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A Shift in the International Security Environment: Potential Implications for Defense--Issues for Congress

Description: This report focuses on defense-related issues and does not discuss potential implications of a shift in the international security environment for other policy areas, such as foreign policy and diplomacy, trade and finance, energy, and foreign assistance.
Date: August 3, 2018
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Assistance for Victims of Terrorism or Mass Violence: In Brief

Description: This report focuses solely on assistance available from Department of Justice's (DOJ's) Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)--the primary federal assistance available to victims of terrorism or mass violence. Jurisdictions and individuals may be eligible to receive various types of victim assistance both directly from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and indirectly from DOJ through their respective state victim assistance agencies or other programs following incidents of terrorism or mass violence… more
Date: August 3, 2016
Creator: Sacco, Lisa N.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Strategic Implications

Description: This report discusses selected strategic arguments related to the proposed 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. The potential impacts of the agreement may be an active area of debate during the second session of the 114th Congress.
Date: February 3, 2016
Creator: Williams, Brock R.; Dolven, Ben; Fergusson, Ian F.; Manyin, Mark E.; Martin, Michael F. & Morrison, Wayne M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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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
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Al Shabaab

Description: This report briefly examines Al Shabaab (aka Harakat Shabaab al Mujahidin, or Mujahidin Youth Movement) which is an insurgent and terrorist group that evolved out of a militant wing of Somalia’s Council of Islamic Courts in the mid-2000s.
Date: April 3, 2015
Creator: Ploch Blanchard, Lauren
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Mongolia: Issues for Congress

Description: This report examines current economic and political issues in Mongolia, including the country's democratic development, investment climate, military engagement and foreign relations.
Date: September 3, 2014
Creator: Lawrence, Susan V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress

Description: This report presents policy and oversight issues for Congress arising from maritime territorial disputes involving China in the South China Sea (SCS), East China Sea (ECS), and an additional dispute over whether China has a right under international law to regulate U.S. and other foreign military activities in its maritime Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Date: July 3, 2014
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians

Description: This report provides an overview of current issues in U.S.-Palestinian relations. It also contains an overview of Palestinian society and politics and descriptions of key Palestinian individuals and groups -- chiefly the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the Palestinian Authority (PA), Fatah, Hamas, and the Palestinian refugee population.
Date: July 3, 2014
Creator: Zanotti, Jim
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Peace Talks in Colombia

Description: This report provides background on Colombia's armed conflict and describes its key players. It briefly analyzes prior negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the lessons learned from those efforts that apply to the current talks. It examines what has transpired in the talks that have now lasted for more than a year and a half, considers some of the constraints that could limit the success of the peace talks, and looks at the prospects for the current negotiations. more
Date: April 3, 2014
Creator: Beittel, June S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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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 3, 2013
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Mexico's Free Trade Agreements

Description: In the 112th Congress, issues of concern related to the trade and economic relationship with Mexico have involved mostly economic conditions in Mexico, issues related to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the effect of NAFTA, and Mexican migration to the United States. This report provides an overview of Mexico's free trade agreements, its motivations for trade liberalization and entering into free trade agreements, and some of the issues Mexico faces in addressing its economic ch… more
Date: July 3, 2012
Creator: Villarreal, M. Angeles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Timor-Leste: Political Dynamics, Development, and International Involvement

Description: This report covers the recent background of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, since its independence from Portugal in May 2002. It discusses the many serious challenges the country faces as it seeks to establish and deepen a stable democracy and develop its economy.
Date: July 3, 2012
Creator: Dolven, Ben; Margesson, Rhoda & Vaughn, Bruce
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Proposed U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement: Background and Issues

Description: The United States is Colombia's leading trade partner. Colombia accounts for a very small percentage of U.S. trade (0.9% in 2010), ranking 20th among U.S. export markets and 25th as a source of U.S. imports. Economic studies on the impact of a U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement (FTA) have found that, upon full implementation of an agreement, the impact on the United States would be positive but very small due to the small size of the Colombian economy when compared to that of the United States … more
Date: May 3, 2011
Creator: Villarreal, M. Angeles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Proposed U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement

Description: This report discusses the free trade agreement (FTA) the United States and Panama signed on June 28, 2007. While Panama's government ratified the FTA in July 2007, the 110th, 111th, and 112th Congresses have not yet implement ratification legislation.
Date: May 3, 2011
Creator: Hornbeck, J. F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Europe's Preferential Trade Agreements: Status, Content, and Implications

Description: This report explores intersecting issues regarding Europe's preferential trade agreements (PTA) in three parts. The first section discusses the status and primary motivations of the EU's PTAs currently in place or under negotiation. The second compares the content and trade coverage of Europe's PTAs to U.S. PTAs. A third section assesses the implications of the EU's PTA program for the multilateral trading system and U.S. trade policy. A concluding section evaluates future directions for Europe… more
Date: March 3, 2011
Creator: Ahearn, Raymond J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Hezbollah: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: Report that discusses Lebanon's Hezbollah, a Shiite Islamist militia, political party, social welfare organization, and U. S. State Department-designated terrorist organization. The report also discusses recent Hezbollah-related conflicts, Hezbollah's relationship with other Lebanese political parties, and U. S. policy regarding Hezbollah.
Date: January 3, 2011
Creator: Addis, Casey L. & Blanchard, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Middle East: Selected Key Issues and Options for the 112th Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of key issues, relating to the Middle East including the war in Afghanistan, terrorism, foreign assistance, democracy promotion, a summary of past congressional action on these issues, and options for congressional consideration during the 112th Congress.
Date: January 3, 2011
Creator: Addis, Casey L.; Blanchard, Christopher M.; Katzman, Kenneth; Sharp, Jeremy M. & Zanotti, Jim
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran Sanctions

Description: This report focuses on the United States' relationship with Iran and how the Obama Administration is handling prior administration's economic sanctions against Iran. The Obama Administration's policy approach toward Iran has contrasted with the Bush Administration's by attempting to couple the imposition of sanctions to an active and direct U.S. effort to negotiate with Iran on the nuclear issue. That approach was not initially altered because of the Iranian dispute over its June 12, 2009, elec… more
Date: August 3, 2010
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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United Nations Reform: U.S. Policy and International Perspectives

Description: This report focuses on 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, 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: August 3, 2010
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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