Editor’s Note: David Axelrod is CNN’s senior political commentator and host of the podcast “The Axe Files.” He was senior adviser to President Barack Obama and chief strategist for the 2008 and 2012 Obama campaigns. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his. David Axelrod: In a speech that sanded down rough edges, Trump made commitments that will prove very hard to deliver He says on health care, tax cuts, he is already ensnared in debates with Republicans that have stalled their progress The most revealing moment in President Trump’s speech to Congress on Tuesday night came amid its most powerful one. The President’s tribute to Navy SEAL William “Ryan” Owens – who was killed in Yemen on a mission that was a success or failure, depending whom you ask — was the emotional coda to an otherwise workmanlike speech. Exploitative as the stagecraft may have been, only the hardest of hearts could have helped but be moved by the wrenching image of Ryan’s grief-stricken widow, Carryn, looking skyward as the chamber showered her with applause. Trump, always the producer, allowed the ovation to continue for two minutes and 11 seconds before resuming his speech.  I’m sure he felt sympathy for Ryan’s loss, but the man also knows television and this was inarguably good TV and clever politics. Related video Trump's address to Congress, in context Ever since the January raid on an al Qaeda stronghold, in which Ryan was killed, six other servicemen were injured and an aircraft lost, the nascent administration has been dogged by questions about whether the action was prudent and productive.  Just last weekend, Ryan’s father angrily demanded an investigation to determine if his son’s life was compromised by poor decision-making. All that was blown away, at least for an evening, by the searing scene in the House chambers. Yet never one to err on the side of understatement, the President decided to go for more. “Ryan is looking down right now, you know that, and he’s very happy, because I think he just broke a record.” This engendered another ovation but cheapened what was an otherwise transcendent event.  She’s grieving an incalculable loss.  And the President is measuring the length of the applause – as much, one sensed, in the spirit of self-satisfaction for having orchestrated the moment as solicitude for the fallen SEAL and his family. He just cannot help himself. And therein lies his problem. Related video Axelrod: Trump's message is 'be very afraid' Trump had a good night Tuesday, faithfully reading a speech that sanded down the sharp edges of his familiar, provocative message.  It still had bite, but was delivered with less bile.  There was the usual litany of gross exaggerations and outright falsehoods to keep the fact-checking machines whirring. And while the language was sheathed in warmer tones, the underlying vision still was fundamentally divisive. Yet for this night, reading a carefully calibrated speech in the august House chamber, Donald Trump looked like a President.  The Tweeter-in-Chief even, straight-facedly, recited an admonition that “the time for trivial fights is behind us.” That drew some derisive laughter in the chamber and, I suspect, the country.  No fight has been too trivial for this President. His impulsive tweets and taunts in response to even the smallest provocation – and provocateurs – have regularly sidetracked the messages he and his team had hoped to deliver. Presidential addresses are palliatives.  They produce short-term gains that are sustained only with consistent messaging and follow-through on the commitments made. On Tuesday, Trump made many commitments, and most will prove far more complex and difficult to deliver than his resolute words acknowledged. On two of his signature issues, taxes and “repealing and replacing” Obamacare, Republicans in Congress are ensnared in intramural debates that have stalled their progress. “Nobody knew health care could be so complicated,” the President lamented Monday at a White House meeting of the nation’s governors, all of whom have known for a long time how complicated health care can be. That is why so many Republicans and Democrats are leery of the plans emerging to replace the Affordable Care Act. Related article The ridiculous gushing over Trump's speech For six years, Republicans have made “repeal and replace” their war cry.  Now they are in charge, and have no consensus on how to proceed without gutting the law’s popular core benefits, which Trump has vowed to keep. At town hall meetings across the country, they are hearing from angry and anxious constituents in what is the mirror image of the tea party protests we saw when the Affordable Care Act was being debated seven years ago. In his speech, Trump said, “Mandating every American to buy government-approved health insurance was never the right solution for our country.  The way to make health insurance available to everyone is to lower the cost of health insurance, and that is what we are going to do.” When the President and his team finally delve into the complexities of health care, he may come to regret that politically pleasing stanza. Barack Obama also opposed mandates, until confronted with the reality that to achieve the goal of covering the uninsured, including Americans with pre-existing conditions, you must have everyone, from the young and healthy to the older and frail, in the pool. The House plan the President tacitly endorsed Tuesday night would cost millions their care, return the country to the days when insurance companies could refuse people with pre-existing conditions and remove myriad consumer protections that guarantee patients a minimum standard of coverage while preventing them from losing it if they become seriously ill. Related video McConnell: American's expect Obamacare repeal And it would lavish benefits without regard to income, so the Trump family would be eligible for the same tax credits as the laborer at Mar-a-Lago. That is why members of Congress are proceeding with caution. The tax debate also is complicated, particularly in light of Trump’s call for a massive military buildup, infrastructure program and increased veterans’ benefits, all without touching Social Security and Medicare for now. For a party that has spent eight years railing against deficits, such an unpaid spending spree will be a hotly debated topic, as will how such a tax cut would be structured. A plan that showers benefits on the top 1% of earners and a middling benefit to the middle class would violate the spirit of Trump’s campaigns and reap a whirlwind of protest. So there are plenty of roadblocks ahead for the President that defy his script and will try his newly expressed sense of equanimity. For a man who has reached the pinnacle by indulging his impulses, the next breach of the comity and common purpose he called for Tuesday night may only be a tweet away.


Editor’s Note: Shinzo Abe is the Prime Minister of Japan. The views expressed are his own. Shinzo Abe: The world has changed drastically since the United Nations was established Reform of the UN Security Council 'simply cannot wait,' Abe says “Whatever may be the nature of the uncertainties and the tensions in which the world is placed today, and whatever may be their causes, there should be no problem that cannot be resolved peacefully with the united strength of 80 nations which now constitute our organization.” These words were spoken 60 years ago by Mamoru Shigemitsu, Japan’s foreign minister at the time, on the day our country joined the United Nations. His statement is just as true today, as we prepare for this year’s General Assembly meeting, as it was back in 1956. In the 70 years since the United Nations was founded, it has helped the international community overcome Cold War tensions to resolve many regional conflicts. Today, in developed and developing countries alike, the greater movement of people, freedom in trade and investment, and advances in information technology have enriched many people’s lives. Japan, for its part, has continued to serve as a steadfast pillar of the United Nations during its six decades of membership. We are, for example, the second-largest financial contributor to the United Nations, and have provided more than $330 billion of Official Development Assistance, accepted 560,000 trainees from developing nations and dispatched 190,000 experts and volunteers. Asian nations’ role as the growth center of the global economy is ample testimony to the impact these contribution have made. In addition, Japanese personnel have participated in peacekeeping operations in countries such as Cambodia and Timor-Leste and provided long years of on-the-ground support for nation-building programs. But the world has changed drastically since the United Nations was established, and the evolution toward a borderless world is continuing, posing new challenges to mankind. It is therefore essential that the role of the United Nations evolves to meet those challenges. The international community must stand ever more united, not divided, to find solutions to these increasing challenges. And the key to doing so is to break down an outdated “silo approach” to international affairs. The reality is that the issues we face are no longer one country’s problem, and they can no longer be confined to a single policy area. Tackling the prolonged refugee crisis, for example, which involves multiple regions and states, as well as complex political dynamics, requires a solution that gets to the root causes of a given issue. That means doing more than just saving refugees from the immediate crisis they find themselves in. Instead, we also need to empower them through education and vocational training so that they are ready to rebuild their lives if they choose to return home. This makes bridging the gap between humanitarian efforts and development assistance even more important. But tackling such challenges requires strong leadership from the United Nations. The organization must live up to its full potential even as it faces finite resources in trying to do so. That will require making the United Nations a more unified organization – “One UN” – where UN bodies coordinate more closely. This process is unavoidable, even though it might require bold and painful organizational reforms. One of the most urgent of those is reform of the UN Security Council. Related article Shinzo Abe: 3 big challenges facing the world With a growing range of pressing issues to address, including the situation in Syria, as well as North Korea’s missile launches and recent nuclear tests in defiance of UN resolutions, the role of the Security Council continues to grow in importance. In particular, North Korea has enhanced its capabilities this year by conducting two nuclear tests and launching at least 20 ballistic missiles. Clearly, North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat has entered a new stage. Meanwhile, North Korea’s human rights violations, including the issue of the abductions of Japanese and other citizens, could undermine regional stability and thus should be seen as inseparable from matters of international peace and security. All this is a reminder that reform simply cannot wait, since the Security Council takes primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Since the United Nations’ inception, the international community has undergone tectonic changes. The number of member states has grown from 51 to 193 countries as Asian and African countries won their independence, gaining greater prominence on the international stage – both politically and economically – in the process. Yet despite these changes, the composition of the Security Council, which has important responsibilities in terms of global peace and security, remains almost entirely unchanged. This means that the entire continent of Africa, which is the focus of many of the Security Council’s agenda items, does not have any permanent representation. With that in mind, three weeks ago, at the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development I co-hosted in Nairobi, I expressed my firm support for the goal of having permanent African representation on the Security Council by 2023, while sharing their vision of correcting “historical injustice” and respecting their own initiative, “Agenda 2063.” Clearly, a priority for the United Nations should be to address the composition of the Security Council to help increase its representativeness, legitimacy and effectiveness. There is a general consensus within the international community of the need for Security Council reform, and I see support for reforms as a litmus test of the seriousness of a nation’s desire for global peace and security. Looking ahead, developed and developing countries alike face common challenges: building economic structures that drive growth, countering global warming while reducing dependence on fossil fuels and tackling pollution. Other shared goals include developing high quality and sustainable infrastructure, meeting the challenge of aging societies, and creating more robust health and education systems. In a few short decades, Japan has successfully managed to overcome many of these issues. We are now also pioneering efforts to promote proactive engagement of our aging population, and to also create a society in which all women can shine. That is why I believe Japan can make a unique contribution to the international community, including through becoming a permanent member of the Security Council. Related article Shinzo Abe: Lessons learned for a better world Japan has long drawn on its unique strengths to contribute to global peace and stability. As the only country to have experienced atomic bombings, we vigorously support nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation efforts, submitting resolutions at the United Nations every year calling for the eradication of nuclear weapons. Based on our track record of bringing a global perspective to resolving issues in Africa and the Middle East, among other regions, and our commitment to making a proactive contribution to peace, I firmly believe that as a permanent member of the Security Council, Japan would provide a major impetus toward global peace and security. Just two months after Foreign Minister Shigemitsu delivered his country’s first speech to the United Nations, Nobusuke Kishi became Prime Minister. In a speech just before taking office, Kishi said: “Japan must always stand ready to make as much contributions as would be necessary to strengthen the authority of the United Nations and to attain world peace through the UN.” On the 60th anniversary of Japan’s UN membership, I reaffirm this commitment – and our desire to fulfill our role as a responsible member of the international community, one that will continue to be proactive in working toward a United Nations that is effective and capable of keep pace with these fast-changing times.


