Search Results

open access

Global Climate Change: Status of Negotiations

Description: In December 2007, the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held their 13th annual meeting in Bali, Indonesia, and began the process of working toward an agreement/treaty that would succeed the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC when it expires in 2012. The Protocol includes a mandate for a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30 developed/industrialized nations to an average of some 5% below their 1990 levels over the commitment period 2008-2012. Theā€¦ more
Date: June 17, 2008
Creator: Fletcher, Susan R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

Description: This report discusses the reasons that Iran is considered a threat to U.S. security, including Iran's nuclear program, involvement with terrorist organizations, and involvement with neighboring countries' local governments. The report also discusses ways which the U.S. hopes to modify Iran's behavior with sanctions, and the effectiveness of these sanctions.
Date: June 16, 2008
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iran's Activities and Influence in Iraq

Description: Iran is materially assisting and attempting to influence, in most cases against the United States, major Shiite Muslim factions in Iraq, most of which have ideological, political, and religious ties to Tehran. The Administration asserts that Tehran is actively directing, training, and arming Shiite militiamen linked, to varying degrees, to hardline anti-U.S. cleric Moqtada Al Sadr. Some analysts see a virtual "proxy war" between the United States and Iran inside Iraq.
Date: June 16, 2008
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Fact Sheet on Three International Agreements

Description: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemicals that do not break down easily in the environment, tend to accumulate as they move up the food chain, and may be harmful to people and wildlife. Between 1998 and 2001, the United States signed tow international treaties and one executive agreement to reduce the production and use of POPs and to regulate the trade and disposal of them. This report discusses these treaties in detail, as well as their ratification process and U.S. statutes that areā€¦ more
Date: June 12, 2008
Creator: Schierow, Linda-Jo
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Burma: Economic Sanctions

Description: On October 19, 2007, President George W. Bush issued Executive Order 13449. This followed a September 25, 2007 statement by President Bush that sanctions against Burma, which have been in place since 1997, would be tightened to specifically target leading Burmese officials and impose additional financial and travel sanctions. This report provides background information on existing economic sanctions against Burma and possible options to expand sanctions.
Date: June 10, 2008
Creator: Niksch, Larry A. & Weiss, Martin A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Latin America: Terrorism Issues

Description: In the aftermath of the September 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., U.S. attention to terrorism in Latin America intensified, with an increase in bilateral and regional cooperation. Latin American nations strongly condemned the attacks. This report outlines the U.S.-Latin American relationship in regards to terrorism, including several pieces of international counterterrorism legislation, including the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism and the Organization of Amā€¦ more
Date: June 10, 2008
Creator: Sullivan, Mark P.
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

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: June 6, 2008
Creator: Migdalovitz, Carol
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security

Description: This report analyzes U.S. and international sanctions against Iran and provides examples of companies and countries that conduct business with Iran, based on a wide range of open-source reporting.
Date: June 4, 2008
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

United Nations System Efforts to Address Violence Against Women

Description: This report provides an overview of recent U.N. efforts to address VAW and highlights key U.N. interagency efforts. It also discusses selected U.N. funds, programs, and agencies that address international violence against women. It does not assess the extent to which VAW is directly addressed or is part of a larger initiative or program.
Date: June 3, 2008
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Navy Role in Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) -- Background and Issues for Congress

Description: The Navy for several years has carried out a variety of activities related to what the Administration refers to as the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). The Navy states that as of February 2008, more than 11,300 Navy sailors (including Individual Augmentees) were ashore supporting ground forces in the U.S. Central Command region (including Iraq and Afghanistan). The Navy's role in the GWOT raises several potential oversight issues for Congress.
Date: May 29, 2008
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

Description: This report discusses the reasons that Iran is considered a threat to U.S. security, including Iran's nuclear program, involvement with terrorist organizations, and involvement with neighboring countries' local governments. The report also discusses ways which the U.S. hopes to modify Iran's behavior with sanctions, and the effectiveness of these sanctions.
Date: May 28, 2008
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

