2012年3月14日星期三

Yahoo! News: Iraq

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Yahoo! News: Iraq


GOP leader: Obama must back off military cuts

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The Obama administration should retreat from billions of dollars in "deeply damaging" defense cuts and begin investing in a new generation of tanks, planes and ships as the nation confronts danger around the globe, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said Wednesday.

A journey into Syria's nightmare

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(Blank Headline Received)(Reuters) - Zohra Bensemra is a news photographer for Reuters. Based in Algiers, she traveled on assignment to Syria in February. This is her account of that journey: The contact from Syria called: "Be ready in 30 minutes," he said. "If you want to go, we have to go now." From the moment we left our Turkish hotel near the border, my colleague and I traveled on dirt roads used by smugglers and farmers around Syria's northern frontier. The highways were busy with soldiers and shabbiha, irregular pro-Assad fighters. ...


Days after Afghanistan massacre, suspect nameless

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Pedestrians walk to a bus stop near a gate at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Tuesday, March 13, 2012, in Washington state. A U.S. Army staff sergeant from the base is accused of slipping away from his base in the Taliban heartland of Kandahar and shooting nearby villagers in their homes. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)The U.S. serviceman suspected in the massacre of more than a dozen Afghan civilians is a 38-year-old father of two who served three tours in Iraq and is based in Washington state. Still, days after the slayings, the military has kept under wraps one of the most salient details — his name.


Analysis: One year on, Syria's Assad won't bow to uprising

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A Syrian refugee stands outside the Reyhanli refugee camp in Hatay province on the Turkish-Syrian borderBEIRUT (Reuters) - Bashar al-Assad always said Syria would be different. When the Arab uprisings first erupted more than a year ago, the Syrian president confidently said his government was in tune with its people, ready to reform on its own terms, and immune from the turmoil starting to sweep the region. Within weeks he was proved wrong, when a few dozen protesters took to the streets of Damascus on March 15 to call for greater freedoms, setting off one of the most protracted and bloodiest of all the Arab revolts. ...


DFW International Airport Hosts Final "Welcome Home A Hero" Greeting for Soldiers

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Medal of Honor recipient Sal Giunta leads tribute to program volunteers

Don't Criticize the Government If You Work for the Government

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If his bosses get their way, 24-year State Department veteran Peter Van Buren will need to look for a new job, thanks to a list of offenses related to some critical commentary on the United States and, among other things, linking to Wikileaks from his blog. Most of Van Buren's controversial statements can be found in We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People, a book he published last fall that the government apparently didn't appreciate. ...

To strike Iran's nuclear facilities or not to strike? Why polls differ

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Do Americans support airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities – or don't they?

Syrian Kurds get cold reception from Iraqi Kurds

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In this Monday, March 12, 2012 photo, Syrian Kurds refugees sitting in a rented house in Irbil, a city in the Kurdish controlled north, 217 miles (350 kilometers) north of Baghdad, Iraq. Syria's Kurds are fleeing to Iraq to escape the bloody uprising in their home country, where they have been pulled in different directions by opposing political forces. (AP Photo/Yahya Ahmed)Kurdish Syrians fleeing their nation's bloody uprising are all but prisoners in northern Iraqi refugee camps, though they seek shelter in a region that was created specifically as a safe haven for ethnic Kurds.


Panetta's visit to Afghan base marred by security breach

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Leon Panetta at Foward Operating Base Shukvani, AfghanistanUS Defence Secretary Leon Panetta's visit to Afghanistan was marred by a serious security breach Wednesday when a stolen vehicle was driven onto a runway ramp as the Pentagon chief's plane was landing at a NATO base.


AFSCME Council 13 Endorses McCord, Murphy, DePasquale and Casey

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HARRISBURG, Pa., March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On March 14, 2012, Council 13 AFSCME (the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees) announced its endorsement of Rob McCord for State Treasurer? Patrick Murphy for Attorney General? and Eugene DePasquale for Auditor General, in the upcoming primary. The committee also endorsed Robert Casey, Jr. for U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania in the November general election.

