Friday's Miscellany 03-20-2009

American Enterprise Institute
· Heading Off Another "Lost Decade" in Latin America
· "Oil-for-Food" When Oil Is Down (and the Ruble Is Weak)

Atlantic Council
· Energy Security: Transatlantic Cooperation and Sustainability

Brookings Institution
· Aid Effectiveness and Governance: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
· Can Obama Win In Afghanistan?
· Engaging Ukraine in 2009
· The Financial Crisis and a Flaw in Corporate Capitalism
· On a New Footing: U.S.-Syria Relations
· The Violent Drug Market in Mexico and Lessons from Colombia

Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute (CDFAI)
· Canada-U.S. Relations in the Arctic: A Neighbourly Proposal
· Contemporary Piracy off the Horn of Africa
· Engaging the Obama Administration
· Setting the Stage for the Obama Administration: The Players, the Program, and the Opportunities for Canada

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP)
· The Oil Boom in the GCC Countries: Old Challenges, Changing Dynamics

CATO
· CATO Handbook for Policymakers (7th ed)
· El Salvador: A Central American Tiger?
· Obama's Budget Builds on Bush Precedents

Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
· A Pathway to Success in Afghanistan: The National Solidarity Program

Center for American Progress
· Infographic: Swift and Responsible Recovery
· Lessons from Six Years in Iraq
· Stay the Course
· Swords and Ploughshares: Sustainable Security in Afghanistan Requires Sweeping U.S. Policy Overhaul · The United States and Brazil: Two Perspectives on Dealing with Partnership and Rivalry

Center for Immigrations Studies (CIS)
· The 2006 Swift Raids: Assessing the Impact of Immigration Enforcement Actions at Six Facilities

Center for Security Policy
· Civil Disobedience as an Option for Venezuela
· Shariah's Brotherhood

Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS)
· Afghanistan and Pakistan on the Brink: Framing U.S. Policy Options
· The Afghan-Pakistan Conflict: U.S. Strategic Options
· Critical Questions: Pakistan’s Unrest
· Declaration on U.S. Policy and the Global Challenge of Water
· El Control de la Corrupción en los Gobiernos Locales de América Latina
· Iraqi Security and "Hearts and Minds": Selected Results of the ABC News Poll
· Study on a Possible Israeli Strike on Iran’s Nuclear Development Facilities
· Transatlantic Cooperation for Sustainable Energy Security

Center for Systemic Peace (CSP)
· Global Conflict Trends [graphs]
· Global Report on Conflict, Governance, and State Fragility 2008
· Global Report series http://www.systemicpeace.org/peace.htm
· The Global System and Comparative Regionalism
· High Casualty Terrorist Bombing (HCTB) Events
· Political Regime Characteristics and Transitions, 1800-2007

Centre for European Reform (CER)
· Is Russia a Partner to the EU in Bosnia?

Century Foundation
· Iran’s Role in Post-Occupation Iraq: Enemy, Good Neighbor, or Overlord?

Combating Terrorism Center (CTC)
· CTC Sentinel, March 2009, v. 2, no. 3 http://www.ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/CTCSentinel-Vol2Iss3.pdf
*“Somalia’s New Government and the Challenge of Al-Shabab” by David H. Shinn
*“Inside Look at the Fighting Between Al-Shabab and Ahlu-Sunna wal-Jama” by Abdulahi Hassan
*“Pakistan’s Continued Failure to Adopt a Counterinsurgency Strategy” by Ahmed Rashid
*“Al-Qa`ida’s Involvement in Britain’s ‘Homegrown’ Terrorist Plots” by James Brandon
* “Lashkar-i-Tayyiba Remains Committed to Jihad” by Farhana Ali and Mohammad Shehzad
*“Deconstructing Ibn Taymiyya’s Views on Suicidal Missions” by Rebecca Molloy
*“Muslim Brotherhood Faces Growing Challenges in Egypt” by Steven Brooke
* “The Current State of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group” by Carlos Echeverria Jesus

Commission on U.S. Policy Toward Russia
· The Right Direction for U.S. Policy Toward Russia: A Report from the Commission on U.S. Policy Toward Russia

Congress. House. Armed Services Committee
· Hearings
*Status of U.S. Strategic Programs [March 17]
*Security Developments in the Areas of Responsibility of the U.S. Southern Command, Northern Command, Africa Command, and Joint Forces Command [March 18]
*Space and U.S. Security [March 18]
*Medical Infrastructure: Are Health Affairs/TRICARE Management Activity Priorities Aligned with Service Requirements? [March 18]
*Panel on Defense Acquisition Reform [March 18]
*Project on National Security Reform: Commentary and Alternative Views [March 19]

