The administration is apparently concerned that a new AUMF would impose limits on its military actions around the world.

Well, yes. That‘s the whole point.

Is there an end in sight for the Global War on Terror? Don’t count on it.

Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Oct. 30, Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson faced a barrage of questions from lawmakers over the need for a new authorization for the use of military force to replace 2001 AUMF that, passed amid the fear and panic that gripped the nation in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks, has justified U.S. Department of Defense counterterrorism missions around the globe ever since.

Following the 9/11 attacks and to prevent future terror attacks on the United States, Congress passed the 2001 AUMF which gave the president has authority „to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations or persons he determined planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons.“

Die Minister standen den Parlamentariern Rede und Antwort zur Debatte um das Gesetz zur Genehmigung von Militäreinsätzen (Authorization for Use of Military Force, AUMF). Es wurde vor 16 Jahren beschlossen, um im Kampf gegen den Terrorismus das Militär einzusetzen und hat nichts mit Nordkorea zu tun. Beide Minister warnten, dass die bestehende Regelung zu Einsätzen gegen Terrorgruppen rechtlich ausreichend seien. Deren Abschaffung hingegen sende das Signal, dass die USA sich aus Konflikten zurückzögen.

After almost 26 years of Kurdistan Regional Government control of the Ibrahim Khalil border-crossing the Iraqi Federal government establishes authority over it. The border crossing became an infamous piece in the smuggling network developed by the Kurdish government and the Saddam regime which both profited millions weekly. However after the downfall of the Saddam regime the crossing remained purely in the Kurdish government’s control and while smuggling networks were no longer as lucrative there was still a large income stemming from the control.

Russia has invited the Kurdish-led authorities in northern Syria to its proposed congress of Syria’s rival parties in November, a senior Kurdish official said on Tuesday, as Moscow seeks to launch a new initiative to end the Syrian conflict.
“We are studying the issue and our stance has been positive so far,” Badran Jia Kurd, an adviser to the administration that governs Kurdish-led autonomous regions of Syria, told Reuters.

Der in Spanien wegen Rebellion angeklagte und abgesetzte Regionalpräsident Kataloniens, Carles Puigdemont, ist nach Belgien geflohen. Er habe den Separatistenführer „persönlich gesehen“, sagte der belgische Anwalt Paul Bekaert.

Barzani verlor die umstrittene Ölstadt Kirkuk, welche die Kurden als eine Art historische Hauptstadt für sich reklamieren und in den Wirren der Kämpfe gegen die Dschihadisten des IS an sich gerissen hatten. Barzani verlor damit fast die Hälfte der Ölvorräte. Sie hätten eine kurdische Unabhängigkeit wirtschaftlich erst ermöglichen sollen.

The waves of the violence that affected the Kurdish capital of Erbil and Duhok, both strongholds of PM Barzani’s ruling party, followed the resignation of the Kurdish President Masoud Barzani.

Angry protesters, some of whom were armed civilians, torched the offices of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and Gorran or Change Movement in Zakho, near Duhok. Security forces stated Sunday night that they arrested at least 5 people in connection with the attacks.

A military defeat by Iraqi forces followed by a withdrawal from contested territories resulted in Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani stepping down amid growing fears of greater disorder in the region, which could possibly be triggered by a quarrel between the political parties.

Today the Iraqi flag was raised in the township of Faysh Khabor as well as the Ibrahim Khalil border crossing which was previously held by the KDP Barzani Peshmerga. The town has called for Iraqi Federal forces citing issues with the Kurdish Peshmerga, not representing the towns Assyrian background and otherwise increasing tensions for the townspeople with the introduction of Syrian, Iranian and Turkish Kurdish fighters.

Lange war die Türkei ein Partner des Westens – und ein Puffer, der das Pulverfass Nahost fernhielt. Aus dem freundlichen könnte ein ungemütlicher Nachbar werden, sagt SRF-Sicherheitsexperte Fredy Gsteiger.

Die entsprechende Äußerung machte Vereinigungsminister Cho Myoung-gyon vor dem parlamentarischen Ausschuss für Auswärtiges und Vereinigung am Dienstag.

Es werde davon ausgegangen, dass die USA und Nordkorea die Möglichkeiten für Dialog und Verhandlungen sondierten. Jedoch komme es nicht zu Verhandlungen, weil Nordkorea keine Bereitschaft zeige, sich auf Verhandlungen einzulassen, hieß es.