Resources - News

This section includes the latest news relating to U.S. security policy around the world. Updated daily, the news provided in this searchable database highlights the most relevant security developments from around the world. 

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Adopting New Resolution, UN Security Council Moves to Thwart Terrorists' Access to Weapons

Wednesday, August 2, 2017
This article discusses the adoption of a United Nations resolution designed to prevent and disrupt the flow of weapons to terrorist networks and the methods to do so.English
Author(s): 
UN News Staff
Publisher / Source: 
UN News Centre
Tag(s): 
UN Security Council

Trump Says Al-Qaeda Received US Weapons Intended for Syrian Rebels

Tuesday, August 1, 2017
The article states that Trump decided to cancel the covert program to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels after weapons ended up in the hands of Al-Qaeda fighters.English
Country(s): 
Syria
Author(s): 
Jack Detsch
Publisher / Source: 
Al Monitor
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance

US, El Salvador Tough Talk on Security Distracts From Core Issues

Friday, July 28, 2017
This article covers US Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recent trip to El Salvador and discusses the challenges of an oversimplified approach to crime reduction and peacebuilding.English
Country(s): 
El Salvador
Author(s): 
James Bargent
Publisher / Source: 
InSight Crime
Tag(s): 
Violence

US Weapons Complicate Afghan War

Tuesday, July 25, 2017
This piece takes a look at the various types and amounts of US provided equipment that has found its way from the Afghan military to the Taliban over the last 16 years of war.
Author(s): 
Shawn Snow
Publisher / Source: 
Military Times
Tag(s): 
Afghanistan

Fixing Afghanistan's Struggling Security Forces

Monday, July 24, 2017
This blog discusses why Kabul and Washington must rethink their current strategy and address inherent problems in their approach to building the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.
Author(s): 
Ghulam Farooq Mujaddidi
Publisher / Source: 
The Diplomat
Tag(s): 
Afghanistan
Afghan National Defense and Security Forces

$700 Billion and 16 Years at War Is a ‘Modest Amount,’ U.S. Officers Say

Monday, July 24, 2017
This article discusses a new study that states that the U.S.-backed Afghan government could compel the Taliban to pursue peace once they regain control of at least 80% of Afghan districts.
Author(s): 
Asawin Suebsaeng
Spencer Ackerman
Publisher / Source: 
Daily Beast
Tag(s): 
Afghanistan
Security Assistance

Why Are Civilians Still Being Killed in the CAR?

Friday, July 14, 2017
In this article Al-Jazeera speaks to the head of the UN peacekeeping mission about plans to bring security to conflict-hit Central African Republic.
Author(s): 
Azad Essa
Sorin Furcoi
Publisher / Source: 
Al Jazeera
Tag(s): 
U.N. Peacekeeping

House Rejects Trump’s Middle East Aid Cuts

Wednesday, July 12, 2017
This article discusses the recent decision in the House rejecting Trump’s proposal to cut spending on foreign aid to the Middle East and highlights the strategic importance of continuing aid to Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.
Author(s): 
Bryant Harris
Publisher / Source: 
Al Monitor
Tag(s): 
Tunisia

UK Arms Exports to Saudi Arabia Can Continue, High Court Rules

Monday, July 10, 2017
This article discusses how campaigners lost a high-profile case calling for UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia to be stopped over humanitarian concerns, as the high court ruled exports could continue.
Author(s): 
Alice Ross
Publisher / Source: 
The Guardian
Tag(s): 
Arms Sales

Trump Aides Recruited Businessmen to Devise Options for Afghanistan

Monday, July 10, 2017
This article discusses the implications of the Trump administrations consultation with private security companies to devise a plan in Afghanistan. A Washington Post article discusses why private military contractors aren’t going to do a better job in Afghanistan.
Author(s): 
Mark Landler
Eric Schmitt
Michael R. Gordon
Publisher / Source: 
The New York Times
Tag(s): 
Afghanistan

Debunking Myths that Fuel Irresponsible U.S. Defense Policy

Friday, June 30, 2017
This article by SAM highlights the fallacies surrounding the defense industry and the global arms trade, including the perception that U.S. defense spending is a major jobs creator. The authors also discuss corruption and the revolving door between the lobbying industry and defense contractors.
Author(s): 
Colby Goodman
Taner Bertuna
Publisher / Source: 
LobeLog
Tag(s): 
Arms Sales

