American Security Council Foundation (ASCF)

FEATURED NEWS POST

UN Nuclear Experts Plan Another Visit to Tehran

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF February 2, 2012 @ 9:18am

The United Nation's nuclear agency's chief inspector says he had a "good" visit to Iran and plans to make another trip in the "very near future" to discuss Iran's controversial nuclear program.

Speaking Wednesday in Vienna after returning from Tehran, Herman Nackaerts said his team of International Atomic Energy Agency experts had three days of "intensive discussions" with Iran about all of its nuclear aims.

North Korea Issues Demands for Talks with South Korea

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF February 2, 2012 @ 9:06am

North Korea says South Korea must honor a set of preconditions before it resumes dialogue with its decades-long democratic rival.

The North's powerful National Defense Commission released the demands in the form of a questionnaire Thursday through the official Korean Central News Agency. One of the items on the list calls for Seoul to apologize for failing to show respect to longtime leader Kim Jong Il after his death on December 17.

UN Security Council Still Discussing Syrian Resolution

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF February 2, 2012 @ 8:44am

U.N. Security Council diplomats continue talks Thursday aimed at convincing Russia to support a resolution that endorses an Arab League plan to end months of deadly violence in Syria.

Western diplomats said that some progress was made Wednesday during three hours of closed-door negotiations in New York.

 

Germany Seeks China's Help on Iran

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF February 2, 2012 @ 8:36am

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is urging China to help the international community persuade Iran to abandon any ambitions it may have for nuclear weapons. Her comments came Thursday, at the start of an official trip to China.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao welcomed Chancellor Merkel to Beijing's Great Hall of the People Thursday. Some of the issues expected to top the agenda include Iran and the Eurozone debt crisis.

Panetta: US, NATO Seek to End Afghan Combat Mission in 2013

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF February 2, 2012 @ 8:29am

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the United States and NATO will seek to end combat operations in Afghanistan in the second half of next year and switch to training and advising Afghan troops through 2014.

Panetta made the comment Wednesday aboard his plane enroute to a NATO meeting in Brussels.  He told reporters traveling with him that "hopefully by the mid- to latter part of 2013 we will be able to make a transition from a combat role to a training, advise and assist role."