Merkel berates Obama on spying, joins parade of ‘shocked’ world leaders
A new report suggests that the NSA has monitored the cellphone of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. It’s not really the alleged spying that’s surprising, but the scope of it.
Howard LaFranchi
Drones? What drones? Obama and Pakistan’s Sharif to accentuate the positive
Obama hosts Nawaz Sharif Wednesday, and with the often-rocky US-Pakistani marriage now in kiss-and-make-up mode, the leaders are expected to emphasize issues that unite, rather than divide (drones).
Why Syria peace conference is a tough sell for Kerry: Assad wants to come
Secretary Kerry is traveling to London to boost support for a Syria peace conference. Rebels view Assad’s intentions with suspicion, but the US hopes to find support among the many opposition groups.
Iran nuclear talks: Will ‘bad cop’ Congress approve a deal?
Smiles abounded after world powers ended talks this week with Iran on its nuclear program. US officials will have to win over skeptical members of Congress and key US allies if there is to be a deal.
Are state dinners going the way of the dodo under Obama?
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff canceled a state visit intended for later this month. With that, the Obama White House will almost certainly hold no state dinner this year.
Obama cut to Egypt aid could further weaken US influence in Mideast
President Obama is expected to announce a cut in annual military aid to Egypt, citing what he sees as anti-democratic steps. The decision could alter a decades-old alliance.
Security Council to Syria combatants: Let in humanitarian aid, fast
The UN Security Council on Wednesday moved to formally urge all sides in Syria’s civil war to let humanitarian aid flow freely into the country. International relief for Syria has been sparse, and Western nations say the Assad regime has deliberately blocked it.
Venezuela expels three US diplomats, alleging sabotage plot
Venezuela President Maduro, in a move from the playbook of former President Hugo Chávez, charges that US diplomats engaged in an ‘imperialist’ plot to sabotage the electric grid.
At White House and UN, Israel’s Netanyahu seeks to undo Iranian charm
Iran is not to be trusted and sanctions should be strengthened if it strengthens its nuclear program during negotiations, Netanyahu tells Obama and Biden over lunch at the White House.
US, Iran hold high-level meeting. ‘Substantive’ nuclear talks ahead?
US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif held a brief yet historic bilateral meeting at the UN Thursday as the Security Council met to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. All sides predict future talks will be ‘substantive’ and ‘ambitious.’
Obama speech at UN: Mideast diplomacy remains top focus
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Obama defended America’s leading role in the world, including its readiness to use force, and indicated the Mideast will remain the focus of US diplomacy for the rest of his term.
Obama: Even with Russian plan on Syria, a military option is still needed
President Obama’s address to the nation was nearly upstaged by a Russian plan to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons stockpiles. But threat of a military strike prompted Russia and Assad to act – and is needed if diplomacy fails, he says.
Senators warn Kerry: Syria can’t become another Iraq
A Senate hearing about potential military strikes against Syria was dominated by discussion about Iraq. Secretary of State John Kerry promised there would be no ground troops.
Syria crisis: Could chemical weapons claims prompt Libya-style intervention?
The US has joined other countries in demanding that a UN team investigate Wednesday’s suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria. But experts are quick to list reasons why a major US intervention is unlikely.
Amid confusion over Yemen plot, US drones pound Al Qaeda
Yemen appeared to back away from claims it had foiled a grandiose plot, and some terror experts wondered if the US, which launched three more drone strikes, had been duped by Al Qaeda into closing its embassies.
What role for US in new Israel-Palestinian peace talks?
The new Israel-Palestinian peace talks are just that, US officials insist – bilateral talks between the two parties. But the US will have an important role in prodding both sides toward compromise.
Egypt upheaval: What does US hope to accomplish in dispatching a diplomat?
Deputy Secretary of State William Burns is holding talks with Egypt’s military-backed interim government and is also meeting with Egyptian business leaders during a two-day visit.
Israel greets Kerry with settlement declaration. Could that signal progress?
Israel’s settlement announcement would seem to be a slap at Kerry’s efforts to reopen peace talks. But as one Mideast veteran puts it, Netanyahu ‘takes a step backward before he takes a step forward.’
New Benghazi testimony in Congress sharply critical of Obama administration
Three State Department officials, referred to as ‘whistleblowers’ by some on the House panel, testified on the Benghazi attack for hours in an intensely partisan atmosphere.
Did detained American’s Christianity scare North Korean regime?
North Korea’s sentencing of a detained American to 15 years hard labor could be an attention-getting ploy. But Kenneth Bae is a devout Christian, and ‘the regime is scared to death of Christianity.’