The Evening: U.S. Veto, Russian Defector Killed, Mission in the Rain, and More Email not displaying correctly?
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Good Evening,

It's Tuesday, February 20th.

U.S. Vetoes UN Cease Fire Resolution

The United States on Tuesday vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution put forth by Algeria that would have called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. It was the third time Washington had blocked a resolution that would have demanded an immediate end to fighting, as the NYT reports.

Russian Defector Murdered

A man’s corpse, found riddled with bullets and run over by a vehicle in Spain last week, was identified as that of Russian military pilot Maksim Kuzminov, who flew his Mi-8 helicopter to Ukraine in a dramatic defection in August, as The Washington Post reports.

Bold Houthi Attacks

A cargo ship is at risk of sinking in the Gulf of Aden after being hit by Yemen-based Houthis in the most significant strike since the Iran-backed group started launching attacks last fall in a crucial shipping lane to disrupt global commerce, as the WSJ reports.

Executive Education

Ready to take the next step towards policy success in Washington? Join CSIS experts March 18-21, 2024, at CSIS Headquarters for "Decoding D.C.: Policy, Power, and People," to unlock the secrets to thriving in the capital's unique policy landscape. Register here by March 4.

Audio Briefs

CSIS experts give short, spoken-word summaries on the biggest takeaways from their latest reports, white papers, and commentaries—in their own words.

Listen here: “Prabowo Triumphant in Indonesia’s Presidential Election” with CSIS's Andreyka Natalegawa.

In That Number

$681 million

Sweden, which is poised to join NATO, said Tuesday it will donate military aid to Ukraine worth $681 million.
Source: AP

Critical Quote

“Demanding an immediate unconditional cease-fire without an agreement requiring Hamas to release the hostages will not bring endurable peace.”

—Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations

iDeas Lab

CSIS Satellite Imagery
Terrorism is no longer the leading international threat to the United States or its top defense priority, but challenges related to violent extremism remain. The threat from Salafi-jihadist groups remains, but violent far-right and far-left extremist ideologies have become more prominent on the global stage. Watch the full PreView video here.

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and multimedia.

Optics

CSIS
(Photo credit: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images.) The UN Security Council holds a meeting on the Israel-Hamas war, at UN Headquarters in New York City on February 20, 2024.

Recommended Reading

Is This a Sputnik Moment?” by CSIS’s Kari A. Bingen and Heather Williams in The New York Times.

This Town Tomorrow

 At 9:00 a.m., the CSIS International Security Programs holds a discussion on the NATO burden sharing debate. 

And, at 4:30 p.m., the CSIS Human Rights Initiative discusses the administration’s efforts to advance labor rights globally with Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Ambassador of Brazil to the United States.

Also, at 11:00 a.m., the Wilson Center explores the crucial legal aspects of subsea infrastructure development in the Arctic featuring Ambassador Rolfe Einar Fife.

Video

Today, CSIS’s Dr. Eliot A. Cohen sat down with General Wesley K. Clark, USA (Ret.), the 12th Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, to discuss the current frontline in Ukraine, the political situation in Kyiv and Moscow, and the future direction of the war. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

Cyber from the Start
CSIS’s Gracelin Baskaran is joined by Adam Johnson, Managing Partner with Metis Endeavor, to share his insights on the role of critical minerals in the energy transition and delve into the impact of U.S. government policies on private investments.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

"There's some satisfaction in the San Francisco rain
No matter what comes down the Mission always looks the same."
 
SiriusXM radio is an extraordinary product. It may come as no surprise to those who read this space that my favorite channels are the Grateful Dead and Tom Petty channel. Just about every time I flip one of them on, I hear something that grabs me. Yesterday it was the Jerry Garcia Band’s performance of “Mission in the Rain,” from March 22, 1978, which you can find on the “Garcia Live: Volume 4” album. 
 
With thousands of Grateful Dead and Jerry Band shows and songs, it’s always exciting for me when I hear something like this piece. It stands out for Jerry’s vocals, the extraordinary backing vocals of Maria Muldaur and Donna Jean Godchaux, the piano playing of Keith Godchaux and of course, Jerry’s guitar solos. Enjoy this.
I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz
The Evening is my daily guide to key insights CSIS brings to the events of the day. It is composed by Lauren Adler, Ava Rose, and the External Relations team. 

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