American Security Council Foundation (ASCF)

FEATURED NEWS POST

Obama Highlights Foreign Policy Achievements in State of Union Address

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF January 26, 2012 @ 7:17am

President Barack Obama devoted a relatively small portion of his State of the Union Address on Tuesday to U.S. foreign policy issues. Mr. Obama emphasized progress against al-Qaida and support for the Arab Spring democracy movement, and responded to criticism from Republican presidential hopefuls that America's global influence has declined under his leadership.

Foreign policy did not dominate the speech, but what Mr. Obama did say underscored what he sees as successes, including his approach to the Middle East's Arab Spring.

 

Somali Government Supports US Military Operation to Free Hostages

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF January 26, 2012 @ 7:14am

The Somali government says it supports the U.S. military operation that freed two Western aid workers who had been held hostage in the war-ravaged country.

In a statement released Thursday, Somalia's transitional government said the rescue of Jessica Buchanan, an American, and Poul Thisted, a Dane, was a “great joy” to “right thinking people everywhere.”

Japan Records First Trade Deficit in More Than 30 Years

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF January 25, 2012 @ 8:24am

Japan has posted its first annual trade deficit in more than 30 years, as the loss of nuclear power forced it to import more energy and the rising value of the yen slowed exports.

Japan's Finance Ministry said Wednesday the largely export-driven economy logged a $32 billion deficit for 2011.

India Explores Ways to Buy Iranian Oil

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF January 25, 2012 @ 8:23am

India is exploring ways to pay for Iranian oil imports in the face of tightening sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union. Asian countries have been under pressure to cut oil imports from Tehran, but India says it will only follow sanctions imposed by the United Nations and not those by individual countries or blocs.

Iranian oil now comprises about 12 percent of the India's supply.

 

Nigeria Struggles With Rise of Radical Islam

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF January 25, 2012 @ 8:17am

A series of bomb attacks by Nigeria's radical Islamist sect Boko Haram is challenging President Goodluck Jonathan's government.  The pace of the bombings has picked up in recent weeks, with attacks on police stations in the northern city of Kano and a Christmas Day suicide bombing at a Catholic church near the capital, Abuja. 

In the entry way of St. Theresa's church in Madalla, one can see worshippers coming in for Sunday mass just as they did on Christmas Day.  But outside in the churchyard a scene of destruction remains - twisted metal, chunks of concrete, burned out trees and a huge hole in the road where a vehicle was stopped and detonated by the suicide bomber who killed so many people.