The FBI put out a statement saying it was investigating DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned on Sunday The Democratic National Convention was sent into upheaval over the weekend when Wikileaks released nearly 20,000 internal emails from the party – some of which showed officials working against Sen. Bernie Sanders in the primary. US officials suspect the email dump is the work of Russian hackers who were discovered in DNC servers earlier this year, and experts believe the coordinated release of the documents on the eve of the convention are an effort by Moscow to meddle in the US presidential election. Here’s what you need to know about the leak. Cybersecurity experts who initially responded to the DNC hack identified two distinct groups of hackers operating in the system – one who had exclusively gone after the party’s opposition research file on Donald Trump, and one that had been snooping on DNC emails for about a year. Both were recognized as known Russian military or intelligence-affiliated hacking operations. Crowdstrike, the firm that responded to the hack, tracks dozens of advanced cyberespionage operations, many affiliated with governments. Each group has distinct ways of attacking their targets, down to the malicious software signatures they use. Several cybersecurity firms have verified Crowdstrike’s findings that the perpetrators of the DNC attack were the two known Russian groups, and there is no evidence independent hackers could be separately responsible for the leaks. While the government and FBI haven’t officially pointed the finger at Russia, US officials briefed on the probe say the evidence so far points to groups known for conducting cyberintrusions for Moscow. Experts say the DNC emails bear evidence of passing through Russian hands and look to be efforts by the Russians to first, cover their tracks and cast doubt on their role in the hack, and second, influence the US election towards Donald Trump, who has spoken favorable of Russian President Vladimir Putin and advocated weakening NATO. The FBI put out a statement saying it was investigating. “A compromise of this nature is something we take very seriously, and the FBI will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who pose a threat in cyberspace,” the FBI said. DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned on Sunday, effective at the end of the convention, in the wake of the scandal, but her departure was a long time coming. Wasserman Schultz has served atop the DNC since 2011, keeping the Florida seat in Congress she’s held since 2005 as well. She faced criticism through her tenure for both her work was the spokeswoman for the party and her ability to fundraise. She faced more blowback during the 2016 primary cycle, especially from supporters of Sanders who saw decisions like her insistence on a small number of debates at low viewership times as an effort to stack the deck in favor of Hillary Clinton. Wasserman Schultz was already expected to have a reduced speaking role at the DNC in the wake of the criticism and distrust from supporters of the Vermont senator, and the email leaks forced her hand to announce her resignation. The Florida congresswoman was booed and jeered during an appearance before the Florida delegation Monday morning. As Wasserman Schultz becomes the outgoing chair, DNC Vice Chairwoman Donna Brazile is serving as the interim chair through the election. CNN and Brazile mutually agreed to suspend her contract as a political commentator for the network after the announcement was made on Sunday. Other names for replacing Wasserman Schultz are also being floated. According to a Democratic operative, Housing Secretary Julian Castro was being discussed by Hispanic leaders close to Clinton and her inner circle. In terms of convention operations, the DNC Rules Committee tapped Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge to fill in as permanent chair of the convention to gavel in and out each session, according to a DNC source. Emails were apparently leaked from seven DNC officials’ accounts, though CNN was not able to independently verify their authenticity. Nearly 20,000 total emails were dumped, including some that exposed distaste for Sanders within the DNC. One email in May targeted Sanders’ religious beliefs, with DNC chief financial officer Brad Marshall asking colleagues to “get someone to ask his belief” in God, without mentioning Sanders by name. The suggestion was that Sanders’ faith could be a difference maker in Kentucky and West Virginia. “This could make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist,” Marshall wrote. In another May email, Wasserman Schultz called Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver a “damn liar” for statements he made criticizing the Nevada Democratic Party after protests by Sanders supporters of what they said was subversion of party rules by Clinton backers.


Ray Chavez is the oldest survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor that launched America’s entry into World War II in 1941. At 106, the indefatigable veteran has been traveling around the country for years, attending memorial services and commemorations. This week, he met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office while in Washington for a series of Memorial Day events. Today, @POTUS @realDonaldTrump welcomed 106-year-old Pearl Harbor veteran Ray Chavez of Poway, California to the @WhiteHouse. Chavez is the oldest living Pearl Harbor veteran. https://t.co/UDcJLCWJcs pic.twitter.com/URLJnrc1VK Ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, Chavez reflected on his service, and recounted his experience on the day that President Franklin Roosevelt declared would “live in infamy.” Chavez was a quartermaster stationed in Pearl Harbor at the time of the Japanese attack on Hawaii, living there with his wife and oldest daughter. He was assigned to a minesweeper, the Condor, that, while on patrol had detected a Japanese submarine in nearby restricted waters the morning of December 7 before returning to the harbor. “I had told (my wife), I didn’t want to be awakened because I had been (out) all night, and I was very tired, and I wanted to get some sleep,” Chavez said. “After she saw the beginning of the war, she went and called me, and I couldn’t believe what she was telling me. And after her pleading with me to get up, let’s see. I finally broke down, and went up, and sure enough, she was right. “And so, (there were) all the ships on fire, and a terrible smoke screen all through the harbor, covering it, and ships, all the adjoining area,” he recalled. After the attack, Chavez served on a transport ship called the LaSalle that brought soldiers to several island battles throughout the Pacific, including Okinawa and Guadalcanal. Asked how often he thinks about that day and his military service, Chavez answered quickly. “Every day. And not hysterical or mean thoughts about it – it was great. But it never goes away. All of what you see and learned.” Chavez was born in San Bernardino, California, and grew up in San Diego, where he later returned after the war. He said his wife had encouraged him to join the Navy. “I was married at that time, and my wife encouraged me because she liked the Navy, and was more or less a Navy wife, and she wanted me to join. And then at the end of the war, she wanted me to stay in the Navy, but I had too much war already, and I got out,” he said. Chavez said that “discipline” was the most important lesson he learned from his service as well as the enjoyment he gained from the company of his fellow soldiers. “It’s quite a pleasure to meet new people and enjoy their company, and that’s what happened to me,” he said. Still sharp, the centenarian cracked, “I would do it again, if I was called to active duty – but chances are they’ll never.”


