Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Reaction cool to US arms plan for Syrian rebels
• Obama taps finance director as envoy to Denmark
• Judge bans Fort Hood suspect's defense strategy
• Accused Fort Hood gunman cannot use defending Taliban defense
• Iran's battered reformers seek election rebound
• Hezbollah says it will keep fighting in Syria
• Oil price highest since January on Syria concerns
• Egypt's Brotherhood joins Sunni front over Syria
• By arming Syria rebels, US drawn into proxy war
• U.N. rights forum condemns Hezbollah role in Syria
• Iran votes for new president, Khamenei slams U.S. doubts
• Russia: U.S. claims of Syrian chemical arms use unconvincing
• Wayne White on arming Syria's rebels
• Did Bill Clinton goad Obama into stepping up in Syria?
• House passes sweeping $638 billion defense bill
• In praise of Obama's ‘best bad choice' in Syria
• Lebanon's Hezbollah says to keep fighting in Syria
• Iran's voters show fervor in showdown atmosphere
• Army Medicine Doesn't Just Save Lives, it Gives Lives
• Hezbollah chief: group will keep fighting in Syria
• Gunmen kill election candidate in Iraq
• Children's Defense Fund Launches "We Can Do Better" Social Media Campaign
• Iran voters draw spirit in showdown atmosphere
• US-ARTS Summary
• Egypt Brotherhood backs Syria jihad, denounces Shi'ites
• Far from Iran election, former guerrillas lobby Washington
• Syria: US chemical weapons charges 'full of lies'
• Obama's Fourth War?
• Slip-Sliding Toward Obama’s Third War
• Iran's supreme leader pushes Iranians to vote in defiance of US
• Russia warns of Syria chemical weapons fabrication as US ups involvement
• National Journal Names Elaine Grossman Executive Editor, Senior Correspondent Global Security Newswire
• Syrian rebel chief: US aid would boost rebels
• Syria rebels say U.S. force needed to curb Assad
• Russia Says Evidence of Syrian Chemical Weapons Is 'Not Convincing'
• Judge expected to rule on accused Fort Hood gunman's request to delay trial
• Iran's leader jabs US as presidential vote begins
• Key issues facing Iran

Reaction cool to US arms plan for Syrian rebels Posted: 14 Jun 2013 03:25 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration hopes its decision to give lethal aid to Syrian rebels will prompt other nations to beef up assistance, now that the U.S. has cited evidence that the Syrian government used chemical weapons against its people. But the international reaction Friday ranged from flat-out disbelief of the U.S. intelligence assessments to calls for negotiation before more weapons pour into the vicious civil war.

Obama taps finance director as envoy to Denmark Posted: 14 Jun 2013 03:20 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Handing plum European posts to key campaign boosters, President Barack Obama on Friday nominated his former finance director to be U.S. ambassador to Denmark and tapped two major fundraisers for postings in Spain and Germany.

Judge bans Fort Hood suspect's defense strategy Posted: 14 Jun 2013 02:34 PM PDT FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) — A uniformed Army psychiatrist had no justification for gunning down U.S. troops and won't be allowed to tell jurors that he was protecting Taliban leaders in Afghanistan, a military judge ruled Friday, appearing to clear the way for the Fort Hood murder trial to begin.

Accused Fort Hood gunman cannot use defending Taliban defense Posted: 14 Jun 2013 02:34 PM PDT By Don Bolding FORT HOOD, Texas (Reuters) - Army psychiatrist Major Nidal Hasan cannot argue at trial that he was defending the Afghan Taliban when he opened fire in a 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, that killed 13 people, a military judge ruled on Friday. "There was no evidence that there was any immediate threat to others from your fellow soldiers," Colonel Tara Osborn said, denying Hasan's request to use the defense as he represents himself at his upcoming trial on 13 counts of first-degree murder. Hasan, a 42-year-old U.S. ...

Iran's battered reformers seek election rebound Posted: 14 Jun 2013 01:54 PM PDT TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Reform-minded Iranians who have faced years of crackdowns looked Friday to claw back a bit of ground in a presidential election that gave them an unexpected hero and a chance to upend a vote that once appeared solidly in the hands of Tehran's ruling clerics.

