CNN news 2014-11-12 加文本

cnn news 2014-11-12

CARL AZUZ, cnn ANCHOR: Lots of news to catch you up on from this weekend. I`m Carl Azuz. It`s great to see you this Monday, November 10.

First up, the U.S. is doubling the number of its troops in Iraq. An additional 1500 military personnel are headed there, bringing the total to

about 3,000. Their mission, to train Iraqi troops and militias to battle the ISIS terrorist group.

President Obama says the American Forces will not be involved in direct combat. He calls the increase a new phase in the U.S.-led fight against

ISIS.

Some critics say they are concerned that the president doesn`t have a clear strategy to defeat the militants.

Also this weekend, an interesting and unexpected development concerning North Korea. Its secretive government released Kenneth Bae and Matthew

Todd Miller, two Americans held prisoner for months, accused of breaking North Korean laws. At North Korea`s invitation, the Obama administration

sent James Clapper to the capital Pyongyang.

Clapper is the U.S. director of National Intelligence.

PAUL HANCOCKS, cnn CORRESPONDENT: A top secret mission in the dead of night. The top spy chief in the United States arrives in Pyongyang,

carrying a letter from the U.S. president. He leaves one day later with two former prisoners. No conditions and no strings attached, according to

the U.S. So why this sudden humanitarian gesture from North Korea?

CHRISTOPHER HILL, FORMER AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH KOREA: Clearly, they crave having this kind of high level attention, so obviously they are pleased

that General Clapper came.

HANCOCKS: Another suggestion: Kim Jong un wants to show he`s still in charge after disappearing for six weeks recently. He`s back in the

spotlight, limping but without the cane. Other experts believe Pyongyang`s recent charm offensive, including a high profile visit to Seoul,

technically enemy territory, is a PR exercise to improve its image.

The release of Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller comes more than two weeks after a third U.S. citizen, Jeffrey Fowle, won his freedom. No U.S.

citizens remain in North Korean captivity.

Two things are certain. This decision came from the top, and it was made for a reason. Pyongyang released a statement claiming that the U.S.

president had made many requests, and also an apology. Now, if that is the case, this domestically is propaganda gold for a leader who wants to remain

and show he`s relevant on the international stage.

Paula Hancocks, cnn, Seoul.

AZUZ: President Obama wants Loretta Lynch to be the next attorney general of the United States. The 55-year-old Harvard alum is currently a federal

prosecutor. The U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. And she appears to have some support from Republicans, as well as Democrats.

It`s up to the Senate to ultimately decide if Lynch will replace outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder.

Because this position is cabinet-level, the Constitution requires the Senate to give the president advice and consent on his nominees. It`s not

certain whether the outgoing Democratic controlled Senate or the newly elected Republican controlled Senate will decide whether to confirm Lynch.

Between the U.S. and Russia over the Bering Sea, what was left over from super typhoon Nuri (ph) has been stirring up the ocean. Its effects,

intense wind, heavy rain and snow, massive waves, have mostly hit the Aleutian Islands. Not a lot of people there, and those who are are used to

severe weather. But Nuri is about to whip the jetstream, and a lot of people in the lower 48 will feel that in the days ahead. Bottom line,

bundle up.