Topic: State Department

Mike Morell Swears He's Quitting CIA for His Family (Not Benghazi), for 'Real'

Reuters

Though his name has been in the news for removing the references to terrorism in the Benghazi talking points, the deputy director of the intelligence agency says it really is about family time. He will be replaced by Avril Haines, the first woman to hold that job.

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Jun 12, 2013

Belgian Awful: Ambassador's Prostitute Excuse Won't Help State's Coverup Case

The sexiest of the Foggy Bottom probes — all of which State Department officials are trying to explain away — has to do with the U.S. ambassador to Belgium, who "routinely ditched" his own bodyguards to "solicit sexual favors," including from minors. And now that Ambassador is calling his prostitution allegations "baseless" in part because ... he lives in "a beautiful park in Brussels."

Comments | 5,257 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jun 10, 2013

Was a U.S. Ambassador Really Soliciting Prostitutes, and Who Covered It Up?

According to a memo by the State Department's Inspector General, several members of the Diplomatic Security Service, which is in charge of protecting American diplomats overseas, were told to back off or stop investigating several criminal investigations involving department employees, including at least one ambassador, to ensure that no charges were ever brought.

Comments | 6,107 Views

By Philip Bump

Jun 10, 2013

America's Outsourced Spy Force, by the Numbers

Edward Snowden wasn't your traditional spy. He was, however, a very modern one, a guy who worked from a computer terminal in an office, similar to how a modern bomber pilot might control his drone. The weekend's big revelations about the NSA's biggest leaker prompt a natural question: How many Snowden-type spies with top secret security clearance are there? 

Comments | 10,684 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

May 22, 2013

How Petraeus Turned the CIA into the Good Guys in Benghazi

How did the CIA become the hero in the Benghazi talking point controversy? And if the CIA is part of Team Obama, why hasn't it enjoyed as much scrutiny as everyone else involved? One reason is the political skills of David Petraeus, as behind-the-scenes emails continue to reveal.

Comments | 4,567 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

May 17, 2013

Huma Abedin Had an Incredibly Sweet Deal at the State Department

Huma Abedin remained Hillary Clinton's deputy chief of staff when she came back from maternity leave in June 2012, even though she worked part-time from her home in New York and was allowed to start a side gig as a consultant.

Comments | 3,936 Views

By Philip Bump

May 16, 2013

The Benghazi Conspiracy Isn't Surviving D.C.'s Scandal Week

To be clear: There are not three scandals plaguing the Obama White House. By embracing the leaked talking points, Obama's opponents may have taken Benghazi off the table completely.

Comments | 6,007 Views

By Philip Bump

May 14, 2013

New Email from the White House Raises Questions on Benghazi Leak Motives

A new email released by CNN's Jake Tapper raises significant questions about the motivations of the source for ABC's story last Friday revealing draft talking points in response to the attack in Benghazi.

Comments | 7,164 Views

By Philip Bump

May 10, 2013

The Benghazi Memo Drafts, as They Evolved

According to ABC News, the government talking points on the situation in Benghazi went through eleven versions prior to their final release. We've created an interactive tool allowing you to walk through each individual change.

Comments | 1,219 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

May 10, 2013

Every Version of the Infamous Benghazi Talking Points, Revealed

ABC News has obtained every version of the government talking points that were distributed after the attack on the Benghazi consulate in Libya, along with evidence that the White House and State Department were more involved in the editing they want to admit.

Comments | 2,031 Views

By Philip Bump

May 9, 2013

State Department Asks Defense Distributed to Take Down Its 3D-Printed Gun Plans

As reported by Betabeat.com, the State Department has asked Defense Distributed to remove its plans for the 'Liberator," the group's first fully 3D-printable gun.

Comments | 3,047 Views

By Philip Bump

Apr 23, 2013

Will the State Department Ever Listen to These EPA Concerns About Keystone?

In a letter responding to the State Department's draft environmental assessment for the Keystone XL pipeline, the EPA finds several areas it deems insufficient. Perhaps the third time's the charm on State doing something about it.

Comments | 583 Views

By Connor Simpson

Apr 7, 2013

Botched Attack Kills State Department Employee in Afghanistan

An assassination attempt in Afghanistan on Sunday resulted in the first death of a State Department employee since the war there began. 

Comments | 1,978 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Apr 3, 2013

U.S. Embassy in Cairo Is Trying to Cover Up the Time They Tweeted a 'Daily Show' Link

After deleting the tweet in an attempt to cover up their mistake, the United States Embassy in Cairo is dealing with a second round of backlash for tweeting a to a Daily Show segment criticizing the Egyptian government.

Comments | 2,137 Views

By Philip Bump

Mar 4, 2013

Donald Trump Likes Dennis Rodman's Diplomacy More Than America Does

Dennis Rodman's sojourn to North Korea may have displeased those who take issue with Kim Jong-Un's commitment to prison camps and expressed desire to destroy America, but he's found support from at least one sympathetic countryman.

Comments | 4,956 Views

By Connor Simpson

Mar 3, 2013

Why John Kerry Gave $250 Million to Egypt

John Kerry announced the U.S. will give $250 million to Egypt on Sunday as a reward for President Mohammad Morsi's pledges for economic reform. If his government actually succeeds at reforming the country's economy, the U.S. will give him close to $1 billion. 