Editor’s Note: Arun Vishwanath studies the people problem of cybersecurity. He is an associate professor in the department of communication at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Arun Vishwanath: The latest ransomware attack should be a wake-up call about worse attacks on the horizon Ultimately, we have yet to make a dent in tackling the single biggest problem in cybersecurity: users, Vishwanath writes Yet another major cyber extortion campaign is wrecking computer networks all over the world – and we need to start thinking about cyber safety more comprehensively and include users in solving the problem. This effort must begin with an assessment of user risk, not just technical risk – because all signs indicate that there is still worse to come. This latest attack is a metastasized version of WannaCry, the ransomware attack that within a few days in May ripped through over 3 million computers in 150 countries and spread faster than most highly contagious diseases ever have. Ransomware is a class of malware that encrypts all the files on a computer, letting go of them only when a ransom is paid to the hacker who has the encryption key. This new attack has already hurt major organizations in Russia, Europe, Asia and North America. Thankfully, its spread also appears to have stalled, partly because many users have already installed software patches after WannaCry. Every major cyberattack in recent years has led to even bigger attacks because hackers learn and evolve. The Sony Pictures email breach was followed by the Ashley Madison leak of user credentials, which eventually spurred the 1 billion plus username heist at Yahoo. Likewise, last October, we saw the record-setting distributed denial-of-service attack that hijacked thousands of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices — everything from Internet enabled home cameras and DVRs to baby monitors — and targeted the Internet’s leading directory service provider Dyn, making large parts of the Internet inaccessible all over the world. This is a likely reason we are seeing ransomware attacks, which for most of 2016 were targeting individual organizations, now turning into distributed global attacks that spread from organization to organization. In addition, hacking is becoming a more readily available and easily deployed weapon. Hackers are in high demand, some even work for nation states with deep pockets. Thanks to this, the malware being developed and available for rent has become even more sophisticated. Exacerbating this problem is the fact that hackers are also co-opting tools developed by the NSA and CIA with enormous capabilities, which are available on the dark web. Ultimately, we have yet to make a dent in tackling the single biggest problem in cybersecurity: users. From not installing software patches or conducting routine updates to clicking on malicious hyperlinks and attachments in spear-phishing emails, and using weak passwords on devices, regular people — all of us computer users — continue to be the conduits for most cyberattacks. And so far, the only proactive approach against this continues to be security awareness training, which people usually only get when they’re affiliated with larger organizations. Not only does this leave everyone else, from small businesses to senior citizens, vulnerable, but all signs also point to a limited impact of such training even within big organizations. 1.     Maintain a complete back-up of all your files on a separate drive that is disconnected from your computer network.2.     Install the latest software patches, maintain a firewall, and keep your anti-virus software up to date; download all patches only from the software vendor’s official app store.3.     Practice good email hygiene. Think before you open emails, click on hyperlinks, or open attachments. When it doubt, delete the email.4.     In the event of a ransomware infection, immediately disconnect from the Internet, remove all cables connecting to other drives in the network, and run a full virus scan.5.     If you see a security warning or any other indication of a malware infection on your device, seek help. Do not pay the hacker or call the number on the screen. Instead, contact your local FBI field-office and report the infection to IC3 by following this link. As a case in point, a team at the technology website Gizmodo recently sent an obviously fake spear-phishing email to 15 people associated with the Trump administration. According to Gizmodo, more than half the targeted individuals clicked on the hyperlink in the email, with former FBI Director James Comey and Donald Trump adviser Newt Gingrich even responding to the email. Keep in mind that hackers need just one errant user to inadvertently click on a spear-phishing email or leave a computer unpatched to start a cyberpandemic. In spite of this staggering vulnerability, almost all policymaking ignores end-users and abandons the opportunity to transform users from conduits into a defense mechanism against cyberattacks. Take President Trump’s Executive Order on Cybersecurity that was released last month. The order continues many of the Obama era policies and creates accountability by holding the heads of federal agencies responsible for breaches, enforces discipline by mandating adherence to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, cybersafety framework, and requires all federal agencies provide a risk assessment report that details their cybersecurity readiness. But nowhere is there any mention of end-users,  the single biggest risk to cybersecurity. Ignoring the end-user is akin to putting better locks on a safe, while forgetting all the many people who have its keys. In other words, it is a huge problem. One potential solution is for federal government to task NIST, which is currently focused on technical risk, toward building a user cyber risk assessment framework that takes into account how people work, what devices they use, and their thoughts, habits and online behaviors. This will not only help understand the weakness among users, but it also helps accurately assess risk and build safeguards. We also need to start a nationwide campaign to inform and educate everyone, from homemakers to high school students, about cyber risks. With malware capable of being ported into work from shared computers and even from travelers using free Wi-Fi terminals, it is imperative that everyone is secure. Such a campaign requires federal and state funding and local support that is aimed at empowering users to develop good cyber hygiene. This includes teaching people how to be safe online, how to use online privacy protection tools, and how to monitor, detect and report cyberattacks. Finally, we have to better engage users in reporting attacks. In 2014, I called for a centralized cyberbreach reporting system, much like the 911 emergency system we already have. Such a system is all the more important now with ransomware-type attacks, because it can serve as a point of contact for desperate victims who have merely hours to comply or face losing all their data.  Additionally, with attacks spreading like contagions, having incoming reports helps law enforcement track them and could serve as an early warning system to caution others to take steps. But this again requires federal, state and local government to recognize the need for enlisting and protecting people. Sign up for CNN Opinion’s new newsletter.Join us on Twitter and Facebook WannaCry was only stopped because a vigilant researcher discovered a critical weakness in its code. The current attack, at least for now, has also stalled because the email account used by the hackers to manage their ransom demands was blocked by the email provider. But it’s almost certain that a hacker somewhere is already developing a workaround. The next attack will surely be bigger, bolder and more consequential. And the next time we might not be so lucky.


While you were out celebrating the unofficial start of summer, President Donald Trump was tweeting. From Friday morning until Tuesday morning, Trump sent out 14 – yes, 14! – tweets focused on the ongoing Russia probe. The tweets – ranging from quotes of supportive voices from Fox News Channel to references to the “13 Angry Democrats” on special counsel Robert Mueller’s team to allegations of election meddling – illustrate Trump’s near-complete obsessions with the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and its impact on his presidency. What’s remarkable about the tweets – other than the pure number of them – is the similarities between them. Here’s one from Saturday: “This whole Russia Probe is Rigged. Just an excuse as to why the Dems and Crooked Hillary lost the Election and States that haven’t been lost in decades. 13 Angry Democrats, and all Dems if you include the people who worked for Obama for 8 years. #SPYGATE & CONFLICTS OF INTEREST!” And, here’s one from Tuesday morning: “Why aren’t the 13 Angry and heavily conflicted Democrats investigating the totally Crooked Campaign of totally Crooked Hillary Clinton. It’s a Rigged Witch Hunt, that’s why! Ask them if they enjoyed her after election celebration!” There’s a few word changes here and there but, for the most part, this is virtually the same tweet.  “Rigged” probe. Thirteen angry Democrats. Why isn’t Hillary being investigated? And, always, lots of exclamation points and CAPITAL LETTERS!!!!!!! All 14 tweets are, really, just one tweet. Trump allies might(?) argue that this is simply message discipline. Trump knows that if he repeats something – anything – enough times, there will be a decent chunk of the populace who will believe it.  And another chunk who, whether they realize it or not, will allow Trump’s attack lines “witch hunt,” “hoax” and “13 Angry Democrats” to seep into their consciousness and effect the way they regard Muller and his probe. Maybe. But I tend to believe that the available evidence from Trump’s 16 months in office is that the only real strategy is there is no real strategy. Or, put another way: The strategy is that Trump says (or tweets) what is on his mind that very second and his White House works to develop a strategy around the thought of the moment. Given that explanation – and an understanding that Trump’s Twitter feed is the raw and uncut version of what he’s thinking and feeling at any given moment – it’s very clear from this weekend that the Russia probe (and Mueller) is very much on his mind these days. What Trump’s tweets read like is someone who has fixated on the idea that he is being unfairly persecuted by people who have never liked him and will do anything to keep him from being successful. He has convinced himself that Mueller, a Republican who was appointed FBI director by a Republican president and who was appointed special counsel by a Republican deputy attorney general, has hired a bunch of Democrats to find dirt on him. That, despite the fact that five people – including his national security adviser and his former deputy campaign chairman – have plead guilty already in the Mueller probe that it is all one big partisan fishing expedition. (Worth noting: In addition to the Republican roots of Mueller and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director Chris Wray are both Trump appointees.) Trump is someone who has regularly embraced conspiracies before; his candidacy for president was birthed, ahem, in the debunked fever swamp rumor that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States, and during the 2016 campaign, Trump trafficked in ideas ranging from Muslims were celebrating on rooftops on 9/11 to Ted Cruz’s father might be involved in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. This is who he is and what he does. So, Trump’s Tuesday morning tweet – “The 13 Angry Democrats (plus people who worked 8 years for Obama) working on the rigged Russia Witch Hunt, will be MEDDLING with the mid-term elections, especially now that Republicans (stay tough!) are taking the lead in Polls. There was no Collusion, except by the Democrats!” – is par for the course. The most revealing tweet in Trump’s fusillade over the past four days came in his last one  – for now – dealing with his Russia obsession. Tweeted Trump: “Sorry, I’ve got to start focusing my energy on North Korea Nuclear, bad Trade Deals, VA Choice, the Economy, rebuilding the Military, and so much more, and not on the Rigged Russia Witch Hunt that should be investigating Clinton/Russia/FBI/Justice/Obama/Comey/Lynch etc.” There’s a part of him, clearly, that knows putting all of his attention on the Russia probe is distracting him. That his obsession with the idea that Mueller is out to get him – and might even “MEDDLE” in the 2018 midterms – is counterproductive. There’s so much more he needs to work on/pay attention to. And yet, if we know anything about Trump, it’s that he simply cannot adhere to his own self-admonishment to devote less time to his conspiracy theories about the Russia probe and more time to the actual governance of the country. Obsessions are fundamentally irrational. Trump’s preoccupation with the Russia investigation won’t be solved via reason alone. Or at all.


