Category: Week In DC

This Week in DC: Events

by Siddha Hover, posted in Events, Week In DC

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.

This week in DC: Events

by Siddha Hover, posted in Events, Week In DC

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)

This Week in DC: Events 7.8.13

by Siddha Hover, posted in Events, Week In DC

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 in DC: Events

by Siddha Hover, posted in Events, Week In DC

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.

This Week in DC: Events

by Siddha Hover, posted in Events, Week In DC

Events this week are more international politics related.

DC EventsTuesday, June 11

The Case to Remove Cuba from the Terrorist List
CSIS
8:00AM – 9:00AM

Last week, in what has become an annual rite of passage since 1982, Cuba was placed on the U.S. State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism. Despite this, there are growing calls for Cuba to be taken off the list. Join us for a discussion and look at the arguments to be made for Cuba’s removal.

Open to the public; however, seating is limited. To RSVP, please send name and affiliation to the Americas Program at americas@csis.org.

Wednesday, June 12

Reform, Revolution or Status Quo? Regional Dynamics in a Changing Arab World
US Institute of Peace
10:00AM – 11:30AM

This meeting is co-sponsored by the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center and the U.S.Institute of Peace.

Some experts predicted that the ‘Arab spring’ rebellions would widen the strategic, political, and even ideological gap between Arab states undergoing dramatic change and those defending the status quo. In fact, no such clear breach has occurred. Instead, Dr. Adeed Dawisha, distinguished professor of political science at Miami University, argues that sectarian tensions and economic constraints have dampened the potentially ‘incendiary’ effect of the Arab political revolts. Please join us at USIP for an engaging discussion on these dynamics in the Middle East with Dr. Dawisha, the State Department’s Dafna Rand, and USIP’s Daniel Brumberg on June 12, from 10:00am to 11:30am.

The U.S. and China: A New Kind of Great Power Relationship?
Brookings Institution
2:00PM – 3:30PM

This weekend’s meeting between Presidents Barack Obama and Xi Jinping at the former Annenberg Estate in California presents the two leaders with an opportunity to address a wide range of pressing issues, from flash points in the Korean peninsula to climate change and the global economy. To China’s leaders, this meeting will contribute to the development of a “new kind of great power relationship,” a concept that has been heavily promoted in recent months in state media and official pronouncements. On June 12, the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings will host Madame Fu Ying, the spokeswoman for the China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) and the chair of the NPC’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

Thursday, June 13

After the Arab Uprisings
New America Foundation
9:00AM – 10:30AM

Two years after the Arab uprisings began, many countries in the Middle East and North Africa are undergoing complex political, social and economic transformations. Arab countries in transition are trying to articulate economic reform agendas amidst tumultuous internal developments and a challenging external environment. The divergent economic interests of governments and civil society groups further complicate the reform process. Alongside these near-term obstacles to economic stability, the region must contend with the medium-term challenges of diversifying their economies, creating jobs, and generating more inclusive growth. On June 13, New America Foundation’s Middle East Task Force will host Adnan Mazarei, the Deputy Director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, to discuss the region’s economic performance in 2012 and expectations for 2013.

Friday, June 14

The India-Pakistan Conundrum: Shooting for a Century
Brookings Institution
10:00AM – 11:30AM

The rivalry between India and Pakistan has proven to be one of the world’s most intractable international conflicts. In his new book, Shooting for a Century (Brookings Press, 2013), Brookings Senior Fellow Stephen P. Cohen explores the origins and costs of India-Pakistan hostility, various explanations of why the dispute endures, past and current efforts to normalize the relationship, as well as the consequences of nuclearization. He argues that the prospects for normalization are poor, but because of the stakes and urgency, it is a process deserving of bilateral effort and greater world attention. Cohen also outlines suggestions as to how the rivalry might end, as well as the approach he believes the United States should take vis-à-vis the rivalry. On June 14, the India Project at Brookings will host the launch of Shooting for a Century with a discussion on present and past ties between India and Pakistan, prospects for normalization, as well as what role, if any, the U.S. should play.

This Week in DC: Events

by Siddha Hover, posted in Events, Week In DC

Don’t forget, our May Biodefense Policy Seminar,  featuring Dr. Daniel Gerstein, Deputy Under Secretary for Science & Technology in the Department of Homeland Security, is this Thursday evening! Dr. Gerstein’s talk, “National Security and Arms Control in the Age of Biotechnology”, will examine emerging threats at the nexus of arms control and advancements in biotechnology.  Come and ask questions at 7:20 PM in the Meese Conference Room, Mason Hall!

DC EventsTuesday, May 20

Threat and Response: Combating Advanced Attacks and Cyber-Espionage
Center for Strategic and International Studies
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Speakers from across the government and private sectors will discuss burgeoning threats in cybersecurity.

How Arab Public Opinion Is Reshaping the Middle East
Brookings Institution
3:00 – 4:00 PM

The Arab awakening that began in 2011 is transforming the Middle East in ways that continue to surprise seasoned observers. As new political leaders and movements struggle for power and work to shape the region’s future, one thing is clear: public opinion is more consequential now than it has arguably ever been. How Arabs view themselves and the world around them will have enormous consequences for the region and the larger international community in the years ahead. How are changes in Arab public opinion shaping the changes occurring across the region? Have the U.S. and its allies done enough to understand and support the voices of Arabs seeking greater representation and opportunity?

Wednesday, May 21st

Politics, Higher Education and Healthcare in the Austerity Era
Brookings Institution
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Since the onset of the Great Recession, public discussion has centered on whether spending or austerity is the best path to economic recovery. As evidenced by the sequestration, recurring debt ceiling fights and the ongoing euro crisis, clear policy prescriptions to kickstart anemic economies remain elusive. Often lost in the public discussion surrounding government budgets, though, is consideration of austerity’s implications for national politics and how policy is enacted and implemented. How has the debate surrounding spending versus budget-cutting shaped the political conversation in the United States? What has been austerity’s impact on the policy-making process?

Health Diplomacy as a Weapon in the Battle for Hearts and Minds
NextGen Foreign Policy Network
6:30PM – 8:00 PM

Global health is increasingly recognized as an important part of international relations, that can have a direct or indirect impact on national security. Health diplomacy enables countries to project a positive image in nations where they are not always welcome, but where their medical expertise is needed. At the same time, health diplomacy can also be an incredible human adventure, with floating hospitals treating thousands of patients on ships.

Thursday, May 23

National Security and Arms Control in the Age of Biotechnology
GMU Biodefense Policy Seminar Series
7:20PM – 8:30PM

The Biodefense Policy Seminars are the D.C. area’s premiere speaker series focused on biodefense and biosecurity issues. The monthly seminars – free and open to the public – feature leading figures within the academic, security, industry, and policy fields of biodefense. Past speakers have included Dr. Charles Bailey, Executive Director at the National Biodefense Center and Dr. Alexander Garza, former Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Homeland Security.

About the May Speaker: Dr. Daniel M. Gerstein has served as the Deputy Under Secretary for Science & Technology in the Department of Homeland Security since August 2011. He is also an Adjunct Professor at American University in Washington, DC at the School of International Service (SIS) where he teaches graduate level courses on biological warfare and the evolution of military thought. Dr. Gerstein has extensive experience in the security and defense sectors in a variety of positions while serving as a Senior Executive Service (SES) government civilian, in uniform, and in industry. Before joining DHS, he served as the Principal Director for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) within the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Policy). He has served on four different continents participating in homeland security and counterterrorism, peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and combat in addition to serving for over a decade in the Pentagon in various high level staff assignments.

Iran: The Battle for the Presidency
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
12:30 – 1:30 PM

Iran’s Council of Guardians will announce the list of candidates for the next president of Iran on May 22-23. Our panel of experts will discuss the candidates, their platforms, and their likely impact on future domestic and foreign policy.

