US Opinion and Commentary

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Obama Addresses UNGA for Final Time

Posted September 21st, 2016 at 9:28 am (UTC-5)
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Delivering his final address to the United Nations General Assembly, President Barack Obama called on the world to move forward with “a better model of cooperation and integration.”

Obama: 8,400 U.S. Troops to Stay in Afghanistan

Posted July 6th, 2016 at 3:54 pm (UTC-5)
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President Obama announced Wednesday that approximately 8,400 U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan through the end of the year. That’s about 3,000 more than originally planned.

Obama Ramps Up ISIS Fight

Posted April 25th, 2016 at 3:18 pm (UTC-5)
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Among the new deployments are American special operations forces. Last week, the president authorized sending more American military support to assist Iraq in retaking the city of Mosul

Obama: ‘ISIL Is on the Defensive’ in Syria & Iraq

Posted April 13th, 2016 at 10:08 pm (UTC-5)
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“Their barbarism only stiffens our unity and determination to wipe this vile terrorist organization off the face of the Earth,” President Barack Obama

Kerry’s ‘Gut-wrenching’ Visit to Hiroshima Memorial

Posted April 12th, 2016 at 12:22 pm (UTC-5)
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Watch Secretary of State John Kerry’s Remarks in Japan: Read his full remarks here:

Posted in Quick Takes

Kerry in Baghdad: “Daesh Is Unequivocally Losing Ground…leaders…Fighters…Cash”

Posted April 8th, 2016 at 3:47 pm (UTC-5)
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Secretary of State John Kerry declared “Daesh’s days are numbered” and delivered a strong endorsement of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

President, NATO Chief Examine Security Threats

Posted April 7th, 2016 at 3:02 pm (UTC-5)
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“We [are] reinforcing the imporance of us staying focused on ISIL (ISIS) and countering the terrorism that has seeped up into Europe and around the world,” President Barack Obama

Obama and NATO’s Stoltenberg Meet

Posted April 4th, 2016 at 4:23 pm (UTC-5)
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President Obama met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday to discuss issues ranging from Ukraine to the Syrian refugee crisis

‘We Didn’t Just Come Here to Talk, But We Came Here to Act’

Posted April 2nd, 2016 at 9:48 am (UTC-5)
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The president summarizes his fourth – and final – Nuclear Security Summit

President Condemns Belgium Terror Attacks

Posted March 22nd, 2016 at 3:18 pm (UTC-5)
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“We will do whatever is necessary to support our friend and ally, Belgium, in bringing to justice those who are responsible. And this is yet another reminder that the world must unite.” President Barack Obama

Obama Reaches Out to Cuba’s ‘Cuentapropistas’

Posted March 22nd, 2016 at 11:50 am (UTC-5)
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The president spoke directly with American entrepreneurs and self-employed Cubans during historic trip

Obama Nominates Judge Merrick Garland to Supreme Court

Posted March 16th, 2016 at 4:12 pm (UTC-5)
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Merrick Garland, a longtime Washington lawyer, is considered a moderate jurist. He currently serves as chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. If approved by Congress, he will fill the vacancy left by the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

President Awards the Medal of Honor to Navy Seal

Posted March 1st, 2016 at 11:43 am (UTC-5)
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The 36 year-old Navy Seal busted into a house in eastern Afghanistan in 2012, fighting off guards and throwing himself on an American doctor. With a free hand, Byers grabbed a nearby captor by the throat and pinned him to the wall until another member of the six-man SEAL team shot him in a daring rescue

Honoring Justice Scalia

Posted February 16th, 2016 at 2:58 pm (UTC-5)
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“Justice Scalia dedicated his life to the cornerstone of our democracy: the rule of law. Tonight, we honor his extraordinary service to our nation and remember one of the towering legal figures of our time.” President Barack Obama

Kerry Urges Full Implementation of Deal to End Misery in Syria

Posted February 12th, 2016 at 1:21 pm (UTC-5)
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“This progress has the potential to…to be able to change the daily lives of the Syrian people.” Secretary of State John Kerry