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The 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, was viewed by some on the Right as the subject of the biggest cover-up in history and a sign of the coming apocalypse, so it came as no surprise that House Republicans eventually organized a special committee to investigate the attack, which had already been examined by several other congressional and executive panels.

Republicans have tried for years to use the terrorist attack which led to the deaths of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens to go after former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is testifying before the committee today. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy recently admitted that the special committee was formed to bring down Clintons popularity in advance of the 2016 presidential election.

Of course, uncovering facts has never been the GOPs primary motivation when it comes to Benghazi (or much else). As these five instances show, Republicans and their allies in the conservative media have been much more concerned with creating bizarre scenarios to claim that the administration, and fellow Republicans, are suppressing the truth of the attack.

1) No Evidence But What The Hell

Tom Fitton of Judicial Watch unveiled an elaborate conspiracy theory earlier this year, alleging that the Obama administration wanted Libyan militants to kidnap Stevens in order to then do a prisoner swap for terrorist Omar Abdel-Rahman, who was convicted in the U.S. for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. However, the compound attackers botched the job after Stevens died, Fitton said, and therefore we can never know if the administration was actually ready to release Abdel-Rahman.

Fitton conceded in an interview with WorldNetDailys Jerome Corsi, a fellow Benghazi truther, that there is no evidence to support his theory.

Given what we know now, it is not out of the realm of possibility that the terrorist attack on Benghazi could have been a kidnapping attempt aimed at releasing the Blind Sheik, Fitton said.

He noted, however, there is no evidence that the Obama administration may have been complicit in any kidnapping plot related to the Benghazi attack.

And since he cant find any evidence to substantiate this claim, Fitton is pretty sure that there must have been a cover-up, insinuating that the State Department was trying to stop his group from receiving corroborating information.

2) Cover-Up Of The Cover-Up!

When President Obama first proposed bombing the Syrian regime after it used chemical weapons on civilians in Ghouta, Glenn Beck knew that Obama didnt want to stop such war crimes but instead wanted to cover up what really happened in Benghazi.

According to one conspiracy theory, Stevens was actually organizing an operation to transfer weapons from Libya to Syria to aid Islamic extremists (which of course raises the question of why these extremists would then want to attack the American post in the first place).

Seizing on that conspiracy theory, Beck speculated that it wasnt the Assad regime that used the chemical weapons in Ghouta, but rebels using weapons delivered from the U.S. via Benghazi. Now, Beck reasoned, Obama wanted to bomb Syria because he was covering the trail of the lost weapons from Benghazi.

Beck later claimed that David Petraeus stepped down as CIA director not because he leaked classified information to his mistress but because he was about to blow the Benghazi scandal wide open. Becks theory ran into a slight hitch when Petraeus publicly praised Clintons response to the attack.

Beck has also alleged that the administration let them die in Benghazi after issuing a stand-down order, an accusation refuted on his very own news website.

3) I Dont Have Any Proof

The arms-running conspiracy theory cited by Beck emerged in the right-wing outlet WorldNetDaily, a home of credible journalism such as Is Obama Biblical Lord of the Flies? and Does Bible Code Predict President Romney?.

While we werent surprised that Beck would pick up a conspiracy theory from such a website, it was a bit more shocking when a U.S. senator brought up WNDs conspiracy theory in a hearing with Clinton. At a 2013 hearing, Sen. Rand Paul demanded that a dumbfounded Clinton tell him if the U.S. was transferring weapons from Libya into Syria via Turkey.

Paul admitted that he didnt have any proof before suggesting that the gun-running scheme was what was really happening and the cover-up was an attempt to massage and get over this issue without getting into the gun trade.

Investigations, including one led by Republicans, have found that Stevens was trying to find weapons, but in order to keep them out of the hands of extremists, with no evidence at all that he then sent those weapons to Syrian groups.

4) Marijuana A Benghazi Distraction!

Ben Carson is very upset about the Obama administrations push to reform American drug laws. The GOP presidential candidate told Joseph Farah, the editor of WorldNetDaily (notice a theme?), that the administrations push to liberalize laws on marijuana, along with its stance on the trademark of the Washington Redskins, is all part of a plot to distract people from the Benghazi attack.

Carson told Farah last year that most people now just think Benghazi is a singer.

And these people vote and they have no idea, he lamented.

