21st Century U.S.

-Egypt Relations
A Strategic Conference
May 2014
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Te Honorable Gary Hart, Chairman
Senator Hart served the State of Colorado in the
U.S. Senate and was a member of the Committee
on Armed Services during his tenure.
Stuart Piltch
Stuart Piltch is the Co-Founder and Managing
Director of Cambridge Advisory Group, an
actuarial and benefts consulting frm based in
Philadelphia.
Norman R. Augustine
Mr. Augustine was Chairman and Principal
Ofcer of the American Red Cross for nine
years and Chairman of the Council of the
National Academy of Engineering.
Robert B. Crowe
Robert B. Crowe is a Partner of Nelson
Mullins Riley & Scarborough in its Boston and
Washington, DC ofces. He is co-chair of the
frms Government Relations practice.
Brigadier General Stephen A. Cheney, USMC (Ret.)
Brigadier General Cheney is the Chief Executive
Ofcer of ASP.
Lieutenant General Daniel Christman, USA (Ret.)
Lieutenant General Christman is Senior Vice
President for International Afairs at the United
States Chamber of Commerce.
Lieutenant General John Castellaw, USMC (Ret.)
John Castellaw is President of the Crockett Policy
Institute (CPI), a non-partisan policy and research
organization headquartered in Tennessee.
Nelson W. Cunningham
Nelson Cunningham is President of
McLarty Associates.
Lee Cullum
Lee Cullum, at one time a commentator on the
PBS NewsHour and All Tings Considered
on NPR, currently contributes to the Dallas
Morning News and hosts CEO.
Admiral William Fallon, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Fallon has led U.S. and Allied forces and
played a leadership role in military and diplomatic
matters at the highest levels of the U.S. government.
Te Hon. Donald Beyer
Te Hon. Donald Beyer is the former United
States Ambassador to to Switzerland and
Liechtenstein, as well as a former Lieutenant
Governor and President of the Senate of Virginia.
Raj Fernando
Raj Fernando is CEO and founder of
Chopper Trading, a technology based trading
frm headquartered in Chicago.
Vice Admiral Lee Gunn, USN (Ret.)
Vice Admiral Gunn is the President of the
Institute of Public Research at the CNA
Corporation, a non-proft corporation in Virginia.
General Lester L. Lyles, USAF (Ret.)
General Lyles retired from the United States Air Force
after a distinguished 35 year career. He is presently
Chairman of USAA, a member of the Defense
Science Board, and a member of the Presidents
Intelligence Advisory Board.
Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, USA (Ret.)
Lieutenant General Kennedy was the frst woman
to achieve the rank of three-star general in the
United States Army.
Dennis Mehiel
Dennis Mehiel is the Principal Shareholder
and Chairman of U.S. Corrugated, Inc.
Ed Reilly
Edward Reilly is CEO of Americas of FD
International Limited, a leading global
communications consultancy that is part of FTI
Consulting, Inc.
Governor Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd Whitman is the President of the
Whitman Strategy Group, a consulting frm that
specializes in energy and environmental issues.
Te Hon. Jefery Bleich
Te Hon. Jefery Bleich heads the Global Practice
for Munger, Tolles & Olson. He served as the U.S.
Ambassador to Australia from 2009 to 2013. He
previously served in the Clinton Administration.
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On Wednesday, May 7th, 2014 leaders from the public and
private sector in both the United States and Egypt joined
together in Washington, DC to discuss the shifing nature
of Egypt on a regional and international focus. Tese
individuals specfcally focused on the countrys partnership
with the United States.
Over the course of the day, generals from the United States
Armed Forces discussed counterterrorism in the country;
former senators and representatives who played a major
role in foreign relations examined cross-cultural diplomacy;
international leaders in entrepreneurship tackled the outlook
for the Egyptian economy; and the President of Egypts
new constitutional committee gave his advice for the next
generation of Egyptian leaders.
Egypt has, and will continue to play an important role for the
United States and its role in the Middle East and the world.
We welcome you to join us in our exploration of this critical
country as it fnds its roots in the 21st century.
- Te American Security Project
Panel 1: U.S.Egypt Strategic Relations
Moving Forward
Te frst panel of the 21st Century U.S. - Egypt Strategic Relations conference, moderated
by Lara Jakes, brought together three distinguished guests to discuss the dynamic
relationship evolving between Washington and Cairo and how they can move forward.
