U.S. Politics
Around-the-clock political news and analysis from Reuters. Follow @ReutersPolitics for more.
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But at the same time he says: "To say a military tactic is legal, or even effective, is not to say it is wise or moral in every instance."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:22:11 PM -
He says America prefers to capture terrorists than to kill them: "our preference is always to detain, interrogate & prosecute."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:24:10 PM
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by NowThis News via twitter 5/23/2013 6:24:14 PM -
Of drone attacks, he says: "To do nothing in the face of terrorist networks would invite far more civilian casualties..."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:25:20 PM
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"False to assert that putting boots on the ground is less likely to result in civilian deaths or to create enemies in the Muslim world."by Mark Knoller via twitter 5/23/2013 6:28:12 PM
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Kerry says to decide when to push for Middle East peace decisions http://reut.rs/ZI58Mfby anthony.derosa via twitter 6/3/2013 4:55:03 PM -
White House spokesperson Carney gives brief statement on economic policy intentions; jumps into questions -- first question on Turkey -
"U.S. supports freedom of expression, right to protest" -- Carney
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Carney dodges question about Darrell Issa's recent claim that Carney is a "paid liar"
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Carney says IG report found no evidence of outside influence on IRS behavior; President Obama supportive of congressional oversight
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U.S expects Turkey to "appropriately work through situation" regarding protests: White House spokesperson
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White House says it is working closely with Turkey and neighboring allies on Syria, Turkey protests
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Carney continues to push back against giving further information about the IRS investigations
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WASHINGTON, June 3 (Reuters) - The White House urged protesters and police in Turkey on Monday to refrain from violence and said the United States would continue to work with Turkey on the conflict in Syria and other international issues.
"We have concerns about some of the response, but we certainly expect the Turkish government to work through this," White House spokesman Jay Carney said when asked about the rioting that has spread since Friday, injuring hundreds of people in Turkey.
Carney also stressed the need for Turkey to allow peaceful protests and said called for an investigation into the violence.
(Reporting By Laura MacInnis and Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu) -
Across the board federal budget cuts were "unnecessary" and didn't need to happen, could have been prevented by planning -- Carney
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Top lawmaker looks to rein in military contractors' pay http://reut.rs/1aWMWhsby anthony.derosa via twitter 6/3/2013 5:57:03 PM
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U.S. pivot to Asia not against China or other countries in region - Carney
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"I am not interested in a back and forth" with Issa on IRS conduct: Jay Carney
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White House issues veto threat over spending levels http://reut.rs/1aXK3Noby anthony.derosa via twitter 6/3/2013 10:36:03 PM
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Obama administration disputes charge attorney general lied http://reut.rs/1aY6WApby anthony.derosa via twitter 6/4/2013 12:55:02 AM
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Military chiefs to draw line on sexual assault law
By Phil Stewart and Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON - America's top military officers are likely to advise Congress not to go too far overhauling the U.S. military's justice system to address the problem of sexual assault when they testify at a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, and top officers from each branch of the military will comment on legislation meant to stem a rise in sexual assault cases.
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Hearing begins with Chairman Levin offering a brief remembrance of Sen. Lautenberg, who died yesterday.
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Reform opponents will outnumber supporters 18-2, and no victims included at Senate hearing on military sex assaults http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/sandra-fluke-redux-senate-stacks-the-deck-against-reformers-in-sexual-assaults-crisis-20130603by Josh Smith via twitter 6/4/2013 1:39:48 PM -
After the opening statements from Levin and Republican counterpart Inhofe, first panel is introduced and their statements begin with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dempsey. This panel of top military brass is the first of three during what will likely be a lengthy hearing today. See the full list of panels and participants here.
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PDF outline here of the Combating Military Sexual Assault Act of 2013 co-sponsored by Sen. Ayotte and 33 senators total. Ayotte explains that this hearing precedes markup of potential legislation next week.
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Regarding where the U.S. military stands in comparison to its peers on prosecuting sexual assaults outside of the chain of command, the release for the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013 on Sen. Gillibrand's website mentions:
The Military Justice Improvement Act would for the first time remove the decision whether to take a case to special or general court-martial completely out of the chain of command and give that discretion to experienced military prosecutors for all crimes punishable by one year or more in confinement, except crimes that are uniquely military in nature, such as disobeying orders or going AWOL.
Many of our allied modern militaries have reporting outside of the chain of command, such as Britain, Canada, Israel, Germany, Norway and Australia. For example, the British military has prosecutors making trial decisions for all crimes through the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) within Britain’s Ministry of Defense. -
Sen. Donnelly (D-IN) asks why there would be less respect for a commander if sexual assault discipline were removed from their authority. Odierno responds that total control is essential, and that it would be better to hold commanders accountable if they cannot handle this aspect of their duty.
