WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw American troops from Syria was made hastily, without consulting his national security team or allies, and over strong objections from virtually everyone involved in the fight against the Islamic State group, according to U.S. and Turkish officials. Trump stunned his Cabinet, lawmakers...
Mattis Exiting as Pentagon Chief After Clashes With Trump
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is stepping down from his post, President Donald Trump announced Thursday, after the retired Marine general clashed with the president over a troop drawdown in Syria and Trump's go-it-alone stance in world affairs. Mattis, perhaps the most respected foreign policy official in Trump's administration,...
Trump Pulling Out of Syria. Might Afghanistan Be Next?
WASHINGTON — Against the advice of many in his own administration, President Donald Trump is pulling U.S. troops out of Syria. Could a withdrawal from Afghanistan be far behind? Trump has said his instinct is to quit Afghanistan as a lost cause, but more recently he's suggested a willingness to...
Self-Help for Palestinians is Focus for Non-Profit, Despite U.S. Cuts
Charity organizations throughout the U.S. are struggling to provide ongoing assistance to Palestinians living in the Middle East following cuts in funding ordered by the Trump Administration. "We have funding to continue doing Palestinian community infrastructure development work over the next few months, but some of that funding has been cut so...
Syria: West Should Lift Sanctions to Help Refugees Return
MOSCOW — Syria's warring sides and the mediators meeting in Kazakhstan failed to agree on the formation of a committee meant to draft a new constitution for the war-torn country, the U.N. special envoy to Syria said Thursday, calling it a "missed opportunity." Staffan de Mistura was in the Kazakh...
After Gaza Strikes, Israel Threatens Iranian Forces in Syria
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Palestinian militants ceased rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel and relative calm prevailed Saturday afternoon after a night-long exchange of fire that prompted Israeli threats against Iranian forces in Syria. The Islamic Jihad group, a militant faction operating in the Hamas-ruled Gaza but that has...
How Assad and Hezbollah Beat the West in Syria
Syrian President Bashar Assad’s downfall seemed all but guaranteed at many points during the eight years since the Arab Spring began to topple Middle Eastern dictators, Haaretz reported. Yet Assad has now outlasted fellow despots like Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak and Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, and also Western leaders like President Barack...
Top 10 Photos of the Week
Busboy Who Comforted Robert Kennedy After He Was Shot Dies A Hero’s Return for Central Valley Veterans McMaryion Is ‘McMarvelous’ in Bulldogs’ Body Slam of Toledo Melania Trump Visits School in Malawi Denzel Washington and The Boys & Girls Clubs of America The New York Yankees Ready for Playoffs President Trump...
Top 10 Photos of the Week
Busboy Who Comforted Robert Kennedy After He Was Shot Dies A Hero’s Return for Central Valley Veterans McMaryion Is ‘McMarvelous’ in Bulldogs’ Body Slam of Toledo Melania Trump Visits School in Malawi Denzel Washington and The Boys & Girls Clubs of America The New York Yankees Ready for Playoffs President Trump...
Anyone Who Says The Quran Advocates Terrorism Hasn't Read Its Lessons on Violence
Only two groups in our society promote the “Quran teaches terrorism” myth: anti-Muslim pundits and Isis extremists. Both are wrong. This simplistic conclusion ignores that many groups in many countries are experiencing terror right now. It ignores the international arms trade from powerful western nations that wholly disregards human rights and has caused the death of more...