, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush – and their administrations sought to “do” grand strategy at key inflection points in the history of modern U.S. foreign policy. As examples from the early Cold War to the Reagan years to the War on Terror demonstrate, grand strategy can be an immensely rewarding undertaking – but also one that is full of potential pitfalls on the long road between conception and implementation.

Hal Brands, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and History at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. He is an affiliate of the Duke Program in American Grand Strategy and serves on the Executive Board of the Triangle Institute for Security Studies. Previously, he worked at the Institute for Defense Analyses outside of Washington, D.C. and has served as a member of the RAND Corporation Grand Strategy Advisory Board.

RSVP here or watch online.

Sting of the Drone: A Book Event featuring Richard A. Clarke
Date: May 29, 6:00 pm
Location: Middle East Institute, 1761 N Street NW, Washington DC 20036

The Middle East Institute is pleased to host Richard A. Clarke, chairman of MEI’s board of governors, for a discussion of his latest book, Sting of the Drone (Thomas Dunne Books, 2014). Drawing upon over 30 years of experience in U.S. government agencies, including the Pentagon, the State Department, and the White House National Security Council, Clarke will discuss his fictional account of military and defense personnel working in the U.S. drone program. Afterwards, Clarke will sign copies of his book.

Register here.

 

May 30, 2014

Al-Qaeda and its Regional Affiliates: A Movement in Transformation
Date: May 30, 8:30 am
Location: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20036

This conference will bring together leading scholars and practitioners from the United States, Europe, and the Arab world to examine the complex dynamics underway within al-Qaeda. This will include its role in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and North Africa, as well as European influence on the movement, and the broader political and social context within which al-Qaeda operates today.

Full conference schedule available here; Register here.

Russian Military Modernization and Military Operations in the Crimea, North Caucasus and Georgia
Date: May 30, 12:00 pm
Location: Heritage Foundation, Lehrman Auditorium, 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington DC

Russia’s military actions in the Crimea and Eastern Ukraine have shattered two decades of relative peace in post-Cold War Europe. Twenty-two years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia is rebuilding its military strength and once again rising in regional influence.

President Vladimir Putin has committed a considerable portion of the Russian GDP toward modernizing its military over the next 10 years. Russia’s aggression in the Crimea clearly demonstrates that its military has come a long way from the defeats in Chechnya in the 1994-1996 war and its lackluster performance in Georgia in 2008. The Russian military has also learned lessons from its prolonged counterinsurgency operations in the North Caucasus. If successful, the Putin military modernization will allow Russia to increase its power relative to its former Soviet and NATO neighbors and expand influence along its periphery – in the former Soviet republics, in Central and Eastern Europe, and in the Middle East – presenting further challenges for the United States and its Western allies and their decision makers.

This discussion will be based on the recent monograph, “Russia’s Counterinsurgency in North Caucasus: Performance and Consequences,” published by the U.S. Army War College in March and on a new Heritage Foundation Backgrounder, “A U.S. Response to Russia’s Military Modernization,” both authored by Ariel Cohen.

RSVP here.

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

June 5, 2014

Pakistan’s Polio Fight
Date: June 5, 9:30 am
Location: Atlantic Council, 1030 15^th Street NW, 12^th Floor (West Tower,) Washington DC

Pakistan is one of just three countries where polio remains endemic. With sixty-six cases reported in the country this year and a grave warning issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) of a resurgence, the disease threatens not just Pakistan but countries across the world that have waged successful polio-eradication campaigns.  Pakistan’s health system faces challenges in addressing this threat, including limited access to remote areas and violence against polio campaign workers. Yet, increasing amounts of funding, steadily developing science, and modified organizational plans have consistently failed to surpass these challenges. Pakistan is reportedly ramping up efforts after an international travel ban issued by the WHO will prevent individuals from leaving Pakistan without proof of vaccination as of June 1. Dr. Samia Altaf will talk about measures Pakistan is taking to tackle the polio threat in Pakistan, reactions to the WHO travel ban, and the role of foreign aid.

