Ryan Crocker news stories on Newser

US Ambassador to Afghanistan Stepping Down

Rob Quinn — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:55:47 CDT

America's special envoy to Afghanistan is preparing to step down after nearly a year in one of diplomacy's most taxing jobs, sources tell Reuters . Ryan Crocker—who came out of retirement last summer to become the US ambassador in Kabul—is expected to leave the post as early as this...

Afghans Lob Grenades at US Base, Clashes Continue

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 10:54:14 CST

Protesters angry over Korans burned by American troops tossed grenades at a US base in northern Afghanistan and clashed with police and troops in a sixth day of violence that left seven international troops wounded and two Afghans dead. "Tensions are running very high here and I think we need...

Taliban's New Muscle Flexing: Cell Phone Outages

Kevin Spak — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:38:04 CDT

Every evening like clockwork, all the cell phones in Afghanistan's Wardrak Province stop working—and every resident knows why. The Taliban have taken to shutting off cell towers all across Afghanistan, threatening to blow them up if operators don’t cooperate, the New York Times reports. “Our main goal is to...

Panetta Moves to Pentagon, Petraeus to Helm CIA

Kate Schwartz — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 07:53:13 CDT

The big security shakeups are out, by way of unidentified AP sources, and as predicted , Leon Panetta is in as the new secretary of defense, succeeding Robert Gates. Gen. David Petraeus will be nominated to fill Panetta's shoes as CIA director. Five-time ambassador Ryan Crocker, who retired in 2009 and...

Crocker Cautions Against Abrupt Iraq Withdrawal

Harry Kimball — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:14:02 CST

The US ambassador to Iraq warned today against an abrupt troop withdrawal, saying it would invite foreign fighters, CNN reports. If we “decide suddenly we’re done, they would certainly work to use space that opened up,” Ryan Crocker said of al-Qaeda. Crocker, who will step down shortly, said President Obama’s...

Iran Is Now a Bigger Threat in Iraq Than al-Qaeda: US Officials

Wesley Oliver — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:06:29 CDT

Recent battles in Basra prove that Iran is crippling Iraqi stability while al-Qaeda's influence there wanes, US officials say. David Petraeus pointed to Iran's influence in testimony this week, and now Shiite militias are said to have benefited from Iranian weapons, training, and guidance in Basra fighting—prompting a Washington...

Bush Backs Petraeus' Pause

Nick McMaster — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:22:00 CDT

Vowing that Gen. David Petraeus will have “all the time he needs” in Iraq, President Bush today announced a pause, from August until at least mid-September, in withdrawal of troops from Iraq, CNN reports. Citing the post-surge security gains, Bush said, “we have renewed and revived the prospect of success”...

Petraeus Grilling Moves to House

Jonas Oransky — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:12:00 CDT

Gen. David Petraeus' visit to Capitol Hill continues today, with House members getting their chance to grill the top US commander in Iraq and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Democrats on the Armed Service Committee were vocal in their frustration about the war’s progress, even as Petraeus and Crocker were unyielding about...

Petraeus Foils Senators Seeking Exit

Jason Farago — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:09:00 CDT

David Petraeus and Ryan Crocker head back to Capitol Hill this morning after a grueling day of testimony that was short on substance and clear goals, writes the Washington Post . Pressed repeatedly yesterday to describe what "conditions" they would like to see before recommending a troop withdrawal, the general and...