Category: Events

Welcome back everyone! With Congress in session again, DC is alive and humming once more. As always, the week’s most interesting (and free) events in national security, foreign policy, and where possible, science.

Monday, September 9th, 2013

An Evening with Former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff
Elliot School
7:00PM – 8:00PM

The George Washington University International Affairs Society will be hosting the Honorable Michael Chertoff, Former Secretary of Homeland Security (2005-2009), for a discussion on homeland security challenges and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s role in shaping domestic security policy. Secretary Chertoff will also reflect on his tenure at the Department and the challenges that it faces ahead.

Tuesday, September 10th, 2013

Beyond Benghazi: Libya’s Transition and the Future of US-Libyan Relations
Freedom House
12:00 – 2:00PM

September 11, 2013 will mark the one-year anniversary of the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi and the tragic loss of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. Since then, a deteriorating security situation and growing political chaos signal a country plunging into a deeper state of crisis. Yet Libya’s transition remains critical to the security and political development of the region. What are the main challenges confronting Libya’s transition? Who are the key players in the political realm, and what are the key political dynamics? What are the prospects for the National Dialogue? What role can the United States play to positively influence Libya’s transition? Please join us for a discussion of these and other questions appraising developments in Libya since the tragic events in Benghazi and the crucial steps the US can take to help Libya establish itself as a stable, secure democracy.

Prospects for a Diplomatic Solution with Iran
American Security Project
12:30 – 2:00PM

Tensions with Iran have brought negotiations on nuclear issues to a standstill. Could the election of President Rouhani provide an opening to more productive negotiations? Join us for a conversation on the current state and future prospects for diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program with Joel Rubin, Policy Director for the Ploughshares Fund; Ray Takeyh, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs at the Council for Foreign Relations; and Greg Thielmann, Senior Fellow at the Arms Control Association.

Al Qaeda Today
American Enterprise Institute
1:00 – 3:00 PM

Al Qaeda continues to pose a significant threat to the US. The increasing danger has been obscured by confusion about what the current al Qaeda network actually is and how to understand its ramifications. As a result, the US has no coherent strategy for addressing this threat and is making decisions about its military forces, the capabilities of its intelligence services, and its reactions to crises in the Middle East that are profoundly endangering US national security. Understanding the enemy is imperative. Join us on September 10 as Katherine Zimmerman of AEI’s Critical Threats Project releases a groundbreaking paper describing the state of the al Qaeda network, drawing on granular analysis not only of the core al Qaeda group but also of its affiliates and associates that have taken root worldwide.

Wednesday, September 11th, 2013

Trident Alternatives: What Next for British Nuclear Forces?
Brookings
2:00PM – 3:00PM

For 20 years, the British nuclear deterrent has rested on Trident nuclear-armed missiles carried by four Royal Navy Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines, at least one of which is continuously at sea. The British government is now considering how to maintain a nuclear deterrent after the Vanguard submarines are retired. This summer, the UK concluded a study looking at a range of alternatives, including options other than Trident missiles and options that would no longer maintain a continuous at-sea deterrent presence. On September 11, the Arms Control Initiative at Brookings will host a talk by Danny Alexander, chief secretary to Her Majesty’s Treasury, on the study and how Britain should adjust its future nuclear posture to take account of new financial realities. Franklin Miller of the Scowcroft Group will offer commentary, and Brookings Visiting Fellow Ian Wallace will moderate a discussion with questions from the audience.

Pakistan’s Peace with the Taliban: Is it Possible?
Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
6:30PM – 7:00PM

In response to the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1373 authorizing the use of force in Afghanistan. The US and its allies intervened militarily and launched Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in October of 2001. The goal of OEF was to disrupt, destroy and oust al Qaeda and their Taliban host from Afghanistan. However, after twelve years of military operations and state building the US, their allies and the Afghan government have been unable to stabilize the Afghan state and defeat the insurgency. On the other side of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), Pakistan has been battling an insurgency within it’s own borders. The Pakistani Taliban, the Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP) and various Islamist militant groups based inside the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) seek resistance against the Pakistani state, enforcement of their interpretation of sharia law and a plan to unite against NATO-led forces in Afghanistan. Pakistan has carried out several major military operations in the region and has suffered thousands of casualties. Can Pakistan’s government even really consider talking to the Taliban? Where should the line be drawn when talking peace?

Thursday, September 12th, 2013

Twenty Years After Oslo: The Search for Israeli-Palestinian Peace
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
8:15AM – 12:00PM

A panel of U.S. and regional experts assesses the legacy of the 1993 Oslo Accords and the outlook for progress toward peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

The Longevity of Human Civilization: Will We Survive Our World-Changing Technologies?
Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Astrobiology Symposium
8:30AM – 4:30PM

Will human civilization on Earth be imperiled, or enhanced, by our own world-changing technologies? Will our technological abilities threaten our survival as a species, or even threaten the Earth as a whole, or will we come to live comfortably with these new powers? Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology David Grinspoon convenes scientists, humanists, journalists, and authors to explore these questions from a wide range of perspectives, and to discuss the future of human civilization in an anthropocene world.

