U.S. Politics
Around-the-clock political news and analysis from Reuters. Follow @ReutersPolitics for more.
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Obama says "no apologies" over U.S. security leak probe
WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Thursday he makes "no apologies" for his concern about leaks to the media that could compromise U.S. national security or put American military and intelligence officers at risk.
Obama expressed complete confidence in Attorney General Eric Holder and declined to comment Press journalists, part of a probe into media leaks about a on the Justice Department's seizure of phone records of Associated Yemen-based plot to bomb a U.S. airliner.
But he expressed support for the revival of a media shield law that he said would balance the need to protect press freedoms with national security concerns.
(Reporting by White House team; Editing by Doina Chiacu) -
Obama to meet with military leaders about sexual assault
The White House and U.S. lawmakers went on the offensive against sexual assault in the armed forces on Thursday after a rash of scandals discrediting the military's efforts to stamp it out.
Lawmakers announced legislation that would take responsibility for prosecution of sexual assault cases away from the chain of command, and President Barack Obama called a meeting with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and other military leaders to discuss the issue. -
by BillAlberterCNN via twitter 5/17/2013 5:24:02 PM -
Pres Obama tells Baltimore audience he'll soon host SuperBowl champ Ravens at WH & have Ray Lewis in the China Room. "What could go wrong."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/17/2013 5:24:10 PM -
by Danielle Torain via twitter 5/17/2013 5:27:53 PM -
Pres Obama calls for "more good middle class jobs." Says he wants wages and incomes going up too. "That's the next phase," he says.by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/17/2013 5:27:57 PM
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by 8babieslater via twitter 5/17/2013 5:28:44 PM -
U.S. President Barack Obama raises his hand while sitting with pre-kindergarten students at Moravia Park Elementary School during his second 'Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Tour' in Baltimore, Maryland May 17, 2013. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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Pres Obama reaffirms his economic goals: make America a magnet for good jobs; enhance worker skills; ensure jobs provide a decent living.by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/17/2013 5:31:32 PM
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Breaking news from the Reuters wire: DIVIDED US HOUSE PASSES BILL TO REQUIRE SEC TO CONDUCT MORE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF ITS RULES IN 235-161 VOTE
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With dredging equipment at his side, Pres Obama hails Ellicott's legacy since 1885; made dredges that helped build Panama Canal.by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/17/2013 5:34:05 PM
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Breaking news from Reuters: U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE GRANTS AN INJUNCTION TEMPORARILY BLOCKING ENFORCEMENT OF ARKANSAS' 12-WEEK ABORTION BAN
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President Obama: "Baltimore is bouncing back" from the Great Recession.by downtownkirby via twitter 5/17/2013 5:39:22 PM -
Pres Obama delivers jobs speech at manufacturer of dredges (like those on the right) (CBS photo by Kia Baskerville) http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BKfBxCWCAAE7cUu.jpg
by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/17/2013 5:40:27 PM -
Obama in Baltimore: "Wouldn't we be better off if we protected our children from the horrors of gun violence?"by lshelby via twitter 5/17/2013 5:44:04 PM -
Obama's Baltimore appearance has single handily caused hours of traffic #obamanationby samspiegs via twitter 5/17/2013 5:44:11 PM -
"We've got to up our game on infrastructure," says Pres Obama at dredge making plant. (CBS Photo by @KTBaskerville)by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/17/2013 5:45:51 PM
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Readers, thank you for joining our live coverage of President Obama's statement on jobs and the economy.
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What did you do at work today? #Obama #ManufacturingFlow
by jessdoit_hughes via Instagram 5/17/2013 5:47:10 PM -
Now on @BloombergNews, Treasury Secy Jack Lew says new IRS Acting Commissioner Dan Werfel "has to restore confidence in the IRS."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/17/2013 8:08:07 PM
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Interviewed by @AlHuntDC, Lew says new IRS boss has to hold employees accountable, correct failures & identify any systemic problems.by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/17/2013 8:09:38 PM
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Lew says he found the Inspector General's report on IRS "very troubling," and he has "zero tolerance" for the IRS misconduct.by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/17/2013 8:10:43 PM
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IRS IG: "It is possible that criminal activity may have occurred." Says it's too early to knowby Jon Ward via twitter 5/22/2013 3:12:26 PM -
IG says he faults the IRS for inadequate training of employees handling targeting practices. -
Rep. Turner (R-OH) introduces a bill that would make it illegal for members of the IRS to persecute based on political beliefs. Says that Sen. Rubio (R-FL) will be introducing an equivalent bill in the Senate.
