Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Obama’s Syria refugee push at odds with security-first stance on Bush Dubai Ports deal
President Obama's rising indignation at opponents of his open-door Syrian refugee policy is all the more striking because a decade ago he was one of those opponents, chastising then-President George W. Bush for trying to speed through a deal to transfer operations of major U.S. ports to a company from a predominantly Muslim country. Published November 18, 2015
Obama admin vows to veto Syrian refugee bill
The White House vowed Wednesday to veto the bill to pause Syrian refugees, saying that stiff requirements that the FBI and Homeland Security certify each refugee are "untenable." Published November 18, 2015
Honduras stops Syrians with fake passports headed for U.S.: report
Police in Honduras have detained five Syrians they said were trying to reach the U.S. using stolen Greek passports, Reuters reported Wednesday in another development likely to hurt President Obama's efforts to welcome Syrian refugees. Published November 18, 2015
Chicago council votes to welcome Syrian refugees
Chicago's city council voted Wednesday to welcome Syrian refugees to their city, passing a resolution that, while nonbinding, is meant to push back against the growing number of governors who have said they'll try to refuse resettlement. Published November 18, 2015
House introduces bill to ‘pause’ Syrian refugees
Homeland Security, the FBI and the intelligence community would have to sign off on every Syrian refugee President Obama wants to bring to the U.S. under a bill House Republicans introduced Wednesday and are speeding toward a vote later this week. Published November 18, 2015
Obama stands firm on Syrian refugee plan amid rising opposition
Administration officials and charities that aid refugees fought a feverish rearguard action Tuesday to defend President Obama's plans to bring 10,000 Syrian refugees to the U.S. this year, but with opposition building, Republicans and even a key Democrat said it may be time for the White House to hit "pause." Published November 17, 2015
Republicans say phone snooping might undermine Islamic State
A Republican senator launched a last-ditch effort to save the NSA's phone-snooping program Tuesday, introducing legislation that would force the Obama administration to keep collecting and storing Americans' phone data until the government can prove its replacement program is as effective. Published November 17, 2015
House Republicans plan bill to ‘pause’ Obama’s Syrian refugee resettlement plans
House Republicans are rushing to try to vote this week on a bill that would halt President Obama's Syrian refugee resettlement plans, with the emerging proposal calling for the Homeland Security, FBI and national intelligence chiefs to have to sign off on each refugee. Published November 17, 2015
Larry Hogan, Chris Christie join calls to stop refugees in Md., N.J.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan joined the chorus of governors asking President Obama to stop sending Syrian refugees to his state, saying Tuesday that the security situation is too tenuous. Published November 17, 2015
Refugees headed to 180 towns, but avoid D.C. and other expensive cities
As President Obama presses communities to accept Syrian refugees, his current hometown of Washington, D.C., is likely to be spared much of the trouble. Published November 17, 2015
Congress approves Space Act, paves way for private companies to own resources mined from asteroids
The stuff of science fiction is about to be U.S. law after Congress approved the Space Act on Monday, paving the way for private companies to own any natural resources they manage to mine from asteroids. Published November 16, 2015
Governors reject Syrian refugees; Obama officials defend 10,000 target
President Obama called them un-American, but opponents rallied Monday to resist his plans to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees in the U.S. this year and enlisted the help of some two dozen governors -- Democrats and Republicans -- who signaled that they would try to resist having refugees sent to their states. Published November 16, 2015
Obama chides refugee critics, says U.S. cannot ‘close our hearts’
President Obama chided American critics Monday over their calls for him to cancel his plans to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees, saying the U.S. cannot "close our hearts" to the plight of those fleeing violence. Published November 16, 2015
Obama still plans to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees despite Paris terrorist attacks
The White House says it won't let its plans to bring Syrian refugees to the U.S. be derailed by Friday's terrorist attack in Paris, with a top official insisting Sunday that American authorities know how to weed out potential problems within the refugee community. Published November 15, 2015
Reports of Syrian bomber in Paris undermine Obama refugee plans
One of the suicide bombers who attacked Paris on Friday held a Syrian passport and had posed as a refugee, according to news reports. Published November 15, 2015
Obama vow to take in 10,000 Syrian refugees under fire after Paris attack
President Obama's plan to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees is under fire after Friday's terrorist attack in Paris, with one GOP presidential candidate saying the U.S. should halt its plans as long as it's not able to assure Americans it can weed out potential terrorists. Published November 14, 2015
Government adds record $339 billion to national debt in first day after budget deal
The federal government has piled up debt since the latest budget deal was signed into law, tacking $462 billion onto the national credit card since Nov. 2 as the Treasury Department replenished its funds and began another round of borrowing to take it all the way into 2017. Published November 12, 2015
Immigration, border policies divide 2016 Republican candidates
Immigration has surged back onto the political battlefield this week after Republicans exposed deep fissures on the issue in their debate Tuesday, and Democrats wasted little time in exploiting those divisions. Published November 11, 2015
Martin O’Malley to eat dinner with illegal immigrants in campaign pitch for votes
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley will become the first of the 2016 presidential candidates to sit down with illegal immigrants for dinner as part of activists' plan to try to drive the issue and further mainstream people living in the shadows. Published November 11, 2015
Hillary Clinton takes heat for using the phrase ‘illegal immigrants’
Immigration activists demanded an apology from Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton Tuesday after she used the phrase "illegal immigrants" during an appearance in New Hampshire. Published November 11, 2015