Carson isnt the only one to latch onto the distraction theme. Conservative activist Robert Knight of the American Civil Rights Union dedicated a column in the Washington Times about New England Patriots quarterback Tom Bradys since-lifted suspension by insisting that the Deflategate scandal was part of an effort to distract people from Benghazi. Iowa radio broadcaster Steve Deace similarly wonder if NFL prospect Michael Sams decision to come out of the closet was also just a Benghazi distraction.

5) Benghazi Special Committee Is Part Of The Benghazi Cover-Up!

Since every single official committee, including ones led by Republicans, that has investigated the Benghazi attack has ended up debunking the conspiracy theories percolating through the right-wing media, a group of conservative activists has launched theCitizens Commission on Benghazi to find the real truth.

This unofficial committee has embraced so many conspiracy theories surrounding the attack that its members even believe that the GOP-led Benghazi Special Committee is aiding the cover-up!

One member, Ret. Navy Adm. James Ace Lyons, told, guess who, WorldNetDaily, that committee chairman Trey Gowdy needs to go, lamenting that this is a continued cover-up.

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Rand Paul | Right Wing Watch

By: Caleb Howe (Diary) | March 13th at 04:00 AM |

Another day has passed, and with it more of our primary season voting. Yesterday contests took place in Wyoming and Washington, D.C. And in both, Donald Trump lost. And not by a little. Heres the results as they stand at the time of this posting. Wyoming: Ted Cruz won by a huge margin with 66.3% of the vote, followed by Marco Rubio in second place | Read More

By: streiff (Diary) | March 11th at 11:00 AM |

If you are running at an outsider, nothing says I promise to shake up the system like your super PAC hiring Mitch McConnells campaign manager.

By: Dan Spencer (Diary) | January 29th at 10:00 AM |

During the FoxNews/Google debate, Rubio once again demonstrated that he is the most articulate presidential candidate. As he has done in all seven GOP debates, Rubio answered some very tough questions and always responded with answers that sounded heartfelt, sincere and polished but not slick. Rubio, during the heat of a nationally televised debate, manages to offer reassurance, hope and inspiration.

By: Dan Spencer (Diary) | January 20th at 05:00 PM |

Senate Democrats continued pandering to Muslims and blocked the American SAFE Act. The bill passed the House in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks with a bipartisan veto-proof vote of 289 to 137, which included 47 Democrats.

By: Dan Spencer (Diary) | January 19th at 09:15 AM |

A new post-debate Insider Advantage poll of likely Georgia primary voters finds Donald Trump leading with 33 percent and Sen. Ted Cruz closing to within 10 points of the Donald with 23 percent. All the other candidates were in single digits:

By: Neil Stevens (Diary) | December 16th at 11:00 AM |

Pandering: Its an age-old political trick that is a staple of politics in America. Going back to before the present political alignment, the parties would say whatever it took, to whoever they had to, in order to forge a winning political coalition. is taking a lot of heat for his debate performance last night, but I believe hes playing the game intelligently: Hes looking to | Read More

By: Moe Lane (Diary) | December 13th at 01:30 PM |

The new debate lineup is here. Huckabees out; Paul isnt.

By: streiff (Diary) | December 13th at 10:22 AM |

RandPaul is signaling that his campaign for president may be nearing an end. Paul told the Boston Globe in an interview that if he fails to make the cut for the main debate on Tuesday night that we will make an announcement. These are rarely good words coming from a candidate. CNN (will someone tell me why the GOP is letting a basically unwatched news | Read More

By: Neil Stevens (Diary) | November 16th at 11:00 PM |

We all love to look at the Clinton Foundations donors. Even RandPaul says that foreign donations are thinly-veiled bribes to the Clintons. So why dont we look at the donations going to Ron Paul, which he is hiding from public scrutiny? Given that the elder Paul has been defending Russia, dont we have to question just why this is, and just how much money is | Read More

By: briansikma (Diary) | November 11th at 06:13 PM |

(R-KY) had a great night in Milwaukee on Tuesday. Going into the fourth GOP presidential debate, the libertarian Republican faced skepticism from several quarters about his ability to stand out in a crowded field that still hasnt winnowed itself since the departure of Gov. Scott Walker. Pauls debate performance was aggressive, he had passion, and he drove the discussion at several points. But his misstep | Read More

