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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Left, Right & Center
President Trump: US to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord Trump says he was elected to serve Pittsburgh, not Paris.
To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
To the Point
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
To the Point
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.