Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• GOP US Rep. Tim Johnson drops re-election bid
• KBR Knew of Iraq Facility Contamination, Report Shows
• 25 years for Russian arms dealer in NY terror case
• Illinois Republican Representative Johnson to retire
• 3 soldiers killed in Afghan attack were from Ohio
• Home Depot sued over Arizona veteran's firing
• NY judge gives ex-Soviet arms dealer 25 years
• NY judge: Ex-Soviet arms dealer will get 25 years
• Ex-Soviet arms dealer tells NY judge: 'It's a lie'
• NY judge: Guidelines call for life for arms dealer
• Psychiatric exam ordered for JetBlue pilot
• Illinois Rep. Johnson expected to say he'll retire
• US still expects Iran talks next week
• Senior Iran lawmaker nixes Turkey for nuke talks
• Former US Military Commanders Voice Outrage Over BBC's Politically-motivated Campaign Against Camp Ashraf Residents
• Documents show little evidence of hate crime
• Iran eyes spiritual leadership of Iraq's Shiites
• Romney’s Veep; Obama's Foreign Policy
• Iraqi Hate Crime Murder Probe Raises Questions About Daughter, Husband
• Sabean graves desecrated in Iraq's Kirkuk
• Former arms dealer faces possible US life sentence
• Fugitive Iraqi VP Hashemi 'will return to Iraq'
• Iraq oil exports through Turkey resume
• Obama joins meeting with Iraqi Kurd leader
• US Happy, But Not Happiest, New UN Report Finds
• Kuwait-Iraq flights to resume after 20 years
• Blasts temporarily halt Iraq oil flow to Turkey
• Murder of Iraqi-American Woman May Not Have Been a Hate Crime
• Factbox: Oil deals with Kurdistan
• Illinois GOP Rep. Johnson Won't Seek Reelection
• Analysis: In Iraq, oil majors play north versus south
• 10 things you need to know today: April 5, 2012
• How Assad Has Come Between Kurds of Turkey and Syria
• Explosion shuts down oil pipeline in Turkey
• Blast on Iraq Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline shuts oil flows
• Veterans Caught Up in Criminal System and Their Attorneys Soon to Have Important Tool
• Former arms dealer faces possible life sentence
• Republican official: US Rep. Johnson to retire
• Judge orders psych exam for JetBlue captain

GOP US Rep. Tim Johnson drops re-election bid Posted: Longtime Illinois U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson cited family obligations as he tearfully dropped his re-election bid on Thursday, leading to a crowded race among his fellow Republicans to replace him and kindling Democrats' hopes of taking the seat to help regain control of the U.S. House.

KBR Knew of Iraq Facility Contamination, Report Shows Posted: An environmental assessment that was done by the military contractor Kellogg, Brown, & Root about chemicals used at an Iraqi water treatment facility has been unearthed by attorneys for five former and current Oregon National Guard members, according to the Associated Press. The five soldiers are suing the company for exposure to a cancer causing chemical. Here is some more information about this case.

25 years for Russian arms dealer in NY terror case Posted: A defiant Russian arms dealer dubbed the Merchant of Death for his history of arming violent dictators and regimes was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison, far short of the life term prosecutors sought for his conviction on terrorism charges that grew from a U.S. sting operation.

Illinois Republican Representative Johnson to retire Posted: CHICAGO (Reuters) - Representative Timothy Johnson, a moderate six-term Republican from southern Illinois, announced his retirement on Thursday, joining nearly 40 lawmakers planning to leave the House. Johnson, 65, said he had taken on increased responsibilities in Congress and campaigning in his redrawn Illinois district had taken more and more of his time. "My family obligations, however, are what compels this announcement," Johnson said in a statement. "My time is limited. I have been serving in office for 44 consecutive years. ...

3 soldiers killed in Afghan attack were from Ohio Posted: Three U.S. soldiers killed in a suicide attack this week in Afghanistan were from Ohio, as were several others seriously wounded in the bombing, the Ohio National Guard said Thursday.

Home Depot sued over Arizona veteran's firing Posted: The Justice Department sued Home Depot on Thursday, alleging that the home-improvement retailer broke the law by firing an Iraq war veteran and National Guard reservist from a northern Arizona store.

NY judge gives ex-Soviet arms dealer 25 years Posted: A defiant Russian arms dealer dubbed the Merchant of Death was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison, far short of the life term prosecutors sought for his conviction on terrorism charges that grew from a U.S. sting operation.