The US-Pakistan Program is a comprehensive approach to US-Pakistan relations, focusing on the key areas of security, economic development, and public policy. The program explores these issues and their relevance, in order to develop a long-term, continuous dialogue between the United States and Pakistan. This project is generously supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Register here.

May 19, 2014

PONI Live Debate: The Role of Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Responding to the Crisis in Crimea
Date: May 19, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Location: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2^nd Floor, Hess Room, 1616 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington DC 20036

The Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) is pleased to invite you to a live debate about U.S. and NATO nuclear strategy in Central and Eastern Europe.

In the NATO-Russia Founding Act of 1997, NATO attested that it had “no intention, no plan and no reason” to locate nuclear weapons on the territory of Central and Eastern European states. But today, as tensions over the Crimea crisis continue to escalate, many have begun to call for a reexamination of this policy. Would the presence of tactical nuclear weapons provide stability and assurance to NATO’s Eastern European members, or would such a move spark more skirmishes with an antagonized Russia? Mr. Peter B. Doran, Director of Research at the Center for European Policy Analysis, and Mr. Kingston Reif, Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, will debate these questions at the next PONI Live Debate.

The live, in-person, debate will be also be webcast live. Viewers can ask questions of the debaters in real-time by emailing PONI@csis.org. Tune in here for the livestream. To attend in person, register here.

 

May 20, 2014

Revelations About the NSA: A Talk with James Bamford
Date: May 20, 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: Institute for Policy Studies, 1112 16^th Street NW, Suite 600, Washington DC

Join us in our conference room for a conversation with James Bamford about the Edward Snowden revelations and what they mean for the country.

Bamford is an American bestselling author and journalist noted for his writing about United States intelligence agencies, especially the National Security Agency (NSA).

Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan: An Enduring Threat
Date: May 20, 2:00 pm
Location: U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, 2200 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515

The Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade welcomes the following witnesses to dicsuss Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan: Mr. Thomas Joscelyn, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and Mr. David Sedney, the Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia at the U.S. Department of Defense.

Watch the hearing online here.

 

May 21, 2014

Boko Haram: The Growing Threat to Schoolgirls, Nigeria, and Beyond
Date: May 21, 9:45 am
Location: U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, 2172 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515

Witnesses Honorable Sarah Sewall, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights at the U.S. Department of State and Ms. Amanda J. Dory, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs at the U.S. Department of Defense discuss Boko Haram.

Watch the hearing online here.

The Humanitarian Crisis in Syria: Views from the Ground
Date: May 21, 2:00 pm
Location: U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, 2172 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515

The Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa welcomes the following witnesses to Syria: Ms. Andrea Koppel, Vice President of Global Engagement and Policy at Mercy Corps; Ms. Holly Solberg, Director of Emergency and Humanitarian Assistance at CARE; Ms. Pia Wanek, Director in the Office of Humanitarian Assistance at Global Communities; Mr. Zaher Sahloul, M.D., President of the Syrian American Medical Society; Ms. Bernice Romero, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at Save the Children.

Watch the hearing online here.

NATO’s Balancing Act
Date: May 21, 3:00 pm
Location: U.S. Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave NW, Washington DC 20037

Russia’s invasion of Crimea poses an urgent and serious challenge for the venerable Atlantic Alliance. Some argue that in response NATO needs to prioritize collective defense, its original mission, and deemphasize the crisis management and cooperative security roles that have involved the Alliance in conflicts from Afghanistan to Libya.

The impact of the Ukraine crisis on NATO’s balancing among these three tasks remains to be seen. Will the 28 NATO member countries agree on a common analysis of the threat? What is the role of individual NATO members, and to what extent are they willing to invest in new capabilities? These questions will be at the forefront of September’s NATO Summit in South Wales, the first since the 2012 Chicago meeting.

