Global Security Studies Practicum

17 November 2011 BANGKOK, THAILAND – Making a quick detour on her way to Bali for a regional summit, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton showed her support to the victims hit by the recent heavy flooding in Thailand. The Secretary of State is seen performing the traditional Thai greeting called “ wai ”, as she visits the Rajamangala National Stadium , home to over 1,500 flood evacuees. Secretary Clinton’s visit came shortly after the assembly of a $10 million aid plan, which will help support the recovery of the heavy losses suffered due to the recent severe flooding in Thailand. Along with aid funding, the USS Lassen of the U.S. Navy fleet, has docked in a Thai port and has provided crew and equipment to further aid relief efforts. Efforts are also being made in Washington D.C. to work with the Thai government in order to help restore important cultural sites throughout the country that were badly damaged by the heavy flooding. SOURCE: http://www.huffingtonpost.c...

U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton , demands Pakistani authorities in a press conference to take action against the Haqqani network , an Islamist militant organization that is responsible for terrorist attacks both inside Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan . Clinton also met with Pakistan ’s president and foreign minister in a U.S. delegation to warn Pakistan on the impatient atmosphere rising from U.S. officials for Pakistan ’s refusal to take military action against the Taliban-linked Haqqani network. The U.S. will no longer tolerate Pakistan ’s draw back stance and instead encourages Pakistan ’s officials to deny Afghan rebels or Haqqanis a safe territory. Pakistan ’s Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, expressed that Pakistan shared the same goals with the U.S. and takes terrorism as a serious issue and that collaboration with the Haqqanis does not exists. Both Khar and Clinton agreed that an “operationalization” must take place in the next days in efforts...

25 OCTOBER 2011 Reuters (Washington)-- The United States is increasing food aid to drought-hit and strife-torn Horn of Africa nations. U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton stated that the U.S. is providing $100 million for food and humanitarian assistance in addition to the $650 million that has already been donated. According to Clinton, tens of thousands of people, most being children, have already died, and as many as 750,000 people are currently experiencing famine-level conditions. In addition, she stated that al-Shabaab continues to curtail access for relief workers and denying people food and medical aid in Somalia. She believes the additional U.S. support will help relief workers reach more people well into next year. RELIABILITY: 9 SOURCE: U.S. Increases Food Aid To Horn Of Africa http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE79O00F20111025

Upon the request of Pakistan’s intelligence service, the Haqqani terrorist network and the United States met once this summer to start a negotiating process. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced efforts to reach out to the Taliban and Haqqani network to “test their willingness and their sincerity” to initiate a negotiation between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the U.S. The U.S delivered a reconciliation message to the Haqqanis in the meeting which included an offer to meet guidelines set by the Afghans and Americans for peace. This offer to the Haqqanis also included accepting the Afghan constitutions guarantees for the rule of law and women’s rights. Although the Haqqani network did show up for the preliminary meeting, Clinton does not promise any guarantee of a quick peaceful resolution. The U.S. has decided to keep fighting to establish guideline agreements between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Source: "Official: U.S Met with Haqqani Terror Network" http://article...