Wednesday, May 31, 2017

‘Direct Collision’: U.S. Successfully Destroys a Missile in Flight

In a “critical milestone” for the program to provide a missile defense umbrella over the U.S. homeland, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency on Tuesday reported the first successful interception and destruction in flight of a target with ICBM characteristics. Read

Iran Rejects ‘Baseless’ Claims About ‘Highest-Level’ Approval for Foiled DC Assassination Plot

Defense Secretary James Mattis’ charge that Iran’s top leadership approved a foiled 2011 plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington drew a sharp response from Tehran on Tuesday. Read

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Pope Says Copts Were Killed After Refusing to Renounce Their Christian Faith

The death toll in the latest terrorist atrocity targeting Egyptian Christians rose to 30 on Monday, after a victim succumbed to his wounds three days after Islamist gunmen opened fire on a group of travelers whom they had identified as Christians. Read

North Korea Again Threatens to Nuke US Mainland

As the Pentagon prepares for the first time to test the U.S. ability to intercept and destroy an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in flight, North Korea has again threatened to target the U.S. homeland with nuclear weapons. Read

Friday, May 26, 2017

Rejecting Kerry’s Appeals, Senate Committee Passes New Iran Sanctions Bill With Strong Dem Support

Despite a last-minute appeal by former Secretary of State John Kerry, the architect of the Iran deal, the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday passed a new bill targeting Iran for missile activity, terror-sponsorship and human rights abuses – with strong support from Democrats. Read

Iranian State Media Angered by Contact Between Saudi King and Melania Trump

Amid an ongoing war of words between the Middle East’s leading Sunni and Shi’ite powers, Iran’s state media latched onto a new irritant this week – the interaction between a U.S. first lady with an uncovered head, and the king of Saudi Arabia. Read

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Kerry Takes to Twitter to Urge Against New Iran Sanctions Bill

Former Secretary of State John Kerry took to Twitter Wednesday to urge U.S. senators not to move ahead with legislation that he says could put the Iran nuclear deal – negotiated by Kerry, among others -- in jeopardy. Read

Trump Is Pushed and Pulled on Climate Change, A Year After Pledging to Cancel Paris Deal

Exactly one year after pledging in a speech to “cancel” the Paris climate agreement, President Trump will attend a Group of Seven summit Friday in Sicily where he’s expected to come under sustained pressure from his counterparts to reverse course. Read

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Robert Gates Warns of More Attacks Like Manchester, As ISIS Fighters Pose As Refugees

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday that the downfall of ISIS’ “caliphate” in the Middle East would not necessarily mean the defeat of committed individuals who, pretending to be refugees, may travel to Western countries and then carry out terror attacks. Read

Administration Proposes Steep Cuts to Account That Funds U.N. Regular Budget

The U.S. is the largest contributor by far to the United Nations and many other international organizations, and cuts in the administration’s proposed FY 2018 budget are designed to prod other nations to pay a bigger share, a senior State Department official said Tuesday. Read

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

ISIS Claims Responsibility for Manchester Terror Attack--Supporters Celebrate Murder of 22

Police in Manchester, England confirmed Tuesday that they believe a deadly blast at a music concert venue on Monday night was a terrorist attack carried out by a suicide bomber who died at the scene, killing at least 22 people. Read

Trump on Visiting Israel’s Western Wall: ‘It Will Leave An Impression On Me Forever’

Images of President Trump touching the ancient stones of the Western Wall in Jerusalem will send a strong signal to the Palestinians and their Muslim allies who have used U.N. forums to contest Jewish claims and heritage at the location of the biblical Temples. Read

Monday, May 22, 2017

Iran’s Foreign Minister Rebukes Trump for Criticizing His Country From ‘Bastion of Democracy’ Saudi Arabia

Iran and its destabilizing regional role was a major point of agreement at the weekend’s U.S.-Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, and its foreign minister did not like the focus of attention. Read

In Saudi Arabia: Trump Tells Muslim Leaders to Confront 'the Crisis of Islamic Extremism'

President Trump presented the world’s top Muslim leaders Sunday with a message that was both reassuring and direct, offering “closer bonds of friendship, security, culture and commerce” but also challenging them to “drive out” of their societies those who claim inspiration from Islam as they commit terror around the world. Read

Friday, May 19, 2017

Tillerson: Foreign Leaders Ready for Re-Engagement After Period of ‘Neglect,' 'Dismissal of Their Concerns’

People around the world “do not have the time to pay attention to what’s happening domestically” in the United States, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Thursday, disputing a suggestion that difficulties facing President Trump at home may be affecting his credibility or hampering foreign policy. Read

