President Obama today [Tuesday] defended the deal under which Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was freed in exchange for high-level Taliban prisoners, saying his administration had consulted with Congress over a possible trade. And, he dismissed questions about how Bergdahl was captured by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan in June 2009. “Regardless of the circumstances, whatever those Read more →
The U.S. invaded Iraq 10 years ago this week. The Iraq War led to the fall of Saddam Hussein. Iraqis voted in free elections in 2005. The U.S. suffered more than 4,480 deaths and 32,000 wounded during the Iraq War. Iraq Body Count estimates more than 100,000 Iraqi civilians died. Congressional researchers estimate that more Read more →
The legal authority for drone strikes comes from a law that Congress passed just after the Sept. 11 attacks, called the Authorization for Use of Military Force. It is an authority President Barack Obama has used more often than President George W. Bush. Critics argue the law enables a perpetual, ever-expanding war. Today’s Question: Should Read more →
The U.N. Security Council agreed to tighten sanctions against North Korea on Thursday as punishment for its recent nuclear test. The Council’s unanimous agreement came after three weeks of negotiation between the U.S. and China, which has opposed such measures in the past. North Korea was furious at the U.N. action, issuing a threat to Read more →
North Korea has announced its third nuclear test. The announcement brought a swift condemnation this morning from President Obama, who reportedly plans to use his State of the Union address tonight to call for deep cuts in the world’s nuclear arsenals. Today’s Question: Under what conditions would you support major cuts in nuclear weapons?
The Obama administration’s use of drones to kill terror suspects has attracted harsh criticism in recent days and contributed to the controversy around the nomination of John Brennan to head the CIA. Some in government are calling for more transparency and accountability – for example, by subjecting drone strikes to a legal review process, or Read more →
In a recent op-ed piece, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., argued that the United States needs to change its policy regarding the use of drones. Ellison says strikes by the unmanned aircraft undermine U.S. standing around the world and may be killing more innocent civilians than the United States has acknowledged. Today’s Question: What rules should Read more →
Two groups of women serving in the military have filed lawsuits to force the Pentagon to change its policy banning women from combat roles. The women argue that they are serving in dangerous roles already, and that the ban on combat positions hurts their careers. Today’s Question: Should the military ban women from combat roles?
Michael Olson
Eric Ringham