2013年9月7日星期六

Yahoo! News: Iraq

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Yahoo! News: Iraq


Vatican: 100,000 attend Syria peace vigil

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 04:37 PM PDT

People hold Syrian flags and signs against a possible attack to Syria, prior to the start of a vigil for peace attended by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Tens of thousands of people have answered Pope Francis' call and massed in St. Peter's Square for a 4-hour-long prayer vigil for peace in Syria. It was believed to be one of the first, and certainly the largest popular rally in the West against U.S.-led plans to strike Syria following the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack near Damascus. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)VATICAN CITY (AP) — Tens of thousands of people filled St. Peter's Square for a four-hour Syria peace vigil late Saturday, answering Pope Francis' call for a grassroots cry for peace that was echoed by Christians and non-Christians alike in Syria and in vigils around the world.


Obama appeals for backing to hit Syria, Europeans urge delay

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 04:33 PM PDT

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference at the G20 in St. PetersburgBy Roberta Rampton and Justyna Pawlak WASHINGTON/VILNIUS (Reuters) - President Barack Obama urged Americans on Saturday to back him in launching an attack on Syria, as diplomatic pressure grew on the United States to wait for a U.N. report expected in a week's time before beginning military action. Fresh from a European trip in which he failed to forge a consensus among global leaders, Obama plunged into a campaign on radio and television to try to convince a skeptical U.S. public and Congress of the need for a military strike on Syria. In Europe, pressure increased for delay. ...


Obama appeals to country to back U.S. military force in Syria

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 03:16 PM PDT

U.S. President Obama speaks to the media during a news conference at the G20 summit in St.PetersburgBy Roberta Rampton and Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama appealed on Saturday to a dubious American public to back his bid to use military force in Syria while supporters scrambled to persuade lawmakers to authorize the move. Fresh from a European trip in which he failed to forge a consensus among global leaders on the need for a military strike on Syria, Obama told his war-weary country that America needs to use force to deter future chemical weapons attacks there. ...


'Poetic' Italian documentary takes top honor at Venice filmfest

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 01:38 PM PDT

Rosi poses with his cast during a red carpet for the movie "Sacro Gra" at the 70th Venice Film FestivalBy Michael Roddy VENICE (Reuters) - The Italian film "Sacro GRA" about people living along the ring road around Rome was chosen as the first documentary ever to win the Golden Lion for best film on Saturday at the 70th Venice Film Festival. It also was the first Italian production in 15 years to win the top prize at the world's oldest film festival. ...


Pope leads world prayers for peace in Syria

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 12:38 PM PDT

Pope Francis presides over a mass vigil for prayer for peace in Syria at the Vatican, on September 7, 2013Pope Francis called for reconciliation in Syria on Saturday as he led a mass peace vigil on St Peter's square and millions of Catholics worldwide were joined by other faiths in a day of fasting and prayer.


Tens of thousands in Syria peace vigil at Vatican

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 11:35 AM PDT

People hold Syrian flags and signs against a possible attack to Syria, prior to the start of a vigil for peace attended by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Tens of thousands of people have answered Pope Francis' call and massed in St. Peter's Square for a 4-hour-long prayer vigil for peace in Syria. It was believed to be one of the first, and certainly the largest popular rally in the West against U.S.-led plans to strike Syria following the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack near Damascus. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)VATICAN CITY (AP) — Tens of thousands of people answered Pope Francis' call for a four-hour Syria peace vigil in St. Peter's Square late Saturday, joining Christians and non-Christians alike in similar vigils around the world.


Syria, budget and debt top congressional agenda

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 11:24 AM PDT

The Capitol is seen in Washington, early Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, as Congress considers President Barack Obama's request for authorization of military intervention in Syria in response to last month's alleged sarin gas attack in the Syrian civil war. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress returns to work facing a momentous vote on whether the United States should attack Syria, a question that overshadows a crowded and contentious agenda of budget fights, health care, farm policy and possible limits on the government's surveillance of millions of Americans.


Sweden, Poland warn solving Syria crisis will take 'decades'

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 11:11 AM PDT

Sweden's Foreign minister Carl Bildt answers journalists' questions on July 22, 2013 in BrusselsSweden and Poland warned against knee-jerk reactions to the crisis in Syria on Saturday, saying that any international effort to solve it will require a commitment "for decades to come".


Four dead in attacks north of Baghdad

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 10:50 AM PDT

Iraqis gather at the site of a car bomb in Al-Nasr neighbourhood in the northern Iraqi town of Kirkuk, September 5, 2013Attacks north of Baghdad, including a suicide bombing at a government building and the detonation of a booby-trapped corpse, killed four people Saturday, part of a months-long surge in violence.


Anguish over Syria weighs heavily in Congress

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 10:27 AM PDT

President Barack Obama meets with members of Congress on Syria at the White House on September 3, 2013Authorization for President Barack Obama to strike Syria would likely fail in Congress if the vote were today, as skeptical lawmakers consider heeding war-weary constituents who firmly oppose military intervention.


Democrats face divide over a strike on Syria

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 09:41 AM PDT

FILE - This this Oct. 29, 2010, file photo shows Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, in Dubuque, Iowa. President Barack Obama's pursuit of a military strike in Syria has put congressional Democrats and party leaders around the country in a tough spot. "We've been to this dance before and we saw what happened in Iraq," said Braley, who says he is leaning against supporting the resolution. "And I have a solemn responsibility to understand what the risks are before I vote to authorize the use of force. What's the risk to the U.S. and the president's standing in the world if the Congress votes against the resolution?" (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's pursuit of a military strike in Syria has put congressional Democrats and party leaders around the country in a tough spot.


