Larry Abramson

Women In Combat: Some Lessons From Israel's Military

Larry Abramson — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:26:00 +0000

As the U.S. moves to open up combat positions to women, it's catching up with other countries that have been doing it for years.

But the experience in these countries, including Israel, suggests that access to combat jobs doesn't lead directly to equal treatment within the ranks.

In Israel, most men and women perform compulsory military service.

Women In Combat: Obstacles Remain As Exclusion Policy Ends

Larry Abramson — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:31:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAy7eDS8JY0

Sequester Has Air Force Clipping Its Wings

Larry Abramson — Sat, 11 May 2013 09:30:00 +0000

The Pentagon says the automatic budget cuts known as sequestration could leave the U.S. with a military that is simply unprepared for the most challenging combat missions. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel told Congress in April that the military is eating its seed corn.

"The cuts will fall heavily on maintenance and training, which further erodes the readiness of the force and will be costly to regain in the future," he said.

Why Sustained Action Against Syria Is More Than Air Strikes

Larry Abramson — Tue, 07 May 2013 09:11:00 +0000

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm David Greene.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

And I'm Steve Inskeep. Two years after the start of Syria's civil war, amid allegations of chemical weapons use and reports of an Israeli airstrike, the United States still faces the same question.

GREENE: That question is what, if anything, the U.S. should do. For now, President Obama is focusing on diplomacy.

Why Chemical Weapons Have Been A Red Line Since World War I

Larry Abramson — Wed, 01 May 2013 20:50:00 +0000

President Obama has said that the use of chemical weapons could change the U.S. response to the Syrian civil war.

U.S. Wants More Proof Syria Has Used Chemical Weapons

Larry Abramson — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:17:00 +0000

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

It's MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

And I'm Steve Inskeep. Here's the problem faced by President Obama's administration: When the United States says it's going to do something, it will face pressure to actually do it.

MONTAGNE: President Obama warned Syria not to cross the red line of using chemical weapons. The language suggested some strong response would follow. And now even the U.S.

With Obama In Ramallah, Palestinians Take To The Streets

Larry Abramson — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:23:00 +0000

NPR's Larry Abramson is covering President Obama's visit to the Middle East. He sends this dispatch from the West Bank.

There were a lot of irritated Palestinians in the streets of Ramallah today. But it's hard to pinpoint the cause. Were they mad at President Obama, at Israel? Or were they angry at themselves?

All week long, different groups staged demonstrations against the Obama visit, here in Palestine's defacto capital city, and elsewhere, including Gaza. Mothers of those in Israeli jails demanded the release of their children.

Israelis, Palestinians Spar Over Controversial Settlement

Larry Abramson — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:53:00 +0000

In practical terms, a project known as E-1 would provide 3,000 or so new housing units for Israelis in an area between east Jerusalem — which the Palestinians hope will someday be their capital — and the large Israeli settlement of Maaleh Adumim.

But numbers can be deceiving: Palestinians are renewing their objections to the growing number of Israeli settlements, and many fear E-1 could tip the balance in a way that makes an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement impossible.

To understand why the Israeli government wants to build E-1, climb to the top of Mount Scopus.

Obama Trip Could Ignite Long-Stalled Peace Talks

Larry Abramson — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 08:43:00 +0000

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And I'm Renee Montagne.

President Obama lands in Israel tomorrow for his first visit to that key American ally as president. He'll also visit sites in the West Bank.

After Weeks Of Wrangling, An Israeli Government Takes Shape

Larry Abramson — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:21:00 +0000

Israel appears to have a new government, nearly two months after parliamentary elections.

Since the voting in January, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been trying to put together the pieces of a puzzle that just would not fit.

If he included traditional allies, such as the religious parties, he would close out a chance of forming a government with a popular political newcomer, Yair Lapid.

A former TV newsman, Lapid is secular and centrist.