Washington (AFP) - The US military plans to stay in Syria as long as necessary to ensure the Islamic State group does not return, a Pentagon official told AFP on Tuesday.

"We are going to maintain our commitment on the ground as long as we need to, to support our partners and prevent the return of terrorist groups," Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said.

The United States currently has approximately 2,000 troops on the ground in Syria, where they have been helping train and advise partner forces in the fight against IS.

Now that the jihadists have been cleared from all but a few pockets of territory, the United States has been assessing what its presence will be going forward in the civil-war-torn nation.

Pahon said its troop commitment in Syria would be "conditions-based," meaning that no timeline will determine if and when the US will pull out.

"To ensure an enduring defeat of ISIS, the coalition must ensure it cannot regenerate, reclaim lost ground, or plot external attacks," he said.

"This is essential to the protection of our homeland as well as to defend our allies and partners.... The United States will sustain a 'conditions-based' military presence in Syria to combat the threat of a terrorist-led insurgency, prevent the resurgence of ISIS, and to stabilize liberated areas."

The announcement is likely to rile Russia, which since late 2015 has conducted a separate military campaign to prop up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

- Vice President Mike Pence and former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus reportedly considered a coup to replace then candidate Donald Trump on the GOP presidential ticket following the release of the "Access Hollywood" tape last fall.

- GOP leaders considered drafting former Bush administration Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to be the party's vice presidential nominee, The Atlantic reported.

- Republican donors reportedly considered paying Trump to abandon the race.

Trump's lawyers will argue in a New York court on Tuesday that the lawsuit should be thrown out because he is a sitting president.

President Donald Trump's pick for a top post at the United Nations repeatedly praised far-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos and shared disparaging memes about prominent Democrats and progressives on social media.

Patrick Murray, a former Army officer and two-time congressional candidate, was nominated by Trump in May to be the alternate representative for special political affairs to the United Nations. Murray's nomination was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in August and he awaits full Senate confirmation.

If confirmed, Murray would serve under Ambassador Nikki Haley in representing US interests at the United Nations and would act as a fill-in for Haley in representing the US to the United Nations General Assembly when she is unavailable.

Squire wrote:McConnell announces that if Moore wins, he will be subject to an immediate ethics investigation.

mozartpc27 wrote:

Gimpy wrote:Mitt isn’t trying to impact the Alabama race, he’s trying to position himself as a Republican politician who can walk out of the dumpster fire the Republican Party is creating. It’s for voters in Utah, not Alabama.

I wouldn't think Mitt Romney needs to scold Alabama voters to win an election in Utah...

Now, if he wants to run for senator from some other place, or I guess President again when DJT is impeached, I take your point.

swishnicholson wrote:This Philadelphia Ordinance about plexiglass windows has at least taught me that there's a type of retail establishment called a Beer Deli.

Thing seems silly to me. I've been to places like that, and yeah, they aren't very welcoming. But if customers find them too offensive, there are other places to shop. And if owners find them necessary for their security, I don't want to be the one to tell them no, and then have something happen.

slugsrbad wrote:https://theintercept.com/2017/12/04/trump-white-house-weighing-plans-for-private-spies-to-counter-deep-state-enemies/

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION is considering a set of proposals developed by Blackwater founder Erik Prince and a retired CIA officer — with assistance from Oliver North, a key figure in the Iran-Contra scandal — to provide CIA Director Mike Pompeo and the White House with a global, private spy network that would circumvent official U.S. intelligence agencies, according to several current and former U.S. intelligence officials and others familiar with the proposals. The sources say the plans have been pitched to the White House as a means of countering “deep state” enemies in the intelligence community seeking to undermine Trump’s presidency.

curveball wrote:Quinnipiac poll: Only 29% of Americans approve of GOP tax plan

thephan wrote:WRT the Apprentice defamation suite, it seems like there is a try at testing the strategy of unlimited presidential power, especially to not answer legal challenges:

Trump's lawyers will argue in a New York court on Tuesday that the lawsuit should be thrown out because he is a sitting president.

I look at that as trying to set a precedent to be dusted off over future obstruction talk.

In a terse tone, Metcalfe, a Butler County Republican, interrupted Bradford, who was sitting to his left at a conference table, immediately after the seemingly innocent gesture to say:

"I'm a heterosexual. I have a wife. I love my wife. I don't like men as you might so stop touching me all the time. Keep your hands to yourself. If you want to touch somebody, you have people on your side of the aisle that might like it. I don't."

A befuddled Bradford chuckled as he said: "We are officially off the rails."

Other lawmakers can be seen grimacing on a video posted on the state House's YouTube channel.

Ryan W Briggs, a political reporter for @cityandstatepa, in a tweet of the video noted: "Metcalfe also once invited a white nationalist to testify in favor of a bill to make English PA's "official language".

pacino wrote:Metcalfe strikes again

In a terse tone, Metcalfe, a Butler County Republican, interrupted Bradford, who was sitting to his left at a conference table, immediately after the seemingly innocent gesture to say:

"I'm a heterosexual. I have a wife. I love my wife. I don't like men as you might so stop touching me all the time. Keep your hands to yourself. If you want to touch somebody, you have people on your side of the aisle that might like it. I don't."

A befuddled Bradford chuckled as he said: "We are officially off the rails."

Other lawmakers can be seen grimacing on a video posted on the state House's YouTube channel.

Ryan W Briggs, a political reporter for @cityandstatepa, in a tweet of the video noted: "Metcalfe also once invited a white nationalist to testify in favor of a bill to make English PA's "official language".