Officials: Iraq, Kuwait settle airline dispute

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FILE - In this Dec. 28, 2005 file photo, an Iraqi Airways plane sits on the tarmac at Baghdad International Airport. Iraq's leaders say Wednesday March 14, 2012 they have reached a $500 million deal with Kuwait to settle a legal dispute that has snarled business for Iraq's national airline since Iraq's 1990 invasion. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed, File)Iraq reached a $500 million deal Wednesday with Kuwait to settle a Saddam-era legal dispute that has for years snarled business for Iraq's national airline, officials said.


16 death sentences in Algerian bomb attack trial

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A women walks next to a police station, damaged by a suicide bomb in April 2007An Algerian court passed 16 death sentences Tuesday and Wednesday as 18 people were tried in connection with a string of bombings carried out by Islamists in 2007.


Historic verdict condemns warlord, but Hague court limited

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Congolese warlard Lubanga is seen behind his lawyers in the courtroom of the ICC at The HagueTHE HAGUE (Reuters) - The war crimes court at The Hague found Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga Dyilo guilty on Wednesday in its first ever ruling after a decade of work limited largely to Africa while major cases elsewhere remain beyond its reach. The International Criminal Court convicted the little known militia leader of using child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But critics noted that deadlock among world powers means the ICC is not even investigating daily tales of atrocity emanating from the Syria of President Bashar al-Assad. ...


Report: US asked Russia to deliver ultimatum to Iran

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Editor's note: This story was updated at 3:30 p.m. EST.

Syrian rebels lack guns, money after key defeats

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FILE - In this Sunday, March 11, 2012 file photo, Syrian rebels take position during clashes with Syrian Army forces in Idlib, north Syria. In the previous days, troops had encircled Idlib, and tank shells pounded the city from dawn until evening. Rebels dashed through the streets, taking cover behind the corners of buildings as they clashed with the troops. Wounded fighters were piled into trucks bound for makeshift clinics. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)Two significant defeats at the hands of Syrian government troops have exposed the limitations of the country's rebel forces: They are low on cash, running out of weapons and facing a fiercely loyal military that will fight to the death.


Staying the Course Not the Right Decision in Afghanistan

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COMMENTARY | When the U.S. pulled all of its troops out of Iraq at the end of 2011, people were happy and jubilant the war was finally over. Problem with that is the use of that singular article. People had seemed to forget there was another war going on in Afghanistan. America has been in that country longer than in Iraq, and it is time to get out.

Assad deserves worse fate than Kadhafi's: rebel chieftain

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Ammar al-Wawi, a one-time Syrian officer now second-in-command of the rebel Free Syrian Army"Assad has killed so many people that he deserves a fate worse than Kadhafi's," spits Ammar al-Wawi, a one-time Syrian officer now second-in-command of the rebel Free Syrian Army.


Actors Craig T. Nelson, Caterina Scorsone, Jon Huertas & Stana Katic to be Honored for Performances at 16th Annual PRISM Awards by EIC

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Actors from ABC's Castle and Private Practice and NBC's Parenthood will be recognized for their exceptional portrayals at the upcoming PRISM Awards ceremony in Beverly Hills, CA.Burbank, CA (PRWEB) March 14, 2012 The Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC) has announced winners for several of its performance awards at the upcoming 16th Annual PRISM Awards. Actors Stana Katic and Jon Huertas of ABC's Castle have been selected to receive Performance in a Drama Episode honors. ...

Joint Base Lewis-McChord Faces Another Struggle

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A 38-year-old U.S. Army staff sergeant suspected in the deaths of 16 Afghan civilians is from a base in Washington, according to Reuters. Joint Base Lewis-McChord has had a history of scandals. In 2010, five soldiers were convicted of wartime atrocities for killing Afghan civilians as part of a Stryker Brigade. There have also been record numbers of military suicides.

