UN Report: ‘Convincing Evidence’ Of Syria Chemical Attack

The findings represent the first official confirmation that chemical weapons were used in Syria’s civil war, but left the key question of who launched the attack unanswered.

UNITED NATIONS — U.N. inspectors said Monday there is "clear and convincing evidence" that chemical weapons were used on a relatively large scale in an attack last month in Syria that killed hundreds of people. The findings represent the first official confirmation by scientific experts that chemical weapons were used in Syria's civil war, but

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82 Killed, 205 Wounded In Iraq Bombing Spree

More than 4,000 people have been killed in attacks since the start of April, including 804 just in August.

From the Associated Press: A wave of car bombings and other attacks in Iraq killed at least 58 people in mostly Shiite-majority cities on Sunday, another bloody reminder of the government's failure to stem the surge of violence that is feeding sectarian tensions. Iraq is experiencing its deadliest bout of violence since 2008, raising fears the

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On Syria, Putin’s Anti-War Case Outshines Obama’s Call For Bombs

Russian president challenges idea of “American exceptionalism” and, despite irony, makes compelling case against war.

Jon Queally
By Jon Queally
Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin

According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, those who consider the United States of America "exceptional" above other countries—including President Obama—represent an "extremely dangerous" mindset when it comes to international relations and global peace. The closing salvo in a sharply worded, yet conciliatory, open letter to the American

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The Russian Proposal: What Everyone Wants

How did a seemingly offhand remark by Secretary of State John Kerry become the back-from-the-brink solution for Syria?

Jean MacKenzie
By Jean MacKenzie
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a cup of tea as he meets with Sonya, 8, not pictured, from the city of Pskov in Moscow's Kremlin on Wednesday, May 9, 2012. Sonya undergoes a medical treatment at Federal Scientific Center for Child's Oncology in Moscow. (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Government Press Service)

As diplomatic crises go, this one has had more twists and turns than a Wild Mouse. First there was the endless hand wringing over red lines turning pink and America losing its credibility in the world. When it seemed inevitable that US bombs would begin to fall on Syria within days or even hours, President Barack Obama suddenly announced that he

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Putin Warns West On Syria Action

Putin said it was “ludicrous” that Syria President Bashar Assad, a staunch ally of Russia, would use chemical weapons at a time when it was holding sway against the rebels.

                      NOVO-OGARYOVO, Russia  — President Vladimir Putin warned the West against taking one-sided action in Syria but also said Russia "doesn't exclude" supporting a U.N. resolution on punitive military strikes if it is proved that Damascus used

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August 2013 US Covert Actions In Pakistan, Yemen And Somalia

In Yemen, August saw the highest number of confirmed drone strikes since March 2012 when the Sanaa government, drove al-Qaeda out of its provinces.

Alice Ross
By Alice Ross
Supporters of Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan rally to condemn U. S. drone attacks in Pakistani tribal areas on al-Qaida and Taliban hideouts, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday, Oct 28, 2011. (AP Photo/B.K.Bangash)

One strike in Pakistan ends 34-day stretch without an attack. Yemen sees more strikes in a month than any time since March 2012. Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières pulls out of Somalia. Pakistan August 2013 actions Total CIA strikes in August: 1 Total killed in strikes in August: 3-4, of whom 0 were reportedly

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