Jason Ditz

North Korea Contacted United States Directly Seeking Talks

North Korea has been quoted by myriad sources as being in favor of diplomatic talks with the U.S. but saying those talks must happen without preconditions.

Jason Ditz
By Jason Ditz
A man watches a television screen showing President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Seoul Train Station in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 10, 2017. (AP/Ahn Young-joon)

In comments on Saturday, President Donald Trump reported that North Korea had directly contacted him a couple of days prior with an offer of direct diplomacy. If confirmed, this marks the first such offer directly made by the North Koreans to the administration. “They, by the way, called up a couple of days ago, they said ‘we would like to

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US Airstrike in Eastern Syria Kills 25, Including Children

More than half of the victims of the U.S. Airstrikers have been identified as women and children.

Jason Ditz
By Jason Ditz
People inspect damage from US coalition airstrikes and artillery shelling in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, Syria, May 29, 2017. (Aamaq via AP)

A U.S. airstrike in eastern Syria’s al-Shaafa region has killed at least 25 people on Monday, with more than half of the slain identified as women and children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Details on the slain are still emerging, but U.S. spokesman Col. Ryan Dillon attempted to downplay reports, saying the US takes “all

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Disaster in Yemen Proves US Needs to Get a Handle on War-Making Powers

With the American public increasingly aghast at the situation in Yemen, and increasingly aware of US military complicity in what has happened, Yemen is the perfect situation for Congress, and by extension, the voters, to reassert control over overseas conflicts.

Jason Ditz
By Jason Ditz
A protest against the US missile strike against Syria during a rally in New York on Friday, April 7, 2017. (AP/Andres Kudacki)

With the Yemen War fast approaching its third anniversary, Afghanistan well into its 17th year, Iraq and Syria seemingly permanent US wars, and escalations ongoing across Africa, the US has seemingly more wars than ever going on. President Trump has been giving the military increasing autonomy in those wars, and the feeling of loss of control is

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Russia: US Training Former ISIS Fighters to Destabilize Syria

Russian military chief sees US base at Tanf as ‘Black Hole’ for militants.

Jason Ditz
By Jason Ditz
ISIS

For a long time, Russia and the United States have differed on strategies in Syria, and have seen one another deliberately trying to undermine the other’s efforts. Russian Chief of Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov sees such an effort by the US coming out of the base at the al-Tanf border. In a new interview Gen. Gersimov accused the US of using the

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US Making Plans For ‘Bloody Nose’ Military Attack On North Korea

In reality, analysts agree that North Korea would see any attack as the start of a full-scale war of regime change, and standing military orders are to retaliate against US targets with everything they have, assuming everything not used will be destroyed in the US strikes at any rate.

Jason Ditz
By Jason Ditz
A man watches a television screen showing President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Seoul Train Station in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 10, 2017. (AP/Ahn Young-joon)

According to a new report in the Daily Telegraph, the concerns about a US attack on North Korea are very well-founded, and the White House has “dramatically” stepped up plans for what it is calling a “bloody nose” attack on North Korea. Apparently ignoring months of analyst warnings that there is no way to have a “limited” war with North Korea,

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Iran Likens US Allegations of Yemen Arms Supply to Iraq WMD Accusations

Iran’s Foreign Minister likened Nikki Haley’s presentation to Colin Powell’s 2003 WMD speech about Iraq, which precipitated the disastrous US invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Jason Ditz
By Jason Ditz
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley speaks in front recovered segments of a rocket the U.S. and Saudi Arabia allege came from Iran during a press briefing at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Dec. 14, 2017, in Washington. (AP/Cliff Owen)

The Iranian government issued a statement Thursday denying that a presentation earlier in the day by the U.S. represented proof that they’d been sending arms to the Shia Houthis in Yemen in a bid to resist the U.S.-backed Saudi invasion, saying it was a ‘fabrication.” “These accusations seek also to cover up for the Saudi war crimes in Yemen,

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Russia Declares Victory Over ISIS In Syria, Seeks Involvement in ISIS War in Iraq

Putin said the military operation in the area was now finished, and that the focus would switch to a political process that would eventually involve presidential and parliamentary elections.

Jason Ditz
By Jason Ditz
In this Friday, Sept. 15, 2017 photo a Russian soldier guards as a military helicopter flies over Palmyra, Syria. Government troops and their allies intensified an offensive Friday against Islamic State militants in central Syria, trying to consolidate their control on the area. Backed by Russian warplanes and fighters from Iranian-backed militias, the Syrian government has enjoyed a series of battlefield successes in recent weeks. It has seen an increase in the territory it controls from a low of only 19 percent of the country earlier this year to currently about 48 percent, according to the Observatory. (AP Photo)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed a “complete victory” has been scored over ISIS forces within Syria, and the faction has been totally driven from both sides of the Euphrates River. Within Syria, Putin sees the focus now shifting toward the political process, and eventual elections. Russia has advocated substantial political reform

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