Gingrich rises to the fore in US Republican debate

2011-11-23T08:30:46Z

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich cemented his place as the main rival to Mitt Romney for the Republican presidential nomination with a solid debate performance on foreign policy.

Buoyed by opinion polls that gave him a four percent lead over the former Massachusetts governor, Gingrich, whose campaign had been all but written off a few months ago, came out o...

US weighs blacklisting Haqqani network

2011-09-26T20:30:36Z

The Obama administration is considering placing the Haqqani network on its list of terror groups after blaming the militants for deadly attacks in Afghanistan, a US official said Monday.

Seven leaders of the Haqqani network, which operates from safe havens in Pakistan and was founded by former CIA ass...

US senator Kerry in Afghanistan

2011-05-14T14:30:21Z

Influential US Senator John Kerry arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday, the embassy in Kabul said, ahead of a visit to neighbouring Pakistan following the death of Osama bin Laden.

US lawmakers easily approved urgent funding for President Barack Obama's escalation in Afghanistan, despite a huge leak of secret military files that stoked anger at the unpopular war.

The 308-114 vote in the House of Representativ...

On war front, Obama rediscovers personality politics

2010-10-13T14:00:24Z

From gala receptions to long walks in the park, the Barack Obama administration is embracing a brand of personality politics with the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan that it once scorned.

Taking office, Obama made the fight against extremism in Pakistan and Afghanistan a top priority but also tried to depersonalize what he...

US condemns Peshawar attack, voices 'concern'

2010-04-05T14:16:09Z

The United States condemned Monday an attack on its consulate in Peshawar and expressed "great concern" after Islamist militants targeted the building in Pakistan's main northwestern city.

"We strongly condemn the violence," said White House spokesman Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh offered a hand to the United States to help build an "open and inclusive" Asia as President Barack Obama prepared to toast him Tuesday with his first state dinner.

Singh said the world's two largest democracies had common aims on issue...

Holbrooke expects less trouble in new Afghan election

2010-04-16T09:40:37Z

US envoy Richard Holbrooke said Friday he expected fewer problems with the November 7 presidential run-off election in Afghanistan than with the fraud-tainted first round in August.

Holbrooke, special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan for President Barack O...

Obama signs huge Pakistan aid package into law

2010-04-16T09:49:28Z

US President Barack Obama signed a 7.5 billion dollar aid package for Pakistan into law Thursday, after Congress offered assurances the plan did not violate Pakistani sovereignty.

President Barack Obama has enthusiastically supported the 7.5-billion-dollar package, calling it a long-term investment to fight

US Senate votes to triple aid to Pakistan

2010-06-25T20:32:21Z

The US Senate voted Thursday to triple non-military aid to Pakistan to roughly 1.5 billion dollars per year through 2014 in a bid to build trust and cooperation with a key ally against extremism.

Senators unanimously approved the measure, which could go through the House of Representatives as ...

Big Deals

2010-10-26T20:38:08Z

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Impact of Bhuttos death on presidential campaigns

2010-10-22T10:57:58Z

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David Rieff Assesses Obama's Plan For Afghanistan

2010-10-26T20:56:48Z

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Mideast envoy Ross gets key White House job

2010-06-25T21:43:29Z

The White House Thursday named veteran Middle East envoy Dennis Ross to a key job overseeing policy in a vast region encompassing the Middle East, the Gulf, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Citing generals' worries, Obama administration asks judges to block abuse photos release

The Obama administration asked a federal appeals court Thursday to halt the release of disturbing images of detainee abuse, saying the photos could incite violence in Pakistan as well as in Iraq and President Barack Obama named US ambassadors to Japan, India and Sri Lanka, amid heightened tension in Asia over North Korea's nuclear tests, unrest in Pakistan ...

UPDATE 2-U.S. Senate approves $91.3 bln war funds bill

2010-10-21T09:59:47Z

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Congress to finish Pakistan bill urgently: Kerry

2010-06-25T22:28:13Z

The US Congress will urgently complete an aid bill to stabilize Pakistan, Senator John Kerry promised Thursday after talks with the Pakistani and Afghan presidents.

