Monday, October 31, 2016

Sen. Reid Says Comey May Have Violated Law and Withheld Information About Trump's Ties With Russia

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid on Sunday accused FBI Director James Comey of partisanship in the presidential election campaign – “tarring Secretary [Hillary] Clinton with innuendo” while refusing to make public information about “close ties and coordination” between Donald Trump and the Kremlin. Read

Saturday, October 29, 2016

In a First-Ever Rebuke of its Kind, Russia Loses Bid for UN Human Rights Council Seat

In a rare victory for human rights advocacy groups long frustrated by the workings of the U.N. primary human rights body, Russia on Friday lost a bid to join the Human Rights Council. Read

Friday, October 28, 2016

Putin: ‘Does Anyone Seriously Imagine Russia Can Somehow Influence the American People's Choice?'

Russian President Vladimir Putin charged Thursday that the “elite” in the U.S. were trying to divert voters’ attention away from acute problems like the national debt, gun violence and police shootings by accusing Russia of trying to influence the election. Read

Kerry Prepares to Accept Prize for Iran Nuclear Deal; Iran’s Zarif Has Other Priorities

Secretary of State John Kerry will be traveling to London this weekend to accept an international relations award from one of the world’s leading think tanks, but his Iranian counterpart, jointly named to receive the award for their diplomacy on the Iran nuclear deal, is not planning to go due to a “tight schedule.” Read

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Foreign Election Monitors Unhappy About 13 States’ Ban on International Observers

As it prepares to observe the November 8 elections, an Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) mission already in the U.S. drew attention on Wednesday to the fact that 13 states explicitly forbid international election observation. Read

Castro Critics Blast Administration Decision Not to Oppose UN Cuba Embargo Resolution For 1st Time

The Obama administration’s decision for the first time not to vote against an annual U.N. resolution calling for an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba brought applause from the world body’s representatives Wednesday, but angered congressional critics of the Castro regime. Read

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Turkey Threatens to Launch Ground Operation in Iraq, Citing Kurdish Terror Threat

A rift between two U.S. allies threatened to deepen Tuesday as Turkey’s foreign minister warned his country could launch a military ground operation in Iraq if it feels its interests there are threatened. Read

DNI Clapper: Denuclearizing North Korea ‘Probably a Lost Cause’; State: ‘That is Not Our Position’

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Tuesday it was “probably a lost cause” trying to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons capability. But a State Department spokesman said that was not the Obama administration’s position --denuclearization of the peninsula remains the goal. Read

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

WikiLeaks: Hillary Should Host a Party, Be Photographed With a Beer and ‘Letting Loose to Some Music’

In the summer of 2015, a longtime Hillary Clinton adviser had a suggestion for her campaign: Get the Democratic presidential candidate to host a staff party, implying that it would do her image good should she be photographed with a beer and “letting loose to some music.” Read

Clinton Campaign Emails: Refer to Israel Only When Speaking to Donors

Newly leaked Hillary Clinton campaign emails reveal internal discussions about how – and for which audience – the Democratic presidential nominee should discuss Israel, an issue of importance to many American voters. Read

Monday, October 24, 2016

UN Members Unlikely to Reject Russia in This Week's Human Rights Council Election

At a time of deepening concern over Moscow’s contribution to the carnage in Syria, this week’s annual election for members of the U.N. Human Rights Council provides U.N. member states with the opportunity to vote Russia off the top rights body for the first time. Read

'Error' to Think That 'America Is Invincible,' Ayatollah Tells Venezuela’s Maduro

Two world leaders who are among Washington’s most outspoken critics met in Tehran at the weekend and discussed whether the United States is unbeatable. Also on their minds -- the two candidates running for the White House. Read

Friday, October 21, 2016

U.S. Combat Casualties in Iraq Rise to 3,693

The U.S. serviceman killed by a roadside bomb north of Mosul Thursday is the fourth to be killed in action since the mission against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS/ISIL) was launched in 2014 – and the 3,693rd American soldier, sailor, airman or Marine to be killed in combat in Iraq since the war there began in March 2003. Read

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Clinton Calls Trump’s Comments About Ripping Babies From the Womb ‘Scare Rhetoric’

Donald Trump during the third presidential debate on Wednesday night said partial-birth abortion was “terrible” and “not acceptable,” but Hillary Clinton called his description of babies being ripped from the womb in the ninth month of gestation “scare rhetoric.” Read

