Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
Facing Hill pressure, Obama fills State watchdog post
Under mounting pressure from lawmakers on Capitol Hill, President Obama on Thursday appointed a new inspector general for the State Department — a post that has gone unfilled for more than five years. Published June 27, 2013
State Department has a dearth of diplomats to award for dissent
The association for foreign service officers has an annual award it gives to U.S. diplomats who have stood up to the powers that be at the State Department — but the organization is struggling to find anyone worthy of the honor. Published June 26, 2013
State secrets: Kerry’s department downplays Iran’s role in Latin America; likely to anger Congress
Iran is not supporting active terrorist cells in the Western Hemisphere, according to a State Department report set to be released this week that is likely to ignite a major battle with Capitol Hill. Published June 23, 2013
‘Atmosphere of secrecy’ pervades State Dept. office, audit finds
A key State Department bureau that manages the official face presented by the U.S. to the rest of the world is rife with management problems that have left "an atmosphere of secrecy, suspicion and uncertainty," according to a department watchdog review released Thursday. Published June 20, 2013
Senate Democrats push Obama on human rights abuses in Honduras
Senate Democrats are calling on Secretary of State John F. Kerry to take a more careful approach toward Honduras to ensure that police and military in the Central American nation are not committing human rights abuses with U.S. aid. Published June 19, 2013
U.S.-Cuba mail talks spark speculation of wider outreach
The announcement that U.S. and Cuban officials will hold landmark talks this week toward restarting direct mail service between the two nations prompted a mix of reactions on Monday on whether the Obama administration plans a broader outreach to the Castro regime in the president’s second term. Published June 18, 2013
U.S., Cuban postal officials to hold landmark direct talks
The announcement that U.S. and Cuban officials will hold landmark talks this week about restarting direct mail service between the two nations prompted a mix of reactions Monday on whether the Obama administration plans a broader outreach to the Castro regime. Published June 17, 2013
Sensitive security vetting at U.S. Embassy in Iraq is turned over to troubled State Department
Battered by scandals surrounding security failures in Benghazi and allegations of criminal activity by diplomats, the State Department is taking over the sensitive process by which background checks are given to locals hired to work at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, the largest and most expensive diplomatic post in the world. Published June 16, 2013
Rep. Ed Royce demands inspector general’s documents on suspected State Department cover-up
The chairman of a key House committee on Thursday demanded that the State Department's office of inspector general explain passages in internal documents that refer to pressure from department higher-ups to quash investigations into suspected criminal activity — including the solicitation of prostitutes, illegal drug activity and sexual assault — by U.S. diplomatic personnel overseas. Published June 13, 2013
Clinton confidante at center of Benghazi damage-control tied to probe of suspected diplomat crimes
A longtime confidante of Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton who reportedly played a key role in the State Department's damage-control efforts on the Benghazi attack last year is also named in accusations that department higher-ups quashed investigations into diplomats' potential criminal activity. Published June 13, 2013
Damage control: Hillary Clinton loyalists suspected of criminal cover-ups for diplomats
Congress and the State Department's inspector general are examining allegations that senior officials working under Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton may have suppressed investigations into suspected criminal activity among U.S. diplomats abroad — including the alleged solicitation of prostitutes by an ambassador in Europe. Published June 11, 2013
State Department: No cover-up for diplomats
The State Department on Monday staunchly rejected a news report that claimed high-ranking department officials had quashed several internal investigations into allegations of sexual assault, drug dealing, prostitution solicitation and other criminal activity by American diplomatic personnel overseas in recent years. Published June 10, 2013
Benghazi killers still on the lam after 9 months, may have sought to ‘smoke out’ CIA
Washington is preoccupied with the political decisions surrounding last year's attack in Benghazi, but nine months later the who and why of the terrorist assault that left four Americans dead remains shrouded in mystery. Published June 9, 2013
Obama administration takes a step back after Kerry’s Turkey comments
The Obama administration assumed a careful posture Wednesday toward the uprisings that have engulfed cities across Turkey, where authorities are seeking to calm protests that erupted when police cracked down on demonstrators earlier this week. Published June 6, 2013
Obama uses executive order to expand sanctions on Iran
Amid pressure from Congress to get tougher on Iran, the White House expanded U.S. sanctions on the Islamic republic on Monday, giving broad powers to U.S. authorities to begin targeting the Iranian automotive industry — as well as those found purchasing or selling large amounts of Iranian currency in foreign banks. Published June 3, 2013
Iran may be on invite list for Syria conference
The State Department confirmed Friday that U.S. officials are open to the possibility of allowing Iran to participate in an upcoming peace conference on Syria, despite the Islamic Republic's alleged support for the regime of embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad. Published May 31, 2013
Feds say Iran’s support for terrorism growing
Iran's support of international terrorism has reached levels unseen since the 1990s, but the top cadre of al Qaeda leaders have largely been decimated in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the State Department said Thursday in its latest report on worldwide terrorism. Published May 30, 2013
House presses Kerry for post-Benghazi disciplinary details
Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee are calling on Secretary of State John F. Kerry to "detail what personnel actions" the State Department has taken following security failures in the deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya. Published May 29, 2013
State says Russian missile delivery shouldn’t affect Syria talks
The State Department says Russia's plan to deliver advanced surface-to-air missiles Syrian President Bashar Assad's embattled government should not rule out the possibility that Moscow will work with Washington toward bringing an end to the violence in the Middle East nation. Published May 29, 2013
Russia supplying weaponry to Syria’s Assad; EU lifts ban on aiding rebels
The Obama administration responded sharply to Russia's announcement Tuesday that it will proceed with the delivery of sophisticated weapons to embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad despite the administration's attempts to get Moscow's help toward peacefully resolving Syria's civil war. Published May 28, 2013