Kerry: Assad Has to Go, but Timing Can Be Negotiated

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000_DV2130215-e1442664562452-635x357Syrian President Bashar Assad must leave office although the timing of such a move can be negotiated, US Secretary of State John Kerry said in London on Saturday, following talks with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

Kerry urged Russia and Iran, two key allies, to persuade Assad to negotiate his departure, Reuters said. The top US diplomat also expressed the urgency in finding a political solution to the four-year civil war in Syria, which has left hundreds of thousands dead and millions more displaced.

“We need to get to the negotiation. That is what we’re looking for and we hope Russia and Iran, and any other countries with influence, will help to bring about that, because that’s what is preventing this crisis from ending,” Kerry said. “We’re prepared to negotiate. Is Assad prepared to negotiate, really negotiate? Is Russia prepared to bring him to the table?”

Kerry on Friday also stressed the urgency with which he views finding a resolution to the conflict, saying ahead of a meeting with the United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed in London that, “this (Syria) crisis has got to be solved.”

American and Russian defense chiefs held their first talks in more than a year on Friday, in a 50-minute conversation that was the first step in direct military talks proposed by Russia about Moscow’s military buildup to support the Syrian government against the Islamic State group. (Read more from “Kerry: Assad Has to Go, but Timing Can Be Negotiated” HERE)

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FEC Chair: Feds Must Help Americans Make ‘Thoughtful’ Contributions

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03FECsub-master675The chairwoman of the federal agency responsible for overseeing the nation’s campaign finance laws has suggested that federal authorities should help Americans to make “thoughtful” political contributions.

The comment came during a Thursday meeting of the Federal Election Commission. The agency was considering whether to issue an advisory decision for an organization called “Democracy Rules” that created a game-like platform for making political contributions.

According to the rules of the platform, participants vote for one of a few issues in a given category, like immigration, that matter the most to them. Democracy Rules then identifies non-profit organizations or candidates likely to support the objectives of the winning side, and individuals pledge cash — as little as a dollar — in order to receive a vote on who should receive the money. In the last round, participants vote on whether to send the pooled funds to the winning organization or candidate.

The FEC’s three Republicans voted to issue an advisory opinion of approval, while the three Democrats voted against granting permission.

“Yes, I believe the American people are intelligent enough to make decisions,” said Democratic FEC chairwoman Ann Ravel. “But many of them also contribute to … sham PACs, over which we have no control. So in some cases, there’s a necessity for protection for some people to ensure that they’re not, that they’re able to make thoughtful, fair decisions.” (Read more from “FEC Chair: Feds Must Help Americans Make ‘Thoughtful’ Contributions” HERE)

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Obama to Nominate First Openly Gay Service Secretary to Lead the Army

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635781877270472421-DFN-Eric-FanningBy Michelle Tan. Eric Fanning, formerly one of Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s closest advisers, has been nominated to be the next Army secretary, the White House announced Friday.

Fanning has been serving as the acting under secretary of the Army since June. Before that, he served as Carter’s chief of staff. If confirmed by the Senate, Fanning will succeed Army Secretary John McHugh, who has said he will leave the post by Nov. 1 after six years on the job.

“Eric brings many years of proven experience and exceptional leadership to this new role,” President Barack Obama said in a statement. “I am grateful for his commitment to our men and women in uniform, and I am confident he will help lead America’s Soldiers with distinction. I look forward to working with Eric to keep our Army the very best in the world.”

Widely viewed as one of the most capable leaders in the Pentagon, Fanning became Air Force undersecretary in April 2013. He served several months as acting secretary while the confirmation of now-Secretary Deborah Lee James was stuck in Congress . . .

Fanning’s nomination comes during a critical transition period for the Army, which has not only seen key leadership changes at the top but also continues to struggle with increasingly tight budgets and growing demands for troops all around the world. (Read more from “Obama to Nominate First Openly Gay Service Secretary to Lead the Army” HERE)

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Obama Nominates First Gay Service Secretary to Lead the Army

By Greg Jaffe. President Obama, in a historic first for the Pentagon, has chosen to nominate Eric Fanning to lead the Army, a move that would make him the first openly gay civilian secretary of one of the military services.

