National Security

Canadian Envoy Ken Taylor, Who Hid Americans During Iran Hostage Crisis, Dies

4:23pm October 16, 2015

NPR's Kelly McEvers speaks with Joseph and Kathleen Stafford, two of the Americans former Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor sheltered during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.

Secretary of State John Kerry spoke at Indiana University on Thursday. "If Russia is [in Syria] to uphold Assad, and fake it with respect to the extremists and terrorists, that's a serious problem," he told NPR's Steve Inskeep.

John Kerry: Russia Has No 'Easy Track' In Syria

2:24pm October 16, 2015

by NPR Staff

Russia's intervention in Syria's civil war could end up helping Islamic militants, the secretary of state told NPR's Steve Inskeep. "That would be absurd, it would be a farce," Kerry said.

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Obama Announces Decision To Delay Withdrawal Of U.S. Troops From Afghanistan

5:20pm October 15, 2015

by Mara Liasson

President Obama announced Thursday he has abandoned his plan to withdraw nearly all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by the end of his presidency.

As Optimism Fades, Russian Air Campaign Fails To Make Impact In Syria

5:19pm October 15, 2015

by Alice Fordham

The Russian air campaign in Syrian gave initial optimism to the Syrian regime but has done little to change the map of the war.

House Select Committee on Benghazi Chairman Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., speaks at a news conference in Washington in March about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton using her personal email account for official business.

Republicans Hand Hillary Clinton Another Gift On Benghazi

4:43pm October 15, 2015

by Jessica Taylor

Another House Republican says the Benghazi investigation is politically motivated. While it may not cost him his job, as it did Kevin McCarthy, it's a boost for Democrats' arguments.

U.S. Decision To Delay Troop Withdrawal Puts Some Afghans At Ease

4:27pm October 15, 2015

by Philip Reeves

President Obama announced his decision to keep U.S. troops in Afghanistan for longer on Thursday. NPR visited the capital, Kabul, to gauge the Afghan public's response.

President Obama salutes prior to boarding Air Force One last Friday. The president entered office saying he would end the U.S. role in the Iraq and Afghan wars. But U.S. forces were sent back to Iraq last year and he announced Thursday that 5,500 American

Pledging To End Two Wars, Obama Finds Himself Entangled In Three

1:58pm October 15, 2015

by Greg Myre

The president wanted to bring home all U.S. troops during his tenure. But it now looks like U.S. forces will be fighting — on a limited basis — in a trio of wars when he leaves the White House.

State Department Report Warns Of Global Threat To Religious Diversity

6:56pm October 14, 2015

by Michele Kelemen

Religious diversity is under threat across the Middle East and other parts of the globe, according to a State Department report on religious freedoms, which recounts the rise of ISIS and its attacks on Christians and other minorities.

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U.S. Halts Program To Train Syrian Rebels Fighting ISIS

8:18pm October 09, 2015

by Tom Bowman

The Obama administration is shifting its policy on arming and training rebels to fight the Islamic State in the Syrian conflict. NPR takes a look at the new policy and what it changes about the role of the U.S. in the conflict.

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Gun Debate Divides Nation's Police Officers, Too

8:17am October 09, 2015

by Martin Kaste

"Talking about firearms now is like talking about race" among officers, says a national law enforcement leader. In Milwaukee, for instance, a sheriff and police chief took vocal, opposing stances.

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