 

This Week in DC: Events

by Siddha Hover, posted in Events, Week In DC

Don’t forget the Biodefense Brown Bag, “WMD” Terrorism? Ricin,  Boston, and Beyond, is this Thursday at 1:30PM in the PIA Conference room! Join us for a discussion with the faculty and students from the GMU graduate program in Biodefense. What is ricin? How afraid should we be of bioterrorism? Does ricin count as WMD? What about the pressure cooker bombs used by the Boston bombers? Should the U.S. government really be prosecuting Tsarnaev for using WMD? What are WMD and why does the answer matter?

We will discuss these and other important questions – bring your lunch and bring your questions!DC Events

Tuesday, May 7th

Does Spraying for Mosquitos Discourage Use of Nets? A Surprise Result from an RCT in Eritrea
Center for Global Development
12:00pm to 1:30pm

Does indoor residual spraying (IRS) for mosquitos discourage the use of bed nets, as some critics have alleged? A new paper from Pedro Carneiro and others using data from a randomized control trial in Eritrea finds the opposite: IRS actually encouraged net acquisition and use. Carneiro will present the findings and discuss the implications for the wider debate about under what conditions public health interventions crowd out private health investments.

Wednesday, May 8th

Case Study: Regulating the Private Health Sector in Afghanistan
O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law
12:00pm – 1:00pm

Afghanistan is transitioning from a system in which government provides services to one in which government is the regulator of a changing public health care system and a new emerging private health sector. In the years since the Taliban era ended, the Government of Afghanistan has taken many steps to encourage the development of a market economy and in 2012 its Cabinet passed a law to regulate the private health sector.Since last year, Professor Forzley has been working as a consultant and legal advisor to assist the Afghanistan MoPH to implement the new law in accordance with rule of law and good governance principles. Her presentation will cover a background on Afghanistan, its health system and the new private sector, the main functions of the new law, how procedures and systems are being developed to reflect good governance principle and future planned work.

Thursday, May 9th

“WMD”  Terrorism? Ricin, Boston, and Beyond
PIA Conference Room 251, Robinson Hall A, George Mason University
1:30 PM – 3:00PM

Bring your lunch and join us for a discussion on the ricin letters, Boston bombings, and the use of the word “WMD”.

U.S.-Russia Relations: “Reset Button” must include closer cooperation on Counterterrorism
American Foreign Policy Council
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

…[T]he U.S. has now inherited one of Russia’s principal threats, Chechen terrorists. The Chechen connection to the Boston Marathon twin IED explosions has thrust U.S.-Russia counterterrorism cooperation back into the spotlight. Did the FBI drop the ball on intelligence provided by Russia on Tamerlan Tsarnaev in 2011 or have Putin’s autocratic actions against Russian dissidents undercut the credibility of his intelligence services? Or both?

Friday, May 10th

Mitigating Natural Disasters, Promoting Development: The Sendai Dialogue and Disaster Risk Management in Asia
Brookings Institution
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

On May 10, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies and the Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement will co-host a discussion featuring experts on natural disasters and disaster risk management from the United States and Asia. Panelists representing the private, public, and international sectors will seek to refine some of the topics considered at the Sendai Dialogue. They will identify the lessons learned from 3/11; how these lessons can be applied to overseas economic assistance programs, focusing on DRM; the specific challenges of disaster risk management among Asian countries; and how DRM can be integrated and mainstreamed into development assistance across different platforms.

After each panel, the speakers will take audience questions.

This Week in DC: Events

by Siddha Hover, posted in Events, Week In DC

DC EventsOur next Biodefense Policy Seminar is this Thursday! The Biodefense Policy Seminar is  the D.C. area’s premiere speaker series focused on biodefense and biosecurity issues. The monthly seminars – free and open to the public – feature leading figures within the academic, security, industry, and policy fields of biodefense.

This Thursday’s seminar, “Health Threats in a Security World”, features Dr. Alexander Garza,  Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Homeland Security. Join us at 7:20 PM in the Meese Conference Room in Mason Hall, Thursday April 18th!

