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Syrian opposition chief urges airstrikes in Syria

By WTOP Staff

ZEINA KARAM
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The head of Syria’s main Western-backed opposition group on Thursday called for immediate U.S. airstrikes targeting the Islamic State group in Syria, saying urgent action was required “to avert catastrophe.”

Hadi Bahra spoke at a press conference at the United Nations as intense fighting continued between the extremist group and Kurdish forces near the Syrian frontier with Turkey, triggering a massive surge of refugees fleeing across the border. The Islamic State group offensive in the area has already sent 130,000 refugees to seek safety in Turkey in the last few days.

“We must begin airstrikes in Syria — immediately as we speak. Time is of essence to avert catastrophe,” Bahra said. “Every day that passes without airstrikes in Syria allows ISIS (the Islamic State group) the opportunity for more growth and more terror,” he said.

President Barack Obama has said he is prepared to strike the extremist group in Syria, but so far has only ordered attacks on Islamic State targets in Iraq. The group holds roughly one third of each of the neighboring countries. The U.S. Congress has also approved arming and training vetted Syrian opposition units as a ground force to complement U.S. airstrikes.

Bahra, who heads the Syrian National Coalition group, welcomed the train and equip effort which he said will help moderate rebels in Syria fight both the Islamic State extremists and Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces. Bahra said the group was ready to coordinate with the West to maximize the impact of airstrikes against the Islamic State group. He mentioned specifically his group was proposing a unified command and control center, intelligence sharing and assisting the U.S. in the process of vetting the rebels.

“Our forces are the best way to avoid U.S. and any (other) foreign boots on the ground. Nobody wants that,” he said.

The Syrian National Coalition holds very little sway on the ground in Syria, where a dizzying array of rebel factions, many of them with extremist ideologies, are fighting to oust Assad but are also engaged in armed rivalry against each other.

The Syrian conflict began in March 2011 with largely peaceful protests against Assad’s rule and escalated into a civil war after a brutal military crackdown against protesters. More than 190,000 people have been killed, according to the United Nations.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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