Today's Headlines and Commentary

In breaking news, the Washington Post reports that U.S. Special Operations forces captured one of the suspected orchestrators of the Benghazi attacks in a secret raid in Libya over the weekend. The suspect’s name is Ahmed Abu Khattala, and he is being held “in a secure location outside Libya.” He is the first Benghazi suspect to have been captured by the Obama administration, and is expected to be arraigned in Washington. Maj. Gen. Kenneth Dahl will lead an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s disappearance and capture, reports the Washington Post. The Hill also has the details. There is no telling when the investigation will be completed, or when Bergdahl will be questioned, the Army said in a statement. Chaos continues its reign in Iraq. Here’s your daily digest: The New York Times reports that Sunni extremists associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) captured the city of Tal Afar in northern Iraq yesterday. Meanwhile, CBS News indicates that militants also shot down an Iraqi helicopter near Fallujah, killing the two soldiers inside. According to UN human rights chief Navi Pillay, the insurgents are “almost certainly” guilty of war crimes, having murdered “hundreds of Iraqi hors de combat soldiers, as well as civilians, including religious leaders and people associated with the government.” The Boston Globe and the Washington Post have the story. In response to the violence, the UN has moved some 60 staffers from Baghdad to nearby Jordan, according to the Los Angeles Times. The U.S. is working to ensure the safety of its own officials in Iraq. As Wells wrote last night, President Obama has authorized the deployment of 275 American soldiers to protect U.S. personnel in Baghdad. USA Today notes that the Iraqi government consented to the U.S. sending troops. President Obama is considering what other action to take in response to the violence. According to Reuters, Secretary of State John Kerry indicated that air strikes are among the options being considered. However, U.S. officials are apparently unsure of whom to target. The Daily Beast has more. Among the most controversial proposals involves military cooperation with Iran. Secretary Kerry signalled that the U.S. would be open to working with the Iranian government on a solution to the problem in Iraq. In an interview with Yahoo! News, he said, “We’re open to discussions if there is something constructive that can be contributed by Iran, if Iran is prepared to do something that is going to respect the integrity and sovereignty of Iraq.” The New York Times, the Guardian, and the Hill have additional details. On the other hand, the Associated Press notes that the Defense Department has ruled out military coordination with the Islamic Republic. The White House has received some flak for Secretary Kerry’s statements too. According to the Hill, Senator John McCain (R - AZ) stated, “It would be the height of folly to believe that the Iranian regime can be our partner in managing the deteriorating security situation in Iraq.” CBS News also reports the story. However, in an op-ed in the Washington Post, Katrina Vanden Heuvel wonders why the media still seeks the opinions of “the Beltway hawk caucus” who got it “wrong” in Iraq the first time. Politico notes that President Obama has a wide range of options for military action in Iraq. The White House indicated that within the next week or so it will be submitting a proposal to Congress to shift some money, intended to be used in Afghanistan, for possible military action in Iraq. Reuters has more. Complicating action in Iraq, however, is the Senate’s delayed confirmations of U.S. ambassadors to the Middle East. The Associated Press writes that “a distracted Senate is moving slowly.” Numerous opinion pieces today consider President Obama’s legacy in Iraq. Both Marc Thiessen and George Will in the Post criticize the White House for its retreat from Iraq. The Times, meanwhile, shares an opinion debate about possible solutions to the conflict. In news outside of Iraq: Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah is contesting the runoff election, claiming that current President Hamid Karzai orchestrated a fraud intended to either ensure the victory of Ashraf Ghani or enable Karzai to use the crisis to extend his time in office. Here is the New York Times. The Pakistani government has orchestrated a full-scale military offensive in the North Waziristan region. The New York Times writes that tanks entered Miram Shah, the province’s main town, while air strikes hit the nearby area. The military attacks are intended to disrupt the activities of insurgent groups in the area. Bill Roggio of the Long War Journal has more on operation “Zarb-e-Azb.” The dispute between China and other Asian countries over the South China Sea continues as China begins creating new islands in the Spratly archipelago. The New York Times reports on the controversy. China has executed thirteen people in its Xinjiang region, who were “found guilty of organizing and leading terrorist groups, as well as murder, arson, theft and other crimes.” Violence continues in Ukraine, as new President Petro Poroshenko ordered government forces to regain control of the border near Russia. The Washington Post indicates that Poroshenko intends to offer “a temporary cease-fire” once the border region has been retaken. A Reuters article shares, however, that 30 members of the Ukrainian military were injured today during fighting with the separatists. Meanwhile, Ukraine may soon face an energy shortage. The Russian corporation Gazprom halted the flow of natural gas to the country, after it failed to pay a $2 billion installment, as outlined by a “Russian-imposed deadline.” The Times has the details. In related news, crisis struck a natural gas pipeline in the central Ukrainian Poltava region. RT reports an explosion occurred today with flames up to 200 meters high. Although there have been no injuries, firefighters are still unable to put out the flames. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta shifted blame away from Somali terrorist group Al Shabaab for two days of attacks that killed 65 people, even though the group claimed responsibility for the assaults. Instead, he blamed “local political networks.” Ellen Nakashima of the Washington Post reports on the Daoud ruling, which was handed down yesterday by the Seventh Circuit, as does Josh Gerstein of Politico. Steve and Ben also offered analysis. Carol Rosenberg of the Miami Herald reports that yesterday defense attorneys in the September 11 war crimes case accused FBI agents of tampering with their legal team. Wells covered the proceedings with almost-live posts. Email the Roundup Team noteworthy law and security-related articles to include, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for additional commentary on these issues. Sign up to receive Lawfare in your inbox. Visit our Events Calendar to learn about upcoming national security events, and check out relevant job openings on our Job Board.