2014年1月23日星期四

Yahoo! News: Iraq

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Yahoo! News: Iraq


Syrian opposition demands a future without Assad

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 04:10 PM PST

Syrian opposition leader Jarba answers questions during a news conference in GenevaBy John Irish and Mariam Karouny GENEVA (Reuters) - Syria's opposition leader laid out his demands for talks on ending his country's civil war, calling for the creation of a transitional government that does not include President Bashar al-Assad. Ahmed Jarba told reporters in Geneva, where rival sides in the Syrian conflict are on Friday due to begin several days of negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations and major world powers, that he was looking to a future without Assad. In a defiant speech, Jarba said the international community now realized that Assad cannot stay in power. Assad and all of his regime is in the past now.


US sues KBR in connection with Army work in Iraq

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 04:08 PM PST

The federal government is suing Kellogg, Brown & Root Services Inc., charging that the defense contractor submitted false claims and took kickbacks in connection to a U.S. Army contract in Iraq. The government ...

US developing plans to train Iraqis in Jordan

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 03:11 PM PST

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials are developing plans to use a small number of U.S. special operations forces in Jordan to train Iraqi troops as part of a broader effort to help Iraq fight the growing al-Qaida threat within its borders.

IRS, Benghazi and Accountability

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 02:50 PM PST

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani praised New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for holding "people accountable who were responsible" for the "stupid" bridge lane closings -- adding that's something President Barack Obama "failed to do with Benghazi" and "failed to do with the IRS."

AP sources: Congress clears way for Iraq arms sale

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 02:45 PM PST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has cleared the way for the United States to provide Iraq with new military equipment to aid its battle against al-Qaida.

U.S. officials say Russia not sharing Olympic threat specifics

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:42 PM PST

Worker prepares a bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track for a competition at the Sliding Center "Sanki", near Krasnaya Polyana near SochiBy Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia is not cooperating enough in sharing intelligence with the United States about possible threats by militants to attack participants at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, U.S. security officials say. "I'd say that Russia has not been forthcoming in sharing specific threat information," said a senior U.S. official. A second U.S. official said the United States believes Russia has established effective "ironclad" security measures in and around Sochi, but affirmed that Washington is concerned about Moscow's reluctance to share threat information.


U.S. sues KBR for defrauding its army in Iraq

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:08 PM PST

The U.S. government on Thursday accused defense contractor KBR Inc of defrauding its military in Iraq by giving inflated deals to two Kuwait-based subcontractors who in turn paid kickbacks of as much as $1 million to KBR employees. In a statement, the Justice Department said it had filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois against Houston-based KBR and subcontractors La Nouvelle General Trading & Contracting Co and First Kuwaiti Trading Co. KBR was a key government contractor for the U.S. Army after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, providing transportation, maintenance, food, shelter and facilities management. The Justice Department alleged that KBR took kickbacks from subcontractors La Nouvelle and First Kuwaiti and then sought inflated or undue reimbursement from the U.S. government for goods and services.

UN bids to bring Syria warring sides together

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:45 PM PST

A Syrian child clears debris from a street in the northeastern city of Deir Ezzor on January 23, 2014UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi met Syria's warring sides behind closed doors Thursday to lay the groundwork for direct talks after the first day of a peace conference ended in bitter exchanges. Brahimi met separately with delegations from Syria's opposition and then President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Geneva before full talks are due to resume on Friday.


Syrian opposition looks to future without Assad

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:35 PM PST

By Dominic Evans and Samia Nakhoul GENEVA (Reuters) - Syria's opposition leader on Thursday laid out his demands for talks on ending the country's civil war, calling for the creation of a transitional government that does not include President Bashar al-Assad. Ahmed Jarba told reporters in Geneva, where rival sides in the Syrian conflict are due to hold several days of negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations and major world powers, that he was looking to a future without Assad. In a defiant speech, Jarba said the international community had now realized that Assad cannot stay in power.

