Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
Libya killings said to be ‘terrorist attack’
The Obama administration for the first time Wednesday acknowledged that last week's assault on the U.S. Consulate in Libya was a "terrorist attack," as lawmakers on Capitol Hill raised questions about security at the consulate and asserted that the attack should have been anticipated by intelligence and counterterrorism agencies. Published September 19, 2012
U.S. fears potential increase in terrorist movement
The State Department fears that terrorists are moving to exploit the wave of anti-American anger sweeping the Muslim world after a group linked to al Qaeda called for more attacks on U.S. diplomats and a suicide bomber killed 12 foreign workers in Afghanistan on Tuesday. Published September 18, 2012
Skeptics say Middle East attacks organized
Pressure is increasing for Congress to conduct its own independent investigation into last week's attacks on diplomatic posts in Egypt and Libya as lawmakers and even Libya's president dispute the Obama administration's assertion that the attacks were merely mob violence spawned by an offensive film. Published September 17, 2012
State Dept. acknowledges video of slain ambassador in Libya
The State Department acknowledged Monday the existence of video that shows U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens being pulled from the burning remains of a U.S. diplomatic compound that was attacked by militants in eastern Libya last week. Published September 17, 2012
Egypt’s Islamic TV talks with iron Salafist
A Muslim cleric hosting an Egyptian television show recently outlined his version of Islamic instructions for wife-beating. In another show, a cleric claimed that the Muslim Brotherhood, now governing Egypt, one day will rule the world. Published September 16, 2012
U.S. faces setback in China seas dispute
U.S. efforts to counter the rise of Chinese military power in the Pacific faced a significant setback this week when Beijing dispatched two surveillance ships to assert sovereignty over a chain of small islands governed by Japan. Published September 13, 2012
Four arrested in deadly attack on U.S. Consulate in Libya
Libyan security officials Thursday said they have arrested four men suspected of involvement in the attack that killed a U.S. ambassador this week, and referred to the incident as an organized assault by militants who carried out carefully timed raids on both the diplomatic compound and a safe house where evacuated U.S. personnel were waiting to be rescued. Published September 13, 2012
U.S., Libya to probe violence after slaying of ambassador
U.S. and Libyan officials launched investigations Wednesday into a deadly nighttime attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, trying to determine whether it was a premeditated assault by Muslim militants or a mob enraged by a U.S.-produced film that derides Islam's Prophet Muhammad. Published September 12, 2012
Mobs storm U.S. missions in Egypt and Libya; 1 American killed
A State Department officer was killed and another injured Tuesday in separate attacks on a U.S. Consulate in Libya and the U.S. Embassy in Cairo by hard-line Islamic protesters angry about an anti-Islamic film. Published September 11, 2012
State Dept. disses Iran in group on Syrian peace
U.S. officials are heaping scorn on Iran's inclusion in a Middle East "contact group" formed to discuss and resolve the ongoing conflict in Syria. Published September 11, 2012
Space exploration is star-crossed on campaign trail
Advantageous as it may have been for a standing Republican president to have dreamed of the moon two elections ago, it's a call unlikely to emerge this campaign season from either President Obama or Republican nominee Mitt Romney. Published September 9, 2012
State Department drops Maoists from terrorist watch list
The State Department on Thursday removed the Communist Party of Nepal from the U.S. list of terrorist organizations on grounds the Maoist group has abandoned its militant past in favor of "engagement in peaceful political dialogue in Nepal." Published September 6, 2012
Turkey, Egypt hit Assad for ‘terrorism’
Regional calls for the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad reached new heights Wednesday, with Turkey describing the Assad regime as "one of state terrorism" and Egypt asserting that Mr. Assad should learn from the "recent history" of deposed Arab dictators and step down. Published September 5, 2012
U.S. provides more aid for Syrian refugees
The United States is adding $21 million to its humanitarian aid package for people displaced by violence in Syria, U.S. officials said Wednesday amid U.N. reports that more than 100,000 Syrians fled to neighboring countries in August. Published September 5, 2012
Mexico’s Calderon hails economic legacy, drug fight in last address
Outgoing Mexican President Felipe Calderon used his final State of the Union address to defend his administration’s bare-knuckle war on drug cartels, asserting that 22 of the nation’s 37 most wanted criminals have been “neutralized” since he took office six years ago. Published September 4, 2012
State Dept. hits Assange’s ‘wild assertions’
The State Department on Monday accused WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange of making "wild assertions" about the United States in an attempt to divert attention from Sweden's investigation into whether he should be charged with rape. Published August 20, 2012
U.S. urges U.N. chief not to attend summit in Iran
The U.S. has told the U.N. chief that he would send a "very strange signal" to the world if he were to attend a conference of non-aligned states in Iran this month, the State Department said Thursday. Published August 16, 2012
Obama vs. Romney on Syria policy
If killing Osama bin Laden, untangling U.S. forces from Iraq and fighting a bare-knuckle drone war against al Qaeda are the Obama administration's foreign policy triumphs, its biggest stumble may be its failure to produce an international solution to what has become an all-out civil war in Syria. Published August 15, 2012
State Dept. says it’s not involved in Egyptian military changes
The State Department on Tuesday denied having played an inside role in the appointment of Egypt's new defense minister, a former military intelligence chief who has long-standing ties to the U.S. Published August 14, 2012
Neither Obama nor Romney has realistic plan to tame cost of F-35 stealth jet
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the white whale of the Defense Department — a stealth jet designed to work for all branches of the armed forces — but at a total cost of $1.5 trillion, it's also a program that analysts say is an epic boondoggle that neither President Obama nor his GOP challenger, Mitt Romney, has a realistic plan to get under control. Published August 12, 2012