In this new post-Brexit referendum reality, the UK is looking for new and creative ways to encourage trade around the world. Britain’s export finance agency, which works alongside the Department for International Trade, has announced it will add Nigerian currency Naira to its roster of “pre-approved currencies.” “(This announcement) supports increased trade relationships between Nigeria and the UK,” Laure Beaufils, UK Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, told CNN. Related article Sky's the limit as Africa makes major move towards aviation single market This means the UK government can now give finance support to Nigerian businesses in local currency; they will be able to provide guarantees in Naira for Nigerian projects. “If you are a Nigerian business based in Nigeria that wants to buy tractors in the UK – and the UK seller agrees to sell to you in Naira – then you as the buyer in Nigeria can go to your local bank in Nigeria get a loan. But you will say to your bank in Nigeria: “This loan is going to be backed by the British government.” “That’s much more likely to get you a loan to start with, but also the loan is in Naira which means you are managing the foreign exchange risk. You don’t have to worry about fluctuations in the foreign exchange to repay your loan,” Beaufils told CNN. The agency has a total limit of £750 million which it can provide. They can give 85% funding to businesses purchasing a minimum of 20% British content. The UK voted to leave the European Union on June 23 2016 and, as a result, the government is pushing an agenda to increase exports into Africa. Last year it was reported by The Times of London that Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, planned to build improved links with African commonwealth nations. Related article Trade Minister: How Nigeria can kick oil habit and become a global player However, the reach of this particular policy remains to be seen. “Ultimately, it will certainly help developing trade with the UK but it is likely to be a lengthy process,” Aurelian Mali, vice president and senior credit officer at Moody’s, told CNN. In 2016 World Bank (2016) statistics showed Nigeria was Africa’s largest economy and is set to overtake the United States as the third most populous country by 2050. Related article Africa in 2018: What to expect Last year Nigeria emerged from recession, previously being hit hard by falling oil prices. Naira becomes one of three West African currencies pre-approved by the British export finance agency. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity in 2015 China was the top origin of imports for Nigeria with a share of 35%. The UK was sixth, totaling 4.1%. As Britain prepares leave the European Union, bolstering bilateral trade with countries like Nigeria could be increasingly on the cards.

UK export finance agency's addition of Nigerian Naira to pre-approved currencies


NEW: ISIS captures Syrian border post, now controls all Syrian stations on border with Iraq A Palmyra resident says ISIS fighters went door-to-door in conquered Syrian city ISIS lauds fighters for "liberating" Palmyra and taking over a prison and military base “They are everywhere.” That’s a 26-year-old Syrian’s stark observation about ISIS fighters in Palmyra, detailing the terrorist group’s swift, destructive takeover of yet another city in the brutal quest to expand its caliphate in the Middle East. The capture of Syria’s ancient city threatens a UNESCO World Heritage Site described as having “stood at the crossroads of several civilizations,” with its art and architecture mixing Greek, Roman and Persian influences, according to that U.N. group. U.N. and Syrian officials have expressed fears that ISIS will destroy the ruins, just as it flattened the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud and smashed statues in Iraq’s Mosul Museum. But Palmyra, also known as Tadmur, isn’t just a historical site. It’s home to tens of thousands of people, many of whom fear they’ll meet the same fate as others ISIS has conquered. They’re people like the 26-year-old who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. He’s huddled in a house with 50 others, including his family and neighbors who have lost their homes, and he’s worried food will run out while his city is under curfew. Related video Can the Iraqi government stop ISIS from taking Baghdad? After at least 100 Syrian soldiers died in fighting overnight, Syrian warplanes carried out airstrikes Thursday in and around Palmyra, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. But there’s no indication that Syrian ground forces will try to take back the city, 150 miles northeast of Damascus, the capital. Nor that any other countries such as the United States will come to the rescue. “The world does not care about us,” the Palmyra resident said. “All they are interested in is the stones of ancient Palmyra.” After days of regular sparring, ISIS fighters made a big push early Thursday, and Syrian government forces retreated, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is monitoring the conflict. “ISIS has taken the prison of Palmyra, the intelligence headquarters, everything,” said the executive director of that London-based group, Rami Abdurrahman. In a daily news bulletin, ISIS credited its fighters with “completely liberating” the city and taking over the prison and a nearby military airbase. It said this assault left “several dead soldiers behind,” and it tweeted photos claiming to be from Palmyra that showed bloodied bodies of men who weren’t in uniform. ISIS militants killed at least 17 people in Palmyra, the observatory reported, saying some deaths were beheadings. CNN is not able to confirm this report independently. The Sunni Muslim jihadists spent much of Thursday implementing a curfew and going door-to-door, apparently looking for Syrian soldiers, according to the 26-year-old. He said eight ISIS fighters went through his house and were “trying to appear friendly.” Related gallery Palmyra before the fall Civil war broke out four years ago in Syria, providing an opening for groups such as ISIS to emerge and take on forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. With its latest offensive, ISIS controls more than half the country – in parts of 10 of 14 provinces – as well as “the vast majority of the gas and oil fields,” the observatory estimates. Fueled by its success in Syria, the militant group also has captured swaths of neighboring Iraq, including its second-largest city, Mosul. This week, ISIS seized the key city of Ramadi, a milestone that a U.S. State Department official acknowledged is a major blow in coalition efforts to defeat ISIS. Thursday it took over the last Syria-Iraq border crossing that was under the control of Syrian troops, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Tunef border crossing fell under ISIS control after Syrian regime troops withdrew, the activist group reported. ISIS also controls the Al Waleed border station on the Iraqi side. But despite ISIS advances, the Palmyra resident who talked to CNN isn’t ready to walk away, even to save his life. “I did not feel safe four years ago,” he said. “But (still now), I do not want to leave. I want to die in my city.” The fall of Palmyra spurred condemnation worldwide, leading to tweets that used #SavePalmyra. “Am screaming #SavePalmyra out of sheer despair,” an activist wrote, “as I dont know who this scream is directed to or what anyone can do.” Am screaming #SavePalmyra out of sheer despair as I dont know who this scream is directed to or what anyone can do pic.twitter.com/VbygS1LmAR ISIS has conquered many other parts of Syria and Iraq. But Palmyra stands out for its history. The city already was a caravan oasis when the Romans overtook it in the middle of the first century. Its importance grew on a trade route linking the Roman Empire to Persia, India and China. “The ruins are absolutely glorious,” said CNN iReport contributor Aradhana Anand, who visited Palmyra in 2010. “(It’s) heartbreaking, really.” Instagram post not found. Post has been removed or is no longer public. British historian and novelist Tom Holland has described Palmyra as “an extraordinary fusion of classical and Iranian influences intermixed with various Arab influence as well.” Extensive destruction of Palmyra wouldn’t just be a tragedy for Syria. It would be a loss for the world, Holland said. “Mesopotamia, Iraq, Syria, this is the wellspring of global civilization,” he said. “It really couldn’t be higher stakes in terms of conservation.” Syria already has seen its storied past damaged and destroyed by war. Notable casualties include 11th-century Crusader castle Crac des Chevaliers; regime airstrikes severely damaged its walls in 2013. Aleppo’s covered market, a formerly thriving part of Syria’s economic and social life, was severely damaged in a fire in 2012. Related video Expert: ISIS target in Syria could 'never be replaced' ISIS is “distinctive and horrendous” in how it treats history, Holland said. Syrian antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim said the group poses “the biggest danger” now to his country’s artifacts. “In general, ISIS attacks people first for control,” Abdulkarim said. “Second, they attack heritage by destroying for propaganda and ideological reasons. And (third), they work with the mafia to sell the artifacts.” The Syrian government says it has moved many artifacts, including hundreds of statues, to safer locations. But it can’t relocate an entire archaeological site. “We consider this … a culture battle for humanity and all the world,” Abdulkarim said. “Palmyra is very important in the minds of the Syrian people and also the international community. Now we are very afraid.” CNN’s Jethro Mullen, Merieme Arif, Christina Zdanowicz, Fred Pleitgen, Brian Walker, Jason Hanna and Ivan Watson contributed to this report.


