Middle East/North Africa

Your morning global affairs speed-read

After vetoing the U.S.-backed United Nations resolution that would have paved the way for sanctions against Syria's Bashar Assad's government, Russia said it will support Pakistan's proposal to extend the U.N. observer mission another 45 days without any threat of sanctions. The mission expires today. [Russia Today]

The White House, however, has said it does not support extending the mission without giving it teeth.

Corporate backing: More than 50 of the nation's top business leaders sent a letter to every member of Congress urging them to support a “strong and effective” International Affairs budget. The letter, coordinated by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, says that the State Department's “development and diplomacy programs … strengthen America’s global competitiveness and build new markets overseas for American goods and services.”

Iraq’s prime minister said President Obama is backing the Iraqi central government’s concerns with Exxon’s oil deal with the autonomous Kurdish region, according to published reports Thursday.

Exxon’s exploration deal has infuriated Baghdad, which says oil deals should go through the central government. Iraq’s government has reportedly asked Obama to intervene to prevent Exxon from carrying out the deal.

Reuters reported Thursday that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Obama has provided a positive response to the concerns in writing.

“We would like to confirm that the letter was positive and convincing and stresses its respect for the constitution and Iraqi laws, in the same manner as the Iraqi government is seeking,” Maliki’s office said in a written statement, according to Reuters.

Sen. Rob Portman argued the vote “shows that the need for US leadership is more urgent than ever.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Thursday said he wasn't surprised that Russia and China vetoed United Nations sanctions against Syria, quipping that they are "not a fan of replacing other dictators." 

The senator criticized President Obama for not doing enough to quell the violence in Syria, which began with an uprising against President Bashar Assad.

"I don't think we're doing enough. We don't need to be covert," Graham said on Fox News. "The last thing in the world America needs to do is hide from leadership ... I want to be overt. I want my country, our country, to stand against the torture and the murder and the slaughter.

"And it's in our national security interest to take Assad out sooner rather than later because Iran is watching what we're doing. ... I don't want to be covert at all."

The Speaker rejected accusations Huma Abedin could be using her position at the State Department to aid the Muslim Brotherhood.

The U.S. mission to the United Nations blasted the countries for blocking the sanctions for a third time.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, who supports helping the rebels, said the Obama administration "is fiddling while Syria burns.”

Sen. John McCain decried as a "specious" attack GOP lawmakers' claims that Huma Abedin is connected to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Syria’s defense minister was killed in a bomb blast for which Syrian opposition forces are taking responsibility, according to reports.

The House late Tuesday afternoon approved legislation by voice vote that reaffirms U.S. strategic and military ties with Israel.