US-Iran Reconciliation Under President Rouhani?
Atlantic Council
9:30AM

The August 4th presidential inauguration of veteran national security official Hassan Rouhani has raised expectations for progress nearly thirty-four years after the United States broke diplomatic relations with Iran. Given Rouhani’s diplomatic demeanor and less confrontational rhetoric in comparison to his predecessor, many analysts see potential for de-escalating the nuclear crisis through Iranian concessions and US compromise on sanctions against Iran. Panelists will discuss the prospects for direct talks and progress in multilateral negotiations and dissect internal factors influencing the chances for reconciliation, including Rouhani’s new cabinet and the amount of leeway the new President is likely to receive from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Reset the Reset? The Future of U.S.-Russia Relations
The Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies/Elliot School
12:00 – 2:00PM

In cancelling his planned summit earlier this month with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Obama suggested it was time to “take a pause, reassess where it is that Russia is going, what our core interests are, and calibrate the relationship.” So how might the U.S.-Russia relationship be calibrated, given core U.S. interests and Russias domestic trajectory? Kimberly Marten, Robert Orttung, and Cory Welt will lead a discussion of U.S.-Russia security relations, the nature of Russian foreign policy decision-making, and the impact of Russian domestic developments on U.S.-Russia relations.

Friday, September 13th, 2013

Technology-Strategy Seminar: NATO’s AirLand Battle Strategy and Future Extended Deterrence
CSIS
9:00 – 11:00AM

NATO’s culminating military strategy in the end-game of the Cold War was AirLand Battle. Tailored for deterrence and to win if deterrence failed, AirLand Battle was also structured to account for the political necessities of assurance and NATO cohesion. Cold War assurance and deterrence is essentially the only experience available on which to base thinking about extended deterrence in the future; although of course not all the Cold War lessons may be valid for the future. Dr. Jim Tegnelia and Dr. Rich Wagner were involved in helping to invent and implement AirLand Battle. They will discuss what it was, how it came to be, and how it worked, politically and militarily, and will speculate on lessons for the future.The seminar will be held at CSIS (1800 K St. NW) in the B1C conference room (in the basement), September 13, 9am-11am. A light breakfast will be served. This event is off-the-record.

Book Discussion: Cyber War Will Not Take Place
Wilson Center
12:00 – 1:30PM

About the Book: “Cyber war is coming,” announced a land-mark RAND report in 1993. In 2005, the U.S. Air Force boasted it would now fly, fight, and win in cyberspace, the “fifth domain” of warfare. This book takes stock, twenty years on: is cyber war really coming? Has war indeed entered the fifth domain? Author and former public policy scholar Thomas Rid discusses his new book, Cyber War Will Not Take Place. He argues that the focus on war and winning distracts from the real challenge of cyberspace: non-violent confrontation that may rival or even replace violence in surprising ways.

(image courtesy of Dell)

We cast a slightly broader net this week. We’re especially interested in the Brookings Institution’s discussion of the next steps in US-Russian foreign policy (Wednesday).

Monday, August 26

1) Extended Deterrence And Strategic Stability In Northeast Asia
Stimson Center
9:00am – 10:30am

With the simultaneous emergence of a nuclear-armed North Korea and a China that is modernizing and diversifying its nuclear posture, extended deterrence and strategic stability are under new stress in Northeast Asia. How these new challenges are managed will affect the credibility of U.S. extended deterrence in other regions, including Europe.

2) Environmental Stress & Middle Eastern Instability
Stimson Center
1:00pm-2:30pm

The discussion will explore perspectives from U.S. development and research communities on the roles that rising pressures on natural resources and the emerging impacts of climate change can potentially play in contributing to political unrest and economic instability across the Middle East. As case studies, speakers will examine the interplay between state fragility and environmental issues in Syria and Yemen.

Tuesday, August 27

China’s Rise to Global Economic Power: What Does it Mean for the United States?
Wilson Center
2:30pm – 4:00pm

The Chinese economy’s ability to emerge from the global financial crisis seemingly unscathed while the United States slowly climbs out of recession bolsters a widespread image of a strong People’s Republic of China (PRC) rising against the backdrop of a declining United States of America. China’s economic growth in recent years, however, has slowed down, raising the question of whether it is foreordained that China will become the world’s premier economic power. Frank Lavin, former U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce, will be at the Wilson Center to offer his thoughts on China’s rapid emergence as a major economic and political force. He will argue that China’s continued growth in power and affluence will bring challenges, but not a new Cold War. Nor is it likely to be linear.

