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Private Security Contractors in Iraq: Background, Legal Status, and Other Issues

Description: This report summarizes what is currently known publicly about companies that provide personnel for security missions in Iraq and some sources of controversy surrounding them. The report also summarizes pertinent legislative proposals.
Date: May 28, 2004
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K. & Serafino, Nina M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The United States and Europe: Current Issues

Description: The United States and Europe share a long and intertwined history. Despite the end of the Cold War, both sides of the Atlantic continue to face a common set of international concerns, have few other comparable partners, and share a huge economic relationship. Nevertheless, numerous foreign policy and trade conflicts have seriously challenged U.S.-European relations in recent years. This report examines the current state of the transatlantic relationship and key issues in Europe and beyond that … more
Date: December 28, 2005
Creator: Archick, Kristin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Assistance to the Former Soviet Union

Description: This report describes the broad framework of U.S. assistance programs and policies in the former Soviet Union and then focuses on the foreign operations FREEDOM Support Act (FSA) account which, encompassing all U.S. objectives in the region, has often been the means by which Congress has expressed its views and sought to influence policy.
Date: March 1, 2007
Creator: Tarnoff, Curt
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Kosovo and U.S. Policy

Description: This report discusses the current political state of Kosovo, which, on February 7, 2008, declared its independence from Serbia. 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 Kosovo faces regarding international recognition and the status of its ethnic minorities. This report also discusses Kosovo's relationship with the United States, and U.S. foreign a… more
Date: January 30, 2004
Creator: Woehrel, Steven & Kim, Julie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Latin America and the Caribbean: Fact Sheet on Leaders and Elections

Description: This fact sheet tracks the current heads of government in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It provides the dates of the last and next elections for the head of government and the national independence date for each country.
Date: August 18, 2005
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P. & Torreon, Barbara Salazar
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Russian Political, Economic, and Security Issues and U.S. Interests

Description: This report discusses the current political and economic conditions in Russia, focusing on the impact of Vladimir Putin's leadership and the leadership of his successor/protégé, Dmitriy Medvedev. The report also discusses the state of the economy since the Soviet collapse in 1999, how the recent global economic downturn has affected Russia, the state of Russia's military, and the current relationship between Russia and the United States.
Date: March 4, 2008
Creator: Goldman, Stuart D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Africa Command: U.S. Strategic Interests and the Role of the U.S. Military in Africa

Description: This report provides information on Africa Command's (AFRICOM) mission, structure, interagency coordination, and its basing and manpower requirements. The report also gives a broad overview of U.S. strategic interests in Africa and the role of U.S. military efforts on the continent as they pertain to the creation of Africa Command.
Date: July 6, 2007
Creator: Ploch, Lauren
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Israeli-Arab Negotiations: Background, Conflicts, and U.S. Policy

Description: This report discusses issues related to peace in the Middle East, including post-Gulf War negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon; U.S. interest in these and continuing negotiations and peacetalks between Middle Eastern countries; and the role of the U.S., the U.N., the European Union, and Russia in Middle Eastern relations.
Date: October 30, 2008
Creator: Migdalovitz, Carol
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Middle East and North Africa: Political Succession and Regime Stability

Description: This report discusses the political future of various countries in the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region. A change in the leadership in these countries could significantly affect their policies toward the United States and their willingness to cooperate with the United States in achieving the stability needed to advance U.S. interests in this important region.
Date: August 29, 2003
Creator: Thayer, Amy E. & Prados, Alfred B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Pakistan-U.S. Relations

Description: This report discusses U.S.-Pakistan relationship marked by periods of both cooperation and discord, which was transformed by the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States into the enlistment of Pakistan as a key ally in U.S.-led counterterrorism efforts. This report outlines key aspects of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship, as well as of Pakistan's economic conditions, political environment, handling of ongoing separatist violence, and nuclear nonproliferation.
Date: June 21, 2006
Creator: Kronstadt, K. Alan
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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AIDS in Africa

