Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
Ukraine leader to talk with protesters; Washington urges caution
While recent days saw a clutch of sledge-hammer-wielding protesters in Kiev toppling a statue of Vladimir Lenin, the Obama administration has tried to resist characterizing the situation as a Cold War-era political standoff between East and West. Published December 9, 2013
Obama lied about Syrian chemical attack, ‘cherry-picked’ intelligence: report
The Obama administration quashed intelligence reports that suggested an al Qaeda-linked group could have been responsible for the sarin gas attack carried out in Syria last August, according to a news report published in London on Sunday. Published December 9, 2013
Lawmakers see ‘false narrative’ of Obama as a terrorist fighter
A growing clutch of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle is publicly countering the Obama administration's portrayal of al Qaeda as an organization on the run, saying that an evolving network of the terrorist group's affiliates now may pose as grave a threat to the U.S. as its predecessor did a decade ago. Published December 8, 2013
U.S., Chinese diplomats talk air defense zone ahead of Biden visit
Leading up to Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Beijing this week, senior U.S. diplomats have engaged in a series of direct conversations with their Chinese counterparts to protest the Chinese military's attempt to carve out a new air defense zone in the East China Sea. Published December 3, 2013
State mulling whether to invite Iran to upcoming Syria talks
Following this month's breakthrough in talks on Iran's disputed nuclear program, the U.S., Russia and other world powers are now discussing whether to invite representatives from the Islamic republic to an upcoming peace conference aimed at ending Syria's civil war. Published December 2, 2013
Election strengthens Honduran military’s hand
Conservative candidate Juan Hernandez's victory this week in Honduras' presidential election poses a potentially dangerous role for the military in the crime-riddled Central American nation, regional analysts say. Published November 28, 2013
U.S. B-52 bombers buzz China’s expanded airspace as dispute with Japan escalates
In an escalating standoff reminiscent of the Cold War, China on Tuesday responded angrily to news that two U.S. B-52 bombers had flown over a contested chain of islands in the East China Sea without first alerting Beijing — just days after China unilaterally announced an expanded air-defense zone around the islands. Published November 26, 2013
Obama defends Iran nuclear deal, attacks critics for ‘bluster’
Instead of $5.7 billion deal, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers says the deal could actually be worth as much as $20 billion by the time it is fully implemented because it allows Iran to import previously banned gold and other precious metals. Published November 25, 2013
Career diplomat William Burns steered the Iran talks quietly though rounds of negotiations
Away from pomp and fanfare surrounding the multiparty talks in Geneva that resulted in this weekend's nuclear deal with Iran, senior Obama administration officials and other sources are now revealing that U.S. and Iran actually, and very secretly, have been engaged in high-level direct talks for more than a year. Published November 24, 2013
John Kerry heads to Geneva for Iran nuclear negotiations
Secretary of State John F. Kerry departed Washington on a hastily scheduled trip to Geneva on Friday evening, as anticipation mounted over the possibility that a deal between the U.S., Iran and other world powers over Iran's disputed nuclear program may be imminent. Published November 22, 2013
Drone strike on Pakistani seminary reignites debate
A rare U.S. drone strike on an Islamic seminary outside Pakistan's tribal areas — where most past strikes have occurred — is fueling a heated international debate on the Obama administration's commitment to limiting civilian casualties. Published November 21, 2013
Marco Rubio warns of ‘disengaged’ foreign policy
Eager to set himself apart from tea party figures in his own party skeptical of U.S. interventions abroad, Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio warned Wednesday that it would be a grave "mistake" if the United States disengaged from world affairs during the years ahead. Published November 20, 2013
Obama sees Beirut terrorist attack as common ground with Iran in nuclear talks
The Obama administration moved swiftly Tuesday to seize on the horrific suicide bombing of the Iranian Embassy in Beirut as an example of how Washington and Tehran share common ground as terrorist targets. Published November 19, 2013
Top deputy defends NSA spying programs
The top deputy at the National Security Agency defended the organization's spying activities Tuesday, asserting that despite damaging leaks and media attention during recent months the agency's secretive operations exist only under close scrutiny from officials across the government. Published November 19, 2013
U.S. designates Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram as terrorist organization
U.S. authorities officially has designated the shadowy Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram as a terrorist organization, ending what has been a heated debate in the past year within the State Department on the status of the group, which is believed to have ties to al Qaeda affiliates in Africa. Published November 13, 2013
U.S. intelligence warily watches for threats to U.S. now that 87 nations possess drones
The age of the drone is here, and U.S. intelligence agencies are warily monitoring their proliferation around the globe. Published November 10, 2013
John Kerry: Obama prepared to use force in Iran
Secretary of State John F. Kerry defended the Obama administration's carrot-and-stick approach to nuclear negotiations with Iran, saying Sunday that the conciliatory strategy needs to be given a chance to work — while vowing that the U.S. is prepared to use force if necessary to keep the Islamic republic from developing a nuclear bomb. Published November 10, 2013
Iran negotiator sees deal on nukes close
Iran's top nuclear negotiator claimed Thursday to be on the verge of a breakthrough deal with the U.S. and other world powers that would partially lift sanctions on the Islamic republic in exchange for Tehran agreeing to open its disputed nuclear program to close international scrutiny. Published November 7, 2013
Iran sharply divided going into nuclear talks
With a highly anticipated third round of nuclear talks opening Thursday in Geneva, Iran appears sharply divided on whether it truly wants to work with world powers to resolve tensions that have long surrounded its disputed nuclear program. Published November 6, 2013
U.S. offers $5M in hunt for drug lord
The State Department set a $5 million reward Tuesday for information leading to the recapture of a once-notorious Mexican drug boss accused of masterminding the kidnapping and killing of a Drug Enforcement Administration agent three decades ago. Published November 5, 2013