Word of Donald Trump's trip to Mexico sparks criticism online Some respond with Twitter jokes, while others offer harsh words As word of Donald Trump’s surprise trip south of the border spread, many Mexicans took to social media with a common refrain: “Is this a joke?” But it wasn’t long before they started coming up with jokes themselves about the controversial visit. Many also poked fun at Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, who has agreed to meet with Trump and whose popularity has been tanking. “An advanced look of what we’ll see tomorrow,” one person tweeted Tuesday night, posting an image of the lead characters from the 1990s cartoon “Beavis and Butt-head.” Un adelanto de lo que veremos mañana #TrumpEnMexico @EPN @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/BzxCE2Gzaw Mexican actress Ana Brenda tweeted an idea, encouraging Peña Nieto to block Trump at the border. “You will be a national hero,” she wrote. Venga señor presidente, hágale la bromita en migración de que no entra a México y será héroe nacional 😂 #TrumpEnMexico Mexico City’s Museum of Memory and Tolerance, which includes exhibits on the Holocaust and the US Civil Rights Movement, offered Trump free admission. #SrTrumpConTodoRespeto, lo invitamos a que nos visite para recordar la historia y no la repita. #TrumpAlMuseoMyT pic.twitter.com/RN9lMX8zMu “We invite you to visit us to remember history and not repeat it,” the museum said on Twitter. It’s no surprise that Trump, who launched his presidential bid with a speech referring to Mexicans who illegally cross the US border as murderers and rapists, isn’t popular in Mexico. Here’s a look at ways some in the neighboring country have responded to the US presidential candidate and his proposals: Trump has already been in Mexico for months – as a piñata. Just a few days after the billionaire businessman announced his campaign, an artist in Reynosa, Mexico, started making piñatas of a man in a suit with wispy orange hair. It wasn’t long before similar models were for sale across the country. The idea quickly caught on in the United States as well, with stores in Texas and California selling out of the popular items. And tweets mocking Trump’s Mexico visit Wednesday picked up on the trend, imagining what the presidential hopeful might say when he sees the piñatas. #TrumpsMexicoTripSayings The Mexican people love me so much they all honor me with paper statues. pic.twitter.com/GCAB2oEtUy Owners of a Halloween mask factory in Jiutepec, Mexico, told CNN’s Rafael Romo earlier this year that they were busier than ever, thanks to Trump. Trump’s fame in the United States – and infamy in Mexico – drove demand for an unflattering Trump mask, which picked up last fall when it became clear that the Republican presidential candidate was a serious contender. “We weren’t making this mask with hair at first,” co-owner Ricardo Esponda told CNN, “but some of our customers asked for it. It’s got to have hair.” But for some Mexicans, Trump’s proposals are no laughing matter. Several families told CNN’s Rosa Flores last month they were terrified by Trump’s proposal to cut off money transfers from the US to Mexico. “It’s not right,” Martha Mendoza said as she cooked tortillas at her home in the town of Francisco Villa. Town leader Jaime Leon said he was worried about the future of his small village. “Francisco Villa, without money transfers (from the US), will drown,” he said. “It will downward spiral.” While Peña Nieto seems to have extended an olive branch, several former Mexican leaders have made it clear they’ll never see eye to eye with Trump. Former President Vicente Fox didn’t mince words when a reporter asked earlier this year about Trump’s proposal to make Mexico pay for a wall at the border. “I’m not going to pay for that f***ing wall. He should pay for it,” Fox told Fusion’s Jorge Ramos in a interview. Since then, Fox, who led Mexico from 2000-2006, has continued to slam the Republican candidate. “Trump is using Mexico, is using President Peña to push his sinking poll numbers,” Fox told CNN ahead of Trump’s trip. And former first lady Margarita Zavala joined the fray on Wednesday, sending a tweet to Trump. Sr. @realDonaldTrump aunque lo hayan invitado, sepa que no es bienvenido. Los mexicanos tenemos dignidad y repudiamos su discurso de odio. “Even though they have invited you, know that you are not welcome,” she wrote. “Mexicans have dignity and we repudiate your discourse of hate.” CNN’s Rafael Romo, Rosa Flores, Alejandra Oraa, Christina Zdanowicz and Mallory Simon contributed to this report.


On Wednesday Sen. McCain publicly accused Sen. Paul of "working for Vladimir Putin" on the Senate floor Do these accusations violate the Senate Rule 19 against imputing another senator? Sen. Elizabeth Warren was halted from speaking earlier this year on those grounds Sen. John McCain accused Sen. Rand Paul of “working for Vladimir Putin” on the Senate floor Wednesday, leading some to wonder if the Arizona Republican had violated Rule 19, a Senate regulation evoked earlier this year when one senator imputes the honor of another. McCain’s comments came after Paul objected to a resolution that would allow Montenegro to join the NATO alliance. McCain responded by lobbing accusations at his fellow GOP senator multiple times, both before and after Paul objected to the vote, though the Kentucky senator did not add additional defense Wednesday. Pointedly singling out the “gentleman from Kentucky,” McCain said those who object “are now carrying out the desires and ambitions of Vladimir Putin.” When Paul formally objected, McCain reiterated his opinion. “The senator from Kentucky is now working for Vladimir Putin,” he said. The sharp attack had some congressional observers wondering how McCain hadn’t violated Rule 19, as the GOP said Sen. Elizabeth Warren had when she criticized former-senator-now-Attorney-General Jeff Sessions earlier this year. Warren was halted from speaking after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called her out of order – citing Rule 19 – for allegedly impugning a fellow senator. Warren was reading a decades-old letter by Coretta Scott King condemning Sessions ahead of his attorney general nomination vote. The unusual scene shocked many and turned into a quasi-movement on the left unified by one rallying cry. It came from a letter released by McConnell describing the invocation of the rule, saying that Warren “was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” Neither the offices of Paul nor McConnell responded immediately to CNN requests for comment. “I think John McCain violated Rule 19 on Rand Paul. … So do these accusations violate the Senate rule against impugning another senator?” Roll Call reporter Niels Lesniewski tweeted, to which, Paul adviser Doug Stafford responded “See you in court” in a tweet written in Russian. I think John McCain violated Rule 19 on Rand Paul."The senator from Kentucky is now working for Vladimir Putin" Rule 19 of the Senate rules states, “No senator in debate shall, directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator.” When asked about whether he thinks he violated Rule 19, a spokeswoman for McCain nevertheless persisted in focusing on Paul’s vote on Montenegro. “Sen. McCain believes that the person who benefits the most from Congress’ failure to ratify Montenegro’s ascension to NATO is Vladimir Putin,” Julie Tarallo, a McCain spokeswoman, told CNN. “The senators who support this treaty, and certainly the people of Montenegro, deserved an explanation from Sen. Paul.” After the harsh words were exchanged on the Senate floor, Montenegro’s Ambassador to the US, Nebojsa Kaludjerovic, told CNN that while it’s obvious that “Sen. Paul still objects to the resolution,” what is “most important is that at least 98 senators are in favor of it.” The ambassador said the “key now is finding the time to vote” and he hopes “it might be done soon.” The Pentagon sides with McCain and is also in favor of Montenegro’s membership. A spokesperson from the Department of Defense said that they “continue to support Montenegro’s NATO membership,” and added that “ratification of Montenegro’s accession will be an important reminder of this commitment.” Rule 19 is open to interpretation by Senate members, and its invocation is up to the senators and the member presiding. It’s notable that after it was invoked against Warren the Senate Historian’s Office scrambled to determine when it was last enforced. They were not able to provide a definitive count of the times it’s been used. RELATED: Rand Paul says Paul Ryan selling ‘bill of goods’ to Trump


White House press secretary Sean Spicer met the press for his first official briefing Monday, engaging in a wide-ranging give-and-take for well over an hour. The briefing was rife with news: Spicer did not rule out joint military activity with Russia in Syria, said the United States would challenge China in the South China Sea in an effort to defend the interests of the United States and discussed the current state of the left over Obama administration immigration actions. Spicer notably said Monday that the United States would defend its interests in the South China Sea, where China is building islands in international waters in an attempt to push its control of the key shipping lanes. “I think the US is going to make sure we protect our interests there,” Spicer said. “If those islands are, in fact, in international waters and not part of China proper, yeah, we’ll make sure we defend international interests from being taken over by one country.” At a regular press conference Tuesday, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Beijing’s position “hasn’t changed.” “China will firmly protect its sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea,” she said. “We urge the US side to respect facts as well as exercise caution in its remarks and actions to avoid harming peace and stability in the South China Sea.” Spicer said Monday that Trump is open to working “with any country” when it comes to defeating ISIS. “I think if there’s a way that we can combat ISIS with any country, whether it’s Russia or anyone else, and we have a shared national interest in that, sure we’ll take it,” Spicer said. Trump campaigned on a platform that included defeating ISIS and regularly blamed former President Barack Obama and his opponent, Hillary Clinton, for the rise of the terrorist group. Asked directly whether the Trump administration would work with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to defeat ISIS, Spicer said: “Let’s not take that too far.” “We are going to smartly do this,” Spicer said. “We’re not going to get together with people under guise of defeating ISIS if that’s not truly their guise.” Spicer said there are “no decisions” about when and whether the United States will move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The move would be sure to anger the United States’ Arab allies in the region, because both the Israelis and the Palestinian lay claim to Jerusalem. “We’re at the very early stages of that decision-making process,” Spicer said, despite some reports to the contrary. Spicer later said that the Trump administration is going to “continue to consult with stakeholders as we get there.” Trump told CNN in March that moving the embassy would happen “very quickly.” Spicer said that Trump has not talked to “anyone specifically about” about US investigators scrutinizing late December calls between campaign officials and Russian officials. But Trump “has not made any indication he would stop an investigation of any sort,” he said. The investigations, law enforcement and intelligence officials tell CNN, are part of a broader counterintelligence probe of Russian activities in the US. Immigration, possibly more than any other issue, animated much of Trump’s campaign. Trump’s campaign plan for immigration including detaining anyone who illegally crosses the border, moving undocumented immigrants with criminal records out “Day 1” and “immediately” terminating Obama’s two executive actions on immigration – namely Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Spicer was less committal on Monday, suggesting that actions like repealing DACA and DAPA were going to happen later. “First and foremost, the President’s been very, very clear that we need to direct agencies to focus on those who are in this country illegally and have a record – a criminal record or poses a threat to the American people,” Spicer said. “That’s where the priorities going to be and then we’re going to continue to work through the entire number of folks that are here illegally. But right now the clear focus is on that.” Spicer later said that the administration’s focus is “people who’ve overstayed their visas, people who have committed crime.” In a move the highlights the importance of the Middle East and the Arab world, Spicer said Monday that Trump spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Monday. “They discussed ways to deepen the bilateral relationship and support Egypt’s fight against terrorists and bolster Egypt’s home- grown historic economic reform program,” Spicer said. “President Trump underscored the United States remains strongly committed to the bilateral relationship, which has helped both countries overcome challenges in the region for decades.” Spicer also said “the two leaders discussed a visit to the United States in the future.” After offering a slew of falsehoods regarding the size of crowds at Trump’s inauguration in a statement on Saturday, Spicer was pushed on Monday about his truthfulness from the podium. Spicer said it was his intention to tell the truth from the podium but that sometimes he will disagree with reporters about facts. “There are certain things that we may not fully understand when we come out. But our intention’s never to lie to you,” he said. “I’m going to come out here and tell you the facts as I know them. And if we make a mistake, we’ll do our best to correct it.” Spicer, however, did not apologize or back away from some of the incorrect claims he made on Saturday. Spicer stuck by the defensive stance the administration has taken regarding the size of crowds at the President’s inauguration by arguing that the way Trump is covering is “demoralizing.” “It’s a little demoralizing to turn on the TV day after day and hear, (he) can’t do this, this guy’s not going to get confirmed, not way they’re going to go through,” Spicer said. Spicer repeatedly used the word “demoralizing” to describe the coverage of Trump. “Whether it’s the President himself, the vice president, the senior team, the volunteers or the people who are out there just in America that voted for him or walked the streets or put up a sign, that to constantly be told ‘no, no, no’ and watch him go ‘yes, yes, yes’ every time and to come up to the next hurdle and see someone put a block up gets a little frustrating,” Spicer said. He added: “The default narrative is always negative and it’s demoralizing.” After Republicans refused to give President Barack Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court a hearing or a vote, Trump entered office with an opening to fill on the highest court in the land. “I think we will have a nomination within the next couple weeks. He continues to make that a priority of his,” Spicer said.