Te panel included Senator Norm Coleman, Mr. Gamal Helal, and Congressman Jim
Kolbe, each of whom have extensive experience and background with Egypt and the
greater Middle East.
One main theme that was
apparent throughout each
speakers presentation was
the need to strike a balance
between American values
(promotion of democracy,
human rights, etc.) and
stability. All of the speakers
reiterated the importance
of the U.S. Egyptian
relationship, citing the
protection of the Suez Canal, advancing Arab-Israeli peace, pursuing counter-terrorism
measures, and protecting the vital military-to-military relationship. However, the United
States cannot forget its core values, but instead balance that with our strategic interests.
From the U.S. standpoint, according to Gamal Helal, the strategic partnership with Egypt
should not be a partisan issue and we should seize the opportunity to swifly engage with
the new government. Egypt also has reason to maintain an amicable relationship with
the United States. Economic, security, and political assistance are desperately needed to
keep Egypt afoat afer 3 years of instability. Te U.S. is in the best position to provide
such assistance, which can further improve our image in Egypt and the region as a whole.
One striking point made during the panel discussion was that failure with Egypt is not
an option. Te strategic relationship is too important for both sides to ignore, and there
needs to be an open and meaningful dialogue for each side to clarify their perception and
intentions for moving forward.
Zack Gold: Terrorism and the Sinai
Zack Gold, a Middle East policy analyst from the Brookings Institute, spoke
on terrorism in the Sinai Peninsula at the American Security Projects 21st
Century U.S. Egypt Strategic Relations conference on May 7th, 2014.
In his presentation he spoke of
the dramatic increase in violence
in the Sinai since the popular
uprisings that ousted Hosni
Mubarak, as well as Mohammed
Morsi.
Since 2011, 700 policeman,
soldiers, and civilians have been
killed, 500 of those occurred
since 2013.
Mr. Gold lays out four reasons to explain the recent increase in violence in
the Sinai: security forces melting away afer Mubarak was ousted, recent
mass jailbreaks of Salaf Jihadists, the release of detainees under the Supreme
Council of Armed Forces and Mohammed Morsi, and the Libyan uprising
that allowed for weapon stocks to be raided and smuggled into the Sinai.
Te majority of the near daily attacks that occur are by disgruntled Bedouins
and al-Qaeda inspired Jihadi groups who want to disrupt the relationship
between Egypt and Israel.
One of the most notorious of these groups is known as Ansar Bait al-Maqdis
(ABM), who take credit for the larger-scale attacks, such as the rocket-
propelled grenade on an Egyptian helicopter that killed fve soldiers last
January.
Te Egyptian response, according to Mr. Gold, has involved Apache helicopter
attacks on villages and known terrorist hotspots, but is only a short-term
solution that will only perpetuate grievances and inspire more violent attacks
against the state.
In reference to the U.S. Egypt strategic relationship, Zack Gold
highlights a number of actions taken by the Egypt government in
which the U.S sees as counterproductive. For example, banning the
Muslim Brotherhood, essentially outlawing protests, the harassment
of non-Islamists civil society organizations, and the detention of
journalists, according to Mr. Gold, is very harmful for the strategic
relationship.
Expanding Egypts war on terror to include war on political dissent
has distanced the U.S. support for countering a terrorist threat in
Egypt. Zack Gold concludes by reiterating the mutual concern of
terrorism in the Sinai as an important issue for both Egypt and the
United States, and should be a reason to strengthen the relationship
rather than let it falter.
Panel 2: Counterterrorism and Regional
Security
Te second panel of the day, Counter Terrorism and Regional Security, had General
Carter Ham and Ambassador Yousef al-Otaiba discussing the recent terrorism spike in
Egypt, its implications for the region, and what key issues both Cairo and Washington
can focus on to overcome this terrorism threat.
To summarize General Ham, Egypt matters and the United States can fnd ways to help
the security threat by sending an ambassador to Cairo, help Egypt plan and conduct
regional security exercises throughout Africa, support the reintegration of Egypt with
the African Union, and look for opportunities to continue counter terrorism activities
in the Sinai. He fnishes by saying that the relationship with Egypt is not a black and
white question, but is a complex one that must consider the United States strategic
interests, as well as promote its core values.