Hezbollah says it will keep fighting in Syria Posted: 14 Jun 2013 01:26 PM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah's leader vowed Friday that his militants would keep fighting in Syria "wherever needed" after the U.S. agreed to arm the rebels in the civil war, setting up a proxy fight between Iran and the West that threatens to engulf more of the Middle East.

Oil price highest since January on Syria concerns Posted: 14 Jun 2013 01:20 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — Oil rose to the highest level since January amid concerns about a possible escalation in Syria's civil war.

Egypt's Brotherhood joins Sunni front over Syria Posted: 14 Jun 2013 01:12 PM PDT By Alastair Macdonald and Maggie Fick CAIRO (Reuters) - Syria's president and his Shi'ite allies were denounced by leading Sunni Arab voices on Friday, including Egypt's ruling Muslim Brotherhood, which had reached out across Islam's sectarian divide but has now called for jihad. The Brotherhood accused Shi'ites of being at the root of sectarian conflicts throughout history and threw its weight behind holy war - just months after a high-profile rapprochement with Iran, which backs Bashar al-Assad and Lebanon's Hezbollah. ...

By arming Syria rebels, US drawn into proxy war Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:17 PM PDT President Barack Obama's decision to begin arming Syria's rebels deepens U.S. involvement in a regional proxy war that is increasingly being fought along sectarian lines, pitting Sunni against Shiite Muslims, and threatening the stability of Syria's neighbors.

U.N. rights forum condemns Hezbollah role in Syria Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:13 PM PDT By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N. Human Rights Council on Friday condemned the use of all foreign fighters in Syria's civil war, including Lebanese Hezbollah militants backing the government, but stopped short of calling for a halt to the flow of arms. The Geneva forum adopted a resolution brought by Arab and Western powers, urging all parties to refrain from contributing to a further escalation of a conflict in which at least 93,000 people had been killed by the end of April. ...

Iran votes for new president, Khamenei slams U.S. doubts Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:10 PM PDT By Yeganeh Torbati and Zahra Hosseinian DUBAI (Reuters) - Millions of Iranians voted to choose a new president on Friday, urged by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to turn out in force to discredit suggestions by arch foe the United States that the election would be a sham. The 50 million eligible voters had a choice between six candidates to replace incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Having been vetted by Iran's electoral authorities, none is seen a challenge to the Islamic Republic's 34-year-old system of clerical rule. ...

Russia: U.S. claims of Syrian chemical arms use unconvincing Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:08 PM PDT By Alexei Anishchuk MOSCOW (Reuters) - Information that the United States has given Russia about suspected use of chemical weapons by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces "does not look convincing", President Vladimir Putin's senior foreign policy adviser said on Friday. Yuri Ushakov said more U.S. military support for Assad's opponents would undermine joint efforts to bring together Syrian government and opposition representatives for peace talks. ...

Wayne White on arming Syria's rebels Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:01 PM PDT Wayne White, a former senior State Department intelligence analyst for the Middle East, is someone I had the pleasure to get to know a little bit while I was covering the Iraq war between 2003-2008. In those years I'd talk to him every couple of months or so, and was glad I did.

Did Bill Clinton goad Obama into stepping up in Syria? Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:00 PM PDT Of all the elements that fed into President Obama's decision to send small arms to the Syrian rebels, the most intriguing possibility is the sharp criticism he faced earlier this week from the last Democratic president, Bill Clinton.

House passes sweeping $638 billion defense bill Posted: 14 Jun 2013 11:51 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The House overwhelmingly passed a sweeping, $638 billion defense bill on Friday that imposes new punishments on members of the armed services found guilty of rape or sexual assault as outrage over the crisis in the military has galvanized Congress.

In praise of Obama's ‘best bad choice' in Syria Posted: 14 Jun 2013 11:30 AM PDT By David Rohde NEW YORK (Reuters) - For the last two years, there has been bitter debate in Washington over what the United States should do in Syria. Beneath the surface though, there has been broad agreement on what should not happen. President Bashar al-Assad crushing the rebels, remaining in power and handing Tehran a strategic victory that boosts its influence across the region would be a destructive setback. President Barack Obama's decision to arm Syria's rebels is a first step toward slowing Assad's advance and Tehran's rise. Fears of another Iraq are understandable. ...