US-Led Coalition Attacks Pro-Assad Regime Forces in Syria

In a rare move, the U.S.-led coalition on Thursday attacked forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in southern Syria, although Defense Secretary James Mattis said the incident did not mean an increased U.S. role in the Syrian civil war. Read

Thursday, May 18, 2017

U.S. Opposes Sudan President’s Travel to Saudi Summit That Trump Is Attending

Neither Saudi Arabia nor Sudan have officially announced that Sudan’s president, accused of war crimes, will take part in a summit with President Trump in Riyadh at the weekend, although it seems unlikely King Salman would jeopardize what is being touted as a hugely important event for the kingdom. Read

Royce to Attorney-General: Charge Perpetrators of Turkish Violence Before They Leave the US

Those responsible for violently attacking anti-Erdogan protestors in Washington, D.C., should be charged before they leave the country, House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) said in a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Wednesday. Read

CAIR to Trump: Avoid ‘Pejorative Terminology’ and ‘Anti-Muslim Stereotypes’ in Your Saudi Speech

If President Trump wants to engage the world’s Muslims when he delivers a speech in Riyadh he should avoid “pejorative terminology” and “anti-Muslim stereotypes” promoted by some of his “Islamophobic” advisers. Read

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Political Repression on Embassy Row: Erdogan’s Men Attack Protesters in D.C.

Protesters outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence in Washington on Tuesday afternoon were assaulted by men – many wearing dark suits and presumed to be Turkish officials – in scenes that stoked outrage on social media. Read

Behind Warm Words, Deep Divisions Between US, Turkey Over US Support for Syrian Kurds Fighting ISIS

President Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan both touted the strong ties between the two NATO allies during their White House meeting Tuesday, but behind the warm words lay deep and unresolved differences over the nature and role of U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in Syria. Read

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Trump Expected to Meet With Pakistan’s PM After Sharp Words From Both Sides

President Trump looks set to meet next week with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his first encounter with the leader of a country whose relationship with the U.S. has been characterized by resentment, distrust – and tens of billions of dollars in U.S. assistance. Read

Expanded ‘Mexico City’ Policy Won’t Affect Amount of Funding for, or Continuation of, Global Health Programs

The Trump administration’s significant expansion of a Reagan-era policy that prohibits federal funding for organizations that promote or perform abortions abroad will not affect the amount of funding the U.S. provides for life-saving health programs or the continuation of those programs, administration officials said Monday. Read

Monday, May 15, 2017

Saudis Mum on Whether Sudan’s President, Accused of War Crimes, Has Been Invited to Summit With Trump

Saudi Arabia has not confirmed reports that it has invited Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to a major Arab-Islamic-U.S. summit to be attended by President Trump in Riyadh next week, although Sudanese opposition figures claim that to be the case. Read

Netanyahu: Moving U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem Would Not Harm Peace Process

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson hinted Sunday that Israel may not want the U.S. Embassy to move to Jerusalem if that could harm peace process prospects, but Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu quickly rejected any such suggestion. Read

Friday, May 12, 2017

Tillerson On Climate Change: 'We’re Not Going to Rush to Make a Decision'

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Thursday the Trump administration was in no rush to determine how to approach the issue of climate change, but would “make the right decision for the United States.” Read

Russia’s Foreign Ministry Slams US Media: ‘Colossal Bias …Lack of Independent Thinking’

Russia’s foreign ministry on Thursday lashed out at the U.S. media for their coverage of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to Washington this week. Instead of focusing on bilateral relations, American media outlets wanted to talk about alleged Russian interference in the U.S. election and the firing of FBI Director James Comey. Read

Thursday, May 11, 2017

US Ambassador to Qatar Raises Eyebrows With Tweet Seemingly Critical of Trump

The U.S. ambassador to Qatar drew strong reactions on Twitter after appearing to criticize President Trump on the social media network hours after the president fired FBI Director James Comey. Read

Amid Dispute Over U.S. Arming Syrian Kurds, Mattis Says Relationship With Turkey ‘Not Always Tidy’

Defense Secretary James Mattis expressed confidence Wednesday that a dispute with Turkey over a U.S. decision to arm Syrian Kurdish fighters in the campaign to dislodge ISIS terrorists from their Raqqa stronghold will not affect a relationship between the NATO allies which he described as “not always tidy.” Read

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

‘Palestine’ Will Be There, But Taiwan Faces Exclusion From Annual UN Health Assembly

