Politico
Monday, August 28, 2017 - 06:53
In 1994, with trade fights raging over the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization, the White House faced an urgent problem: It was about to lose most of its power to block exports for national security reasons. The decades-old law governing so-called export controls was about to expire, and Congress was making no move to renew it. So the Clinton administration took matters into its own hands: It declared a national emergency, extending its export-control powers without any new legislation.
Twenty-three years and three administrations later, that national emergency still stands. Last week, entirely unremarked in the aftermath of Charlottesville, President Donald Trump extended the emergency yet again, signing a 134-word presidential notice that allows the federal government to control the export of almost every U.S. product.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016 - 07:23
European governments’ new push to cooperate more effectively on defense and security is already being tested in Libya, where France is accused of playing a double game in an ongoing conflict that has exposed divisions within the bloc.
Friday, October 7, 2016 - 06:25
Last week, the White House announced which countries will receive waivers to the prohibition on U.S. security assistance under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA). And this year, as with every other year, South Sudan was included in that list.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016 - 07:54
U.K. Defense Minister Michael Fallon said Tuesday that Britain will “oppose any idea of an EU army” and warned that other countries in the bloc are against plans for greater military cooperation.
Friday, September 23, 2016 - 07:04
President Barack Obama has never had a great relationship with Saudi Arabia. Now, he’s the last man standing between the wealthy desert kingdom and billions of dollars in potential liabilities.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016 - 06:24
Senators and aides said Monday lawmakers were still discussing the contours of a deal that would fund the government until Dec. 9 and provide money to combat the spread of the Zika virus, a plan that seemingly everyone on Capitol Hill can endorse except one critical faction: conservative House Republicans.
Monday, June 27, 2016 - 06:23
In early 2011, the government of Bahrain violently cracked down on pro-democracy protesters as uprisings spread across the Middle East. The protests were brutally suppressed, and hundreds of people were arrested. Many were tortured, some to death. Five years on, Washington’s “softly softly” policy of muted public criticism and encouragement to reform behind closed doors has failed.
Friday, May 6, 2016 - 07:28
The Obama administration, locked in tough negotiations with Israel over a new U.S. defense aid package, has assured concerned lawmakers that it is closely tracking allegations of Israeli human rights violations and will restrict security assistance if the claims prove true.
Thursday, April 28, 2016 - 06:40
Senate Republicans who have been negotiating a way to confirm Roberta Jacobson as the nation’s top diplomat to Mexico have reached the contours of an agreement that would allow Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla) — Jacobson’s chief obstacle — to secure renewed sanctions against Venezuela in exchange for lifting his objections.
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 - 06:23
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and 10 House members have asked the Obama administration to investigate claims that the Israeli and Egyptian security forces have committed “gross violations of human rights” — allegations that if proven truei could affect U.S. military aid to the countries.