Fanning, 47, has been a specialist on national security issues for more than two decades and has played a key role overseeing some of the Pentagon’s biggest shipbuilding and fighter jet programs. Now he will oversee an Army that has been battered by the longest stretch of continuous combat in U.S. history and is facing potentially severe budget cuts. It’s also an Army that after a long stretch of patrolling Iraqi and Afghan villages is searching for its postwar role in protecting the nation.

Fanning’s nomination, which must go to the Senate for confirmation, reflects a major shift for the Pentagon, which only four years ago prevented openly gay troops from serving in the military. The policy didn’t extend to civilian leaders, such as Fanning.

His long tenure in the Pentagon and his breadth of experience in shepherding some of the department’s most complex and sensitive weapons programs was a key factor in his nomination for the Army’s top job, administration officials said. (Read more from this story HERE)

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White House Responds to Trump’s ‘Muslim Obama’ Controversy by Saying This About Trump Supporters

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Earnest-640x480White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest is denouncing Donald Trump for failing to correct a man at a political rally who said that Obama was a Muslim and not born in America.

“Are we surprised that this happened at a Donald Trump rally?” he asked, claiming Trump’s base was characterized by “offensive views” such as the ones expressed at the rally.

Then Earnest blamed the entire Republican party for failing to stand up to Trump, asserting that none would want to offend the same voters that made up his political base.

“What’s also unfortunate is that Mr. Trump isn’t the first Republican politician to countenance these kinds of views in order to win votes,” Earnest said. “In fact, that’s precisely what every Republican presidential candidate is doing when they decline to denounce Mr. Trump’s cynical strategy.”

Earnest went further, accusing Republicans of defending the Confederate flag and highlighted the racial background of House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise, telling reporters that they also blocked immigration reform and supported reforms to the voting rights act. (Read more from “White House Responds to Trump’s ‘Muslim Obama’ Controversy by Saying This About Trump Supporters” HERE)

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Police Investigating a Bombshell Accusation Against a GOP Candidate’s Dep. Campaign Director

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BeesonSen. Marco Rubio’s deputy campaign manager allegedly punched a senior adviser to the rival presidential campaign of Sen. Rand Paul in the face.

“Rich Beeson, the CM for Rubio, punched me in the face tonight on Mackinac Island,” Paul adviser John Yob Tweeted at 3:13 a.m. ET on Friday. “The Michigan State Police are looking for him.”

“I am hereby calling on Marco Rubio to fire Rich Beeson immediately,” Yob added on Friday morning.

For now, Rubio’s campaign is standing by Beeson. Spokesman Alex Conant hasn’t responded to a request for comment.

Rubio, one of the architects of the Senate’s “Gang of Eight” amnesty bill, is coming off a debate performance Wednesday evening in Simi Valley, California, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library where he doubled down on his support for open borders immigration policies and amnesty for illegal aliens. (Read more from “Police Investigating a Bombshell Accusation Against a GOP Candidate’s Dep. Campaign Director” HERE)

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Fiorina Promised to Be Tough on Iran, but She Didn’t Count on This Ghost From Her Past Being Exposed

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Fiorina-812-ThumbnailCarly Fiorina, a Republican candidate president and the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, presents herself on the campaign trail as a hawk on Iran. She’s promising to take a hardline on the regime in Tehran.

However, during her time as the chief executive of HP, she “sold hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of products to Iran through a foreign subsidiary, despite strict U.S. export sanctions,” Bloomberg reports.

While running the show at HP, Fiorina thwarted sanctions by dealing with Iran through European and Middle Eastern companies, allowing for the tech company to dominate the market in Tehran. By 2007, HP-made printers accounted for 41 percent of the total market share in the country, the report states . . .

