Foreign Correspondent for the New York Times
Foreign Correspondent for the New York Times
PROFILE
Kirk Semple
Guest
FROM Kirk Semple
To the Point
Defense Secretary Robert Gates Is in Baghdad The death toll has risen to at least 180 after yesterday’s suicide bombing in Baghdad, the worst attack since February, when US and Iraqi forces began their security crackdown. Today, Defense Secretary Robert Gates made a surprise visit with a message for Iraqi leaders. Kirk Semple is in Baghdad for the New York Times .
To the Point
Iraqi Troops Regain Control of Amarah after Mahdi-Army Takeover The southern Iraqi city of Amarah was taken over by the Mahdi Army today. Fifteen people were killed and 90 were wounded before the militia group handed control back to Iraqi soldiers. British forces are said to be standing by.
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To the Point
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
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The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?