Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Danger of shutdown recedes as GOP leaders reject immigration debate on spending bill
The danger of another government shutdown receded dramatically Tuesday when the House voted to begin debating a stopgap spending bill that bypasses the thorny immigration debate, leaving a few Republicans steaming. Published September 16, 2014
Top general: Failed Foley rescue was ‘highest-risk mission’ ever
The top uniformed military officer said Tuesday that the failed mission to rescue James Foley and other hostages being kept by Islamic State militants was the toughest he's ever seen. Published September 16, 2014
U.S. troops in Iraq to rise to 1,600
There will be 1,600 U.S. troops in Iraq by the time President Obama's current plans are fully in place — but none of those are considered combat troops, which means the U.S. is not officially reengaged in the war there, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told Congress on Tuesday. Published September 16, 2014
Congress demands Obama act to keep Islamic terrorists out of U.S.
While President Obama is focused on getting money to friendly-ish Syrian rebels, Congress is increasingly demanding he take more steps to stop militant fighters from coming to the U.S. by stripping Americans of their passports if they join the fight and by suspending countries that have large contingents of foreign fighters from the Visa Waiver Program. Published September 15, 2014
Emails show ‘collusion’ between EPA, environmental lobby: watchdog
The EPA and environmental groups are exceptionally close for a government agency and lobby groups, with a revolving door and pressure from the groups often shaping EPA's policies. Published September 15, 2014
Social Security’s outdated records systems invite disability fraud: IG report
Social Security's disability payments systems are so old and dependent on handwritten records that it makes it difficult to weed out fraud, an inspector general concluded in a major report last week that said the agency doesn't appear to be taking the issue seriously. Published September 14, 2014
Obama White House deporting fewer illegal immigrants than budget allows
The Obama administration has cut deportations back to the level they were before President George W. Bush's end-of-term surge, raising questions about whether he is skirting the law with his claim of prosecutorial discretion. Published September 14, 2014
Ron Paul’s ‘Audit the Fed’ bill returns to Congress
Ron Paul may not be in Congress anymore, but his "Audit the Fed" bill lives on after him. Published September 13, 2014
Both sides of Congress have own red lines for Obama’s action in Syria
Congress appears ready to give President Obama the $500 million he wants to arm and train moderate Syrian rebels, possibly as soon as next week, but anything beyond that remained murky, including whether lawmakers will back the commander in chief if he expands airstrikes to include targets in Syria. Published September 11, 2014
Federal judge rejects Ohio law requiring truth in campaign advertising
A federal judge struck down Ohio's campaign truth squad Thursday, issuing a significant First Amendment decision that pushes the state out of the business of trying to referee "political truth" in campaign advertising. Published September 11, 2014
GOP blocks Democrats’ push to rewrite First Amendment campaign spending
A Democratic election year push to amend the Constitution and roll back campaign-spending free speech rights ran out of steam Thursday and fell victim to a Senate filibuster. Published September 11, 2014
Boehner: Give Obama what he’s asking for
House Speaker John A. Boehner said Congress should approve President Obama's request for money to equip and train Syrian rebels, but said that's only the beginning of a strategy to destroy the Islamic State. Published September 11, 2014
No current intelligence Islamic State plotting attacks on U.S.: Homeland Security
There is no current intelligence suggesting Islamic State militants are plotting attacks on the U.S., Homeland Security officials told Congress on Wednesday, but they acknowledged the dangers of a terrorist trying to sneak across a porous southern border or a lone wolf attack inspired by the insurgents' advances in Iraq and Syria. Published September 10, 2014
Dick Cheney’s re-emergence complicates Obama’s response to Islamic State threat
Former Vice President Dick Cheney's re-emergence in Washington this week to talk about fighting terrorists in Iraq must have seemed like a bad nightmare for President Obama. Published September 10, 2014
DHS will ask stores to watch customers’ buying habits for terrorist clues
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said his department will be issuing new guidance to retailers this week giving them pointers on how to spot potential terrorists among their customers by looking at what they're buying. Published September 10, 2014
Harry Reid tells GOP to tune out Dick Cheney
With President Obama poised to make a case for an expanded U.S. military commitment to the Middle East, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tried to draw distinctions between that and the previous Iraq war, which deposed Saddam Hussein at the cost of thousands of American troops' lives. Published September 10, 2014
Cruz’s immigration stance could presage government shutdown showdown
Sen. Ted Cruz said Tuesday that Republicans should insist on halting President Obama's immigration policies including tying it to continued government funding, raising the possibility that Congress could be headed for another shutdown showdown. Published September 9, 2014
Obama administration blames locals for police militarization
The Obama administration said Tuesday the federal government and the military were not to blame for disturbing scenes like the heavily armored police who confronted citizens last month in Ferguson, Missouri, saying responsibility lies instead with the local police who are asking for more firepower and state officials who approve the requests. Published September 9, 2014
House rebukes Obama over Bergdahl-Taliban exchange
The House voted Tuesday to formally condemn President Obama for releasing five Taliban warriors earlier this year in an exchange for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, with nearly two dozen Democrats joining Republicans in declaring the president broke the law by not giving Congress a heads-up. Published September 9, 2014
GOP’s new Obama attack: Got milk?
Republicans Tuesday seized on the news that milk futures have hit record highs, saying it's the latest indication of a struggling economy and tougher times for average Americans under President Obama. Published September 9, 2014
