The Evening CSIS: Russia Bombs Iran, India's Deadly Food Fight, Tumbling Dice & More

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.

Nice Shootin' Tex
Four Russian cruise missiles launched from the Caspian Sea fell short of their Syrian targets and landed in a rural part of Iran, as theNew York Times’s Helene Cooper reports.

Dive Deeper: CSIS’s Heather Conley testified today before the Senate Armed Services Committee on “Russian Strategy and Military Operations.” Her statement is available here.

Brookings ’ Jeremy Shapiro had an op-ed in today’s New York Times: “Putin’s Boldness, Syria’s Misery.”

India's Deadly Food Fight
Following last week’s murder of a Muslim man rumored to have eaten beef, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India today said that Hindus and Muslims should work together to fight poverty, not each other, as the BBC reports.

And, the Atlantic today published a must-read piece by Krishnadev Calamur: “India’s Food Fight Turns Deadly.”

Dive Deeper: CSIS has launched the world’s first weekly report covering major political-economic developments in India’s largest states. In case that does not sound particularly significant, remember that India’s three largest states have a combined population of 450 million people and that the vast majority of business regulations and approvals faced by companies are at the state level. If you did not get the report and want to see future editions, you can subscribe here.

Come Sail Away
The US is considering sailing warships close to China’s artificial islands in the South China Sea to signal it does not recognize Chinese territorial claims over the area, a US defense official said today, as Reuters reports.

Dive Deeper: 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.

CSIS’s Scott Kennedy testified yesterday before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, on “Reviewing President Xi’s State Visit.” Dr. Kennedy’s statement is available here.

In that Number
4
The number of Russian cruise missiles that crashed in Iran en route to Syria today.
Source: CNN.

Critical Quote

“Cyber operations could become more than just criminal acts, but could be integrated in the future with a military strategy designed to disrupt U.S. systems.”
—Victor Cha, CSIS Korea Chair, on North Korea developing its cyber capabilities.

One to Watch

Dafna Linzer (@DafnaLinzer) was named managing editor of politics for NBC News and MSNBC earlier today. Dafna is a great journalist and editor and one to watch. Photo credit: Twitter

Optics
The press has been granted greater access to North Korea ahead of the 70th anniversary of the founding North Korea’s Workers’ Party. For a glimpse into the pariah state, check out NBC’s photo roundup.

Highly Recommended
"Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield ,” a book by CFR’s Gayle Tzemach Lemmon.

CSIS Today

CSIS hosted Prince Sultan bin Khaled Al Faisal, as he outlined a comprehensive Saudi Arabian Defense Doctrine; catch the recap here. And, Taras Kuzio joined the CSIS Russia and Eurasia Program for a look at domestic and external threats to the Euromaidan Revolutionaries in Ukraine. Later, Hugh White discussed the geopolitical challenges in the Asia-Pacific region facing Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s government and what they mean for rising tensions with Beijing. And finally, the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development hosted several youth experts who looked at how best to support today’sglobal youth movement. Above: Prince Sultan bin Khaled Al Faisal.

CSIS Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m., CSIS will host a press briefing on the US visit of President Park Geun-hye of South Korea; at 9:00 a.m., the CSIS Global Food Security Project will host a half-day conference on maximizing partnerships for agricultural development. And later, Lt General Kevin McLaughlin, deputy commander of USCYBERCOM, will join panelists for a discussion on the US military in cyberspace; register for the event or watch live here. Finally at 1:00 p.m., a panel of experts will discuss the modern challenges facing the intelligence community and the prospects for reform.

This Town Tomorrow
Join AEI tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. as they host Vladimir Kara-Murza for a conversation on “Putinism at home and abroad.” Registration is closed, but walk-ins are welcome, and you can also watch the event livestreamed.

CSIS on Demand
As the migration crisis leads to changing policies across Europe, the CSIS Europe Program hosted an event exploring the recent decisions made by European leaders on border control and asylum policies. Watch the in-depth discussion here.

Sounds
The latest Smart Women, Smart Power podcast speaks with CSIS’s Melissa Dalton on what the Russian intervention in Syria means for US strategy and policy in the region, as well as for the broader Middle East.

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

Let me underscore that I like it that Rolling Stone magazine published this article, not that Vladimir Putin’s version of the Hell’s Angels is cool. Published today: “Putin’s Angels: Inside Russia’s Most Infamous Motorcycle Club.”

Smiles
There are very few artists who have dared to “cover” a song by the Rolling Stones. There’s a simple reason for that—perfection is tough to interpret. But, a few covers come to mind that stand out: Otis Redding’s version of “Satisfaction,” Devo’s over-the-top “Satisfaction,” plus country troubadour’s Johnny Cash “No Expectations” and Townes Van Zandt’s “Dead Flowers.” Perhaps the latter two are the ultimate homage.

Yet, not one of them compares to the powerful groove of Linda Ronstadt’s “Tumbling Dice” cover. Judge for yourself, but I bet either way your toes will be tapping and you’ll smile from ear-to-ear like I do when I watch this.

And, you may also notice that Linda’s guitarist is Waddy Wachtell (long blond curly hair and glasses.) He would go on to become one of Keith Richards’ band mates in his side project, the X-Pensive Winos—because of Linda, Keith knew just where to go for the next best thing to Ronnie Wood or Mick Taylor when starting his own band.

Feedback

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

aschwartz@csis.org

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