By: Erick Erickson (Diary) | October 19th at 11:43 AM |

This is another not good sign for the campaign. He needs Iowa, New Hampshire, or South Carolina to spring board into the SEC Primary and he does not have Iowa. It sounds like New Hampshire is not doing well either. His recent fundraising numbers are disappointing, his poll numbers are atrocious in places like New Hampshire where he should be thriving, a former top aide | Read More

By: Erick Erickson (Diary) | October 15th at 04:30 AM |

Go home to Kentucky, Senator, and save your Senate seat before Kentuckys voters take the incompetence of your Presidential campaign as a reflection on you and your Senate campaign. What is the most endearing moment of RandPauls Presidential campaign is also the most embarrassing. The senator live streamed his entire day yesterday and took questions from people online. At one point, he referred to it | Read More

By: streiff (Diary) | October 14th at 12:26 PM |

For reasons known only to him, Rand Paul embarked upon a rather unstructured exercise into random-stream-of-consciousness as a campaign tool: (R-Kentucky) really did not like what he described as a dumba attempt to live streamhis entire day. Paul spent much of Tuesday beingfilmed by his campaign staff as part of a stunt to broadcastan entire day on the campaign trail inIowa on UStream, a live-streaming | Read More

By: Erick Erickson (Diary) | October 14th at 10:27 AM |

Those arent my words. Those are his words. What an embarrassing end to s Presidential campaign. I actually had higher hopes for than this, but he has become an after thought. The latest polling has him trending below two percent, behind Mike Huckabee. He had so much potential. But that is all in the past. He might need to focus on his Senate seat now.

By: streiff (Diary) | September 29th at 02:22 PM |

looks to be on the verge of being forced out of the 2016 GOP primary field to the extent that he was ever in it. One of the three super PACs raising money to support Paul, PurplePAC, which is run by Cato co-founder Ed Crane, is closing up shop because it is dissatisfied with . One of the three super PACs supporting s presidential campaign | Read More

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Rand Paul Archives | RedState

When I talk with people across Kentucky and the United States, the most common top concern for our country is our ballooning federal debt.

We are currently spending roughly $7 million per minute, and this reckless habit has gone on for way too long.

We currently face a debt of nearly $19 trillion. This is unsustainable. The fiscal crisis that faces our nation must be taken seriously and immediately addressed.

I have introduced several balanced budgets in the Senate that would cut the debt, and I will work tirelessly to balance our budget and only spend what comes in.

We must cut spending in all areas, particularly areas that are better run by state and local governments.

In 46 states across the nation, a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) has been enacted in their state constitutions.

I have long been a proponent of adopting the same principle for the Federal Government.

We must work together to reach common sense solutions that will solve our nations fiscal crisis.

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Rand Paul - YouTube

UPDATE: The Tax Foundation has updated its economic and revenue estimates for Rand Paul's tax reform plan. The new estimates are based on the latest version of the Taxes and Growth (TAG) Model (the October 2015 version). More details on the update at the bottom of the page.

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), a candidate for president, recently announced his plan to reform the U.S. tax code. His proposal, the Flat and Fair Tax, would move to a 14.5 percent tax rate on all types of income with a sizable deduction and exemption, eliminate the corporate tax to create a 14.5 percent business transfer tax paid by businesses on profits and wages, introduce full expensing for investments in capital, and eliminate the payroll tax on both the employer and employee.

Our analysis finds that Senator Pauls plan would grow the economy by 12.9 percent in the long run, create 4.3 million jobs, and cost $1.8 trillion over ten years on a static basis and raise $737 billion when accounting for economic growth.

Structure of the Tax Reform Plan

Sen. Paul would make a number of changes to the tax code for individuals. He would replace the current seven tax bracket structure with a flat rate of 14.5 percent and apply that tax rate to all income wages and salaries, capital gains, dividends, interest, and rents.

The plan would include a $15,000 standard deduction (per filer) and a $5,000 per person personal exemption. This means that a family of four would pay no income tax on their first $50,000 of income ($55,000 for a family of five, etc.).

Retirement accounts remain as they currently are and in our modeling we assumed that the exclusion for employer-provided health care remains.

The plan retains home mortgage and charitable deductions, the earned income tax credits, and the child tax credit and eliminates all other tax credits and deductions.

The plan would eliminate the payroll tax, the estate tax, and all customs duties and tariffs.

