Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
ISIS undercuts Donald Trump’s push for Afghan peace deal, troop withdrawal
An Islamic State suicide bombing that killed 63 people in Kabul has underscored Afghanistan's violent state even as the Trump administration nears a peace deal with the nation's other major militant group, the Taliban, that could take thousands of U.S. troops out of the country. Published August 19, 2019
IAEA blasted for lax oversight of Iran nuclear deal
The United Nations watchdog agency charged with examining Iran's compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal has failed to fulfill its mission and has operated in an opaque and politicized manner, according to a new report by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Published August 19, 2019
Khalifa Haftar’s forces claim to target Turkish drones as tensions flare in Libya
Tensions rose anew in Libya's civil war over the weekend, with the country's main U.N. office dismissing rebel commander Khalifa Haftar's claim that a government-controlled airport recently bombed by his forces housed Turkish military equipment. Published August 18, 2019
ISIS suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, raises questions over fate of U.S.-Taliban talks
Islamic State terrorists claimed responsibility Sunday for a suicide bombing that killed 63 people at a wedding in Kabul and underscored the threat of ongoing violence in Afghanistan even if the Trump administration reaches a peace deal with the nation's other major militant group, the Taliban. Published August 18, 2019
Hong Kong protests rage on as U.S., China watch
Massive pro-democracy protests continued Sunday in Hong Kong, with more than 100,000 filling a central park and major avenues in the Chinese-ruled territory for an 11th consecutive weekend. Published August 18, 2019
N. Korean missile tests fly in the face of Bolton warnings
North Korea launched more projectiles into the sea Friday, just days after U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton warned that Pyongyang's recent wave of short-range missile tests have violated long-standing U.N. Security Council resolutions banning such tests. Published August 16, 2019
Kashmir conflict: U.S. watches warily as Pakistan warns of Indian-led genocide
Tensions over India's imposition of a curfew and communications blackout in Kashmir escalated Thursday, with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan warning that Indian forces could be on the verge of carrying out a major "ethnic cleansing" against Muslims in the disputed territory. Published August 15, 2019
Ahmed Omar Maiteeq of Libya warns Donald Trump of Khalifa Haftar
NEWSMAKER INTERVIEW: A top leader from Libya's internationally recognized government says the Trump administration should be doing more to exert American power and diplomatic influence toward ending his country's brutal and destabilizing civil war. Published August 13, 2019
Mitch McConnell warns China: U.S. won’t tolerate violent crackdown in Hong Kong
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned China's government that a violent crackdown on protesters in Hong Kong would be "completely unacceptable" as pro-democracy demonstrations in the Chinese-ruled territory widened anew Monday. Published August 12, 2019
Iran diplomat claims U.S. weapons turning Mideast into ‘tinderbox’
Iran's top diplomat on Monday blasted the U.S. for selling weapons to Tehran's adversaries in the Middle East, claiming Washington is turning the region into a "tinderbox ready to blow up." Published August 12, 2019
North Korea slams U.S.-South Korea military drills
North Korea is intensifying its criticism of South Korea as joint U.S.-South Korea military drills enter their second week, with Pyongyang accusing the South of acting like a "shy dog barking more wildly." Published August 12, 2019
Libya’s third civil war in 10 years a growing crisis for Donald Trump’s foreign policy
Libya is spiraling toward its third civil war in less than a decade, creating a foreign policy crisis for the Trump administration in a strategic oil-rich corner of North Africa amid rising fears that jihadi terrorist groups are once again exploiting the power vacuum opened by renewed violence in recent months. Published July 26, 2019
Trump administration scrambles to interpret North Korea’s latest missile test
The Trump administration scrambled Thursday to interpret North Korea's latest short-range missile launches, while private analysts said Pyongyang likely conducted the tests in an attempt to gain leverage ahead of an anticipated renewal of nuclear talks with Washington. Published July 25, 2019
Chinese defense blueprint targets U.S. ‘unilateral policies’
China's Defense Ministry lashed out anew Wednesday over Washington's deployment two years ago of a sophisticated missile defense system to South Korea, asserting in a major new strategy white paper that the move "severely undermined the regional strategic balance" in Northeast Asia. Published July 24, 2019
China says U.S. has ‘undermined global strategic stability’
China lashed out anew Wednesday over Washington's deployment two years ago of a sophisticated missile defense system to South Korea, asserting in a rare defense white paper that the move "severely undermined the regional strategic balance" in northeast Asia. Published July 24, 2019
Tunisia’s foreign minister: ‘Democracy is the best tool to fight terrorism and extremism’
Tunisia has made dramatic strides -- with U.S. support -- against the threat posed by jihadist terrorists since being labeled just a few years ago as the top source for foreign fighters who'd traveled to join the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. Published July 19, 2019
U.S., Bahrain tout maritime summit focused on Iran threat
The tiny Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain has agreed to host an international summit this fall on regional maritime and aviation threats posed by Iran, whose military forces the U.S. blame for a wave of recent attacks on commercial oil tankers and the downing of an American surveillance drone. Published July 17, 2019
North Korea warns U.S. military drills could derail resumption of nuclear talks
North Korea warned Tuesday that the much-anticipated resumption of stalled nuclear talks with the Trump administration could be thrown into jeopardy if the U.S. and South Korea go forward with annual joint military exercises next month. Published July 16, 2019
European nations scramble to preserve Iran nuclear deal
The European Union called on Iran to return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal Monday, scrambling to salvage the accord 13 months after President Trump withdrew and leveled new U.S. sanctions on Tehran. Published July 15, 2019
Nigerian Christians plead for U.S. help in Boko Haram fight
The horror that enveloped Rebecca Sharibu's world in early 2018 when her 14-year-old daughter, Leah, was kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria felt like it might suddenly end when news broke, after just a few weeks of back-channel efforts, that the more than 100 girls taken in the raid were being released. Published July 7, 2019