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New Atlanticist

Aug 5, 2013

John Kerry’s Six-Month Report Card

By R. Nicholas Burns

Until a few weeks ago, a small army of critics and armchair quarterbacks took aim at Secretary of State John Kerry’s first months in office in roughly similar fashion — too much globe-trotting, too many meetings, and too singular a focus on the lost cause of diplomacy — the 65-year search for an Israeli-Palestinian agreement. […]

Iran National Security

New Atlanticist

Jul 26, 2013

The NSA Isn’t the Only One Watching You

By Daveed Gartenstein-Ross

On Wednesday, lawmakers in the House narrowly defeated a measure proposed by Rep. Justin Amash that would have dramatically curtailed the National Security Agency’s ability to collect phone records. While concerns about the breadth of the NSA’s surveillance are far from behind us, privacy advocates will do themselves a grave disservice if the NSA remains the sole […]

Cybersecurity Intelligence

New Atlanticist

Jul 24, 2013

Three Hops and You’re Out

By James Joyner

Revelations that the government’s ability to access American citizens’ phone records without probable cause is much broader than previously contemplated got Congress’ attention last week, drawing rebukes and warnings from both sides of the aisle.

Intelligence National Security

New Atlanticist

Jul 22, 2013

Congress Misunderstands Role of Joint Chiefs

By James Joyner

Senator John McCain is blocking a second term for General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after a testy exchange in a hearing Thursday. His grounds? The refusal of Dempsey to “respond to legitimate questions” from the senior senator from Arizona.

National Security Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jul 20, 2013

Coping with Netanyahu on Iran

By R. Nicholas Burns

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is back in the headlines on the subject of Iran. On CBS’s “Face the Nation,’’ Netanyahu complained that there was “no sense of urgency” by the global community about Iran’s advancing nuclear program. He went on to warn that Israel will “have to address this question of how to stop […]

Iran Israel

New Atlanticist

Jul 18, 2013

American Decline: Pure Poppycock!

By Harlan Ullman

A specter is haunting the United States. That specter is one of American decline. But this specter isn’t merely exaggerated. It is poppycock.Those who see in America the conditions that led to the fall of the Roman Empire or the catastrophic Grecian wars between Athens (read America) and Sparta (read China) are simply wrong. The […]

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Jul 10, 2013

Mr. President Missing in Action?

By Harlan Ullman

Regional crises abound. Massive protests in Egypt that ended the flailing Morsi government to continued bloodshed from Afghanistan to Syria are representative of these crises.

Intelligence National Security

New Atlanticist

Jul 9, 2013

Scanning Cargo Containers Is More Important than Scanning Emails

By Joerg Wolf

The United States has built huge internet surveillance infrastructures, but failed to implement its own 9/11 law about maritime cargo security.

Cybersecurity Maritime Security

Issue Brief

Jun 24, 2013

US-Iran cultural engagement: A cost effective boon to US national security

By Ramin Asgard and Barbara Slavin

This issue brief of the Atlantic Council’s Iran Task Force outlines the 179-year history of US contacts with Iran, which have experienced periods of breakdown but currently are continuing at a low level despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties. It also recommends actions to advance these exchanges as a national security imperative—especially as the […]

Iran National Security

New Atlanticist

Jun 13, 2013

Weak Intelligence Oversight Stems From Citizen Apathy

By James Joyner

The New York Times editorial board complains, “Except for a few leaders and members of the intelligence committees, most lawmakers did not know the government was collecting records on almost every phone call made in the United States or was able to collect anyone’s e-mail messages and Internet chats.”

Intelligence National Security

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