"Obviously, it is urgent," Kerry told reporters after a closed-door luncheon on the situation in Pakistan and Afg...

Live-Blogging Obama's Press Conference

2010-10-23T23:10:49Z

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Clinton cites al-Qaida as key target in Obama plan

2010-04-16T14:15:16Z

Clinton says defeating al-Qaida is at the center of Obama's new strategy in Afghanistan

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is telling Congress that the core goal of President Barack Obama's anti-terror strategy is to defeat al-Qaida and prev...

US to give Pakistan one bln dlrs in aid

2010-06-26T01:26:07Z

The United States will give Pakistan one billion dollars in aid over two years, the US envoy Richard Holbrooke announced as an international donors' conference opened in Tokyo on Friday.

Holbrooke "announced the United States' intent to provide support to the government o...

US Congress cautiously welcomes new Afghan plan

2010-06-26T01:49:02Z

US lawmakers broadly welcomed President Barack Obama's new Afghan war plan on Friday, but some openly worried about securing more NATO help and getting Pakistan to crack down on extremists.

"The proposed military escalation in Afghanistan, without an adequate strategy in Pakistan, could ...

Japan to host Pakistan donors meet next month

2010-04-16T16:19:00Z

Japan will host a donors meeting for Pakistan on April 17 that is set to be attended by the country's President Asif Ali Zardali and US envoy Richard Holbrooke, officials said Tuesday.

The US military and diplomatic officials briefed senators Thursday on US President Barack Obama's plans for retooling the Afghanistan war strategy, including a push for more help from Pakistan.

General David Petraeus, the commander of United States and abroad:

Feb. 13

Chicago Sun-Times, on autism and vaccines:

Forget vaccines, hunt for real autism cause.

... In a highly anticipated ruling, three federal judges concluded that childhood vaccines do not cause autism, despite claims otherwise by a powerful grass-roots moveme...

Pakistan seeks to calm nuclear worries over Khan release

2010-04-16T17:14:54Z

Pakistan on Saturday sought to allay international concerns that the release of its disgraced nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan could lead to renewed nuclear proliferation.

A foreign ministry statement said Pakistan had dismantled the nuclear black market network allegedly operated by Khan, and shared its investigations with the Obama, other officials concerned about release of scientist accused of leaking atomic secrets

President Barack Obama wants assurances from Pakistani leaders that a newly freed scientist accused of leaking atomic secrets isn't involved in any of the activity that led to his arrest, the White House said Friday.

Vice President Joe Biden Friday offered a first glimpse of Obama-era foreign policy before leaving on the debut trip abroad by a top power broker in the new administration.

The vice president said Washington would have to be more "aggressive" in promoting political reform in Iraq, called for more help from US allies in Richard Holbrooke will add a stop in India to his south Asia tour next week as part of efforts to stabilize Afghanistan, an Obama administration priority, US officials said Wednesday.

In addition to visiting Afghan...

Obama names peacemakers to hotspots in break with Bush

2010-04-16T15:13:10Z

US President Barack Obama picked two high-powered peacemakers for the Middle East as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan, in yet another swift break with Bush administration policy.

In an aggressive push for peace in the world's most intractable hot spots, Obama named

Obama names top envoys to hotspots in new break with Bush

2010-04-16T17:24:16Z

US President Barack Obama on Thursday picked two seasoned and high-powered envoys to the Middle East and Afghanistan and Pakistan, making another swift break with Bush administration policy.

In an aggressive push for peace in the world's most intractable hot spots, Obama na...

VP-elect Biden meets leaders in Pakistan

2010-04-16T17:31:53Z

Vice President-elect Joe Biden meets with leaders in Pakistan, talks counterterrorism

Vice President-elect Joe Biden has met with leaders in Pakistan during an Asian trip meant to show the new administration's interest in the troubled region.