NY judge: Ex-Soviet arms dealer will get 25 years Posted: A federal judge at a sentencing hearing for a former Soviet arms dealer dubbed the Merchant of Death said Thursday she would sentence him to 25 years in prison for his conviction on terrorism charges that grew from a U.S. sting operation

Ex-Soviet arms dealer tells NY judge: 'It's a lie' Posted: A former Soviet arms dealer dubbed the Merchant of Death told a judge at his sentencing on a terrorism weapons conviction he's "not guilty" and allegations against him are lies.

NY judge: Guidelines call for life for arms dealer Posted: Federal guidelines call for a life sentence for a former Soviet arms dealer who was dubbed the Merchant of Death and was convicted on terrorism charges that grew from a U.S. sting operation, a federal judge said at his sentencing hearing Thursday.

Psychiatric exam ordered for JetBlue pilot Posted: AMARILLO, Texas (Reuters) - A federal judge in Texas has ordered the JetBlue pilot who suffered an apparent midair meltdown in late March to undergo psychiatric testing to determine if he is competent to stand trial on charges of interfering with the plane's crew. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson ordered that Captain Clayton Osbon, 49, be removed from the Amarillo hospital where he has been held since the incident and taken to an undisclosed facility for the psychiatric tests. ...

Illinois Rep. Johnson expected to say he'll retire Posted: Six-term U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson was expected to announce Thursday he is abandoning his re-election bid, a move that would leave his Republican Party scrambling to find a replacement and fuel Democratic hopes of picking up seats and regaining control of the U.S. House.

US still expects Iran talks next week Posted: The United States said Thursday that it still expected Iran's talks with six powers on the Islamic republic's disputed nuclear program to go ahead next week, despite a dispute over the venue.

Senior Iran lawmaker nixes Turkey for nuke talks Posted: The head of an influential foreign policy committee in Iran's parliament said the country does not want Turkey to host talks with world powers over Tehran's nuclear program, raising further questions Thursday about whether negotiations can begin as scheduled next week.

Former US Military Commanders Voice Outrage Over BBC's Politically-motivated Campaign Against Camp Ashraf Residents Posted: WASHINGTON, April 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a letter to the Director of Global News for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), a copy of which was provided to the US Committee for Camp Ashraf Residents (USCCAR), two highly-decorated former senior US military commanders in Iraq have expressed their concerns about a highly politically-motivated and questionable report the BBC radio is preparing about residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq and the People's Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

Documents show little evidence of hate crime Posted: An Iraqi family was troubled by relationship issues before a mother of five was beaten to death in her California home, according to newly released documents that contain little evidence the killing was a hate crime.

Iran eyes spiritual leadership of Iraq's Shiites Posted: Iran is promoting a conservative cleric close to its supreme leader as a possible successor for the aging spiritual leader of Iraq's Shiites, a move that would give Tehran a powerful platform to influence its neighbor, according to figures close to Iraq's religious leadership.

Romney’s Veep; Obama's Foreign Policy Posted: On balance, will President Obama's foreign-policy résumé help or hurt his reelection efforts?

Iraqi Hate Crime Murder Probe Raises Questions About Daughter, Husband Posted: Investigation into Iraqi Mom's Brutal Murder Shows Strained Family Relationships

Sabean graves desecrated in Iraq's Kirkuk Posted: A Sabean cemetery in Iraq's multi-ethnic northern city of Kirkuk has been vandalised this week, with some 20 graves desecrated, a local official belonging to the dwindling sect said on Thursday.

Former arms dealer faces possible US life sentence Posted: A Russian man who became known as the "Merchant of Death" for his exploits in arms sales markets worldwide is set to learn Thursday how long he'll be in U.S. prison after his defense lawyers asked a judge to set him free and prosecutors asked that he never get out.

Fugitive Iraqi VP Hashemi 'will return to Iraq' Posted: Fugitive Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi will return to Iraq, a close aide said on Thursday, denying a claim by a Saudi official that he might remain in the kingdom until his political foe, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, leaves office.

Iraq oil exports through Turkey resume Posted: Iraq resumed pumping oil via a pipeline through Turkey after a fire resulting from an "act of sabotage" was brought under control, the Iraqi oil ministry said on Thursday.

Obama joins meeting with Iraqi Kurd leader Posted: US President Barack Obama dropped in on a meeting Wednesday between Vice President Joe Biden and the leader of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, the White House said in a statement.

US Happy, But Not Happiest, New UN Report Finds Posted: The first-ever United Nations "World Happiness Report" pegs the United States as the 10th-happiest country on Earth by way of measuring people's self-reported satisfaction with their lives.

Kuwait-Iraq flights to resume after 20 years Posted: Iraq has approved a request from Kuwait's Jazeera Airways to operate services to Baghdad and Najaf, more than 20 years after direct flights between the neighbours were halted, officials said Thursday.

