Yahoo! News: Iraq

KBR gets huge contract despite electrocutions (AP)

Posted: 07 Feb 2009 12:54 AM CST

AP - Defense contractor KBR Inc., which is under criminal investigation in the electrocution deaths of at least two U.S. soldiers in Iraq, has been awarded a $35 million contract by the Pentagon to build an electrical distribution center and other projects there.

US soldier dies in northern Iraq (AP)

Posted: 07 Feb 2009 12:35 AM CST

AP - The U.S. military says an American soldier has died of a noncombat-related injury near the northern Iraqi city of Balad Ruz.

White House looking at Iraq withdrawal options (AFP)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 11:49 PM CST

AFP - The White House is weighing several options for US troop withdrawals from Iraq, with timetables ranging from President Barack Obama's campaign pledge to remove all combat troops within 16 months to a 23-month option, a defense official said.

Obama considering at least 2 Iraq withdrawal plans (AP)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 08:28 PM CST

AP - The White House is considering at least two troop withdrawal options as it weighs a new Iraq strategy one that would preserve President Barack Obama's campaign pledge to get all combat brigades out within 16 months and a second that would stretch it to 23 months, two officials said Friday.

US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,237 (AP)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 07:05 PM CST

AP - As of Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, at least 4,237 members of the U.S. military had died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

Airline says bias wasn't factor in canceled flight (AP)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 06:31 PM CST

AP - A lawyer for American Airlines said Friday it was the suspicious behavior of five men of Iraqi descent, not discrimination, that caused the pilot of a Chicago-bound flight to return to the gate in August 2007.

AP CEO urges better press access to military ops (AP)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 06:09 PM CST

AP - The Bush administration turned the U.S. military into a global propaganda machine while imposing tough restrictions on journalists seeking to give the public truthful reports about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Associated Press chief executive Tom Curley said Friday.

Top US lawmakers assess Iraq war effort (AFP)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 01:40 PM CST

AFP - Top US lawmakers visited Iraq Friday to assess the state of the nearly six-year-old campaign to build a democracy there, amid formal US reviews of war efforts there and in Afghanistan.

U.N. head visits Iraq, applauds provincial elections (McClatchy Newspapers)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 11:51 AM CST

McClatchy Newspapers - BAGHDAD U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated Iraq on Friday for the smooth running of provincial elections but said that the country still had a way to go to establish security and stability.

US played behind-the-scenes role in Iraqi vote (AP)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 10:41 AM CST

AP - In a dimly lit room brightened by dusty plastic flowers, the U.S. officer showed up with small gifts for the Iraqi major. After pleasantries, the American got down to business reviewing security preparations for elections.

US to be 'more aggressive' with Iraq on political reform (AFP)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 09:49 AM CST

AFP - Vice President Joe Biden said Friday that the United States would have to be "more aggressive" in prodding Iraq's government on forging political reform.

Turkey bombs Kurdish rebels in Iraq (AFP)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 09:44 AM CST

AFP - Turkish warplanes bombed Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq this week, the Anatolia news agency reported Friday, quoting an army spokesman.

UN chief, Maliki discuss lifting Iraq sanctions (AFP)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 09:36 AM CST

AFP - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday that the United Nations is considering scrapping sanctions imposed on Iraq during Saddam Hussein's regime before the 2003 US-led invasion.

Visiting UN chief praises Iraqi progress (AP)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 08:49 AM CST

AP - The U.N. secretary-general said Friday that provincial elections were an important step toward full democracy but told Iraqis they still have work to do before they can "enjoy genuine freedom and security and prosperity."

U.N. chief, in Iraq, hails peaceful local vote (Reuters)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 08:23 AM CST

Reuters - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon praised Iraq's largely peaceful elections during a visit to Baghdad on Friday, but said the war-weary country had much more to do before it attains lasting stability.

Election could help eject al Qaeda from Iraq (Reuters)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 05:00 AM CST

Reuters - Local elections in al Qaeda's last urban stronghold in Iraq have given disgruntled Sunni Arabs a voice again, possibly easing resentment that fueled lingering violence and which gave the Islamist extremist group a haven.