Topic: John Kerry

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Opinion 4 ways Chuck Hagel can improve cyber security

Newly sworn-in Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel must guide the Department of Defense through a few key challenges to better secure the nation’s cyber networks. His focus at the Pentagon should be on these four key areas.

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As Kerry coaxes Israel toward peace, EU gives hard shove

As Secretary of State Kerry shuttled between the Israelis and Palestinians this week, the EU issued sanctions on Israeli activity in the Palestinian territories.
Opinion Finding peace for Israelis and Palestinians among people – not policies

John Kerry or the Arab League may prod a peace deal into place, but nothing can last unless ordinary people living under the policy see that every Israeli is not a settler and every Palestinian does not begrudge Israel a right to exist. I've seen the groundwork of that dialogue at work.
Palestinians: Israel must agree on borders

Kerry has been shuttling for months in search of a formula to allow resumption of talks for the first time since 2008. Israeli settlements remain at the heart of the deadlock.
John Kerry nudges Middle East peace process: Could he be getting somewhere?

Secretary of State John Kerry, in his sixth trip to the Middle East this year, is meeting with Arab League leaders who are behind a renewed version of a 2002 Arab peace initiative with Israel.
China, neighbors set up hotlines over island disputes

However, Beijing has rejected US advice to sign a code of conduct for the South China Sea.
Israel greets Kerry with settlement declaration. Could that signal progress?

Israel's settlement announcement would seem to be a slap at Kerry's efforts to reopen peace talks. But as one Mideast veteran puts it, Netanyahu 'takes a step backward before he takes a step forward.'
Opinion The two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians needs a big boost

Those on the extremes of the Palestinian and Israeli conflict don’t see a two-state solution as viable – or preferable. Secretary of State John Kerry and those in the center with practical ideas about how to achieve two peaceful states must strengthen their voices.
With more at stake, US and Russia cool war of words over l'Affaire Snowden (+video)

The Edward Snowden affair elicited a round of threats and needling from US and Russian officials, but the two powers have appeared to pull back, mindful they have more consequential mutual interests.
Markey wins a low-turnout, big-spending Mass. Senate race

Republican Gabriel Gomez was outspent and out-organized in a Massachusetts Senate race that netted a record low turnout. But Democrats working for Edward Markey were determined not to repeat Scott Brown's stunning 2010 upset.
Massachusetts Senate race: Politician defeats ex-SEAL

Longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Edward Markey has won the U.S. Senate seat long held by John Kerry, now US Secretary of State. Markey defeated Republican political newcomer and former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez.
Kerry pledges US help for India's massive higher ed needs

US Secretary of State John Kerry signed eight memoranda of understanding on education with his Indian counterparts.
Decoder Wire Hillary Clinton weighs in on Edward Snowden: Is that appropriate?

Generally, former secretaries of State stay quiet on matters that affect their successors – such as the Edward Snowden leaks. But Hillary Clinton, eyeing a presidential run, has different rules.
Edward Snowden gives countries a chance to thumb nose at US

The US has long emphasized the importance it gives to the human rights of the citizens of the nations it is dealing with. Now, countries aiding Edward Snowden as he tries to evade US justice can turn the tables on the US.
‘Friends of Syria’ meeting adds pressure: What is US ready to do?

Other countries and the Syrian rebels are awaiting specifics about new US aid, but President Obama is still weighing what steps to take and how far to go, reflecting continuing deep divisions across the administration.
Kerry and 'Friends of Syria' to meet in Doha

The meeting will address arming Syrian rebels and a stalled peace effort. Lots of supporters of rebels will be there, but key backers of Syria's government, like Russia, won't.
Latin America Monitor Small but significant step: Cuba and US say ready to resume talks on migration

The cold war enemies recently completed negotiations on resuming direct mail service, which has been suspended since 1963.
World Refugee Day: UN calls Syria 'worst humanitarian disaster' since cold war

Angelina Jolie, in Jordan on World Refugee Day, decries the plight of millions of displaced in Syria. Worldwide, the number of refugees is the highest since the Balkan and Rwanda wars.
Backchannels What's Obama's strategy for Syria?

Go figure.
Syria war death toll hits 93,000, UN says. A spur to US to aid rebels?

The new UN figure for lives lost in the Syria war is 30,000 higher than in November's report. A possible battle for the city of Aleppo could drive it higher still. Obama's security team met Wednesday about how to help Syrian rebels, but no decision was apparent.
Obama in Boston as Markey calls on party's big guns to fend off Gomez (+video)

With memories of Republican Scott Brown's upset win in the last special Senate election in the deep blue state still fresh, Markey needs Obama et al to remind voters an election is taking place.
Could State Department woes tarnish Hillary Clinton’s image?

A brewing scandal that potentially suggests some degree of State Department mismanagement during Hillary Clinton’s tenure could hurt not only her legacy, but also prospects for a 2016 presidential bid, some say.
Is West now looking past Darfur genocide to engage Sudan?

President Omar al-Bashir is charged with mass deaths, but he may not last forever. Are Barack Obama and John Kerry starting to count on that?
Will Obama reconsider arming Syrian rebels? This week could be key.

President Obama has long been loath to arm Syrian rebels, worried that the weapons could fall into extremists' hands. But with the rebels faltering, he could reconsider.
Opinion Best way for Obama to help Syria is with aid and diplomacy – not weapons

Giving military aid to Syria's rebels – however just their cause – will only prolong the civil war and increase the risk of sectarian conflagration in the region. A better way to help the Syrian people is to pursue diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and provide more humanitarian aid.
The Monitor's View Obama helps nip pot legalization in Latin America. How about in US?

President Obama helped prevent a move toward pot legalization by some Latin American leaders. But will he be as bold against Colorado, Washington state?