More Americans Think Government is Too Big and Powerful

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:14 PM PST

More Americans Think Government is Too Big and PowerfulAmerican's disapproval of the federal government has hit an all time high—with nearly two thirds saying it has become too big and powerful. A new Gallup Poll released this week shows 65 percent are dissatisfied with government—up 5 points since last year and nearly double from where it was a decade ago. During the George W. Bush administration, more than 70 percent of Republicans were satisfied with government, according to the poll, which notes that satisfaction began to dwindle during his final year. "This may have reflected mounting public dissatisfaction with the Iraq war, coupled with the Democratic takeover of Congress after the 2006 midterm elections," said Gallup's Justin McCarthy.


U.S. says it is suing KBR for defrauding its army in Iraq

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 11:57 AM PST

A US flag flies outside the U.S. Department of Justice building in Washington(Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday it had sued defense contractor KBR Inc and two Kuwait-based subcontractors for defrauding the U.S. Army while providing logistical support in Iraq. In a statement, the Justice Department said it had filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois against Houston-based KBR and subcontractors La Nouvelle General Trading & Contracting Co and First Kuwaiti Trading Co. (Reporting by David Ingram)


Outrage after Ukraine policeman filmed abusing naked protester

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 11:49 AM PST

A member of Ukraine's elite Berkut riot police force assaulted and humiliated a naked protester after he was detained in freezing cold temperatures in Kiev, according to a video posted Thursday. The Ukrainian interior ministry swiftly apologised for the horrific incident, which recalled notorious prisoner abuse scandals like that at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The man had apparently been arrested during the clashes between police and protesters that have rocked Kiev over the last days. The video, which was posted on YouTube and was rapidly broadcast by Ukrainian opposition channels, shows the arrested protester completely naked except for his socks and being roughly pushed into a police bus.

Al-Qaida chief urges end to Syria rebel infighting

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 10:55 AM PST

FILE - This July 27, 2011, file image from a web posting by al-Qaida's media arm, as-Sahab, provided by IntelCenter, shows al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri. Israel on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, said it had foiled an "advanced" al-Qaida plan to carry out a suicide bombing on the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and bomb other targets, in what analysts said was the first time the global terror network's leadership has been directly involved in plotting an attack inside Israel. The Shin Bet intelligence agency said it had arrested three Palestinians who allegedly plotted bombings, shootings, kidnappings and other attacks, and that the men were recruited by an operative based in the Gaza Strip who worked for al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri. (AP Photo/IntelCenter, File)BEIRUT (AP) — The head of al-Qaida called on rival Islamic groups in Syria to end nearly three weeks of deadly infighting, telling them to set aside a bitter dispute that "has bloodied our hearts" and instead focus on battling President Bashar Assad's forces.


Syrian Kurds protest 'exclusion' from Geneva II talks

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 10:52 AM PST

The silhouette of an armed fighter of the Committees for the Protection of the Kurdish People (YPG) along the front line on October 16, 2013 in the Syrian town of Ras al-AinSyrian Kurds protested Thursday their exclusion from UN-brokered peace talks in Switzerland, and vowed to forge ahead with their own freedom drive in territories they control. "Some forces are trying to exclude us from the solutions they are looking for, and they're not representing anybody," said Saleh Muslim, leader of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD). "We will continue our struggle until we get our democratic rights," he told reporters in Geneva, where the Syrian government and opposition were to hold separate meetings with the UN mediator on Friday, two days after angry exchanges at the so-called Geneva II international peace conference in the Swiss city of Montreux. Speaking on behalf of the Syrian Kurdish Supreme Council -- made up of a range of groups from the country's Kurdish minority -- Muslim said its efforts to join the talks had failed.


1,400 dead since Syria rebel-jihadist clashes began

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 10:38 AM PST

A member of jihadist group Al-Nusra Front stands in a street of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on January 11, 2014Nearly 1,400 people have been killed in Syria since clashes between rebels and the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) erupted this month, a monitor said Thursday. "The number of people killed in fighting between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and Islamist and rebel forces since January 3 has risen to 1,395," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The all-out fight has seen ISIL lose territory in Idlib and Aleppo provinces, but it has consolidated its hold over Raqa city, the only provincial capital to be pried from regime control. Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, in an audio message posted online on Thursday, urged all jihadist forces "to immediately halt fighting between brothers."


