US State Department
Spokesperson for the US Department of State Bureau for Near Eastern Affairs
PROFILE
Aaron Snipe
Guest
FROM Aaron Snipe
Which Way, L.A.?
What's Next for Libya and America's Role in Foreign Adventures? Moammar Gadhafi is still at large, but the US, NATO and neighboring countries are already preparing for Libya's next regime. We update action on the ground and in the world of diplomacy.
To the Point
What's Next for Libya and America's Role in Foreign Adventures? When last heard from, Moammar Gadhafi threatened a fight to the death. Now, NATO is helping rebels to find him, while his loyalists continue to put up a fight. At a conference in Turkey, the US urged donor nations to unfreeze Libyan assets the rebels need to show they can govern the country. Nobody thinks that will be easy, given religious and tribal differences after 42 years of one-man rule and six months of civil war. Will the Obama "lead from behind" strategy be seen as successful? Has a retreat from Bush-style unilateralism been dictated by America's economic struggles? Photo: Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi walking into a press briefing on February 5, 2011, at the same spot as the banner image above, with the iconic golden fist statue behind him, depicting a fist crushing a US jet fighter after Kadhafi's former residence was bombed in 1986 by US aircraft.
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To the Point
White House budget proposal slashes and burns President Trump's first budget request is considered dead on arrival in Congress — a familiar development in Capitol Hill. We hear what it reveals about the priorities of the new administration. What's likely to die… and what might survive?
To the Point
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.
To the Point
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?