Ayatollah Weighs in on US Presidential Nominees: ‘Spirituality and Faith are Lacking’

The U.S. presidential campaign and issues raised by nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are evidence that “spirituality and faith are lacking among those in power” in America, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared on Wednesday. Read

Clinton on No-Fly Zone in 2013: ‘You’re Going to Kill a Lot of Syrians; In 2016: ‘Could Save Lives’

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Wednesday night reiterated her support for a “no-fly zone” in Syria, saying that imposing one “could save lives and could hasten the end of the conflict.” Read

Catty Campaign: Leaked Emails Reveal Clinton Staffers’ Nasty Side

Stolen Clinton presidential campaign emails reveal how some senior staffers felt about the advice Hillary Clinton was getting from a former colleague, and it doesn’t make pretty reading. Read

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Obama’s State Dinner Guest is Iran’s New Best Friend in Europe

Italy and the United States have a long and warm relationship, but for his final state dinner guest, President Obama chose a leader that has also gone further than any other in the West to embrace a regime in Iran that still views America as enemy number one. Read

As Iran Jails More US Citizens, State Dep’t ‘Respectfully’ Asks for Cooperation in Finding Bob Levinson

The Obama administration on Tuesday “respectfully” stressed the importance of Iran cooperating in finding former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who went missing in Iran more than nine years ago. Read

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

National Security Votes: 19 GOP Senators Score 100; 17 Democrats 0

A conservative think tank’s new scorecard of lawmakers’ votes on key national security issues gives 100 percent scores to 19 Republican senators, ten of whom are up for re-election in November. Read

Islamic Bloc Hails UNESCO Jerusalem Decision: ‘An Exclusively Islamic Holy Site’

As UNESCO’s executive board meets Tuesday to give final approval to a controversial text on Jerusalem, the bloc of Islamic nations is saying openly what U.N. diplomats are not: that according to the resolution, what Jews know as the Temple Mount is “an exclusively Islamic holy site.” Read

Monday, October 17, 2016

Putin: Without Iran Threat as Rallying Point to Distract Voters, Administration Now Using Russia

Without the Iran nuclear threat to unify Americans and distract attention from its own failings, the Obama administration is now trying to portray Russia as the enemy, President Vladimir Putin charged Sunday. Read

Clinton Staffers Were Vexed That San Bernardino Attacker Had a Muslim Name

The first reports identifying one of the San Bernardino terror attackers as a man with a Muslim name drew a vexed response from two senior staffers on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign last December, a leaked email indicates. Read

Battle Begins to Expel ISIS From Mosul, Where 213 US Troops Died During Iraq War

The most important battle yet in the campaign to dislodge ISIS jihadists from territory in Iraq and Syria began early Monday, when Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the offensive to retake Mosul was underway. Read

Friday, October 14, 2016

Leaked Email: Israeli Officials See Obama as ‘Weak,’ ‘Pro-Muslim,’ ‘Anti-Israel’

Weeks before the Iran nuclear deal was finalized last summer, a former U.S. ambassador reportedly told a senior Hillary Clinton campaign adviser he was struck by “the depth of antipathy and distrust of President Obama” he encountered among Israeli officials and former officials across the political spectrum, who viewed the president as “‘weak,’ ‘pro-Muslim,’ and ‘anti-Israel.’” Read

Administration Still Would Fund UNESCO, Despite ‘Politicized’ Resolution Denying Jewish Links to Temple Mount

The State Department reaffirmed Thursday its desire to resume funding for the U.N. Education Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), after the U.S. failed in its latest bid to prevent the agency’s executive board from passing a resolution minimizing the Jewish people’s links to Judaism’s most revered site. Read

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Egypt-Gulf Split Widens Over Sisi’s Support for Russia

Egypt will hold joint military exercises along the Mediterranean coast with Russia this week, in a further sign of a rift between President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and fellow Sunni leaders who have sided against Russia over its support for the Assad regime. Read

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Pakistan Roiled by Claims of Civilian-Military Clash Over Collusion With Terrorists

Pakistan has long dismissed claims that its powerful military intelligence agency colludes with terrorists, but the country has been shaken by a news report on an alleged “unprecedented” confrontation between civilian and military leaders over the issue. Read

State Dep’t Won’t Comment on Clinton Email Claim of Saudi, Qatari Support for ISIS

