Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Syrian opposition demands a future without Assad
• US sues KBR in connection with Army work in Iraq
• US developing plans to train Iraqis in Jordan
• IRS, Benghazi and Accountability
• AP sources: Congress clears way for Iraq arms sale
• U.S. officials say Russia not sharing Olympic threat specifics
• U.S. sues KBR for defrauding its army in Iraq
• UN bids to bring Syria warring sides together
• Syrian opposition looks to future without Assad
• More Americans Think Government is Too Big and Powerful
• U.S. says it is suing KBR for defrauding its army in Iraq
• Outrage after Ukraine policeman filmed abusing naked protester
• Al-Qaida chief urges end to Syria rebel infighting
• Syrian Kurds protest 'exclusion' from Geneva II talks
• 1,400 dead since Syria rebel-jihadist clashes began
• Eyeing investment, Iran shows off its gas sites
• Iraq hangs 11 convicted of terrorism
• Iran president pledges cooperation, trade ties
• Al-Qaida chief: Syria rebels must end infighting
• Veterans $74K Ad Buy Highlights Budget Failures and Military Pension Cuts; Thanks Rep. Coffman
• Veterans $665K Ad Buy Highlights Budget Failures and Military Pension Cuts; Thanks Rep. Cotton
• Veterans $770K Ad Buy Highlights Budget Failures and Military Pension Cuts; Thanks Rep. Cotton and Rep. Coffman
• Rights group: Egypt coup stuns democracy trend
• Al Qaeda chief Zawahri tells Islamists in Syria to unite: audio
• Iran 's heavyweight absence hangs over Syria talks
• This Former Governor Wants Hillary’s Spot in 2016
• The Pope’s Views on Inequality Test Obama’s Mettle
• Al-Qaida chief to rebels in Syria: End infighting
• UN fund pays $1.03B in Kuwait compensation
• Obama, Iraqi Sunni leader talk security, terrorism
• Swelling ranks of European fighters in Syria sparks concern
• Iraq executes 11 more terrorism convicts
• Iraq shelling kills four, US pushes 'political' steps

Syrian opposition demands a future without Assad Posted: 23 Jan 2014 04:10 PM PST By 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 By 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 UN 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 American'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 (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 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 Syrian 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 Nearly 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 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 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 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 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 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 So 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 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 The 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 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 Shelling 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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