Join us for a discussion exploring the Alliance’s future with four world-renowned NATO experts, including David S. Yost, author of NATO’s Balancing Act.

RSVP here.

 

May 22, 2014

The Good Spy: The Life and Death of CIA Legend Robert Ames
Date: May 22, 9:00 – 10:30am
Location: Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20036

On April 18, 1983, the Hezbollah-led bombing of the United States embassy in Beirut, Lebanon killed 63 individuals, including eight Central Intelligence Agency officers, one of whom was the agency’s Director of the Office of Near East and South Asia Analysis Robert C. Ames. A CIA legend, Ames was known for having established remarkable back-channel connections with Yasir Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organization when it was still banned as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.

In a new book, The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and biographer Kai Bird explains how Ames was able to make these contacts, focusing in particular on Ames’ unique ability to develop friendships and ascertain shared values with a wide array of interlocutors. Bird chronicles also Ames’ rise within the CIA, his passion for the Middle East and the details of the fateful Beirut embassy bombing.

On May 22, the Brookings Intelligence Project will host author Kai Bird to examine the life and death of Robert Ames, how relations between the Arab world and West might have been different had he lived and the lessons that can be learned from Ames’ personable, human approach toward intelligence and enduring foreign policy challenges. Brookings Senior Fellow Bruce Riedel, director of the Intelligence Project, will provide introductory remarks and moderate the discussion. Following their remarks, Riedel and Bird will take questions from the audience.

Register here.

 

May 23, 2014

The Perils of Responsibility: Germany’s New Foreign Policy and the Ukraine Crisis
Date: May 23, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Location: Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20036

In an orchestrated series of speeches earlier this year, Germany’s President Joachim Gauck, Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called upon their nation to reconsider its reticence to confront geopolitical challenges. Touted as a paradigm shift in Germany’s foreign policy, the coordinated addresses urged Germany to adopt a more assertive voice and assume greater responsibility on global issues. At the same time, the architects of Germany’s “New Foreign Policy” reaffirmed the country’s long-standing culture of multilateralism and military restraint. The intent of the coordinated messages appeared to be two-fold: to assure Germany’s allies that it would take on a greater share of the burden of promoting global stability, and to provoke a domestic debate on Germany’s use of traditionally unpopular foreign policy tools.

On May 23, the Center on the United States and Europe (CUSE) at Brookings with the Heinrich Böll Foundation North America and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Washington will host a panel discussion to assess Germany’s new foreign policy and the challenges posed by the crisis in Ukraine. The panelists will be Brookings Senior Fellow and CUSE Director Fiona Hill, President of the Heinrich Böll Foundation Ralf Fücks and Olaf Böhnke, head of the Berlin office of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). Brookings Visiting Fellow Jutta Falke-Ischinger will moderate the discussion.

Register here.

May 12, 2014

Morocco’s Approach to Countering Violent Extremism
Date: May 12, 12:00 pm
Location: Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 1828 L Street NW, Suite 1050, Washington DC 20036

Morocco’s traditionally strong counterterrorism efforts are now being challenged by the spread of terrorism to even the most stable parts of the region. At a time when al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is posing a formidable threat to the neighborhood, the crisis in Syria continues to serve as a magnet for aspiring jihadists, including Moroccans. Meanwhile, prisons in the region often facilitate radicalization rather than deter it, raising questions about how best to prevent and counter extremism and terrorism.

To discuss these and other aspects of Morocco’s threat environment, The Washington Institute is pleased to host a Policy Forum with Mohamed Salah Tamek who is the delegate-general of Morocco’s Penitentiary and Reintegration Administration. Previously, he served as governor of the Oued Eddahab province, chief of staff to the interior minister, ambassador to Norway, and head of the security portion of the U.S.-Morocco Strategic Dialogue.

Space is limited. RSVP here.