Description: This report discusses the AIDS issue in Africa and the Bush administration's call to increase U.S. international funding for AIDS.
Date: April 26, 2007
Creator: Cook, Nicolas
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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India-U.S. Relations

Description: This report focuses on relations between the United States and India, a relationship deepened in the Clinton and G. W. Bush Administrations. The Obama Administrations seeks to continue developing this relationship. Continuing U.S. interest in South Asia focuses 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: October 2, 2007
Creator: Kronstadt, K. Alan
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security

Description: This report discusses the current political and social climate of Iraq, specifically in regards to the influence of the U.S. military presence over recent years. This report addresses planned and possible future efforts under the Obama Administration, including the scheduled gradual troops withdrawal. Some U.S. officials believe that a U.S. military presence is needed beyond the scheduled August 31, 2010 date, by which point all U.S. troops will have been withdrawn. This report also discusses t… more
Date: March 12, 2007
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990

Description: This report discusses U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, or Republic of China (ROC), including policy issues for Congress and legislation. The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), P.L. 96-8, has governed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan since 1979, when the United States recognized the People’s Republic of China (PRC) instead of the ROC. There are two other relevant elements of the “one China” policy: the August 17, 1982 U.S.-PRC Joint Communique and the “Six Assurances” made to Taiwan.
Date: April 18, 2003
Creator: Kan, Shirley A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

Description: This report discusses U.S. policy responses to the current political climate in Iran. Much of the debate over U.S. policy toward Iran has centered on the nature of the current regime; some believe that Iran, a country of almost 70 million people, is a threat to U.S. interests because hardliners in Iran’s regime dominate and set a policy direction intended to challenge U.S. influence and allies in the region.
Date: April 25, 2007
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S.-Funded Assistance Programs in China

Description: This report discusses United States foreign operations appropriations for the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which primarily support democracy-related programs, particularly rule of law training, and support Tibetan communities. The U.S. Congress has played a leading role in providing funding for such programs, which has grown from $10 million in FY2002 to $23 million in FY2006. Major funding areas include legal training, legal aid, criminal defense, labor rights, and non-governmental organi… more
Date: May 18, 2007
Creator: Lum, Thomas
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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South Korea-U.S. Economic Relations: Cooperation, Friction, and Prospects for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

Description: This report summarizes the main issues in U.S.-South Korean economic relations, including South Korea’s economic prospects and economic reforms, major bilateral economic disputes, and prospects for a U.S.-South Korean Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The report will be updated periodically.
Date: September 16, 2005
Creator: Manyin, Mark E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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North Korea: Economic Sanctions

Description: U.S. economic sanctions are imposed against North Korea for five primary reasons: (1) North Korea is seen as posing a threat to U.S. national security; (2) North Korea is designated by the Secretary of State as a state sponsor or supporter of international terrorism; (3) North Korea is a Marxist-Leninist state, with a Communist government; (4) North Korea has been found by the State Department to have engaged in proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and (5) North Korea has been found by… more
Date: January 12, 2007
Creator: Rennack, Dianne E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy

Description: This report discusses the political state of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which under new leadership upon the November 2, 2004 death of its president, Shaykh Zayid bin Sultan al-Nuhayyan, has undergone a smooth transition, but it remains weak militarily and surrounded by several powerful and ambitious neighbors. Political reform has been minimal, but its relatively open economy and borders, particularly in the emirate of Dubai, have caused problems in proliferation, terrorism, and human traf… more
Date: November 29, 2004
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy

Description: This report examines the political and economic landscape of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE’s open economy and society have won praise, but lax export controls, particularly in the emirate of Dubai, are causing U.S. concern over proliferation of advanced technology; terrorist transiting; and human trafficking. The UAE undertook its first major electoral process in December 2006, although with a small, hand-picked electorate and for a body with limited powers.
Date: December 8, 2008
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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