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(L-R) U.S. Treasury Inspector-General for Tax Administration J. Russell George, former IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, Director of Exempt Organizations for the Internal Revenue Service Lois Lerner and U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin are sworn in to testify before a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on alleged targeting of political groups seeking tax-exempt status from by the IRS, on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 22, 2013. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
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Oversight spox RT @beccaglover: E-mails: TIGTA knew IRS internal investigation found wrongdoing in July 2012: http://1.usa.gov/16OiSr9by Jon Ward via twitter 5/22/2013 3:22:36 PM
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Pres Obama says when he took office, "we stepped up the war against al Qaeda, but also sought to change its course."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:04:43 PM
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Pres Obama says "we are safer because of our efforts" but "make no mistake: our nation is still threatened by terrorists."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:05:43 PM
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"America is at a crossroads," says the Pres. "We must define the nature and scope of this struggle, or else it will define us."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:07:21 PM
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He says the US must "dismantle networks that pose a direct danger, and make it less likely for new groups to gain a foothold."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:08:19 PM
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"From Yemen to Iraq, from Somalia to North Africa, the threat today is more diffuse...",by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:08:55 PM
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In the future, he says, the US "will face more localized threats like those we saw in Benghazi."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:10:53 PM
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He says the future of terrorism are threats to diplomatic facilities & businesses abroad & homegrown extremists.by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:11:56 PM
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Obama sets limits on drone use, steps for closing Guantanamo
WASHINGTON, May 23 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will lay out a new U.S. policy on Thursday that limits the use of armed drones to times when Americans face an "imminent" threat, administration officials said.
Obama's policy will make clear that the United States respects the sovereignty of other nations and prefers to capture and detain extremists when possible.
"America does not take drone strikes when we have the ability to capture individual terrorists. We have a preference to detain, interrogate and prosecute terrorists," a senior administration official told reporters ahead of Obama's address.
Obama will also reiterate his call for the closure of the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and lift a moratorium on the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to Yemen, officials said. (Editing by Eric Walsh) -
On stage at Lincoln Auditorium at National Defense University, 8 American flags on poles form the backdrop for the president's speech.by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:13:16 PM
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Outlining his counterterrorism strategy: "First, we must finish the work of defeating al Qaeda and its associated forces."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:14:02 PM
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Obama: beyond Afghanistan, U.S. must not agree to engage in "endless war" on terrorby anthony.derosa via twitter edited by Margarita Noriega (Reuters) 5/23/2013 6:14:46 PM
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"Beyond Afghanistan," he says, "we must define our effort not as a boundless ‘global war on terror.'"by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:15:14 PM
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He says US up against "a series of persistent, targeted efforts to dismantle specific networks of violent extremists that threaten America."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:16:24 PM
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"...our operation in Pakistan against Osama bin Laden cannot be the norm. The risks in that case were immense."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:18:12 PM
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On use of drones: Pres Obama says they raise "profound questions" about who is targeted, civilian casualties & risk of creating new enemies.by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:19:50 PM
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Pres Obama says of the use of drone attacks: "Simply put, these strikes have saved lives. Moreover, America’s actions are legal."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:20:41 PM
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Of the use of drones: "...this is a just war – a war waged proportionally, in last resort, and in self-defense."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:21:22 PM
At least 18 protesters killed in Myanmar in worst violence since coup
Myanmar police fired on protesters around the country on Sunday and at least 18 people were killed in the worst violence since a Feb. 1 military coup, the United Nations said, calling on the international community to act to stop the repression.