US sees Assad staying in Syria until March 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration’s best-case scenario for political transition in Syria does not foresee Bashar Assad stepping down as the country’s leader before March 2017, outlasting Barack Obama’s presidency by at least two months, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press. An internal timeline prepared for U.S. officials dealing with the…

US casualties in fighting in southern Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (AP) – Defense officials say a number of U.S. special operations troops have been killed or wounded in fighting in southern Afghanistan. The fighting Tuesday against the Taliban was near the city of Marja in Helmand province, where the Taliban has made recent gains. Details on the battle and the number wounded or killed…