Search Results

open access

Kyrgyzstan's Closure of the Manas Airbase: Context and Implications

Description: This report discusses the implications for U.S. policy and counter-terrorism efforts due to Kyrgyzstan's announcement that it was terminating an agreement permitting U.S. forces to upgrade and use portions of the Manas international airport near the capital of Bishkek to support coalition military operations in Afghanistan. If Kyrgyzstan does not reconsider its decision, U.S. forces have until late August 2009 to leave the airbase. Major U.S. concerns include working out alternative logistics r… more
Date: May 4, 2009
Creator: Nichol, Jim
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Second FY2008 Supplemental Appropriations for Military Operations, International Affairs, and Other Purposes

Description: This report discusses supplemental appropriations for fiscal years 2008 and 2009. During its first session, the 110th Congress approved fiscal year 2008 emergency supplemental appropriations of $86.8 billion for the Department of Defense and $2.4 billion for international affairs.
Date: June 25, 2008
Creator: Daggett, Stephen; Epstein, Susan B.; Margesson, Rhoda & Loane, Shannon S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Arms Control Ratification: Opportunities for Modifying Agreements

Description: This report briefly examines arms control ratification and opportunities for modifying agreements. On July 14, 2015, Iran, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany (the P5+1) finalized a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)--an agreement that restricts Iran's nuclear program in an effort to ensure that it can only be used for peaceful purposes.
Date: September 2, 2015
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Dominican Republic: Tensions with Haiti over Citizenship and Migration Issues

Description: This report discusses the dispute between the Dominican Republic and Haiti regarding the citizenship status of some 200,000 Dominicans of Haitian descent, as well as undocumented migrants in the Dominican Republic, which threatens to exacerbate tensions between the two neighbors.
Date: July 15, 2015
Creator: Ribando Seelke, Clare; Margesson, Rhoda & Taft-Morales, Maureen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives After 15 Years: Issues for Congress

Description: This report discusses USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives' (OTI's) origin, its past and present activities, and issues about the program's impact, structure, and role within USAID that may be of interest to Congress. OTI's activities are overtly political, based on the idea that in the midst of political crisis and instability abroad there are local agents of change whose efforts, when supported by timely and creative U.S. assistance, can tip the balance toward peaceful and democratic outc… more
Date: May 27, 2009
Creator: Lawson, Marian L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

China's Foreign Aid Activities in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia

Description: This report examines China's economic impact in three regions -- Africa, Latin America (Western Hemisphere), and Southeast Asia -- with an emphasis on bilateral foreign assistance. In the past several years, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has bolstered its diplomatic presence and garnered international goodwill through its financing of infrastructure and natural resource development projects, assistance in the carrying out of such projects, and large economic investments in many develop… more
Date: February 25, 2009
Creator: Lum, Thomas; Fischer, Hannah; Gomez-Granger, Julissa & Leland, Anne
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Organization of American States: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report briefly looks at the history of the Organization of American States (OAS) and its principal institutional bodies, and examines the organization's funding and current priorities. It also discusses a number of policy issues that have drawn congressional interest in recent years, including the reintegration of Cuba into the inter-American system, the application of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, potential reforms of the inter- American human rights system, the management and bu… more
Date: June 30, 2015
Creator: Meyer, Peter J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Iran Hostages: Efforts to Obtain Compensation

Description: This report provides background information regarding the 1979-1981 Iran Hostage Crisis, and discusses the Hostage Relief Act.
Date: August 4, 2015
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

U.S. Accession to ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC)

Description: This report analyze the legal and diplomatic issues involved with the possible accession of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) by the United States. It is expected that this process could be concluded within the year.
Date: May 5, 2009
Creator: Manyin, Mark E.; Garcia, Michael J. & Morrison, Wayne M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iran: U.S. Economic Sanctions and the Authority to Lift Restrictions

Description: This report identifies the legislative bases for sanctions imposed on Iran, and the nature of the authority to waive or lift those restrictions. It comprises two tables that present legislation and executive orders that are specific to Iran and its objectionable activities in the areas of terrorism, human rights, and weapons proliferation.
Date: July 15, 2015
Creator: Rennack, Dianne E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

South Africa: Current Issues and U.S. Relations

Description: This report looks at the relationship between the United States and South Africa. Topics include: foreign policy issues; health (in particular HIV/AIDS) reform; economics and electricity shortages; and corruption in South African politics.
Date: June 9, 2008
Creator: Ploch, Lauren
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

International Drug Control Policy

Description: This report provides an overview of U.S. international drug control policy. It describes major international counternarcotics initiatives and evaluates the broad array of U.S. drug control policy tools currently in use. The report also considers alternative counterdrug policy approaches to current initiatives and raises several counterdrug policy issues and considerations for policy makers.
Date: February 9, 2009
Creator: Wyler, Liana Sun
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Trafficking in Persons in Latin America and the Caribbean

