The Evening CSIS: New CVE Commission, Radar Discovery, Shakedown St & More

Good Evening,

Welcome to The Evening CSIS—my daily guide to key insights CSIS brings to the events of the day plus HIGHLY RECOMMENDED content from around the world. If you want to view this in your browser, click here. To subscribe, please send me an email at aschwartz@csis.org.

The CSIS Commission on CVE
Tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, the CSIS Commission on Countering Violent Extremism will launch with remarks by Commission Cochair, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The event will be webcast live, you can watch it here or later ON Demand.

And, as the Washington Post’s Elise Viebeck reported in an exclusive today, the Commission (Cochaired by Mr. Blair and former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta) will produce a report that is designed to provide a comprehensive view of the different dimensions associated with the issue of violent extremism for the next President of the United States, as well as European leaders. The Commission report will be issued at the end of July, following the Republican and Democratic political conventions.

Dive Deeper: For a full list of the CSIS Commission on Countering Violent Extremism, click here.

Another Piece of the Puzzle
As the Washington Post’s Simon Denyer reports today, exclusive images from CSIS’s Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) show that China may be building a powerful new radar system on Cuarteron Reef in the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, Reuters’ Ben Blanchard and David Brunnstrom report that China has signaled that there will be no South China Sea backdown, as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits the US this week.

Minister Yi will deliver remarks at CSIS this Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time.

Dive Deeper: CSIS’s Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) published a comprehensive feature today, “ Another Piece of the Puzzle: China Builds New Radar Facilities in the Spratly Islands .”

Cease-Fire Announced
The US and Russia today announced plans for a cease-fire in Syria, as the New York Times’s Mark Landler reports.

Dive Deeper: The Atlantic Council’s Fred Kempe has published an “ Exclusive Middle East Dispatch ” featuring former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.

In that Number
13 million
The number of jobs that were created in China’s urban areas in 2015.
Source: The Department of the Treasury via Medium.

Critical Quote
“It shows that the Chinese are moving to be a leader in space—if not the leader.”
—James Lewis, director of the CSIS Strategic Technology Program, on China’s ongoing combination of civilian and military projects to accelerate its space programs.
Source: CNBC.

One to Watch

(Photo Credit: AP.)
Zeina Karam (@zkaram) has been named the Associated Press’s news director for Lebanon and Syria. Zeina has been the AP’s Beirut bureau chief since 2014. For the latest news out of the Levant, Zeina is one to watch.

Optics
Vice News released Superbugs: The Dark Side of India’s Drug Boom today. This documentary explores the impact of India’s booming pharmaceutical sector on local populations.

Highly Recommended
New York magazine cover story by Rebecca Traister, who writes that “ The Single American Woman” is the most powerful voter this year.

CSIS Today
Today, CSIS hosted a discussion on Russia’s economy and the implications for Russia’s future after its economic slowdown and the slump in oil prices. Catch the expert talk here.

CSIS Tomorrow
Watch tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. as CSIS launches the Commission on Countering Violent Extremism, with keynote remarks by Tony Blair, cochair and former UK prime minister. And after, Gloria Steele, senior deputy assistant administrator at the US Agency for International Development, will discuss her work to develop USAID’s country strategy. Finally, at 1:30 p.m., join us for “ The Global Refugee and Humanitarian Crisis: Implications for International Development ,” with opening remarks from Andrew Natsios, director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs.

This Town Tomorrow
Join the Stimson Center tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. as they release their latest report, Grading Process on US Drone Policy. The report contains a detailed report card to “grade” this progress and describes the steps taken by the administration to address existing shortcomings in US law, policy, and practice.

CSIS on Demand
Catch this fascinating conference on North Korean human rights and security issues, held last week at CSIS. All-star speakers discussed accountability for North Korean human rights abuse, featured new data and research, and examined the link between human and national security. They also investigated policy prospects for 2016 as the international community looks to formulate practical solutions.

Sounds
Foreign Affairs released a new podcast yesterday calledHow to Su rvive Slow Growth: Part 1, featuring guests Larry Summers, Zachary Karabell, and Anne Kreuger.

I Like It Like That
Eye-catching things in CSIS's orbit

Former BuzzFeed president Jon Steinberg is launching a business channel for millennials. And as Business Insider reports, Steinberg thinks the days of big audiences are over. Steinberg’s ideas for distribution are also interesting. There’s no launch date yet, but the concept itself is being covered.

Smiles
“Well, well, well, you can never tell…”

Just when you thought the Grateful Dead was, well, dead, they are back. This time they are the Dead & Company. And the “Company” is a brilliant addition indeed. Leave it to Bob Weir to breathe life and a bright new countenance via the addition of pop star John Mayer.

Mayer, born in 1977 (one of the Dead’s best years ever with Jerry Garcia at the helm) has sold over 20 million albums over the past decade. He has a unique way of setting current standards with his music as a contemporary pop star while paying homage to his favorite music of the past.

And it turns out he is a perfect fit with the Dead & Company. Watch this blistering smile of a “Shakedown Street” performed live on the Tonight show a few nights back.

Feedback

I always welcome and benefit from your feedback. Please drop me a line at aschwartz@csis.org.