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Donnelly asks Commandant of the Coast Guard Papp about the film "The Invisible War" and specifically its documentation of a Coast Guard officer's medical struggles after her rape. Papp responds that he's made the film required viewing for leaders, that he brought the film home for his wife to watch, and that outreach has been done to the officer, though well after the fact.
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Coming up at 11:50am ET: President Barack Obama will speak about the Affordable Care Act (AKA "Obamacare") in San Jose, California.
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Pres says immigration system "still broken." To deal with it, he says, Congress must act and "that moment is now."by Mark Knoller via twitter 6/11/2013 2:48:37 PM
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Obama: for immigration to work it must be clear from the outset that there is a pathway to citizenship.by Elise Foley via twitter 6/11/2013 2:51:03 PM -
Pres says immigration reform bill in the Senate "isn't perfect." He says it's a compromise and no one will get all they want, including him.by Mark Knoller via twitter 6/11/2013 2:51:12 PM
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"No reason Congress cant get this done by the end of the summer," says Pres Obama about enacting Immigration Reform measure.by Mark Knoller via twitter 6/11/2013 2:53:09 PM
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Obama: 'Congress needs to act' on immigration http://nbcnews.to/1703sRAby NBC Politics via twitter 6/11/2013 3:08:40 PM -
Senate now voting on motion to actually call up the immigration bill. After cloture vote earlier, this only needs simple majority.by Chad Pergram via twitter 6/11/2013 8:03:09 PM -
Senate votes 84-15 to start debate on and amendments to Immigration Reform bill. Read all 1,922 pages of S.744 at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113s744rs/pdf/BILLS-113s744rs.pdfby Mark Knoller via twitter 6/11/2013 9:04:25 PM
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Read the Reuters report on the foiled NYC subway plot referenced in that Leahy-Alexander exchange just now, in which Alexander cited Patriot Act-authorized intelligence as helping thwart mastermind Najibullah Zazi.
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Alexander backing up Clapper about Zazi plot. says section 702 "was not just critical, it helped us develop the lead on it"by Rosie Gray via twitter 6/12/2013 7:00:01 PM -
The Brennan Center for Justice has a good rundown of the NSA's programs and justifications, including explanations of Sections 215 of the Patriot Act and Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act:
Section 215 allows the government to obtain a secret court order requiring third parties, such as telephone companies, to hand over any records or other “tangible thing” if deemed “relevant” to an international terrorism, counterespionage, or foreign intelligence investigation. Section 215 orders may have been combined with requests under other provisions of the Patriot Act, such as Section 216, which governs access to online activity, such as email contact information or Internet browsing histories.
With respect to PRISM, the government cites Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act, a law first passed in 2008 and reauthorized in 2012. Section 702 allows the government to acquire foreign intelligence by targeting non-U.S. persons “reasonably believed” to be outside U.S. borders. -
"That's a fine, how do you do, welcome aboard" -- U.S. Senator Cochran on government training, pay under sequestrationby Margarita via twitter 6/12/2013 7:03:30 PM -
READER COMMENT: #Sequester is affecting US Cyber Command's ability to deal with attacks due to staff reductions -
Sen. Durbin (D-IL) asks NSA head Alexander directly about Snowden, running down facts about his life ranging from high school departure up through NSA rise and Booz Allen Hamilton employment. Says he's trying to look at the "limited educational and work" background and understand how he received such access to classified information.
Alexander says that individuals like Snowden have great network skills driving their NSA roles, but that he also has questions and will be evaluating Snowden's access and conduct. -
NSA chief: surveillance has stopped dozens of potential attacks
WASHINGTON, June 12 (Reuters) - The director of the National Security Agency said on Wednesday that recently disclosed top-secret U.S. surveillance programs have helped to prevent "dozens" of potential terrorist events. NSA chief General Keith Alexander made the comments at a Senate hearing when asked if the intelligence community could estimate how much the agency's broad monitoring of phone call and Internet data had helped prevent a terror attack. (Reporting by Reuters' Deborah Charles; Editing by Sandra Maler) -
Durbin: "If you have a suspected contact, that to me is clear. I want you to go after that person." Says he's concerned about the reach beyond that, to innocent people. Alexander says "we don't look at the identities, we look at the connections" in arguing for wider data collections in trying to track a hypothetical terrorist.
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READER COMMENT: Good comment by Glenn Greewald vis-a-vis Peter King.
Saudi King Salman assails Iran in United Nations debut
NEW YORK/DUBAI Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz took aim at Iran during his debut on Wednesday at the annual United Nations meeting of world leaders, calling for a united front to contain Riyadh's rival and stop it from getting weapons of mass destruction.