Center for a New American Security

Throughout the course of 2008, CNAS has shown itself to be at the forefront of innovative policy dealing with the major national security challenges facing our nation. At our second annual all-day policy forum, Pivot Point: New Directions for American Security, CNAS released six new reports stressing the need for policymakers to revisit the essence of America’s core global interests. In an effort to narrowly focus America’s core objectives, CNAS released a report titled Making America Grand Again: Toward a New Grand Strategy arguing the absence of an overarching strategic framework has contributed to the erosion of America’s position in the world.  Pairing tactics with an overarching strategy, experts honed in on region- and issue-specific areas for the majority of its work at the Center in 2008.

The Center for a New American Security has been a leading voice in the Iraq debate, releasing its second Iraq report Shaping the Iraq Inheritance  outlining American interests in Iraq and the region. The report suggests a policy of conditional engagement—a strategy that initiates a phased, negotiated redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq while conditioning residual support to the Iraqi government on continued political progress—and argues that it offers the best chance of achieving sustainable stability in Iraq while balancing U.S. commitments worldwide.  Not only relevant  within the policy community, the CNAS Iraq Project has helped shape the public discourse on Iraq, placing Op-Eds in major newspapers such as Baghdad's Misguided Crackdown on the Sons of Iraq in the Los Angeles Times and How to Exit Iraq in the New York Times.

As focus shifts to the war in Afghanistan, CNAS has become the go-to think-tank for ideas on strategic U.S. policy in Afghanistan for the next administration. Although aimed at American policymakers, the project incorporates Afghan views at every level through partnerships with local organizations, including the Center for Conflict and Peace Studies in Kabul.  After spending several weeks in Afghanistan, CNAS Fellows Nathaniel Fick and Vikram Singh briefed the press on their findings, and will release the written report in January 2009 at a high-profile launch event in Washington. 

To better evaluate U.S. policy options in dealing with Iran, CNAS convened a bipartisan group of experts on foreign policy and national security, retired military personnel, former diplomats and other government officials, and specialists on Iran and the region. Based on these papers and expert group discussion, as well as additional research and analysis, CNAS released Iran: Assessing U.S. Strategic Options. CNAS continued to reach out to the Hill community, hosting a lunch briefing for senior congressional staff to discuss findings of the report and policy prescriptions with their legislative counterparts.

As the tides of influence and power shift to the Pacific shores, CNAS has continued to be a premier voice in framing U.S. policy in Asia.  The region must be described in creative and forward-looking terms –we call it “iAsia” – and U.S. strategy must be made anew to match. The new strategic vision, articulated in the latest report The Power of Balance: America in iAsia involves creative engagement in multilateral forums while strengthening existing bilateral alliances and relations. The CNAS Asia team dynamically engages our Asian allies and friends in this discussion, just recently hosting a major U.S.- Singapore Strategic Dialogue with Singapore Foreign Minister  George Yeo, and similar events with Japan as well.

While contributing to the established national security discussion, CNAS also embarked on the unique challenge of redefining the climate change debate within the parameters of national security. To that end, CNAS and a consortium of ten partner organizations hosted an international “war game” from July 28, 2008, through July 30, 2008, using war gaming and scenario planning techniques to assess the potential threats and responses to global climate change. The Clout & Climate Change War Game brought together high-level scientists, national security strategists, former policymakers, former military officers, environmentalists, and private sector representatives from the United States, Europe, Asia, and South Asia to work together to develop strategies for dealing with the national security consequences of global climate change.

In addition to looking for innovative approaches for challenges confronting the next American president, CNAS looks to wisdom from the past. In September, CNAS co-hosted a bipartisan roundtable discussion with five former Secretaries of State – Madeleine K. Albright, James A. Baker, III, Warren Christopher, Henry Kissinger, and Colin L. Powell. This relevant and timely discussion entitled “The Next President: A World of Challenges” was an influential forum for ideas and advice, airing multiple times on CNN, and contributing to the presidential dialogue throughout the conclusion of the historic 2008 election.

November marked the launch of a new book by James B. Steinberg and Kurt Campbell. Difficult Transitions: Foreign Policy Troubles at the Outset of Presidential Power (Brookings Press, November 2008) is an expert guide for incoming presidents and their foreign policy teams seeking to survive – and thrive – amidst the landmines and booby traps that await them. The November 13 launch event, attended by more than 500 people and broadcast live on CSPAN, sold hundreds of signed copies.

Our ability to impact the great debates of the day has been underscored by how we are viewed by the media. CNAS President and Co-Founder Michéle Flournoy and Richard Armitage opined on how to prepare for the presidential transition, aptly named ‘No Time for Nobody Home’ which was quoted numerous times by Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.  Beyond print media, CNAS has become increasing noticeable on the web with prolific scholars in the blogosphere and featured experts on streaming sites.

In order to keep pace with the changing nature of media, CNAS is pleased to announce the launch of our newly redesigned website. The bold, freshly designed website offers easier access and improved functionality for online guests. In addition to improved information architecture and redesigned aesthetics, the new site utilizes dynamic multimedia in featuring ongoing work at the Center. We hope you will take advantage of the new site, and we look forward to your feedback in the months to come.

It has been an exciting voyage for CNAS: we hit the ground running in 2007, proved we could play in a crowded field during 2008, and we will show we have staying power well into 2009.

Sincere thanks for all of your support,