United States administration under President Trump


Chancey Luna convicted of murder for gunning down Oklahoma college student as he jogged Police: Luna and his friends "were bored" so they decided to kill somebody The bored teenager who gunned down a college baseball player in Oklahoma simply because he and his two friends “had nothing to do,” is now a convicted murderer. Chancey Allen Luna was found guilty of first-degree murder Friday for his role in the August 2013 drive-by shooting of Christopher Lane, a 23-year-old college student in Duncan, about 80 miles south of Oklahoma City. Luna was 16 at the time of the shooting. Lane, an Australian attending East Central University, was jogging when he was shot in the back by a gun fired by Luna. A jury recommended Friday that Luna spend life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to court records. Because he was under 18 when the crime was committed, he is not eligible for the death penalty. He’ll be formally sentenced in June. The vehicle’s driver, Michael Jones, pleaded guilty in March to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. Jones, who was 17 at the time of the murder, will be eligible for parole starting in 2051, according to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Prosecutors dropped first-degree murder charges filed against the third suspect, then only 15, after he agreed to testify against Luna and Jones, according to CNN affiliate KSWO. He will now be tried as a juvenile with accessory to murder after the fact. Duncan police Chief Danny Ford told Australian radio station 3AW that when police arrested the teens, Jones offered a motive that made clear that Lane, a baseball player on scholarship, was chosen at random. “We were bored and didn’t have anything to do, so we decided to kill somebody.” After the verdict, Luna appeared to be crying as deputies led him out of the courtroom in handcuffs, whimpering  “I’m sorry”  to a reporter. CNN’s Greg Botelho contributed to this report


The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan urged Americans to be vigilant Thursday after an attempt was made to kidnap a U.S. citizen and other expatriates in the Afghan capital. In an “emergency message” posted on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, officials said an attempted kidnapping targeted foreigners in the city on Monday. No further details were released. Officials warned the threat of kidnapping and hostage taking of Americans in Afghanistan “continues to be very high.” The embassy advised U.S. citizens to take appropriate precautions, including avoiding “predictable travel patterns” within the country. “The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan to review your personal security plans, take appropriate steps to enhance your personal safety, remain aware of your surroundings, monitor local news for updates, and maintain a high level of vigilance,” the statement read. Last week, gunmen kidnapped an Australian development worker at dawn from her home in Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan. Related gallery The Taliban's rise and fall The embassy statement referred to the U.S. State Department’s travel warning for Afghanistan, which advises that a risk of kidnapping exists throughout the country, and that the capital and other major cities face a “high risk for militant attacks,” including car bombs, direct and indirect fire, and suicide bombings. Analysis: Afghanistan must recognize Taliban are winning Last month, rockets were fired near Kabul’s diplomatic area within an hour of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry flying out of the country after a visit aimed at defusing Afghanistan’s political crisis. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the rocket strikes, saying Kerry had been the intended target.


"He's been in Congress, he's been elected to office a lot longer than I have," Clinton said Clinton also attacked Sanders' experience and fitness to lead the country Hillary Clinton on Thursday sought to turn Sen. Bernie Sanders’ “establishment” attack right back on him – saying he served in Washington much longer than she did. She also attacked his experience and fitness to lead the country, criticizing his suggestion that the U.S. should warm its relationship with Iran. The Democratic front-runner told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on “The Situation Room” that Sanders’ charge that Planned Parenthood and the Human Rights Campaign support Clinton because they are all part of the establishment didn’t make sense to her. “I just don’t understand what that means. He’s been in Congress, he’s been elected to office a lot longer than I have,” Clinton said. She noted she only served in the Senate for eight years. “He’s been in the Congress for 25. And so I’ll let your viewers make their own judgment,” Clinton said. Clinton focused solely on elected office: She was first lady with President Bill Clinton for eight years in the ’90s and served as secretary of state in President Barack Obama’s administration for his first four years in office. RELATED: Clinton unloads on Sanders Clinton also derided Sanders’ criticism of the two groups who endorsed her, saying they are champions of Democratic causes. Planned Parenthood provides health care and is an abortion provider and Human Rights Campaign promotes LGBT rights. “I don’t really understand what he means by that. These are two of the really great human rights, progressive organizations in our country,” Clinton said. Clinton also took issue with comments Sanders made during the last Democratic debate, when he called to “move as aggressively as we can to normalize relations with Iran.” The former secretary of state hammered the senator for the position, using it as an opportunity to highlight her record. “I think it would be a mistake to offer normalized relations,” Clinton said, saying her commitment to the Iran nuclear deal is strong. “I engaged in long, patient diplomacy to put together the sanctions on Iran that finally brought them to the negotiation table and actually began the preliminary negotiations that the President and Secretary (John) Kerry continued to completion.” RELATED: Hillary Clinton unloads on Bernie Sanders It was a consistent message for the candidate, who attacked Sanders in a speech earlier Thursday and released a video through her campaign that afternoon criticizing his proposal. She said the Iranian government still engages in a variety of concerning behaviors, including supporting terror, backing Syrian President Bashar Assad and destabilizing the region. “We can’t rush into normalizing relations,” she said. “The President doesn’t believe that, I don’t believe that, and I think Senator Sanders is wrong about that.” She wouldn’t answer whether Sanders was qualified to be commander in chief, but said she was. “I think, obviously, I would be the better choice. I think I am prepared to be both president and commander in chief,” she said. “You have to have both the experience and the judgment.” A new CNN/ORC poll released Thursday found Sanders leading Clinton among Iowa caucus-goers on economic issues, but showed Clinton had a strong advantage in the area of foreign policy.


Editor’s Note: Peter Bergen is CNN’s national security analyst, a vice president at New America and a professor at Arizona State University. He is the author of “United States of Jihad: Investigating America’s Homegrown Terrorists.” Peter Bergen: Video appeal to President-elect by kidnapped American is unprecedented It's long past time for hostages of Haqqani Network to be returned home, Bergen says In an unprecedented public appeal to an incoming president, kidnapped American citizen Caitlin Coleman addressed President-elect Donald Trump directly in a video, urging him to secure the release of her and her family. The video, released Monday by the Taliban, underlines the continuing plight of Coleman, 31, and her Canadian husband, Joshua Boyle, 33, who have been held captive in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region for more than four years. The video shows Coleman and Boyle as well as their two young sons, who were born in captivity and are now toddlers. It is the first time there has been a “proof of life” of the children. One of the boys sucks on a pacifier while his mother addresses the camera. Coleman, wearing a black burqa, speaks clearly and forcedly, saying: “Today is December 3, 2016. We have waited since 2012 for somebody to understand our problems, the Kafkaesque nightmare in which we find ourselves.” Coleman and Boyle were kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2012 while on a backpacking trip. In the video, Coleman addresses President Barack Obama, saying, “Your legacy on leaving office is probably important to you,” and she urges him to act to secure her family’s release. Coleman also addresses the President-elect, saying that the Haqqanis “are not going to simply release our family easily, because it is correct. They want money, power and friends. … We are told there are Afghans who are prisoners in Kabul that these men care about.” This is a reference to Anas Haqqani, the brother of the head of the Haqqani terrorist organization, who is in an Afghan prison. Haqqani was arrested in 2014, and an Afghan court convicted him in August of raising money for the group. The Haqqanis have threatened to kill Coleman and Boyle if the Afghan government carries out the death sentence it has imposed on Anas Haqqani. The United States and Canada have an opportunity to secure the release of Coleman, Boyle and their sons by interceding with the Afghan government to negotiate an exchange for Anas Haqqani, who is not regarded as a leader of the Haqqani Network. The incoming Trump administration will have tremendous leverage over the Afghan government, which is hoping for a continued American presence in the country. But it is not just Coleman and her family who are being held. At a Pentagon briefing this month, Gen. John Nicholson, the overall commander of US forces in Afghanistan, said that the Haqqanis are holding five Americans. Those Americans are Coleman and her two sons; Kevin King, a professor who was kidnapped in Kabul in August; and another American whose name is being withheld by CNN at the request of his family. Sign up for CNN Opinion’s new newsletter.Join us on Twitter and Facebook The Haqqanis are also holding Boyle and an Australian who was abducted in Kabul in August. Donald Trump prides himself on the art of the deal. With that in mind, he should use the leverage he has to secure the release of the American and other Western hostages held by the Haqqanis in exchange for Anas Haqqani. It’s long past time for all these men, women and children to be returned home.