Ambassador Yousef al-Otaiba
discussion focused on the
fact that Egypt must establish
stability before it can truly
solve the economic issues
plaguing the nation. In order
for businesses to invest in, for
tourists to travel to, and for
Egyptians to believe in Egypt,
there must be a secure and
stable state.
Te Ambassidor believes that security is at the core of problems facing the nation, and
that for Egypt to thrive in the future, terrorism must be combatted and regional security
established.
General Ham concluded the discussion by saying that establishing security and stability
is a necessary precursor to improving the economy, but it is how Egyptian security
forces establish stability that matters, and the new government must consider human
rights and be in accordance with the rule of law.
Panel 3: Investment Climate and
Entrepreneurship
Te third and fnal panel of the day, Investment Climate, and Entrepreneurship,
discussed the key economic changes Egypt will need to go through, as well as the
future of business and growth sustainability.
Egypt is the largest
economic market in the
Middle East, with over
90 million people. An
open and competitive
economy, a politically
stable government,
and the potential for
investment from nations
around the world will be
key in the growth and
sustainability of Egypt.
Te distinguished panelists included Nelson Cunningham, Dante Disparte, Khush
Chosky, and Basil El Baz.
Dante Disparte set the tone for the discussion by saying no matter where you stand
politically, economics will punish you. Egypt must establish a pathway forward that
encourages investment and creates jobs. Te driver behind Egypts way forward is
small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
According to Basil El Baz Egypt has the basic fundamentals to provide jobs, but
lacks investment and the economic reforms to facilitate growth. His solution
is to increase education on entrepreneurship on a wide scale to promote the
development of SMEs, something the United States could easily partner with.
Being a successful Egyptian entrepreneur himself, whose company is now the
largest investor in post-revolutionary Egypt, El Baz challenges the concept that
Egypt is hard to work in. His projects, having been developed in a complicated
market, established a well-balanced structure that allows his company to fourish.
El Baz believes Egypt has the proper model to develop a highly efcient economy.
Using an anecdote about South Korea modeling their system afer Egypt decades
ago, El Baz stresses that Egypt simply needs to make the proper decisions to ensure
that their own model works. El Baz said, Trough reform, through structure you
can establish practically any economic goal as the South Koreans did, who now
have a highly developed economy.
Mustafa Abdel-Wadood, however, reminds us of the set of harsh realities in
Egypt political transition, unemployment, and lack of investment that only
hinder long-term challenges such as growth, employment, and education. Egypt
has deteriorated over the past few years and remains an uncertain market. Khush
Choksy lists 5 economic issues that must change for Egypt to move forward and
encourage investment: (1) a comprehensive economic policy must be enacted, (2)
there must be a reform in the bureaucracy, (3) a genuine public- private sector
dialogue must take place, (4) business best practices must be instituted, and (5)
there should be a government-to-government dialogue between Egypt and the
U.S.
Despite the challenges ahead and the tone presented in the media, each panelists
remains fervently optimistic about the future of Egypt. Basil El Baz described
discipline as one of the main keys to Egypts success and he believes that with
discipline you can navigate through any turbulent time.
Interview with H.E. Amr Moussa
During last months 21st Century U.S. Egypt Strategic Relations Conference
ASPs Paul Hamill sat down with H.E. Amr Moussa, the elected president of the
committee of 50 responsible for drafing a new constitution in Egypt.
Te committee of 50
represented all segments of
Egyptian society that authored
the new constitution, which
was subsequently approved in
a referendum in January 2014.
According to Moussa, this
new constitution will form
the basis of the new political
life and is the start of a very
important roadmap that will
guide Egypt towards stability.
All of us should follow the steps established by the new constitutionthis is our
guide to the new Egypt.
Egyptians feel that the failure of previous governments must be reversed and
replaced with solid management based on the principles established in the
constitution, and Moussa expressed a sense of optimism for this and the future of
Egypt, citing the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections as the next
vital steps along Egypts roadmap to success.
Te Speakers
U.S.Egypt Strategic Relations Moving Forward
Lara Jakes is an award-winning correspondent for Te Associated Press in
Washington, where she currently is a senior national security writer and based at the
State Department. Jakes worked for three years as a foreign correspondent based in
Iraq, including one year as AP Chief of Bureau in Baghdad. She has covered war and
sectarian fghting in Iraq, Afghanistan, the West Bank, and Northern Ireland.
