WASHINGTON – Fadi Kassar of Milford, 40, traveled a long, hard road through several countries before arriving in Connecticut and being granted asylum in 2015. He spoke to the Mirror about the human cost of the Donald Trump’s travel ban – and how it is changing the perception of the United States in the Muslim world.
ISIL
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CT lawmakers hope Orlando is a ‘tipping point’ on gun control
WASHINGTON — Gun control advocates in Congress, with Connecticut’s lawmakers taking a lead, are hoping the massacre in Orlando is a “tipping point” that overcomes the deep resistance in Congress to strengthening the nation’s federal gun law. Political points may be scored, but it’s not likely Congress will budge.
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Blumenthal, Murphy help block Syrian refugee bill
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate on Wednesday blocked a bill that has split the Connecticut delegation and would have required additional scrutiny for Syrian and Iraqi refugees, slowing their entry into the United States. “Our enemy is ISIL – not refugees,” Blumenthal said in a statement
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State Dept. official with West Hartford ties tasked to develop, sell Syria plan
WASHINGTON — Former West Hartford resident Brett McGurk is considered a leading expert at the State Department on the threats posed by the Islamic State and what the Obama administration is trying to do about them. But fighting international terrorism isn’t his only challenge. Now he’s been tasked to persuade skeptical lawmakers, including members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation, to back President Obama’s campaign against ISIS in Syria.
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Murphy sponsors bill that would restrict White House’s war powers
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chris Murphy has escalated his criticisms of President Obama’s campaign against the Islamic State by introducing legislation that would curb the White House’s war-making powers.
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Murphy, Blumenthal split on authorization to arm Syrian rebels
WASHINGTON – Connecticut’s Democratic senators split Thursday over legislation that would give the Obama administration authority to arm and train Syrian rebels, but the measure won approval in the Senate on a bipartisan, 78-22 vote.
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Blumenthal unsatisfied after questioning Hagel on ISIS mission
WASHINGTON– Sen. Richard Blumenthal was one of several lawmakers who tried to pin down top Pentagon officials Tuesday on the administration’s new campaign to target Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria, and were not satisfied with the answers.
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CT Sen. Murphy at odds with Obama’s plan to arm Syrian rebels
WASHINGTON – President Obama hopes Congress votes this week to allow the Pentagon to arm and train Syrian rebels, but Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., is absolutely not on board.
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Connecticut lawmakers react warmly, warily to Obama speech
WASHINGTON – Connecticut lawmakers reacted with both wariness and praise to President Obama’s plan to “degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL” and to commence U.S. airstrikes on Syria.