The Evening CSIS April 21 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.

Saudis Halt Yemen Bombing
The New York Times’ Rick Gladstone reports today that Saudi Arabia has announced it will halt its nearly four-week-old bombing campaign aimed at the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Times also has an excellent interactive resource, “Mapping the Chaos in Yemen.”

And, CNN has a superb photo essay: “Unrest in Yemen: 42 photos.”

Dive Deeper: CSIS’s Anthony Cordesman was interviewed today by CNN’s Hala Gorani for the Amanpour show. He told Hala that, if anything, al Qaeda is now “far stronger” in Yemen than when the bombing began. Watch the informative interview here.

Dr. Cordesman also published an important commentary in late March, “America, Saudi Arabia, and the Strategic Importance of Yemen.”

CFR’s Ray Takeyh published an “Expert Brief” for CFR’s website, entitled “The New Saudi Foreign Policy,” which provides an interesting perspective.

And, Brooking’s Daniel L. Byman and Jennifer R. Williams today published a blog post, “Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula at a crossroads in Yemen.”

Morsi Sentencing
An Egyptian court today sentenced former president Mohamed Morsi to 20 years in prison, reports the Washington Post’s Erin Cunningham.

Meanwhile, Reuters reports from Istanbul that “Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood says new leaders taking over.”

Dive Deeper: Former president Muhammad Morsi of Egypt was sentenced to 20 years in prison today for his role in the killing of protestors in December 2012. According to CSIS’s Jon Alterman “the sentence is a reminder of how much official attitudes toward religion and politics have changed in Egypt since the army, with broad popular support, pushed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood from power in July 2013.” Dr. Alterman’s popular insider newsletter, Middle East News and Comment this month features a fascinating exploration of another aspect of this story, the Egyptian government’s efforts to control the millennium-old university attached to the al-Azhar mosque.

US Army Trains Ukraine
The Wall Street Journal’s Alan Cullison today reports that the “US Army Starts to Train Ukraine Units.”

Dive Deeper: CSIS’s Jeffrey Mankoff today published a new commentary “US Trainers to Ukraine.” Dr. Mankoff writes that “While Russian officials and commentators have condemned the deployment as provocative, the direct impact will likely remain limited, even deflecting pressure for more direct US involvement, such as providing lethal military assistance to Kyiv.”

Since Russia’s official annexation of Crimea just over a year ago, the CSIS Russia and Eurasia Program has been dedicated to creating a record of the conflict from both sides. Using news stories, videos, and analysis the team created “The Ukraine Crisis Timeline.” You can view it here and stay current on the latest updates in the region.

And, the Atlantic Council has a great resource in the “Ukraine Initiative.”

In that Number
5
The percentage of Americans who believe the federal government “very effectively” shares information.
Source : Mashable/Pew Research Center.

Critical Question
A daily shortened sampling of our signature "Asked & Answered" series.

Asked: After yesterday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers, what action can be taken to address the issue of migrants crossing the Mediterranean?

Answered: Heather Conley, CSIS Senior Vice President for Europe, Eurasia, and the Arctic; and Director, Europe Program:

Not very much will happen in the near term unfortunately. Europe may increase emergency funding for enhanced maritime patrols and search and rescue capabilities, but a short term solution is not in sight.

It is important to step back for a moment. Immigration is a very sensitive topic for all countries. Immigration challenges a country’s sovereign ability to control its borders, its national identity and societal cohesion, its humanitarian principles, and its economic model. All of these factors have fundamentally challenged Europe on the question of immigration.

European society is not a “melting pot” construct like the United States, where the welcoming of “your tired, your poor…your huddled masses” is part of our historic narrative. Europe’s efforts to achieve multiculturalism have largely failed. At a time of economic prosperity and generous government social benefits, European countries were able to accommodate a significant number of immigrants that sought admittance to Europe. However, as Europe’s economic fortunes dramatically changed after the 2008 Great Economic Recession, so too did the average European’s attitude towards its financial future. Fear took hold as European unemployment soared and social benefits were reduced, particularly in southern Europe -- the main entrance point for large numbers of immigrants -- at about the same time that the Arab Spring and unrest in Africa sent an influx of asylum seekers and refugees towards Europe in search of safety and prosperity. Europe’s economic fears mutated into xenophobia and, on occasion, violence against immigrants. Europe’s political leaders struggled to address this challenge while populist and nationalistic political parties, opportunistically attune to the public’s anxiety, preyed on this sentiment, stoking public fear and stymieing government action. The perfect immigration storm ensued.