Editor’s Note: David A. Andelman, editor emeritus of World Policy Journal and member of the board of contributors of USA Today, is the author of “A Shattered Peace: Versailles 1919 and the Price We Pay Today.”  Follow him on Twitter @DavidAndelman. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. Trump's outrageous actions seem to be causing a backlash against populism in Europe, Andelman says Upcoming elections in the Netherlands and France are unlikely to result in far-right victories Donald Trump’s travails are apparently sending shivers through Europe’s so-called populist right. This seems particularly true in France. Marine Le Pen – the leader of France’s National Front party and darling of the French far right – had hoped to ride President Trump’s coattails to power – and in the process, bring down the entire European project. As France, Italy and the Netherlands gear up for critical elections this spring, many of Trump’s more outrageous pronouncements – not to mention actions – are casting a pall over Europe’s populism. Trump’s continuing embrace of Vladimir Putin, his support for a Brexit that even many Brits are now viewing with fear, and above all his de-facto Muslim ban all appear to be moving much of the European electorate closer to the center and driving these often-bickering nations closer to each other. Related article Marine Le Pen declares candidacy in French election, attacks globalization The first test comes in France barely 10 weeks from now in the first round of France’s presidential election. Already, it holds the promise of a most contentious period. In an effort to smooth her own image and ease her way into the hearts of a broader electorate than her explosive father, far-right demagogue Jean-Marie Le Pen, Marine has dropped her toxic last name from her campaign material – at about the same time she released a 144-point program that’s clearly designed to smooth some of her sharpest edges. No longer does Le Pen want France to “exit the eurozone,” but rather “restore the national currency,” which many in France worry will do little to improve their economic plight. No longer does she seek to reinstate the death penalty but rather life imprisonment for “the worst crimes.” She doesn’t even want to leave the European Union but rather renegotiate France’s terms of membership. Still she does want an end to the Schengen, passport-free travel within Europe, and an exit from the military functions of NATO, much as President Charles de Gaulle did 50 years ago. But this retro view of Europe is hardly exploding in popularity, as contiguous as it may appear with the views of Donald Trump. Above all, what Europeans value most from their leaders is competence and a steady hand on the tiller. That is clearly, to most, been glaringly absent from the early days of the Trump presidency. It is also not something that Marine Le Pen, or many of her populist counterparts in other countries, can promise. Le Pen has never held any national elective office in France (though she has been a member of the European Parliament). She has never served in the National Assembly or as a minister of government. That means she has never been forced to face the consequence of any of her pronouncements or her positions that to an increasing number of Europeans would appear to offer existential threats to the continent. Such threats have not been lost on other leading European politicians seeking office this year, the vast bulk of them distancing themselves persuasively from a broad range of positions taken by the Trump administration. In Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has managed to poll barely 11% of the popular vote. And, since Trump’s arrival in the White House, the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) have announced that their candidate to take on Chancellor Angela Merkel in the election will be Martin Schulz, a former President of the European Parliament and an outspoken critic of Trump. His party has now pulled within four points of Merkel’s conservative alliance. Of course Merkel, who’s seeking a fourth term on September 24, is also no friend of Donald Trump. And while recognizing the need for some relationship with the American leader, she “will see issue by issue where we can cooperate and where we have different opinions, but it’s in Germany’s interest to strengthen the common ground there is.” In a joint news conference with France’s president, Francois Hollande, Merkel elaborated, “We see that global conditions are changing dramatically and quickly, and we must respond to these new challenges, both in terms of defending a free society and defending free trade, as well as in terms of the economic challenges.” Merkel is clearly walking a delicate line between extremes in her own nation. The first election to test the Trump effect in Europe comes five weeks from now in the Netherlands, which will choose a new parliament and ruling prime minister. Related article Geert Wilders guilty of 'insulting a group' after hate speech trial Here, a Trump clone is generating quite a lot of interest. Geert Wilders and his Freedom Party have promised to pull their nation out of the EU. Wilders promises a “Patriotic Spring.” Should he become the next prime minister, all that could restrain his anti-Islam sympathies and preserve a united Europe is the fact that 28 political parties are on the ballot, and any prime minister will need to assemble a coalition of as many as four or five parties to rule. Le Pen faces a similar problem in France. Even if Marine Le Pen should manage the unthinkable and pull out an election victory in the final round of the presidential election on May 7, the French will still go back to the ballot boxes a month later to vote for the parliament. Le Pen’s National Front party has never managed more than 35 seats (out of 573 – in 1986), and currently holds just two seats out of 577. Such a showing makes it most unlikely that Le Pen would be able to push through much of her 144-point agenda. Above all, it must be remembered, that the French, like much of Europe, have long seen themselves in starkly different terms from those of a Trump-tinged America. While many French people don’t especially like foreigners and – since their own terrorist attacks from radical Islam – are in some fear of importing terror, they also still consider themselves bastions of freedom and human rights. Closing all frontiers and barring the desperate and needy is anathema to broad swaths of the French electorate. Moreover, the French are hardly inclined to make their own vast domestic Muslim population feel even more disenfranchised and receptive to attacks on their Christian neighbors. Sign up for CNN Opinion’s new newsletter.Join us on Twitter and Facebook In these respects, France is not alone. In Germany, Angela Merkel, who had to deal with the Christmas terrorist truck assault in Berlin, has her own cross to bear in the wake of her decision to admit 890,000 refugees in 2015, though that number dropped to 280,000 last year. Still, her humanitarian decision to continue accepting victims of Middle East violence has been reinforced by what’s being regarded as a 1930s-style approach to such issues by Trumpworld in America. “It often seemed as though Donald Trump could no longer outdo himself when it came to demonstrating his lunacy,” the German magazine Der Spiegel suggested in its issue with a cover of Donald Trump holding aloft the head of Lady Liberty dripping with blood in his right hand, and a meat cleaver in his left, with the caption, “America First.” But, the magazine added, the travel ban “is more dangerous than any other action he has taken since his inauguration.” So, Trump’s actions are being monitored closely across the Atlantic. Ironically, the more intense the madness, the broader the backlash, and the more likely that Europe could return to a much-needed path of sanity.


Japan's oldest elephant dies at 69-years-old A photo of Hanako in captivity sparked protests in March Zoo says they kept her confined for safety reasons Hanako, an aged Japanese elephant whose living conditions sparked protests earlier this year has died, zoo officials said. At 69-years-old, she was the country’s oldest elephant. A zookeeper found Hanako lying on the floor of her enclosure on Thursday morning, unable to stand, according to a statement from the Inokashira Park Zoo, where she lived. Workers tried to get her on her feet to keep her lungs from being pressed under her own weight, but were unsuccessful. She was declared dead later that day, the statement said. Hanako arrived in Japan when she was two years old, a gift from the Thai government after World War II. She spent most of her life in captivity as the star attraction at Tokyo’s Inokashira Park Zoo but became the center of a growing campaign to improve her living conditions after a picture of her inside her concrete enclosure was featured in a blog post. “I was shocked and dismayed to see the conditions of her confinement firsthand,” wrote Canadian animal rights activist Ulara Nakagawa after she visited the zoo in October. “Totally alone in a small, barren, cement enclosure, with absolutely no comfort or stimulation provided, she just stood there almost lifeless, like a figurine.” The blog post, featuring a lonesome-looking Hanako, spread on social media and sparked the “Help Hanako” campaign, which proposed that the elderly elephant be moved to a sanctuary in Thailand. Hidemasa Hori, the zoo’s deputy director, told CNN in March that Hanako’s confinement was necessary for safety reasons, as she had trampled two people to death in her enclosure in the past. “It would be better for her to spend the rest of her life here under familiar conditions,” he said.


