Category: Timely Commentary & Analysis

Two June battles that changed history: Midway and Normandy

By Harlan Ullman

Both battles of Normandy and Midway have been analyzed and re-analyzed in millions of books, research papers and reports. What has been missing, however, is how seemingly minor, secondary or unexpected events became the hinges on which these battles turned, Midway more than Normandy.

Transcript: Afghanistan’s vision for peace: A conversation with H.E. President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani

By Atlantic Council

Watch and learn more about the event Read our coverage of the event Event transcript FREDERICK KEMPE: Good morning from Washington and good evening to our many viewers in Kabul, where I’m delighted that Radio Television Afghanistan, RTA, is carrying this important event live. And greetings as well to our viewers elsewhere around the world […]

State of the Order: Assessing May 2020

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

Artificial intelligence principles: Avoiding catastrophe

By Robert A. Manning

An urgent challenge for the coming decade is to forge a global consensus to operationalize widely-shared ethical principles, standards, and norms to govern the development and use of artificial intelligence.

US nuclear energy leadership: The way forward

By Amb. Thomas Graham Jr.

The recently released report, Restoring America’s Competitive Nuclear Energy Advantage, commissioned by the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Nuclear Fuel Working Group, is an important step forward for US national security, the battle against climate change, and the health of the US economy. After decades of misguided policy, this report puts the United States back on track in leading a worldwide nuclear energy system that is effective, reliable, and carbon free.

Afreximbank president champions African free trade alongside COVID-19 response

By Africa Center

On Tuesday, June 2, the Africa Center hosted Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), for a discussion on innovative financing amid COVID-19.

Shared humanity amid times of turbulence

By David Bray

This post is a call for those who have positive solutions to address these issues to reach out to the Center; we are here to amplify your voice. Please reach out to us. This post is also to re-commit the Center to six concrete actions during this time of turbulence that were already implicit to our mission and we wanted to make publicly explicit.

Expert survey series: Supply chains and the effects of COVID-19, geopolitics, and technological innovation

By Andrea Little Limbago, Stewart Scott

For the fourth installment of the GeoTech Center’s expert survey series, we asked a range of business leaders and tech experts how COVID-19 has impacted their industry’s or enterprise’s supply chains. Significant shortages of personal protective equipment and tests have plagued hospitals, and many countries’ dependence on China quickly became evident in the initial rush to obtain supplies. Food supply chains have also been significantly disrupted--for instance, infection rates at meat packing plants are five-times greater than those in similar geographies.

Public sector investment opportunities for a green stimulus in oil and gas

By Alex Dewar

In discussions about COVID-19 economic recovery policies, any measures focused on the oil and gas industry are often portrayed as being at odds with a green stimulus. However, a green stimulus within the oil and gas industry is not necessarily a contradiction in terms. Targeted public sector investments in oil and gas activities—especially in the areas of reducing methane emissions, improving energy efficiency, and deploying carbon capture—can curb greenhouse gas emissions significantly and at relatively low costs while maximizing broader near-term economic benefits.