Eyeing investment, Iran shows off its gas sites

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 08:33 AM PST

This picture taken on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, shows a partially constructed gas refinery at the South Pars gas field on the northern coast of Persian Gulf in Asalouyeh, Iran. With a six-month deal in place easing sanctions as Iran negotiates a final deal with world powers, the government hopes to draw international investment to the natural gas field to spur its production. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)ASALOUYEH, Iran (AP) — Weathered Iranian workers toil in a labyrinth of snaking pipelines, storage tanks and workshops as gas flares burn brightly in the sky off the northern coast of the Persian Gulf. Dozens of oil tankers idle in the distance.


Iraq hangs 11 convicted of terrorism

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 08:32 AM PST

Iraq hanged 11 people convicted of terrorist offences on Thursday, the justice ministry said, pursuing what a U.N. official has criticized as a "conveyor-belt of executions". All those executed were Iraqi nationals, justice ministry spokesman Haider al-Saadi said in a text message to Reuters, bringing the total number of people executed in less than one week to 37. Violence in Iraq has surged in the past year to its highest levels since the Sunni-Shi'ite sectarian bloodshed that peaked in 2006 and 2007, when tens of thousands of people were killed. Iraq hanged at least 151 people in 2013, up from 129 in 2012 and 68 in 2011, New York-based Human Rights Watch said in its annual world report published on Tuesday.

Iran president pledges cooperation, trade ties

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 05:52 AM PST

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, speaks during a session of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014. Leaders gathered in the Swiss ski resort of Davos have made it a top priority to push to reshape the global economy and cut global warming by shifting to cleaner energy sources. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Thursday his country is ready to do business and honor a deal to curb its nuclear program, in a speech aimed at persuading world leaders of Tehran's willingness to engage the global community.


Al-Qaida chief: Syria rebels must end infighting

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 05:21 AM PST

FILE - This July 27, 2011, file image from a web posting by al-Qaida's media arm, as-Sahab, provided by IntelCenter, shows al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri. Israel on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, said it had foiled an "advanced" al-Qaida plan to carry out a suicide bombing on the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and bomb other targets, in what analysts said was the first time the global terror network's leadership has been directly involved in plotting an attack inside Israel. The Shin Bet intelligence agency said it had arrested three Palestinians who allegedly plotted bombings, shootings, kidnappings and other attacks, and that the men were recruited by an operative based in the Gaza Strip who worked for al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri. (AP Photo/IntelCenter, File)BEIRUT (AP) — The leader of al-Qaida called on rival Islamic groups in Syria to end their infighting and focus on battling President Bashar Assad's forces in a recording released Thursday.


Veterans $74K Ad Buy Highlights Budget Failures and Military Pension Cuts; Thanks Rep. Coffman

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 05:15 AM PST

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new ad produced by Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) blasts Congress for failing to address the nation's dangerous $17 trillion debt and instead cutting pensions for military retirees. The 30-second ad—totaling $74,520 and airing regionally on Radio in Denver, Colorado for three weeks—is entitled "Priorities" and praises Rep. Mike Coffman (CO-6) for his principled stand in voting against the budget. Rep. Coffman, an Army veteran of the war in Iraq, deserves praise for opposing a deal that neglects meaningful spending reforms and instead cuts pensions for military retirees. "While Washington politicians are patting themselves on the back for completing and passing a budget for the first time in five years, there's little in this massive spending package for Americans to celebrate," said Pete Hegseth, CEO of CVA.

