Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Montana governor appoints Democrat to replace Baucus in U.S. Senate
• As scandals swell, U.S. defense chief to install ethics officer
• Montana lieutenant governor to replace Max Baucus
• Iraq pension law draws ire over MP exemption
• Lt. Gov. John Walsh replaces US Sen. Max Baucus
• AJC: Prudent Senate Call to Retain Iraqi Jewish Archive in U.S
• Besieged Homs a key flashpoint in Syria war
• A wave of college grads found US jobs in January
• Attacks kill 7 in Iraq, including MP candidate
• Violence risks turning Egypt to jihadi front
• Among Iran's 'True Believers,' an enduring faith in martyrdom
• AP names news director for east-central Europe
• Four Non-Corvette-Related Reasons Joe Biden Might Not Want to Run in 2016
• Lawmaker: ‘Very little’ Obama work so far to rewrite ‘war on terrorism’ law
• Bombing, shooting kill 6 people in Iraq

Montana governor appoints Democrat to replace Baucus in U.S. Senate Posted: 07 Feb 2014 03:34 PM PST By Dan Boyce HELENA, Montana (Reuters) - Montana's lieutenant governor, John Walsh, was named on Friday to serve out the remaining term of retiring U.S. Senator Max Baucus, a fellow Democrat and longtime incumbent who is vacating his seat early to become ambassador to China. Walsh's appointment by Montana's Democratic governor, Steve Bullock, does not alter the balance of power in the Democratic-controlled Senate. "I wanted to appoint someone who I truly believed would wake up each day focused on putting Montana and Montanans first," Bullock said at a press conference in the state capitol building in Helena. Walsh, 53, served for more than 30 years in Montana's National Guard, including a deployment to Iraq and four years as commander of the Guard, before he was elected lieutenant governor in 2012.

As scandals swell, U.S. defense chief to install ethics officer Posted: 07 Feb 2014 03:13 PM PST By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Friday he will appoint a senior officer to report directly to him on matters of military ethics after a spate of embarrassing scandals including widespread exam cheating among nuclear missile launch officers. Hagel said the incidents have raised questions about the extent of the problem in the armed forces and whether America's military failed to focus enough on questions of integrity during more than 12 years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. We intend to find out." Hagel promised upcoming actions including the appointment of a senior officer, reporting to him, who would coordinate actions with the heads of the branches of the U.S. military on issues of military ethics, character and leadership. Last month, the U.S. Air Force acknowledged that it has what appears to be a systemic problem within the ranks of its nuclear missile launch officers after discovering widespread cheating on a proficiency exam at a base in Montana.

Montana lieutenant governor to replace Max Baucus Posted: 07 Feb 2014 01:41 PM PST HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana's governor picked Lt. Gov. John Walsh on Friday to be interim U.S. senator, an appointment that could kick-start Walsh's election campaign as Democrats seek to keep the seat — and control of the U.S. Senate — in their hands.

Iraq pension law draws ire over MP exemption Posted: 07 Feb 2014 12:59 PM PST A new law passed by Iraqi MPs to raise retirement benefits for civil servants is drawing criticism amid accusations politicians will use a loophole to secure lavish benefits for themselves. The issue of retirement benefits for top bureaucrats and politicians, which is drawing attention ahead of parliamentary elections, sparked protests last year to decry lucrative pensions for the political elite while many people still grapple with daily shortages of basic services and poor security. The Unified Retirement Law, adopted on Monday, has been hailed by some for raising minimum public sector pensions for retired civil servants, and is a rare piece of significant legislation passed by Iraq's chronically deadlocked parliament. Bureaucrats who retire after age 50 and who have spent more than 15 years in government service will receive at least 400,000 Iraqi dinars ($333/245 euros) a month, up from the previous minimum of 250,000 dinars.

Lt. Gov. John Walsh replaces US Sen. Max Baucus Posted: 07 Feb 2014 12:45 PM PST HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock picked Lt. Gov. John Walsh Friday to serve out U.S. Sen. Max Baucus' term, an appointment that could kick-start Walsh's election campaign as Democrats seek to keep the seat — and control of the U.S. Senate — in their hands.

