Congressional Research Service Reports - 69 Matching Results
Search Results
- Women in the Armed Forces
- Women have become an integral part of the armed forces, but they are excluded from most combat jobs. Several issues remain. One is whether to reduce, maintain, or expand the number of women in the services as the total forces are being reduced. A second question is to what extent women should continue to be excluded from some combat positions by policy. Would national security be jeopardized or enhanced by increasing reliance on women in the armed forces? Should women have equal opportunities and responsibilities in national defense? Or do role and physical differences between the sexes, the protection of future generations, and other social norms require limiting the assignments of women in the armed forces? Opinion in the United States is deeply divided on the fundamental issues involved.
- World Oil Production After Year 2000: Business As Usual or Crises?
- Deficient productive capacity has not yet caused an oil crisis, but that does not mean it never will. Significant increases in world oil demand will have to be met primarily from Persian Gulf supplies. This is a region with a history of wars, illegal occupations, soups, revolutions, sabotage, terrorism, and oil embargoes. To these possibilities may be added growing Islamist movements with various antipathies to the West. If oil production were constrained, oil prices could rise abruptly along with adverse world economic repercussions. If the IEA and EIA are correct on the demand side, deficient world oil productive capacity could cause an oil crisis within 15 years and political disruptions in Saudi Arabia could cause one sooner. However, if the increases in world oil demand were more moderate, and there is long-term relative peace in the Middle East, with increasing foreign participation in upstream oil activities, a business as usual world oil demand and supply situation would be a likely scenario for much of the next century.
- Women in the Armed Forces
- Women have become an integral part of the armed forces, but they are excluded from most combat jobs. Several issues remain. One is whether to reduce, maintain, or expand the number of women in the services as the total forces are being reduced. A second question is to what extent women should continue to be excluded from some combat positions by policy. Would national security be jeopardized or enhanced by increasing reliance on women in the armed forces? Should women have equal opportunities and responsibilities in national defense? Or do role and physical differences between the sexes, the protection of future generations, and other social norms require limiting the assignments of women in the armed forces? Opinion in the United States is deeply divided on the fundamental issues involved.
- Saudi Arabia: Post-War Issues and U.S. Relations
- Saudi Arabia, a monarchy ruled by the Saudi dynasty, enjoys special importance in the international community because of its unique association with the Islamic religion and its oil wealth. Since the establishment of the modern Saudi kingdom in 1932, it has benefitted from a stable political system based on a smooth process of succession to the throne and an increasingly prosperous economy dominated by the oil sector. Decrees by King Fahd in March 1992 establishing an appointive consultative council and provincial councils and promulgating a basic law providing for certain citizens' rights could signal a gradual trend toward a more open political system.
- Saudi Arabia: Post-War Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- The Middle East and North Africa: Political Succession and Regime Stability
- 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.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- World Oil Demand and the Effect on Oil Prices
- Demand patterns for world oil and oil products show significant diversity by country, region, and product groupings. As a result of this diversity it is not possible to attach blame for the current level of price to any one nation, region, or product segment. The view that the oil market is international in scope and tightly interrelated is enhanced by the demand data. As a result of the integrated nature of the world oil market it is unlikely that any one nation acting on its own can implement policies that isolate its market from broader price behavior. As new major oil importers, notably China, and potentially India, expand their demand, the oil market likely will have to expand production capacity. This promises to increase the world’s dependence on the Persian Gulf members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, especially Saudi Arabia, and maintain upward pressure on price.
- Saudi Arabia: Terrorist Financing Issues
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Reform and U.S. Policy
- This report provides an overview of the reform issue in Saudi Arabia, and issues surrounding U.S. policies to support liberalization in Saudi Arabia.
- Saudi Arabia: Terrorist Financing Issues
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Terrorist Financing Issues
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- World Oil Demand and its Effect on Oil Prices
- Demand patterns for world oil and oil products show significant diversity by country, region, and product groupings. As a result of this diversity it is not possible to attach blame for the current level of price to any one nation, region, or product segment. The view that the oil market is international in scope and tightly interrelated is enhanced by the demand data. As a result of the integrated nature of the world oil market it is unlikely that any one nation acting on its own can implement policies that isolate its market from broader price behavior. As new major oil importers, notably China, and potentially India, expand their demand, the oil market likely will have to expand production capacity. This promises to increase the world’s dependence on the Persian Gulf members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, especially Saudi Arabia, and maintain upward pressure on price.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- The Islamic Traditions of Wahhabism and Salafiyya
- This report provides a background on Wahhabi Islam and its association to militant fundamentalist groups; it also summarizes recent charges against Wahhabism and responses, including the findings of the final report of the 9/11 Commission and bills relevant to this issue in the second session of the 109th Congress.
- Saudi Arabia: Terrorist Financing Issues
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- This report is on Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- The United States and Saudi Arabia have long-standing economic and defense ties, and the U.S. has a strong security commitment to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia was a key member of the allied coalition that expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1991. Bombing attacks against several U.S. and foreign-operated installations in Saudi Arabia have raised some concerns about security of U.S. citizens and what appears to be growing anti-Americanism in some segments of the Saudi population. Other principal issues of bilateral interest include security in the post-war Gulf region, the Saudi position on the Arab-Israeli conflict, arms transfers to Saudi Arabia, Saudi external aid programs, bilateral trade relationships and oil production, and Saudi policies on human rights and democracy.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- The United States and Saudi Arabia have long-standing economic and defense ties, and the U.S. has a strong security commitment to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia was a key member of the allied coalition that expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1991. Bombing attacks against several U.S. and foreign-operated installations in Saudi Arabia have raised some concerns about security of U.S. citizens and what appears to be growing anti-Americanism in some segments of the Saudi population. Other principal issues of bilateral interest include security in the post-war Gulf region, the Saudi position on the Arab-Israeli conflict, arms transfers to Saudi Arabia, Saudi external aid programs, bilateral trade relationships and oil production, and Saudi policies on human rights and democracy.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- The Islamic Traditions of Wahhabism and Salafiyya
- This report provides a background on these traditions and their relationship to active terrorist groups; it also summarizes recent charges and responses, including the findings of the final report of the 9/11 Commission and relevant legislation in the 110th Congress.
- Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations
- This report discusses the current state of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its current relationship with the United States, and future initiatives to further develop U.S.-Saudi relations.
- Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations
- The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ruled by the Al Saud family since its founding in 1932, wields significant political and economic influence as the birthplace of the Islamic faith and by virtue of its large energy reserves. This report provides background information about Saudi Arabia and analyzes current issues in U.S.-Saudi relations.
- Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations
- The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ruled by the Al Saud family since its founding in 1932, wields significant political and economic influence as the birthplace of the Islamic faith and by virtue of its large energy reserves. This report provides background information about Saudi Arabia and analyzes current issues in U.S.-Saudi relations.
- Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations
- This report discusses the current state of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its current relationship with the United States, and future initiatives to further develop U.S.-Saudi relations.
- Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations
- The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ruled by the Al Saud family since its founding in 1932, wields significant political and economic influence as the birthplace of the Islamic faith and by virtue of its large energy reserves. This report provides background information about Saudi Arabia and analyzes current issues in U.S.-Saudi relations.
- Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations
- The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ruled by the Al Saud family since its founding in 1932, wields significant political and economic influence as the birthplace of the Islamic faith and by virtue of its large energy reserves. This report provides background information about Saudi Arabia and analyzes current issues in U.S.-Saudi relations.
- Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations
- This report provides background information about Saudi Arabia and analyzes current issues in U.S.-Saudi relations.