Iraqi-American Blogger: DoD Will Leave, State Dept. Will Remain In Iraq

Iraqi-American blogger, Raed Jarrar, in an interview Monday, argued that America’s presence in Iraq is not over because while the U.S Department of Defense will be leaving Iraq, the U.S Department of State will be doubling its personnel. (0:28)

Listen

Ft. Hood Shooting Will Not Affect Troop Dedication

State Department spokesman Phillip Crowley says Friday during a briefing at the Foreign Press Center that the diversity of the U.S. military is unparalleled. Crowley argues that he does not expect the Fort Hood shooting to affect soldier dedication. (0:15)
Listen

State Dep't Official Describes How She'll Reach Out To Muslim World

Farah Pandith, recently appointed as Special Representative to Muslim Communities at the State Department, discusses her plans for engaging the Islamic world. She said that her plans include facilitating town hall and round-table discussions, and community projects. (0:35)
Listen

Somalia's Piracy Problem

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Correspondent Michael Ruhl reports on the security and humanitarian crisis presently plaguing Somalia. Ruhl interviews Somalia's Ambassador-At-Large to the U.S., Abdi Awaleh Jama, and also speaks with Joel Carny from Refugees International.

Read the full article here

Version 1: (00:30)
Version 2: (02:00)
Version 3: (03:25)
Listen

Nature of security threats have changed, says European affairs expert

Bruce I. Turner, acting director of the Office of European Security and Political Affairs from the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, says that nature of security threats have changed and that weapons of mass destruction have fallen into the hands of non-state actors. Turner points out that the emergence of competing powers has made it more important to cooperate with other countries which share the same values.(0:53)
Listen

“In a sense, the Department of State has contributed to the killing and maiming of U.S. soldiers”

Judge Arthur Brennan, who had served in Iraq in 2007 as the Director of the Office of Accountability and Transparency, says in a hearing titled “Have Bush Administration Reconstruction and Anti-Corruption Failures Undermined the U.S. Mission in Iraq?” that the Department of State misled the U.S. Congress, the American people, and the people of Iraq. He also says the Department of State contributed to the consequences of corruption, and that “billions of U.S. and Iraqi dollars have been lost, stolen, and wasted.” (0:46)
Listen

Congressman Delahunt says if we don't treat refugees with respect it creates a breeding ground for terrorists

At the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on "Neglected Responsibilities: The U.S. Response to the Iraqi Refugee Crisis," Congressman William Delahunt (D-MA) says that we cannot allow a breeding ground for terrorism to fester in the Middle East, and he says he suggests the vast numbers of refugees will produce terrorist of the future unless they are treated with respect and dignity. (:27)
Listen

Congressman Ackerman says we have not seized the moment to rehabilitate our image in the Middle East

At the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on "Neglected Responsibilities: The U.S. Response to the Iraqi Refugee Crisis," Chairman Gary L. Ackerman, (D-NY) says that at the hearing last year, a witness said that the U.S. response to the refugee crisis could be the first step to rehabilitating our image in the Middle East and globally, but a year later, we have yet to seize that moment. (:23)
Listen