Blasts temporarily halt Iraq oil flow to Turkey Posted: ANKARA (Reuters) - At least one explosion hit a Turkish oil pipeline early Thursday, sparking a blaze later extinguished by firefighters and temporarily cutting off the flow of crude from Kirkuk. It was not immediately clear what had caused the blasts but sabotage is common on oil and gas pipelines into Turkey from Iran and Iraq, an area where Turkish Kurd separatist militants operate. Fighting between the Turkish army and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has risen in recent months with Ankara resuming its policy of attempting to crush the 27-year-old insurgency by military means. ...

Murder of Iraqi-American Woman May Not Have Been a Hate Crime Posted: Search warrants in the case of Iraqi-American woman who was beaten to death last month suggests that there may be more to the story than just a case of anti-Muslim violence. According to court records obtained by the San Diego Union Tribune, the victim, Shaima Alawadi, was looking to divorce her husband and move to another state, while her 17-year-old daughter, Fatima, was also distraught about being forced to marry her cousin. ...

Factbox: Oil deals with Kurdistan Posted: (Reuters) - Oil firms negotiating with Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region have received more attractive terms than are on offer from the central government, but risk incurring the wrath of Baghdad. A Reuters analysis looks at the risks of doing business in both parts of Iraq at a time when the country is likely to be the world's biggest source of new oil for years to come. ...

Illinois GOP Rep. Johnson Won't Seek Reelection Posted: In a surprising about-face, Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Ill., won't be running for reelection, two Republican sources familiar with his decision have told National Journal. His decision comes several weeks after winning the Republican primary in his district.

Analysis: In Iraq, oil majors play north versus south Posted: (Reuters) - In the weeks before Iraqi Kurdistan revealed that Exxon Mobil had signed up to explore for oil there, executives at rival Shell faced a dilemma over whether or not to join the U.S. oil major in its foray north and risk angering Baghdad. The fields in the autonomous region offered rich potential, an easier working environment, better security and attractive contracts. That seemed a winning combination for smaller oil companies already working there, such as Norway's DNO, even though they struggled to collect profits. ...

10 things you need to know today: April 5, 2012 Posted: Violence erupts in Syria ahead of ceasefire, Obama leads Romney in the polls, and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion

How Assad Has Come Between Kurds of Turkey and Syria Posted: The proximity is striking. Nusaybin, a Turkish town of about 80,000, sits on one side of the border. Qamishli, one of the biggest cities in northeast Syria, is on the other. A thin strip of land -- fields, watchtowers and rows of barbed wire -- is all that lies in between. "We're like one town separated by a fence," Nusaybin's Mayor Ayse Gokkan says, her third-story office overlooking the border area.

Explosion shuts down oil pipeline in Turkey Posted: Official says explosions and fire have shut down one of twin pipelines in southeastern Turkey that carries oil from Iraq to the Mediterranean.

Blast on Iraq Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline shuts oil flows Posted: ANKARA (Reuters) - An explosion on one of the two pipelines bringing crude from Kirkuk in Iraq to the Turkish port of Ceyhan on the Mediterranean led to a large fire on Thursday, shutting oil flows on that pipe, a Turkish energy official said. "Flow has stopped, however, oil flow on one of the two pipes is continuing," the energy official told Reuters. A Turkish security official meanwhile said there were three near simultaneous explosions at separate points along the pipeline in the Idil area of Turkey's Sirnak province, close to the border with Iraq. ...

Veterans Caught Up in Criminal System and Their Attorneys Soon to Have Important Tool Posted: There is a tsunami coming and our criminal courts are not equipped to handle the onslaught. Returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are finding themselves dealing with the realities and challenges of civilian life. For many, there are issues related to diagnosed and undiagnosed PTSD, TBI and other combat-related issues. Some of these men and women will become statistics, and they find themselves caught up in the criminal justice system due to charges ranging from drinking and substance abuse to spousal abuse, robbery, and murder. ...

Former arms dealer faces possible life sentence Posted: A Russian man who became known as the "Merchant of Death" for his exploits in the arms sales markets worldwide is set to learn how long he'll be in prison after his defense lawyers asked a judge to set him free and prosecutors asked that he never get out.

Republican official: US Rep. Johnson to retire Posted: Veteran Illinois U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson intends to drop his bid for a seventh term and retire, a Republican official said Wednesday.

Judge orders psych exam for JetBlue captain Posted: A federal judge on Wednesday ordered a psychiatric exam for the JetBlue Airways captain accused of interfering with a flight crew when he disrupted a Las Vegas-bound flight after he left the cockpit and screamed about religion and terrorists

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