The Evening CSIS September 24 2015

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. To subscribe, please click here and if you want to view this in your browser, click here.

Superpower Summit
President Xi Jinping of China arrives in Washington this afternoon and will begin his state visit with an informal dinner with President Obama at Blair House, across the street from the White House. As AFP reports, tonight’s informal dinner may offer an opportunity for a candid discussion.

Dive Deeper: CSIS today released the first episode of an extraordinary three-part series of video interviews called “Brzezinski on the World,” featuring CSIS counselor and trustee Zbigniew Brzezinski himself!

Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, former national security adviser, recently sat down with Dr. Jon Alterman, Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy, for a conversation on the state of the world in the era of global politics and global risks. “Brzezinski on the World” will be released in three episodes over the next three weeks.

In this first five-minute episode, Dr. Brzezinski analyzes how the United States should think about its relations with Russia and China.

This week, CSIS hosted a briefing for members of the media on the Xi visit, featuring CSIS’s Mike Green, Chris Johnson, Bonnie Glaser, and Scott Kennedy.

CSIS’s Scott Kennedy authored a new commentary yesterday: “Xi’s Seattle Stop Sets Up His D.C. Drop In.”

CSIS’s Claire Reade today authored a new commentary: “U.S.-China Economic Relations: The Propeller Needs Oil.”

CSIS’s James Andrew Lewis authored a new commentary this week: “Measuring Cybersecurity Success at the Summit.”

And, CSIS’s Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative has published extensive satellite images of China’s continuing construction in the South China Sea and provides key analysis by CSIS’s Greg Poling, Mike Green, Bonnie Glaser, and Chris Johnson.

New York Meeting
Reuters reports today that next week President Obama and President Vladimir Putin of Russia will meet in New York, but Washington and Moscow disagree over what discussion should take center stage, Ukraine or Syria.

Dive Deeper: CSIS’s Anthony Cordesman authored a new commentary yesterday: “Russia in Syria: Hybrid Political Warfare.”

And, since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, CSIS has kept up with the latest developments via our interactive Ukraine Crisis Timeline.

Major Tragedy
As the Wall Street Journal reports, a stampede during the annual pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest city left more than 700 dead and nearly 900 injured.

Also, the Associated Press has a regularly updated “latest developments” from the tragedy.

In that Number
$45 million
The amount of additional weaponry and defense services that the White House has authorized Secretary of State John Kerry to deliver to countries that are combating Boko Haram.
Source: US Department of State.

Critical Quote
“Even if you’re not doing business in China, you’re most likely facing some kind of Chinese competition, or China’s effect on the global economy affects your sector.”

—CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies deputy director Scott Kennedy on US-China business ties ahead of President Xi’s visit.

One to Watch

Shaun Waterman (@WatermanReports) has joined FedScoop News as editor-in-chief after serving as editor of POLITICO Pro Cybersecurity. For cyber issues and key matters of federal policy, he’s one to watch.

Optics

Pope Francis’s visit to Washington has been exciting indeed. CSIS’s Sam Ellis went out around town yesterday to capture images showing how Washingtonians celebrated and took in the Pope’s visit. These are unique photos, and you’ll feel like you’re part of the crowd when you view them.

Highly Recommended
ICYMI, Brookings released a new “Brookings Essay” earlier this month called “The Believer” about ISIS leader Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi, by William McCants. It’s a great read.

CSIS Tomorrow
Join us tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. as we host Admiral Michelle Howard, vice chief of naval operations, for a discussion on the challenges faced by the US Navy in the cyber domain. And after at 10:00 a.m., the CSIS Energy Program will host Dr. Fereidun Fesharaki for a discussion on the global natural gas markets. And finally, at 2:00 p.m., you can join or watch live as panelists discuss Russia’s rising influence in the Middle East.

This Town Tomorrow
This week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India arrives in New York; the Brookings Institution will host a discussion tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. to explore his agenda for the visit, covering the state of the Indian economy and US-India foreign policy. Watch the live webcast here.

CSIS on Demand
As President Obama hosts President Xi Jinping of China, get a look ahead at what’s on the agenda regarding US relations with Asia nations. On Tuesday, CSIS hosted a day-long conference with policymakers and leaders from the United States and Asia, covering some of the most important issues surrounding the region. Watch “Asian Architecture Conference” here.

Sounds
As pope mania dies down in the district, WAMU’s Armando Trull went on the ground to speak with those gathered outside the White House yesterday morning as they waited to hear from Pope Francis. Listen as the gatherers spoke of what they were wishing to hear from the pope at yesterday’s historic speech.

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

I really like Apple News. It’s my favorite new app.

Smiles
There’s a big time smile now on Netflix. It’s a documentary about the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir called “The Other One: The Long, Strange Trip of Bob Weir.”

“The Other One” is a famous Grateful Dead tune, but the documentary’s name is really speaking to the fact that Weir was always the “other one” to the Dead’s more famous central figure, Jerry Garcia.

A musical genius and beautiful soul by all accounts, Garcia lived an unhealthy life to say the least. Sadly, Garcia passed away 20 years ago at the age of 53.

Weir, the other one, not only carried the band’s music further beyond his bandmate’s death, but he’s embodied a healthy lifestyle for many years and inspired a whole new generation of musicians.

The documentary about Weir brought a big smile to my face. But recent performances like this one, with current pop star John Mayer bring an even bigger smile. Here’s Mayer and Weir performing the classic Dead tune “Althea” last February on The Late Show. Watch and smile as they breathe new life and add a bright, sparkling countenance to a song written over three decades ago.

Feedback

I always welcome and benefit from your feedback. Please drop me a line at

aschwartz@csis.org.