AJC: Prudent Senate Call to Retain Iraqi Jewish Archive in U.S Posted: 07 Feb 2014 12:08 PM PST NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC applauds the unanimous U.S. Senate adoption of a resolution strongly recommending that the United States renegotiate the return of the Iraqi Jewish Archive to Iraq. "These invaluable items, some personal, some communal, rightfully belong to the Jewish community," said Rabbi Andrew Baker, AJC's Director of International Jewish Affairs. "Given the political and security situation in Iraq today, Jewish religious items may not be secure or accessible to those who are most interested in them."  AJC has urged the State Department to review the understanding with the Iraqi government and find a way to ensure that they will be kept in a place where their long-term preservation and their accessibility to scholars and Iraqi Jews can be guaranteed.

Besieged Homs a key flashpoint in Syria war Posted: 07 Feb 2014 12:05 PM PST The Syrian city of Homs, dubbed "the capital of the revolution" by rebels, has been a key flashpoint since the early days of the almost three-year-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad. Mainly divided along confessional lines, Sunni, Alawite, Christian and mixed neighbourhoods have co-existed uneasily.

A wave of college grads found US jobs in January Posted: 07 Feb 2014 12:03 PM PST The U.S. unemployment rate dipped to 6.6 percent in January from 6.7 percent in December as college graduates flooded the job market, and most found work. Among workers older than 25, 668,000 college graduates ...

Attacks kill 7 in Iraq, including MP candidate Posted: 07 Feb 2014 11:21 AM PST BAGHDAD (AP) — Gunmen in Iraq shot to death a Shiite politician running for parliament in the upcoming elections in April, one of seven people killed in attacks across the country on Friday, officials said.

Violence risks turning Egypt to jihadi front Posted: 07 Feb 2014 10:57 AM PST CAIRO (AP) — An Islamic militant group that has waged a campaign of bombings and assassinations for months in Egypt has quickly advanced in weaponry and sophistication of attacks, drawing on the experience of Egyptians who fought in Syria's civil war.

Among Iran's 'True Believers,' an enduring faith in martyrdom Posted: 07 Feb 2014 08:38 AM PST But the mere presence of Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani at a memorial last night – gray-haired and scarred after decades of battling American and Israeli foes and building up Iran's influence in the region – speaks volumes about Iran's continued commitment to the time-worn theme of martyrdom and its lessons in war.  Maj. Gen. Soleimani joined clerics, martyr families, and fellow officers of the Qods Force, the Revolutionary Guard branch that handles overseas operations – from supplying missiles for Hezbollah to alleged bomb plots – to mark a year since the death of one of their own in Syria.  Hardliners may no longer dominate Iranian politics after the surprise election victory of centrist President Hassan Rouhani last year, but the official language of martyrdom has not changed for Iran's "True Believers."    "Today, if we can stand firm against the US and the excessive demands of the US, it is because of the culture of martyrdom and culture of jihad," said Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Tehran mayor and two-time conservative presidential candidate, from the podium. "If we, God forbid, forget this culture, we will lose our dignity….

AP names news director for east-central Europe Posted: 07 Feb 2014 06:17 AM PST LONDON (AP) — Fisnik Abrashi, an Associated Press correspondent and editor who covered wars and their aftermath on three continents, has been appointed all-formats news director for central and eastern Europe, responsible for leading video, photo and text coverage in a region stretching from the Balkans to Poland.

Four Non-Corvette-Related Reasons Joe Biden Might Not Want to Run in 2016 Posted: 07 Feb 2014 05:51 AM PST Vice President Joe Biden can only think of one reason not to run for president in 2016: He wouldn't be able to drive Corvettes. Biden's remarks came during an interview with CNN's Kate Bolduan. Riffing off of Biden's comments at a gathering of the United Auto Workers, Bolduan brought up those Corvettes and Biden's excitement about their acceleration. And that would depend on whether or not he was "the best qualified person" to address his life's two main issues: giving "ordinary people a fighting chance to make it" and "sound foreign policy" where the U.S. is known "not only for power of our military, but the power of our example."

Lawmaker: ‘Very little’ Obama work so far to rewrite ‘war on terrorism’ law Posted: 07 Feb 2014 04:34 AM PST Will the law that justified the invasion of Afghanistan outlive the U.S. combat mission there? One prominent lawmaker worries that it will.

Bombing, shooting kill 6 people in Iraq Posted: 07 Feb 2014 02:21 AM PST BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi authorities say a car bomb and a shooting have killed six people in the country's north.

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