| US sending missiles, drones to Iraq Posted: 26 Dec 2013 02:11 PM PST  The United States is sending Iraq dozens of missiles and surveillance drones to help combat a recent surge there in Al-Qaeda-backed violence, a State Department official said Thursday. The daily said 75 Hellfire missiles were purchased by Iraq and delivered by Washington last week. The State Department official confirmed the "recent delivery" of Hellfire missiles and an "upcoming delivery of Scan Eagles" -- reconnaissance drones that are a smaller version of the larger Predator drones that once were frequently flown over Iraq.
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| US sends Hellfire missiles to Iraq Posted: 26 Dec 2013 02:02 PM PST  BAGHDAD (AP) — The U.S. has sent Hellfire air-to-ground missiles to Iraq's air forces, which is using them in an ongoing campaign against the country's branch of al-Qaida, officials in Washington and Baghdad said Thursday.
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| U.S. expedites delivery of missiles, drones to Iraq amid violence Posted: 26 Dec 2013 01:12 PM PST  The United States has delivered dozens of Hellfire air-to-ground missiles to Iraq in recent weeks and plans shipments of Scan Eagle drones next year amid a surge in violence, U.S. officials said on Thursday, a day after at least 34 people died in Christmas day bomb attacks in Baghdad. Al Qaeda-linked militants have stepped up attacks on Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shi'ite-led government and anyone seen to be supporting it. The United Nations estimates that more than 8,000 people have been killed in attacks in Iraq this year. A U.S. official said that about 75 Hellfire missiles were delivered to Iraq last week, earlier than originally envisioned, and a shipment of 10 unmanned Scan Eagles surveillance drones is due next year.
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| Iranian dissidents say rockets hit their Baghdad camp, kill two Posted: 26 Dec 2013 01:01 PM PST A camp of Iranian dissidents in the Iraqi capital was hit by rockets on Thursday in an attack the group said killed at least two people and seriously wounded several others. A Shi'ite militia claimed responsibility for the attack on the Mujahadin-e-Khalq (MEK) camp in western Baghdad, which has repeatedly been the target of mortar and rocket attacks in recent months. The group, which calls for the overthrow of Iran's clerical leaders and fought on Iraq's side during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, is no longer welcome in Iraq under the Shi'ite-led government that came to power after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. It accused the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of being behind the attack in an attempt to win support from Iran's government ahead of elections next year. |
| Iraqi officials: US sending Hellfire missiles Posted: 26 Dec 2013 08:22 AM PST BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi officials say the U.S. has sent missiles to the country's air forces to help in their battle against al-Qaida. |
| Pope denounces discrimination, violence against Christians Posted: 26 Dec 2013 05:14 AM PST  Pope Francis on Thursday denounced discrimination against Christians, including in countries where religious freedom is in theory guaranteed by law. The 77-year-old Argentine pope asked the crowd for a moment of silent prayer for "Christians who are unjustly accused and are subjected to every type of violence". Francis, celebrating his first Christmas season as pope, said "limitations and discrimination" against Christians was taking place not only in countries that do not grant full religious freedom but also where "on paper, freedom and human rights are protected". This year there have been a number of incidents of intolerance and attacks against minority Christians in Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Sudan, Nigeria and other countries where their rights are guaranteed by law.
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| Pope prays for Christians persecuted for faith Posted: 26 Dec 2013 04:15 AM PST VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is urging people to speak out against persecution of Christians, whom he likened to the Church's first martyrs. |
| If U.S. troops leave Afghanistan, much civilian aid may go too Posted: 26 Dec 2013 02:51 AM PST  By Missy Ryan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For years, U.S. officials have pointed to the improvements in the everyday lives of Afghans made possible by billions of dollars in aid from the United States and elsewhere. In Afghanistan, people now live 20 years longer on average than under Taliban rule, they say; The specter of an abrupt departure of all U.S. and NATO soldiers from Afghanistan at the end of next year now imperils these gains, they warn, and endangers progress on the massive development challenges that remain. Unless the Obama administration can persuade Afghan President Hamid Karzai to sign a security pact that would permit a modest U.S. force to remain beyond 2014, the United States is almost certain to drastically scale back aid to Afghanistan.
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| Syria's Sewing Circles Posted: 26 Dec 2013 02:45 AM PST  Displaced by war, a group of Syrian refugees have created an innovative work collective to harness their sewing skills and create much-needed jobs.
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| Surviving Life in a Sex Commune Posted: 26 Dec 2013 02:45 AM PST  Three decades after growing up in a European free-love commune, Paul-Julien Robert plunged into the film archives to make an extraordinary documentary.
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| In Christmas tradition, Obama honors US military Posted: 26 Dec 2013 12:56 AM PST  KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (AP) — President Barack Obama stepped away from the seclusion of his quiet Hawaii vacation for what's become a Christmas tradition: paying tribute to U.S. troops and the sacrifices their families make during the holidays and throughout the year.
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| In Christmas tradition, Obama thanks US troops Posted: 25 Dec 2013 07:59 PM PST KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (AP) — President Barack Obama stepped away from the seclusion of his quiet Hawaii vacation for what's become a Christmas tradition: paying tribute to U.S. troops and the sacrifices their families make during the holidays and throughout the year. |
| Obama thanks troops for service on Christmas visit to base Posted: 25 Dec 2013 07:21 PM PST  By Ros Krasny KANOEHE BAY, Hawaii (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama and wife Michelle thanked U.S. troops for their service on Wednesday during a Christmas Day visit to Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kanoehe Bay. The president addressed about 580 active duty service men and women for about three minutes, wishing them a "Mele Kalikimaka," and then spent time talking to troops individually and posing for photographs. Obama told the troops assembled in the Anderson Hall dining facility that he had spent part of Christmas Eve speaking with 10 members of the military, stationed in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. The White House said earlier the service members wounded on Saturday during an aborted rescue mission in South Sudan had been among those Obama had called.
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