As Bloomberg’s Josh Rogin writes, HP was engaging in potentially illegal activity, as U.S. companies were prohibited from exporting to Iran thanks to two executive orders signed by President Bill Clinton in 1995.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission started to inquire about HP’s activities overseas following a 2008 Boston Globe exposé that tracked the company’s dealings with Iran. HP responded, denying that it had thwarted the law, but admitting that the company had sold $120 million dollars worth of products to Redington Gulf, which then sent the products to Iran. (Read more from “Fiorina Promised to Be Tough on Iran, but She Didn’t Count on This Ghost From Her Past Being Exposed” HERE)

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Here’s the New Term US Government Is Using for Human Rights, Global Development

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The-US-GovernmentThe U.S. government says it will begin using the term “sexual rights” in discussions of human rights and global development.

The statement at a U.N. meeting this week comes after years of lobbying from groups who have argued that the U.S. should show global leadership on the rights of people of all gender identities and sexual orientations.

The statement, posted on a State Department website, says sexual rights include people’s “right to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence.” (Read more from “Here’s the New Term US Government Is Using for Human Rights, Global Development” HERE)

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Cruz: GOP Rivals ‘Mimicking’ My Outsider Message

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cruz2Sen. Ted Cruz on Friday mocked his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination for adopting his anti-establishment message.

“If you look at the debate stage, whether California or Cleveland, you see the candidates standing there, and suddenly, everyone is standing up to the Washington cartel,” Cruz said at the Heritage Action Presidential Forum in South Carolina. “I think that’s fabulous. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”

“That’s great, you’re adopting rhetoric today against Washington,” Cruz continued. “If you want to be an outsider, fabulous. Show me where you stood and fought against career politicians in both parties.”

Cruz has consistently bashed the other GOP contenders as “campaign conservatives.”

On Friday, Cruz sought to frame himself as the most conservative Republican presidential nominee. He’s presently waiting out the rise of Donald Trump and other outsiders, who have so far attracted the bulk of support from conservatives seeking an anti-establishment candidate. (Read more from “Cruz: GOP Rivals ‘Mimicking’ My Outsider Message” HERE)

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Prosecutors: Friend Knew of Dylann Roof’s Plans to Kill Charleston Churchgoers

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joeymeek091815The man who opened his doors to suspected Charleston, South Carolina, church shooter Dylann Roof was arraigned in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, Friday morning on charges of misprision of a felony and making a false statement.

Joseph “Joey” Meek Jr., 21, of Red Bank, South Carolina, pleaded not guilty and is being held pending the posting of a $100,000 secured bond.

Indictments unsealed Friday allege that Meek had knowledge of Roof’s plans to shoot African-American parishioners at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston and that he “did not, as soon as possible, make known the same to some judge or other person in civil authority under the United States.”

The indictments also alleged that Meek told a special agent from the FBI “that he did not know specifics of Dylann Roof’s plan” to shoot individuals at the church. The documents alleged that “Meek’s statements and representations denying such specifics were false, fictitious and fraudulent when made.”

Meek, dressed in an orange Lexington County Detention Center jumpsuit, was manacled hand and foot in metal chains. During most of the hearing, he sat at the defense table beside his lawyer, Deborah Butcher of Camden. (Read more from “Prosecutors: Friend Knew of Dylann Roof’s Plans to Kill Charleston Churchgoers” HERE)

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Trump Backs Gun Rights in Second Policy Paper

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trumpdonald09152015gettyGOP presidential candidate Donald Trump released a policy outline on Friday detailing his defense of the Second Amendment and firearms ownership.

He also highlighted his possession of a concealed carry permit and firearms that he said were for personal defense.

“The Second Amendment to our constitution is clear,” the Republican front-runner writes in the gun rights platform published online. “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed upon — period.”

It’s the second policy statement provided by Trump, a political newcomer who has dominated the GOP race over the last month but come under increased scrutiny for his policy knowledge.

Trump appeared to confuse the Kurds with Quds, a special forces unit with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, in a recent interview. During Wednesday night’s debate, he acknowledged he needed to learn more about foreign policy, indicating he would do so by the time he was elected. (Read more from “Trump Backs Gun Rights in Second Policy Paper” HERE)

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