American Security Council Foundation (ASCF)

FEATURED NEWS POST

Attacks on Nigerian Police Stations Leave 2 Dead

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF January 30, 2012 @ 8:33am

Police in northern Nigeria say gunmen have attacked two police stations in Kano, leaving two civilians dead.

Authorities say the civilians were killed late Sunday during a shootout between police and the gunmen. The attackers also threw bombs at the police station, damaging the building.

EU Leaders to Discuss Bailout Fund, Deficit Controls

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF January 30, 2012 @ 8:31am

European leaders are set to discuss new rules for controlling deficits and a proposed bailout fund, as they work to find a solution to the continent's sovereign debt crisis.

The European Union says it expects leaders at its summit Monday in Brussels to sign off on a new permanent rescue fund for countries that use the euro currency.

IAEA Team in Iran to Ask About Nuclear Weapon Allegations

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF January 30, 2012 @ 8:19am

U.N. nuclear inspectors have begun a mission to Iran to investigate allegations of secret military dimensions to the Iranian nuclear program.

The International Atomic Energy Agency team led by Herman Nackaerts arrived in Tehran on Sunday for a three-day visit. Before Nackaerts left the agency's headquarters in Vienna, he said he wants Iran to "engage" his team on the accusations that Iranian authorities are trying to develop nuclear weapons under cover of a peaceful energy program.

 

Taliban, US Negotiators Meet in Qatar

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF January 30, 2012 @ 8:14am

Taliban officials say Afghan Taliban negotiators are meeting with U.S. officials in Qatar for a series of discussions aimed at building trust between the two sides ahead of the upcoming peace talks.

Maulavi Qalamuddin, who once led the group's religious police, said Sunday the delegation includes several former officials, as well as a former secretary to the Taliban's leader, Mullah Omar.

 

Don’t Let Iran Benefit From EU Financial Crisis

By John Bolton January 27, 2012 @ 12:50pm

The European financial crisis and the ineffective effort to stop Iran’s nuclear-weapons program are crashing into each other. As the European Union adopts new restrictions on importing Iranian oil, the most-troubled EU economies will continue to seek delays and exceptions.

 Ironically, France and the U.K., which for years resisted strong U.S. efforts to impose crippling sanctions on Iran, are now leading the EU charge. Of course, neither France nor Britain imports significant amounts of Iranian oil, so the economic impact on them will not be major. However, the potential consequences for financially troubled EU countries are grave. Greece, for example, imports about a third of its oil from Iran, and would be badly harmed if its energy costs rose. So would many southern EU members. Italy imports about 12 percent of its oil from Iran, and Spain about 15 percent.