Wednesday, August 28

1) A New Look at American Foreign Policy: A Series of Discussions
Heritage Foundatin
12:00pm – 1:00pm

American foreign policy is in flux. Libertarian-minded conservatives are joining liberals in their critiques of military interventions, defense budgets and the surveillance practices of the National Security Agency. “Neo” conservatives like John McCain are lining up with liberals in denouncing libertarian conservatives as “isolationists.” Liberals and conservatives alike are unhappy with the Obama Administration’s tepid support for humanitarian interventions in Syria and its failure to advance human rights abroad – normally touchstones of liberal internationalism. Are fundamental ideological changes in American foreign policy afoot? Join us for this first in a series of discussions regarding this question, what the dangers and opportunities are and whether they afford an opportunity to take a “new look” at American foreign policy.

2) The U.S.-Russia Relationship: What’s Next?
Brookings Institution
2:00pm – 3:30pm

While President Obama intends to travel to St Petersburg for the G20 summit on September 6 and 7, there has been no word on whether there will be a bilateral meeting with President Putin on the margins of the summit. Clearly, U.S.-Russian relations have entered troubled times. On August 28, the Center on the United States and Europe will host a panel discussion to address these developments and future prospects for the bilateral relationship between Washington and Moscow. Brookings Senior Fellows Clifford Gaddy, Steven Pifer and Angela Stent will take part. Brookings Visiting Fellow Jeremy Shapiro will moderate. Following opening comments, the panelists will take questions from the audience.

3) Salon 101: Exploring Opposing Perspectives in Egypt
International Peace & Security Institute
2:00pm-5:00pm

Exploring Opposing Perspectives in Egypt: Since the deposition of President Morsi, unrest in Egypt has dominated international news. The outpouring of public sentiment, mass rallies and protests, and conflicting ideologies have left observers scrambling for answers. In a situation characterized by extreme tension, charged opinions, and a lack of clear-cut responses, this Salon 101 event will bring together topic experts to grapple with participants for a way forward in Egypt’s current political crisis.

Want a way to beat the heat and avoid the crowds? Get thee to a think tank event. Here are the week’s best, again in one list because DC is operating at minimal capacity for most of this month.

Tuesday, August 13:
Between War & Peace: Do We Need New Tools For Messy Transitions?
Stimson
9:30 – 11AM

The office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction issued its final lessons learned report earlier this year. Among the recommendations was a call for establishing a new U.S. Office for Contingency Operations, for planning and implementing the diverse activities required in post-conflict deployments, not necessarily of the scale or purpose of the Iraq situation. Our panel will discuss the requirement for such a capability in the U.S. system, consider options to achieve greater planning and execution effectiveness, and also look at what tools and processes reside in the UN system.

Wednesday, August 14:
A Conversation with Amb. Raouf Adly Saad
Middle East Institute
12:00PM – 1:00PM

H.E. Ambassador Raouf Adly Saad served as the special envoy to Africa for Interim Egyptian President Adly Mansour. Prior to that he served as ambassador to both the Russian Federation and the European Union. Amb. Saad has held a number of other prominent positions within the Egyptian government, including as senior assistant to the minister of foreign affairs, assistant foreign minister for International Economic Relations, and member of parliament and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in the People’s Assembly. He has led several Egyptian delegations to international events, including the 7th Forum on Democracy, Development, and Free Trade in Doha, and the Meeting of the Economic and Social Council of the League of Arab States. He obtained his B.A. in economics and political science from Cairo University. Kate Seelye is senior vice president of the Middle East Institute, where she oversees MEI’s programs and communications. Prior to joining MEI, Seelye worked as a radio and television journalist covering the Arab world from 2000-2009 from her base in Beirut, Lebanon. She reported on the region for NPR, BBC’s The World, PBS’ Frontline/World and the renowned Channel Four British investigative news series, Unreported World. Prior to that she worked as a producer for the Newshour with Jim Lehrer on PBS.

Thursday, August 15:
Public Health Preparedness: Are We Ready for Disaster?
Alliance for Health Reform
12:15PM – 2:00PM

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the subsequent anthrax assaults, the federal government began to reevaluate the nation’s preparedness for public health emergencies. Since then, the nation has been hit by massive floods, hurricanes and other disasters, and last year Hurricane Sandy swept up the east coast, crippling several states and nearly exhausting emergency services. Despite the continued need for a strong emergency response infrastructure to combat natural disasters, reemerging diseases, pandemics and food-borne illnesses, state health department budgets have been shrinking. What is the nation’s state of preparedness for public health emergencies? What are the consequences of continued budget cuts to local and state health departments? Is the nation prepared for future disasters at both the federal and local level? What resources do we need to be adequately prepared? What can we learn from past emergencies, such as the recent Hurricane Sandy, to be more prepared in the future? A distinguished panel of experts will address these and related questions.