British police arrested a man at London’s Heathrow Airport on Thursday on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses, Metropolitan Police said. The 30-year-old man was arrested by counterterrorism officers as he stepped off a flight from Istanbul, Turkey.  They say he was suspected of preparing for terrorist acts and terrorist training. Officers are searching an address in east London, the statement said. The man is being held at a police station. UK police foil second alleged London terror plot in a day


Tillerson laid out his vision of what 'America First' means for foreign policy The Trump administration wants to cut the State Department by 26% US foreign policy should sometimes separate values such as freedom, human dignity and “the way people are treated” from policies it pursues around the world, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told his agency Wednesday. Tillerson laid out his vision of how President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ policy meshes with foreign policy, making clear that it still reflected traditional priorities of national security and economic prosperity. “It’s America First for national security and economic prosperity and that doesn’t mean that comes at the expense of others,” Tillerson said, in his second address to department staff. “Our partnerships and alliances are critical to our success in both those areas.” Tillerson, speaking in an auditorium named for Dean Acheson, the iconic former secretary of state who is widely credited with shaping the US-led international order after World War II, said that order has changed and the US strategic posture has to change, too. He described the mission for the State Department as the administration plans to cut the budget for State and the Agency for International Development by as much as 30%. He said that with the Cold War over, his agency, along with international institutions like the UN, had failed to adapt. Related video Tillerson, Trump weigh options on North Korea “We just kind of lost track of how we were doing, and I think things have gotten out of balance,” Tillerson said. US foreign policy, Tillerson said, is guided by fundamental values, but he cautioned: “If we condition too heavily that others must adopt this value that we’ve come to over a long history of our own, it really creates obstacles to our ability to advance our national security interests, our economic interests.” He added that “in some circumstances, we should and do condition our policy engagements on people adopting certain actions as to how they treat people. … But that doesn’t mean that’s the case in every situation.” The comments on values, said former Undersecretary of State Anthony Blinken, were “totally strange – our values need to inform and infuse our policy.” Blinken, a CNN contributor, said “most of the time ideals and interests are one and same, though some tactical trimming of the sails may also be necessary.” He suggested that Tillerson’s comments “may reflect distrust of career folks. Maybe he thinks they have values at odds with the administration’s policies, whatever they are.” All administrations struggle to balance values and interests, few are so blunt about the need to make trade-offs. Related video Tillerson: Iran could follow North Korea path North Korea was the first policy area the administration had to tackle, he said. “President Obama told President Trump this is going to be your greatest challenge that you’re going to have to manage, and he was right,” Tillerson said. Key to that effort is a pressure campaign to have China use its influence to get Pyongyang to rein in its nuclear program, Tillerson said. The US is “leaning hard into China to test their willingness to use their influence,” he said. “It’s a pressure campaign that has a knob on it, I’d say we’re at dial seven or six right now.” Relations with Russia are a particular flashpoint. Tillerson said ties are at the lowest they’ve been since the Cold War, and that, when he said so at an April meeting with President Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader “did not disagree, he shrugged his shoulders, and my comment to him is, it’s spiraling down” and can’t be allowed to get worse. Tillerson said there are a number of efforts underway to stabilize the relationship, including a working group lead by Acting Under Secretary Tom Shannon to “see if we can address some of the things that are irritating the relationship.” He and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet next week on the margins of a meeting of the Arctic Council in Alaska. There, they will “continue to see if we can work together on the first big area of cooperation which is Syria. I don’t want to say we’re off to a great start on this because it’s very early stages and it’s hard to say where it will go,” Tillerson said. The top US diplomat’s remarks to the State Department come as Tillerson has asked his staff for their input as he prepares to slash the department’s staff and budget. Many staff had hoped the secretary would address the cuts directly and at length. Tillerson left the topic to the end of this remarks. “I know change like this is really stressful for a lot of peple,” Tillerson said. “There’s nothing easy about it, and I don’t want to diminish the challenges in any way it presents to individuals, it presents to families, it presents to organizations. All I can offer you on the other side of that equation is an opportunity to shape the future way we deliver on mission.” The Trump administration plans to cut 2,300 jobs at the State Department as it whittles the agency’s budget down to just over $50 billion. The plans will ultimately have to be approved by Congress, which controls the purse strings, and several members on both sides of the aisle have been critical of the reductions.


Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on Hungertv.com – the online counterpart to Hunger, Rankin’s biannual fashion and culture magazine. In the 60s and 70s Australian Peter Drouyn was one of the most famous surfers in the world, a pro at the sport who pioneered a new approach which became known as “aggressive surfing” and who was followed by legions of fans. Today, though, by all accounts Peter Drouyn is dead. For the last decade Peter has been living life as a woman known as Westerly Windina. In 2009 Jamie Brisick, a surf journalist who had been aware of Peter, travelled to Australia to write a profile of Westerly, but what what consequently happened became a far greater story than that. Starting with Westerly’s 2012 trip to Bangkok for gender reassignment surgery, Jamie follows Westerly’s story – from a teenage hopeful in Queensland to a surfing champion to a glamorous, complex woman in her mid-sixties, and throughout learns lessons about life, love and friendship that we can all understand – regardless of our gender. Iris Apfel on fashion, tech and what really makes a woman look old Talk us through how you discovered Westerly’s story, and why were you drawn to tell it? I knew of Peter Drouyn in the mid-80s. It was past his surfing heyday, but he was still active in the surf world. He’d actually challenged four-time world champion Mark Richards to a man-on-man showdown called The Superchallenge. He was flamboyant and theatrical. I heard that Peter became Westerly via websites—most of which treated her as a punchline. I knew that it challenged the surfing status quo in a terrific way. I was drawn to it because I thought she deserved to be treated better. When did you first meet, and what were your first impressions? It was in 2009, when I traveled to Australia to write a profile of her. We met for lunch at an Italian restaurant near her home. She was fascinating. She referred to Peter, her former self, in the third person past tense. It was like I was talking to Peter’s mother about her deceased child. She was charming, smart, witty, funny. Surf club revival: Rebuilding Australia's 'cultural cathedrals' But I couldn’t tell if “Westerly” was for real or a publicity stunt. I wanted to believe, but all of Peter’s longtime friends and contemporaries warned me that he often took on guises, that he might be taking me for a bit of a ride. That tension fascinated me. I also have a bit of a beef with the surf world for being so narrow-minded. I was happy to champion Westerly – she poked at taboos and phobias. What were the challenges of telling this story? There was Westerly’s version, and then there were other people’s. They were not often consistent. Parsing through all that was challenging. Peter felt like he’d been neglected by the surf world, and that is pretty much the truth. I guess my biggest challenge was remaining neutral. I wanted to just “mid-wife” the information along and let the reader decide. Gender is extremely newsworthy this year, from transgender models breaking into mainstream fashion to reality star Bruce Jenner’s transition to a woman – do you think society is accepting, or do we still have a way to go? It’s getting better for sure, but we have a long way to go. When I first started researching the story I suddenly remembered how many times I’d seen trans-people pushing shopping carts with all their belongings in them. It’s as if there’s an abyss between male and female, and anyone that doesn’t neatly fit into either one falls into a place where it’s hard to get work, acceptance, etc. I hope that improves soon. Read more at Hungertv.com


Editor’s Note: Hannah Kim is chief of staff and communications director for US Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-New York. She is the founder of Remember727. The views expressed here are hers. Hannah Kim is taking a journey to record memories of Korean War veterans It's painful to see how many take American freedoms for granted, she says Every day as I walk into the US Capitol I thank God for the opportunity to serve the country I love so much and live the American Dream. When I return from work and watch the news about Congress, I often pinch myself. Only in America can a daughter of an immigrant family from Korea become the spokeswoman and chief of staff to a national leader. It is not only my greatest honor but also a testament to the sacrifices of the veterans to whom I am indebted. In fact, I often remind my boss – who is a Korean War hero – that without him and his comrades, I literally would not be here. Following the greatest generation of World War II, 5.7 million Americans fought in the Korean War for a country and people they did not know and halted the spread of communism. More than 30,000 never returned home, and more than 100,000 came back wounded. Thanks to their contributions, South Korea was able to rise from the ashes of war to become the 11th-largest economy in the world today. In stark contrast, North Korea remains the world’s most repressed economy and state. I am grateful I was not born above the 38th parallel and am among the 2 million Korean-Americans now thriving in the land of the free. Yet, as etched in the hearts of the veterans and inscribed throughout our nation’s memorials, “Freedom Is Not Free.” It has always deeply pained me to realize how many of us often take it for granted. Related article Veterans Day 2016: What you need to know Remembering the sacrifices of those who fought for us – in my case, especially Korean War vets – is our moral obligation. That is one major reason why while in graduate school, I lobbied my boss to pass a bill that consequently established July 27 as the National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. And as the founder of Remember727, since 2008 I have annually gathered hundreds of people at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool next to the Korean War Veterans Memorial to commemorate Armistice Day – to remember the so-called “Forgotten War” and to recognize its veterans. On November 11, hundreds of millions of people worldwide will observe the 11th hour of the 11th day on the 11th month that marked the signing of the agreement that ceased the hostilities in 1919 during World War I, the “war to end all wars.” Originally called Armistice Day, Congress changed it to Veterans Day after the Korean War in 1954 to honor all veterans who served. Veterans Day gives us a chance to salute the more than 20 million living veterans, including the 2 million active service members in the military. Whether they fought in the jungles of Vietnam, or deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan, our troops have defended our way of life and democratic principles. Despite our flaws, America is still the greatest country on Earth and we owe it to them. Nothing brings me more joy than to spend time with my “grandpas” on Veterans Day. I love seeing the smile of an Honor Flight veteran after I give him a kiss and a hug for his service. I have seen some tear up. I cry when they tell me stories of war. Their eyes glisten when I beg for more. Sign up for CNN Opinion’s new newsletter.Join us on Twitter and Facebook So after my boss retires at the end of this year, I am embarking on a trip around the world to 23 of the nations that fought in the Korean War – Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Greece, India, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom – in search of the veterans who are almost 90 years old and to collect their stories. I feel compelled to express my gratitude before it is too late. If it were not for them, I would not be living in a free world, living the dream I could not have even imagined was possible. While we all strive for a world without wars, the reality is that there are brave men and women in uniform fighting them on our behalf. They have put their lives on the line to protect us. The least we can do is to say thank you on Veterans Day.