Meet the Syria Opposition
Date: May 12, 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Location: New America Foundation, 1899 L Street NW, Suite 400, Washington DC 20036

The Syrian conflict just entered its fourth year and according to some estimates the death toll is approaching 150,000 killed. A revolution that began peacefully has morphed into one of the most violent wars in recent memory, creating not just bloodshed but an unparalleled humanitarian crisis. “Victory” for any party remains elusive, the Geneva talks proved fruitless and the UN’s Syria envoy is preparing to leave the task for someone else. So what possible solutions exist for Syria? After years of fighting, a fractured society, unspeakable brutality and a lack of commitment from the international community, is Syria’s future anything but bleak?

Join us for a conversation with members of the Syrian opposition delegation currently visiting Washington, DC for meetings with senior U.S. officials. They will discuss the opposition’s vision for a new Syria and what solutions, if any, exist for the current impasse. In addition, they will address the growing global concern over the rising power of extremists and what efforts are currently underway to counter these trends. Finally, the delegation will provide the latest updates and developments from the field as well as a blueprint for the future.

RSVP here.

Ivory Towers and Palace Guards: The Disconnect between Outside Expertise and Policymaking
Date: May 12, 4:00 – 5:30 pm
Location: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC 20004

How does advice and information from outside experts and scholars reach top policymakers—or does it? Terms like “echo chamber” and “information bubble” are often employed to describe an environment where it is difficult for outside information to penetrate or influence the policy process. Author and consultant Suzanne Massie will share the inside story of her interactions with Ronald Reagan and how she provided him with an outside voice at a vital time. Reagan turned to Massie for her advice on understanding and dealing with Russians, and carried her suggestions — including the now famous Russian proverb, “trust but verify” — into his meetings with the new Russian leader, Mikhail Gorbachev. You can read about her latest book here.

RSVP here.

A Time to Attack: The Looming Iranian Nuclear Threat
Date: May 12, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Location: Atlantic Council, 1030 15^th Street NW, 12^th Floor, Washington DC

As diplomats return to the negotiating table on May 13 in an attempt to negotiate a comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran, it is a propitious time to review the prospects for a negotiated settlement and our options for resolving the Iranian nuclear challenge if the talks do not succeed. President Obama has vowed that he is willing to do whatever it takes, including using military force, if necessary, to keep Tehran from the bomb. If not stopped, a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a grave threat to international peace and security, including the potential for a nuclear arms race in the region and around the world, and an increased risk of nuclear war, among other major threats.

In A Time to Attack: The Looming Iranian Nuclear Threat, Matthew Kroenig, internationally recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on Iran’s nuclear program, explains why the United States must be prepared to conduct a limited strike on Iran’s key nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails to resolve the Iranian nuclear challenge.

Register here.

May 13, 2014

The Countdown Begins: All You Need to Know about an Iran Nuclear Deal
Date: May 13, 9:30 – 11:00 am
Location: U.S. Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave NW, Washington DC 20037

The clock is ticking on a nuclear deal with Iran. The deadline is July 20. An unprecedented coalition of eight Washington think tanks is hosting three discussions on the pivotal diplomacy to coincide with the last three rounds of talks. The first event—”The Rubik’s Cube of a Final Agreement”—on May 13 will explore the 10 disparate issues to be resolved and the many formulations for potential solutions.

The coalition includes the U.S. Institute of Peace, RAND, the Woodrow Wilson Center, the Arms Control Association, the Center for a New American Security, the Stimson Center, the Partnership for a Secure America, the Ploughshares Fund, and staff from the Brookings Institution and the Center for Non-Proliferation Studies.

RSVP here.

Pakistan’s Bilateral and Regional Trade Priorities
Date: May 13, 3:30 pm
Location: Atlantic Council, 1050 15^th Street NW, 12^th Floor, Washington DC

Economic issues are at the forefront of Pakistan’s priorities and regional connectivity is central in improving the business and economic environment there. Khurram Dastgir Khan, federal minister for commerce, has supported greater regional cooperation and led trade and commerce negotiations with India. Khan will share the government’s trade priorities, and progress made on improving regional economic connectivity and business and economic conditions in Pakistan.

