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Human Rights December 20, 2015

Pro-strike lawmakers mum as startling videos surface of Syrian rebels

Lawmakers who were early champions of a U.S. strike on Assad regime targets in Syria have stayed mum as video clips emerge appearing to show opposition soldiers both killing unarmed men and indicating they have possession of chemical weapons. 

Alliances December 20, 2015

Putin wants to send delegation to lobby Capitol Hill against Syria strike

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to send a delegation to Washington to persuade Capitol Hill lawmakers not to support a military strike on Syria.

Alliances December 20, 2015

Kerry takes case for Syria strike to the public

The Obama administration begins taking its case for a strike against Syria to the American people Sunday morning, with Secretary of State John Kerry making rounds on morning television news shows. 

State Department December 20, 2015

Michigan lawmaker launches campaign to free American prisoner in Iran

Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., marched onto the House floor Thursday night, earnestly seeking support from as many colleagues as he could  find on an issue beholden to no party line. Armed with a one-paged pamphlet slightly larger than a post card, Kildee passed out information on an American from his district who has been held prisoner in Iran for the past two years.

State Department December 20, 2015

President Obama turns to Congress to OK strike against Syria

President Obama said Saturday the United States should take military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for using chemical weapons on civilians but also turned to Congress for approval -- dealing a potential setback to America's foreign policy and setting up what will likely be a hard-fought Washington debate on the issue.

State Department December 20, 2015

North Korea cancels meeting with US envoy to negotiate release of American

North Korea has rescinded its offer to allow a special U.S. envoy on human rights to travel to the country to negotiate the release of an American imprisoned there on charges of plotting to harm the communist country through his Christian missionary activities, the State Department said Friday.

Human Rights December 20, 2015

Judge orders release of Guantanamo videotapes

A federal judge on Friday ordered the public release of 28 videotapes of a hunger-striking Guantanamo Bay prisoner strike being forcibly removed from his cell and force-fed.

Human Rights December 20, 2015

India's new prime minister Modi attends White House dinner despite fast

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off a two-day visit with President Obama Monday with a private dinner but there was a slight issue: the new leader of the world's largest democracy couldn't eat.

State Department December 20, 2015

US says Burma resorting to police-state tactics

The State Department's top human rights official is accusing Myanmar authorities of resorting to police-state tactics after five journalists from a weekly magazine got 10 years at hard labor for a disputed story about a weapons factory.

Human Rights December 20, 2015

7 Colombians now facing murder charges in US for death of DEA agent

The Department of Justice says seven Colombians have been extradited to the United States to face charges related to the 2013 stabbing death of a U.S. drug agent in Bogota.

Alliances December 20, 2015

Biden flies to Central America amid migrant crisis

The Obama administration moved Friday to stem a flood of Central American children and families that has overwhelmed the U.S. immigration system, dispatching Vice President Joe Biden to the region to warn against the perils of the trip and announcing that it will start to detain families at the border instead of releasing them on their own recognizance.