December 20, 2015 White House: No ‘combat role,’ but US troops could ‘forward deploy’ with Iraqis The White House acknowledged Wednesday that President Obama would consider putting U.S. troops in "forward-deployed positions" to advise Iraqi forces in the fight against the Islamic State -- even while insisting U.S. troops would not be sent back into a "combat role" in Iraq.
December 20, 2015 Senate: China hacked military contractor networks China's military hacked into computer networks of civilian transportation companies hired by the Pentagon at least nine times, breaking into computers aboard a commercial ship, targeting logistics companies and uploading malicious software onto an airline's computers, Senate investigators said Wednesday.
December 20, 2015 House GOP moves ahead on Syrian rebel training Lawmakers raced Monday to authorize an expanded mission to arm and train moderate Syrian rebels before heading back to the campaign trail, with President Obama's fiercest opponents in the House GOP preparing to consent -- on condition no U.S. ground forces are deployed in the fight against the Islamic State group.
December 20, 2015 US creating programs to counter extremists The Justice Department is launching a series of pilot programs in cities around the country to deal with American extremists intent on joining the fighting in countries like Syria and Iraq, Attorney General Eric Holder said Monday.
December 20, 2015 Don’t Call It a War? Administration hit for refusing to use ‘w’ word for ISIS mission The Obama administration is refusing to describe the expanded military campaign against the Islamic State as a war -- despite plans to launch airstrikes across two tumultuous Middle East countries, dispatch hundreds more U.S. military personnel and build a coalition of nations to ultimately “destroy” the growing terror network.
December 20, 2015 Retired general to coordinate Iraq, Syria effort U.S. officials say retired Marine Gen. John Allen will coordinate the broad international effort to battle the Islamic State group, as nations begin to determine what part each will play.
December 20, 2015 Right move, wrong plan? Lawmakers worried Obama using wrong military model to target ISIS President Obama earned positive marks from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for announcing an unequivocal campaign to destroy the Islamic State, but Republicans are worried the president is relying on the wrong military model to go after the terror group.
December 20, 2015 Bush in 2007 delivered eerily accurate warning about Iraq unrest A prophetic warning from then-President George W. Bush before he left office about what would happen if the U.S. withdrew troops from Iraq too soon is getting new attention in light of the Islamic State’s gains, as each of his predictions appears to be coming true.
December 20, 2015 DHS confirms ISIS planning infiltration of US southern border A senior Homeland Security (DHS) official confirmed to Congress on Wednesday that militants associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) are planning to enter the United States via the porous southern border.
December 20, 2015 Obama to vow 'relentless effort' to wipe out Islamic State in prime-time address President Obama, in his prime time address to the nation about the threat of the Islamic State, plans to vow a “relentless effort” to wipe out the terrorists “wherever they exist.”