Feb 08 U.S. faces shortcomings in global, anti-ISIS coalition By Robert Burns, Associated Press WASHINGTON — To doubters of its strategy for defeating the Islamic State, the Obama administration likes to tout its coalition of 66 nations and claim strength in numbers. But a year and a half into the war, some administration officials… Continue reading
Feb 05 Fact-checking the 5th Democratic debate By Calvin Woodward and Christopher S. Rugaber WASHINGTON — Hillary Clinton cast the financial industry as an adversary in her presidential campaign — despite the money that industry has poured into her White House effort. Bernie Sanders once again mischaracterized the share of the wealth taken by… Continue reading
Feb 01 More U.S., coalition forces likely needed to fight ISIS, top commander says By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The commander of military operations against the Islamic State group says there is a "good potential" he will need more U.S. and coalition forces to ramp up the fight as it extends across Iraq and Syria. Continue reading
Jan 22 How do the new U.S. visa rules work? By Alicia A. Caldwell, Associated Press The Obama administration is tightening travel restrictions on Europeans and others who have visited Iran, Iraq, Syria or Sudan in the last five years. Continue reading
Jan 21 U.S., coalition forces to boost efforts against ISIS propaganda By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press PARIS — U.S. and coalition forces are battling Islamic State militants in the skies and on the ground across Iraq and Syria, but the allies are increasingly also targeting the airwaves, where they now are losing the propaganda war. Continue reading
Jan 20 Senate Democrats block Syrian refugee bill By Richard Lardner, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats have blocked a House-passed bill that would crack down on Syrian and Iraqi refugees coming to the U.S. Continue reading
Jan 19 Watch 3:17 News Wrap: Iraqis killed at 'staggering' rate since rise of ISIS, says UN By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Tuesday, 18,000 Iraqis have died from violence between the start of 2014 and last October, according to a U.N. report. Also, Reuters reported that three Americans who disappeared in Baghdad were kidnapped by a Shiite militia. Continue watching
Jan 19 Obama touts Australia's contribution to Islamic State fight By Kathleen Hennessey, Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Tuesday thanked Australia for its "steadfast" alliance and key contributions in the fight against Islamic State group, as he we welcomed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the White House for the new leader's first… Continue reading
Jan 18 Watch 4:32 News Wrap: Security forces search for Americans missing in Iraq By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Monday, security forces searched Baghdad for three Americans who disappeared over the weekend. An Iraqi lawmaker said they worked for a private company. Also, a pair of Iranian poets have escaped to another country after having… Continue watching
Jan 16 Senate to consider bill on screening procedures for refugees By Michael D. Regan and Richard Lardner, Associated Press The Senate will consider new rigorous screening procedures for Syrian and Iraqi refugees seeking to enter the United States as national security looms large for voters in an election year. Continue reading