Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
Ukraine’s top security official: Individual sanctions in Russia not enough
U.S. lawmakers are increasingly concerned about Russian troop movements on the border with Ukraine and the prospect of an additional land grab, as both houses of Congress voted to slap sanctions on Russia and extend loan guarantees to Ukraine. Published March 27, 2014
Panel to investigate handling of FBI mole; asset was close to bin Laden pre-9/11
Members of a special panel examining the FBI's counterterrorism efforts over the past decade say they will "push hard" for an answer to why the bureau has never revealed information about a human asset it reportedly had in direct contact with al Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden during the early 1990s. Published March 26, 2014
North Korea launches two ballistic missiles in defiant test
North Korea test-launched two medium-range ballistic missiles at roughly 2:30 a.m. Wednesday — apparently as a show of defiance to U.S. success in bringing Japan and South Korea together this week for historic face-to-face talks on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in the Hague. Published March 26, 2014
Pro-Chavista ‘paramilitary’ active in Venezuela, jailed opposition leader says
A key opposition leader jailed for more than a month by Venezuela's protest-embattled government says leaders from across Latin America are engaged in a "shameful silence" toward human rights abuses being carried by "paramilitary groups" loyal to Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro. Published March 25, 2014
Russia to embrace Crimea ‘swiftly’; poll shows Putin’s popularity soaring
Crimea's vote to secede from Ukraine prompted a fast and supportive response on Monday from Moscow, where leaders said they are eager to act toward incorporating the peninsula into territorial Russia. Published March 17, 2014
Crimea votes in favor of secession; U.S. rejects
Citizens of Crimea voted on Sunday overwhelmingly in favor of splitting off from Ukraine to become a part of territorial Russia, a development likely to further stoke Cold War style tensions that have been escalating for weeks between Moscow and the West Published March 16, 2014
Kerry: Sanctions possible for Venezuela
The Obama administration is "prepared" to level sanctions against Venezuela but hopes to avoid such a move that would only worsen the South American nation's faltering economy, Secretary of State John F. Kerry told lawmakers Wednesday. Published March 12, 2014
Pentagon: U.S. F-16 fighter jets to train with Poland near Ukraine
The Pentagon confirmed Wednesday that it is sending a dozen F-16 fighter jets to engage in a joint-training exercise with Poland, which shares a large border with Ukraine. Published March 12, 2014
CIA chief Brennan ‘determined’ to speak out more this year
Beyond making occasional and mandated appearances before congressional oversight committees, CIA directors are known to remain generally behind the scenes while serving a given administration. Published March 11, 2014
Brennan: Russia ‘absolutely’ could invade eastern Ukraine
CIA Director John O. Brennan said Tuesday that the Russian military "absolutely" has the capability to invade eastern Ukraine and that only Russian President Vladimir Putin knows whether such an invasion will occur. Published March 11, 2014
Al Qaeda to launch English-language Web magazine ‘Resurgence’
A media-oriented group tied to what's left of Al Qaeda's original core leaders says it will soon launch the terrorist network's first-ever English-language Internet magazine called "Resurgence." Published March 10, 2014
Namibia official defends safari auctions of rhinos,saying funds aid conservation
A top conservation official from Namibia says that holding auctions to allow big-game hunters a chance to kill endangered animals is a sound way to raise money in his southern African nation. Published March 9, 2014
U.S. urges direct talks between Russia, new Ukraine government
The Obama administration hopes Russia will agree to sit down for direct talks with the transitional government that took power in Ukraine following last month's ouster of the nation's Moscow-backed president, a senior State Department official said Thursday. Published March 6, 2014
Israelis had U.S. help in intercepting Iranian missile shipment to Palestine
The State Department revealed Wednesday that even as the Obama administration was engaging in direct and very high-stakes nuclear negotiations with Iran, U.S. officials for months have been secretly collaborating with Israeli intelligence to track an illicit Iranian weapons shipment bound for Palestine. Published March 5, 2014
Special congressional panel to investigate FBI contact with bin Laden
A special panel recently authorized by Congress to conduct an independent review of the FBI's efforts to reform itself in the aftermath of the 9/11 Commission report will examine the case of confidential human source that the FBI had placed in direct contact with Osama bin Laden during the early-1990s, a key congressman said Wednesday. Published February 26, 2014
EXCLUSIVE: FBI had human source in contact with bin Laden as far back as 1993
The FBI placed a human source in direct contact with Osama bin Laden in 1993 and ascertained that the al Qaeda leader was looking to finance terrorist attacks in the United States. Published February 25, 2014
Ambassador denies reports Iraq has weapons deal with Iran
Iraq's ambassador to Washington on Tuesday sharply denied reports his government had inked a deal with Iran to buy weapons, ammunition or other military equipment. Published February 25, 2014
Chuck Hagel: U.S. can afford diminished military
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Monday that the Army must shrink to pre-World War II troop levels to preserve funding for elite counterterrorism operations and maintain the cybersecurity programs needed to counter threats by emerging rivals such as China. Published February 24, 2014
U.S. warns Russia to keep its military out of Ukraine
The Obama administration warned Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday not to react too aggressively to the fast-moving developments in Ukraine, where pro-Western demonstrators forced the nation's Moscow-backed president from power over the weekend. Published February 23, 2014
Foreign policy critics want Obama to chart a more proactive position
The flaring of global hots spots such as Ukraine and Syria dramatically illustrates the dwindling influence of President Obama in foreign affairs and the staying power of his perennial rival, Russian President Vladimir Putin, analysts say. Published February 20, 2014