All Foreign Policy
From the Monitor archives: US slaps Cuba with trade embargoToday's announcement of restored diplomatic ties between Cuba and the US comes after five decades of antagonism, including the 54-year-old US trade embargo against the Communist island. 海角大神 covered the embargo from the start.
Obama's historic opening to Cuba: A hint of things to come with Iran?By restoring diplomatic ties with Cuba, President Obama has acted in accord with one of his most deeply-held principles: America must engage its enemies.
Pakistan school attack: Why children are becoming a more common terror targetTuesday鈥檚 attack by the Pakistani Taliban on a school in Peshawar is part of an increased willingness by terrorists to target children 鈥� and education.
Philippines murder could complicate Obama's big plans for AsiaFilipino prosecutors on Monday charged US Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton with murder in the October death of Jennifer Laude, a transgender woman.
CIA Director Brennan: Whether harsh interrogation worked is 'unknowable'In a press conference Thursday, CIA Director John Brennan addressed the Senate Intelligence Committee report on harsh interrogation techniques, called 'torture' by critics. Citing the fearful days after 9/11, he said the agency made mistakes and some of the techniques used were 'abhorrent' and 'regrettable.'
How can India be BFFs with both Russia and the United States?Russian President Vladimir Putin is in India signing big deals with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, just days after India announced it would host President Obama in late January.
'Black site' countries outed in torture report aren't outraged. Why?One key concern was that the report鈥檚 details could burn bridges with allies, in particular those that hosted 'black sites.' While certainly cries of US hypocrisy abound, none of the anticipated backlash from allies has materialized so far.- Will growing consensus that torture is 'morally repugnant' lead to action?Tuesday鈥檚 release of the Senate Intelligence Committee鈥檚 report on the CIA鈥檚 post-9/11 interrogation techniques has revived a national debate about the effectiveness of torture. While opinion is divided, a consensus does seem to have formed around the idea that torture is a moral abomination.
Despite failed raid, US likely to stand by its no-ransom policy for hostagesCriticism of the US after a failed raid to rescue photojournalist Luke Somers sharpened after it was revealed Monday that South African hostage Pierre Korkie, also murdered by Al Qaeda as the raid took place, was perhaps hours from being freed in a ransom deal.
Luke Somers: A story demanding to be toldWhen the聽tendency to hold crisis at a distance聽can feel like wisdom, the sacrifices of those who venture into the deepest wells of human despair 鈥� as Luke Somers and many others have 鈥� are brought into sharp relief and demand to be told.
Arabs, Europeans move to fill US void on Israeli-Palestinian conflictUS absence in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is prompting Arabs and Europeans to jump in. But are prospects for them any better than they were for the United States?
Why is key player in Islamic State fight absent from coalition talks?Iran's role in strikes against the Islamic State 鈥� and the United States' seeming acceptance of their participation 鈥� has sparked ire among members of the international coalition combating the militant group.
Will NATO's tough talk on Russia lead to new round of sanctions?Russia鈥檚 actions to destabilize eastern Ukraine 'have serious implications for the stability and security of the entire Euro-Atlantic area,' NATO foreign ministers said Tuesday.
Why are the world's food aid programs running short of money?On Monday, the World Food Program announced that, due to a funding shortage, it was suspending food aid to more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees. The setback, which comes as winter approaches, is emblematic of a global crisis.- Why US is mum on special ops raid that rescued hostages in YemenEight hostages were brought to safety Tuesday after an intense firefight at the cave in remote eastern Yemen where the hostages were being held by Al Qaeda.
Is Obama contemplating unilateral action on Cuba?The Spanish foreign minister's recent statement that he would bring 'concrete messages' from the US government to Havana has some Republicans speculating that President Obama is looking to move further away from decades-old policy on Cuba.
Iran nuclear talks extended, so Congress might turn up the heatAn extension of the Iran nuclear talks is better than a bad deal, but many in Congress will want to use the next few months to further ramp up pressure on Tehran.
Will Benghazi report quell conspiracy theories? Not likely.The House Intelligence Committee has issued its report on the terrorist attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya. It鈥檚 unlikely to satisfy critics of the Obama administration, however, and more reports are coming.- As deadline nears for Iran nuclear talks, how will opponents of a deal react?Negotiators know that opponents of a Iran nuclear deal in Washington and Tehran are ready to strike in the event of a deal or of a nebulous extension.
Is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict dissolving into a religious war?Halting the slide into religiously fueled conflict lies with the Israelis and Palestinians, regional analysts say. But neither of the leaders of the two sides appears inclined to redirect energies toward a renewed peace effort.