On the business side, the plan would eliminate the corporate tax, create a territorial type system, and introduce a 14.5 percent business transfer tax. This tax would be levied on a businesss factors of production and tax all capital income (profits, rents, royalties) and all labor payments (wages and salaries). All capital expenses (machines, equipment, buildings, etc.) are fully expensed in the first year, which would do away with current depreciation schedules. This tax would also apply to wages paid by governments and nonprofits.

The Economic and Revenue Estimates of the Plan

According to our Taxes and Growth Model, Senator Pauls tax reform proposal would increase GDP by 12.9 percent by the end of roughly 10 years (it may be shorter or longer depending on how long it takes business to pull permits for new buildings, supply chains to adjust, etc.). This is equivalent to average additional growth of a little under 1.2 percentage points per year.

This growth is largely due to a cut in the service price of capital, which is a result of lower taxes on businesses and investment, specifically the tax cut to 14.5 percent on business profits, the 14.5 percent rate on capital gains and dividends, and the shift to full expensing. These tax changes result in an increase of the capital stock of 40.5 percent by the end of the adjustment period and results in higher after tax wages of 5.5 percent.

Additionally, the tax cut on wage income to 14.5 percent also increases the incentive to work and results in 3.5 percent additional private business hours of work. This is equivalent to 4.3 million full-time jobs.

On a static basis, Senator Paul tax reform plan would lose nearly $2 trillion over a ten-year period, with an average annual cost of about $200 billion. If we account for the growth of the economy, over time this would lead to smaller tax costs. We estimate that the plan would end up raising an additional $737 billion over the budget window.

The Rand Paul Flat and Fair Tax with a 14.5% Income Tax Rate and a 14.5% Business Transfer Tax

Economic and Revenue Change Estimates vs Current Law

GDP

12.9%

Capital Investment

40.5%

After-Tax Wage Rate

11.4%

Full-time Equivalent Jobs (in thousands)

4,300

Static Federal Revenue Estimate, GDP Assumed Constant (annual, billions of current $)

Static, Final Year

-$257

Static, 10-Year Budget Window (2015-2024)

-$1,797

Dynamic Federal Revenue Estimate after GDP Gain or Loss (annual, billions of current $)

Dynamic, Final Year

$64

Dynamic, 10-Year Budget Window (2015-2024)

$737

Source: Tax Foundation Taxes and Growth Model.

Distributional Analysis

On a static basis, Senator Pauls plan would increase after tax income a total of 4 percent across all taxpayers. When not considering growth, it would have little to no effect on after tax income for those making under $10,000 of income and increase after tax income to varying degrees for all other income groups.

The little to no change in after tax income for filers with AGI under $10,000 is due to the elimination of the payroll tax and how that would interact with the change in labor compensation due to the business transfer tax, which has a secondaryeffect related to the phase-ins of the child tax credit and the earned income tax credit. On the whole, many people in this income group would likely receive a tax cut.

On a dynamic basis, the plan would increase after tax incomes by a total 16 percent for all income groups. Filers with income below $10,000 would see their income increase by over 10 percent. Taxpayers in income groups between $20,000 and $75,000 would see their incomes go up by about 14. Those with incomes above $500,000 would see their incomes go up over 20 percent.

The Distributional Effect of Rand Paul's Tax Reform Proposal

Distributional Analysis of "Flat and Fair Tax," All Returns with Positive Adjusted Gross Income

Adjusted Gross Income Class

Changes in Static After Tax AGI

Changes in Dynamic After Tax AGI

0 - 5,000

*

11%

5,000 - 10,000

*

11%

10,000 - 20,000

1%

12%

20,000 - 30,000

2%

14%

30,000 - 40,000

2%

14%

40,000 - 50,000

3%

14%

50,000 - 75,000

3%

14%

75,000 - 100,000

3%

14%

100,000 - 150,000

3%

14%

150,000 - 200,000

3%

15%

200,000 - 250,000

4%

15%

250,000 - 500,000

7%

19%

500,000 - 1,000,000

10%

23%

> 1,000,000

13%

27%

TOTAL FOR ALL

4%

16%

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The Economic Effects of Rand Paul's Tax Reform Plan | Tax

The ISIS terror threat

Smoke rises above a damaged building following a U.S.-led coalition airstrike against ISIS positions during a military operation to regain control of the eastern suburbs of Ramadi, Iraq, on Saturday, August 15.

