Topic: Center for Strategic and International Studies
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North Korea abandons armistice: 4 key questions answered
Tensions on the Korean peninsula are ratcheting up. The US has started its annual war games with South Korean forces, and North Korea has used that fact to declare that it is invalidating the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War in 1953. What really has North Korea upset, though, is the tough, new sanctions passed by the United Nations in response to the North's nuclear test last month.Here are the top four questions analysts are wrestling with on the heels of these developments.
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Afghanistan: 5 areas of concern after the US leaves
The withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan will have profound, direct effects on the country's security, economy, and society. Here are five areas that are likely to see an impact.
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What's Ahmadinejad getting out of his Latin America tour?
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Latin America trip, a whirlwind four-nation tour that began in Venezuela on Jan. 8, is now taking him to the inauguration of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. The trip is his fifth visit to the region since 2007 and has prompted alarm in some corners of the United States that Iran is using the region as a staging ground to attack US interests.However, many who study Iran’s relationship with Latin America, in particular Venezuela, say fear of an Iranian threat in the Americas is overblown, at least at this point. Here are four reasons why:
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Palestinian statehood: why Arabs have turned on Obama
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Five ways 9/11 has transformed the US military
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Terrorism & Security Seoul pulls workers out of North Korea factory complex, ending cooperative experiment
The last tangible thread of cooperation between Pyongyang and Seoul was cut today, with South Korea announcing it would pull the remaining workers from a sprawling factory complex in the North.
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Global News Blog China sends largest fleet yet to disputed islands
China sent a fleet of patrol ships today to the sea area it disputes with Japan, following a controversial visit by Japanese officials to a war shrine. The latest moves are seen as a setback for a diplomatic resolution.
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No consulates yet, but China and Taiwan opt for the next best thing
China and Taiwan are set to mark five years of improving ties with de facto consulates. If they are approved, they will represent the highest-level presence by either country.
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Boston Marathon bombings: What could the motives have been?
The investigation into the Boston Marathon bombings is just beginning and motives are not known. But the date and location of the attack suggest some possibilities.
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Friend or frenemy? For China, key issue is how US really views it
Both the US and China want to tamp down the North Korea crisis. But as Secretary of State John Kerry visits Beijing this weekend, an underlying issue is mutual suspicion over strategic aims in the Pacific.
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Kim Jong-un: Can US trust North Korean leader to act rationally?
Kim Jong-un isn't the first North Korean leader to use threats for political gain. But the West doesn't really know what to make of him because of his youth and the uncertainty that shrouds the country.
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Decoder Wire US jets to Korea: Why send stealth fighters to the region? (+video)
US jets, Korea bound, constitute Washington's latest move in the face of heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula. The presence of the stealth fighters could figure into several American aims.
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North Korea: What happens if Kim Jong-un acts on his threats?
In the event that the 'bellicose rhetoric' of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un turns into something more serious, the opening hours of conflict could be 'pretty ugly,' defense analysts warn.
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Iran nuclear program: Obama makes case for diplomacy ahead of trip to Israel
But on Israeli TV, President Obama also pledged that the US will take no options off the table for stopping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Israel has argued the threat is more urgent.
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Terrorism & Security Armistice dead? US and South Korea dismiss North Korea's edict (+video)
Skepticism about the effect of the North's dismissal of a cease-fire is grounded in past experience.
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US tells China to halt cyberattacks, and in a first, lays out demands
Obama's national security adviser, Thomas Donilon, spelled out a more aggressive US stance on the cyberattacks, saying China must recognize the problem, investigate it, and join in a dialogue.
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North Korea abandons armistice: 4 key questions answered
Tensions on the Korean peninsula are ratcheting up. The US has started its annual war games with South Korean forces, and North Korea has used that fact to declare that it is invalidating the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War in 1953. What really has North Korea upset, though, is the tough, new sanctions passed by the United Nations in response to the North's nuclear test last month.Here are the top four questions analysts are wrestling with on the heels of these developments.
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Global News Blog China voted for new North Korea sanctions. Will it enforce them? (+video)
The real test will be in China's follow-through on 'little brother' North Korea.
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Focus
Will China, Japan, and South Korea hit the 'reset' button for Asia?In a historic moment of coincidence, new leaders are taking the helm in China, Japan, and South Korea, providing an unprecedented moment for the region to refresh relations.
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Backchannels Taliban attacks in Afghanistan not down after all
The NATO-led coalition said a data entry error led to a claim last week that Taliban attacks had fallen 7 percent last year. In fact, there's little change. So what did we get for the surge?
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Focus
US 'pivot to Asia': Is John Kerry retooling it?A focus of American resources on Asia was a major priority when Hillary Rodham Clinton was secretary of State. But it is unclear if John Kerry will follow her approach exactly, many regional analysts say.
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Focus
How US military plans to carry out Obama's 'pivot to Asia'A US policy shift toward Asia means a greater role for the Navy. Even pre-'pivot to Asia,' it already stationed half its ships in the region, and it is developing a new 'afloat forward staging base' in the Pacific.
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N. Korea nuclear test: UN issues quick condemnation, but how far will it go? (+video)
US Ambassador Susan Rice says the Security Council's quick and unanimous condemnation of North Korea's nuclear test is a sign the UN response will be 'credible.' But all eyes are still on China.
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Cybersecurity: how preemptive cyberwar is entering the nation's arsenal
In addition to authorizing the use of cyberweapons, the White House is preparing an executive order to beef up cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, such as the electric grid, refineries, and telecommunications.
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Hillary Clinton departs State: What's her legacy as top US diplomat? (+video)
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton steps down Friday. Her supporters say she has reenergized America’s working relationships with allies and partners, while some critics ask what her defining accomplishments are.
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Tale of 'Bob': Does outsourcing new software pose cyber security risk? (+video)
Many US companies hire foreigners to build new software for their computer networks – a practice that may raise their risk of cyberattack, some experts warn. Even firms that do not outsource software development may find an occasional employee doing it on the sly, as in the case of 'Bob.'
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What does the world expect from newly confirmed Secretary of State John Kerry?
From France to Pakistan to China, many have voiced expectations that John Kerry's vast experience and diplomatic skill will be a boon to dealing with international crises and issues.
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As Obama meets Karzai, future troop level in Afghanistan isn't only big issue
The meeting Friday at the White House between Obama and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai may lay a foundation for the coming year's negotiations over US role in the country after 2014.
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US 'fully committed' in Afghanistan, Panetta says. But no troops after 2014?
Afghan President Hamid Karzai meets with President Obama Friday in the wake of a 'zero option' being floated for US troops. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Mr. Karzai met at the Pentagon Thursday.
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Focus
Cyber security in 2013: How vulnerable to attack is US now? (+video)Businesses, government, and individuals seek better cyber security measures, as cyberattacks mount in the US. One key focus is how to protect 'critical' systems such as power, water, and transportation.
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