Policy & Strategy

A key leader of the Syrian opposition criticized the United States Tuesday for failing to endorse calls for rebel groups to form a transitional government.

Abdelbaset Sieda, head of the Syrian National Council, said in an interview with The Associated Press that the United States and its international allies should take decisive action against Syrian President Bashar Assad rather than blaming the opposition over its divisions.

"Yes there are differences within the Syrian opposition and this is normal in any country, but as long as we are agreed on a common vision, these differences can be overcome," Sieda told the AP, adding that the Syrian National Council was making “serious” preparations to form a government should Assad's regime fall.

The State Department on Tuesday launched a contest aimed at rewarding the best ideas for achieving the nation's international disarmament objectives.

The “Innovation in Arms Control Challenge” sets aside $10,000 for proposals from U.S. citizens and permanent residents that use commonly available technologies to support arms-control policy efforts. It is part of the Obama administration's effort to harness the power of technology and social networking in achieving the nation's diplomatic goals.

“The astonishing advancements in information technologies include new tools and capabilities that could help support arms control transparency and compliance,” the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance said in a statement announcing the contest. “We will collect new ideas about how these advancements can affect the implementation of arms control, verification, and nonproliferation policy. 

Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney will travel to Indianapolis to speak at the American Legion convention on Wednesday, taking a detour from the GOP convention before he accepts the nomination Thursday.

An Afghan soldier killed two U.S. troops Monday in the latest “green-on-blue” attack, while 17 Afghan civilians were beheaded elsewhere, reportedly during a party with music and dance.

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the two NATO troops were killed in Eastern Afghanistan when they were shot by a member of the Afghan National Army. NATO forces returned fire and killed the Afghan soldier, according to ISAF.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) wants the Obama administration to explain how it will address Iranian attempts to evade sanctions with help from Iraq and Afghanistan.

In a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Ros-Lehtinen asked the administration to say whether it would condition U.S. security cooperation with Iraq and Afghanistan on their willingness to counter Iranian attempts to get around economic sanctions.

“Given the U.S. investment of blood and treasure in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is vital that the Iraqi and Afghan governments cooperate with the U.S. and other responsible nations to address the Iranian threat,” Ros-Lehtinen wrote. “Failure to cooperate should be met with a reconsideration of bilateral security arrangements.”

U.S. diplomat Ryan Crocker was arrested last week in his home state of Washington for allegedly hitting a semi truck with his Ford Mustang while he was intoxicated, KXLY reported Thursday.

Crocker had a distinguished career, serving in hardship posts across the Middle East more than 30 years, including as former President George W. Bush's ambassador to Iraq from 2007 through 2009. He came out of retirement last year at President Obama's urging to serve as ambassador to Afghanistan, but stepped down this summer, citing health concerns.

No one was injured in the early-afternoon crash, KXLY reports. Crocker was pulled over soon after crossing two lanes of traffic and clipping the semi; his blood-alcohol content was allegedly twice the legal limit.

The former Navy SEAL who wrote the firsthand account could face criminal charges if it reveals classified secrets.

The Republican senator told Russian officials they should partner with the United States to deal with Syria's chemical weapons stockpile.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) announced Wednesday that the Department of Defense will continue funding a veterans helpline that otherwise would have expired next month.

The national Vets4Warriors program was set to expire on Sept. 30, but the DOD has committed to continuing the program for six months while a long-term solution is worked out. 

Paul is happy with the party's foreign-policy plank, despite the rejection of language against nation-building.