The ISIS terror threat

Iraqi men look at the damage following a bomb explosion that targeted a vegetable market in Baghdad's northern Shiite district of Sadr City on Thursday, August 13. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.

The ISIS terror threat

An ISIS fighter poses with spoils purportedly taken after capturing the Syrian town.

The ISIS terror threat

Smoke rises as Iraqi security forces bomb ISIS positions in the eastern suburbs of Ramadi, Iraq, on August 6. The city fell in May to ISIS, a militant group that wants to create an Islamic state across Sunni areas of Iraq and Syria. ISIS has also claimed responsibility for attacks in other countries in the Middle East.

The ISIS terror threat

Buildings reduced to piles of debris can be seen in the eastern suburbs of Ramadi on August 6.

The ISIS terror threat

Saudi officials and investigators check the inside of the mosque on August 6.

The ISIS terror threat

Protesters in Istanbul carry anti-ISIS banners and flags to show support for victims of the Suruc suicide blast during a demonstration on Monday, July 20.

The ISIS terror threat

Syrians wait near the Turkish border during clashes between ISIS and Kurdish armed groups in Kobani, Syria, on Thursday, June 25. The photo was taken in Sanliurfa, Turkey. ISIS militants disguised as Kurdish security forces infiltrated Kobani on Thursday and killed "many civilians," said a spokesman for the Kurds in Kobani.

The ISIS terror threat

Residents examine a damaged mosque after an Iraqi Air Force bombing in the ISIS-seized city of Falluja, Iraq, on Sunday, May 31. At least six were killed and nine others wounded during the bombing.

The ISIS terror threat

Iraqi soldiers fire their weapons toward ISIS group positions in the Garma district, west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, on Sunday, April 26. Pro-government forces said they had recently made advances on areas held by Islamist jihadists.

The ISIS terror threat

A member of Afghanistan's security forces stands at the site where a suicide bomber on a motorbike blew himself up in front of the Kabul Bank in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on Saturday, April 18. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. The explosion killed at least 33 people and injured more than 100 others, a public health spokesman said.

The ISIS terror threat

Iraqi counterterrorism forces patrol in Ramadi on April 18.

The ISIS terror threat

Thousands of Iraqis cross a bridge over the Euphrates River to Baghdad as they flee Ramadi on Friday, April 17.

The ISIS terror threat

Kurdish Peshmerga forces help Yazidis as they arrive at a medical center in Altun Kupri, Iraq, on April 8.

The ISIS terror threat

A Yazidi woman mourns for the death of her husband and children by ISIS after being released south of Kirkuk on April 8.

The ISIS terror threat

People in Tikrit inspect what used to be a palace of former President Saddam Hussein on April 3.

The ISIS terror threat

On April 1, Shiite militiamen celebrate the retaking of Tikrit, which had been under ISIS control since June. The push into Tikrit came days after U.S.-led airstrikes targeted ISIS bases around the city.

The ISIS terror threat

Iraqi security forces launch a rocket against ISIS positions in Tikrit on Monday, March 30.

The ISIS terror threat

Iraqi Shiite fighters cover their ears as a rocket is launched during a clash with ISIS militants in the town of Al-Alam, Iraq, on Monday, March 9.

The ISIS terror threat

Displaced Assyrian women who fled their homes due to ISIS attacks pray at a church on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, on Sunday, March 1. ISIS militants abducted at least 220 Assyrians in Syria.

The ISIS terror threat

A Kurdish marksman looks over a destroyed area of Kobani on Friday, January 30, after the city had been liberated from the ISIS militant group. The Syrian city, also known as Ayn al-Arab, had been under assault by ISIS since mid-September.

The ISIS terror threat

Kurdish people celebrate in Suruc, Turkey, near the Turkish-Syrian border, after ISIS militants were expelled from Kobani on Tuesday, January 27.

The ISIS terror threat

Collapsed buildings are seen in Kobani on January 27 after Kurdish forces took control of the town from ISIS.

The ISIS terror threat

Junko Ishido, mother of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, reacts during a news conference in Tokyo on Friday, January 23. ISIS would later kill Goto and another Japanese hostage, Haruna Yukawa.

The ISIS terror threat

ISIS militants are seen through a rifle's scope during clashes with Peshmerga fighters in Mosul, Iraq, on Wednesday, January 21.

