Jim Lobe

Jim Lobe writes for Inter Press Service.

Obama Affirms Alliance With S. Korea Amid Rising Tensions

Amid rising tensions with North Korea, U.S. President Barack Obama Tuesday assured visiting South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak that Washington was firmly committed to their nearly 60-year alliance and their mutual determination not to yield to Pyongyang’s demands that it be recognized as a nuclear power. "We have not come to a conclusion that North … Continue reading “Obama Affirms Alliance With S. Korea Amid Rising Tensions”

Washington Maintains Cautious Response to Election Crisis

As protests over Friday’s disputed election continue to rage in Iran, the U.S. has thus far reacted cautiously, reflecting the high degree of uncertainty in Washington both about how much support to give the demonstrators and about the implications of the escalating crisis for President Barack Obama’s hopes of engaging Tehran in serious negotiations. Although … Continue reading “Washington Maintains Cautious Response to Election Crisis”

Iranians Keen on Improved Ties With US

More than three out of every four Iranian citizens favor improved relations with the United States, according to a major survey [.pdf] conducted less than one month before this Friday’s presidential elections in Iran by a U.S. non-governmental organization, Terror Free Tomorrow (TFT). Just over half (52 percent) of the pool of 1,001 respondents also … Continue reading “Iranians Keen on Improved Ties With US”

Obama Moving Cautiously Toward Normalization With Cuba

Sunday’s announcement by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Washington will begin talks with Cuba on bilateral migration issues and resume direct postal service between the two countries suggests the new administration of President Barack Obama intends to proceed cautiously toward normalizing ties with the Caribbean nation, according to veteran experts . The announcement, which … Continue reading “Obama Moving Cautiously Toward Normalization With Cuba”

Drive for Sanctions Likely in Wake of North Korean Test

Sunday’s underground nuclear test by North Korea drew strong condemnation Monday from U.S. President Barack Obama, who suggested that Washington will seek strong international sanctions by the UN Security Council and possibly impose tough unilateral measures of its own. According to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in Vienna, the blast slightly exceeded … Continue reading “Drive for Sanctions Likely in Wake of North Korean Test”

Survey: Obama Has Real Chance to Change Arab Opinion

President Barack Obama has a major opportunity to improve the mostly negative views about the United States in the Arab world but is likely to have only a short period of time to do so, according to a major new survey of public opinion [.pdf] in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the United … Continue reading “Survey: Obama Has Real Chance to Change Arab Opinion”

Despite Smiles, Obama, Netanyahu Seem Far Apart

While reaffirming the "special relationship" between their two countries, U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared unable to bridge major differences in their approaches to Iran and Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts following their White House meeting Monday. While Obama said he may be prepared to impose additional sanctions against Iran early next … Continue reading “Despite Smiles, Obama, Netanyahu Seem Far Apart”

Hawks Divided: AfPak or Iran?

A potentially major clash appears to be developing between powerful factions inside and outside the U.S. government, pitting those who see the Afghanistan/Pakistan ("AfPak") theater as the greatest potential threat to U.S. national security against those who believe that the danger posed by a nuclear Iran must be given priority. The Iran hawks, concentrated within … Continue reading “Hawks Divided: AfPak or Iran?”

Major Foreign Tests Likely Over Obama’s Next 100 Days

While Barack Obama has clearly improved Washington’s image abroad during his first 100 days in office, the next 100 will almost certainly prove much more challenging for the new president’s foreign policy. Putting aside the possibility that the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression could become much more severe than the White House currently … Continue reading “Major Foreign Tests Likely Over Obama’s Next 100 Days”

Despite Americas Summit, US-Cuba Ties Still in Limbo?

Despite a growing sense of anticipation coming out of the Trinidad Summit of the Americas last weekend regarding the possibility of a historic breakthrough in U.S.-Cuban relations, specialists here remain uncertain about how and even if that breakthrough will be achieved. The uncertainty revolves around the question of whether the administration of U.S. President Barack … Continue reading “Despite Americas Summit, US-Cuba Ties Still in Limbo?”