Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
India key to success of Washington’s Asia ‘pivot’
India, the world's most populous democracy, may hold the keys to success for the Obama administration's self-described foreign-policy "pivot" to Asia, a bipartisan panel of analysts told Congress on Wednesday. Published March 13, 2013
Afghanistan again tops list of illegal drug producers
Afghanistan remains by far the world's top producer of illegal opium poppy used to make heroin, according to the State Department's annual report on global trends in the illicit narcotics trade, which also pinpoints Bolivia, Burma and Venezuela for having "failed demonstrably" to uphold international counternarcotics agreements. Published March 12, 2013
White House calls out China on North Korea and cybercrime
The Obama administration's top national security official said Monday that the United States "will not accept North Korea as a nuclear state" and called on Chinese leaders to get serious about cracking down on cyber-related crimes. Published March 11, 2013
U.S. kicks out two Venezuelan diplomats
The Obama administration revealed Monday that it had kicked two Venezuelan diplomats out of the United States, offering a clear signal that U.S.-Venezuelan relations are unlikely to warm quickly after the death last week of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Published March 11, 2013
U.S. joins EU in warning of Hungary over rights
The State Department joined European Union leaders this week in cautioning Hungarian lawmakers to tread carefully on controversial amendments to their nation's constitution. Published March 8, 2013
State Department halts award for Egyptian accused of anti-Semitic remarks
The Obama administration reversed course Thursday and said it no longer would give a prestigious international women's award to an Egyptian political activist after she was accused of posting anti-Semitic and pro-terrorist comments on Twitter. Published March 7, 2013
U.S. dismisses charges of interfering in Venezuela
Mourning supporters of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez packed streets across the nation on Wednesday, as speculation surged through the U.S. foreign policy community on the extent to which the death of the populist leader might bring a thaw to long-strained relations between Washington and Caracas. Published March 6, 2013
U.S. denies charge of trying to destabilize Venezuela
The State Department vehemently denied claims made by senior Venezuelan officials just hours before the country's president, Hugo Chavez, died Tuesday that the United States was attempting to destabilize the South American nation. Published March 5, 2013
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez dies of cancer at 58; ‘Chavistas’ mourn strongman
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who led a socialist revolution in the heart of Latin America and garnered global notoriety for allying with Iran and railing angrily and often against the United States, died Tuesday after losing his battle against cancer. He was 58. Published March 5, 2013
Senate intelligence panel OKs Brennan nomination for CIA director
While Mrs. Feinstein said all of the committee's Democrats voted to confirm Mr. Brennan, neither she nor Mr. Chambliss were willing to identify the other Republicans who had voted "no." Published March 5, 2013
Drone memo release wins Senate support for Obama nominee
President Obama's decision Tuesday to show lawmakers secret legal documents justifying the use of drones to kill suspected terror leaders won new support for his top counterterrorism adviser to be become the next CIA director. Published March 5, 2013
China is key to stopping N. Korea nukes, intel official says
A former senior intelligence official told Congress on Tuesday that China may hold the keys to pressuring North Korea into abandoning its nuclear program. Published March 5, 2013
New U.S. aid package of $250 million for Egypt fuels debate over support
Secretary of State John F. Kerry’s release of $250 million in economic aid to Egypt added fuel to a fiery debate in Washington over whether the U.S. should be helping to fund a government run by the Muslim Brotherhood. Published March 4, 2013
State Department report paves way for Keystone; environmental backlash grows
While far from a full-throated endorsement, the State Department's assessment of the Keystone XL pipeline may have paved the way for President Obama to approve the controversial project. Published March 2, 2013
State Department’s Keystone Pipeline report prompts divisive response
The State Department released preliminary findings of a new environmental impact study surrounding the controversial Keystone XL pipeline on Friday, but made no clear recommendation as to whether the the pipeline should be held up for environmental or economic reasons. Published March 1, 2013
Kerry announces aid package of meals, medicine for Syrian rebels
The leader of Syria's main opposition group sought to allay Western fears Thursday that terrorists have infiltrated the rebel movement in the war-torn nation, as U.S. officials touted a new plan to ship meals and medical supplies — but not weapons — to those fighting to overthrow President Bashar Assad. Published February 28, 2013
Energy links seen boosting U.S. ties to Mexico
A senior Obama administration official voiced optimism about future growth in the economic relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, stressing that energy sector ties between the two nations have "enormous potential for progress." Published February 28, 2013
House Democrat’s bill would expand U.S. role in Syria
The U.S. and several European allies reportedly are warming to the idea of shipping nonmilitary aid to rebels fighting in Syria, but one top Democratic lawmaker plans to introduce a bill that would go further by authorizing arms transfers to those fighting to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad. Published February 27, 2013
Dem lawmaker prepares bill to allow Obama direct arms sales to Syrian rebels
One of the top Democratic lawmakers on foreign policy is preparing to introduce a bill that would authorize President Obama to begin sending arms directly to rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad — legislation that would open the way for significantly deeper U.S. involvement in Syria's bloody civil war. Published February 27, 2013
Bipartisan bill builds pressure to halt Iran nuclear program
Despite the biting divide between Republicans and Democrats on almost all other fronts, two key House lawmakers announced a bipartisan bill Wednesday to boost sanctions on Iran, trying to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Published February 27, 2013