Lebanon's Hezbollah says to keep fighting in Syria Posted: 14 Jun 2013 11:13 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah group vowed Friday to keep fighting in Syria "wherever needed" and said his Shiite Muslim group has made a "calculated" decision to defend the Syrian regime no matter what the consequences.

Iran's voters show fervor in showdown atmosphere Posted: 14 Jun 2013 10:42 AM PDT TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's supreme leader delivered a salty rebuke to the U.S. Friday as Iranians lined up to vote in a presidential election that has suddenly become a showdown across the Islamic Republic's political divide: hard-liners looking to cement their control and re-energized reformists backing the lone moderate.

Army Medicine Doesn't Just Save Lives, it Gives Lives Posted: 14 Jun 2013 10:03 AM PDT FORT KNOX, Ky., June 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On a May day in 2006, one Soldier's life changed forever—and nearly ended."I almost died several times," said Col. Gregory Gadson, about the minutes and first few hours after his vehicle hit an IED in Iraq, causing severe injuries to both his legs and his right arm. "But now, six years later, I am flourishing, still on active duty, with a good quality of life expectation." He was serving as commander of the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery in Iraq at the time of his injury. Today he serves as installation commander of Fort Belvoir, ...

Hezbollah chief: group will keep fighting in Syria Posted: 14 Jun 2013 09:35 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah group vowed Friday to keep fighting in Syria "wherever needed" and said his Shiite Muslim group has made a "calculated" decision to defend the Syrian regime no matter what the consequences.

Gunmen kill election candidate in Iraq Posted: 14 Jun 2013 09:18 AM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi officials say gunmen have killed a provincial election candidate in a drive-by shooting in a restive northern city.

Children's Defense Fund Launches "We Can Do Better" Social Media Campaign Posted: 14 Jun 2013 09:18 AM PDT WASHINGTON, June 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) launches a new public awareness and social media campaign, "We Can Do Better." Did you know America's military and law-enforcement agencies have four million guns and our citizens have 310 million? The new campaign created for CDF by Fallon Worldwide gives people powerful new facts like this and tools to fight for common sense gun safety laws to protect children, not guns. ...

Iran voters draw spirit in showdown atmosphere Posted: 14 Jun 2013 09:01 AM PDT TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's supreme leader delivered a salty rebuke to the U.S. Friday as Iranians lined up to vote in a presidential election that has suddenly become a showdown across the Islamic Republic's political divide: Hard-liners looking to cement their control and re-energized reformists backing the lone moderate left in the race.

US-ARTS Summary Posted: 14 Jun 2013 08:48 AM PDT Ethan Hawke to take on Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' on Broadway NEW YORK (Reuters) - Actor Ethan Hawke is returning to Broadway in a production of 'Macbeth', with performances set to begin in October at Lincoln Center, the performing arts center said. 'Macbeth' will be directed by Jack O'Brien, who helmed the acclaimed 2006-2007 production of Tom Stopper's 'The Coast of Utopia' trilogy winning a Tony award, and for which Hawke received a best actor nomination. ...

Egypt Brotherhood backs Syria jihad, denounces Shi'ites Posted: 14 Jun 2013 08:35 AM PDT By Maggie Fick CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's ruling Muslim Brotherhood blamed Shi'ites for creating religious strife throughout Islam's history, as the movement joined a call by Sunni clerics for jihad against the Syrian government and its Shi'ite allies. In a striking display of the religious enmity sweeping the region since Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah committed its forces behind Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a Brotherhood spokesman in Cairo told Reuters on Friday: "Throughout history, Sunnis have never been involved in starting a sectarian war. ...

Far from Iran election, former guerrillas lobby Washington Posted: 14 Jun 2013 08:16 AM PDT By Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For decades, an Iranian dissident group has seemed to be on the wrong side of history. Suppressed by both the Shah of Iran and then the ayatollahs who deposed him in 1979, its supporters have faced prison, death and exile, and were shunned in the United States as members of a cult-like terrorist organization. The Mujahadin-e-Khalq (MEK) former guerrilla movement began to shake off its painful past last year when the State Department took it off the official U.S. list of terrorist organizations. ...

Syria: US chemical weapons charges 'full of lies' Posted: 14 Jun 2013 07:47 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — The Syrian government on Friday dismissed U.S. charges that it used chemical weapons as "full of lies," accusing President Barack Obama of resorting to fabrications to justify his decision to arm Syrian rebels. The commander of the main rebel umbrella group welcomed the U.S. move, saying it would lift his fighters' morale.

