State Department news stories on Newser

US: We Won't Scrap Iraqi Police Training

Neal Colgrass — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:40:00 CDT

The US embassy in Baghdad today denied a New York Times report that Washington may scrap its Iraqi police training program, AFP reports. "The Police Development Program is a vital part of the US-Iraqi relationship and an effective means of standing by our Iraqi friends," an embassy rep said. But...

State Dept's 'Take Your Kids to Work Day' R-Rated

Matt Cantor — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:25:42 CDT

"Take Your Kids to Work Day" was quite the titillating experience at the State Department this year. Despite the presence of youngsters, reporters didn't censor their questions about the Secret Service sex scandal at a Q&A yesterday, Politico reports. They mentioned sex seven times, prostitution four times, and strippers once....

US Diplomat: 'We Lost the War' in Iraq

Kevin Spak — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:41:32 CDT

Don't let anyone tell you the US "won" the Iraq war. During his stint in Iraq, State Department officer Peter Van Buren was so shocked by "the eye-watering waste and mismanagement" he saw that he wrote a blistering book about it. Nothing that's happened since has changed his conclusion that...

Al-Qaeda Websites Oddly Go Dark for 11 Days

Neal Colgrass — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:54:14 CDT

Al-Qaeda's most popular web forums have gone dark for 11 days now in what experts are calling a likely cyber attack, the Washington Post reports. "It sure looks like a takedown," said a former State Department official. If website administrators were dealing with mere technical glitches, they would "get on...

Iraqis Fume Over US Drone Use

Mark Russell — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:55:58 CST

Many Iraqi officials are outraged that the US is operating drones in the country a month after the American military left, calling the drones a violation of Iraq's sovereignty, reports the New York Times . It's the State Department, not the CIA or Pentagon, that's behind the program, and it says...

Egypt Bans Ray LaHood's Son From Leaving

Kevin Spak — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:04:07 CST

Egypt has placed Ray LaHood's son and several other Americans working for pro-Democracy groups on a no-fly list, barring them from leaving the country. Sam LaHood tried to board a plane out of Egypt in Cairo on Saturday, Politico reports, but was prevented from doing so. A State Department official...

US Hangs Iraqi Translators Out to Dry

Kevin Spak — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:12:05 CST

When the US signed up translators in Iraq, it promised them an inside track for a special visa to the US. But now that the war is over, the visa approval process has slowed to a crawl, leaving translators stuck in Iraq—where many want them dead for helping the...

Hillary Clinton Starts Historic Burma Visit

Kevin Spak — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:57:04 CST

Hillary Clinton arrived in Burma’s capital of Naypyidaw today, kicking off the first visit by a US secretary of state to the country in more than 50 years. Clinton says her goal is to see for herself how serious Burma’s junta is about its halting steps toward democratic reform, according...

US Cuts Off Funding to UNESCO Over Palestine

Kevin Spak — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:26:31 CDT

The US has officially cut off all funding to the UN’s Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization over its acceptance of Palestine as a full member. The impact will be felt immediately, because the US had a $60 million dues payment due in November, the AP reports. The Obama administration’s hands...