Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Senators reach a deal on Syria that limits Obama, gives him 90 days to attack
Key senators struck a deal Tuesday night on a resolution granting President Obama the authority to conduct military strikes in Syria as long as they happen within 90 days and are limited to enforcing the administration's "red line" prohibiting chemical weapons use. Published September 3, 2013
Senators agree on Syria resolution granting Obama strike authority
Key senators struck a deal Tuesday night on a resolution granting President Obama the authority to conduct military strikes in Syria as long as they happen within 90 days and are limited to enforcing the administration's "red line" prohibiting chemical weapons use. Published September 3, 2013
Kerry holds objectors responsible for any future atrocities in Syria
Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Tuesday that members of Congress who refused to authorize retaliatory strikes against Syria would be responsible when the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad gasses its citizens or when North Korea or Iran attempts to use nuclear weapons. Published September 3, 2013
It’ll be a hard slog in Congress: Obama has ‘uphill battle’ on Syria resolution, Boehner says
Even after House Speaker John A. Boehner lent his support a resolution backing strikes on Syria, his staff said it's still going to be an "uphill battle" to get it passed through Congress. Published September 3, 2013
Hunter: Obama inviting impeachment if he strikes Syria without Congress
Rep. Duncan Hunter said Tuesday that President Obama would be breaking the law and even inviting impeachment if he went ahead with strikes on Syria after a congressional rejection. Published September 3, 2013
White House wins over top lawmakers on Syria
Making the case that the U.S. must intervene in Syria, House leaders from both sides of the aisle said Tuesday they'll back President Obama's plan for military strikes against the regime of Bashar Assad. Published September 3, 2013
Syrians use social media to tell world: See atrocities for yourself
Call it the Social Media War. As the White House pushes for retaliatory strikes against Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime, some of the administration's key evidence that chemical weapons were used on civilians are the thousands of photos and videos that the rebels uploaded detailing the attack. Published September 2, 2013
Congress takes steps toward strike on Syria; recess cut short for hearings
Congress' role in approving military strikes kicks off Tuesday when Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will tell senators that the U.S. must strike at the Syrian regime to make clear that chemical weapons use will not be tolerated. Published September 2, 2013
ANALYSIS: Isolated Obama turns to Congress for support
President Obama, who unilaterally authorized a full air campaign in Libya in 2011, is taking a different approach this time with Syria — mindful both of the political price he paid for that earlier effort and of the far more thorny questions involved in attacking the Assad regime. Published August 31, 2013
Congress in no rush to return for Syria decision
Faced with the most momentous foreign policy vote in years, Congress has decided on the go-slow approach, with leaders saying they will take their time in deciding whether to approve retaliatory strikes against Syria. Published August 31, 2013
John Kerry praises French, snubs British on Syria
In laying out the case for military strikes on Syria, Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday had praise for the French, who he called "our oldest ally," but snubbed any mention of the British, who have long believed they enjoyed a "special relationship" with the U.S. Published August 30, 2013
John Kerry: Syrian regime killed 1,429 people in chemical attack
Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. knows based on intelligence that the Syrian regime carefully prepared for days to launch a chemical weapons attack — killing 1,429 people. Published August 30, 2013
Treasury: Gay couples get tax benefits, drawbacks of filing jointly
The Treasury Department said Thursday that legally married same-sex couples must now file tax returns as married people, granting them all the tax benefits — but also the same tax penalty — that other couples enjoy. Published August 29, 2013
Feds experiment with drugs, mellow out on state marijuana laws
The Obama administration cleared the way Thursday for states to carry out their own marijuana laws, including allowing use for medical reasons in 20 states and for recreational use in Colorado and Washington — as long as they take steps to keep the drug away from children and criminal gangs. Published August 29, 2013
Britain says international law permits attack on Syria
The British government released a memo Thursday laying out a legal justification for military action against Syria for a suspected chemical weapons strike even if the U.N. doesn't sanction an attack, ramping up the push among Western nations for some kind of retaliatory strike. Published August 29, 2013
Consensus grows to arm Syrian rebels, but only the right ones; Obama still weighing options
Congress is increasingly resisting the administration's case for limited military strikes against the Syrian government, though sentiment is growing on Capitol Hill that President Obama can — and must — find a way to do more to arm moderate rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad. Published August 28, 2013
Boehner tells Obama to make case for Syria strikes
House Speaker John A. Boehner said Wednesday that the U.S does have national security interests in Syria, but said President Obama hasn't laid out a compelling case to Congress or the American public about what those interests are and how military strikes could achieve them. Published August 28, 2013
Congress presses Obama to aid Syrian rebels
There's a growing sense in Congress that the U.S. should take more steps to arm Syrian rebels in their battle against the regime of President Bashar Assad, regardless of what decision President Obama reaches on whether to conduct military strikes against Damascus. Published August 28, 2013
McCain: Immigration bill could give foreign workers leg up on Americans
Two Republicans who helped write the Senate's immigration bill said Tuesday that they are convinced it will finally be able to get a handle on the porous southwestern border — but acknowledged it could mean problems for American workers. Published August 27, 2013
Napolitano reveals key to Homeland Security job: Advil
As she prepares to leave office, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano had some advice Tuesday for her successor, whom President Obama has not named yet: "You will need a large bottle of Advil." Published August 27, 2013
