Center for Security Policy
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The Center for Security Policy (CSP) is a Washington, D.C. thinktank that focuses on national security issues. The Center was founded in 1988 by Frank Gaffney, Jr., a Reagan-era Defense Department official and former aide to the late Senator Henry M. Jackson. It advocates policies based on a philosophy of "Peace through Strength". CSP states that this belief emerges from the fact that "international peace is most likely achieved, and America most secure, when our nation is strong and engaged with our key allies in ensuring freedom and democracy throughout the world."
A non-profit, non-partisan national security organization, CSP specializes in identifying policies, actions, and resource needs that are vital to American security and then ensures that such issues are the subject of both focused, principled examination and effective action. To acheive these ends, it makes use of a substantial network of recognized policy experts, government officials, opinion leaders, and the general public.
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[edit] Projects
The Center's operations are organized into project areas that correspond to what it sees as the principle national security challenges facing the United States. Each project is designed to educate policymakers and the public about near and long range threats, devise appropriate actions, and then promote those ideas within the government, Capitol Hill, newspapers, radio, the internet, and television.
The following is a partial list of the Center's projects:
- Divest Terror. The primary objective of Divest Terror is to force governments to choose between their sponsorship of terrorism and critical partnerships with publicly traded firms. To achieve this goal, it aims at encouraging companies to divest from those regimes designated by the State Department as state sponsors of terrorism.
- The Strategic Defense and Deterrence Project. Through this project, the Center advocates for the creation of a national missile defense shield, the modernization of America's nuclear capabilities, and the abrogation of U.S. participation in counterproductive arms control treaties.
- The War of Ideas Project. The War of Ideas project has the goal of educating policymakers about the political and ideological realms of international relations. It seeks to equip decision makers with the understanding they need to use the tools of influence of and persuasion to confront and defeat foreign ideological adversaries.
- Menges Hemispheric Security Project. The Hemispheric Security project focuses on threats in the Western Hemisphere that have direct and immediate impacts on the vital security and economic interests of the United States. It is one of the best sources for timely and accurate information on the current political situation in Latin America.
- The Islamist Project. The Islamist Project is part of CSP's long-running effort to research, document, and make public the growing influence of the radical Islam within the United States. A prominent part of CSP's efforts in this field is its Muslims Speak Out program, which seeks to highlight the voices of moderate, non-violent Muslims.
- The Security and Democracy in Asia Project. This project is a reflection of the Center's awareness that Asia has the potential to be an area of substantial geostrategic conflict in the 21st Century. CSP thus seeks to ensure that the U.S both has the necessary security architecture in place in the region, and that it is working to ensure the preminence of peaceful, Asian democracies.
[edit] Methods
The Center applies focused research and analysis to ensure that leaders understand the problems they face, the nature of our enemies, and the policies which America must implement to prevail. The Center thus views much of its work as providing "quality assurance" for Congressional and executive branch policymakers.
CSP's publications fall into a number of different categories:
- Decision Briefs. These policy papers reflect the Center's official position on a wide range of policy issues. After publication, they are distributed to national leaders and the media for immediate action.
- Security Forums. These publications are part of the Center's effort to ensure that important, timely articles on national security issues are given the proper attention and consideration. They reflect the views of the author, and not the Center for Security Policy
- CSP Occasional Papers. This series of papers is intended to function as timely and incisive original research. Preference is given to topics relevant to the national security of the United States and broadly congruent with CSP's research agenda and its motto "peace through strength." Occasional Papers do not reflect the views of the Center for Security Policy.
[edit] Recent Publications
- "The Radical Grassroots: Hezbollah's Presence in Latin America." This report by Dr. Luis Fleishman and Nicole Ferrand details the increasing agitation going on at the town and village level in Latin America. Among the more worrying facets of the this development, the report says, is the presence of extremist groups like Hezbollah in countries such as Venezuela.
- "Discouraging Profiles." This article was published as a Decision Brief by CSP and as an op-ed column in the Washington Times. Written by Frank Gaffney, it details the author's dissatisfaction with the current slate of American leaders and the policies they are pursuing.
- "The New York Times is Shilling for the Islamists." This article, written by the Center's VP for Research Alex Alexiev, was published as a CSP Security Forum. It focuses on the way in which the New York Times shys away from directly addressing some of the worrying radical connections of so-called "moderate" American muslims.
Also, the Center uses a number of "force multipliers" - teams of outside experts, coalitions of policymakers, and a substantial media presence - which help it advocate for the adoption and implementation of the proper national security policies.
[edit] Funding
CSP is a 501(c)(3) organization. It gets funding from private individuals and an assortment of philanthropic foundations. Click here for detailed funding information.
