Democrats jeer Trump for ‘treason’ charge

Congressional Democrats are reacting with outrage to President Trump's accusation they were "treasonous" and "un-American" for failing to applaud during his State of the Union speech. "The president once again is making a simple but scary mistake here," Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said on CNN on Tuesday morning.

Preemptive North Korea Strike Is a – Gamble’ Not to Take, Hagel Says

Hitting North Korea with U.S. military strikes to dismantle or disrupt Kim Jong Un's nuclear weapons capabilities is a "pretty big gamble I wouldn't want to take" because of the millions of lives at risk from the likely response, former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said. "I know something about this business, and I know the kind of conventional capability North Korea has," Hagel, a former Republican senator who led the Pentagon under President Barack Obama, said in an interview published Monday by Defense News.

A Russian Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile drives through Red Square in Moscow – AFP/FILE

The strategic arms reduction treaty was signed by Washington and Moscow in 2010, and took effect in February 2011. It calls for the gradual reduction over 10 years of the number of nuclear warheads held by both sides, limits on the number of delivery systems, a strict verification regime and data exchanges.

North Korea mocks – Trump terrified’ by Pyongyang’s power

Trump honoured Ji Seong-ho, a North Korean defector with only one arm and one leg who made a dramatic, 6,000-mile journey to the South after suffering severe discrimination and torture at home North Korea hit back at US President Donald Trump on Sunday after he slammed rights abuses under the hermit regime in his State of the Union address, with Pyongyang describing the speech as "screams of Trump terrified" by the North's power. The comments follow months of fiery rhetoric between the two countries that have seen tensions soar, with Trump drawing criticism at home for repeatedly using highly menacing language towards the reclusive state.

DPRK denounces Trump’s State of the Union address as “omen of new disaster”

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Sunday denounced the State of the Union address by U.S. President Donald Trump as "an omen of new disaster," after Trump described the DPRK as an adversary in the address. The whole world is seeing "an omen of new disaster" in Trump's address which asserted "American first" and "unmatched power" based on nuclear arms forcing other countries to submit to the "U.S. chauvinistic interest," a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was quoted by the official Korean Central News Agency as saying.

Trump cites GOP memo as vindication on Russia

President Donald Trump has claimed complete vindication from a congressional memo that alleges the FBI abused its surveillance powers during the investigation into his campaign's possible Russia ties. But the memo also includes revelations that might complicate efforts by Trump and his allies to undermine special counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry.

Habakkuk on ‘longtime’ sources:

In the light of the suggestion in the Nunes memo that Steele was 'a longtime FBI source' it seems worth sketching out some background, which may also make it easier to see some possible reasons why he 'was desperate that Donald Trump not get elected and was passionate about him not being president.' There is reason to suspect that some former and very likely current employees of the FBI have been colluding with elements in other American and British intelligence agencies, in particular the CIA and MI6, in support of an extremely ambitious foreign policy agenda for a very long time.

Trump nuclear doctrine takes tougher stance on Russia

Acting Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and National Nuclear Security Administration Administrator Steve Erhart answers a question during a news conference on the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, at the Pentagon. less Acting Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and National Nuclear Security Administration Administrator Steve Erhart answers a question during a news conference on the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, Friday, Feb. ... more Under Secretary of Defense for Policy John Rood, speaks during a news conference on the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, at the Pentagon, Friday, Feb. 2, 2018.

Democratic, GOP lawmakers: Memo doesn’t clear Trump in probe

The FBU building in Washington, Friday, Feb. 2, 2018.A new congressional memo alleging FBI surveillance abuse is being used to undermine the legitimacy of special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. But included ... .

Trump administration drops Cha as pick for Seoul envoy

Victor Cha, a former White House official who had been the Trump administration's choice to be the next U.S. ambassador to South Korea, is no longer being considered for the post, two U.S. officials said on Tuesday. The Washington Post quoted people familiar with the matter as saying Cha, a Korean-American, had raised concerns with White House officials over their consideration of a risky limited strike on North Korea and about the administration's threats to tear up a bilateral trade deal with Seoul.

Trump condemns Taliban role in Afghan attacks, no more talks Source: AP

President Donald Trump told visiting members of the U.N. Security Council on Monday the U.S. would no longer talk with the Taliban following a recent string of deadly attacks in Afghanistan. Trump railed against a series of "atrocities" in Afghanistan and said as a result the U.S. would not engage in any future talks with the Taliban as the administration seeks to end a stalemate in America's longest war.