Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
Coronavirus spread forces Italy, Saudi Arabia to lock down entire areas
Italy began enforcing a lockdown over an estimated 16 million people, Saudi Arabia quarantined a key oil-producing province, and the death toll in Iran jumped to nearly 200 on Sunday as governments worldwide scrambled anew in the face of an escalating coronavirus outbreak. Published March 8, 2020
Donald Trump touts ‘empowerment’ initiatives on International Women’s Day
The Trump administration commemorated International Women's Day on Sunday by touting its year-old Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative and affirming America's commitment to advancing women's rights around the globe. Published March 8, 2020
U.S.-Taliban peace deal threatened by Afghanistan violence
An Afghan government provincial council member was gunned down in Kabul Sunday, as violence in Afghanistan continues to threaten the fragile peace deal U.S. officials inked a week ago with the Taliban. Published March 8, 2020
Mike Pompeo slams ICC plan to probe U.S. officials for war crimes
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday slammed the International Criminal Court as an "unaccountable political institution masquerading as a legal body," after the organization said its may soon open cases against American troops for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. Published March 5, 2020
Donald Trump’s Taliban deal thrown into question by wave of attacks and U.S. strike
The Pentagon on Wednesday played down a wave of attacks by Taliban fighters and a retaliatory U.S. airstrike against the insurgent group, amid concern that fresh violence in Afghanistan will derail the fragile, high-stakes peace deal the Trump administration reached with the militants last weekend. Published March 4, 2020
U.S. to provide $108 million in humanitarian aid as the threat of Turkey-Syria war looms
The State Department announced a fresh $108 million in U.S. humanitarian aid for Syrians displaced by war Tuesday, amid fears of a spiraling new clash between U.S.-backed Turkish forces and Syria's Russia- and Iran-backed military. Published March 3, 2020
North Korea hacking replaces nuclear weapons as U.S. target
U.S. officials are engaged in an intense behind-the-scenes campaign with foreign allies to cripple North Korea's cyberhacking and fundraising capabilities, as consensus grows in the Trump administration that nuclear talks with Pyongyang will remain stalled for the coming year. Published March 1, 2020
U.S., Taliban sign deal that calls for troops to exit Afghanistan within 14 months
The U.S. on Saturday signed a landmark peace agreement with its foe of nearly two decades, the Taliban, as the Trump administration officially embarked down a path that could see all American troops exit Afghanistan within 14 months and represent the beginning of the end for the longest war in U.S. history. Published February 29, 2020
U.S. targets North Korean hackers, money sources as talks sputter
U.S. officials are engaged in an intense behind-the-scenes campaign with foreign allies to cripple North Korea's cyber-hacking and fundraising capabilities, as consensus grows in the Trump administration that nuclear talks with Pyongyang will remain stalled for the coming year. Published February 29, 2020
Watchdog says State Dept. diversity increasing, but not fast enough
The State Department's workforce has gotten more diverse over the past 15 years, but ethnic minorities are still underrepresented, particularly in the senior ranks, and are less likely than their white coworkers to be chosen for promotions, a top government watchdog says. Published February 25, 2020
Mike Pompeo: Taliban reduction in violence pact ‘working perfectly’ so far
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed cautious optimism Tuesday that a formal truce with the Taliban will be signed this weekend, saying a temporary reduction in violence pact with the militants is "working perfectly," but also warning the path ahead will be "arduous" and "complex." Published February 25, 2020
Mark Esper meeting with South Korea foreign minister overshadowed by dispute on troops
Disagreement over the Trump administration's demand that Seoul pay more for the upkeep of nearly 30,000 U.S. troops in South Korea threatens to undermine otherwise positive discussions that are expected Monday, when Defense Secretary Mark Esper hosts his South Korean counterpart at the Pentagon. Published February 23, 2020
Donald Trump praises Afghanistan peace deal with Taliban
President Trump expressed fresh optimism Sunday about the prospects for a lasting peace deal with the Taliban, as a weeklong reduction in violence pact with the militant group entered its third day without reports of any major incidents in Afghanistan. Published February 23, 2020
Robert O’Brien: Taliban attack this week would ‘likely’ kill peace deal
The Trump administration's top national security adviser warned Sunday that hopes for a major peace deal with the Taliban will likely collapse if the militant group carries out any attacks during a fragile "reduction of violence" pact now underway in Afghanistan. Published February 23, 2020
Ashraf Ghani-Abdullah Abdullah feud threatens Trump Afghanistan peace deal
The tentative peace agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban appears to put the Trump administration's goal of bringing troops home from Afghanistan in reach, but hopes for a permanent deal could dissolve amid political disarray gripping the U.S.-backed government in Kabul. Published February 20, 2020
Donald Trump’s demand for South Korea to pay more on the agenda for Pentagon talks
Biting disagreement over the Trump administration's demand that Seoul pay more for the upkeep of nearly 30,000 U.S. troops in South Korea will hang over the agenda next week when Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper hosts his South Korean counterpart at the Pentagon. Published February 19, 2020
Pursuing support from outside nations a ‘stupid idea,’ North Korea paper says
North Korea indicated Wednesday that it is shifting its strategy to focus on its own independent economic development, with a key state propaganda newspaper in Pyongyang calling the pursuit of support from outside nations a "stupid idea." Published February 19, 2020
Taliban says Afghanistan peace deal signing in February possible
Taliban leaders confirmed for the first time Monday that a major peace deal with the Trump administration could be signed by the end of the month, although doubts swirled around the claim amid reports of ongoing attacks by the militant group in Afghanistan. Published February 17, 2020
U.S. inaction leaves others to fill vacuum, Libyan official says
A top Libyan official is defending his government's decision to accept help from Syrian militants suspected of ties to extremist groups like al Qaeda and the Islamic State, saying Tripoli had no choice after being ignored by the United States. Published February 15, 2020
North Korea scraps ‘Christmas surprise’ amid China woes
North Korea has delayed its much-anticipated "Christmas surprise" of a major intercontinental ballistic missile test out of concern that such a provocation -- after two years of stop-start nuclear diplomacy -- would trigger sharp negative reactions from Washington and the international community. Published February 12, 2020