Comments | 4,847 Views

By Connor Simpson

Mar 2, 2013

Iran and Syria Are Committed to the Their Friendship

Barring any international intervention or rebel advancement, Bashar al-Assad will be the President for another year, at least, if Iran is to be believed. Their friendship will live on.

Comments | 1,143 Views

By Philip Bump

Mar 1, 2013

U.S. Rules Climate Change Won't Be a Threat to the Keystone Pipeline — and Vice Versa

Good news for environmentalists who might otherwise be lamenting the State Department giving initial environmental approval for the Keystone XL pipeline: The government determined that the pipeline itself won't be damaged by climate change.

Comments | 517 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Feb 26, 2013

John Kerry Proudly Defends America's 'Right to Be Stupid'

Brand-new Secretary of State John Kerry gave a speech Tuesday proudly defending Americans' "right to be stupid" in front of the very people who are most likely to think Americans are stupid, Europeans.

Comments | 3,644 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Feb 1, 2013

Watch Hillary Clinton Say Goodbye to the State Department

Friday was Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's last day in Foggy Bottom. Watch her goodbye speech and read her resignation letter to President Obama.

Comments | 345 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Feb 1, 2013

John Kerry Got His Job as the Susan Rice Scandal Was Still Unfolding

According to the Boston Globe, President Obama settled on Kerry for Secretary of State before, not after, Rice withdrew herself consideration.

Comments | 3,104 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Jan 29, 2013

D.C. Is Playing John Kerry Musical Chairs

America, you'll officially have a new Secretary of State within 24 hours. Who the heck is going to be your next Senator from Massachusetts — and the next one after that — remains as confusing as can be. Let's catch up on how the end of the Hillary era at Foggy Bottom might unfold, and fast.

Comments | 854 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 29, 2013

Hillary Clinton's Book News Didn't Stop the Twitter Bombs on Her Town Hall

Clinton held her final online Global Town Hall before leaving Foggy Bottom on Tuesday morning, and while she did answer some tough questions — and confirmed a new memoir! — there sure were a lot of Twitter questions from frustrated conservatives.

Comments | 1,450 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Jan 22, 2013

Evidence That Syria Used Chemical Weapons Is Stacking Up

After a report last week presented some startling evidence that Bashar al-Assad had used chemical weapons against his own people, a follow up this week only bolsters the case.

Comments | 4,138 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Jan 8, 2013

Hillary Clinton's Benghazi Testimony Has a Date

Senator Bob Corker, who serves on the Senate's Foreign Service Committee, revealed the date during an on-air interview with NBC's Andrea Mitchell.

Comments | 2,585 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Jan 7, 2013

Here's Hillary Clinton Back in the Office

The Secretary of State returned to work Monday, one month after falling ill with a stomach virus — which led to a fall, which led to a concussion, which led to a blood clot, which led to a hospital stay, all of which got a lot of people very confused about when she would testify on Benghazi.

Comments | 1,596 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 3, 2013

The State Department Does Not Want Google's Eric Schmidt in North Korea

Your dreams of a Google in North Korea (and the hilarious Google doodle potential therein) is not in jeopardy, but the State Department does not condone Bill Richardson and Eric Schmidt's big trip to North Korea, at least not right now.

Comments | 3,449 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 2, 2013

Hillary Really Has Left the Hospital

After reports surfaced that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had left the hospital after being successfully treated for a blood clot, the initial word was confirmed as untrue. Well, she has left the hospital, but she hasn't technically been released yet. 

Comments | 5,639 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Dec 19, 2012

The Benghazi Report Has Claimed Its First Big Jobs at the State Department

Just hours after the release of a report criticizing the State Department for its security failures, the Assistant Secretary of State in charge of security has resigned. So have two others.

Comments | 582 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Dec 18, 2012

Hillary Springs to Action After Inquiry Scolds Her Over Benghazi Attack

Less than an hour after an accountability review lambasted the State Department for its response to the Benghazi consulate attack, Hillary Clinton started doling out security guards to missions around the world.

Comments | 4,427 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Dec 3, 2012

McCain Called John Kerry 'Mr. Secretary'

At a press conference late Monday morning, Sen. John McCain called Sen. John Kerry "Mr. Secretary" at a press conference, which was either wishful thinking or a Freudian slip.

Comments | 10,372 Views

By Jen Doll

Dec 3, 2012

How Can You Not Like This Photo of Hillary Clinton and Meryl Streep?

It's pretty fantastic, this picture from the Kennedy Center Honors Gala dinner at the State Department last night: Meryl and Hillary are an itsy-teeny bit just like us! 

Comments | 11,097 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Nov 30, 2012

Evidence That the GOP Doesn't Love John Kerry as Much as They're Saying They Do

As Republican senators suddenly break out the effusive praise for Democratic Senator John Kerry as the right choice over Susan Rice for Secretary of State, well, there's a whole lot of flip-flopping on the not-so-fast track to Foggy Bottom.

