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Diplomacy, Development, Defense—the Focus of the Regional Strategic Initiative
Posted by Salmah Y. Rizvi on Aug 15, 2008 - 01:49 PM
![Secretary Rice shaking hands, USAID bag being unloaded, and an unarmed aerial vehicle. [AP photos]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/UNGA/field/2008_0815_ct_bh_m.jpg)
In regions where economic opportunities are few, access to fair education is limited, ethnic conflict influences everyday life, and religious zeal is manipulated for corrupt purposes, extremists leaders will exploit these conditions to create what the National Intelligence Council calls a "perfect storm" -- the most efficient breeding ground for terrorists.
These malevolent non-state actors will use a variety of techniques to create safe havens -- physical space, cyber space, and ideological space…
Category: Policy More entries by Salmah Y. Rizvi | Comments (13)
Posted by Kathleen Eagan on Aug 12, 2008 - 02:44 PM
![Youth participants at United Nations Environment Programme conference, India, 2005. [AP]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/UNGA/field/2008_0812_youth_environment1_m.jpg)
Today is International Youth Day, and this year's theme is appropriately titled, "Youth and Climate Change: A Time for Action."
A few weeks ago the Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science, Claudia A. McMurray, spoke to a group of about 400 high school students. These kids were from a number of different countries, as well as throughout the United States, and were one of several groups this summer that have come…
Category: Policy More entries by Kathleen Eagan | Comments (2)
Posted by DipNote Bloggers on Aug 07, 2008 - 02:10 PM
![Members of the Security Council at United Nations March 3, 2008. [AP file photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/UNGA/field/2008_0807_un_bh_m.jpg)
From DipNote Editors: Yesterday, Secretary Rice spoke with Mike Allen of The Politico and Yahoo! News, and we thought that the DipNote crowd would also like to take a look. Their conversation covered a range of topics, including Iran, Iraq, North Korea, the Olympics, Russia and U.S. foreign policy over the last eight years. Here's the beginning of the interview:
QUESTION: Madame Secretary, thank you for sitting down with The Politico and Yahoo! News to talk about your accomplishments, the last eight years, and what lies ahead. You’re one of the few people who’s been along for the whole ride, so we have a lot to talk about.
We’ll…
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Posted by Salmah Y. Rizvi on Jul 31, 2008 - 12:34 PM
![Colombia's General Mario Montoya and freed hostages in Bogata, Colombia July 2, 2008. [AP]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/UNGA/field/2008_0731_hostages_bh_m.jpg)
During a typical work day, the Operations Directorate (Ops) of the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism is involved in the interagency coordination of international counterterrorism crises, including terrorist hostage crises. During his stint as former Director of the Hostage Working Group in Baghdad, S/CT Ops employee Erik Rye found himself in some unlikely situations. After having been rescued by U.S. forces, one hostage returned to his…
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Posted by Jennifer Archibeque on Jul 18, 2008 - 04:14 PM
![Panel discussion during event celebrating the U.S. Foreign Press Center's 40th year. [State Dept.]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/UNGA/field/2008_0718_fpc_bh_m.jpg)
The new Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs James K. Glassman engaged a crowded room of foreign correspondents from around the world in a discussion about U.S. Public Diplomacy and the War of Ideas at the Washington Foreign Press Center on Tuesday, July 15, 2008. [Full Text | View Video]
He returns today to give the keynote address at the Washington Foreign Press Center's 40th anniversary celebration.…
Category: Policy More entries by Jennifer Archibeque | Comments (7)