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The Stuxnet Computer Worm: Harbinger of an Emerging Warfare Capability

Description: In September 2010, media reports emerged about a new form of cyber attack that appeared to target Iran, although the actual target, if any, is unknown. This report discusses this cyber attack, a malicious software program known as Stuxnet, which infected computer systems that were used to control the functioning of a nuclear power plant. Once inside the system, Stuxnet had the ability to degrade or destroy the software on which it operated. Although early reports focused on the impact on facili… more
Date: December 9, 2010
Creator: Kerr, Paul K.; Rollins, John & Theohary, Catherine A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response

Description: This report discusses the recent conflict in Syria including an overview of the situation, information about anti- and pro-Asad forces, background on chemical weapons and disarmament, plans for U.S. policy and assistance, and a general sense of the future outlook.
Date: April 9, 2014
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.; Humud, Carla E. & Nikitin, Mary Beth D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Islam: Sunnis and Shiites

Description: The majority of the world's Muslim population follows the Sunni branch of Islam, and approximately 10%-15% of all Muslims follow the Shiite (Shi'ite, Shi'a, Shia) branch. Shiite populations constitute a majority in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, and Azerbaijan. Sunnis and Shiites share most basic religious tenets. However, their differences sometimes have been the basis for religious intolerance, political infighting, and sectarian violence. This report includes a historical background of the Sunni-Shiit… more
Date: November 9, 2010
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
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: November 9, 2010
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
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: June 9, 2009
Creator: Migdalovitz, Carol
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations

Description: 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.
Date: July 9, 2009
Creator: Blanchard, Christopher M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Jordan: Background and U.S. Relations

Description: This report provides an overview of Jordanian politics and current issues in U.S.-Jordanian relations. It provides a brief discussion of Jordan's government and economy and of its cooperation in promoting Arab-Israeli peace and other U.S. policy objectives in the Middle East.
Date: June 9, 2009
Creator: Sharp, Jeremy M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran Sanctions

Description: Iran is subject to a wide range of U.S. sanctions, restricting trade with, investment, and U.S. foreign aid to Iran, and requiring the United States to vote against international lending to Iran. A formal U.S. effort to curb international energy investment in Iran began in 1996 with the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA). ISA was first passed at a time of tightening U.S. sanctions on Iran. Most notable was a 1995 ban on U.S. trade with and investment in Iran. That ban has since been modified slightly to … more
Date: July 9, 2009
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Decision to Cease Implementing the Iran Nuclear Agreement

Description: This report analyzes the Trump Administration's decision to pullout from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and its potential implications. The other powers that negotiated the accord with Iran--Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany--have consistently asserted that the JCPOA is succeeding in its core objectives and that its implementation should not be jeopardized.
Date: May 9, 2018
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth; Kerr, Paul K. & Heitshusen, Valerie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Unrest in Syria and U.S. Sanctions Against the Asad Regime

Description: This report analyzes the current unrest in Syria and the U.S. response to the Syrian government's crackdown against demonstrators. It also provides background information on U.S. sanctions against the Asad regime and its supporters.
Date: August 9, 2011
Creator: Sharp, Jeremy M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran's Foreign and Defense Policies

Description: This report discusses Iran's foreign and defense policy and the reasoning behind it, as well as U.S. concerns regarding their power and nuclear weapon capability.
Date: October 9, 2018
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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An Enhanced European Role in Iraq?

Description: No Description Available.
Date: October 9, 2003
Creator: Gallis, Paul
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iraq: U.S. Military Operations

Description: This report discusses US military operations in Iraq. Iraq's chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons programs, together with Iraqi long-range missile development and support for al-Queda terrorism, were the primary justifications put forward for military action.
Date: March 9, 2004
Creator: Bowman, Steve
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iraq: Politics and Governance

Description: This report provides background and analysis on the politics of Iraq, including its communities, its governing personalities and factions, security forces and militias, and the government's human rights record.
Date: March 9, 2016
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth & Humud, Carla E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Political Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests

Description: This report discusses the relationships between the United States and Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, as well as these three nations' political and economic conditions. It also discusses key related issues in the second session of the 111th Congress, including the question of the United States' role in the South Caucasus, the significance of regional energy resources to U.S. interests, and other pertinent issues.
Date: April 9, 2009
Creator: Nichol, Jim
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran: Interim Nuclear Agreement and Talks on a Comprehensive Accord

Description: This report discusses the nuclear agreement talks between Iran and the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany--collectively known as the P5+1, which finalized an interim agreement ("Joint Plan of Action," JPA) requiring Iran to freeze many aspects of its nuclear program in exchange for relief from some international sanctions.
Date: March 9, 2015
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth; Kerr, Paul K.; Nikitin, Mary Beth D. & Garcia, Michael J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran Sanctions

Description: This report analyzes U.S. and international sanctions against Iran. U.S. sanctions have been a major feature of U.S. Iran policy since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, but U.N. and worldwide bilateral sanctions on Iran are a relatively recent (post-2006) development.
Date: March 9, 2015
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran: Efforts to Achieve a Nuclear Accord

Description: This report discusses Iran's nuclear program and diplomatic efforts to forge a comprehensive agreement to keep that program peaceful.
Date: April 9, 2015
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth; Kerr, Paul K. & Garcia, Michael J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iran Sanctions

Description: This report focuses on the United States' relationship with Iran and how the Obama Administration is handling prior administrations' 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.
Date: April 9, 2010
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

U.S. Military Action Against the Islamic State: Answers to Frequently Asked Legal Questions

Description: This report addresses select legal questions raised by the use of military force against Islamic State (IS). Questions addressed in this report include potential sources (and limitations) of presidential authority to use military force against the Islamic State without congressional authorization; the potential relevance of the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq (2002 Iraq AUMF; P.L. 107-243) and the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (2001 AUMF; P.L. 107-40); t… more
Date: September 9, 2014
Creator: Garcia, Michael John & Elsea, Jennifer K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Turkey: Background and U.S. Relations In Brief

Description: This report discuses Turkey's relations with the U.S. and growing tensions between the U.S .and Turkey over President Erdogan's domestic power consolidations following a coup attempt in July 2016, regional partnerships with Russia, relations with the Kurds, and a series of diplomatic and human rights incidents.
Date: November 9, 2017
Creator: Zanotti, Jim & Thomas, Clayton
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Lebanon

Description: This report provides an overview of Lebanon's political and governmental structure, economy, security situation, refugee population, and other current issues of U.S. interest. It provides background information, analyzes recent developments and key policy debates, and tracks legislation, U.S. assistance, and recent congressional action.
Date: November 9, 2017
Creator: Humud, Carla E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iran's Nuclear Program: Status

Description: This report looks at the background of Iran's nuclear policy. It covers the current status of Iran's nuclear facilities, and current controversy surrounding them, as well as the effects of international sanctions on Iran, recent sabotages on the Iran Enrichment Program, an estimated timeline of Iran's nuclear weapon capabilities, and whether or not Iran even has a nuclear weapons program.
Date: August 9, 2018
Creator: Kerr, Paul K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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