Comments | 6,233 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Nov 13, 2012

John Kerry's Name Being Floated for Defense Secretary, Not State

Though he was an early frontrunner to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, a new report says that Senator John Kerry could be tapped to run the Defense Department instead.

Comments | 10,510 Views

By John Hudson

Oct 16, 2012

Susan Rice Blames Bad Benghazi Intelligence for Her Misleading Version of Events

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice was the face of the Obama administration's inaccurate information on the Sept. 11 Benghazi attacks, but don't blame her disseminating the misinformation, blame the talking points she was given by the intelligence community.  

Comments | 866 Views

By John Hudson

Oct 11, 2012

Should the CIA Share Some of the Blame for Benghazi?

For the last month, the media and Congress have been grilling the State Department for the security failures during the deadly assault on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya. But what if the State Department is the wrong target of scrutiny?

Comments | 2,269 Views

By John Hudson

Oct 10, 2012

The Key Question the State Department Won't Answer on Libya

The investigation surrounding the Sept. 11 terrorist attack in Libya is not so much about what happened in the war-torn country, but why it took the Obama administration so long to tell the truth about what happened.

Comments | 1,049 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Oct 5, 2012

The State Department Turned Down a Security Request from Libya's Embassy

Jake Tapper of ABC News has uncovered an email that seems to question Washington's support for the the security of the diplomatic efforts in Libya.

Comments | 280 Views

By John Hudson

Sep 24, 2012

Clinton Spokesman Explodes on Reporter for Asking Good Questions

It's not unusual for reporters and press flacks to exchange strong words, but it is unusual for them to go deep-six nuclear on each other—and that's exactly what transpired between longtime Hillary Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines and BuzzFeed reporter Michael Hastings in a radioactive e-mail exchange published today.

Comments | 2,568 Views

By John Hudson

Sep 21, 2012

Hillary Clinton Is Taking a Shady Iranian Dissident Group Off the Terror List

After its extensive lobbying campaign in Washington, Hillary Clinton is going to de-list the Iranian dissident group Mujahedin-e-Khalq, or MEK, from the State Department's terror list in the next few days, reports CNN's Elise Labott.

Comments | 1,513 Views

By Connor Simpson

Sep 13, 2012

State Department Denies Having Advanced Warning of an Attack

Amid the belief that the attack in Benghazi was the work of premeditated terrorists, there's a report from the British newspaper The Independent saying the State Department had advance warning of an attack and decided not to do anything. A Department rep. called it "absolutely wrong."

Comments | 2,327 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Sep 13, 2012

Obama Administraton Wasn't Happy with the Cairo Embassy Statement Either

A fascinating look at the inner workings of the Cairo embassy during Tuesday's riots shows just how badly their controversial statement about "religious feelings" was botched by diplomats in Egypt.

Comments | 1,901 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Sep 6, 2012

Here's a Picture of Hillary Clinton Loving Bill's Speech

Hillary Clinton watched her husband's speech to the Democratic National Convention from East Timor on a desktop computer, and photographic evidence indicates she loved it as much as the women who nodded along live in the convention hall.

Comments | 5,781 Views

By John Hudson

Aug 23, 2012

Ambassador Crocker Arrested for DUI, Hit and Run

He's had to deal with the worst conflict zones in the world, but now former U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker has a headache to deal with at home: Hit-and-run and intoxicated driving charges.

Comments | 938 Views

By Adam Martin

Aug 17, 2012

Who Knew The State Department Wrote Such Cute Poetry?

The State Department under Hillary Clinton just keeps getting more fun: The memes, the dancing, and now a Dr. Seuss-style rhyme denying rumors Clinton may be talking quietly with the White House about replacing Joe Biden as President Barack Obama's running mate.

Comments | 3,794 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jun 25, 2012

Diplomat Mean Girls Whisper: What's Hillary Ever Done?

Hillary Clinton is more popular than ever, and maybe that's because no one knows what she does.

Comments | 3,880 Views

By John Hudson

May 15, 2012

Apparently Terrorism Isn't Terrorism If It Targets Iran

The Obama administration is moving to delist an Iranian dissident group from the State Department terrorism list, which, as recently as January, placed a magnetic bomb under the car of Iranian scientist, according to U.S. officials.

Comments | 3,035 Views

By Adam Martin

May 2, 2012

Of Course Chen Guangcheng Wants to Leave China

It was hard to take seriously the news that Chen Guangcheng, the blind activist who's been holed up in the U.S. embassy in Beijing, left "of his own volition," as China's state-run media had reported.

Comments | 527 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Mar 14, 2012

Don't Criticize the Government If You Work for the Government

If his bosses get their way, 24-year State Department veteran Peter Van Buren will need to look for a new job, thanks to a list of offenses related to some critical commentary on the United States and, among other things, linking to Wikileaks from his blog.

Comments | 1,517 Views

By Adam Martin

Feb 6, 2012

U.S. Shutters Embassy in Syria, Recalls Diplomats

The U.S. has closed its embassy in Damascus and recalled its diplomatic staff, including Ambassador Robert Ford, out of concern that the Syrian government couldn't protect the workers amid unrest.

Comments | 233 Views

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