Veterans $665K Ad Buy Highlights Budget Failures and Military Pension Cuts; Thanks Rep. Cotton

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 05:15 AM PST

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new ad produced by Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) blasts Congress for failing to address the nation's dangerous $17 trillion debt and instead cutting pensions for military retirees. The 30-second ad—totaling $665,616 and running on statewide TV and radio in Arkansas for three weeks—is entitled "Priorities" and praises Rep. Tom Cotton (AR-4) for his principled stand in voting against the budget. Rep. Cotton, an Army veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, deserves praise for opposing a deal that neglects meaningful spending reforms and instead cuts pensions for military retirees. "While Washington politicians are patting themselves on the back for completing and passing a budget for the first time in five years, there's little in this massive spending package for Americans to celebrate," said Pete Hegseth, CEO of CVA.

Veterans $770K Ad Buy Highlights Budget Failures and Military Pension Cuts; Thanks Rep. Cotton and Rep. Coffman

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 05:15 AM PST

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New ads produced by Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) blasts Congress for failing to address the nation's dangerous $17 trillion debt and instead cutting pensions for military retirees. Rep. Cotton, an Army veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, and Rep. Coffman, an Army veteran of Iraq, both deserve praise for opposing a deal that neglects meaningful spending reforms and instead cuts pensions for military retirees. "While Washington politicians are patting themselves on the back for completing and passing a budget for the first time in five years, there's little in this massive spending package for Americans to celebrate," said Pete Hegseth, CEO of CVA. "Washington is driving us down the path of fiscal ruin by increasing our debt burden and failing to make substantive spending reforms."

Rights group: Egypt coup stuns democracy trend

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 05:06 AM PST

FILE - In this April 19, 2013 file photo, a supporter of Venezuela's newly sworn-in President Nicolas Maduro holds a picture of late President Hugo Chavez during Maduro's inauguration in Caracas, Venezuela. Civil rights and liberties around the world declined for the eighth straight year, dragged down by the Egyptian military's coup, Venezuela clinging to authoritarianism and Russia's crackdown on opposition groups, according to a pro-democracy watchdog group. (AP Photo/Gil Montano, File)NEW YORK (AP) — Civil rights and liberties around the world declined for the eighth straight year, dragged down by the Egyptian military's coup, Venezuela clinging to authoritarianism and Russian President Vladimir Putin's crackdown on opposition groups, according to a pro-democracy watchdog group.


Al Qaeda chief Zawahri tells Islamists in Syria to unite: audio

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 04:05 AM PST

BEIRUT/ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri called on rebels in Syria to stop fighting each other as a faction linked to his group pushed rival insurgents from a northern town on Thursday. The small but powerful al Qaeda-linked Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has been caught up in clashes with other insurgents in Syria in recent weeks, often triggered by disputes over authority and territory. About 1,400 people have died in the infighting over the last 20 days, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday. The internecine fighting is the worst to break out during the nearly three-year revolt against President Bashar al-Assad and has further divided an already fractured opposition.

Iran 's heavyweight absence hangs over Syria talks

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 03:26 AM PST

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, gestures as speaks during a session of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014. Leaders gathered in the Swiss ski resort of Davos have made it a top priority to push to reshape the global economy and cut global warming by shifting to cleaner energy sources. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)MONTREUX, Switzerland (AP) — It's the regional heavyweight that few want at the table, but without it any attempt to end the Syria war may be futile. Iran's backing is crucial for President Bashar Assad's hold on power — and for the Iranians, Syria is key to their aspirations of regional power.


This Former Governor Wants Hillary’s Spot in 2016

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 03:15 AM PST

This Former Governor Wants Hillary's Spot in 2016So who was that Lilliputian desperately clinging to the heel of Hillary Rodham Clinton's shoe in an illustration on the cover of this week's Time Magazine? Elizabeth Warren (MA), Kirsten Gillibrand and Amy Klobuchar (MN), three bright lights in the Democratic Party with enthusiastic followings, haven taken themselves out of the race. Andrew Cuomo of New York, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and Jerry Brown of California have signaled that a run for president in two years is probably not in the cards for them. That leaves just a few others, including Vice President Joe Biden, 71, who is keeping the door open to the possibility of one last hurrah, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, a popular two-term moderate, and Brian Schweitzer, a former Montana governor.


