Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Obama, Chavez share book, pleasantries
Continuing an interesting back-and-forth in U.S.-Latin American relations Saturday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gave President Obama a book attacking capitalism and American intervention in the Western Hemisphere. Published April 18, 2009
U.S.-Cuba relations continuing to thaw
President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro continued what has been a week-long easing of U.S.-Cuba relations, with Mr. Obama saying Friday he has seen positive signals from the island nation. Published April 18, 2009
Obama blames U.S. guns in Mexico
Meeting face-to-face with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, President Obama on Thursday said the U.S. is to blame for much of Mexico's drug violence, and he set up a major congressional gun-control battle by calling on the Senate to ratify a treaty designed to track and cut the flow of guns to other countries. Published April 17, 2009
Calderon presses Obama, U.S. on immigration
Mexican President Felipe Calderon called on the United States to pass an immigration bill as part of a new partnership between the two countries, even as he said Mexico welcomes U.S. business investment. Published April 16, 2009
Calderon to press Obama on drug war
Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who plays host to President Obama in Mexico City Thursday, has become increasingly bold in blaming Americans for the plague of drugs, guns and corruption that is fueling his nation's vicious war with drug cartels. Published April 16, 2009
Border czar to be named before Latin talks
Ahead of President Obama's trip this week to Mexico City, the administration will name a border czar to coordinate U.S. efforts to fight illegal immigration and handle the growing problems related to the drug war in northern Mexico. Published April 15, 2009
Ethanol policies fuel food-price rise
Federal ethanol-fuel policies forced consumers to pay an extra 0.5 percent to 0.8 percent in increased food prices in 2008, and the government itself could end up paying nearly $1 billion more this year for food stamps because of ethanol use, according to a new government report. Published April 9, 2009
Biden assumes role of enforcer, pushes budget
In just one night last week, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. spent more time on the Senate floor cajoling senators than Dick Cheney did in his eight years as vice president. Published April 8, 2009
Bush AIDS fight saved 1.1M, study says
Former President George W. Bush's international AIDS-fighting campaign has reduced by 10 percent the mortality rates in 15 targeted countries, primarily in Africa, and has saved 1.1 million lives, according to a study. Published April 7, 2009
Senate keeps charitable deductions
The Senate on Thursday voted unanimously to preserve the full charitable-giving deduction in the tax code, rejecting yet another key part of President Obama's strategy for paying for the ambitious spending programs in his 2010 budget. Published April 4, 2009
Senate won’t fast track cap-and-trade
In a strong vote Wednesday the Senate firmly rejected President Obama's plan to try to push through a carbon emissions cap-and-trade program through fast-track procedures, making clear that getting any bill done this year will be a struggle. Published April 2, 2009
Rights groups fight Obama lobbyist rules
Saying President Obama has violated the Constitution, an unusual alliance of lobbyists, the American Civil Liberties Union and free-speech advocates on Tuesday demanded that the White House rescind new, unprecedented rules that bar lobbyists from calling or meeting with government employees when trying to tap stimulus money. Published April 1, 2009
GM move now a tightrope for Obama
Having ousted the CEO of America's fourth-largest corporation this weekend, President Obama finds himself walking a tightrope between good stewardship and intrusive corporate boss. Published March 31, 2009
Obama to sign lands bill before 5 days of comment
President Obama on Monday will sign the omnibus land conservation bill - yet again breaking his vow to allow five days for public comment before he affixes his signature to legislation. Published March 30, 2009
Obama says he’ll fight for tax cut
President Obama says he's still committed to middle-class tax cuts and will fight Congress to get them passed and made permanent. Published March 30, 2009
Obama says he’ll fight for tax cuts
President Obama says he's still committed to his middle-class tax cuts and will fight Congress to get them passed and made permanent. Published March 29, 2009
McCain: Public financing is ‘dead’
Sen. John McCain, an architect of campaign-finance reform who got walloped by a candidate armed with more than $750 million, predicts that no one will ever again accept federal matching funds to run for the nation's highest office. Published March 29, 2009
McCain: Obama breaks promise of bipartisanship
EXCLUSIVE: Sen. John McCain says President Obama is breaking campaign promises he made to the American people and has passed up numerous opportunities to reach out to Republicans. Published March 28, 2009
Harry Reid: Justice Roberts lied to Congress
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Friday that Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. lied to Congress during his confirmation hearings by pretending to be open-minded about his judicial philosophy. Published March 28, 2009
Obama: Taliban and al Qaeda must be stopped
UPDATED: President Obama on Friday announced he will send 4,000 more troops this spring to Afghanistan, saying the situation is "increasingly perilous" and pledging U.S. aid for Pakistan as part of an international diplomatic effort. Published March 27, 2009
