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U.S. National Security and Defense Policy

US National Security Strategy

 

CNAS has a range of efforts aimed at helping American policymakers develop the best national security strategy for the nation, as well as supporting strategies for critical issues such as energy security and coping with violent extremism.

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  • Beijing's South China Sea Gamble
    Type: News Item
    Source: The Diplomat

    February 4, 2012 — In an op-ed in The Diplomat, CNAS Research Associate Will Rogers questions the strategic significance of the South China Sea's energy resources to Beijing.

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  • The Devil in the Deep Blue Detail
    Type: News Item
    Source: The Economist

    February 4, 2012 — The Economist's Banyan column cites the recent CNAS report, "Cooperation from Strength: the U.S., China and the South China Sea," discussing the use of the sea as an argument for a naval build-up in the region.

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  • In Winding Down War, a Fundamentally Different Challenge in Afghanistan than in Iraq
    Type: News Item
    Source: The Washington Post

    February 2, 2012 — In The Washington Post, CNAS Senior Advisor LTG David Barno, USA (Ret.) and Senior Fellow Andrew Exum comment on the uncertain outcome in Afghanistan as U.S. troops transfer the bulk of the country's security to local forces.

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  • Panetta Comment Prompts Questions, Concerns in Afghanistan
    Type: News Item
    Source: The Washington Post

    February 2, 2012 — CNAS Visiting Fellow MAJ Fernando Lujan, (USA) is interviewed by The Washington Post, commenting that Afghan army leaders take pride in assuming a larger role in the maintaining the country's security.

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  • Saleh Should Stay in New York
    Type: News Item
    Source: The National Interest

    January 31, 2012 — CNAS National Security Research Intern J. Dana Stuster writes in The National Interest, commenting that Yemen's Ali Abdullah Saleh will be more important to shaping reform in his country in comparison to nonaligned populist protesters.

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  • Iran Well Prepared for the Worst
    Type: News Item
    Source: Asia Times

    January 31, 2012 — In Asia Times, Patrick Cronin, the CNAS Senior Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program, comments on the possibility of closing the Strait of Hormuz and its consequences on the global economy.

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  • Twitter, Democracy, and Internet Freedom
    Type: News Item
    Source: TechCrunch

    January 29, 2012 — In a contributing post for TechCrunch, CNAS Senior Advisor Richard Fontaine discusses Twitter's new censorship policy and its implications for Internet freedom and the U.S. government's ability to protect free expression.

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  • Experts Divided on Pentagon's Proposed Cuts
    Type: News Item
    Source: CNN

    January 27, 2012 — Patrick Cronin, the Senior Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at CNAS, talks to CNN about a declining U.S. military presence and its possible transformation into a minor middle power.

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  • Pentagon Budget Ends Post-9/11 Era, Ushers in Pacific Era
    Type: News Item
    Source: U.S. News and World Report

    January 26, 2012 — CNAS Bacevich Fellow Travis Sharp comments in U.S. News and World Report on the challenges of implementing defense cuts that reflect President Obama's vision of a smaller and more agile military force.

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  • Obama Has Had Rare Run of Luck with Elite SEAL Operations
    Type: News Item
    Source: USA Today

    January 26, 2012 — In USA Today, CNAS Non-Resident Senior Fellow COL Robert Killebrew, USA (Ret.) comments on President Obama's willingness to take risks through the use of special operations forces.

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  • India, relations, cnas, richard fontaine, global swing states
    India as a Global Power: Contending Views from India
    January 23, 2012 - 9:00am - 4:45pm
    City View Room
    Washington, District of Columbia

    On January 23, the Center for a New American Security, in partnership with The George Washington University's Rising Powers Initiative, hosted "India as a Global Power: Contending Views from India". The conference featured Nathaniel Fick, CEO of CNAS, and Richard Fontaine, Senior Advisor at CNAS, as well as leading Indian national security and foreign policy scholars and officials, and a keynote address by Indian Ambassador to the United States Nirupama Rao.

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  • Cooperation from Strength: The United States, China and the South China Sea
    Cooperation from Strength: The United States, China and the South China Sea
    January 10, 2012 - 9:00am - 11:30am
    The Willard InterContinental Hotel
    Washington, District of Columbia

    At an event on January 10, 2012, from 9:00-11:30 a.m., the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) will release a report by CNAS experts Dr. Patrick Cronin and Robert D. Kaplan titled Cooperation from Strength: The United States, China and the South China Sea, which examines the future of U.S. strategy in the South China Sea. The event will feature a keynote address by Admiral Jonathan Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations. RSVP here or call (202) 457-9427.

