In the last major foreign policy speech of his presidency on Tuesday, President Barack Obama defended his counter-terrorism strategy over the last eight years, while simultaneously offering advice to his successor, Donald Trump, along with thinly-veiled criticism of some of the president-elect's policy proposals. "I will become the first President of the United States to … Continue reading Obama defends foreign policy record, suggests Trump try to achieve what he failed to
Tag: Afghanistan
Fidel Castro, leader of communist Cuba for half a century, has died at the age of 90. The news of his death comes less than two years after US President Barack Obama took the most substantial actions in decades to ease the tense relationship between Cuba and the US, and follows the election of Donald … Continue reading Will Trump make Guantanamo great again?
Following Donald Trump's election win last week, many remain in a state of shock while others are celebrating. One group that is happy about the news, however, would probably not get along well with the kind of Trump supporters typically highlighted in the media, should their paths cross. Jihadists around the world apparently see a … Continue reading Jihadists see opportunity in Trump win
Today, Nov. 11, 2016, three days after Donald Trump's election win, is Veterans Day. It is the 98th anniversary of the armistice that ended fighting in World War I. It marks fifteen years and two months since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. A large majority of military veterans voted for Trump, by about … Continue reading Vets voted for ‘unpredictable’ Trump over Clinton’s status quo foreign policy
With the U.S. presidential election less than three weeks away, many Americans remain focused on domestic politics, or in foreign affairs, on the escalating tensions with Russia over the war in Syria. In other news, however, the U.S. is also escalating its role in an array of other conflicts across the Middle East -- and … Continue reading As Americans focus on election, U.S. steps up involvement in several wars
Federal Bureau of Investigation officials warned this week that despite predictions of military defeat for the Islamic State extremist group's "caliphate" in Iraq and Syria, terrorist attacks inspired by the organization can be expected to continue. While the Islamic State (also known as ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh) will inevitably be "crushed," FBI Director James … Continue reading FBI warns of post-ISIS blowback as EU tries to export its refugee problem
Despite opposition from Saudi Arabia and the European Union, despite opinion pieces published by major outlets like CNN and the Atlantic urging President Obama to veto a bill allowing 9/11 victims' families to sue the Saudi government, which he did last week, Congress voted overwhelmingly today to override the president's veto for the first time … Continue reading Obama, CIA express disappointment, disbelief following veto override
Recent polls showing disproportionate active duty military support for Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson versus that among the overall population may represent more than simple dissatisfaction with this year's regrettable major party candidates. Signs increasingly point to a U.S. military that is broadly dissatisfied with the direction of the country, along with its politicians' decisions … Continue reading Military polls show dissatisfaction with U.S. politics beyond election
Earlier this month, NBC News published a "heat map" leaked from the National Counterterrorism Center that purported to show that the Islamic State extremist group has expanded to "fully operational" status in 18 countries and is spreading to several others. Writing in The Hill this week, however, counterterrorism researcher Anhvinh Doanvo argues that it is … Continue reading Fuzzy math, the ISIS brand, and America’s foreign military presence
Less than a month after the release of the infamous "28 pages" of a congressional 9/11 investigation that had been withheld for over a decade, which dealt with alleged ties between the government of Saudi Arabia and some of the hijackers, the Pentagon and State Department announced a new arms sale totaling more than $1 … Continue reading A billion more in arms for Saudi intervention in Yemen civil war