Obama's Fourth War? Posted: 14 Jun 2013 07:18 AM PDT Syria is being compared to a lot of things — Kosovo, Rwanda, Libya, Iraq — and the Obama administration is divided over which lessons should apply. Here's what President Obama will do for Syrian rebels: give them small arms and ammunition. Here's what he's considering: a no-fly zone along the Jordanian border, and maybe anti-tank weapons. Here's what he won't do, for now: give them anti-aircraft weapons the rebel commanders have been asking for, or put American boots on the ground.

Slip-Sliding Toward Obama’s Third War Posted: 14 Jun 2013 06:54 AM PDT As he has done all along, Barack Obama is edging his way up to the precipice in Syria, and even now the president very much does not want to jump in—not into America's third major war in the past decade. Even while announcing what was billed as a major shift of policy Thursday, Obama signaled that he is unwilling to put American boots on the ground or even to be seen as taking the lead in the conflict in Syria.

Iran's supreme leader pushes Iranians to vote in defiance of US Posted: 14 Jun 2013 06:31 AM PDT Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was the first to vote in crucial presidential elections today, as he implored fellow Iranians to affirm the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic by voting – and cursed arch-foe America's dismissal of the process.

Russia warns of Syria chemical weapons fabrication as US ups involvement Posted: 14 Jun 2013 05:46 AM PDT • A daily summary of global reports on security issues.

National Journal Names Elaine Grossman Executive Editor, Senior Correspondent Global Security Newswire Posted: 14 Jun 2013 05:09 AM PDT National Journal is expanding the role of Global Security Newswire's Elaine Grossman, creating a new, more senior position for her at GSN -- executive editor and senior correspondent -- and also naming her special correspondent for National Journal. An Atlantic Media publication, GSN features groundbreaking news coverage related to weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and international security, as well as daily round-ups and analysis of some of the most important news of the day.

Syrian rebel chief: US aid would boost rebels Posted: 14 Jun 2013 04:15 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — The commander of the main Western-backed rebel group fighting in Syria said Friday he hoped that U.S. weapons will be in the hands of rebels in the near future, saying it will boost the morale of the fighters on the ground.

Syria rebels say U.S. force needed to curb Assad Posted: 14 Jun 2013 04:09 AM PDT By Khaled Yacoub Oweis AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian rebels and activists say they fear President Bashar al-Assad's troops could resort to wider use of chemical weapons, unless the United States follows up on its pledge of military support with firm and swift action. After months of equivocating, President Barack Obama's administration said on Thursday it would arm rebels, having obtained proof the Syrian government used chemical weapons against fighters trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad. ...

Russia Says Evidence of Syrian Chemical Weapons Is 'Not Convincing' Posted: 14 Jun 2013 04:09 AM PDT Officials in Moscow say they've seen the evidence the U.S. says is proof that Syria has used chemical weapons, but its not going to be enough to get the Russians to turn their back on their man. Yury Ushakov, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, said on the Friday that American sources have shown them the intelligence "but frankly we thought that it was not convincing."

Judge expected to rule on accused Fort Hood gunman's request to delay trial Posted: 14 Jun 2013 03:34 AM PDT By Jim Forsyth SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - A military judge is expected to rule on Friday on whether to grant accused Fort Hood gunman Major Nidal Hasan more time to prepare as he represents himself in a murder trial for a 2009 Texas shooting rampage that killed 13 people. The judge, Colonel Tara Osborn, could also decide whether to order Hasan's legal team to stay in place despite its objections as he leads his own defense - the latest wrinkle in a case that has seen myriad delays and legal tangles. ...

Iran's leader jabs US as presidential vote begins Posted: 14 Jun 2013 02:19 AM PDT TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's top leader gave a salty rebuke Friday to U.S. questions over the openness of the presidential contest in the Islamic Republic, telling Washington "the hell with you" after casting his ballot in a race widely criticized in the West as rigged in favor of Tehran's ruling system.

Key issues facing Iran Posted: 14 Jun 2013 01:15 AM PDT Main domestic and international issues facing Iran in its Friday presidential election:

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