Congress. House. Foreign Affairs Committee
· Hearing schedule
*Guns, Drugs and Violence: The Merida Initiative and the Challenge in Mexico [March 18, 2009]
*Striking the Appropriate Balance: The Defense Department's Expanding Role in Foreign Assistance [March 18, 2009]

Congress. House. Homeland Security Committee
· Human Trafficking: Recent Trends [March 19, 2009]
· Homeland Security Intelligence: Its Relevance and Limitations [March 18, 2009]
· 100% Air Cargo Screening: Can We Secure America's Skies?” [March 18, 2009]
· PKEMRA Implementation: An Examination of FEMA's Preparedness and Response Mission [March 17, 2009]

Congress. Senate. Armed Services Committee
· Southern Command, United States Northern Command, United States Africa Command, and United States Transportation Command
· Incidence of Suicides of United States Servicemembers and Initiatives Within the Department of Defense to Prevent Military Suicides [March 18, 2009]
· United States Pacific Command, United States Strategic Command, and United States Forces Korea [March 18, 2009]

Congress. Senate. Foreign Relations
· Prospects for Engagement with Russia [March 19, 2009]

Congress. Senate. Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
· A New Way Home: Findings from the Disaster Recovery Subcommittee Special Report and Working with the New Administration on a Way Forward [March 18, 2009]

Congress. Senate. Select Committee on Intelligence
· Report of the Select Committee on Intelligence United States Senate Covering the Period January 4, 2007 to January 2, 2009

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
· A Preliminary Analysis of the President's Budget and an Update of CBO's Budget and Economic Outlook

Council for Foreign Relations
· Breaking the Stalemate in Afghanistan
· Cap and Trade's Economic Impact
· French Military Strategy and NATO Reintegration
· Iraq War Timeline [2003-Present]
· National Missile Defense: A Status Report

Defense Science Board (DSB)
· Understanding Human Dynamics

Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPR)
· Annual Reports
· Fiscal 2008 Report on Sexual Assault in the Military

Department of Defense Inspector General (DODIG)
· SPO-2009-003 Assessment of the Accountability of Night Vision Devices Provided to the Security Forces of Iraq

Department of Justice (DOJ)
· Respondents' Memorandum Regarding the Government's Detention Authority Relative to Detainees Held at Guantanamo Bay

Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI)
· Joint Warfare in the 21st Century
· Los Zetas and other Mexican Cartels Target Military Personnel
· Security Challenges Arising from the Global Economic Crisis
· What are We Fightin' For? Western Civilization, American Identity, and U.S. Foreign

Government Accountability Office (GAO)
· American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: GAO's Role in Helping to Ensure Accountability and Transparency for Science Funding GAO-09-515T
· Aviation Security: Preliminary Observations on TSA's Progress and Challenges in Meeting the Statutory Mandate for Screening Air Cargo on Passenger Aircraft GAO-09-422T
· Bank Secrecy Act: Federal Agencies Should Take Action to Further Improve Coordination and Information-Sharing Efforts GAO-09-227
· Defense Acquisitions: DOD Must Prioritize Its Weapon System Acquisitions and Balance Them with Available Resources GAO-09-501T
· Defense Acquisitions: Production and Fielding of Missile Defense Components Continue with Less Testing and Validation Than Planned GAO-09-338
· Department of State: Undercover Tests Reveal Significant Vulnerabilities in State's Passport Issuance Process GAO-09-447
· International Trade: Effective Export Programs Can Help In Achieving U.S. Economic Goals GAO-09-480T
· Emergency Management: Actions to Implement Select Provisions of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act GAO-09-433T
· Federal Financial Assistance: Preliminary Observations on Assistance Provided to AIG GAO-09-490T
· Financial Regulation: Review of Regulators' Oversight of Risk Management Systems at a Limited Number of Large, Complex Financial Institutions GAO-09-499T
· Freedom of Information Act: DHS Has Taken Steps to Enhance Its Program, but Opportunities Exist to Improve Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness GAO-09-260
· Global War on Terrorism: DOD Needs to More Accurately Capture and Report the Costs of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom GAO-09-302
· Information Security: Securities and Exchange Commission Needs to Consistently Implement Effective Controls GAO-09-203
· Next Generation Air Transportation System: Status of Transformation and Issues Associated with Midterm Implementation of Capabilities GAO-09-479T
· Seafood Fraud: FDA Program Changes and Better Collaboration among Key Federal Agencies Could Improve Detection and Prevention GAO-09-258
· Tax Compliance: Offshore Financial Activity Creates Enforcement Issues for IRS GAO-09-478T
· Troubled Asset Relief Program: Status of Efforts to Address Transparency and Accountability Issues GAO-09-484T

