The Evening CSIS: Trading Accusations, Power Drive, Almost Cut My Hair & 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. If you want to view this in your browser, click here.

Trading Accusations
Russia and Turkey traded accusations over Syria today in another sign of the spreading international ramifications of Syria’s five-year war, as Reuters reports.

Dive Deeper: In a new commentary by Foreign Policy published today, the Wilson Center’s Henri Barkey writes that Turkish PM Erdogan’s “Foreign Policy is in Ruins.”

And, the Atlantic Council’s Fred Hof today authored a new commentary: “ Syria: What’s Next?

Plus, CSIS’s Anthony Cordesman today published an extensive graphic overview of “ The Human Cost of War in the Middle East .” This is an early look at a work in progress by Dr. Cordesman and a must see.

Power Drive
In a superb piece published today, Chris Buckley of the New York Times reports that “China’s president, Xi Jinping, has already grasped more power more quickly than his two recent predecessors, and he has shown a taste for audacious decisions and a loathing for dissent. But a new push to praise him as China’s ‘core’ leader, a term resonant with the formidable stature once held by Deng Xiaoping, suggests that his steely quest for dominance is not over.” Don’t miss this if you follow what’s going on in China.

Dive Deeper: And, don’t miss Chris Johnson’s “ Reform Cold, Politics Hot: President Xi Jinping at Mid-Term ” from CSIS’s 2016 Global Forecast.

Counter Move
As the LA Times’ David Cloud today reports, the Obama administration wants to enlarge the US military presence in eastern and central Europe next year by stockpiling heavy weapons, armored vehicles, and other military equipment across the region, a substantial expansion of US efforts to counter a resurgent Russia.

Dive Deeper: CSIS published a new report today by Kathleen Hicks and Heather Conley: Evaluating Future U.S. Army Force Posture in Europe .

And, for more critical defense analysis, visit the CSIS International Security Program’s new micro website, “ Defense 360.”

In that Number
$601 million
The amount of additional humanitarian assistance that the United States announced it will provide to those affected by the war in Syria.
Source: US Department of State.

Critical Quote
"Priority No. 1 for them is political stability. If you're a hacker and you're committing crime, they may not like it, but you're not priority number one for them."
– James A. Lewis, director of the CSIS Strategic Technologies Program, on Chinese policy priorities and stance on cyber-espionage.
Source: Christian Science Monitor

One to Watch

(Photo Credit: LinkedIn.)
Emily Guskin (@EmGusk) is joining the Washington Post’s polling team as a survey analyst. Emily was previously a research manager at APCO Worldwide and a research analyst at the Pew Research Center’s Journalism Project. For the latest public opinion polling, Emily is one to watch.

Optics
The Atlantic released devastating satellite imagery today that reveals the damage that looters have done to Syria’s treasured archeological sites.

Highly Recommended
One of the world's most dangerous al Qaeda affiliates is having an alarming resurgence ” by Business Insider’s Armin Rosen

CSIS Tomorrow
Tomorrow, join CSIS at 9:00 a.m. for a discussion on what’s next for Taiwan after their presidential elections. For more information and to watch live, click here.

CSIS on Demand
Yesterday CSIS hosted Tina Kaidanow, ambassador-at-large and coordinator for counterterrorism at the State Department, for a discussion on how the US is adapting its approach, partnerships, and tools to address the shifting threat environment of ISIS, specifically the civilian and diplomatic efforts led by State.

Sounds
Sherri Kraham Talabany, president of SEED Kurdistan, discussed her organization’s humanitarian assistance efforts in Iraqi Kurdistan on the latest edition of the Smart Women, Smart Power podcast.

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

The New York Times has announced a “Newsroomwide”strategic review. I’m looking forward to reading it when it leaks.…

Smiles
Last night, we featured “Uncle” Neil Young joining forces with Pearl Jam a few years back for an unforgettable “Godfather of Grunge” performance in Toronto. Young is the rare superstar that has the ability to bring every band he plays with to a higher level of sonic bliss.

Young’s most famous collaboration, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young has set the standard for the term “Super Group.” I love this 1974 live film clip of CSNY in which Nash, Young and Stills are cast in a complimentary role to David Crosby’s lead on “Almost Cut My Hair.” It’s such a smile and one of the best examples of rock and roll synchronicity in the history of the rock cannon

Feedback

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