- Robert Perry explains how the flawed Russigate logic made Trump more of a war hawk. [Link]
- Sam Heller defends Trump’s decision to end support for Syrian rebel groups. [Link]
- A Democrat running to be governor of Illinois says he will commute the sentence of all low-level, nonviolent drug offenders if he is elected. [Link]
- Protests in Charlottesville Virgina have resulted in the death of three people. Two police officers were killed in a police helicopter crash, and one person was killed after being struck by a car. Protests and counter protests started Friday night when a far right group marched to defend a civil war monument. [Link] One man has been charged with murder for running over counter protesters with his car. [Link]
- A US F-18 crash landed in Bahrain. The pilot was able to eject from the plane safely. [Link]
- Doctors Without Borders and other aid groups have suspended operations to rescue migrants in Libyan waters. The Libyan Coastguard has begun training with the Italian military and warned international aid groups they risk being fired upon if they enter Libyan waters. [Link]
- Independent experts on missiles are publishing findings that conclude North Korea does not have the ability to hit the continental US with a nuclear weapon and will not have the technology for a few years. [Link]
- China says it will back North Korea if the US attacks North Korea. China says it will not defend North Korea if North Korea fires the first shot. [Link]
- James Mattis said diplomacy between the US and North Korea is gaining traction. [Link]
- Doug Bandow explains how Trump’s hawkish rhetoric will not help stabilize the North Korea tensions. [Link]
- Experts agree that even a small attack on North Korea would lead to a larger war. [Link]
- Protests erupted in Kenya after last weeks presidential elections. So far, 24 people have died in the protests. There have also been reports of police officers harassing journalist who are covering the election. [Link]
- An oxygen shortage at an Indian hospital has left 60 infants dead in five days. [Link]
- Turkey claims to have killed nine PKK fighters in two airstrikes. One airstrike was carried out in Turkey, and the other hit a target in Northern Iraq. [Link]
- 16 civilians were killed by the US while they were fleeing ISIS held Afghanistan. Most of those dead were women and children. The Pentagon claims only extremists were killed in the attack. [Link]
- The US coalition has killed 100s of civilians since starting a mission with SDF forces to retake Raqqa. At times, the US is killing multiple civilians to take out one ISIS fighter. [Link]
- The UN says ISIS remains and capable and dangerous organization despite territorial losses. [Link]
- Hezbollah is pushing the Lebanonese government to have more ties with the Syrian government. Lebanon adopted a policy of dissociation with Syria in 2012. Hezbollah hopes that better ties with the Assad government can help in the fight against ISIS, help return refugees in Lebanon to Syria, and improve the economic situation. [Link]
- A UK official says that the world needs to add to the UK’s effort to save people in Yemen from cholera. The official said humanitarian aid is “the only hope the Yemeni people have to survive.” [Link]
- The UN has rejected a proposal from Saudi Arabia that would have the UN run the airport in Sanaa Yemen. The UN says it is the responsibility of the combatants to make sure humanitarian aid can get to the people. [Link]
- Sanctions against the Venezuela’s oil export could lead to the starvation of the Venezuelan people. [Link]
- Trump is considering taking military action in Venezuela. [Link]
On Foreign Policy Focus #78, I look at other news stories while everyone has been paying attention to North Korea. I discuss some early Trump immigration policy stats. I explain how the US backed Syrian rebels ended up fighting for Assad. I also give some new stats coming out of the ISIS War. LISTEN HERE!!
