Larry Abramson

Larry Abramson appears in the following:

Sequester Has Air Force Clipping Its Wings

Saturday, May 11, 2013

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 ...

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

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

President Obama has said that the use of chemical weapons could change the U.S. response to the Syrian civil war. But why this focus on chemical weapons when conventional weapons have killed tens of thousands in Syria?

The answer can be traced back to the early uses of poison ...

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With Obama In Ramallah, Palestinians Take To The Streets

Thursday, March 21, 2013

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 ...

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Israelis, Palestinians Spar Over Controversial Settlement

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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 ...

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After Weeks Of Wrangling, An Israeli Government Takes Shape

Thursday, March 14, 2013

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 ...

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Can Kidney Transplants Ease Strain On Gaza's Health System?

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

It's no picnic being a kidney patient even in the best conditions. But coming in for dialysis in a place like the Gaza Strip calls for a special kind of patience.

Years of war have placed a constant stress on the health system there. Thanks to a host of factors, ...

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Palestinians Still Feel The Squeeze Of The Restrictions On Gaza

Monday, March 04, 2013

The streets of Gaza are busy, but they are also crumbling.

Since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Israel has maintained tight limits on shipments of anything that could be used for military purposes. That includes basic building materials that could be used for bunkers and rocket ...

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Israel Restores Wetlands; Birds Make It Their Winter Home

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Like many countries, Israel tried to drain many of its swamplands, then realized it was destroying wildlife habitats. So the country reversed course, and has been restoring the wetlands of the Hula Valley in the north.

The effort has had a huge and rather noisy payoff. Unlike many birding ...

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How Big Should The U.S. Navy Be?

Monday, October 22, 2012

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney wants the U.S. Navy to have 350 ships, up from the current fleet of 287. Analysts are divided on whether the U.S. needs a fleet this large.

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Romney's Defense Plans Call For Higher Spending

Thursday, October 18, 2012

President Obama says he will slow the growth in defense spending. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney wants to spend more. Romney says that "peace through strength" will mak...

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Army Seeks To Curb Rising Tide Of Suicides

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Soldiers around the world will stop what they're doing Thursday to take part in suicide prevention training. The "stand down" is part of the Army's response to an alarming suicide rate — on average, one a day.

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