Aides said Biden and South Carolina Obama expresses sympathy over Mumbai attack, won't comment on next steps for India

President-elect Barack Obama expressed sympathy for the victims of the terror attacks in Mumbai but declined to say whether the Indian government would be justified in pursuing terrorists in next-door

McCain Is Wrong On Afghanistan

2010-10-21T09:41:47Z

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Obama Vindicated. Again.

2010-06-25T23:17:05Z

The latest evidence to bolster Barack Obama’s foreign policy judgment against his critics arrived this morning on the front page of The New York Times. The paper of record reports today that President Bush issued an order three months ago that permits U.S. special forces to strike ...

Can Huckabee Win the Purple States?

2010-10-23T11:02:58Z

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The Daily Muck

2010-09-10T16:19:15Z

Twenty-four intelligence officials are looking for a clarification of Mike Mukasey's definition of definition; they've asked that the Senate Judiciary Committee put a hold on the nomination until the nomin...

US aims to restructure aid to Pakistan

2010-09-10T13:09:17Z

Bush Officials Say US Aims to Restructure, Not Cut, Massive Aid to Pakistan

The Bush administration plans to try to stave off growing calls to cut assistance to key anti-terror ally Pakistan by proposing a broad overhaul in how billions in aid is distributed, officials said Friday.

Hopeful that President Pervez Musharraf will soon lift emergency ru...

Candidates disagree on handling Pakistan

2010-09-10T10:06:46Z

Presidential Candidates Disagree on How to Deal With Pakistan After Emergency Rule Declaration

Presidential candidates from both parties condemned the declaration of emergency rule in Pakistan but disagreed Monday on how to deal with one of the United States' few allies in the Muslim world.

Republicans expressed support for

Musharraf's rule could be short-lived

2010-09-10T09:31:37Z

Pakistan's Military Leader Flouts US With No Consequences, but Hold on Power May Be Diminished

Pakistan's military leader is betting that having flouted strong U.S. warnings not to declare a state of emergency he can now hold off his patron's pleas for a quick return to constitutional rule and go on banking billions in American anti-terrorism...

Analysis: Pakistan problems also Bush's

2010-09-09T13:46:07Z

Analysis: Pakistani Leader's Problems Are Bush's Problems, Too

The sinking political fortunes of Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf leave his defenders in Washington in an awkward spot, shoring up an undemocratic but useful ruler whose close ties to President Bush are part of his problem at home.

Musharraf has an uncertain hold on ...

Obama expresses sympathy for Musharraf

2010-09-09T13:34:44Z

Democratic Presidential Contender Barack Obama Talks of Pakistan as 'Constructive Ally'

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama said Wednesday it's critical for Pakistan to be a constructive ally in fighting al-Qaida, one week after threatening military action to hunt down terrorists if Pakistan's para military force stand guard outside a local hospital where Punjab's governor Salman Taseer's dead body was brought in Islamabad, Pakistan on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. The governor of Pakistan's powerful Punjab province was shot dead Tuesday by one of his guards in the Pakista...

APTOPIX Pakistan Violence

2011-01-04T14:32:37Z

Supporters of Pakistan People's party mourn death of Punjab's governor Salman Taseer who was shot dead by one of his guards, outside a local hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. The governor of Pakistan's powerful Punjab province was shot dead Tuesday by one of his guards in ...

Pakistan

2011-01-03T10:31:04Z

Pakistan's political leader and former Prime Minister Chaudary Shujjat Hussain, center, talks to media after meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, left, as former Chief Minister of Punjab's province U.S soldiers of 2nd Platoon Bravo Company 2-327 Infantry in a armoured vehicle at Badel Combat Out Post in Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan near Pakistan border on Monday, Jan 3, 2011.(AP Photo/Rafiq M...

APTOPIX Afghanistan

2011-01-02T02:31:18Z

An Afghan National Army soldier chops wood at Badel Combat Out Post in Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan near the border of Pakistan on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)