Tag Archives: Obama administration
13 September 2013
The Washington Post reported that in the last few weeks, the CIA has started delivering (light) weapons to rebels in Syria, mainly in order to support fighters that are under the command of General Idriss, the commander of the Supreme Military Council. Separate deliveries (e.g. vehicles) have been made by the State Department. Aid in the form of nonlethal gear (e.g. medical kits and communications equipment) has also been delivered to the Syrian rebels.
Source: The Washington Post | U.S. weapons reaching Syrian rebels
25 February 2013
The White House threatened China and other states with diplomatic and trade action over corporate espionage in a conference on Wednesday, after cataloging more than a dozen cases of commercial thefts and cyberattacks at some of the biggest companies in the United States (US). The strategy of the Obama administration was outlined in a report at the conference.
The strategy report said Washington would work with its allies to coordinate on ways to pressure states like China, which according to the US government are engaged in heavy theft of intellectual property.
Source: The Wall Street Journal | U.S. Ups Ante for Spying on Firms
Source: Administration Strategy on Mitigating the Theft of U.S. Trade Secrets | February 2013
11 February 2013
A New York Times report reveals that the United States (US) carries out strikes in Yemen from a drone base in Saudi Arabia since 2011. Military strikes are carried out with the consent of the government of Yemen, but the CIA can carry out a drone strike without the permission of the government of Yemen. The CIA has been given the mission of killing leaders of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, who the Obama administration have determined to pose a direct threat to the US.
The fact that the Joint Special Operations Command must get Yemen’s government’s approval before launching a drone strike is said to be in place, because the military’s drone campaign is closely tied to counterterrorism operations that are conducted by Yemeni special operations troops.
Source: The New York Times | Drone Strikes’ Risks to Get Rare Moment in the Public Eye
12 January 2013
The Washington Post reports that renditions — the practice of holding and interrogating terrorism suspects in other countries without due process — continue under the Obama administration, despite due-process concerns. Renditions are taking on renewed significance because the administration and Congress have not reached agreement on a consistent legal pathway for apprehending terrorism suspects overseas and bringing them to justice.
Source: The Washington Post | Renditions continue under Obama, despite due-process concerns
Source: Lawfare Blog | Additional Thoughts on Washington Post “Renditions” Story
Source: Lawfare Blog | False Continuity Continued: Today’s WaPo on “Renditions” Under the Obama Administration