Jakes was a homeland security fellow at the Knight Center for Specialized Journalism
at the University of Marylands Phillip Merrill College of Journalism. She is a 1995
graduate of the University of Missouris School of Journalism and pursuing a masters
degree in foreign relations at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Afairs at
Syracuse University.
Senator Norm Coleman is a Senior Government Advisor at Hogan Lovells US LLP,
counseling clients on a wide range of regulatory and government afairs issues. He
previously served as a U.S. Senator, representing Minnesota from 2003 2009. Prior
to his election to the U.S. Senate, Senator Coleman was the mayor of St. Paul, MN
from 1994 2002.
During his six years in the U.S. Senate, Senator Coleman served on the prestigious
Foreign Relations Committee. He was Chair of the Western Hemisphere subcommittee
and ranking member of the Near East subcommittee, working to foster closer ties
with our hemispheric neighbors and protect Americas interests in the crucial Middle
East region. Senator Coleman also co-chaired the Senate Bio-Fuels Caucus and served
on the Senate Agriculture Committee. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board
of the American Action Network in Washington, D.C.
Gamal Helal is a former translator and advisor to the last four U.S. Presidents and
six Secretaries of State. Helal began as an Arabic interpreter in the Department of
State, and played a critical role during talks with Iraq before the Gulf War. In 1993, he
became the senior diplomatic Arabic interpreter in the Department.
He was integral part of U.S relations with the Middle East, serving as the senior
Mideast adviser to every President since George H. W. Bush. He was also involved as
an Arabic interpreter in every recent major peace talk, notably the 2000 talks between
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat. Helal
was also a key player during communications with leaders in the Middle East afer the
World Trade Center bombings in 2001.
He served as an interpreter in Arabic language communications with Middle Eastern
leaders to work through the difcult time and promote cultural understanding.
Congressman Jim Kolbe is currently serving as a Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the
German Marshall Fund of the United States, and as a Senior Advisor to McLarty
Associates, a strategic consulting frm. Recently, President Obama appointed him
to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, where he provides
policy advice on trade matters. Jim Kolbe is also a co-Chair of the Modernizing
Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN), a reform coalition composed of international
development and foreign policy practitioners, policy advocates and experts, concerned
citizens and private sector organizations.
For 22 years, Jim Kolbe served in the United States House of Representatives,
elected for eleven consecutive terms, from 1985 to 2007. He represented the Eighth
(previously designated the Fifh) congressional district, comprising the southeastern
part of Arizona with Tucson as the main population area. While in Congress, Jim
served for 20 years on the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives.
He was chairman of the Treasury, Post Ofce and Related Agencies subcommittee for
four years, and for the last six years in Congress, he chaired the Foreign Operations,
Export Financing and Related Agencies subcommittee.
Terrorism and the Sinai
Zack Gold is an accomplished researcher and writer on U.S. Middle East policy,
specifcally concerning threats to Egyptian and regional security from Sinai and
Gaza. He is the author of recent analysis papers on Sinai terrorism and security
cooperation for the Brookings Institutions Saban Center for Middle East Policy and
the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism - Te Hague.
Previously, Gold was a research associate at the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis
where he wrote papers for the Defense Treat Reduction Agency and US Marine Corps.
He also conducted counter-terrorism research at the International Policy Institute
for Counter-Terrorism in Israel. Gold obtained his M.A. in law and diplomacy from
Te Fletcher School at Tufs University and twice received the Department of States
Critical Language Scholarship to study Arabic in Oman and Egypt.
Counterterrorism and Regional Security
Lieutenant General John Castellaw USMC (Ret.) is a retired Lieutenant General of
the US Marine Corps. As a Marine Aviator, he few more than two dozen diferent
aircraf including the CH-46E SEAKNIGHT, the TAV-8B HARRIER and the MV-
22A OSPREY. During his 36 year career, he held several commands including Marine
Medium Helicopter Squadron 264, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron
1, the 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, U.S. FORCES EAST TIMOR, and the 2d
Marine Aircraf Wing.
As a staf ofcer, he served on several high level military stafs in Europe, the Asia-
Pacifc and the Middle East.