Monday, April 15th

North Korea and Policy Priorities for the United States
Brookings Institute
10:00AM – 11:30AM

On April 15, Foreign Policy at Brookings will host a discussion on the policy priorities for the United States in dealing with North Korea during and after the current crisis. Brookings experts will debate the threat to the United States and its allies and analyze steps that the United States can take to mitigate the danger, including sanctions, engaging allies and neighbors in the region, nonproliferation efforts and, if necessary, responding to aggressive actions by North Korea.

The Future of the U.S. Nuclear Deterrent: A Conversation with Amb. Linton Brooks
American Security Project
12:30PM – 1:30PM

The future form of today’s U.S. deterrent could change. Many call for reducing the number of nuclear weapons in the U.S. arsenal while plans for the future triad are in flux. 2013 could be a critical year for many of these issues. Join us for a conversation with Linton Brooks, Ambassador and former Administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Linton F. Brooks is an independent consultant on national security issues, a senior adviser at CSIS, a distinguished research fellow at the National Defense University, and an advisor to four of the U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories.

Tuesday, April 16th

The Syrian Conflict: Challenges & Opportunities for WMD Counterproliferation
Georgetown Law
12:00PM – 1:00PM

Public symposium and panel lecture on Syrian weapons of mass destruction.

Foreign Policy Panel Series: “Are North Korea’s Threats of War Real?”
World Affairs Council
6:30PM – 8:00PM

The recent threats of war by North Korea’s Kim Jong-un have caused serious alarm in the international community and tensions to rise on the Korean peninsula. This is not the first time such threats have been made. Should they be taken seriously, or are they part of a pattern of diplomatic strategy? How real is the threat of war from North Korea?

Wednesday, April 17th

‘Avoiding Armageddon: America, India, Pakistan, to the Brink and Back’
Hudson Institute
12:00PM – 2:00PM

Long-term stability in South Asia is critical to American national security. In the last 20 years, successive U.S. administrations have diplomatically intervened to keep tensions between the nuclear-armed nations of India and Pakistan from escalating into full-scale war. Moving forward, the health of the relationship between New Delhi and Islamabad will determine whether the region has a future of general stability and peace or chronic conflict. In light of this, Hudson Institute is pleased to invite you to a discussion between Senior Fellow and former Ambassador of Pakistan to the U.S. Husain Haqqani and Bruce Riedel, a Brookings Institution scholar and author of Avoiding Armageddon: America, India, and Pakistan to the Brink and Back. Lunch will be served.

Strategic Options for Iran: Balancing Pressure with Diplomacy
Woodrow Wilson Center
12:15 – 2:00PM

Former senior national security officials, military officers and experts with decades of Middle East experience have joined to present a balanced report on the strategic options for dealing with Iran. Moving the debate past politics and unexamined assumptions they argue that the time has come for Washington to strengthen the diplomatic track in the two track policy of pressure and diplomacy that has characterized current U.S. policy.

Public Presentation with Nils Daulaire, Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Americas Society/Council of the Americas
3:15PM – 4:30PM

Please join the Council of the Americas for a public, on-the-record presentation by Dr. Nils Daulaire, assistant secretary for global affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. With vast experience in public health in the world’s poorest communities, Daulaire will outline the United States’ health priorities in the hemisphere and highlight several key initiatives that are improving health in the region. Prior to his appointment at HHS in 2010, Daulaire served for more than a decade as president and CEO of the Global Health Council and as deputy assistant administrator for policy and senior international health advisor at USAID.

Thursday, April 18th

National Security & Foreign Policy Priorities in the FY 2014 International Affairs Budget
U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (Senate Dirksen 562)
9:30 AM

Witnesses: The Honorable John F. Kerry, Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State

Disaster Risk Reduction and Conflict Prevention
US Institute of Peace
1:00PM – 3:00PM

As the United Nations debates a new set of development priorities for the post-2015 revision of its Millennium Development Goals, USIP’s Center of Innovation for Science, Technology & Peacebuilding and the National Academy of Engineering jointly invite you to a discussion of the new challenges for peacebuilders presented by the interplay of these “natural” and political risks.

