Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
Greece seeks debt relief with rare budget surplus, Ambassador Panagopoulos says
NEWSMAKER INTERVIEW: The top Greek diplomat in Washington says his nation's first budget surplus in more than a decade should go a long way toward persuading international creditors to ease up on some of the austerity measures that have been forced on Athens. Published February 18, 2014
The term ‘Al Qaeda’ becomes a tangled web of words
Was it al Qaeda "core," al Qaeda "prime" or al Qaeda "central," or was it an al Qaeda "affiliate" an al Qaeda "linked" or an al Qaeda "inspired" group? Or was it just al Qaeda? Published February 16, 2014
Two Koreas set to hold highest level talks in 7 years as U.S. warns North about nuclear weapons
With North and South Korea slated to hold another round of direct talks Friday, Secretary of State John F. Kerry praised the two sides for entering into their highest-level engagement in seven years but warned that Washington won't join the talks until Pyongyang takes "meaningful action" toward denuclearization. Published February 13, 2014
Kerry urges Americans to attend Sochi Games
Secretary of State John F. Kerry says Americans should not allow concerns about security and terrorism scare them out of traveling to the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, where the opening ceremony kicks off today. Published February 7, 2014
U.S. sees global terror network aiding Iraq attacks
The leading al Qaeda-inspired group in Syria and Iraq is tapping a “global network” of foreign fighters to carry out a surging number of suicide bombings in Iraq, the Obama administration’s top diplomat for the region said Wednesday. Published February 5, 2014
State official: Iran ‘not open for business’
Washington's top diplomat for Iranian nuclear negotiations stressed on Tuesday that the recent easing of U.S. sanctions on the Islamic republic is "limited" and "temporary," and threatened to "go after" foreign companies rushing to do business with Tehran in sectors where restrictions are still in place. Published February 4, 2014
Al Qaeda-like groups evolving, share goal of killing Americans
The landscape of Islamist terrorist groups is expanding in complex ways around the world, according to terrorism analysts who told Congress on Tuesday that while many groups have not formally aligned with al Qaeda, they share the original network's goals of killing Americans and establishing hard-line Islamic rule over various regions. Published February 4, 2014
Iranian executions spiking despite thaw with West, ‘moderate president’
The number of executions carried out by Iranian authorities has risen sharply since President Hassan Rouhani took office in August, a surge most likely because of a secret power struggle within Iran's notoriously veiled political system. Published February 3, 2014
Obama will nominate Navy Vice Adm. Michael S. Rogers to head NSA
The Obama administration announced Thursday that it will nominate Vice Adm. Michael S. Rogers to become the next director of the National Security Agency and head of U.S. Cyber Command. Published January 30, 2014
Intelligence leaks top terrorism in threat assessment
Syria has become a hotbed for al Qaeda training, Iran’s nuclear ambitions will hinge on the country’s internal politics, post-Arab Spring violence is likely to grow over the coming year, and the threat of a massive cyber attack on American interests is increasing. Published January 29, 2014
State Department bureau’s climate change data can’t be relied upon, audit says
While President Obama is expected to tout his progress on environmental issues in Tuesday's State of the Union address, a recent government audit exposed serious organizational problems that continue to lurk beneath the surface of the administration's effort to confront climate change. Published January 28, 2014
State Dept. confirms Kerry visit with Bae family, calls for N. Korea to release imprisoned pastor
State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki confirmed on Tuesday that Secretary of State John Kerry met with the family of Kenneth Bae, the imprisoned pastor who has been in North Korea custody for months. Published January 28, 2014
Obama’s foreign policy fails to stop global move away from freedom
The world has grown less free on President Obama's watch, and the U.S. has been left on the free trade sidelines as other countries have pushed bilateral trade agreements. Published January 27, 2014
U.S. missile strike unleashed in Somalia; al-Shabab terror leader targeted
The Pentagon has carried out a missile strike on Somalia, targeting a vehicle that was believed to be carrying a suspected leader of the al-Shabab terrorist network with ties to al Qaeda. Published January 27, 2014
EXCLUSIVE: N. Korea sending message it wants to release captive Kenneth Bae, former envoy says
Washington's former top negotiator with North Korea says the videotaped statements by captive American Kenneth Bae this week are a sign Pyongyang is looking for a way to release the detained pastor — and that the State Department is likely now mobilizing behind the scenes to seize the opportunity. Published January 24, 2014
Iraqi leader: Nation on course for Syria-style civil war
The highest-ranking elected Sunni leader in Iraq painted a bleak picture of his nation's future Thursday, telling an audience in Washington that without serious and quick reconciliation between sectarian political parties, the country could be swallowed by a war comparable to the one now raging in Syria. Published January 23, 2014
Syria peace talks open with bitter clash on fate of Bashar Assad
The clash between Washington and its adversaries over whether an end to Syria's war can be achieved without the resignation of President Bashar Assad was on full display Wednesday as a long-delayed international peace conference got underway in Switzerland. Published January 22, 2014
Ukraine protesters being spied on through cell phones, reports say
Major mobile phone providers in Ukraine deny that they're working with the nation's government to spy on protesters, who've brought a fresh and intense round of pro-democracy rallies to the capital city of Kiev during recent days. Published January 21, 2014
White House: Despite easing $6 billion in sanctions, Iran not ‘open for business’
The Obama administration’s carrot-and-stick approach to Iran was on full display Monday, with the White House praising Tehran for progress in dismantling parts of its nuclear program — while also working successfully behind the scenes to get the Islamic republic disinvited from a Syrian peace conference. Published January 20, 2014
China encroaching on U.S. military dominance in Pacific, says top admiral
While Adm. Sam Locklear said it was obvious Chinese military power is growing, he suggested it remains unclear whether China will seek in the long-term to be a hard adversary to the U.S. — so Washington should be working overtime on steering Beijing toward a cooperative security posture. Published January 16, 2014