If sovereign nations are significantly challenged by immigration, a supra-national structure such as the European Union is simply paralyzed. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the EU member state where the immigrant illegally enters to establish immigration centers and decide to extradite immigrants or allow them to enter, which has placed a great burden on southern European countries such as Spain, Greece and Italy – those countries most impacted by Europe’s economic crisis.

In a somber warning about the political potency of immigration in Europe, Greek government officials have recently described Greece’s immigration challenge as a negative force that could be unleashed upon less affected parts of Europe, suggesting that there will be “tens of millions of immigrants and thousands of jihadists” … that would get “papers to Berlin” if an economic solution is not found for Greece. Immigration will sorely test European solidarity and one of its key principles of freedom.

One to Watch

Not everyone knows that CSIS has a Pacific Forum out in Honolulu, Hawaii. So if you’re looking for more on the political, security, and strategic developments in the Asia Pacific, sign up to the PacNet newsletter, and follow their twitter feed @PacificForum. Pictured is General Martin Dempsey at the Honolulu International Forum last July.

Optics

Soldiers run along a stretch of Heartbreak Hill during yesterday’s Boston Marathon. The soldiers are assigned to the Massachusetts National Guard. While nearly 500 soldiers and airmen were activated to support the marathon, others opted to participate in the race. Massachusetts National Guard photo by U.S. Army Spc. Kyleen Kelleher.

Highly Recommended
Fox News Channel’s chief Washington correspondent James Rosen reviewed a new book that I recommend you read: Before Auschwitz: Jewish Prisoners in the Prewar Concentration Camps (Harvard University Press). The book is by historian Kim Wünschmann of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the review appears in the May-June issue of the National Interest.

CSIS Today
Watch video of today’s events at our HQ.

CSIS hosted Latvian minister of defence Raimonds Vejonis for a Statesmen’s Forum on “A New European Gray Zone? Securing Latvia and the Baltic Sea Region Against Hybrid Threats.”

Heidi Shyu, assistant secretary of the army for acquisition, logistics & technology, joined CSIS for a discussion on “The Root Causes of Acquisition Challenges and the Need for Reform.”

CSIS also cohosted an event with the Global Peace Foundation on “China’s Policy Toward Korean Peninsula Unification.”

Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae of Japan joined CSIS for an insightful discussion on Prime Minister Abe’s upcoming visit to Washington, “A Major Milestone for the U.S.-Japan Alliance.”

Tom Burgis, investigations correspondent at the Financial Times, joined CSIS for the release of his new book, The Looting Machine: Warlords, Oligarchs, Corporations, Smugglers and the Theft of Africa’s Wealth.

CSIS Tomorrow
What’s in store at CSIS HQ tomorrow.

CSIS senior adviser Juan Zarate will testify before the House Financial Services Committee on “A Survey of Global Terrorism and Terrorist Financing.” Be sure to watch live at 10:00 a.m.

At 3:00 p.m., Dr. John Hamre, CSIS president and CEO, will testify before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development on “The United States without Nuclear Power.” You can get an early look at his testimony here.

CSIS will host a conversation with CFR’s Sheila Smith on her latest book, Intimate Rivals: Japanese Domestic Politics and a Rising China. Join us at 4:00 p.m. with a reception to follow.

This Town Tomorrow
So many important things in this town—so little time. Of note:

At 8:30 a.m., Defense One global business reporter Marcus Weisgerber will be sitting down with General Mark Welsh, chief of staff of the air force, for a discussion on core missions, readiness, and the role of the USAF in the campaign against ISIS. Click here to register and to learn more about the new Leadership Briefing Breakfast series.

CSIS on Demand
Last night, CSIS hosted a Schieffer Series on “Advancing Global Gender Equality,” featuring Mr. Bob Schieffer, CBS News; Ambassador Catherine Russell, US Department of State; Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Peace Corps; and Dr. Sarah Mendelson, CSIS Human Rights Initiative. It was an important and illuminating conversation about the opportunities and challenges for women around the world. Click here to watch on demand.

Sounds
Interesting NPR piece today by Steve Walsh: “National Guard Seeks New Mission After War.”

I Like It Like That
Eye catching things in CSIS’s orbit

By 2017, Norway plans to be the first country in the world to voluntarily end its FM radio broadcasting as part of the country’s transition to digital audio broadcasting (DAB).

Smiles
The 19th century American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow famously said, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” Critics tend to agree that the 1978 Martin Scorsese documentary The Last Waltz is the greatest concert film of all time. I believe both are true. Watch this legendary performance from The Last Waltz by Van Morrison and The Band of the Morrison penned “Caravan.” Even if you don’t agree that music is the universal language, I know this performance will make you smile.

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