Health Threats in a Security World
Meese Conference Room, Mason Hall, George Mason University
7:20PM – 8:30PM

As the second speaker in the Biodefense Policy Seminar series, Dr. Alexander Garza will discuss emerging health threats in his capacity as the assistant secretary for health affairs and chief medical officer of the Department of Homeland Security. His bio includes managing the Department’s medical and health security matters, oversees the health aspects of contingency planning for all chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards, and leads a coordinated effort to ensure that the Department is prepared to respond to biological and chemical weapons of mass destruction. Prior to joining the Department in August 2009, Dr. Garza spent 13 years as a practicing physician and medical educator.

Friday, April 19th

Nukes, Missiles, and Feints: The Real Deal on Iran and North Korea
Center for National Policy
9:30AM – 10:45AM

The rhetoric from North Korea has become increasingly hostile. Last Friday, April 12th, the country warned that “nuclear war is unavoidable” and declared that Tokyo would be its first target in the event of a war on the Korean Peninsula. This statement is just the latest in an escalating war of words and rising tensions between North Korean officials and the U.S. Join Truman Project President, just back from Japan, Rachel Kleinfeld and an expert panel as they discuss the current situation in North Korea, how the situation differs from that of Iran, and how we can better understand Asian hard security and the nuclear challenge.

This Week in DC: Events

by Siddha Hover, posted in Events, Week In DC

Roundup of the week’s most interesting (and free) international security, science & technology, and health events.

DC EventsTuesday, April 2nd

Middle East Turmoil and American Decline: Views from Singapore and Asia
Middle East Institute
12:00PM – 1:00PM

The relationships between the Middle East and maritime Asia are becoming ever more extensive. Against the backdrop of this deepening cross-regional interdependence with Asian economies and middle classes expanding rapidly, the Arab Middle East is grappling with profound political changes and challenges, and the United States is engaged in strategic “rebalancing.” Dr. Michael Hudson will discuss how the political upheaval in the Middle East and US involvement in the Arab world are viewed in Singapore and, more broadly, in maritime Asia.

Wednesday, April 3rd

NATO’s European Allies: Military Capability and Political Will
SAIS
10:00 – 11:30AM

At a time when Europe really has to lead in its own region, is it able to do? This is the first in-depth analysis of this key question for the transatlantic relationship. Janne Haaland Matlary, professor in the Department of Political Science at University of Oslo in Norway and co-editor of NATO’s European Allies: Military Capability and Political Will, will discuss this topic.

Russian Security and Defense Policy: Why Russia Is Not Stuck in the Cold War and Why That Is a Problem
SIAS
12:30 – 1:45PM

Celeste Wallander, associate professor and director of the International Politics Program at American University’s School of International Service and former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Russia/Ukraine/Eurasia in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, will discuss this topic.Note: Attendees are welcome to bring their lunch to the event.

Thursday, April 4th

Mitigating the National Security Impact of Cost Cutting: How to Ensure Innovation & Development in Lean Times
Ronald Reagan Building (hosted by Government Executive)
7:30AM – 9:30AM

Ever increasing global threats coupled with the financial constraints our nation is addressing make it imperative that agencies and private sector stakeholders have the resources and path forward for a critical component to ensuring National Security. Join Nextgov and INSA on April 4th and hear from key leadership at IARPA, DIA, and the Applied Research Laboratory, Penn State University who will address these issues and more

U.S. Foreign Policy: The Next Four Years
George Washington University
6:00PM – 7:15PM

Panel discussion

Friday, April 5th

U.S. Policy Priorities for Global Health Diplomacy and Multilateral Engagement in the Second Obama Term
Center for Strategic and International Studies
10:30AM – 12:00PM

During the first Obama term, global health diplomacy took on elevated importance as a U.S. foreign policy objective. Both the Department of State and the Department of Health and Human Services appear poised to continue to raise the diplomatic profile of global health during the second Obama term. Over the next year, U.S. diplomats will be challenged to help ensure: smooth, sufficient replenishments of the GAVI Alliance, the World Bank International Development Association, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the articulation of a robust set of goals to advance the post-2015 Millennium Development agenda; and mutually beneficial relationships with emerging powers, many of which are active global health actors. This session will feature a lively discussion with high-level officials and experts from inside and outside the U.S. government.

