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Sunday

Guantanamo Defense Lawyer Resigns, Says U.S. Case Is 'Stacked'

Jason Wright, seen here during his 15-month deployment to Iraq, served in the military for nine years before resigning last week. Courtesy of Jason Wright hide caption

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Courtesy of Jason Wright

Guantanamo Defense Lawyer Resigns, Says U.S. Case Is 'Stacked'

One of the lawyers for self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed resigned from the Army last week. He tells NPR the government is putting on a "show trial."

Guantanamo Defense Lawyer Resigns, Says U.S. Case Is 'Stacked'

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Saturday

John Walker Jr., Cold War Spy For Soviets, Dies At 77

An Oct. 28, 1985 photo of John A. Walker Jr., being escorted by a federal marshal as he leaves the Montgomery County Detention Center in Rockville, Md., enroute to a federal court in Baltimore. He was ultimately sentenced to life in prison on espionage charges. Bob Daugherty/AP hide caption

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Bob Daugherty/AP

The Two-Way

John Walker Jr., Cold War Spy For Soviets, Dies At 77

The U.S. Navy warrant officer recruited his son, his brother and a friend to help him steal and sell classified message keys to the USSR over a 17-year period.

Friday

Legal Questions Loom As Obama Weighs Military Action In Syria

President Obama says he agrees that Congress should have buy-in on military intervention against the Islamic State. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

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Evan Vucci/AP

National

Legal Questions Loom As Obama Weighs Military Action In Syria

The Obama administration is considering whether to broaden its air campaign against the extremist group the Islamic State by striking targets in Syria.

Legal Questions Loom As Obama Weighs Military Action In Syria

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For Islamic State, Hitting The U.S. May Not Be A Top Priority

This image, posted on a militant website, shows an Islamic State fighter waving a flag from a captured government fighter jet in Raqqa, Syria. The group is well-funded and has gained territory over the past few months; that's raised some concerns in America, although experts say the organization is largely focused on regional goals. AP hide caption

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AP

Parallels

For Islamic State, Hitting The U.S. May Not Be A Top Priority

Experts say the well-funded militant group is focused on gaining power in the Middle East, not attacking America. The bigger risk is of an opportunistic attack, locally or in Europe.

For Islamic State, Hitting The U.S. May Not Be A Top Priority

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Thursday

Foley's Mother: We Didn't Want Him To Go Back To Syria

Journalist James Foley in 2011. He was killed by Islamic State militants in Syria earlier this month. Steven Senne/AP hide caption

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Steven Senne/AP

The Two-Way

Foley's Mother: We Didn't Want Him To Go Back To Syria

Diane Foley tells NPR that her son, slain journalist James Foley, "could have done so many other things. But he, I think, was drawn to some of the drama, some of the rawness of the conflict zones."

Foley's Mother: We Didn't Want Him To Go Back To Syria

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China Warns U.S. Over Surveillance Flights

This handout photo provided by the Office of the Defense Secretary (OSD), taken Aug. 19, 2014, shows a Chinese fighter jet that the White House said Friday conducted a "dangerous intercept" of a U.S. Navy surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. Uncredited/AP hide caption

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Uncredited/AP

The Two-Way

China Warns U.S. Over Surveillance Flights

Beijing rejected U.S. claims that one of its warplanes made a reckless intercept of a U.S. Navy P-8 and said if Washington wants good relations with China, it should end "close surveillance" flights.

State Department 'Looking Into' Reports Of Another Jihadi Killed In Syria

A photo from March 2008 provided by the Hennepin County, Minn., Sheriff's Office shows Douglas McAuthur McCain, who was killed recently fighting alongside Islamic State militants in Syria. AP hide caption

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AP

The Two-Way

State Department 'Looking Into' Reports Of Another Jihadi Killed In Syria

After confirming earlier this week that Douglas McCain was killed fighting with Islamic State militants, U.S. officials say they are probing a report of a second American jihadi killed in Syria.

Brooklyn Man Fights In Syria. Is He A Threat To The U.S.?

This image obtained by NPR shows Ahmed al-Moflihi, a Yemeni-American who is believed to have fought in the Syrian civil war. NPR hide caption

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NPR

Parallels

Brooklyn Man Fights In Syria. Is He A Threat To The U.S.?

Yemeni-American Ahmed al-Moflihi likely fought alongside a rebel group with ties to the U.S.-backed Free Syrian Army. But officials are investigating anyway: Fight in Syria, and you raise a red flag.

Brooklyn Man Fights In Syria. Is He A Threat To The U.S.?

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Wednesday

The Life Of The Man Who Died Fighting For ISIS

Douglas McAuthur McCain has earned a dubious distinction, as the first American to die in Syria fighting for the extremist group that calls itself the Islamic State.

The Life Of The Man Who Died Fighting For ISIS

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U.S. Officials Try To Gauge Threat From American Fighters In Syria

American Eric Harroun threatened Bashar Assad on Facebook and YouTube. He spent six weeks fighting with a rebel army, a journey that did not end well for him. ABC News/YouTube hide caption

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ABC News/YouTube

Parallels

U.S. Officials Try To Gauge Threat From American Fighters In Syria

Dozens of Americans have gone to Syria to fight against the government, some with groups the U.S. considers terrorists. U.S. officials have to sort out which could be dangerous when they return.

U.S. Officials Try To Gauge Threat From American Fighters In Syria

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Tuesday

Obama Considers Widening Strikes Against Islamic State Militants

During a speech at the American Legion's National Convention on Tuesday, President Obama again called the extremist group the Islamic State a "cancer." Charles Dharapak/AP hide caption

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Charles Dharapak/AP

Obama Considers Widening Strikes Against Islamic State Militants

The president has approved surveillance flights over Syria to search for targets for possible airstrikes. But critics of the administration say that may not be enough.

Obama Considers Widening Strikes Against Islamic State Militants

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