December 20, 2015 US denies cooperation with Iran against ISIS The State Department said Friday it was not coordinating military action or sharing intelligence with Iran, despite an earlier report claiming Iran’s supreme leader had authorized his top military commanders to work with United States, Iraqi and Kurdish forces to fight terror group ISIS.
December 20, 2015 Obama announces plan to send Air Force units, aircraft to Baltics President Obama landed in the Baltic republic of Estonia early Wednesday for security talks with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, all of whom are expected to demand that the U.S. and NATO take firmer steps to ensure their security in the wake of the ongoing unrest in Ukraine.Â
December 20, 2015 Russia's gains cloud Obama's assurances to Baltic leaders For the second time this year, President Barack Obama will travel to Russia's backyard to assure nervous nations of his ironclad commitment to their security. But his objectives will be clouded by the West's inability to halt the Russian aggression in Ukraine that has stoked fears in other former Soviet republics.
December 20, 2015 US reportedly recruiting allies to support expanded airstrikes, Syrian opposition The Obama administration is pressing U.S. allies to increase their support for moderate rebel groups in Syria, as well as possible military operations, according to a published report.
December 20, 2015 Enemy of My Enemy: Are airstrikes against ISIS putting US on same side as Assad? A year after his "red line" was crossed in the deadly chemical attack against Syrian rebels and civilians -- including hundreds of children -- allegedly by Syrian government forces, President Obama finds himself in the awkward position of being on the same side as the Assad regime in the fight to keep Islamic State militants from gaining more ground in Iraq.
December 20, 2015 Joint U.S.-Guatemalan anti-drug program jeopardized by Central American government's late payments A joint U.S. and Guatemalan anti-narcotics aviation program is in trouble after less than a year in operation due to chronic non-payment of a key contractor by the Central American nation's government.
December 20, 2015 Disputes over Gaza conflict reportedly mark new low in US influence over Israel Disputes over the conduct of Israel's recent offensive in the Gaza Strip have left the Obama administration with little influence over Israeli Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu's government and kept the U.S. largely on the sidelines as Egypt attempts to negotiate a long-term truce between the two long-time adversaries, according to a published report.Â
December 20, 2015 Clinton critical of Obama foreign policy, says 'failure' to act in Syria created vacuum for jihad Hillary Clinton, the front runner among potential 2016 Democratic presidential candidates, is sharply distancing herself from President Obama's foreign policy, particularly in Syria, as Americans appear to continue to lose confidence in his handling of key international affair.
December 20, 2015 Kerry in Afghanistan to meet feuding candidates, after general's murder U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Afghanistan on an unannounced visit to try to calm tensions between the country's two feuding presidential candidates.
December 20, 2015 Africa summit begins in Washington despite Ebola fears, visitors face screening The White House was forging ahead Monday with a three-day Washington summit inviting delegations from nearly 50 African countries, despite growing fears about the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus.