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Jordanian prince: US has ally against extremists

By WTOP Staff

THOMAS PEIPERT
Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — Prince Feisal Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan said Thursday that the United States has a strong and capable ally in facing Islamic State militants who have swept across the Middle East, and his country will do its best to deal with the expected increase in refugees should the U.S. carry out airstrikes in neighboring Syria.

“It is in times of difficulties that you find out who your friends are,” he said. “And in times of difficulties, Jordan and the United States have stood side by side in dealing with a common threat.”

The prince was in Denver to mark the 10-year partnership between Jordan and the Colorado National Guard, which share information on topics including aircraft maintenance, cybersecurity and women’s leadership.

The meeting with Guard leaders came a day after President Barack Obama ordered the United States into a broad military campaign against Islamic State militants who have taken over parts of Syria and Iraq, two of Jordan’s neighbors.

Feisal said Jordan already has seen an influx of Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and his country is trying to balance security with humanitarian aid.

“We foremost want to keep our borders secure from any form of terrorist extremism while also keeping our borders open for the refugees that have come seeking refuge from violence and destruction,” he said, adding that it’s a “very tough balance.”

About 1.5 million Syrian refugees are consuming scarce resources and services in Jordan, which has a weak economy and an unofficial unemployment rate of 30 percent. But Feisal said the partnership with the U.S. allows the two countries to “deal with a very challenging and very complex environment.”

“This is not a fight that we have rushed to, but they have singled out Jordan as being the next target,” he said of the militants. “We take that threat seriously, and I think we are ready to help in the coalition efforts.”

The U.S., concerned that Jordan could be vulnerable to the militant group, is strengthening its intelligence cooperation with the Arab country, one of its strongest allies in the Middle East.

The CIA has approached Robert Richer, a former Marine who was chief of the CIA’s Near East division, about setting up a task force to help Jordan deal with the threat from the militant group, according to two former agency officials who would not be quoted by name discussing a secret mission. Richer has close ties to Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who has consistently supported the U.S. behind the scenes.

The CIA also has long had close ties to Jordan’s intelligence service, and the two countries work closely together against al-Qaida and other extremist groups.

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AP Intelligence Writer Ken Dilanian in Washington, D.C., contributed to this story.

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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