With Congress in recess, there’s not a lot happening in the city this week (or much of August generally). Here’s the best of what’s on, for those of who prefer the humidity anyway.

All events:

1. Monday, August 5
   The Future of Political Islam in Egypt Post-Morsi
   SAIS
   10:00AM – 11:20AMAhmad Atif Ahmad, professor of religious studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Jonathan Brown, associate professor of Islam and Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, will discuss this topic.
2. Tuesday, August 6
   Military Strategy Forum with Major General Steven L. Kwast, Director, U.S. Air Force Quadrennial Defense Review
   Center for Strategic and International Studies
   1:30PM – 2:30PMThe past week has brought renewed focus to the QDR. Please join us for a discussion with Major General Kwast, followed by a Q&A.
3. Wednesday, August 7
   Peace and Stability Operations Colloquium Series: Countering the Lord’s Resistance Army
   GMU School of Public Policy
   1:00PM – 3:30PMSpeakers: Scott Duncan and Charlene Brown (U.S. Department of State). Scott Duncan is a Foreign Affairs Officer in the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) where he supports strategy development for engagements in Africa and leads efforts to integrate new technologies and innovative approaches into conflict prevention efforts…Charlene Brown is a Stabilization Operations Specialist in the Africa Operations team at CSO, where she currently covers Great Lakes and counter-LRA issues.

(image courtesy of Dell)

It’s a slower week in events (end of July lag, everyone wants to be on vacation). We’re especially interested in CSIS’ analysis of US counterterrorism policy on Tuesday morning.

Tuesday, July 30

• Winding Down the War: What Roles for US and NATO Forces in Afghanistan Post 2014?
  Atlantic Council
  10:00AM – 11:30AM

  The debate on the US and allied role in Afghanistan after 2014 has hit the front pages once again with reporting that the Obama administration is considering a “zero option” that would remove all US troops from the country. Discussions on this topic are taking place at the highest level, including last week at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), committee chairman, declared that “the United States needs to make clear once again that we are committed to a long-term partnership with Afghanistan. Period.” Meanwhile, even as the United States debates its future presence in Afghanistan, some US allies have already made post-2014 commitments of their own, including Germany and Italy. On July 30, the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security and South Asia Center will host an event on the strategic imperatives facing the United States and its allies after the 2014 drawdown in Afghanistan.

• Looking Forward — Challenges Posed by a Nuclear Iran
  The Israel Project (Rayburn House Office Building, Room B-338)
  12:00PM – 2:00PM

  On Tuesday, July 30, The Israel Project (TIP) will host back-to-back panels of experts and policymakers on Capitol Hill to discuss the most recent political, diplomatic, and military developments surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.

  Members of Congress and analysts will discuss the status of Iran’s military nuclear infrastructure, U.S. security considerations, and the implications of Hassan Rouhani’s August 4 inauguration. They will focus on potential policy responses to these developments. Panelists include Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Congressman Eliot Engel; Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Congressman Ted Deutch, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa; Ilan Berman, Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council; and Professor Orde Kittrie, a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a Professor of Law and Arizona State University. All panelists are confirmed. Lunch will be served.

Wednesday, July 31

• An Assessment of Counterterrorism Policy
  Center for Strategic and International Studies
  8:30AM – 9:30AM

  Featuring: The Honorable Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chairman, The House Committee on Homeland Security. Introductory remarks by: Dr. John Hamre, President, CEO, and Pritzker Chair, CSIS. Moderated by: Stephanie Sanok Kostro, Acting Director, Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Program and Deputy Director, International Security Program, CSIS.

• The New Political Order/Disorder in Egypt
  Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
  9:00AM – 10:45AM
  In the wake of the June 30 popular uprising and the ouster of democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi, a new political order has slowly begun to take shape in Egypt. While a transition plan has been announced, serious questions remain about the process, including the role and future of the Muslim Brotherhood, the enduring influence of the “deep state,” and the implications for democratic rights and social justice in Egypt. Hossam Bahgat, Nathan J. Brown, and Carrie R. Wickham will analyze the rapidly developing situation on the ground and the implications for Egypt’s future. Marwan Muasher will moderate.

• Subcommittee Hearing: The Iran-Syria Nexus and its Implications for the Region
  U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs
  2:30PM

  Witnesses: The Honorable John Bolton, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute,(Former United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations); Mr. Mark Dubowitz, Executive Director, Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Thursday, August 1

• Joint Subcommittee Hearing: Examining the State Department’s Report on Iranian Presence in the Western Hemisphere 19 Years After AMIA Attack
  Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
  2:00 PM

  Witnesses: Matthew Levitt, Ph.D.,Director and Senior Fellow, Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy; Mr. Michael A. Braun,Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Spectre Group International, LLC, (Former Chief of Operations, Drug Enforcement Administration).