When the World Health Organization holds its annual general assembly in Geneva this month, the “State of Palestine” will be among observers but – unless China relents – the independent island democracy of Taiwan will not. Read

‘Islam Wants Domination’ Says Franklin Graham As Jakarta’s Christian Governor Is Jailed for Blasphemy

The world’s most populous Islamic country took another lurch backwards Tuesday when a court sentenced the capital city’s first Christian governor in half a century to two years’ imprisonment for “blasphemy.” Read

Tuesday, May 09, 2017

Defense Secretary Says U.S. Will Decide 'Shortly' on Increasing Troops in Afghanistan

Defense Secretary James Mattis confirmed Monday that a decision could be expected “very, very shortly” on expanding the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan, following reports indicating that between 3,000 and 5,000 additional personnel may be deployed. Read

As Russia Pushes Safe Zones in Syria, Mattis Asks, Who Will Ensure Safety?

Russia has presented a draft U.N. Security Council resolution endorsing safe or “de-escalation” zones in Syria, but Defense Secretary James Mattis cautioned Monday that the proposal leaves many questions unanswered. Read

Monday, May 08, 2017

Palestinian Leader of Prison Hunger Strike Filmed Eating Secretly in His Cell

Israel’s public security minister has slammed as a “hypocrite” the leader of a group of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike after he was filmed apparently eating surreptitiously in his cell. Read

Iran’s May 19 Election Will Not Change Nature of Brutal Regime, Critics Say

The May 19 election in Iran will make very little difference to Tehran’s major policies of repression and terror-sponsorship, two critics of the regime said during a press conference discussion in Paris on the upcoming vote. Read

Trump Congratulates Macron, France’s Youngest President-Elect, on ‘Big Win’

President Trump joined other world leaders on Sunday congratulating Emmanuel Macron, after the former banker with no previous electoral office roundly defeated Marine le Pen, the far-right populist whose rise was seen by some as part of the same nationalist wave that brought Trump to power and saw Britons vote to leave the European Union. Read

Friday, May 05, 2017

Trump May Speak at Symbolic Jewish Fortress When Visiting Israel

President Trump’s first trip abroad as president may include a speech at the highly symbolic ancient Jewish fortress of Masada, Israeli media outlets reported Thursday, after the White House announced a visit later this month to Israel, Saudi Arabia, the Vatican, Italy and Belgium. Read

Trump Says Social Media Helps Him to ‘Circumvent’ Fake Media

Social media enables him to “circumvent” unfair or false media reporting and quickly share the message he wants to get out, President Trump said Thursday. Read

Thursday, May 04, 2017

Trump: Achieving Mideast Peace ‘Maybe Not As Difficult As People Have Thought’

President Trump expressed optimism Wednesday that he may succeed where predecessors have failed in mediating an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, even as visiting Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas recited the same list of positions rejected by Israeli governments in past negotiations. Read

Wednesday, May 03, 2017

Putin: ‘We Never Interfere in the Political Affairs … of Other Countries’

President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday Russia “never” interferes in other countries’ political affairs but was itself a victim of outside interference, including through “so-called non-governmental organizations.” Read

UN Report: 70% of Egyptian Men Approve of Female Genital Mutilation

Most men in the Arab region hold rigid views about the place of women and assert their right to control their wives’ decisions – ranging from where they go to whether to work, and from what they wear to when the couple has sex, according to a survey conducted by UN Women and Promundo, a non-governmental organization focused on equitable gender relations. Read

Tuesday, May 02, 2017

60% Jump in Refugees Admitted to U.S. from March to April

With President Trump’s immigration executive orders still being held up by federal courts, the number of refugees admitted into the United States from around the world increased by 60.2 percent in April, with 3,316 arrivals compared to 2,070 in March. Read

Hamas Revamps Its Image, But Still Embraces ‘Armed Resistance’ and Does Not Recognize Israel

In a bid to shed its image as an Islamist terrorist group, Hamas on Monday launched a new political program that draws a distinction between Jews and “Zionists” as the enemy, but stopped short of recognizing Israel or renouncing violence. Read

Monday, May 01, 2017

Legal Think Tank Warns Hotel Group That Hamas Event May Violate US Law

A U.S. legal think tank has warned an international hotel group that it risks legal liability under U.S. federal law if it allows Hamas, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, to use one of its properties in Qatar for an event on Monday. Read

Trump: Dealing With North Korea Nuclear Threat ‘Maybe More Important’ Than a Trade Deal With China

President Trump has expressed a willingness to accept a less-than-ideal trade deal with China if necessary to get Beijing to help end the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and prevent a potentially devastating war. Read