This Week in DC: Events

by Siddha Hover, posted in Events, Week In DC

Don’t forget the Biodefense Policy Series inaugural lecture  is this Wednesday at 7:20PM! The seminar will feature Dr. Charles Bailey, Executive Director of the National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases. Click here for more details – we hope to see you there! 

DC EventsTuesday, March 19th

‘Setting Priorities for American Leadership: A New National Security Strategy for the U.S.’
12:30 – 2:00PM
Johns Hopkins University SAIS

Jim Goldgeier, co-chair of the Project for a United and Strong America and dean of American University’s School of International Studies; Kurt Volker, co-chair of the Project for a United and Strong America, executive director of Arizona State University’s McCain Institute for International Leadership and senior fellow at the SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations (CTR); and Hans Binnendijk (moderator), CTR senior fellow and visiting scholar, will discuss this topic.

Wednesday, March 20th

Awareness and Impressions of Synthetic Biology: Results of the 2013 Poll
12:00 – 2:00PM
Woodrow Wilson Center

In our latest survey, conducted in January 2013, three-fourths of respondents say they have heard little or nothing about synthetic biology, a level consistent with that measured in 2010. While initial impressions about the science are largely undefined, these feelings do not necessarily become more positive as respondents learn more. The public has mixed reactions to specific synthetic biology applications, and almost one-third of respondents favor a ban on synthetic biology research until we better understand its implications and risks…Please join us Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at noon to discuss the complete results from the latest poll. A light lunch will be served beginning at 11:30 am.

Counterterrorism Policies and Priorities: Addressing the Evolving Threat
2:15PM
U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (Senate Dirksen 419)

Witnesses include: Jane Harman (President, CEO Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars), Michael E. Leiter (Senior Counselor to the CEO, Palantir; former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center), Kenneth L. Wainstein (Partner, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP; Former Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism)

Biodefense Policy Series
7:20 PM
George Mason University (Johnson Center Meeting Room B)

Dr. Charles Bailey is the Executive Director of the National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases. He manages a Biosafety Level -3 containment laboratory and conducts translational research aimed at developing diagnostics, antiviral drugs, therapeutics and vaccines against biological threat pathogens or newly emerging infectious diseases. Prior to joining George Mason, Dr. Bailey served in the US Army for 25 years where he conducted research on arthropod borne viral diseases in the US, Southeast Asia and Africa. Dr. Bailey also served as a senior analyst with the Defense Intelligence Agency and as an analyst for the Battelle Memorial Institute.

Thursday, March 21st

Why this defense drawdown must be different for the Pentagon
9:00 AM
American Enterprise Institute

America’s military drawdown is well underway. For years, the Pentagon has been cutting capability and capacity, scaling back war plans, absorbing ever more efficiencies, canceling weapons systems, and reducing readiness in response to roughly $1 trillion in defense budget cuts before sequestration. The onset of sequestration means that this approach is no longer feasible…At this event, AEI’s Marilyn Ware Center for Security Studies will host a panel of defense experts to discuss the right and wrong ways to further cut the defense budget.

Friday, March 22nd

Phantom Menace or Looming Danger?: A New Framework for Assessing Bioweapons Threats
12:00PM – 1:30PM
Woodrow Wilson Center

This book discussion event with author Kathleen Vogel is part of an ongoing series that provides a forum for policy specialists from Congress and the Executive, business, academia, and journalism to exchange information and share perspectives on current nonproliferation issues.