The Evening CSIS: Under Fire, A Separation, Chess & More
October 21, 2016
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 sign up here.
Under Fire
ISIS launched a wave of pre-dawn attacks in and around the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk today, killing at least 14 people and setting off fierce clashes with Kurdish security forces that were still raging after sundown, as the AP reports.
Dive Deeper: CSIS’s Jon Alterman authored a new commentary, “Avoiding Old Traps in Iraq.”
And, CSIS’s Colm Quinn this week spoke to CSIS’s Anthony Cordesman for a new podcast: “Mosul: The End Begins.”
A Separation
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has clarified his comments that seemed to call for a split from the United States, saying he was advocating a "separation of foreign policy" rather than "a severance of ties,” as CNN reports.
Dive Deeper: The Wall Street Journal’s Trefor Moss posted a terrific multimedia article: “Behind Duterte’s Break With the U.S., a Lifetime of Resentment.”
As the battle for Mosul rages on, Reuters reports that abandoned villages on the road to Mosul are rigged with tunnels and bombs.
Ceasefire Breached
Warring factions in the war in Yemen accused each other of violating a 72-hour ceasefire that began just before midnight on Wednesday, with the Saudi-led coalition saying Houthi forces have breached the truce by attacking several cities in both countries, as Reuters reports.
Must-Read Report
The Kremlin Playbook: Understanding Russian Influence in Central and Eastern Europe is the most downloaded report published this year by CSIS. It’s a must-read.
In That Number
$20,000
For more than one-third of companies, a single hour of a DDoS attack can cost up to $20,000. Source: The Atlantic.
Critical Quote
“In the end, OCO will continue. It is an imperfect mechanism for a fractured government to govern a divided people. But it works.”
—CSIS’s Mark Cancian authored “Two Cheers for OCO: Grease for Budget Wheels” in Breaking Defense.
One to Watch
Edward Chow is a senior fellow in CSIS’s Energy and National Security Program. Today, Ed authored a new opinion piece for the American Interest, “The High Stakes of Ukraine’s Energy Reforms.”
Optics
(Photo Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
President Obama met with NASA astronaut Scott Kelly in the Oval Office today. On Monday, CSIS is hosting the inaugural event of our Aerospace Security Project. Join us at 2:00 p.m. for, “The U.S. Military and Commercial Space Industry.”
Highly Recommended
“Populism on the March: Why the West Is in Trouble” by Fareed Zakaria via Foreign Affairs.
CSIS Today
CSIS’s Project on Prosperity and Development hosted “The Refugee Crisis and International Organizations,” featuring Matthew McGuire, US executive director of the World Bank.
CSIS Monday
Join CSIS’s Energy and National Security Program at 11:00 a.m. for “Nuclear Energy at a Crossroads,” featuring the Ernest Moniz, US secretary of energy.
And join us at 2:00 p.m. for the inaugural event of the CSIS Aerospace Security Project, a new CSIS initiative that examines space security, air dominance and long-range strike, and commercial and civil space.
This Town Monday
Join the Middle East Institute at 12:00 p.m. for “Middle East and Regional Transition, Terrorism, and CVE: What the Next President Will Face.”
And join the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins SAIS at 6:30 p.m. for “A Talk with Victor Cha on the U.S. Alliance System in Asia” followed by a book signing of Powerplay.
CSIS On Demand
Visit us on Medium for an inside look at our events this week.
Sounds
Russian Roulette’s new podcast, “Of Playbooks and Georgian Elections,” covers CSIS’s new report, The Kremlin Playbook: Understanding Russian Influence in Central and Eastern Europe, with CSIS’s Heather Conley. And, the podcast reviews Georgia’s recent parliamentary elections and what it means for Georgia’s political future. Listen on iTunes or on our website.
I Like It Like That
“Someone found Ryan Merritt's wedding registry, now Cleveland Indians fans are buying him gifts.” Cleveland rocks.
Smiles
One of the true pioneers of the recording industry passed away this week. Phil Chess founded the seminal blues record label Chess with his brother Lenoard in Chicago. He lived to the beautiful age of 95.
What kind of impact did Chess have? Well, let’s see. They brought the world legendary artists like Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Sonny Boy Williamson, Etta James, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James, and Buddy Guy.
Chess is the very DNA of rock and roll. Here’s one smile of an example of why.
Feedback
I always welcome and benefit from your feedback. Please drop me a line at aschwartz@csis.org