Legal Questions Loom As Obama Weighs Military Action In Syria
The Obama administration is considering whether to broaden its air campaign against the extremist group the Islamic State by striking targets in Syria.
National Security
Foley's Mother: We Didn't Want Him To Go Back To Syria
Diane Foley tells NPR that her son, slain journalist James Foley, "could have done so many other things. But he, I think, was drawn to some of the drama, some of the rawness of the conflict zones."
With Initial U.S. Airstrikes A Success, Will They Expand?
The U.S. continues to mount airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq, but some analysts say the campaign is not broad enough.
The Dynamics Of Demanding Ransom From Nations
Since the release of a video depicting the killing of American journalist James Foley, it has been revealed that the militant group Islamic State demanded millions of dollars for his freedom. Rukmini Callimachi of The New York Times explains how militant groups use ransom demands such as these for funding.
From A Father And Son, What It Means To Be A Military Man
Enlisting has been a rite of passage for men in the Pierce family since the Civil War. And as America has changed, Mark Pierce and his son Jeremy explain, what it means to serve has, too.
U.S. Reveals Failed Special Forces Mission To Rescue Hostages
The Obama administration's admission comes on the heels of the release of a video by the militant group known as the Islamic State, which depicts the killing of American journalist James Foley.
In Syria, The U.S. Weighs A Range Of Unpalatable Options
The U.S. could aid moderate rebels. It could bomb militants of the Islamic State. Or it could sit on the sidelines as the war plays out. There are many choices, but none appears promising.
The Soldier's Guiding Paradox: 'Protect What You Love'
Writer Elliot Ackerman, former Marine officer and veteran of five deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, explains what being a man means to him: It's protecting what you love.
Victim Of Insider Attack, Gen. Harold Greene Was An Engineer By Training
NPR has confirmed that U.S. Army Major Gen. Harold Greene was killed in Tuesday's "green-on-blue" attack in Afghanistan. It was his first deployment to the country.
In Obama's Foreign Policy, Some See Patience; Some See Passivity
Foreign policy was once a strong suit for President Obama, but polls now show widespread disapproval of his handling of foreign affairs.