News
Secretary Kerry’s Pointless U.N. Trip
John Kerry traveled to the United Nations for the first time as Secretary of State on Thursday to attend a Security Council meeting on “The… Read More
News
U.N. Disabilities Treaty Unnecessary to Protect the Disabled
The State Department marked the 23rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) this week by touting the United Nations Convention on the Rights… Read More
Government Investigation Reveals Inadequate Security at U.S. Embassies
Recent testimony has revealed the fragile nature of the security of many American embassies. State Department officials Gregory B. Starr and Bill A. Miller testified… Read More
The Growing Presence of Iran in Latin America
The Oversight and Management Efficiency Subcommittee recently held a hearing about Iran’s influence and presence in Latin America. Contrary to a prior report released by… Read More
Benghazi Scandal Haunts Nuland Nomination
Benghazi continues to haunt the Obama Administration. As demonstrated yesterday, Victoria Nuland, the nominee for Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs and former State… Read More
Iran in Latin America: State Department Ignores Allies
The State Department recently released a report to Congress assessing the threat posed by Iran in the Western Hemisphere. Regrettably, it seems that the State… Read More
How Many “Friends” Does the State Department Really Have?
A new State Department inspector general’s report accuses State of buying friends—or, more precisely, boosting its “likes” on Facebook to up to 2 million—by spending… Read More
News
U.S. International Broadcasting “Defunct”—Congress Finally Steps In
Last Wednesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) tackled an issue long overdue for congressional oversight—the state of affairs at the Broadcasting Board of Governors… Read More
Human Trafficking Still a Major Concern in Asia
The release of the State Department’s latest Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) revealed that Asia is home to some of the worst perpetrators of illegal… Read More
Scandal Du Jour at the State Department
Another day, another State Department scandal. This time, allegations of sexual misconduct have surfaced against U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman. On top of that,… Read More
U.S. Embassy in Beirut Still a Security Risk
A new report by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) on the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, indicates that security at even the… Read More
Secretary Kerry Fumbles at the African Union
Boko Haram, the Islamist insurgency in Nigeria, was called a terrorist organization by Secretary of State John Kerry last week. At the 50th anniversary Summit… Read More
Benghazi Investigation Still Very Much Ongoing
Benghazi is back in the headlines with a vengeance as investigations continue on several congressional fronts: Representative Darrell Issa (R–CA) subpoenaed the State Department to… Read More
Obama Administration Refuses to Label London Attack as Terrorism
Yesterday’s appalling attack on a London street in the middle of the day, which left a British solider dead, was a barbaric act of terrorism… Read More
Honey, I Shrunk the Benghazi Talking Points
The White House release of the e-mail chain regarding the Benghazi talking points on Wednesday has opened up a slew of new questions. Covering only… Read More
Obama Dismisses Benghazi Investigations as “Side Show”
President Obama yesterday dismissed the House investigations into the Benghazi debacle as a political “side show.” In a news conference with British Prime Minister David… Read More
Who is Saeed Abedini?
Pastor Saeed Abedini is a United States citizen from Boise, Idaho, who has been imprisoned for 223 days in Iran for “crimes against the Islamic… Read More
The State Department’s Revolving Door of Public Diplomacy
The State Department is about to lose yet another Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. As reported last week, Tara Sonenshine, who has… Read More
Morning Bell: Ghosts of Benghazi
The White House might have wanted to mute its response to the terrorist attack in Benghazi for fear of inflaming Anti-American sentiment. Perhaps the President… Read More
See Something, Say Nothing: Benghazi Accountability Report Under Scrutiny
The State Department inspector general made news Thursday with the revelation that the office is looking into the report produced by the Benghazi Accountability Review… Read More
Heard the One About the Benghazi Whistleblowers? Obama Hasn’t
President Obama raised eyebrows today with his press conference statement that he was unaware of news stories about Benghazi whistleblowers being blocked and even threatened… Read More
New House Report on the White Washing of Benghazi
A just-released Interim Progress Report based on an investigation across five House committees on the Benghazi terrorist attack paints a disturbing picture of diplomatic security… Read More
News
Asia’s Persistent Drug Problem Could Hit Home
Drug wars have plagued Asia for decades, and the drug problem continues to stem the tide of economic growth and development in the region. A… Read More
News
Congressional Hearing Produces Shocker on Benghazi
Kudos to members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee for squarely placing Benghazi on the table at today’s hearing with Secretary of State John Kerry…. Read More
Asia: Kerry’s Missing Puzzle Piece
“[T]his budget isn’t just a collection of numbers; it’s an illustration of our values and priorities,” said Secretary of State John Kerry in his testimony… Read More
Keystone XL Pipeline Hearing Tuesday
President Obama has been holding up the Keystone XL Pipeline. Could Congress go ahead and clear it for construction–and prevent environmental activists from tying the… Read More
New START: State Department’s “Facts” Don’t Match Reality
“Three years in, New START has performed exactly as advertised,” writes John Kerry, Secretary of State, in his most recent article. In reality, the New… Read More
Key Political Appointments Remain Unfilled at the State Department
Despite John Kerry being confirmed as the Secretary of State for President Obama’s second term two months ago, numerous senior State Department positions remain unfilled… Read More
Europe Must Face Up to Hezbollah’s Bloody Legacy
This week, the parliament of Bahrain voted unanimously to declare Hezbollah a terrorist organization. “It is time we join the world in outlawing this group,… Read More
U.S. Calls for Investigation of Cuban Opposition Leader’s Death
Recent remarks by Spanish official Ángel Carromero in The Washington Post are shedding new light on the events that resulted in the death of Cuban… Read More