State Department spokesman John Kirby on Tuesday declined to comment on a claim, purportedly contained in an email sent by Hillary Clinton in 2014, about Saudi and Qatari government support for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS/ISIL). But Kirby stressed that the U.S. relies on the two Sunni monarchies in the campaign against the jihadist group. Read

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Calls Grow for Int’l Criminal Court Probe Into Syrian, Russian Actions

Calls for investigations into possible war crimes in Syria by Russia and the Assad regime mounted Monday, with the French government saying it would discuss the matter with International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors, and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterating an earlier appeal for the U.N. Security Council to refer the situation to the ICC. Read

U.S. Female Chess Champ’s Iran Hijab Protest Gains Ground

A campaign by the top-ranked women’s chess player in the U.S. challenging mandatory wearing of the hijab at a prestigious women’s competition in Tehran next year is picking up steam, with several high profile players pledging support and a petition nearing its target. Read

Monday, October 10, 2016

Moderator Injects Herself into Debate, Challenges Trump for Questioning Mosul Strategy

When Donald Trump during Sunday night’s debate questioned the administration’s approach to retaking the ISIS stronghold of Mosul in Iraq, he got pushback not from rival Hillary Clinton but one of the debate moderators. Read

Trump Disagrees With Running Mate Over Military Force in Syria

Donald Trump, facing the biggest test of his presidential campaign on Sunday night, contradicted his running mate over arguably the most critical foreign policy crisis of the moment, saying he would not use military force against the Assad regime to stop the carnage in Aleppo. Read

Iran: Any US Attack Against Assad Regime Will be ‘Suicidal’

A senior advisor to Iran’s supreme leader warned Sunday that any U.S. military strike against Syria’s Assad regime would be “suicidal.” Read

Friday, October 07, 2016

Russia's Lavrov Hopes Those Pushing for U.S. Military Strikes in Syria Won’t Prevail

Amid deepening U.S.-Russia tensions over the crisis in Syria, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday that Moscow hopes those in Washington pushing for attacks against the Assad regime will not prevail. Read

Thursday, October 06, 2016

State Dep’t: Suspending Engagement With Russia Over Syria Doesn’t Mean Not Talking

Two days after the State Department announced a suspension of bilateral engagement with Russia about Syria, Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday spoke to his Russian counterpart – about Syria. Read

Obama on Paris Climate Accord: ‘History Will Judge Today as a Turning Point For Our Planet’

“History will judge today as a turning point for our planet,” President Obama tweeted Wednesday, as the international community met the ratification threshold required to make the Paris climate accord a reality. It will enter into force in 30 days’ time – four days before the U.S. election. Read

Wednesday, October 05, 2016

Paris Climate Accord Will Take Effect Before Next US President Takes Office

A vote by the European Parliament on Tuesday means that the most ambitious climate change agreement in history will become a reality next month – probably the week of the U.S. election – and even should Donald Trump win and make good on a pledge to withdraw the U.S., he will not be able to do so during a first term. Read

Pence on Putin: ‘The Small and Bullying Leader of Russia’

At Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate, Sen. Tim Kaine repeatedly accused the Republican ticket of praising President Vladimir Putin, while Gov. Mike Pence sought to undercut the charge by labeling Putin – twice – “the small and bullying leader of Russia.” Read

Tuesday, October 04, 2016

Russia: If Not for Our Campaign in Syria, ‘Black Flags’ Could be Flying Over Damascus

The United States, in pursuit of the goal of ousting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is ready to “make a deal with the devil” – the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra – Russia’s foreign ministry charged Monday. Read

‘Unacceptable’: Female Chess Champ Objects to Iran’s Hijab Requirement

The world chess federation FIDE said Tuesday it was “reviewing all options” for the comfort of participants in a women’s world championship competition to be held in Tehran in February, after controversy erupted over an Iranian requirement that players wear the hijab in line with Islamic norms. Read

Monday, October 03, 2016

Colombian Voters Reject Peace Deal That Grants Impunity for Marxist Rebels’ Abuses

Colombian voters have thrown into disarray a recently-signed peace deal with Marxist rebels, narrowly voting down an accord which critics say capitulates to terrorists and will deny justice to victims of the “Western Hemisphere’s longest war.” Read

12,587 Syrian Refugees Admitted in FY 2016: 12,486 Muslims, 68 Christians, 24 Yazidis

The administration admitted a total of 12,587 Syrian refugees during the just-ended fiscal year, exceeding the target President Obama declared last fall by 2,587 (20.5 percent). Read