• Subcommittee Hearing: The Impact of U.S. Water Programs on Global Health
  U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs
  2:00 PM
  Witnesses: Panel I – The Honorable Christian Holmes, Global Water Coordinator, U.S. Agency for International Development; Aaron A. Salzberg, Ph.D., Special Coordinator for Water Resources, U.S. Department of State; Panel II – Mr. John Oldfield,Chief Executive Officer, WASH Advocates; Mr. Malcolm Morris, Chairman, Millennium Water Alliance.

All the week’s best (free) security, science, and health events. Special mention to Thursday evening YPFP event on the intersection of science and foreign policy.

Tuesday, July 23

• American Terrorists Abroad: Options for US Policymakers
  Brookings Institution
  1:00PM – 2:30PM

  On July 23, the Saban Center for Middle East Policy and Governance Studies at Brookings will release “Tools and Tradeoffs: Confronting U.S. Citizen Terrorist Suspects Abroad,” a new report examining the options available to policymakers. Panelists and co-authors of the report will include Senior Fellow Daniel Byman, research director of the Saban Center, and Senior Fellow Benjamin Wittes, editor-in-chief of the Lawfare blog. Brookings Senior Fellow Bruce Riedel will provide introductory remarks and moderate the discussion.

• U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Hearing: Asia: The Cyber Security Battleground
  Rayburn House Office Building
  2:00PM

  Witnesses: Phyllis Schneck, Ph.D., Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Global Public Sector, McAfee, Inc; Mr. James Lewis, Director and Senior Fellow, Technology and Public Policy Program, Center for Strategic International Studies; Mr. Karl Frederick Rauscher, Chief Technology Officer and Distinguished Fellow, EastWest Institute.

• Medical Museum Science Café: Quack Medicine: A History of Combating Health Fraud in 20th Century America
  National Museum of Health and Medicine
  6:00PM – 7:00PM

  Join NMHM’s archives assistant and author Eric Boyle, Ph.D., as he exposes the history of allegedly fraudulent therapies, including pain medications, obesity and asthma cures, gastrointestinal remedies, virility treatments, and panaceas for diseases, such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. Alternative medicine and new treatments undoubtedly save lives and ease suffering, but their existence also leaves the public susceptible to false claims and potentially injurious practices. While “quackbusters” crusade to control and shape the medical marketplace, legislators are caught in a persistent battle between preserving individual freedoms and protecting the public from fraud.

Wednesday, July 24

• The Future of MILSATCOM
  Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
  9:30AM – 11:00AM

  Space is no longer a sanctuary for the United States military. An implicit assumption in the space domain has been that deterrence would hold and space systems would not be attacked in conventional conflicts. One of the consequences of this assumption is that U.S. space systems, and military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) systems in particular, have critical vulnerabilities in conventional warfare to physical, electronic, and cyber attacks. If the U.S. military is committed to a strategy of assured access in the face of anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities, as the 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance states, then the Department must adapt the next-generation MILSATCOM architecture to operate in a more contested environment.In a constrained budget, however, it is cost prohibitive to increase protected MILSATCOM capacity by starting new programs or continuing to conduct business as usual. What must the military do to bridge the gap between the capabilities needed and the funding available?

• Iran’’s New President: Implications for the United States
  Heritage Foundation
  12:00PM – 1:00PM

  Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, takes office on August 3. He has raised the hopes of Iranians for a softening of the regime’s repression, domestic political reforms and an end to Iran’s international isolation. Can he deliver? More importantly, what are the foreign policy implications for the United States of Iran’s new government?

Thursday July 25

• Global Zero and New Paradigms for Nuclear Deterrence
  The Marshall Institute
  12:00PM – 1:30 PM

  You are cordially invited to attend a new luncheon event featuring Dr. Robert Butterworth and Dr. Barry Blechman as part of the 2013 AFA, ROA and NDIA Huessy Congressional Seminar Series on Nuclear Deterrence, Missile Defense, Arms Control and Defense Policy, now in its 31st year. This event is made possible by the support of the Marshall Institute and its President, Jeff Kueter. The date is July 25th, 2013, at the Capitol Hill Club from noon to 1:30 pm.

• Hezbollah’s Interests in Syria
  Woodrow Wilson Center
  12:00PM – 1:00PM

  Hezbollah seems to be willing to lose its popularity in Lebanon to help Bashar al-Assad. Ghaddar explains why Hezbollah’s involvement seems as if they are helping secure some kind of federalism; however, their main interest is not to protect Assad, but instead, Iran.