America and Qatar’s Latest Defense Deal

Thursday, June 15, 2017
The Qatar crisis has quickly become one of the Trump administration’s most sensitive dilemmas in the Middle East. Since America’s close Sunni Arab allies—Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—took action against Doha earlier this month, the White House has sent the Qataris mixed messages about Washington’s position on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)’s row. At this juncture, it remains unclear what role the Trump administration will play in Saudi/Emirati efforts to pressure the Qataris into capitulation.
Country(s): 
Qatar
Bahrain
Egypt
Jordan
Saudi Arabia
Afghanistan
Iraq
Yemen
Syria
Author(s): 
Giorgio Cafiero
Publisher / Source: 
LobeLog
June 15
2017
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance
Arms Sales
Arms Control

US Lawmakers Skeptical of Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Lebanon

Thursday, June 15, 2017
U.S. lawmakers on both sides of the aisle laid bare their suspicions about U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Lebanon over the countries’ supposed links to terror on Thursday, perhaps signaling choppy waters in the alliances.
Country(s): 
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Lebanon
Author(s): 
Joe Gould
Publisher / Source: 
Defense News
June 15
2017
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance
Human Rights
Military Operations

US Troop Increase Should Focus on Training, Afghans Say

Thursday, June 15, 2017
Afghan government officials say they are leery about President Donald Trump’s plan to grant new authority to the Pentagon to set troop levels in the war-torn country, expressing concern that such a shift could be a sign that larger numbers of Americans might soon be headed back to the front lines in the 15-year war.
Country(s): 
Afghanistan
Author(s): 
Phillip Walter Wellman
Zubair Babakarkhail
Publisher / Source: 
Stars and Stripes
June 15
2017
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance

The Coalition’s Plan To Keep US Weapons Out Of ISIS Hands Is Garbage

Thursday, June 15, 2017
The Department of Defense has a major gun control problem. On May 26, Amnesty International published a damning report revealing that the United States failed to track more than $1 billion in arms transfers to Iraqi and Kuwaiti security forces as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. The report, based on a now-declassified 2016 DoD audit obtained via Freedom of Information Act requests, shows that terrible record keeping and loose restrictions potentially let weapons from machine guns to mortar rounds fall into the hands of ISIS.
Country(s): 
Iraq
Kuwait
Author(s): 
Jared Keller
Publisher / Source: 
Task & Purpose
June 15
2017
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance
Arms Control
Arms Sales

US Senate Advances Saudi Guided-Munitions Sale, 53-47

Tuesday, June 13, 2017
The U.S. Senate narrowly voted 53-47 along largely partisan lines to approve a $510 million sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Country(s): 
Saudi Arabia
Author(s): 
Joe Gould
Publisher / Source: 
Defense News
June 13
2017
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance
Arms Sales

Proud Mexico Spurns U.S. Aid Under Review by Trump

Friday, February 24, 2017
Mexico does not need financial aid from the United States, Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong said on Friday, after President Donald Trump ordered a report on U.S. assistance to its southern neighbor over the last five years.English
Country(s): 
Mexico
Publisher / Source: 
Reuters
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance
Foreign Aid

Turkey-backed Rebels in 'Near Full Control' of Al-Bab

Thursday, February 23, 2017
Turkish armed forces and allied Syrian fighters have seized near full control of the key town of Al Bab in northern Syria from ISIL, according to multiple sources.
Country(s): 
Turkey
Syria
Publisher / Source: 
Al Jazeera
Tag(s): 
Counterinsurgency

Iraqi Forces Storm Mosul Airport, Military Base

Thursday, February 23, 2017
U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces captured Mosul airport from Islamic State on Thursday, advancing on multiple fronts towards the jihadists' last major stronghold in the western half of the city.
Country(s): 
Iraq
Author(s): 
Isabel Coles
Stephen Kalin
Publisher / Source: 
Reuters
Tag(s): 
Counterinsurgency
Military Operations

U.S. Marines Head to Norway and Australia

Thursday, February 23, 2017
U.S. Marines are being deployed to Norway and Australia, ostensibly as part of standard procedure, but also to respond to two emerging threats, Russia and China. English
Country(s): 
Norway
Australia
Author(s): 
Kaitlin Lavinder
Will Edwards
Publisher / Source: 
The Cipher Brief
Tag(s): 
NATO
Military Operations
Military Cooperation

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