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Kerry, Carter on US Strategy Against ISIS

Mar 11, 2015
On March 11, Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter urged the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to support President Obama's proposed authorization to use military force (AUMF) against ISIS.
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James Clapper: Sunni Extremism Gaining Momentum

Mar 2, 2015
On February 26, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper made a statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee on global threats to the United States.
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Presidents on Extremism: Obama in 2015

Feb 20, 2015
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Presidents on Extremism: Bush in 2001, 2003

Feb 20, 2015
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Kerry: Agenda to Counter Violent Extremism

Feb 19, 2015
On February 19, Secretary of State John Kerry outlined an “action agenda” at the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism. Kerry emphasized the need to highlight community-led efforts worldwide...
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Obama Meets with Muslim-American Leaders

Feb 5, 2015
On February 4, President Obama met with 15 Muslim American leaders at the White House. Discussions focused on countering violent extremism, protecting civil liberties, and other issues.
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State of the Union: Obama on Violent Extremism

Jan 21, 2015
On January 20, President Barack Obama rejected religious discrimination in his State of the Union address.
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Obama on ISIS at United Nations

Sep 24, 2014
On September 24, President Barack Obama called on the international community to confront religious extremism that has led to the growth of groups like the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL).
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New Coalition Against ISIS

Sep 11, 2014
On eve of the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2011 attacks, President Barack Obama outlined a four-part strategy for destroying the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, now known simply as the Islamic State (IS).
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State Department: Cairo Needs to Include Brotherhood

Jun 23, 2014
On June 21, senior State Department officials called on Egypt's government to take a "very politically inclusive approach" and find ways to reach out to the Muslim Brotherhood. 
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Obama Outlines Strong US Role in Middle East at UN

Sep 24, 2013
President Obama outlined his past and future policies towards the Middle East in his U.N. General Assembly speech. He committed to ensuring the free flow of oil from the region to world markets, dismantling terrorist networks, and stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
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US and EU Jointly on Egypt

Aug 7, 2013
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and E.U. High Representative Lady Catherine Ashton issued the following joint statement on Egypt’s political crisis...
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U.S. Response to Egypt Crisis

July 15, 2013
The United States has refused to take sides on Egypt’s political crisis. On July 3, President Barack Obama expressed deep concern for the army’s decision to remove President Mohamed Morsi and suspend the constitution. He called on the army to “return full authority back to a democratically elected civilian government...
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Obama on Syria: Assad Must Go

Mar 24, 2013
President Obama said Syrian President Bashar al Assad has lost his legitimacy and “must go,” during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on March 20. Obama, on his first presidential visit to Israel, warned that the Syrian regime “will be held accountable for the use of chemical weapons or their transfer to terrorists...
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Kerry: U.S. to forward $250M in aid to Egypt

March 3, 2013
On March 3, Secretary of State John Kerry released $250 million in aid to Egypt. Kerry made the announcement after President Mohamed Morsi pledged to implement painful economic reforms needed to secure an International Monetary Fund loan...
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U.S. Urges Morsi to Bridge Political Divisions

Jan 1, 2013
On December 25, the U.S. State Department urged Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to “bridge divisions, build trust, and broaden support for the political process.” The Christmas Day statement came three days after the draft constitution passed in a public referendum by 63.8 percent, but with only 32.9 percent voter turnout. “Egypt’s future depends not on the ability of one side to prevail over the other...
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U.S. Policy on Second Anniversary of Arab Uprisings

Dec 13, 2012
On December 13, Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns outlined U.S. policy in the Middle East two years after the Arab uprisings. Burns committed support for continued democratic changes and urged tolerance despite the turmoil. He emphasized the need for “sustainable democracy,” and not just stability. Burns also noted that the United States’ democratic transition “took fifteen years...
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U.S. State Department Assists Arab Economies

Nov 1, 2012
On October 26, the Assistant Secretary for the U.S. State Department Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs pledged to “create more links between the new [Arab] democracies and American industry.” Assistant Secretary Jose Fernandez briefed the 21st Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference on successful economic development projects enacted since the Arab uprisings...
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Clinton Pledges Increased Support for Democratic Transitions

Oct 12, 2012
On October 12, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton declared that U.S. support for democratic transitions is a “strategic necessity” and not just “a matter of idealism.” She discussed the status of North African political transitions at a conference hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies...
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Gallup: U.S. Approval Down Across the Region

Sep 24, 2012
On Sept. 24, Gallup released a poll showing that U.S. approval in the Middle East was already waning before the “Innocence of Muslims” film provoked widespread anti-U.S. demonstrations. The organization surveyed 12 countries between January and May 2012. All together about 20 percent of adults approved of the U.S. leadership’s “job performance.”
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U.S. Treasury Sanctions Hezbollah Leadership

Sep 13, 2012
On Sept. 13, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on Hezbollah’s leadership for “aiding Assad’s violent campaign against the Syrian people.” The following is an excerpt from the press statement with comments by Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen...
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U.S. Assistance to Egypt, Tunisia and Libya

Sep 10, 2012
The United States has maintained its $1.3 billion military aid package, based on the 1978 Camp David Accords. The Obama administration has also tried to promote private investment by U.S. multinational corporations. More than 100 American executives from dozens of top U.S. companies visited Egypt in September 2012...
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U.S. Sanctions Hizballah for Syria Support

Aug 10, 2012
The Treasury Department sanctioned Hizballah for supporting the Syrian government on the basis of Executive Order 13582. “This action highlights Hizballah’s activities within Syria and its integral role in the continued violence the Assad regime is inflicting on the Syrian population,” the Treasury Department said in its formal announcement...
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Clinton Warns Religious Freedom “Tenuous” in Egypt

Aug 1, 2012
On July 30, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged to work with Egyptian leaders if they form an inclusive government based democratic principles. She also criticized Egyptian authorities for failing to “equally” apply laws...
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Panetta Supports Islamist Officials in Tunisia and Egypt

August 1, 2012
During a weeklong Middle East trip, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta pledged support for new Islamist governments in Tunisia and Egypt. In Cairo, he expressed confidence in the political and military leadership’s ability...
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Clinton Meets Morsi in Cairo

July 14, 2012
On July 14, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met in Cairo with new Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and then held a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr. The following are excerpts from the press conference.
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US Outlines Policy Toward New Egyptian Government

July 8, 2012
On July 8, Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns outlined US policy toward the new Egyptian government after meeting in Cairo with President Mohamed Morsi.
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US on Human Rights in Key Arab countries

May 24, 2012
On May 24, the State Department issued its annual Human Rights Report. It included assessments of the situation in key Arab countries undergoing political transitions. The report had significant criticisms even of countries where autocrats have been ousted since the uprisings began in late 2010...
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Deauville Partnership with Arab Countries in Transition

May 22, 2012
During their summit at Camp David on May 19, leaders ofthe Group of Eight Industrialized Nations discussed how to aid Arab countriesnow undergoing political transitions. The following is their communiqué andlinks to six joint initiatives in the Deauville Partnership, named after thefirst G-8 meeting...
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