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Imagine your freedom being taken away without warning. No US embassy to call, no help coming to your aid and no chance for justice. Imagine being charged convicted and sentenced to years in prison of hard labor in a North Korean prison. Your crime? You are an American guilty of crimes against the State, crimes you did not commit. Kim Kak Song, a teacher, Tony Kim, also a teacher at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology and 21-year-old student Otto Warmbier all fall into this category. Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years hard labor for removing a poster. Now add to the mix Kim Dong Chul, a resident of Fairfax Va., who ran a hotel service. He is serving ten years at hard labor. These American citizens are hostages of an out of control regime. North Korea is holding them as bargaining chips or as shields against military action. The North Korean government under Kim Jong-un is playing with fire as they push ever closer to a tipping point.

Recent attacks supported by and directed by the Islamic State in Afghanistan may signal a troubling trend for the war-torn country, and at a time when U.S. forces reconstitute their approach to thwarting terrorist rule for good. A growing presence by ISIS could signify problems not only within Afghanistan, but also have ramifications for the group's operations in other parts of the world. As ISIS looks to put its stamp on the over a decade long war, its ability to introduce its brand of terror into the fold may bring it added exposure useful for recruiting, and allow it to establish alliances with other groups entrenched in the government and tribal lands.

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Durham police have bowed to political pressure and will not monitor speeding in a school zone in order to prevent the possible entrapment of illegal immigrants.

Operatives working for the self-proclaimed Islamic State allegedly used fake eBay transactions to move their money, according to a recently unsealed FBI affidavit first reported on by The Wall Street Journal. Investigators said the culprit identified was to use the money for "operational purposes" such as a terror attack. Some of the cash was spent on a laptop, a cellphone, and software to set up a virtual private network that can mask a user's internet usage, which the FBI believed was so he could communicate with ISIS operatives overseas and launder and funnel money throughout the world, the Journal reported. A troubling development and the latest example of the group's use of technology to further its expansion. One that relies highly on its ability to move and acquire cash.

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As Russia continues efforts to exert influence in the Middle East, with its involvement in Syria, Vladimir Putin should be reminded that his continued support and backing of Bashir al-Assad is seen as a direct threat to the United States. In recent weeks as Russia aggression in the conflict has increased, their actions serve to embolden the once weakened Assad and hinder US gains. Adding to the severity of Russia's engagement is the relationship with Iran, a backer of the Syrian regime and enemy of the west. It is time for US officials to convey, in no uncertain terms, that America's patience has run its course and Russia would be best served to avoid any further agitation.