Jun 25 Diplomat: China’s land disputes hurt its international standing By Matthew Pennington, Associated Press WASHINGTON — China's coercive efforts to enforce its territorial claims in disputed waters are not just raising tensions but damaging its international standing, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday. Continue reading
Jun 23 Watch Kerry urges Iraq’s embattled premier to use more inclusive government to oppose ISIL By PBS News Hour Secretary of State John Kerry delivered a stern warning during a visit with the Shiite-led Iraqi government, urging immediate and united action to stand against ISIL. Meanwhile government forces lost control of the entire frontier with Syria and Jordan and… Continue watching
Jun 23 Kerry to Iraq leaders: Sharing power is critical to staving off civil war By Lara Jakes, Hamza Hendawi, Associated Press Meeting with all factions, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had a dire message to leaders of Iraq's bitterly divided Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish political coalitions who have lived through more than three decades of dictatorship, sanctions and wars. "This… Continue reading
Jun 23 Sentencing of Al-Jazeera journalists in Egypt ‘chilling,’ Kerry says By Associated Press BAGHDAD — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says that the sentencing of three Al-Jazeera journalists in Cairo to 7-to 10-year prison terms is chilling. He says he is voicing his concern to Egypt’s foreign minister. Continue reading
Jun 21 As alliances blur in Mideast, US and Iran are potential partners By Associated Press For years, Iran has been an archenemy of the United States. Now, with alliances blurred in the Mideast, the two countries are talking about how to stop an offensive in Iraq by al-Qaida-inspired insurgents. Continue reading
Jun 19 Kerry dismisses Cheney’s criticism of U.S. policy in Iraq By Associated Press Kerry noted the failure of the United States to secure a continuing military arrangement with Iraq's government after U.S. combat forces left. "We didn't have operational theater capacity at the time" of the surge in violence spawned by al-Qaida-inspired Islamic… Continue reading
Jun 16 Pentagon rules out U.S. military cooperation with Iran in Iraq crisis By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The Pentagon's press secretary, Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, told reporters Monday that while there may be discussions between U.S. and Iranian officials in Vienna about security in the region, it will not include any military coordination. Continue reading
Jun 16 Kerry signals U.S. willing to cooperate with Iran to end violence in Iraq By Matthew Lee, Associated Press Kerry said Washington is "open to discussions" with Tehran if the Iranians can help end the violence and restore confidence in the Iraqi government. Asked about possible military cooperation with Iran, Kerry said he would "not rule out anything that… Continue reading
Jun 13 Kerry: Iraq insurgency threatens U.S interests By Lara Jakes, Associated Press The U.S. is citing its years of fighting in Iraq as a reason for considering new military action to battle a growing insurgency there but not in neighboring Syria's civil war. Continue reading
Jun 07 Watch U.S. policy in Syria focuses on humanitarian crisis By PBS News Hour Presidential elections were held in Syria on Tuesday, with President Bashar al-Assad taking nearly 90 percent of the vote. Is the U.S. 'behind the curve' in its handling of the conflict? Hari Sreenivasan speaks with Liz Sly, the Beirut bureau… Continue watching