What we are reading

What America Can Learn From Detroit

Andrew Holland / The Atlantic

Detroit’s rebirth is only beginning, and we should all count ourselves lucky that the rest of America never fell as far as Detroit did. But it can show us a way out of our long troubles. A hundred years ago, Detroit was the model for the country: the large integrated assembly line, represented by Ford’s River Rouge plant, showed us how to meet the needs of the 20th century. Today, by forging links between scientists and entrepreneurs, Detroit may provide a new model for re-energizing our cities.

Analysis: U.S. nuclear industry’s fate rests with Southern Co

Scott DiSavino and Eileen O’Grady / Reuters

The future of U.S. nuclear power rests squarely on the shoulders of Atlanta-based Southern Co, which will lead the industry’s effort to prove the concept of new reactor construction after a 30-year hiatus.

Panetta: No Iranian decision yet on nukes

DONNA CASSATA/  
Associated Press

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday that U.S. intelligence  shows Iran is enriching uranium in a disputed nuclear program but that Tehran has not made a decision on whether to proceed with development of an atomic bomb

Alani: How Iran Nuke Standoff Looks to Saudis- Bloomberg

Mustafa Alani / Bloomberg

The most likely victims of a nuclear armed Iran are not the U.S. or Israel, but the Gulf states — countries that are engaged in intense competition with the regime in Tehran, but that lack the power to deter any threat or aggression with a nuclear-strike capability of their own.

U.S. can safely take deeper nuclear arms cuts, senior Defense official says

Elaine M. Grossman / Global Security Newswire

A top Defense Department official on Wednesday said a fresh round of reductions in strategic nuclear weapons could be done without harming U.S. security, though the Pentagon has not yet offered President Obama a recommendation on the matter.

 On the ASP Flashpoint blog:

Foust: Entrepreneurship and National Security

The very lively discussion centered around two themes: what the situation of foreign aid has been in the past and what changes could be made for the future. All of the panel speakers also spoke about the importance of fostering development in post-conflict situations and its impact on US national security.

Holland: No Economic Choice is Without Cost

On the front page of today’s Washington Post, we see an article “Obama’s support for export industry leads to clash of U.S. interests.” The article details a dispute between Boeing, America’s largest single exporter, and Delta Airlines, one of Boeing’s biggest domestic customers. Delta alleges that Boeing’s exports to its foreign competition – the article mentions Air India – places Delta at a disadvantage, and has forced it to close routes between the US and India.

Dorsk: Young minds converge on Washington for International Model NATO Conference 2012

Students from top universities in the U.S. and around the world are gathering in Washington this weekend for the 2012 International Model NATO Conference.

In my capacity here at ASP, and as a Model NATO alum, I will be assisting with the conference’s social media, specifically Facebook. Using the conference’s social media, students have the opportunity to engage and collaborate prior to the start of the event, share materials and information during the conference, and then network afterwards.

About the American Security Project: The American Security Project is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy and research organization dedicated to fostering knowledge and understanding of a range of national security issues, promoting debate about the appropriate use of American power, and cultivating strategic responses to 21st century challenges.

 For more information, visit www.americansecurityproject.org. info@americansecurityproject.org

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