As a veteran, he is a member of the Marine Corps League, Te Marine Corps
Association, and Te Naval Institute and is beginning his frst term as the National
Commander of the Marine Corps Aviation Association.
General Carter F. Ham USA (Ret.) is the former Commander of U.S. Africa
Command and Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army.
He has held a variety of positions to include Recruiting Area Commander;
Battalion Executive Ofcer at the National Training Center; Advisor to the Saudi
Arabian National Guard Brigade; Commander, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry; Chief
of Staf, 1st Infantry Division; Commander, 29th Infantry Regiment; commander,
Multi-National Brigade, Mosul, Iraq; Commander, 1st Infantry Division; Director
for Operations, J-3, Te Joint Staf, Washington, DC.
General Hams military education includes the Armor Ofcers Advanced Course,
Naval College of Command and Staf, graduating with distinction, and the U. S.
Air Forces Air War College.
His awards and decorations include Army Distinguished Service Medal, Defense
Superior Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Legion of Merit with two
oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Joint Service Commendation
Medal.
H.E. Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba has been the United Arab Emirates Ambassador
to the United States since July 2008. Before being appointed as Ambassador, he
served seven years as the Director of International Afairs for the court of the
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, where he was a senior advisor to the Mohammed
bin Zayed Al Nahyan. During that time, Al Otaiba helped strengthen the UAEs
security and economic relations throughout the region.
Most recently, Ambassador Al Otaiba has helped guide Abu Dhabis leadership in
multinational discussions on best practices for sovereign wealth funds. Tis activity
was an extension of Ambassador Al Otaibas eforts to promote and deepen trade
relationships between the UAE and other government, commercial, and private
sector entities. For several years, Ambassador Al Otaiba has facilitated meetings
between the UAE and other foreign economic interests, which have resulted in
numerous mutually benefcial cooperative and partnership agreements.
Investment Climate and Entrepreneurship
Nelson Cunningham is President of McLarty Associates, the international
strategic advisory frm headed by former White House Chief of Staf and
Special Envoy for the Americas Tomas F. Mack McLarty III. Cunningham
was also Special Advisor to President Clinton for Western Hemisphere Afairs
and previously served as a counsel at the White House and as General Counsel
of the Senate Judiciary Committee under Senator Joseph Biden. Prior to that,
he was a federal prosecutor in New York under then-U.S. Attorney Rudolph
Giuliani and also served as a foreign policy and trade advisor to the 2004 Kerry
campaign.
Cunningham is an active member of the boards of the Institute of the
Americas, the American Security Project, the Atlantic Council, and the U.S.-
India Business Council, and is a member of the Yale Presidents Council on
International Activities, the Department of States Advisory Committee on
International Economic Policy, the Council of the Americas, and the Council
on Foreign Relations.
Basil ElBaz is the Chairman & Chief Executive Ofcer of Carbon Holdings.
He has successfully developed and fnanced two major industrial greenfeld
projects in Egypt; Egypt Basic Industries Corporation (EBIC) and Egypt
Hydrocarbon Corporation (EHC). EBIC represents and still is the only
project to receive a comprehensive loan guarantee from the Export Import
Bank of the United States. Furthermore, EBIC is one of a select number of
projects in Egypt to be fnanced entirely by consortium of international banks.
Te project has an approximate value of US$650 million. Carbon Holdings
second project, EHC, with a transaction value of approximately US$500
million is widely considered as the frst major industrial project to close in
postrevolution Egypt. Construction of the second project commenced in
August 2011 with commercial operation scheduled to commence during the
fourth quarter of 2014. In December 2012, Carbon Holdings concluded its
US$114 million acquisition of the Egyptian polypropylene producer, Oriental
Petrochemicals Company (OPC).
Most importantly, Carbon Holdings is developing a US$6.75 billion Naphtha
Cracker and Polyethylene Complex project named Tahrir Petrochemicals that
is currently in an advanced stage of fnancing. Te project is anticipated of
being fnanced entirely by the Export Import Bank of the United States, the
Export Import Bank of Korea, the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation and
SACE, the export credit agency of Italy. Mr. ElBaz is a graduate of Harvard
University.