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  • The Partnership
    The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb
    January 4, 2012 - 5:30pm - 8:30pm
    The W Hotel
    Washington, District of Columbia

    The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) cordially invites you to the book launch for The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb by award-winning New York Times journalist Philip Taubman. RSVP here or call (202) 457-9427.

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  • Losing the Battle
    Losing the Battle: The Challenge of Military Suicide
    November 1, 2011 - 4:30pm - 6:00pm
    The Willard InterContinental Hotel's Grand Ballroom
    Washington, District of Columbia

    The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held an event, Losing the Battle, on November 1, 2011, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., to discuss the issue of suicide in the U.S. military with a distinguished panel of experts, including the author of the CNAS report, Losing the Battle: The Challenge of Military Suicide, Dr. Margaret Harrell, who is a Senior Fellow at CNAS and Director of the Joining Forces Initiative; General Peter Chiarelli, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army; Juliette Kayyem, national security columnist for The Boston Globe and a lecturer in public policy at Harvard University; and Dr. Jan Kemp, National Mental Health Program Director for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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  • General Norton A. Schwartz with CNAS Fellows
    Discussion with General Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force
    October 19, 2011 - 12:00pm - 1:00pm
    The Willard InterContinental Hotel
    Washington, District of Columbia

    On October 19, the Center for a New American Security hosted a lunchtime discussion at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel with General Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. The discussion was part of CNAS’ ongoing National Security Leaders Forum series.

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  • lieutenant general mark hertling, cnas, nate fick, europe, army, nato
    Roundtable Discussion with Lieutenant General Mark P. Hertling
    October 11, 2011 - 12:30pm - 2:00pm
    Center for a New American Security
    Washington, District of Columbia

    On October 11, the Center for a New American Security hosted a roundtable discussion with Lieutenant General Mark P. Hertling, Commander of U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army.  LTG Hertling discussed the U.S.’s ongoing strategic interests in Europe and the resources required to successfully secure those interests.

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  • Hard Choices: Responsible Defense in an Age of Austerity
    October 7, 2011 - 8:30am - 10:30am
    The Newseum's Knight Conference Center
    Washington, District of Columbia

    On October 7, 2011, CNAS released Hard Choices: Responsible Defense in an Age of Austerity at an event featuring a discussion with the report authors - LTG David W. Barno, USA (Ret.), Dr. Nora Bensahel and Travis Sharp - and leading defense and budget experts Gordon Adams and Tom Donnelly.

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  • Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Shapiro
    Roundtable Discussion with Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Shapiro
    September 27, 2011 - 4:00pm - 5:30pm
    Center for a New American Security
    Washington, District of Columbia

    On September 27th, the Center for a New American Security hosted a roundtable conversation with Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro to discuss the future of United States security assistance efforts, the lessons learned from recent events, and the case for establishing the new Fund.

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  • Dr. Kemal Kerkuki, Speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament
    Roundtable Discussion with Dr. Kemal Kerkuki, Speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament
    September 20, 2011 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm
    Center for a New American Security
    Washington, District of Columbia

    On September 20, the Center for a New American Security hosted a roundtable discussion with Dr. Kemal Kerkuki and a number of his colleagues on critical issues in the U.S.-Iraqi relationship, along with the Kurdistan regional government’s relationship with the wider world.

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  • Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic
    Roundtable Discussion with NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Ambassador Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic
    September 16, 2011 - 2:30pm - 3:30pm
    Center for a New American Security
    Washington, District of Columbia

    On September 16, the Center for a New American Security hosted a roundtable discussion with NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Ambassador Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic on the key themes that will shape NATO's spring 2012 summit.

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  • center for a new american security fifth anniversary, cnas
    Center for a New American Security Fifth Anniversary Celebration - Photos
    Date: 02/02/2012
    Media: Photo

    The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) hosted an evening event on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, to celebrate its Fifth Anniversary and to commemorate five years of promoting strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies. The evening celebration featured a remarkable lineup of speakers, including a keynote address by General Martin E. Dempsey, the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Click here to view photos from the event.

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  • Striking Iran’s Nuclear Program
    Date: 01/24/2012
    Media: Audio

    On NPR's "On Point"  with Tom Ashbrook, CNAS Senior Fellow Colin Kahl discusses the threat of war with a nuclear-armed Iran.

