Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
Kurdish diplomat debunks Yazidi claims of exploitation
The top Kurdish diplomat in Washington pushed back assertively Friday against comments this week by a group of Yazidi-Americans, who had expressed fears about a growing U.S. and European strategy to channel Western military hardware to Kurdish militias in the fight against Islamic State extremists in northern Iraq. Published August 15, 2014
Iraq’s Nouri al-Maliki resigns as prime minister amid chaos
Embattled Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki stepped down Thursday, ending a stalemate that had worsened Baghdad's political chaos in recent weeks and crippled the nation's ability to quell a surge of extremist Sunni militants. Published August 14, 2014
U.S. Yazidis wary of arming Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq
A clutch of Yazidi-Americans closely tied to the minority group under siege in northern Iraq say they are wary of the Obama administration and its European allies' embrace of a poorly defined effort to arm Kurdish fighters in the Sinjar Mountains. Published August 13, 2014
France to send military hardware in support of Kurdish rebels
France said it would begin rushing military hardware to Kurdish rebels Iraq on Wednesday, the latest in mounting European support for an increasingly militarized and multinational campaign against al Qaeda-inspired extremists in northern Iraq. Published August 13, 2014
Taiwan’s top diplomat seeks U.S. help in emerging from China’s shadow
NEWSMAKER INTERVIEW: The top Taiwanese diplomat in Washington made a passionate plea Monday for U.S. leaders to more vocally support Taiwan's inclusion in key Western-backed institutions on the world stage — especially as the tiny island democracy engages in increasingly complex economic ties with China. Published August 11, 2014
U.S. airstrikes help Iraqi Kurds reclaim land from Islamic State militants
Kurdish forces backed by U.S. airstrikes succeeded Sunday in expelling Islamic State fighters from two northern Iraqi towns, but the developments did little to appease Obama administration critics who say the White House lacks a coherent long-term strategy for beating back the growing al Qaeda-inspired militancy in the war-torn nation. Published August 10, 2014
Analysts doubt U.S. strikes will do the job in Iraq
President Obama's authorization of air strikes in Iraq has triggered unease among high-level former U.S. officials who say the administration still lacks a coherent strategy for beating back the growing al Qaeda-inspired militancy in the war-torn nation. Published August 8, 2014
F/A-18 jets dropped 500-pound laser guided bombs on ISIL
U.S. fighter jets have begun pounding artillery held by the al Qaeda-inspired militants in northern Iraq with laser guided bombs, a senior Defense Department official said Friday. Published August 8, 2014
Sinjar, Iraq long a focus of militant strife
The northern Iraqi town at the center of this week's renewed surge by Islamist extremists has for years been caught in the crossfire of al Qaeda-inspired militancy in nation. Published August 7, 2014
U.S. intelligence nearly certain pro-Russian separatists downed Malaysian Airlines flight
U.S. intelligence officials say they are now nearly certain it was pro-Russian separatists who fired the SA-11 antiaircraft missile that downed a Malaysia Airlines flight last week, and that the separatists likely did not know they had hit a commercial airliner until after it had slammed to the ground. Published July 22, 2014
Israel’s ambassador praises Obama, slams Human Rights Watch report
Israel's ambassador to the United States praised the Obama administration for standing in support of the now two-week-old Israeli military campaign against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on Tuesday, despite calls this week by President Obama for a cease-fire. Published July 22, 2014
U.S. scrambles as violence escalates in Israel-Hamas conflict
With diplomats from Middle Eastern states and several outside powers scrambling to stem the spiraling Israeli-Palestinian crisis on Monday, President Obama called for a cease-fire and cited "serious concerns" about the rising toll of dead on both sides. Published July 21, 2014
MH17: Fear of ground-to-air missile strike becomes nightmare reality in Ukraine
The downing of a passenger plane over Eastern Ukraine Thursday rekindled long-held fears in Washington about threats posed to commercial aircraft by shoulder-fired missiles. Published July 17, 2014
U.S., China to participate in unprecedented joint ground force exercise
The Pentagon said Thursday that U.S. and Chinese military forces have agreed to participate in an unprecedented land training exercise together in Australia later this year. Published July 17, 2014
Bergdahl returned to active duty
Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who spent nearly five years as a Taliban captive in Afghanistan, was returned to regular duty Monday, a development that one key lawmaker said keeps open the possibility that he may be charged in a military court martial with deserting his unit in Afghanistan in 2009. Published July 14, 2014
Israel rejects talk of cease-fire; Hamas targets suspected nuke site
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the idea of a cease-fire between Israeli military forces and Hamas is "not on the agenda," despite a mediation offer from President Obama. Published July 10, 2014
Germany demands ouster of U.S. spy chief
The German government has taken the eye-opening step of formally requesting that the top U.S. intelligence official in Berlin leave the nation, amid ongoing friction between Washington and German authorities over eavesdropping by the U.S. National Security Agency. Published July 10, 2014
Senate committee presses Obama administration on inaction against Russia
Senate Democrats and Republicans pressed the Obama administration for clarity Wednesday on why it has not been more aggressive in using economic sanctions to deter ongoing Russian meddling in Ukraine. Published July 9, 2014
Obama backs Israel’s strikes on Hamas after assault on civilians
Rising tensions in the Gaza Strip have put President Obama's sometimes rocky relationship with Israel back in the spotlight and afforded the administration an opportunity to back a growing military crackdown on Hamas for its spate of rocket attacks against Israeli civilians. Published July 8, 2014
ISIL leader emerges in sign of bravado as Iraqi government flounders
U.S. intelligence officials confirmed Monday that the shadowy leader of a Sunni terrorist group wreaking havoc in Iraq made a rare public appearance in Mosul last week — a display that signals the militants' growing confidence in their gains even as the country's divided political blocs failed to reach consensus on a new government to counter the al Qaeda-inspired extremists. Published July 7, 2014