• No Time to Stand Still: Changing the Paradigm of Domestic Counterterrorism
  The Heritage Institute
  12:00PM – 1:00PM

  In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks at the Boston Marathon, it is essential that the United States reinvigorate its domestic counterterrorism efforts. Boston is a tragic reminder that the threat of terrorism is real and that no system of security is perfect. On the other hand, it is important to remember that since 9/11 the U.S. has done a great deal to enhance its counterterrorism efforts and has prevented over 50 terrorist plots. The continued success of these operations, however, is dependent upon preserving and improving existing counterterrorism tools, and enhancing cooperation with state and local law enforcement. While the United States has come a long way since 9/11, this is no time to stand still. Join us as our expert panelists discuss these critical issues, and explore how the U.S. can continue to improve its counterterrorism enterprise to thwart future terrorist attacks.

• YPFP DC: Common Frontier – At The Crossroads Of Science And Foreign Policy
  Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
  6:30PM

  Join members of the scientific and foreign policy communities for a reception to launch the new program series At the Crossroads of Science and Foreign Policy. Anthony “Bud” Rock, CEO of the Association of Science and Technology Centers, will introduce “science diplomacy” and program organizers will offer a taste of the exciting programs to come. This program is a collaboration between the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships, AAAS Center for Science Diplomacy, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, and the Koshland Science Museum. This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited so please RSVP. Light refreshments will be served.

Friday, July 26

• US-Russia Relations and the Asia-Pacific
  International Institute for Strategic Studies (US)
  10:00AM – 11:00AM

  The Asia-Pacific is of growing importance for the United States and Russia, both of which are seeking to ‘pivot” or “rebalance’ their global commitments toward the region. Yet the vast majority of US-Russia interaction occurs in Europe and post-Soviet Eurasia, and neither country has paid sufficient attention to the implications of their respective renewed interest in the Asia-Pacific for the bilateral relationship. Meanwhile, the region’s economic growth, the rise of China, and the potential for regional conflicts in both northeast and southeast Asia create a landscape fraught with challenges for both Moscow and Washington. Please join us at the IISS-US for the launch of the third paper of the Working Group on the Future of US-Russia Relations, which focuses on the opportunities for and obstacles to US-Russia cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.

Monday, July 29

• A Greater Mekong Health Security Partnership
  Center for Strategic and International Studies
  12:00PM – 2:00PM

  Please join us for a lunchtime launch of an important new CSIS publication, A Greater Mekong Health Security Partnership, which argues there is a unique, time-sensitive opportunity for a targeted, major U.S. initiative to improve health security in the Greater Mekong Subregion. A U.S. push to strengthen partnerships with Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam — to manage pandemic threats, control resistant malaria, and improve maternal and child health — will advance both U.S. strategic interests and bring real health benefits to millions. It can be done if there is high-level U.S. leadership, better leveraging of the substantial civilian and military U.S. health engagement efforts already underway, and focused integration of the skills and expertise of Thailand and China.

All the week’s (free) international security, health, and emergency management events in the DC area.

Monday, July 15th, 2013

Real Politics of Iran: Views from Within
U.S. Institute of Peace
2:00PM – 4:00 PM

Members of USIP’s Internal Iran Study Group will be discussing a range of dynamics in the universities, opposition, the economy and even the security apparatus that often escape the foreign headlines and highlight what is expected in light of Hassan Rouhani’s election as president.

A Discussion of Health Policy and Returning Veterans
Defense Education Forum
6:00PM

On July 15, the Reserve Officers Association and the Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation will host Dr. Mark for a discussion and signing of her latest work. Dr. Saralyn Mark, MD, an endocrinologist, geriatrician and women’s health specialist, was the first Senior Medical Advisor to the Office on Women’s Health within the Department of Health and Human Services for 11 years and to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As Senior Medical Advisor, Mark was responsible for the development and analysis of initiatives and programs on emerging technologies, public health preparedness, physician workforce issues, sex and gender-based medicine and women’s health on Earth and in space.

Tuesday, July 16th

State of Biomedical Innovation Conference (live webcast available)
Brookings Institution
9:00AM – 12:30PM

On July 16, the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at Brookings will host the second annual State of Biomedical Innovation conference. The goal of this conference is to assess U.S. biomedical innovation and discuss policy solutions that ensure the nation remains a world leader. This year, the conference will feature an update to last year’s discussion of the drivers of innovation and how best to track them through use of comprehensive metrics. In addition, the conference will specifically focus on novel sources and applications of big data in innovation, with senior-level thought leaders from government, academia, industry, patient advocacy, and clinical care present to share their views and recommendations. After each panel, the participants will take audience questions. This event will be live webcast.

The Crisis in Syria: What are the Stakes for Syria’s Neighbors?
Middle East Policy Council
9:00AM – 11:30AM

The Middle East Policy Council invites you and your colleagues to our 73rd Capitol Hill Conference. Live streaming of this event will begin at approximately 9:00am EDT on Tuesday, July 16th and conclude at 11:30am. A questions and answers session will be held at the end of the proceedings. Refreshments will be served.