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  • us-india relations, national security, defense, diplomacy
    Audio - India as a Global Power: Contending Views from India
    Date: 01/23/2012
    Media: Audio

    On January 23, the Center for a New American Security, in partnership with The George Washington University's Rising Powers Initiative, hosted "India as a Global Power: Contending Views from India". The conference featured Nathaniel Fick, CEO of CNAS, and Richard Fontaine, Senior Advisor at CNAS, as well as leading Indian national security and foreign policy scholars and officials, and a keynote address by Indian Ambassador to the United States Nirupama Rao. Download audio from the event here.

    | more |
  • India, relations, cnas, richard fontaine, global swing states
    Photo - India as a Global Power: Contending Views from India
    Date: 01/23/2012
    Media: Photo

    On January 23, the Center for a New American Security, in partnership with The George Washington University's Rising Powers Initiative, hosted "India as a Global Power: Contending Views from India". The conference featured Nathaniel Fick, CEO of CNAS, and Richard Fontaine, Senior Advisor at CNAS, as well as leading Indian national security and foreign policy scholars and officials, and a keynote address by Indian Ambassador to the United States Nirupama Rao. View photos from the event here.

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  • iraq, war, colin kahl, center for a new american security, tvo, steve paikin
    The Agenda with Steve Paikin: Colin Kahl: Ending the Iraq War
    Date: 01/13/2012
    Media: Video

    CNAS Senior Fellow Colin Kahl is interviewed by Steve Paikin on TVO's The Agenda over the logistics of ending the war in Iraq. 

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  • admiral jonathan greenert, cnas, south china sea, navy
    Keynote Address - Cooperation from Strength: The U.S., China and the South China Sea
    Date: 01/11/2012
    Media: Video

    At an event on January 10, 2012, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) released a report by CNAS experts Dr. Patrick Cronin and Robert D. Kaplan titled "Cooperation from Strength: The United States, China and the South China Sea," which examines the future of U.S. strategy in the South China Sea. The event featured a keynote address by Admiral Jonathan Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations. Watch a video of the address here.

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  • Panel Discussion - Cooperation from Strength: The U.S., China and the South China Sea
    Date: 01/11/2012
    Media: Video

    At an event on January 10, 2012, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) released a report by CNAS experts Dr. Patrick Cronin and Robert D. Kaplan titled "Cooperation from Strength: The United States, China and the South China Sea," which examines the future of U.S. strategy in the South China Sea. The event featured a keynote address by Admiral Jonathan Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations. Watch a video of the panel discussion here.

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  • south china sea, admiral greenert, patrick cronin, robert kaplan, cnas
    Photo - Cooperation from Strength: The U.S., China and the South China Sea
    Date: 01/10/2012
    Media: Photo

    At an event on January 10, 2012, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) released a report by CNAS experts Dr. Patrick Cronin and Robert D. Kaplan titled "Cooperation from Strength: The United States, China and the South China Sea," which examines the future of U.S. strategy in the South China Sea. The event featured a keynote address by Admiral Jonathan Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations. View photos from the event here.

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  • China, Patrick Cronin, Chan Heng Chee, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, Robert Kaplan
    Audio - Cooperation from Strength: The U.S. China and the South China Sea
    Date: 01/10/2012
    Media: Audio

    At an event on January 10, 2012, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) released a report by CNAS experts Dr. Patrick Cronin and Robert D. Kaplan titled "Cooperation from Strength: The United States, China and the South China Sea," which examines the future of U.S. strategy in the South China Sea. The event featured a keynote address by Admiral Jonathan Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations. Listen to the event audio here.

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  • the partnership, nuclear weapons, philip taubman, cnas, atomic bomb
    Audio - The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb
    Date: 01/06/2012
    Media: Audio

    On Wednesday, January 4, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held a book launch for The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb by award-winning journalist Philip Taubman. Taubman shed light on one of the most divisive security issues facing Washington today and told the story of the unlikely efforts of five key Cold War players to eliminate the nuclear arsenal they helped create. David Sanger, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner and Chief Washington Correspondent for The New York Times, interviewed Taubman followed by Q&A with the audience. Download the podcast from the event here.