United Nations Reform: U.S. Policy and International Perspectives

Description: This report focuses on current U.N. reform efforts and priorities from the perspective of several key actors, including the U.S. government, the U.N. Secretary-General, selected groups of member states, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and a cross-section of groups tasked with addressing U.N. reform. It also examines congressional actions related to U.N. reform, as well as future policy considerations.
Date: May 28, 2008
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

United States-Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Free Trade Agreement Negotiations: Background and Potential Issues

Description: Negotiations to launch a free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and the five members of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland) began on June 3, 2003. A potential FTA would eliminate tariffs over time, reduce or eliminate non-tariff barriers, liberalize service trade, protect intellectual property rights, and provide technical assistance to help SACU nations achieve the goals of the agreement. This potential agreement wouā€¦ more
Date: May 27, 2008
Creator: Langton, Danielle
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation: Background and Legislative Issues

Description: This report outlines challenges faced by Tajikistan since its five-year civil war ended in 1997. It discusses U.S. policy and assistance. Basic facts and biographical information are provided. This report may be updated. Related products include CRS Report RL33458, Central Asia: Regional Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests, updated regularly.
Date: May 22, 2008
Creator: Langton, Danielle
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

China's Space Program: Options for U.S.-China Cooperation

Description: China has a determined, yet still modest, program of civilian space activities planned for the next decade. The potential for U.S.-China cooperation in space -- an issue of interest to Congress -- has become more controversial since the January 2007 Chinese anti-satellite test. Some argue that Chinese capabilities now threaten U.S. space assets in low earth orbit. Others stress the need to expand dialogue with China. This report outlines recent activities and future plans in China's civilian spā€¦ more
Date: May 21, 2008
Creator: Logan, Jeffrey
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iran's Activities and Influence in Iraq

Description: Iran is materially assisting all major Shiite Muslim political factions in Iraq, most of which have longstanding ideological, political, and religious ties to Tehran, and their armed militias. The Administration notes growing involvement by Tehran in actively directing training, and arming Shiite militiamen linked, to varying degrees, to hardline cleric Moqtada Al Sadr. Some analysis goes so far as to see a virtual "proxy war" between the United States and Iran inside Iraq.
Date: May 14, 2008
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Serbia: Current Issues and U.S. Policy

Description: Serbia faces an important crossroads in its development. It is seeking to integrate into the European Union (EU), but its progress has been hindered by a failure to arrest four remaining indicted war criminals and by tensions with the United States and the EU over the independence of Serbia's Kosovo province. The United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and most other EU countries have recognized Kosovo's independence. Serbian leaders condemned said recognition and have withdrawn Serbia'ā€¦ more
Date: May 14, 2008
Creator: Woehrel, Steven
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Kurds in Post-Saddam Iraq

Description: The Kurdish-inhabited region of northern Iraq is relatively peaceful and prospering economically, but the Iraqi Kurds' political autonomy and political strength in post-Saddam Iraq is causing backlash in Arab Iraq, Turkey, and Iran. The Iraqi Kurds' ties to the United States and the U.S. drive to stabilize Iraq are increasingly less likely to help the Kurds to parry these challenges.
Date: May 7, 2008
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The NATO Summit at Bucharest, 2008

Description: NATO held a summit in Bucharest, Romania, April 2-4, 2008. The summit did not become the occasion to adopt major new ideas or initiatives. A "Strategic Vision" paper on Afghanistan clarified several issues but did not lead to a greater sharing of the combat burden among NATO governments. Croatia and Albania, but not Macedonia, were invited to begin accession negotiations for membership. In a contentious debate, neither Georgia nor Ukraine were admitted to the MAP process. The debate over missilā€¦ more
Date: May 5, 2008
Creator: Gallis, Paul
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Suits Against Terrorist States by Victims of Terrorism

Description: This report provides background on the doctrine of State immunity and the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA); details the evolution of the terrorist State exception and some of the resulting judicial decisions; describes legislative efforts to help claimants satisfy their judgments; summarizes the decision in the hostages' suit against Iran and Congress's efforts to intervene; summarizes what has happened with Iraq's assets, and provides an overview of proposed legislation
Date: May 1, 2008
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Back to Top of Screen