Heritage Foundation
· The EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy: How It Threatens Transatlantic Security
· FMLN Wins in El Salvador: No Mandate for Revolutionary Change
· How the Obama Administration Should Engage Russia
· Why the United States Should Not Join the Inter-Parliamentary Union

Hudson Institute
· The Robertson v. Princeton Case: Too Important to Be Left to the Lawyers

Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS)
· Nuclear Weapon Breakout Scenarios: Correcting the Record

Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
· The Use of Mosques for Military and Political Purposes by Hamas and Other Terrorist Organizations and Islamic Groups

International Council on Security and Development [Formerly Senlis Council]
· Chronic Failures in the War on Terror – From Afghanistan to Somalia
· Iraq – Angry Hearts and Angry Minds
· Struggle for Kabul: The Taliban Advance

International Relations and Security Network
· Iran: Rafsanjani Not Down, Not Out
· Recession Puts Honduras at Risk
· Security Challenges from the Crisis
· Swiss Banking Laws 'Baffling'
· US: Full Speed Ahead with LCS
· US Cybersecurity Woes

Jamestown Foundation
· China Brief, March 18, 2009, v. 9, no. 6
*China Debates Forex Reserves; Boosts Strategic Petroleum Reserves
*Mixed Signals from 11th National People's Congress
*China’s Maturing Relationship with Latin America
* China's Inroads into East Timor
* China and the Artic [sic]: The Awakening Snow Dragon
· Terrorism Monitor, March 19, 2009, v. 7, no. 6
*Militants Ask Whether Jihad is Defeated in Iraq by Abdul Hameed Bakier
*Evidence of French Intelligence Agency Rejected in Appeal of Former Guantanamo Inmates by Pascale Combelles Siegel
*A Profile of Militant Groups in Bajaur Tribal Agency by Mukhtar A. Khan
*Sectarianism in Pakistan's Kurram Tribal Agency by Mariam Abou Zahab

Lexington Institute
· The Military Needs Many More C-17 Airlifters

National Academies Press
· Assessment of Explosive Destruction Technologies for Specific Munitions at the Blue Grass and Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plants [free download but registration required]
· Countering Terrorism: Biological Agents, Transportation Networks, and Energy Systems. Summary of a U.S.-Russian Workshop [free download but registration required]
· Informing Decisions in a Changing Climate
· Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency: Fourth Edition
· Review of Directed Energy Technology for Countering Rockets, Artillery, and Mortars (RAM): Abbreviated Version [free download but registration required]
· Science and Decisions: Advancing Risk Assessment
· Scientific Assessment of High-Power Free-Electron Laser Technology [free download but registration required]

National Security Archive
· Historical Archives Lead to Arrest of Police Officers in Guatemalan Disappearance
· New Attorney General Guidelines on FOIA Released

Oxfam International
· In Her Own Words: Iraqi Women Talk About Their Greatest Concerns and Challenges, a Survey

Peterson Institute
· The Stakes in Limiting Climate Change

Potomac Institute for Policy Studies
· Best Available Science
· US Taxation of Multinational Corporations: What Makes Sense, What Doesn’t

RAND
· Combat Support Execution Planning and Control: An Assessment of Initial Implementations in Air Force Exercises
· How Should Air Force Expeditionary Medical Capabilities Be Expressed?
· Is It Time to Rethink U.S. Entry and Exit Processes?
· Saudi-Iranian Relations Since the Fall of Saddam: Rivalry, Cooperation, and Implications for U.S. Policy

Republic of China (Taiwan)
· Republic of China (Taiwan) Quadrennial Defense Review

Stanley Foundation
· Realizing Nuclear Disarmament

Henry L. Stimson Center
· The High Price of Education Reform in Afghanistan

United Nations Secretary General
· UN Secretary-General's Database on Violence Against Women

United States Institute of Peace (USIP)
· Conducting Elections in Darfur: Looking ahead to Sudan’s 2009 Elections
· Resolving the Crisis over Constitutional Interpretation in Afghanistan

Washington Institute for Near East Policy
· Hizballah and Iran in the Age of Engagement
· Iran's Ongoing Proxy War in Iraq
· The Washington-Beirut-Damascus Triangle (Part I)
· The Washington-Beirut-Damascus Triangle (Part II)