Jim Lobe

Jim Lobe writes for Inter Press Service.

US Appeals for Calm in Honduras, Repeats Support for Zelaya

Confirming that that exiled Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has secretly returned to Tegucigalpa, the U.S. State Department Monday appealed for calm and reiterated its recognition that he is the legitimate president. "We have confirmed that he is in Honduras. Where exactly he is, I don’t know," the department’s spokesman, Ian Kelly, told reporters during his … Continue reading “US Appeals for Calm in Honduras, Repeats Support for Zelaya”

New Poll Finds Strong Domestic Support for Iran Regime

Despite persistent mass demonstrations protesting June’s disputed reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a new survey of Iranian public opinion released here Saturday suggests majority domestic support for both him and the country’s basic governing institutions. Four out of five of the 1,003 Iranian respondents interviewed in the survey released by WorldPublicOpinion.org (WPO), a project of … Continue reading “New Poll Finds Strong Domestic Support for Iran Regime”

Obama Confronts Democratic Skepticism About Afghanistan

Growing skepticism among key Democratic lawmakers about the U.S. commitment to the war in Afghanistan is certain to pose one of the most difficult political challenges faced by President Barack Obama in his first year in office. With the military apparently preparing to press for a significant increase in the number of U.S. troops deployed … Continue reading “Obama Confronts Democratic Skepticism About Afghanistan”

US Tightens Screws on Honduras

The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has revoked the visas of four senior officials of the de facto government in Honduras, the State Department announced Tuesday, in what was seen as the first of a series of new steps Washington is considering to force acceptance of a plan that would return President Manuel Zelaya … Continue reading “US Tightens Screws on Honduras”

Obama Wins Big Victory on Defense

In a signal victory for President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the U.S. Senate voted Tuesday evening to end production of an advanced fighter jet that many independent military analysts have long considered a wasteful boondoggle. The 58-40 vote to delete 1.75 billion dollars in funding to order seven more F-22 "Raptor" jet … Continue reading “Obama Wins Big Victory on Defense”

New, Old Weapons Systems Never Die

In what is shaping up as one of the most consequential battles of his six-month-old presidency, Barack Obama finds himself in the trenches alongside his former Republican rival, Sen. John McCain, fighting hard to end production of an advance fighter jet that much of the defense establishment considers a wasteful boondoggle. Not only do they … Continue reading “New, Old Weapons Systems Never Die”

Clinton Seeks ‘Multi-Partner World,’ Warns Iran on Time

In her first comprehensive policy address since becoming secretary of state nearly six months ago, Hillary Clinton Wednesday called for a "multi-partner” — as opposed to a "multi-polar" — world" and defended President Barack Obama’s policy of engagement with adversaries, including Iran. But she also warned Tehran that time is growing short for it to … Continue reading “Clinton Seeks ‘Multi-Partner World,’ Warns Iran on Time”

Clinton Orders Review to Enhance ‘Smart Power’

In a new initiative designed to reduce the imbalance between "hard" and "soft" power in U.S. policies abroad, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has launched a planning process designed to better coordinate U.S. foreign and development policies in pursuit of what Clinton has called "smart power." Speaking at "town-hall meetings" at the State Department and … Continue reading “Clinton Orders Review to Enhance ‘Smart Power’”

Obama Declares Honduras Coup ‘Not Legal’ Amid Uncertainty

Capping a day of mixed signals, U.S. President Barack Obama said late Monday that he considered Sunday’s ouster and exile of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya to be "not legal" and that Washington still considered him the legitimate president of the Central American country. Speaking at a very brief press appearance with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, … Continue reading “Obama Declares Honduras Coup ‘Not Legal’ Amid Uncertainty”

Neocons Paint Obama as Weak on ‘Rogues’

In what appears increasingly to be an orchestrated campaign, right-wing Republicans and Israel-centered neoconservatives are pulling out all the stops in depicting President Barack Obama as "weak" on national security and promoting democracy abroad. While they have been pressing that charge on Obama since even before he defeated Sen. John McCain in last November’s elections, … Continue reading “Neocons Paint Obama as Weak on ‘Rogues’”