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 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 US weighs rotating more fighter jets, bombers through northern Australia The U.S. is considering rotating more fighter jets and bombers through northern Australia as part of steps to deepen its defense ties with Asia-Pacific allies.
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.
December 20, 2015 US official: Number of foreign fighters in Syria spikes Matthew Olsen, the outgoing director of the National Counterterrorism Center, said Friday there are 12,000 foreign fighters in Syria – a significant jump from previous estimates, indicating a “greater and more complex” threat than in recent years.
December 20, 2015 Why perceptions of Obama's foreign policies may never turn around President Obama has never faced this many international crises at once. And it's never been so obvious that he lacks the silver bullet to fix them.
December 20, 2015 Lawmakers say there will be 'hell to pay' if Russia is behind Malaysia Airlines crash The White House confirmed Thursday that President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin briefly discussed a Malaysian passenger plane crash which killed 295 people on board during a telephone call the two leaders had earlier in the day. The plane carrying 295 on board crashed in Ukraine near the border with Russia. The plane was traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Pieces of the Boeing 777 along with bodies were found burning on the ground in Ukraine.
December 20, 2015 German foreign minister to meet Kerry to discuss spying claims Germany's foreign minister said Friday he will tell U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at a meeting this weekend that Berlin wants to reinvigorate the two countries' friendship "on an honest basis" after asking Washington's top spy to leave.
December 20, 2015 Obama administration given heads up about newspaper data destruction The Obama administration knew in advance that the British government would oversee destruction of a newspaper's hard drives containing leaked National Security Agency documents last year, newly declassified documents show. The White House had publicly distanced itself on whether it would do the same to an American news organization.
December 20, 2015 Kerry arrives in Afghanistan to meet candidates U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made a hastily arranged visit to Afghanistan on Friday to help resolve an election crisis sowing chaos in a country that the U.S. has spent hundreds of billions of dollars and lost more than 2,000 lives trying to stabilize.