Jim Lobe

Jim Lobe writes for Inter Press Service.

US Standing Plunges Across Arab World 

The United States’ popularity in the Arab world has plummeted to levels lower than the last year of the George W. Bush administration, according to a new survey of public opinion in six Arab countries released here Wednesday. The "Arab Attitudes" survey found that favorable ratings of the United States have fallen by nine percent or more … Continue reading “US Standing Plunges Across Arab World “

US Hardens Tone Against Assad

Escalating its rhetoric against Bashar al-Assad, the White House declared Tuesday that the Syrian president had “lost his legitimacy” but declined to call explicitly for his resignation or removal. The statement, which echoed similar remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Monday, followed what appeared to be orchestrated attacks by pro-Assad demonstrators on the U.S. … Continue reading “US Hardens Tone Against Assad”

Pakistan Military-Aid Hold Deals New Shocks

By suspending $800 million in U.S. military aid to Pakistan, the administration of President Barack Obama appears to be taking a calculated gamble that Islamabad — and especially its powerful army — has no interest in substantially escalating the growing crisis in bilateral relations. While it is still too early to say whether the gamble … Continue reading “Pakistan Military-Aid Hold Deals New Shocks”

South Sudan’s Independence Clouded by Unresolved Issues

Two days before celebrating the independence of South Sudan in Juba, senior U.S. officials warned Thursday that unresolved issues between the new country and Khartoum, as well as ongoing conflicts along or near their common border, threaten the stability of both states. In particular, the failure by Khartoum and Juba to resolve the status of … Continue reading “South Sudan’s Independence Clouded by Unresolved Issues”

Experts Skeptical About Bahrain Dialogue

As Bahrain’s government launches its much-touted “national dialogue” with members of civil society, experts are expressing skepticism that it will defuse growing tensions in the strategically located Gulf kingdom, let alone promote genuine reform. Strongly supported by the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, the dialogue, which formally got under way Saturday, is supposed to … Continue reading “Experts Skeptical About Bahrain Dialogue”

Obama’s Claim of Libya War Powers Widely Disputed

President Barack Obama’s claim that U.S. military operations against Libya should not be subject to the War Powers Act and do not require Congressional approval is drawing heavy fire from friends and foes alike. In a 38-page report submitted to Congress earlier this week, White House and State Department lawyers contended that the Act did … Continue reading “Obama’s Claim of Libya War Powers Widely Disputed”

Neocons Losing Hold Over Republican Foreign Policy 

Nearly ten years after seizing control of Republican foreign policy, neoconservatives and other hawks appear to be losing it. That is at least the tentative conclusion of a number of political analysts following Monday’s first nationally televised debate of the party’s declared Republican candidates — none of whom defended the current U.S. engagement in Libya, … Continue reading “Neocons Losing Hold Over Republican Foreign Policy “

US Escalates War Against al-Qaeda

Increasingly worried that al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is taking advantage of the growing political chaos in Yemen, the administration of President Barack Obama has tasked the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to use drone missiles to strike at suspected AQAP militants. The move, which was reported in Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, … Continue reading “US Escalates War Against al-Qaeda”

Debate Rages over US Withdrawal from Afghanistan

With only three weeks left before U.S. military forces are scheduled to begin withdrawing from Afghanistan, the debate over the size and pace of that withdrawal has become increasingly intense. On one hand, the Pentagon, backed by prominent neoconservatives and other hawks, insists that the 18-month-old "surge" of 30,000 U.S. troops has turned the strategic … Continue reading “Debate Rages over US Withdrawal from Afghanistan”

House Votes Suggest Growing War Weariness

In a sign of growing war weariness in Congress and among the general public, the Republican-led House of Representatives voted Thursday to bar the deployment of U.S. troops to Libya and narrowly defeated a provision requiring President Barack Obama to submit a plan for withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan. The latter measure, one of dozens … Continue reading “House Votes Suggest Growing War Weariness”