A.M. Links: Majority of Americans Oppose Syria Intervention, Ariel Castro Commits Suicide, Positive Pregnancy Tests on Sale at Craigslist
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MoPo Productions Polls continue to show a majority of Americans opposed to US intervention in Syria. The eventual vote in Congress could become a major issue in the 2016 elections; Hillary Clinton has already come out in favor of authorization. Her support for the Iraq war a decade ago contributed to her 2008 primary loss. Meanwhile, Republicans like Ted Cruz are sounding like Democrats like Dennis Kucinich; Cruz warned the US military shouldn't act as "Al Qaeda's air force" by intervening in Syria. The resolution currently being considered by the Senate would limit the duration of US intervention and prohibit the use of ground forces. In the meantime, Sweden became the first European country to offer blanket asylum to Syrian refugees, of which there are now more than 2 million according to the UN., while Turkey's prime minister says his country is ready to join the anti-Syria coalition. He did not specify whether that meant Turkey's armed forces would participate. Russia's Vladimir Putin continues to warn Western powers against unilateral intervention, saying any action in Syria should be approved by the UN Security Council, where Russia has veto power.
- Two of the original sponsors of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, former Democratic presidential hopefuls Walter Mondale and Gary Hart, are participating in a lawsuit seeking to have the NSA's domestic data collection activities ruled unconstitutional.
- Al Qaeda is asking engineers to figure out how the terrorist group might be able to sabotage and shoot down drones the US operates.
- A judge in Ohio ordered a man who threatened police during 911 calls to wear an "idiot" sign outside the police station three hours a day for a week.
- Ariel Castro, the school bus driver who was sentenced to life in prison for holding three women captive in his home for nearly a decade, committed suicide in jail.
- Positive pregnancy tests for sale on Craigslist is a thing.
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