Subject: The Evening CSIS: Rocky Road, Debt Bomb, Turn on Your Love Light & More
From: "Andrew Schwartz" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2017 23:26:54 +0000
List-Id: 833ec271d60c6750d9c3baaacmc list <833ec271d60c6750d9c3baaac.212205.list-id.mcsv.net>

The Evening CSIS: Rocky Road, Debt Bomb, Turn on Your Love Light & More
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** Good Evening,
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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 sign up here (http://bit.ly/ecs1s?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) .

** Rocky Road
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Peace talks with Syrian rebels and the war-torn country’s government got off to a rocky start today in Astana, Kazakhstan, while Washington said President Donald Trump was open to joint operations with Russia against Islamic State in Syria, as the AFP reports (https://www.yahoo.com/news/syria-rebels-arrive-astana-talks-regime-032907559.html?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) .

Plus, the New York Times’ Anne Barnard and Hwaida Saad report (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/world/middleeast/syria-astana-talks-russia-turkey.html?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) late this afternoon that angry recriminations in Astana spoiled the first day of talks.

Dive Deeper: Read “General Principles to Guide US Middle East Policy (http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/general-principles-to-guide-u.s.-middle-east-policy?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) ,” by James Jeffrey and Dennis Ross of the Washington Institute.

** Beijing-Manila Agreement
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Beijing has agreed on bilateral cooperation with Manila on 30 projects worth US$3.7 billion, including efforts on infrastructure and poverty alleviation, as the
South China Morning Post reports (http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2064609/china-and-philippines-agree-cooperate-30-projects-worth?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) .

Dive Deeper: See CSIS’s interactive micro-website “Reconnecting Asia (https://reconnectingasia.csis.org/?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) ,” a site that maps the linkages between infrastructure that are reshaping Asia.

** Executive Orders
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President Trump signed three executive orders on trade this morning—one withdraws the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), another reinstates the Mexico City policy dealing with nongovernmental organizations and abortion access, and a third freezes federal workforce hiring, as CBS News reports (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-to-sign-executive-orders/?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) .

Dive Deeper: CSIS’s Matt Goodman and Daniel Remler co-authored a new Critical Questions (CSIS’s signature series of asked & answered short papers): “President Trump Fulfills Day 1 Promise to Abandon TPP (https://www.csis.org/analysis/president-trump-fulfills-day-1-promise-abandon-tpp?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) .”

Also, see the CSIS Asia Economic Strategy Commission report: Reinvigorating U.S. Economic Strategy in the Asia Pacific: Recommendations for the Incoming Administration (https://www.csis.org/analysis/reinvigorating-us-economic-strategy-asia-pacific/?block4&utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) .

** The Debt Bomb
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CSIS held an important event today on “Prospects for the Defense Budget in the New Administration,” as Breaking Defense’s Sydney Freedberg reports (http://breakingdefense.com/2017/01/trumps-debt-bomb-deficit-may-grow-defense-budget-may-not/?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) .

Dive Deeper: CSIS today issued a new “Trump Defense Budget Survey (https://www.csis.org/analysis/trump%E2%80%99s-defense-budget-place-your-bet?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) ” in which you can attempt to predict how much the Trump administration will request for defense, what will happen with war funding (“Overseas Contingency Operations”), and when the five-year budget projection will be announced.

** In That Number
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** 100 days
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The number of days since Iraqi forces began a campaign to dislodge the Islamic State from Mosul—today, Iraq’s deputy parliament speaker announced the liberation of the eastern portion of the city. Source: Newsweek (http://www.newsweek.com/iraq-mosul-isis-anti-isis-coalition-547171?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) .

** Critical Quote
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** “It is understandable that some observers, especially in Asia, want to believe that Beijing has turned over a new leaf. But it is much more likely that tensions will return with a vengeance in 2017.”
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—CSIS’s Gregory Poling on the need to “Prepare for a Stormy 2017 in the South China Sea (https://www.cogitasia.com/prepare-for-a-stormy-2017-in-the-south-china-sea/?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) ” via CSIS’s cogitASIA blog.

** One to Watch
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Dr. Eduardo Sojo has joined CSIS’s Americas program (https://www.csis.org/news/dr-eduardo-sojo-joins-csis-americas-program-non-resident-senior-associate?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) as a non-resident senior associate with the US-Mexico Futures Initiative. He is currently the general director of Mexico’s National Laboratory of Public Policy (LNPP) at the Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE). He previously served as secretary of economy to president Felipe Calderon of Mexico.

** Optics
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(Photo Credit: David Nakamura, Washington Post.)
Packed house in White House press room for first official briefing of the Trump administration by White House press secretary Sean Spicer.

** Highly Recommended
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Via the
Economist: “Quelle Surprise: In their presidential primary, France’s Socialists tack to the left (http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21715193-beno-t-hamon-beats-manuel-valls-promises-universal-basic-income-their-presidential?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) .”

** CSIS Today
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CSIS’s International Security Program hosted “Prospects for the Defense Budget in the New Administration (https://www.csis.org/events/prospects-defense-budget-new-administration?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) .”

** CSIS Tomorrow
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Join CSIS’s Europe Program at 8:30 a.m. for “In Defense of the Arctic: Assessing U.S. Security Concerns (https://www.csis.org/events/defense-arctic-assessing-us-security-concerns?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) ” with Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK).

Join CSIS’s Japan Chair at 2:00 p.m. for “The Era of Geo-Economic Competition: Risks and Challenges for the Japan-U.S. Alliance (https://www.csis.org/events/era-geo-economic-competition-risks-and-challenges-japan-us-alliance?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) .”

** This Town Tomorrow
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Join Brookings at 9:00 a.m. for “U.S.-China Relations in Transition: The Trump Administration and the 19th Party Congress (https://www.brookings.edu/events/u-s-china-relations-transition-trump-administration-19th-party-congress/?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) ,” featuring a keynote address from Barbara Franklin, former US secretary of commerce.

** CSIS On Demand
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Last week, CSIS’s Simon Chair in Political Economy explored the future of global trade (https://www.csis.org/events/future-global-trade?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) , featuring a discussion with Michael Froman, former US trade representative.

** Sounds
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Hear from a range of CSIS experts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/the-csis-podcast/id383703191?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) on the foreign policy challenges President Trump needs to address on Day One.

** I Like It Like That
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The Trump White House is adding “Skype Seats (http://www.theverge.com/2017/1/23/14360578/trump-press-briefing-skype-video-call-questions?utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) ” to the press room, opening up 4 virtual briefing room seats to journalists who live beyond 50 miles of Washington.

** Smiles
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Live music has been known to make folks smile. Especially when it is done right and in a beautiful setting. Take the annual summer Lockn’ Festival which takes place in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains about 150 miles from Washington. The 4-day festival launched in 2013 and featured great performances like this one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf7-G7x2Zy4&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=807024228a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-807024228a-145367789) featuring the Black Crowes, Bob Weir and the Tedeschi Trucks Band.

** Feedback
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I always welcome and benefit from your feedback. Please drop me a line at [email-masked] (mailto:[email-masked])

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The Evening CSIS is my daily guide to key insights CSIS brings to the events of the day. It is composed with the External Relations team: Colm Quinn, Brandon Schwartz, and Jackie Ramsay.

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