The Pope’s Views on Inequality Test Obama’s Mettle

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 03:00 AM PST

This week, Barack Obama announced that he would make a historic visit to the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis. The last state visit from a US president took place nearly six years ago, when George W. Bush met with now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in June just as his plan to boost troop strength in Iraq started bearing fruit in a war that Pope John Paul II had opposed. Every President since Richard Nixon has made the trip to Vatican City, including Obama in July 2009. His poll numbers in his second term don't show any impact of that close affiliation, but Bush and Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II had clear affinity on the right to life issue.

Al-Qaida chief to rebels in Syria: End infighting

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 02:45 AM PST

FILE - This July 27, 2011, file image from a web posting by al-Qaida's media arm, as-Sahab, provided by IntelCenter, shows al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri. Israel on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, said it had foiled an "advanced" al-Qaida plan to carry out a suicide bombing on the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and bomb other targets, in what analysts said was the first time the global terror network's leadership has been directly involved in plotting an attack inside Israel. The Shin Bet intelligence agency said it had arrested three Palestinians who allegedly plotted bombings, shootings, kidnappings and other attacks, and that the men were recruited by an operative based in the Gaza Strip who worked for al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri. (AP Photo/IntelCenter, File)BEIRUT (AP) — Al-Qaida's leader has called on rival Islamic groups in Syria to end their infighting and focus their energies on battling against President Bashar Assad's forces.


UN fund pays $1.03B in Kuwait compensation

Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:50 AM PST

GENEVA (AP) — A U.N. panel that settles claims for damages resulting from Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait has paid out another $1.03 billion — bringing the total so far to $44.5 billion.

Obama, Iraqi Sunni leader talk security, terrorism

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 04:46 PM PST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and Iraq's parliamentary speaker have discussed formally integrating Sunni tribal militias into Iraqi government forces that are fighting al-Qaida-linked militants.

Swelling ranks of European fighters in Syria sparks concern

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 04:13 PM PST

A member of jihadist group Al-Nusra Front stands in a street of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on January 11, 2014The increasing numbers of young jihadists heading to fight in Syria has sparked fear in Britain, France and Belgium that they could pose a major security threat upon return home as battle-hardened veterans. Scores of Europeans have already lost their lives in the bloody three-year-old conflict, which shows no sign of abating, and more and more are leaving for Syria, officials and experts told AFP. French Interior Minister Manuel Valls recently said there were 250 nationals fighting in Syria and at least 21 had died. According to German intelligence, more than 270 Germans have left for Syria and at least 15 have died.


Iraq executes 11 more terrorism convicts

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 04:12 PM PST

Iraq executed at least 169 people last year, according to an AFP tally based on statements from the justice ministry and reports from officialsIraq executed 11 men convicted of charges related to terrorism on Thursday, the justice ministry said, just days after another mass execution of 26 convicts. "The ministry executed 11 people today, after they were convicted of terrorism charges," it said in a statement. Executions in Iraq are typically carried out by hanging, and large numbers are typically announced at once by the justice ministry. Iraq has faced widespread criticism from diplomats, analysts and human rights groups who say that due to a problematic justice system, those being executed are not necessarily guilty of the crimes for which they were sentenced to die.


Iraq shelling kills four, US pushes 'political' steps

Posted: 22 Jan 2014 04:07 PM PST

Iraqi men inspect the damage following shelling as clashes between Iraqi security forces and the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) continue in Fallujah on January 22, 2014Shelling in Fallujah, a town near Baghdad held by anti-government fighters, killed four people, officials said Thursday, as Barack Obama pressed "political measures" along with security operations to fight militancy. But with an election looming in April, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has taken a hard line and trumpeted assaults on militants, with security forces announcing the killing of more than 50 fighters in recent air strikes amid ongoing efforts to retake areas of another city partly out of government control. Several neighbourhoods in south Fallujah were hit by shelling late Wednesday, residents of the city told AFP, with four people killed and 18 others wounded, according to Dr. Ahmed Shami from the city's main hospital.


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