CBO: ObamaCare Price Tag Shifts from $940 Billion to $1.76 Trillion

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Barack Obama speaking in Houston, TexasPresident Obama's landmark healthcare overhaul is projected to cost $1.76 trillion over a decade, reports the Congressional Budget Office, a hefty sum more than the $940 billion estimated when the healthcare legislation was signed into law. To put it mildly, ObamaCare's projected net worth is far off from its original estimate -- in fact, about $820 billion off.


Japan, UAE earn shot at Olympic glory

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Japan's Hiroshi Kiyotake (C, R) celebrates his goal with Keigo Higashi (C, L)Japan booked their place at the London Olympics with a 2-0 win over Bahrain Wednesday, earning the country a shot at its third major title in a row.


Assad must leave to halt civil war: top dissident

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AMMAN (Reuters) - Syria has plunged into civil war and only the departure of President Bashar al-Assad can prevent the country from being torn apart, a veteran opposition figure said. Najati Tayyara, 67, is a Sunni Muslim liberal who fled Syria to Jordan last month after the authorities bowed to pressure from Arab neighbors and released him from prison. One of Syria's most respected human rights campaigners, Tayyara was jailed in May 2011 after warning that the crackdown against protesters and the recruitment of minority Alawites into government militia was a recipe for sectarian disaster. ...

Afghan Shootings Put Little-Known Commander Into the Spotlight

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In Kabul, Gen. John Allen has the difficult job of commanding all Western forces in Afghanistan. Here in Washington, he'll face a different kind of challenge: defending the unpopular war to skeptical lawmakers and journalists.

Russia says it won't intervene militarily in Syria

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks at the State Duma, the lower parliament chamber, Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, March 14, 2012. Lavrov says Moscow is providing Syria with weapons to fend off external threats but has no intention to use military force to protect Syrian President Bashar Assad. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)Russia is providing Syria with weapons to fend off external threats but has no intention to use military force to protect Syrian President Bashar Assad, the Russian foreign minister said Wednesday.


Historic verdict condemns warlord, but Hague court limited

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Congolese warlard Lubanga shakes hands with his lawyers in the courtroom of the ICC at The HagueTHE HAGUE (Reuters) - The international war crimes court at The Hague found Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga Dyilo guilty on Wednesday in its first ever ruling after a decade of work limited largely to Africa while major cases elsewhere remain beyond its reach. Governments and rights groups level war crimes accusations at Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for cracking down on protesters. But the International Criminal Court (ICC) cannot act because of deadlock among world powers at the United Nations Security Council, the only body that could order a prosecution. ...


Seen by millions, will Uganda Kony video matter?

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Residents watch the premiere of LONDON (Reuters) - A YouTube video gone viral has propelled Joseph Kony, leader of Uganda's rebel Lord's Resistance Army, back onto the agenda, entrenching his position at the top of the list of the world's most wanted men. But how long the current spike of interest will last is far from clear. Hits on the video appeared to have fallen sharply in recent days, while the charity has also found itself on the receiving end of a savage backlash. Produced by U.S.-based group " Invisible Children", "Kony 2012" has scored more than 77 million hits in less than a week. ...


Iraq's artists lament decline in cultural life

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To match Feature IRAQ-ARTISTS/BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Yasir Abdul-Hakim, a sculpture student at Iraq's Fine Arts Academy, wanted to learn his craft by making copies of a nude Greek statue. A professor told him to cover them with clothes. He covered the first one, but the second one he copied naked, as it was. "One of the professors told me: 'What are you doing? You are exposing your life to danger'," Abdul-Hakim said with a bitter smile. "I would like to do nude models from Greek civilization. But I cannot execute them due to the religious tide we are in, which no one can deny," he said. ...