Dante Disparte is Managing Director at Clements Worldwide, a leading risk
management frm and insurance brokerage serving customers in more than 180
countries. He is a specialist in risk reduction through the design and delivery
of comprehensive insurance solutions of worldwide scope. He is credited with
designing the worlds frst card-based life insurance program for the United
Nations, a plan that has placed more than a half billion USD of risk with the
markets in more than 140 countries in 12 months. Tis innovation was heralded
as one of the top product innovations of 2011 by the MENA Insurance Review.
Disparte serves as the President of the Harvard Business School Club of Washington,
D.C., where he provides strategic and operational oversight delivering value to
more than 3,500 HBS alumni in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. He was formerly the
Managing Director of Land Rovers activities in 32 Sub Saharan African markets
and held numerous general management roles in Denmark, where he developed
applied skills in social entrepreneurship.
Khush Choksy is vice president for Turkey, Middle East, and North Africa Afairs
at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he leads the activities of the department
in developing and implementing policies and programs to promote U.S. trade
and investment with markets in the region. Choksy manages a team of program
and policy experts focused on working closely with Chamber member companies
and business and government leaders to advance and broaden commercial
relationships between the United States and the region. In addition, he serves
as executive director of the U.S.-Egypt Business Council and the U.S.-Bahrain
Business Council. He is actively involved in the Chambers eforts to lead a Middle
East Commercial Dialogue to foster intra-regional trade and investment.
Before joining the Chamber, Choksy was a director at Chemonics International
where he led teams in developing economic ties between the United States and
the Middle East. He lived and worked in Jordan for seven years, establishing
relations with private- and public-sector leaders at a critical time in the U.S.-
Middle East relationship on behalf of several USAID programs. He also worked in
India, overseeing U.S. government and World Bank-funded projects that helped
liberalize the capital markets and fnancial sectors.
Mustafa Abdel-Wadood oversees Te Abraaj Groups investment activities across
the various geographies. He is a Board Member of Te Abraaj Group and Chairman
of the Management Executive Committee.
He joined from EFG-Hermes, where he was Chief Executive Ofcer for the UAE.
Before this, he co-founded Sigma Capital and served as its Managing Director.
Prior to that he spent eight years at Orascom Group as Director of Development
and Investments. Mr Abdel-Wadood has served on the Boards of several publicly
listed and private companies.
In 2002, the World Economic Forum named Mr Abdel-Wadood a Global Leader
for Tomorrow and in 2007 named him a Young Global Leader.
He is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization. He graduated in
Business Administration from American University and holds an MBA from
Georgetown University.
Amr Moussa is a leading Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the Secretary-
General of the Arab League from 2001 to 2011. Moussa has played an active role in
formulating Egypts foreign policy ever since obtaining his law degree from Cairo
University in 1957. From 1991 to 2001, he served in the government of Egypt as
Minister of Foreign Afairs from 1991 to 2001. He has also served a total of 21 years
combined as Egypts ambassador to the United Nations, India, and Switzerland.
Last September, he was elected president of the committee of 50 representing
all segments of Egyptian society that authored the new constitution, which was
subsequently approved in a referendum in January 2014.
ASP would like to thank Carbon Holdings.
PUBLISHED JULY 2014
www.americansecurityproject.org
Te American Security Project (ASP) is a nonpartisan organization
created to educate the American public and the world about the changing
nature of national security in the 21st Century.
Gone are the days when a nations security could be measured by
bombers and battleships. Security in this new era requires harnessing
all of Americas strengths: the force of our diplomacy; the might of our
military; the vigor and competitiveness of our economy; and the power
of our ideals.
We believe that America must lead in the pursuit of our common goals
and shared security. We must confront international challenges with
our partners and with all the tools at our disposal and address emerging
problems before they become security crises. And to do this we must
forge a bipartisan consensus here at home.
ASP brings together prominent American business leaders, former
members of Congress, retired military fag ofcers, and prominent
former government ofcials. ASP conducts research on a broad range
of issues and engages and empowers the American public by taking its
fndings directly to them via events, traditional & new media, meetings,
and publications.
We live in a time when the threats to our security are as complex and
diverse as terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change, energy
challenges, and our economic wellbeing. Partisan bickering and age old
solutions simply wont solve our problems. America and the world -
needs an honest dialogue about security that is as robust as it is realistic.
ASP exists to promote that dialogue, to forge that consensus, and to spur
constructive action so that America meets the challenges to its security
while seizing the opportunities that abound.