Center for a New American Security

On Wednesday, John Nagl stepped down as President of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Since joining CNAS, John has been an avid supporter of our natural security work, often remarking that while ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are the most pressing challenges America faces, the long-term challenges to U.S. security will come from natural resource competition and climate change.

John’s service to the nation as an Army officer and his ability to articulate the importance of non-traditional security challenges in shaping the global security environment has helped put this work on the map for many national security practitioners who may not have been convinced of its importance to U.S. national security policy. We’re indebted to John for his enduring support, from his work on Fueling the Future Force to his impressing the importance of climate change to a room full of flag officers. I could wax poetic, but I won’t (my colleague Andrew Exum has a nice post about John already). I’ll simply say this: thanks boss. We wouldn’t be where we are without you. 

Over the last several weeks, my colleagues and I have been trying to make the case for a national-level dialogue on the Arctic (see CDR Gilreath’s post from Wednesday and my National Journal piece from the first week in January). Our call for a national dialogue is in part driven by the need to build awareness among a larger audience about what the United States is currently doing in the Arctic, and then to have a conversation about what our national objectives are in the High North. Simply put, what do we want to achieve there? How much of a presence do we want to have? Are we willing to forfeit our leadership role to Canada, Russia or other Arctic (or non-Arctic?) states?

This photo – I think – helps get the conversation going. In this photo taken on January 16, 2012 in Nome, Alaska, a fuel tanker docks after being escorted through the ice by the U.S. Coast Guard Healy (the only operational polar icebreaker in the fleet), so that it can deliver more than 1.3 million gallons of fuel to the local community. Is this a priority mission for the Coast Guard, and, if so, is it resourced to continue executing this mission? Let’s have that conversation. 

Despite a warning from the Iranian military that the U.S. carrier should not return to the Persian Gulf, the USS John C. Stennis continued businesses as usual this week, conducting maritime security operations with the U.S. 5th Fleet in support of military operations in Afghanistan. In this photo taken on January 4, 2012, an F/A-18F Super Hornet launches from the deck of the Stennis. Energy analysts are keeping a watchful eye on tensions between the United States and Iran, and the potential effects on global oil prices.

Photo: Courtesy of Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate and the U.S. Navy.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced an end to the U.S. military mission in Iraq yesterday in Baghdad. As the U.S. military withdraws, U.S. State Department and other civilian officials that remain behind will need to stay cognizant of the water, energy and other resource challenges the country continues to face.

Photo: Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense.

The Navy will conduct its final alternative fuel demonstration for the year this morning in Panama City, Florida. The Navy will test a Landing Craft Air Cushion operating on a 50-50 blend of hydro-processed algal oil and conventional petroleum.

Delegates met this week in Durban, South Africa for the 17^th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to discuss, among others things, what to do once the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

Despite low expectations about an agreement on Kyoto, some reports pointed to potentially meaningful progress, particularly with respect to climate finance for developing countries – that is, a new multilateral Green Climate Fund that would provide cash-flows to countries to develop climate-related projects, including renewable energy technologies and climate adaptation projects that can help dampen the impacts from climate change.  

Delegates will meet through next week, December 9, and we’ll continue to track the progress through our friends at the Adopt a Negotiator Project.

Photo: The main conference hall in Durban, South Africa. Courtesy of the Adopt a Negotiator Project. 

Yesterday, the U.S. Navy reached another milestone with a successful demonstration of shipboard alternative fuel, using a 50-50 blend of algae-based oil and petroleum F-76. The demonstration was conducted aboard the decommissioned Spruance-class destroyer Paul F. Foster, a “Self-Defense Test Ship to provide the Navy an at-sea, remotely controlled, engineering test and evaluation platform without the risk to personnel or operational assets.”

Photo: Courtesy of Charlie Houser and the U.S. Navy. 

On October 17, 2011, a U.S. Marine Corps humanitarian assistance survey team from the III Marine Expeditionary Force deployed to Pathum Thani province, Thailand to assess the extent of flood damage in order to develop a plan for humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations. Thailand has been reeling from devastating rains that have inundated 61 of its 77 provinces with flood waters, impacting approximately 8.2 million people. The floods are also taking a toll on the economy, with auto manufacturing and rice production taking a huge hit.  

Photo: Courtesy of Cpl. Robert J. Maurer and the U.S. Marine Corps.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus addressed the 20^th International Seapower Symposium on Thursday where he stressed the need for international partners to look for opportunities to collaborate around energy security. “Energy and security are increasingly affecting how the world looks at its relationships," Mabus said. Indeed, joint development and testing of alternative fuels is one opportunity for the United States to strengthen its ties with international partners while promoting its energy security goals. 

Photo: Courtesy of Logistics Specialist 1^st Class John Stone and the U.S Navy.

Yesterday, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus addressed the 2011 Naval Energy Forum, pushing the message that the Navy’s efforts to develop greener alternative fuel enhances the military’s mission effectiveness. “The reason we’re doing this is to become better war fighters,” Secretary Mabus said. “There’s lots of ancillary things that come from that – more jobs, better environmental stewardship – but those are all side effects.” Indeed, the message that combat effectiveness and greener fuels development are not mutually exclusive was crystal clear.

National Defense Magazine covered the first day of the forum at length here, including remarks from Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the new Chief of Naval Operations. According to the magazine, Secretary Mabus said that “A SEAL team will soon be fielded without the need for resupply. It will produce all the water and energy it uses with mobile purification devices, super-efficient power generators and renewable sources, Mabus said.” I look forward to hearing more about this. Follow the second and final day of the Naval Energy Forum on Twitter by following @NavalEnergy.

Photo: Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus spoke before an audience at the Naval Energy Forum on October 13, 2011. Courtesy of the U.S. Navy’s Task Force Energy.