New Report Offers Critical Insights into the Practical Implications of the Gates Foundation MET Project

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Leading teacher evaluation experts provide perspectives on teacher evaluator training and certification

Rupert Murdoch's phone-hacking scandal: A timeline

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Murdoch built a media empire on newspapers, and now one — News of the World — could be his downfall. A chronography of when and how things went awry

Kuwaiti ruler to attend Arab meeting in Baghdad

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Iraq's government spokesman says Kuwait's emir will attend the Arab League summit meeting in Baghdad at the end of this month, the first such visit by a Kuwaiti ruler since Saddam Hussein's invasion of the oil-rich Gulf state.

Ft. Lewis Officer Threatened to Hire Hitman, Blow Up State Capitol: Cops

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Ft. Lewis Officer Threatened to Hire Hitman, Blow Up State Capitol: CopsSoldier From Same Base as Afghan Massacre Suspect Threatened to Put on Contract on Wife, Another Officer, Prosecutors Say


Iraq reaches $500 million airline debt deal with Kuwait

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BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq has reached a $500 million agreement with Kuwait to resolve a standoff over Gulf War-era debts that had prevented Iraqi Airways from flying to destinations in the West, an aide to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Wednesday. Under the deal, Iraq will pay Kuwait $300 million in cash and will invest another $200 million in a joint Iraqi-Kuwaiti airline venture, Maliki's media adviser Ali al-Moussawi told Reuters by telephone from Kuwait where Maliki was on a visit. In return, Kuwait would lift legal actions against Iraqi Airways, he said. ...

Soldiers Tackle Man on Fire During Panetta's Afghan Visit

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Soldiers Tackle Man on Fire During Panetta's Afghan VisitAfghan, While on Fire, Apparently Tried to Attack Soldiers As Defense Secretary Arrives at Coalition Base: Officials


On the Turkish border, a stream of fleeing Syrians

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KAVALCIK, Turkey (Reuters) - The Syrian refugees appeared silently through the late morning fog, at first one by one, then in groups of five or more, settling on the damp grass just behind the barbed wire fence that separates their homeland from Turkey. Within an hour up to 100 people, mostly women carrying babies or leading young children, sat huddled, clutching what little possessions they could carry across the hills, and waited patiently for the Turkish military to arrive before crossing over to register and be transported to camps. ...

Afghan Massacre: Army Docs Say Brain Injury Could Have Sparked Attack

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So the still-unnamed U.S. Army perpetrator of the Sunday slaughter in Afghanistan apparently suffered a traumatic brain injury two years ago. Could this have triggered what by all accounts was an irrational act? You better believe it, current and former Army mental-health professionals say.

The Afghan massacre: Should the suspected killer be executed?

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Defense Secretary Leon Panetta promises justice, saying a U.S. soldier could face capital murder charges for allegedly killing 16 Afghan civilians

NADCAP Accredited Metal Finisher TMF Sees Commercial Production Bolstering Aerospace Manufacturing and Taking the Sting Out of Government Cuts in Aerospace

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On September 1st, 2011 the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers representing aerospace machinists and metal finishers contacted President Obama in order to help preserve the Aerospace and Defense Industry and its workforce from substantial downsizing that defense budget cuts will bring. ...

10 things you need to know today: March 14, 2012

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Santorum sweeps the South, Panetta says the U.S. will stay the course in Afghanistan, and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion

Turkish warplanes hit northern Iraq, no casualties

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ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Turkish warplanes launched a wave of air strikes on northern Iraq late on Tuesday, where they often target bases of Kurdish separatists, but there were no reports of casualties, witnesses and border guards said on Wednesday. "After 10:00 last night, the Turkish warplanes hit some areas near the border in three locations," said Colonel Hussein Tamr, commander of border guards in Dahuk province, part of Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region. "It lasted more than an hour. We went there after the attacks finished. ...

GOP, Dems urge US 'stick to plan' in Afghanistan

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. listens during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)Republicans and Democrats alike insist the United States should stay the course in Afghanistan, sticking to President Barack Obama's timetable for withdrawing American troops despite the massacre of Afghan civilians and the burning of Qurans — two offenses blamed on the U.S. military that have stoked anti-American anger.


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