In Fight Against ISIL, Obama Finds Himself Facing Michael Corleone's Dilemma  —  If you think that American power and leadership is best demonstrated by our ability to blow things up, this probably wasn't the speech for you.  While President Barack Obama laid out a number of steps …

Struggling to Gauge ISIS Threat, Even as U.S. Prepares to Act  —  WASHINGTON — The violent ambitions of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria have been condemned across the world: in Europe and the Middle East, by Sunni nations and Shiite ones, and by sworn enemies like Israel and Iran.

Statement by the President on ISIL  —  My fellow Americans, tonight I want to speak to you about what the United States will do with our friends and allies to degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL.  —  As Commander-in-Chief, my highest priority is the security of the American people.

TED CRUZ: HATRED, BIGOTRY, OPPOSITION TO ISRAEL LED TO ME LEAVING EVENT  —  Reports surfaced Wednesday night that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) was “booed off the stage” at an event hosted by a purportedly Christian organization.  —  Cruz, the keynote speaker at the new “In Defense Of Christians” …

Countering Islamic State will be hard in Iraq and harder in Syria, officials say  —  President Obama's strategy to beat back Islamic State militants spread across Iraq and Syria will depend on far more than U.S. bombs and missiles hitting their intended targets.

Oscar Pistorius verdict live: judge says athlete not guilty of murder  —  Judge Thokozile Masipa says Pistorius ‘clearly negligent’ over death of Reeva Steenkamp and will deliver ruling on culpable homicide on Friday  —  Sort by:  —  3.54pm BST  —  My colleague David Smith has filed …

Obama's Breathtaking Expansion of a President's Power To Make War  —  President Obama hoped to repeal the Bush-era authorization declaring war on al Qaeda—instead he's expanded it without bound  —  Future historians will ask why George W. Bush sought and received express congressional authorization …