Topic: Al Qaeda
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Focus
The Monitor's top 11 US stories of 2012
From storms to politics, the year was a wild ride. What are the most meaningful US stories of 2012? Here's the Monitor's list, in roughly chronological order.
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5 national security issues next president must tackle
President Obama and Mitt Romney battle over foreign policy issues in the third and final presidential debate. No matter who wins the presidential election November 6, Mr. Romney or Mr. Obama will have to confront five urgent national security issues in the first weeks of his term.
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Drone warfare: top 3 reasons it could be dangerous for US
Is the Central Intelligence Agency’s drone warfare campaign – secretly ordered targeted killings in countries like Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia – making America safer? Here are the top three dangers of drone warfare to America, according to new studies.
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Six reasons this UN General Assembly is must-see TV
World leaders descend on New York for the annual United Nations gathering, starting Sept. 25. If the recent past is any guide, it can be a memorable, even explosive, occasion. Here are six moments to watch for, to brace for, this time.
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Blasphemy riots: 6 examples around the world
Many Muslims consider any depiction of the prophet to be forbidden, and Islamic teachings call for handling the Quran with respect. Incidents of both intentional and unintentional disrespect have occasionally prompted protests and violence around the world. Here are six examples:
All Content
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Petraeus testifies that CIA always suspected terrorists in Libya attack
Ex-CIA director David Petraeus told lawmakers that the CIA's draft talking points named specific terrorist groups. But Petraeus said some federal agency changed it to "extremists."
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Libya hearings: Will political vitriol squelch effort to improve security?
One main purpose for congressional hearings into the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, is to find out how to improve security for US diplomats. But political point-scoring could get in the way.
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Terrorism & Security
France: Is it time to arm Syria's rebels?Two days after recognizing new Syrian opposition group, France said it would float giving rebels defensive weapons. But even with the French push, such arms shipments look far from imminent.
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Petraeus scandal: How did FBI agent know Jill Kelley?
FBI Special Agent Frederick Humphries II and Jill Kelley met at a 2011 FBI Citizens Academy in Florida. Agent Humphries once played a key role in stopping a terrorist attack in Los Angeles.
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Why Pakistan's release of Taliban might help peace
Pakistan agreed today to release some Taliban leaders from prison, saying the decision was taken 'to support the peace and reconciliation process.'
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Opinion: Obama's post-election Syria policy is unlikely to change, but it should
Obama’s policy of 'staying the course' in Syria should be weighed against worsening strategic realities in the country and region. Only a careful military program to help the rebels, including arming and training them, can stem the growing costs of US inaction.
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Terrorism & Security
Spate of deadly bombings rock Iraq before Shiite holy monthAt least 14 people were killed and hundreds more injured in a series of apparently coordinated explosions in cities across Iraq.
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Syria: Will new opposition leader bring unity?
Mouaz al-Khatib, a religious leader and a voice of moderation, has been chosen to lead the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces. Supporters hope the new coalition can provide a conduit for foreign aid.
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Moderate Islamic preacher expected to unify Syrian opposition groups
On Sunday, Syria's fractured opposition groups came together to form a unified organization, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces. Maath al-Khatib, a moderate Islamic preacher who has been imprisoned several times during the conflict in Syria, was elected president.
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Briefing
Sudan's Bashir threatens Israel over alleged airstrikeSudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir vowed today to retaliate against Israel for a recent alleged airstrike. The Monitor explains the background of the dispute.
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Backchannels
After Obama win, say goodbye to neoconsAt least for a few years.
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Backchannels
From a distance, Syria 'feels' like Iraq in 2004There's some hope for a faster end to the fighting – with British Prime Minister Cameron hinting at safe passage for Assad if he decides to quit the fight. But the outlook is grim.
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Suicide car bomber kills 50 soldiers, Syrian opposition says
Another day of relentless violence in Syria coincided with more unity talks in Qatar among opposition factions.
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Latin America Monitor
Rise in beheadings in Mexico – sign of splintering drug gangs?Brutality and shock tactics are a way for new gangs to assert themselves, and could be rising because of the splintering of larger transnational criminal organizations.
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European Union gives Somalia $200 million in aid
The European Union began a new aid program for Somalia Saturday. The goal is to restore a central government, improve the legal system, education, and security in a country that recently saw an end to more than two decades of conflict.
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Syrian rebels attack key government airbase
Saturday morning Syrian rebels tried to disrupt air strikes that have pummeled their strongholds by launching an assault on a government airbase. The attack highlights questions of organization and disunion amongst the rebels.
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Benghazi fallout: CIA reveals secret intelligence hub was nearby
The CIA on Thursday released a timeline that showed how it responded quickly to the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi on Sept. 11. In doing so, it also revealed that it had a larger intelligence-gathering location a mile away.
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Backchannels
War crimes and the fantasy of 'controlling' Syria's rebelsAn atrocity in the strategic Syrian town of Saraqeb is a reminder that the landscape of that country's civil war is a place where angels fear to tread.
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What recourse do Pakistan's 'civilian drone victims' have?
In Pakistan's tribal belt, locals have no access to police stations, Pakistani courts, or the International Court of Justice to report being wrongly targeted by drones.
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Terrorism & Security
War-crime accusations emerge as Syrian rebels take strategic townSyrian regime forces may face logistical problems after withdrawing from the strategic town of Saraqeb. The UN says a video that has emerged appears to show rebels committing war crimes.
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Saudi Arabia: Explosion topples building, burns cars (+video)
An explosion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia killed 23 people, Thursday. Dozens more were injured in the blast. The fire has been contained, officials say.
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Opinion: Lack of US, Western intervention in Syria helps jihadists
Hillary Clinton heads to Doha, Qatar next week to push for a shakeup in the Syrian opposition. The West must step up its game by providing advanced weapons to Syrian rebels. Fears of such weapons aiding jihadist fighters are overblown, even as Western hesitancy strengthens jihadists.
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Support for jihadists in Syria swells as US backing of rebels falls short
US reluctance to provide weapons and cash to Syrian rebels is increasing the appeal of joining with well-funded and well-armed jihadists, many of them from abroad.
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Focus
What will the Afghanistan war legacy be?Much of the Soviets' development work got wiped out by a civil war in the 1990s. But the scope of the effort then was limited compared with the work today.
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Did US go too far in its secret surveillance of citizens?
Critics say the Bush-era law designed to collect foreign intelligence intrudes on the constitutionally protected privacy and free speech rights of US citizens. The US Supreme Court hears the case Monday.
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