The ISIS terror threat

An elderly Yazidi man arrives in Kirkuk after being released by ISIS on Saturday, January 17. The militant group released about 200 Yazidis who were held captive for five months in Iraq. Almost all of the freed prisoners were in poor health and bore signs of abuse and neglect, Kurdish officials said.

The ISIS terror threat

Smoke billows behind an ISIS sign during an Iraqi military operation to regain control of the town of Sadiyah, about 95 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad, on Tuesday, November 25.

The ISIS terror threat

Fighters from the Free Syrian Army and the Kurdish People's Protection Units join forces to fight ISIS in Kobani on Wednesday, November 19.

The ISIS terror threat

A picture taken from Turkey shows smoke rising after ISIS militants fired mortar shells toward an area controlled by Syrian Kurdish fighters near Kobani on Monday, November 3.

The ISIS terror threat

Iraqi special forces search a house in Jurf al-Sakhar, Iraq, on Thursday, October 30, after retaking the area from ISIS.

The ISIS terror threat

ISIS militants stand near the site of an airstrike near the Turkey-Syria border on Thursday, October 23. The United States and several Arab nations have been bombing ISIS targets in Syria to take out the militant group's ability to command, train and resupply its fighters.

The ISIS terror threat

Kurdish fighters walk to positions as they combat ISIS forces in Kobani on Sunday, October 19.

The ISIS terror threat

Heavy smoke rises in Kobani following an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition on October 18.

The ISIS terror threat

Cundi Minaz, a female Kurdish fighter, is buried in a cemetery in the southeastern Turkish town of Suruc on Tuesday, October 14. Minaz was reportedly killed during clashes with ISIS militants in nearby Kobani.

The ISIS terror threat

Kiymet Ergun, a Syrian Kurd, celebrates in Mursitpinar, Turkey, after an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition in Kobani on Monday, October 13.

The ISIS terror threat

Alleged ISIS militants stand next to an ISIS flag atop a hill in Kobani on Monday, October 6.

The ISIS terror threat

A Kurdish Peshmerga soldier who was wounded in a battle with ISIS is wheeled to the Zakho Emergency Hospital in Duhuk, Iraq, on Tuesday, September 30.

The ISIS terror threat

Syrian Kurds wait near a border crossing in Suruc as they wait to return to their homes in Kobani on Sunday, September 28.

The ISIS terror threat

A elderly man is carried after crossing the Syria-Turkey border near Suruc on Saturday, September 20.

The ISIS terror threat

A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter launches mortar shells toward ISIS militants in Zumar, Iraq, on Monday, September 15.

The ISIS terror threat

Kurdish Peshmerga fighters fire at ISIS militant positions from their position on the top of Mount Zardak, east of Mosul, Iraq, on Tuesday, September 9.

The ISIS terror threat

Displaced Iraqis receive clothes from a charity at a refugee camp near Feeshkhabour, Iraq, on Tuesday, August 19.

The ISIS terror threat

Aziza Hamid, a 15-year-old Iraqi girl, cries for her father while she and some other Yazidi people are flown to safety Monday, August 11, after a dramatic rescue operation at Iraq's Mount Sinjar. A CNN crew was on the flight, which took diapers, milk, water and food to the site where as many as 70,000 people were trapped by ISIS. But only a few of them were able to fly back on the helicopter with the Iraqi Air Force and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.

The ISIS terror threat

Thousands of Yazidis are escorted to safety by Kurdish Peshmerga forces and a People's Protection Unit in Mosul on Saturday, August 9.

The ISIS terror threat

Thousands of Yazidi and Christian people flee Mosul on Wednesday, August 6, after the latest wave of ISIS advances.

The ISIS terror threat

A Baiji oil refinery burns after an alleged ISIS attack in northern Selahaddin, Iraq, on Thursday, July 31.

The ISIS terror threat

A Syrian rebel fighter lies on a stretcher at a makeshift hospital in Douma, Syria, on Wednesday, July 9. He was reportedly injured while fighting ISIS militants.

The ISIS terror threat

Children stand next to a burnt vehicle during clashes between Iraqi security forces and ISIS militants in Mosul on Tuesday, June 10.

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Rand Paul hits Obama over 'underwhelming' ISIS efforts ...