Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
Bipartisan unity on North Korea: Republicans praise Obama’s handling of threat
Two influential Republicans on Sunday praised President Obama for his administration's response to the recent wave of antagonistic rhetoric and nuclear threats from North Korea. Published April 7, 2013
Ex-diplomats Bill Richardson, Madeleine Albright speak candidly about trips to North Korea
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson on Sunday said that on one of several trips he made in recent years to North Korea, a leader from the nation did not deny selling nuclear weapons materials to other countries. Published April 7, 2013
Diplomacy downplay: Obama administration minimizes latest North Korean nuke threat
The Obama administration appeared eager on Thursday to downplay the North Korean military's latest threat that it has the final authority to carry out "cutting-edge, smaller, lighter and diversified" nuclear strikes on the United States. Published April 4, 2013
North Korea threatens attack, including nukes, on U.S.
North Korea's military ratcheted up its threat to carry out a nuclear strike on the U.S. to new heights Thursday — just hours after the Pentagon announced the deployment of an American ballistic missile defense system to Guam. Published April 3, 2013
Obama and China ‘talking past each other’ on N. Korea
The Obama administration faces an uphill battle in its growing effort to convince China to play a more active role in steering North Korea away from provoking a military conflict on the divided Korean Peninsula, foreign policy insiders say. Published April 3, 2013
‘Reckless’ Kim Jong-un won’t be tolerated; Kerry strikes back at North Korean threats
Secretary of State John F. Kerry on Tuesday delivered a firm counterpunch to a wave of antagonistic rhetoric and nuclear threats by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, vowing that the U.S. is prepared to "do what is necessary" to defend itself and its longtime allies South Korea and Japan. Published April 2, 2013
Obama’s policy on Syria leaves analysts guessing
The Obama administration has made no effort to dispute reports that the U.S. is providing secret military training to Syria's opposition rebels and continues to favor vague rhetoric over specifics about its policy regarding the Middle Eastern nation — particularly on the question of whether to arm rebels. Published April 1, 2013
U.S. raises concern over freedom in Egypt after TV comedian is questioned
A senior State Department official raised concern Monday that "freedom of expression is being stifled" in Egypt, where recent days saw authorities detain and question a popular television comedian on charges of insulting Islam and the nation's former Muslim Brotherhood president. Published April 1, 2013
N. Korea to dominate Kerry’s Asia trip
Secretary of State John F. Kerry will focus heavily on the threat posed by a nuclear armed North Korea during his upcoming diplomatic visit to Asia, particularly in meetings with Chinese leaders, the State Department said Monday. Published April 1, 2013
Moves by John Kerry, Pentagon ease tensions with Hamid Karzai
Pentagon and State Department officials Monday appeared to work in tandem to tamp down reports of mounting tension between the Obama administration and the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Published March 25, 2013
John Kerry: U.S. committed to reconciling with Iran
While he and President Obama were expressing solidarity with Israeli's firm stance on Iran's nuclear program this week, Secretary of State John F. Kerry quietly issued a statement saying the U.S. is "strongly committed to resolving" its differences with the Islamic Republic. Published March 21, 2013
U.S.: Terror group’s call for truce with Turkey ‘positive step’
The State Department offered guarded praise Thursday to a Kurdish nationalist group on the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations after the group's jailed leader called for a truce with the government of Turkey. Published March 21, 2013
Al Qaeda group in West Africa’s Mali added to U.S. terror list
The State Department leveled an official "Foreign Terrorist Organization" designation on an Islamist group in the West African nation of Mali on Thursday, asserting that the group has strong ties to al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Published March 21, 2013
From Israel, Kerry sends peace message to Iranians
While he and President Obama were expressing solidarity with Israel over Iran's nuclear program this week, Secretary of State John F. Kerry quietly issued a statement saying the United States is "strongly committed to resolving" its differences with Tehran. Published March 21, 2013
House lawmakers split over U.S. involvement in Syria
President Obama cautioned against jumping to conclusions about conflicting reports that chemical weapons are now being used in Syria's 2-year-old civil war, although he stressed Wednesday that if the reports are true it would be "a game changer." Published March 20, 2013
‘Shadow war’ between Israel, Iran rages on as Obama visits
Iran's nuclear ambitions may loom large, but lurking in the shadow of President Obama's highly anticipated visit to Israel this week is a protracted and secretive war already being waged between Jerusalem and Tehran. Published March 19, 2013
GOP lawmakers: Obama administration blocking access to Benghazi survivors
More than six months since the deadly attacks on a U.S. diplomatic post and a nearby CIA facility in Benghazi, Libya, several Republican lawmakers say they still are looking for answers and are frustrated that the White House is blocking their access to an unknown number of American survivors. Published March 17, 2013
U.S. stands by sanctions on Greek shipper
The Obama administration shot back Friday at a Greek shipping magnate who made headlines this week for claiming the U.S. Treasury Department had wrongly accused him of helping Iran evade international oil sanctions. Published March 15, 2013
Greek shipping magnate named in scheme to evade sanctions on Iranian oil
A Greek shipping industry magnate used a host of front companies and a fleet of crude-oil tankers flying Panamanian and Liberian flags to help Iran evade international oil sanctions, U.S. officials said Thursday. Published March 14, 2013
State Department has ‘fingers crossed’ Congress won’t drop ball on security funding
The State Department's top spokeswoman said Wednesday that she and others at Foggy Bottom are "crossing our fingers" in the hope that Congress will come through with requested funds for security improvements to U.S. diplomatic posts around the world. Published March 13, 2013