Thursday Reads

Closing the defense capabilities gap, terror in Moscow, and more. Thursday Reads March 28, 2024 Want to book an interview with our authors or experts? [Click here](. Closing the Defense Capabilities Gap by Zalmay Khalilzad & Robert C. O’Brien The U.S. is not positioned to deter conflict with China, much less do so while holding other persistent threats like Iran, Russia, and North Korea at bay. A dramatic change in course is necessary. [Read it here](. What Does the ISIS-K Attack Mean for Afghan-Russia Ties? by Giorgio Cafiero Will Moscow be more willing to work with the Taliban as a counterterrorism partner? [Read it here](. Can Biden Save Israel from Itself? by Leon Hadar Moderate Israelis must understand that the U.S. cannot force Israel to accept a two-state solution. [Read it here](. Increasing LNG Permits Is Critical to Sanctioning Russia by James Marks Putin’s long-standing opposition to U.S. natural gas highlights its strategic value. [Read it here](. Podcast: Terror in Moscow and Putin’s Response (w/ Paul Saunders) Last week's devastating terrorist attack in Moscow—which left 140 dead and reportedly implicates the ISIS-K terror group—poses a significant challenge for Russia’s freshly reelected president Vladimir Putin. In a bid to manage the fallout from his government’s intelligence failure, Putin's subsequent remarks have hinted at Ukrainian complicity, signaling a clear strategy to shift blame. What are the implications for Russian politics as well as Putin’s war in Ukraine? In this special episode, Jacob Heilbrunn speaks with Paul Saunders, a noted Russia expert and the president of the Center for the National Interest. Saunders served in the Bush Administration from 2003 to 2005 as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs. Listen now on [Apple]( [Spotify]( or wherever you get your podcasts. [RSS]( [RSS]( [Apple]( [Apple]( [Spotify]( [Spotify]( [YouTube]( [YouTube]( Copyright © 2024 Center for the National Interest, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in for our daily newsletter or registered at an event. Our mailing address is: Center for the National Interest 1025 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 709Washington, DC 20036 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list]( Want to subscribe to our mailing list? [Click here](.