The US-Pakistan Program is a comprehensive approach to US-Pakistan relations, focusing on the key areas of security, economic development, and public policy. The program will explore these issues and their relevance, in order to develop a long-term, continuous dialogue between the United States and Pakistan. This project is generously supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Register here.

Counterinsurgency and Counterterrorism in Pakistan
Date: May 13, 3:30 – 5:00 pm
Location: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20036

Pakistan is currently facing failed negotiations with the Taliban, increased jihadi terrorist attacks in its major cities, and an uncertain presidential transition in neighboring Afghanistan. While these developments have major implications for U.S. policy in the region, they pose near-existential threats to Pakistan, as well as fundamental challenges to the transition in Afghanistan. Samina Ahmed and Mark Schneider of the International Crisis Group will introduce a discussion on these challenges and what can be done to address them. Carnegie’s Frederic Grare will moderate.

Register here.

May 14, 2014

Disrupting Defense: Dynamic Security in an Age of New Technologies
Date: May 14, 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Location: Atlantic Council, 1030 15^th Street NW, 12^th Floor, Washington DC

Please join the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security on May 14, when we will convene experts to discuss how the United States and its allies can manage the security-related challenges and possibilities of disruptive technologies.

This high-level event will focus on four topics:

1. How emerging technologies already are disrupting geopolitics
2. Defining a new US strategy to operate in this new environment
3. How the US Department of Defense funds technological breakthroughs
4. Leveraging the creativity of artists and screenwriters to envision future wars

The conference will conclude with live technology demonstrations and a reception in which participants will see first-hand examples of these disruptive technologies.

Register here.

New Terrorism Meets New Media
Date: May 14, 9:00 – 11:00 am
Location: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 6^th Floor Boardroom, Washington DC

The Internet proves to be a useful instrument for modern terrorists who use it for a wide range of purposes – from recruitment, radicalization and propaganda to data-mining and online instruction and training. However, cyber-savvy terrorists found the need to update their online presence. There is a clear trend of terrorist “migration” to online social media, including YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. Moreover, this trend is expanding to the newest online platforms such as Instagram, Flickr, and others. Rephrasing von Clausewitz, the new media should be regarded as “an increasing continuation of war by other means.” This new arena of open and social systems presents new challenges and requires dramatic shifts in strategic thinking regarding national security and countering terrorism.

This event will not be audio or video recorded. RSVP here.

India, China, and Russia: Prospects for Cooperation
Date: May 14, 1:00 – 5:15 pm
Location: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20036

India, China, and Russia are all set to play a major role on the global stage throughout the rest of the twenty-first century. The relationships between the three nations are complex, however, with opportunities for cooperation in areas of convergent interests often being hamstrung by long-standing disputes and rivalries. This half-day conference will explore how New Delhi, Beijing, and Moscow are likely to cooperate—or clash—on major questions of international order, including energy security, defense cooperation, and regional dynamics. It will also consider the likely implications for the West.

Register here.

May 15, 2014

Ukraine Between East and West
Date: May 15, 11:00 am
Location: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 6^th Floor Boardroom, Washington DC 20004

Ambassador Lamberto Zannier, Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will discuss the unfolding crisis in Ukraine.

In recent weeks, Zannier has travelled to Kiev on numerous occasions, as well as to Moscow and other European capitals, to attempt to defuse the crisis. The Geneva Statement has called on the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, which reports on security conditions throughout the country, to play a leading role in assisting Ukrainian authorities and local communities to implement de-escalation measures.

In a conversation with Wilson Center President Jane Harman, Zannier will present the OSCE’s priorities for restoring stability in Ukraine and discuss the impact of the crisis on European and Euro-Atlantic security.

RSVP here.