Washington Post

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Barack Obama, coverage of foreign events, Crimea, Dimming Vision of World Affairs, Donald Trump, European Union, foreign news coverage, International Law, NATO, Russia, sanctions, self-defense, U.N. Charter, U.S. Military, Ukraine, United States, use of force, vision of peace, Vladimir Putin February 15, 2017

Leading U.S. newspapers miss story: White House press secretary says Russia must return the Crimea (Updated February 16, 2017)

Updated February 17, 2017 Leading U.S. Newspapers Miss the Biggest Story on the Ukraine in More than a Year There is a lot going on…

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Barack Obama, CIA, extrajudicial execution, human rights, International Law, Justice Department, self-defense, State Department Legal Adviser, targeted assassinations, targeted killings, U.N. Charter, U.S. Military, United States, use of force, war crimes February 13, 2014

REPRISE: Anwar al-Aulaqi—Targeted Killings, Self-Defense, and War Crimes

Press reports indicate President Obama is considering adding or has already added the name of a U.S. citizen to the kill list for targeted assassination…

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Obama’s “intellectual” approach and continuing indecision on no-fly zone and arms in Syria

For background, see The Trenchant Observer, “Obama’s “intellectual” decision-making style and the covert supply of arms to the Free Syrian Army,” June 17, 2013. On…

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Obama’s “intellectual” decision-making style and the covert supply of arms to the Free Syrian Army

New details have emerged regarding the flow of weapons from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to the Free Syrian Army. These supplies were reportedly cut…

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REPRISE: “Looney Toons” at the White House: New York Times article details Obama’s thinking on Syria—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #45 (May 27, 2012)

Introduction to the REPRISE (May 7, 2013) So, Obama’s “red line” on the use of chemical weapons in Syria turns out to be a red…

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Key CIA official involved in Bush torture program criticizes “Zero Dark Thirty” for inaccurate depiction of “enhanced interrogation techniques”

Developing story You can’t make this stuff up. Jose Rodriguez, a former CIA official deeply involved in the Bush torture program, published an opinion piece…

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Benghazi update: New questions raised on intelligence, decision-making failures (Updated November 6, 2012)

Latest Reports and Opinion Adam Housley, “Exclusive: Security officials on the ground in Libya challenge CIA account,” Fox News, November 3, 2012. Jennifer Rubin, “Obama’s…

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President Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood express condolences for American losses in Benghazi, offer reassurances concerning defense of U.S. embassy in Cairo; Vienna Conventions require effective defense in all cases

In response to what was reported as a less than robust defense of the U.S. embassay in Cairo by Egyptian security forces on Wednesday, September…

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New authoritarian states in Latin America seek to weaken regional human rights commission and court; Venezuela gives notice of withdrawal from Inter-American Court of Human Rights

In Latin America, a concerted effort has been underway to weaken the effectiveness of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of…

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Security Council adopts Resolution 2059 extending mandate of UNSMIS for 30 days (with text); fighting and risks intensify—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #67 (July 20)

The U.N. Security Council adopted a draft resolution sponsored by the United Kingdom, France, and Germany on Friday morning, July 20, 2012, extending the term…

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"that spark of the divine", Afghanistan, Barack Obama, CIA, debate over the efficacy of torture, extrajudicial execution, foreign correspondents, History, human rights, Intelligence, International Law, NATO, Pakistan, Pakistan military, self-defense, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, targeted assassinations, targeted killings, Torture, U.N. Charter, U.N. Convention Against Torture, U.N. Security Council, U.N. Torture Convention, U.S. Congress, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, United States, use of force, vision of peace, war crimes, Yemen June 1, 2012

President Obama as “Executioner in Chief”

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” –Lord Acton (1834-1902) SOURCES Jo Becker and Scott Shane, “Secret ‘Kill List’ Proves a Test of…

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“Looney Toons” at the White House: New York Times article details Obama’s thinking on Syria—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #45 (May 27)

looney-tunes adj. [after Looney Tunes, trademark for a series of animated cartoons] [Slang] crazy; demented: also loon’ y-tunes *** loony [Slang] adj. loon’i-er, looní-est [LUNATIC]…

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U.S. Covert Action in Syria?—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #40 (May 22)

The “Covert Commander in Chief” and America’s real policy toward Syria Indeed, as pointed out in our previous article, statements from Obama and his administration…

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Obama clueless on Syria? G-8 endorses UN peace plan—Obama’s Debacle in Syria—Update #39 (May 21)

Latest News Reports and Opinion Clashes over the weekend following the killing of two Sunni clerics at a roadblock in Tripoli, under ambiguous circumstances, have…

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Latest news reports—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #32

Latest News Reports and Opion [will update] David Enders, “Rare inside view of Syria’s rebels finds a force vowing to fight on,” McClatchy Newspapers, April…

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Syrian forces carry out revenge attacks and targeted reprisals against those meeting with U.N. observers—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #30 (April 25)

Latest News and Opinion Chilling details of reprisals by Syrian forces against those who spoke to U.N. observers are provided by Ulrike Putz, reporting for…