Mobile Technology’s Role in Natural Disasters and Public Safety Preparedness and Response (live webcast available)
Brookings Institution
2:00PM – 3:30PM

From Hurricane Sandy to international catastrophes such as the tsunami in Japan, governments are increasingly using mobile technology in natural disaster preparedness and public safety response. With an estimated 6 billion mobile phone users worldwide, mobile communications is fast proving to be the most effective and efficient means of reaching and informing the public when disaster strikes. How is mobile technology being used before, during, and after a crisis situation in the United States and around the world? How has mobile communications’ role in catastrophic situations changed, and how are public safety organizations utilizing this technology to make citizens safer and better prepared? What are the costs and benefits of using mobile technology to ready for and react to a major emergency? On July 16, as part of the Mobile Economy Project, the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings will host a discussion on mobile technology and its evolving role in disaster and public safety. A panel of experts will discuss how mobile devices aid in planning for and reacting to a crisis, and how do they empower emergency management agencies and officials, first responders, and the public to tackle a variety of natural disasters and security crises.

Wednesday, July 17th

Pharmacy to the world: India and the global prescription drug trade
American Enterprise Institute
10:00AM – 3:00PM

Earlier this summer, the Novartis case pitted advocates of intellectual property rights for global pharmaceutical firms operating in India against those championing for more affordable drugs for patients in the developing world. Moreover, the recent and high-profile Ranbaxy case with the Federal Drug Administration raises questions about the safety and quality of Indian generics, even as some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) champion generics as the best way to ensure that patients in poor countries get access to life-saving drugs at affordable prices. At this conference, leading business sector, think-tank, and NGO representatives will examine the Indian pharmaceutical issue from the medical, business, and development perspectives.

Thursday, July 18th

The Future of Gene Patents: Making Sense of the Supreme Court’s Decision in the Myriad Case
Duke Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy (hosting event at Capitol Visitor Center)
12:00PM – 1:30PM

This Duke Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy is hosting a brieifing to educate policymakers, advocacy groups, stakeholders and other interested parties about the “Myriad Case”. It will offer attendees an unbiased overview of the Supreme Court’s ruling and its implications, and will outline potential next steps, including Congress’s role.

Contact Brian Beaty at bbeaty@burnesscommunications.com for more information and to register.

US House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Hearing: Global al-Qaeda: Affiliates, Objectives, and Future Challenges
Rayburn House Office Building
2:00PM

Witnesses: Dr. Seth Jones, Assc Director of International Security and Defense Policy Center, RAND; Dr. Frederick Kagan, Christopher DeMuth Chair and Director, Critical Threats Project, American Enterprise Institute; Mr. Thomas Joscelyn, Senior Editor, The Long War Journal

A Fierce Domain: Conflict in Cyberspace, 1986 – 2012
Homeland Security Policy Institute
3:30PM – 5:00PM

Please join HSPI for a Policy & Research Forum event on July 18th featuring Jason Healey, Director of the Cyber Statecraft Initiative at the Atlantic Council. Healey is the editor of “A Fierce Domain: Conflict in Cyberspace, 1986 to 2012,” which identifies key lessons for policymakers, and, most importantly, where these lessons greatly differ from popular myths common in military and political circles. The book, published by the Cyber Conflict Studies Association, in partnership with Atlantic Council, pulls these lessons from case studies of previous cyber incidents and other countries’ experiences.

Friday, July 19th

The Way Forward in Egypt
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
10:00AM – 12:00PM

On July 19, 2013, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations and the U.S.-GCC Corporate Cooperation Committee are hosting a public affairs briefing on “The Way Forward in Egypt” featuring Professor Karim Haggag, Visiting Professor, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies and Former Director, Egyptian Press and Information Office in Washington, DC; Ms. Randa Fahmy Hudome, Board Member, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations and General Counsel, American Egyptian Strategic Alliance; Mr. Alex Shalaby, Chairman, The Egyptian Company for Mobile Services (Mobinil) and Former President, American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt; Dr. Marina Ottaway, Senior Scholar, Middle East Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; and Dr. Diane Singerman, Associate Professor, School of Public Affairs, American University. Dr. John Duke Anthony, Founding President & CEO, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, will serve as moderator.

(image courtesy of Dell)

Tuesday, July 9th, 2013

U.S.-Russia Plutonium Disposition: Adventures With MOX
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
2:00PM – 3:30PM

The Carnegie Endowment’s Nuclear Policy Program will convene a special briefing and discussion on this controversial effort to reduce plutonium stockpiles. Panelists will discuss the program’s objectives and its difficulties, as well as options for minimizing plutonium that are now being explored. Speakers include Douglas Birch and R. Jeffrey Smith from the Center for Public Integrity, who have recently published four articles on this topic, and Frank von Hippel of Princeton University.

10th Anniversary of the Proliferation Security Initiative
Center for Strategic and International Studies
3:30PM – 5:00PM

The Bush administration created the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) ten years ago to improve global efforts to interdict shipments of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their dual-use components. This voluntary arrangement has primarily relied on bilateral shipboarding agreements and exercises to help improve responses to suspect shipments. Beginning with 11 ‘core’ states, PSI now has 102 member states. Despite this, there are still gaps in the system. Recently, the Obama administration has declared its intention to turn PSI into a ‘durable international effort.’ Please join our distinguished panel of speakers as we discuss how PSI has developed, and how it might move forward into the future.

Wednesday, July 10th, 2013

Senator Carl Levin on the Conflict in Syria and America’s Role
Carnegie Endowment for International  Peace
9:00AM – 10:00AM

The conflict in Syria continues unabated and despite President Obama’s recent decision to send small arms and ammunition to the rebels, there remains significant pressure on the United States to do more. Following his return from a visit to Turkey and Jordan, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin will discuss the impact the situation in Syria is having on the region and the implications for U.S. national security interests. Jessica T. Mathews will moderate.

Joint Subcommittee Hearing: The Terrorist Threat in North Africa: Before and After Benghazi
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
10:00AM

Witnesses: Mr. Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Director, Center for the Study of Terrorist Radicalization, Foundation for Defense of Democracies; Mr. Aaron Zelin, Richard Borow Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy; Daniel L. Byman, Ph.D., Professor, Security Studies Program, Georgetown University; Mr. Mike Lovelady, Brother of Algerian gas plant terrorist attack victim, Victor Lovelady

Thursday, July 11th, 2013

AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition
American Association for the Advancement of Science
8:30am – 5:00PM Thursday, 9:00AM – 5:00PM Friday

This meeting of the AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition will focus on Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which guarantees everyone the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications. Since the launch of the AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition in 2009, its core activities have focused on engaging scientists and engineers in an international process to define this right and create opportunities to integrate the right into the activities of scientists, engineers and their professional organizations. The aim of this meeting is to enrich the Coalition’s contributions to ongoing discussions about the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress in regional human rights bodies and at the United Nations by exploring challenging conceptual questions about the meaning of the right and its application in practice.

(image courtesy of Dell)

This week is unsurprisingly very sparse in terms of events. Enjoy the Fourth everyone!

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013

The American Economic Recovery and the Defense Industry
Brookings Institution
10:00AM – 12:00PM

On July 2, Brookings will host a discussion on defense spending, military strategy and sequestration in the context of the broader American economic recovery. With many parts of the U.S. defense industry located in major urban centers, the fate of America’s metropolitan economies is tightly linked to the defense spending debate. While the economic health of those urban centers helps guide business strategy, the domestic discretionary accounts that help metropolitan regions build infrastructure, educate workforces, form public-private partnerships, and otherwise catalyze growth face similar indiscriminate cuts to those of defense.

Occupational Health and Safety Training
George Mason University
8:00AM – 2:00PM

For those of you working in Occupational Health and Safety who need to renew your training, George Mason University is offering a series of training workshops on Tuesday, including Safety Refresher, Hazard Communication, Bloodbourne Pathogens, and others. For more information and to register, visit their website here.

Monday July 8th, 2013

Sagebrush Rebel: Reagan’s Battle with Environmental Extremists and Why It Matters Today
Heritage Foundation
12:00PM – 1:00PM

Author William Perry Pendley, a former member of the Reagan Administration and author of some of Reagan’s most sensible energy and environmental policies, provides an insider’s view of how Reagan fought the new wave of anti-human environmentalists and managed to enact laws that protected nature while promoting the prosperity and freedom of man – saving the American economy in the process.

Tuesday, July 9th, 2013

U.S.-Russia Plutonium Disposition: Adventures With MOX
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
2:00PM – 3:30PM

The Carnegie Endowment’s Nuclear Policy Program will convene a special briefing and discussion on this controversial effort to reduce plutonium stockpiles. Panelists will discuss the program’s objectives and its difficulties, as well as options for minimizing plutonium that are now being explored. Speakers include Douglas Birch and R. Jeffrey Smith from the Center for Public Integrity, who have recently published four articles on this topic, and Frank von Hippel of Princeton University.

10th Anniversary of the Proliferation Security Initiative
Center for Strategic and International Studies
3:30PM – 5:00PM

The Bush administration created the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) ten years ago to improve global efforts to interdict shipments of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their dual-use components. This voluntary arrangement has primarily relied on bilateral shipboarding agreements and exercises to help improve responses to suspect shipments. Beginning with 11 ‘core’ states, PSI now has 102 member states. Despite this, there are still gaps in the system. Recently, the Obama administration has declared its intention to turn PSI into a ‘durable international effort.’ Please join our distinguished panel of speakers as we discuss how PSI has developed, and how it might move forward into the future.