Description: This report describes the nature and scope of the problem of human trafficking in Latin America and the Caribbean, including U.S. efforts to deal with trafficking in persons in the region, as well as the successes and failures of some recent country and regional antitrafficking efforts. The report concludes by raising issues that may be helpful for the 113th Congress to consider as it continues to address human trafficking as part of its authorization, appropriations, and oversight activities.
Date: July 29, 2015
Creator: Ribando Seelke, Clare
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iran Nuclear Agreement

Description: This report provides background on the agreement negotiated by Iran and six other countries (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany--collectively known as the P5+1) regarding Iran's nuclear program. They have finalized a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, (JCPOA) that attempts to ensure that Iran's nuclear program can be used for purely peaceful purposes, in exchange for a broad suspension of U.S. sanctions and a lifting of those sanctions imposed by the Euro… more
Date: September 9, 2015
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth & Kerr, Paul K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Kosovo and U.S. Policy: Background to Independence

Description: This report discusses the current political state of Kosovo, which declared its independence from Serbia on February 7, 2008. Since then, Serbia has contested Kosovo's declaration of independence, leading to parallel governing institutions and ongoing talks between the two nations. This report discusses challenges that Kosovo faces regarding international recognition and the status of its ethnic minorities, Kosovo's relationship with the United States, and U.S. foreign aid efforts to Kosovo.
Date: June 20, 2008
Creator: Kim, Julie & Woehrel, Steven
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Presidential Permit Review for Cross-Border Pipelines and Electric Transmission

Description: This report focuses on the Presidential Permit review processes for cross-border energy infrastructure as implemented by the Department of State, The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and The Department of Energy (DOE). These permits have been required for the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of certain facilities that cross the United States borders with Canada and Mexico.
Date: August 6, 2015
Creator: Luther, Linda & Parfomak, Paul W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

China's Foreign Policy: What Does It Mean for U.S. Global Interests?

Description: This report provides analysis and discusses China's expanded international engagement. It also discusses implications for U.S. interests, policy options for the U.S. and the general challenges of China's political and economic clout in the international community.
Date: July 18, 2008
Creator: Dumbaugh, Kerry
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iran Nuclear Agreement

Description: This report discusses the recently finalized Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that attempts to ensure that Iran's nuclear program can be used for purely peaceful purposes, in exchange for a broad suspension of U.S., European Union (EU), and United Nations sanctions.
Date: July 30, 2015
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth & Kerr, Paul K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Reestablishment of Diplomatic Relations with Cuba

Description: This report discusses the decision to reestablish diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba and to reopen embassies in their respective capitals (announced July 1, 2015). It briefly describes the U.S.'s new policy approach towards Cuba and the congressional response to the changes.
Date: July 10, 2015
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P. & Tiersky, Alex
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response

Description: This report discusses the continuing conflict in Syria including recent regime losses in confrontations with forces of the Islamic State (IS, aka the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant or ISIL/ISIS) in northeastern Syria. The report also covers U.S. policy responses to the conflict.
Date: July 15, 2015
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.; Humud, Carla E. & Nikitin, Mary Beth D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Terrorist Capabilities for Cyberattack: Overview and Policy Issues

Description: This report examines possible terrorists' objectives and computer vulnerabilities that might lead to an attempted cyberattack against the critical infrastructure of the U.S. homeland, and also discusses the emerging computer and other technical skills of terrorists and extremists. Policy issues include exploring ways to improve technology for cybersecurity, or whether U.S. counterterrorism efforts should be linked more closely to international efforts to prevent cybercrime.
Date: January 22, 2007
Creator: Rollins, John & Wilson, Clay
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Nuclear Cooperation with Other Countries: A Primer

Description: This report discusses section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act (AEA), the specific requirements of which must be met in order for the United States to engage in civilian nuclear cooperation with other states. The AEA also provides for exemptions to these requirements, export control licensing procedures, and criteria for terminating cooperation.
Date: August 5, 2015
Creator: Kerr, Paul K. & Nikitin, Mary Beth D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

India-U.S. Relations

Description: This report discusses on relations between the United States and India, a relationship deepened in the Clinton and G. W. Bush Administrations. The report talks about the continuing U.S. interest in South Asia with a focus on ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, the proliferation of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, human rights issues, caste-based discrimination, and India's economic expansion.
Date: July 1, 2008
Creator: Kronstadt, K. Alan
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Libya: Transition and U.S. Policy

Description: This report provides a background on Libya's descent into conflict and discusses current policy issues for the U.S. Since Muammar al Qadhafi's fall in 2011, Libyan interest groups have pursued diverse objectives based on local and regional identities, tribal affiliations, political and religious ideologies, and shared personal backgrounds. Fighting and political maneuvering during 2014 and 2015 among rival factions and armed groups has reflected a number of unresolved debates.
Date: August 3, 2015
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Back to Top of Screen