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  • General Amos
    General James F. Amos, USMC
    Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, USMC

    On October 22, 2010 General James F. Amos assumed the duties of Commandant of the Marine Corps. General Amos was born in Wendell, Idaho and is a graduate of the University of Idaho. A Marine Aviator, General Amos has held command at all levels from Lieutenant Colonel to Lieutenant General.  

    | Read Full Bio |
  • David Asher
    Dr. David Asher
    Non-Resident Senior Fellow

    Dr. David Asher is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at CNAS, where he specializes in issues related to Asia, economics and security. 

    | Read Full Bio |
  • Lieutenant General David W. Barno, USA (Ret.)
    Senior Advisor and Senior Fellow

    General Barno, a highly decorated military officer with over 30 years of service, has served in a variety of command and staff positions in the United States and around the world, to include command at every level. He served many of his early years in special operations forces with Army Ranger battalions, to include combat in both the Grenada and Panama invasions.  In 2003, he was selected to establish a new three-star operational headquarters in Afghanistan and take command of the 20,000 U.S. and Coalition Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom.  For 19 months in this position, he was responsible for the overall military leadership of this complex political-military mission, devising a highly innovative counterinsurgency strategy in close partnership with the U.S. embassy and coalition allies.

    | Read Full Bio |
  • The Honorable Rand Beers
    Under Secretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

    Rand Beers was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the Under Secretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. On June 19, 2009, Beers was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to direct NPPD’s integrated efforts to reduce risks to physical, cyber and communications infrastructures. NPPD collaborates with all levels of government, the private sector, non-government organizations, and international bodies to prevent, respond to, and mitigate threats to U.S.

    | Read Full Bio |
  • Dr. Nora Bensahel
    Dr. Nora Bensahel
    Deputy Director of Studies and Senior Fellow

    Nora Bensahel is Deputy Director of Studies and a Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security.  She recently co-authored Hard Choices: Responsible Defense in an Age of Austerity.  Her other research interests include stability operations, counterinsurgency, civilian capacity for operations abroad, and coalition and alliance operations. She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Security Studies Program at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, where she teaches M.A.

    | Read Full Bio |
  • MG Jeffrey Buchanan, USA
    Major General Jeffrey Buchanan, USA
    Director of Strategic Effects, J9, United States Forces-Iraq

    In September 2010, Major General Jeffrey S. Buchanan became the Director for Strategic Effects, J9, United States Forces-Iraq in Baghdad, Iraq.  In this capacity, he coordinates and implements political, economic and communications activities on behalf of USF-I.  Major General Buchanan also serves as the USF-I spokesman.  Major General Buchanan’s most recent assignment was as the Deputy Chief of Staff G3/5/7, U.S. Army Reserve Command, from August 2009 to August 2010.

    | Read Full Bio |
  • Ashton Cartor
    Ashton B. Carter

    Today’s constrained economic environment demands that taxpayer dollars be prioritized to meet the demands of the 21st century.  On February 22, a week after the defense budget was submitted to Congress, Dr. Ashton B. Carter delivered a keynote address on the Pentagon’s Defense Efficiency Initiative, which was launched to reduce the Department of Defense's overhead expenditures and improve efficiency.  Following Dr. Carter’s remarks was a question and answer period with the audience. CNAS also took questions from Twitter @CNASdc.

    | Read Full Bio |
  • Dr. Bernard D. Cole
    Dr. Bernard D. Cole
    Professor of International History, National War College

    Dr. Bernard D. Cole (Captain, USN, Ret.) is Professor of International History at the National War College in Washington, D.C., where he concentrates on the Chinese military and Asian energy issues.  He previously served 30 years as a Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy, all in the Pacific, during which he commanded USS RATHBURNE (FF1057) and Destroyer Squadron 35; he also served as a Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer in Vietnam with the THIRD Marine Division.  Dr. Cole has written numerous articles and six books: Gunboats and Marines: The U.S.

    | Read Full Bio |
  • Steve Coll
    Steve Coll
    President, New American Foundation

    Steve Coll is president of New America Foundation, and a contributor at The New Yorker magazine. Previously he spent 20 years as a foreign correspondent and senior editor at The Washington Post, serving as the paper's managing editor from 1998 to 2004. He is the author of six books, including The Deal of the Century: The Break Up of AT&T (1986); The Taking of Getty Oil (1987); Eagle on the Street, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the SEC's battle with Wall Street (with David A.

    | Read Full Bio |
  • Dr. Patrick Cronin
    Senior Advisor and Senior Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program

    Patrick Cronin is a Senior Advisor and Senior Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS).  Previously, he was the Director of the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) at National Defense University and has had a 25-year career inside government and academic research centers, spanning defense affairs, foreign policy, and development assistance.

    | Read Full Bio |