Here is a rundown of the situation ex-CIA Director Leon Panetta described as “closer to war with Iran than we’ve been in the last 40 years.”
Author: William Cummings, USA TODAY
US conducts strikes in Iraq, Syria on Iran-backed militia behind attack that killed American, Pentagon says
The Pentagon said the militia was behind a rocket attack that left an American contractor dead and four U.S. service members wounded.
‘It’s a situation that concerns us’: National security adviser says US still expects ‘gift’ from North Korea
In April 2018, North Korea held the same Workers’ Party meeting and announced it would suspend nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests.
Convicted Russian agent Maria Butina lands job hosting show for state-owned RT network
Butina, 31, was released from prison and deported to Russia in October after an 18-month sentence for conspiring to act as a Russian agent.
Ted Cruz says Ukraine ‘blatantly interfered’ in 2016 election during testy exchange with Chuck Todd
Sen. Ted Cruz only could point to one op-ed from a former ambassador to the U.S. as proof that “Ukraine blatantly interfered in our election.”
Trump warns North Korea’s Kim Jong Un not to put their ‘special relationship’ at risk with ‘hostile’ acts
Last year, President Donald Trump hailed the site’s closing as a symbol of leader Kim Jong Un’s purported commitment to denuclearization.
North Korea gives fiery reply to Trump after president’s ‘undesirable remarks’ at NATO meeting
North Korea’s army chief of staff warned “the state of truce can turn into an all-out armed conflict any moment.”
North Korea warns US may get nasty ‘Christmas gift’ if nuke deal not reached by Dec. 31 deadline
“It is entirely up to the U.S. what Christmas gift it will select to get,” a North Korean diplomat said in a statement.
Navy secretary Richard Spencer forced out after Donald Trump’s objection over handling of Navy SEAL war crimes case
Navy secretary Richard Spencer on his termination: “I cannot in good conscience obey an order that I believe violates the sacred oath I took.”
Trump dismisses Mike Pence aide Jennifer Williams, who overheard Zelensky call, as ‘Never Trumper’
In her testimony, Jennifer Williams said Trump’s July 25 call with Ukraine’s president “struck me as unusual and inappropriate.”