Iraq orders Iran exiles to leave camp 'without delay'

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 08:35 AM PDT

An Iraqi soldier inspects the camp for members of the People's Mujahedeen Organisation of Iran, on February 17, 2012Iraq has ordered Iranian exiles to move from a camp where 52 of their members were killed a week ago "without delay", a government official and the UN said Saturday.


The anti-war tea party rises, but is it legitimate?

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 08:17 AM PDT

As President Obama moves forward with plans to punish the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for using chemical weapons, the battle for war resolve in Congress is coming down to the American grassroots – in particular, a tea party movement emerging as arguably the country's strongest anti-war voice.

UN: Iraq to move last exile camp residents out

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 08:06 AM PDT

FILE - In this file photograph taken on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012, Iraqi security forces enter through the main gate of Camp Ashraf in Khalis, north of Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi authorities are planning to relocate the remaining residents of the camp housing dozens of Iranian exiles where 52 people were killed last week, the United Nations mission to the country said Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, File)BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi authorities are planning to relocate the remaining residents of a camp housing dozens of Iranian exiles where 52 people were killed last week, the United Nations mission to the country said Saturday.


Rafsanjani denies comments on Syria chemical arms use

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 08:05 AM PDT

Former Iranian president aAkbar Hashemi Rafsanjani delivers a speech in Tehran, on March 8, 2011Former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani rejected Saturday remarks attributed to him in which he allegedly criticised Tehran's chief regional ally, Syria, for using chemical weapons against civilians.


UK, US films tipped to win Venice festival

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 08:04 AM PDT

Stephen Frears and Judi Dench arrive for the screening of "Philomena" at the 70th Venice Film Festival, August 31, 2013Critics have tipped movies from Britain, Japan and the United States to win Venice's Golden Lion prize this year, due to be announced at the world's oldest film festival on Saturday.


Obama tells nation that Syria is 'not another Iraq or Afghanistan'

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 05:37 AM PDT

U.S. President Obama speaks to the media during a news conference at the G20 summit in St.PetersburgBy Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama told his war-weary country on Saturday that America needs to use limited military force in Syria to deter future chemical weapons attacks, but said he did not want to enter into another costly and protracted war. "This would not be another Iraq or Afghanistan," Obama said in his weekly radio and internet address, previewing arguments he will make in a nationally televised address on Tuesday. ...


A brief history of chemical warfare

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 04:00 AM PDT

American soldiers during World War I stage a photo illustrating the ill effects of forgetting one's gas mask.How long have poisonous weapons been used?For more than 2,000 years. As early as 600 B.C., the Athenians poisoned the wells of the Spartans, who later tried lobbing burning sulfur pitch over the walls of Athens, hoping to fill the city with toxic smoke. Genghis Khan used that same trick, catapulting burning sulfur pitch during his siege of fortified cities around A.D. 1200. Over the centuries, various armies put poisons on arrows and in bullets to make them more lethal. ...


Direct link between Assad and gas attack elusive for U.S.

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 02:16 AM PDT

A U.N. chemical weapons expert holds a plastic bag containing samples from one of the sites of an alleged chemical weapons attack in Ain TarmaBy Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With the United States threatening to attack Syria, U.S. and allied intelligence services are still trying to work out who ordered the poison gas attack on rebel-held neighborhoods near Damascus. No direct link to President Bashar al-Assad or his inner circle has been publicly demonstrated, and some U.S. sources say intelligence experts are not sure whether the Syrian leader knew of the attack before it was launched or was only informed about it afterward. While U.S. ...


Iran releases Indian oil tanker detained in August

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 01:31 AM PDT

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Iran has released an Indian crude oil tanker that was detained last month over pollution concerns, an Indian shipping official said on Saturday, ending a dispute between the countries that have historically had strong trade ties. The tanker, Desh Shanti, carrying 140,000 tons of Iraqi crude, sailed on Friday night India time, said Captain Sunil Thapar, the director of bulk carriers and tankers at state-run Shipping Corp of India. ...

ARMCHAIR HAWKS SHOULD HAVE NO ROLE IN SYRIA DEBATE

Posted: 06 Sep 2013 10:00 PM PDT

To listen to Donald Rumsfeld chastise President Obama over Syria is to listen to a man stunning in his chutzpah and pathological in his arrogance. He has never taken responsibility for the disastrous invasion of Iraq, nor has he ever acknowledged its horrors.Last week, Rumsfeld told CNN that, while the Iraq war "unquestionably has affected some people's judgment and attitude and impressions," the unpopularity of Obama's proposed Syrian intervention lies squarely at the president's feet. Obama should have provided "stronger leadership and greater clarity," according to Rumsfeld.What gall. ...

THE QUESTIONS ACCUMULATE

Posted: 06 Sep 2013 10:00 PM PDT

In reflecting on another military adventure in the Middle East, Winston Churchill wrote of the ill-fated Battle of Gallipoli of 1915-1916, "The terrible ifs accumulate."Barack Obama's appeal to Congress for support for his military initiative in Syria prompts a slightly different assertion: The stubborn questions accumulate. ...

Today in History

Posted: 06 Sep 2013 09:01 PM PDT

Today is Saturday, Sept. 7, the 250th day of 2013. There are 115 days left in the year.

War-Weary Nation? Why Fewer Want Action in Syria Than in Past Conflicts

Posted: 06 Sep 2013 06:05 PM PDT

War-Weary Nation? Why Fewer Want Action in Syria Than in Past ConflictsAs the United States mulls military action in Syria, public support for such a strike may be the lowest of any American intervention in the last two decades, a new Gallup poll found.


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