![\"Image](\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/439407128_22ab982ec1_z.jpg\" "\\"Image")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The \u2018America First\u2019 pendulum has been in full swing this week, as the President returned from his time abroad to stamp on the progress<\/a> made by the Paris climate agreement and ask the Supreme Court to reinstate the travel ban<\/a> that blocked entry to travellers from six Muslim-majority states. But never fear, H.R. McMaster, White House national security adviser, and Gary D. Cohn, director of the National Economic Council, took to the pages of the Wall Street Journal<\/em><\/a> to reassure the world that, despite hard facts and the clear disappointment of the Europeans, the Trumpian jaunt overseas was<\/em> a smashing success. That\u2019s based largely on The Donald\u2019s apparent reconfirmation of commitment to NATO and Article V\u2014which in actual, as opposed to alternative, reality, did not happen.<\/em> Read David Frum\u2019s<\/a> and Dan Drezner\u2019s<\/a> double smackdown of the \u2018most extraordinary op-ed of 2017 (and not in a good way)\u2019 for more. But on a different note, a longer read from The New Yorker<\/em><\/a> looks at the psychological strain of keeping skeletons in the cupboard\u2014perhaps a good read for those who have to front the press with feel-good stories about a White House that\u2019s still \u201cfinding its way\u201d?<\/p>\n Three great reads that are simultaneously nostalgic and forward-thinking emerged this week. First up, a longread from Foreign Policy<\/em><\/a> discusses American political amnesia when it comes to global tragedy, arguing that comfort and complacency about the postwar order has caused Americans to forget about their leading role in maintaining the international system. Over at The Atlantic<\/em><\/a>, Ben Sasse offers some comments on his new book, The Vanishing American Adult<\/em><\/a>, which laments the disappearance of virtue from American politics. And a final piece from Aeon<\/em><\/a> leaves readers with an interesting thought: \u2018that the US needs its dreamers most when the world seems to be shaming them\u2019.<\/p>\n A couple of fresh research efforts take the cake this week. The headliner, a massive joint effort between our friends at the Perth USAsia Centre and the United States Studies Centre, is titled America\u2019s Role in the Indo-Pacific<\/em><\/a> (PDF). The project involved an extensive polling effort across six Indo\u2013Pacific countries, and measured attitudes towards foreign investment in infrastructure, the Korean peninsula, and whether or not the US can be the global \u2018rule-setter\u2019 under Trump. China was one of the countries polled, which makes it an especially interesting study. Next up, Van Jackson\u2014host of the fabulous Pacific Pundit<\/em> podcast series\u2014has offered some thoughts to the Naval War College Review<\/em><\/a> (PDF) on grey zone operations, and has delved into a handful of poignant case studies. And, finally, a new read from the American Enterprise Institute<\/a> argues that Iran is well on the road to increasing its spending on elite military forces. At the paper\u2019s launch, US Special Ops Vice Commander Lt. Gen. Thomas Trask vowed to add the report to SOCOM\u2019s required reading list, so have a gander now to get ahead of the curve.<\/p>\n Donald Trump said it best when he asked his trove of Twitter followers (or bots, you be the judge<\/a>), \u2018Who can figure out the true meaning of \u201ccovfefe\u201d???<\/a>\u2019 The New Yorker<\/em> has admirably tried its hand<\/a>, while the geniuses behind Merriam-Webster\u2019s Twitter persona have tossed in the dictionary and given up entirely<\/a>. For more, #covfefe<\/a>\u2019s got you covered.<\/p>\n But after the week that was, I\u2019d hardly blame you if you were keen to jump ship. Literally, jump. Off the ship. Into the ocean. Fortunately, this piece from New Republic<\/em><\/a> looks at what\u2019s in store for the future-gazing members of the \u201cseasteading movement\u201d\u2014those who wish to live politically independent, utilitarian, energy-efficient life on the high seas, in floating structures powered by nuclear reactors. Unfortunately, as the author concludes, while technology can do plenty to improve the world, it can\u2019t help us to bypass unsavoury politics. Keep those snorkels stored for another day.<\/p>\n Apropos nothing\u2014not at all related to the fact that my boss is a massive science nerd and wanted it included\u2014here\u2019s a great NY Times<\/em> science story on colliding black holes and gravitational waves<\/a>.<\/p>\n Podcasts<\/strong><\/p>\n For those in need of a fresh take on China beyond the headlines, look no further than this great little offering from Chinoiresie, dubbed The Little Red Podcast Series<\/em><\/a>. Each episode sits around the half-hour mark, and features experts, academics, journalists and policymakers who look beyond \u2018mainstream narratives of modern China\u2019. For instance, the latest episode is an interview on freedom of the press with Sydney academic Feng Chongyi, who recently made the news after being held in detention in Guangzhou. A must-listen for all you Sinophiles out there.<\/p>\n And for something a little out of left field, tune in to the latest episode of Undark<\/em><\/a> (37 mins), which follows the travels of writer Jeff Marlow as he looks at how lethal viruses like Ebola develop and are transmitted across species. Marlow spent a considerable time in the Democratic Republic of Congo preparing this cover story for the Undark<\/em> magazine<\/a>. Both the report and the podcast are worth checking out, if you\u2019ve got an abiding interest in biosecurity.<\/p>\n Videos<\/strong><\/p>\n In a beautiful finale<\/a> (12 mins), The Measure of a Fog<\/em>, acclaimed film director Ian Cheney wrapped up his six part series on climate change and the challenges it poses to humanity\u2014\u2018from the scientific and technical to the emotional, psychological, and political.\u2019 The series, and the finale that wraps up findings from the six episodes, is a must-watch for anyone (cough<\/a>) who needs a lesson on the serious impacts that climate change will have on our planet.<\/p>\n While he\u2019ll be touching down in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue right about now, US Secretary of Defense James \u2018Mad Dog\u2019 Mattis sat down with CBS\u2019s John Dickson for a detailed discussion on defeating ISIS, Trump\u2019s message to NATO leaders and North Korean missile tests. He also briefly touched on haunting people\u2019s nightmares. Check it out (and be afraid) here<\/a> (13 mins).<\/p>\n Events<\/strong><\/p>\n A big few weeks ahead here in the capital, so whip those diaries out, Canberrans.<\/p>\n First up, US\u2013Australia relations bigwig Kim Beazley and former US Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper sit down and discuss future of our two countries\u2019 alliance, and how we might navigate a turbulent Asia\u2013Pacific, on 13 June at ANU\u2019s National Security College. This level of insight on the Alliance\u2019s defence and security mechanisms is a rare opportunity, so make sure you register soon<\/a>.<\/p>\n