Islamic State enters US uproar over Captain Khan

IS extremists have entered the U.S. political uproar over slain Army Capt. Humayun Khan, whose father denounced Trump.
Khizr Khan, father of fallen US Army Capt. Humayun S. M. Khan and his wife Ghazala speak during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. (AP)
Khizr Khan, father of fallen US Army Capt. Humayun S. M. Khan and his wife Ghazala speak during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. (AP)

WASHINGTON: The Latest on the U.S. presidential campaign:

Islamic State extremists have entered the U.S. political uproar over slain Army Capt. Humayun Khan, whose father denounced Donald Trump at last week's Democratic convention.

In an article in the latest issue of Dabiq, the group's English-language propaganda magazine, the group shows a photo of Khan's grave at Arlington National Cemetery with the caption "Beware of dying as an apostate." The story accompanying the photo does not mention Khan directly.

The next page shows American voters lined up.

The issue was largely dedicated to a criticism of Christianity and the West, and also showed photos of the two Frenchman who killed a priest while he was celebrating Mass in a church in Normandy last Tuesday.

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The commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars says Donald Trump's criticism of the parents of an Army captain killed in Iraq is unacceptable.

Brian Duffy, head of the 1.7-million-member VFW, said in a statement Monday that election year or not, the nation's oldest and largest war veterans group will not tolerate anyone berating a Gold Star family member for exercising their free speech. Gold Star families are those that have lost a close relative in military service.

Said Duffy: "There are certain sacrosanct subjects that no amount of wordsmithing can repair once crossed."

Duffy, who was elected July 27 as the national commander of the VFW, said giving one's life to the nation is the greatest sacrifice, followed closely by all Gold Star families who have a right to make their voices heard.

Three more Republican senators facing tough re-election fights are distancing themselves from Donald Trump's criticism of the family of slain Army Capt. Humayun Khan.

Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin says that "Capt. Humayun Khan, and all the Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, deserve our deepest respect and gratitude."

Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio says through a spokeswoman that he "does not agree with Donald Trump's remarks and believes that Captain Khan was an American hero who gave his life for his country."

And Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania says, "The Khan family, like all Americans who lose loved ones in the defense of our country, deserve our gratitude and honor. Anything else is inappropriate."

Of the three, only Toomey has refused to endorse Trump.

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The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee says he's dismayed by the attacks on the parents of an Army captain killed in Iraq.

With no mention of Donald Trump's name, Republican Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas says in a statement Monday that "there is never enough honor we can show" to the families of U.S. service members who are killed in action.

Thornberry response comes as Republicans grapple with the fallout of Trump's criticism of Khizr and Ghazala Khan. Their son, Humayun Khan, was killed in Iraq in 2004.

Thornberry says service to the country is above politics. He says those "who protect our freedom and their families" are worthy of the deepest respect and gratitude.

Thornberry's response follows sharp criticism of Trump from Republican Sen. John McCain, the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman.

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Another Republican senator is taking Donald Trump to task for berating the parents of a decorated Army captain killed in Iraq.

Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri advised Trump to "focus on jobs and national security and stop responding to every criticism whether it's from a grieving family or Hillary Clinton."

Trump has repeatedly denounced the parents of Capt. Humayun Khan, after the father spoke at the Democratic convention last week. Khizr Khan said Trump's proposals would have barred his son from immigrating to the United States because they are Muslims.

Blunt said the Khans "deserve to be heard and respected."

Blunt has given Trump a tepid endorsement, but is among a number of Republican senators running for re-election trying to distance themselves from the nominee.

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Hillary Clinton's running mate, Tim Kaine is telling campaign workers there's "existential gravity" to this election and is urging them to give a full effort in the 99 days remaining.

Kaine and his wife, Anne Holton, visited a Democratic campaign office Monday in their hometown of Richmond, Virginia. The Kaines brought doughnuts for the young workers and thanked them for their work.

Kaine said GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump's views on religious freedom, the economy and foreign policy were dangerous.

"I just want you to be impressed with the gravity, the existential gravity of this election," Kaine said.

Kaine was Richmond's mayor before becoming Virginia's governor and then one of its senators. He is set to hold a rally Monday evening at a city high school.

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Donald Trump is trying to explain comments that suggested he wasn't aware that Russian troops were in Ukraine.

In an interview on ABC Sunday, Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin is "not going into Ukraine." He added "You can mark it down. You can put it down."

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and has backed pro-Russian separatists in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Western governments accuse Russia of sending troops and weapons to Ukraine, but Moscow denies that.

Trump tweeted Monday that Putin is not going into Ukraine "if I am president. Already in Crimea!"

In another tweet, he said that "with all of the Obama tough talk on Russia and the Ukraine, they have already taken Crimea and continue to push. That's what I said!"

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President Barack Obama says the U.S. can't "turn inward" and embrace protectionism because of economic anxieties that have been drawn out by the presidential election.

Obama is pushing back against the candidates running to replace him and says the country "can't just walk away from trade." Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal with Asia that Obama negotiated.

Obama's comments come in an interview with The Straits Times newspaper ahead of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's visit to Washington on Tuesday.

Obama says his approach of boosting Asia ties will survive no matter who is president.

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Billionaire investor Warren Buffett is set to introduce Hillary Clinton at a Nebraska campaign event as her campaign seeks to highlight support from the business community.

The Democratic presidential candidate was scheduled to appear in Omaha Monday, where she will talk about her plans for job creation. Buffett is the latest business leader to back Clinton over Republican Donald Trump. She appeared with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban in Pittsburgh over the weekend and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke on her behalf at the Democratic National Convention.

Buffet, a famed investor and one of the wealthiest people in America, endorsed Clinton last year.

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Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain has issued an extensive statement denouncing Donald Trump's comments criticizing the parents of a Muslim Army captain killed in Iraq.

McCain said: "I cannot emphasize enough how deeply I disagree with Mr. Trump's statements. I hope Americans understand that the remarks do not represent the views of our Republican Party, its officers or candidates."

McCain added: "While our party has bestowed upon him the nomination, it is not accompanied by unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us."

Trump has previously said McCain shouldn't be regarded as a war hero for being imprisoned in Vietnam, saying "I like people who weren't captured."

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The parents of a decorated Muslim Army captain killed in Iraq say they would like to step away from the public feud with Donald Trump that has erupted over their comments about him at the Democratic convention.

Khizr Khan and his wife, Ghazala, have made multiple television appearances since last week's convention, when Khan criticized Trump's proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the country.

Trump has responded by lashing out at Khan and suggesting that Khans' remarks were actually prepared by Hillary Clinton's campaign. Trump also implied Ghazala Khan did not speak at the convention because she was not allowed to speak as a Muslim woman.

Khizr Khan told CNN on Monday that "We want to be out of this controversy. That is not our style...This is not our path." He said "there was no need" for Trump to comment further, saying "We want to maintain our dignity."

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Donald Trump's presidential bid has thrived on controversy of his own making. Now, the Republican nominee kicks off the first full week of the general election campaign having put his strategy of saying the politically unimaginable to its greatest test yet.

Trump broke a major American political and societal taboo over the weekend when he engaged in an emotionally-charged feud with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the bereaved parents of a decorated Muslim Army captain killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq. He further stoked outrage by implying that Ghazala Khan did not speak alongside her husband at last week's Democratic convention because they're Muslim.

The outcry was swift and bipartisan, leaving Trump largely isolated among his fellow Republicans and potentially putting at risk whatever progress he made during his convention.

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