Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Obama's tan suit buzzed around the world
• Pentagon: Iraq operations cost $560 million so far
• Kerry looks for regional coalition to take on the Islamic State
• Obama, in Estonia and at NATO summit, to send strong message to Putin
• Army vet pleads guilty to arms export violations
• Britain raises terror threat level on Iraq, Syria fears
• UK raises alert level as Syria refugees top 3 million
• Obama feeds critics with bid for more time on Syria
• Obama faces a tough sell in Congress for Islamic State strategy
• Stocks end higher following strong run in August
• Perry, Paul bash Obama for 'no strategy' on Syria
• Building coalition for Syria action no easy matter
• US military mission in Iraq costs $7.5 million a day
• Westerners linked to extremist groups in Syria
• S&P 500 edges up to set new record; best month since Feb
• At heart of Syria fears, extremists returning home
• Hagel to visit Georgia, Turkey after NATO summit
• Recommended Reading: Weekend Reads: Natural Architecture; Masterplanning Iraq
• Iraqi town holds out against militant onslaught
• Pentagon says Iraq operations costing on average $7.5 million per day
• EU ministers call for new sanctions against Russia
• New Turkish top diplomat: pro-EU Erdogan ally with daunting task
• Middle East Staggers Under Weight of 3 Million Syrian Refugees
• U.S. says no precise threat to homeland from Islamic State
• Cameron promises tough action to fight militants
• U.S. Wont Raise Terror Threat Level Even Though U.K.'s Is 'Severe'
• Britain raises its terrorism threat level over Syria, Iraq
• Britain Raises Terror Threat Level to ‘Severe’
• Syria refugees top 3 million, US has no strategy 'yet'
• Britain's Cameron plans new laws to tackle terrorism threat
• Cameron on ISIS: Tougher Talk But Still No Strategy
• White House: No change to US terror warnings
• NYPD monitoring Britain terror precautions
• US delivers military aid to Lebanese army
• One In Four Republicans Say Global Warming Is ‘Major Threat’ To U.S.
• Gun tourism grows in popularity in recent years
• UN says Syria refugees top 3 million mark
• Marines deactivate decorated 'Walking Dead' unit
• U.S. Senate Candidate Rep. Cory Gardner & House Candidate Rep. Mike Coffman Receive Bolton's Endorsement & PAC Contribution
• Dutch government clamps down on radicalization

Obama's tan suit buzzed around the world Posted: 29 Aug 2014 04:45 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — Quick! What exactly did President Barack Obama say from the White House briefing room about Syria, Iraq and Ukraine while dressed in the tan suit buzzed 'round the world?

Pentagon: Iraq operations cost $560 million so far Posted: 29 Aug 2014 04:09 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. military operations in Iraq, including airstrikes and surveillance flights, have cost about $560 million since mid-June, the Pentagon said Friday.

Kerry looks for regional coalition to take on the Islamic State Posted: 29 Aug 2014 04:02 PM PDT President Obama's assignment to Secretary of State John Kerry to build a coalition of countries willing to join the United States in taking on the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq and Syria will be no cake walk. If anything is lightening Mr. Kerry's burden, it's the shockwaves of the Islamic State's stunning sweep to control of parts of northern Iraq that have reverberated through the region and begun to convince Sunni Arab governments in the region that the spreading organization poses a threat to them. "Kerry's is not an easy assignment by any means, but it's been made easier by the conquests [the group] has made and what those conquests could mean for the region if allowed not just to hold, but to grow," says Wayne White, a former State Department official and now an adjunct scholar with the Middle East Institute (MEI) in Washington. "For those reasons I think we'll see some Sunni Arab countries sign up willingly."

Obama, in Estonia and at NATO summit, to send strong message to Putin Posted: 29 Aug 2014 04:00 PM PDT President Barack Obama will visit Estonia and attend a NATO summit in Wales next week to send a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that his incursion into Ukraine must be reversed and to keep his hands off the Baltic nations. A fresh move into eastern Ukraine by Russian forces in support of separatists is rattling the region, and Obama will reassure NATO's Baltic allies Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania that the alliance will stand with them should Moscow turn its attention to them. It will be the second visit ever to Estonia by an American president, following George W. Bush's 2006 stop there.

Army vet pleads guilty to arms export violations Posted: 29 Aug 2014 03:59 PM PDT PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A former U.S. Army officer who operated a business in Portland selling military-grade weapons parts and accessories pleaded guilty Friday to arms export violations and mishandling classified documents.

Britain raises terror threat level on Iraq, Syria fears Posted: 29 Aug 2014 03:55 PM PDT Britain raised its terror threat risk level to "severe" on Friday, meaning an attack is thought to be "highly likely", due to fears over the situation in Iraq and Syria. The move comes after the killing of US journalist James Foley, apparently by a man speaking with an English accent who belonged to the jihadist group Islamic State. While there was no intelligence to suggest that an attack on Britain is imminent, Prime Minister David Cameron said there was "no doubt in my mind" that IS had its sights set on targets in Europe. "What we are facing in Iraq now with ISIL (IS) is a greater and deeper threat to our security than we have known before," he told a press conference just after the threat level was raised.

UK raises alert level as Syria refugees top 3 million Posted: 29 Aug 2014 03:53 PM PDT Britain raised its terror alert level Friday over fears of possible jihadist attacks as the United Nations said the number of refugees from the Syria conflict now tops three million. British Prime Minister David Cameron told reporters there was "no doubt in my mind" that jihadists from the Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq and Syria had their sights set on targets in Europe. Despite the move, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Washington had no plans to follow suit, but US national security officials had been in close contact with London on the issue. US President Barack Obama has admitted that he has no immediate strategy to tackle advancing IS jihadists.

Obama feeds critics with bid for more time on Syria Posted: 29 Aug 2014 03:50 PM PDT By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama has bought some time with his decision to slow the march toward U.S. The White House on Friday defended Obama's admission on Thursday that "we don't have a strategy yet" for confronting the militant group's operations in Syria. There was no timetable for making a decision and Obama will be on the road most of the next week. Obama spent Friday on a Democratic fund-raising trip, will attend the wedding of a former White House chef on Saturday, travels to Wisconsin for a Labor Day picnic on Monday and will visit Estonia and attend a NATO summit in Wales next week.

Obama faces a tough sell in Congress for Islamic State strategy Posted: 29 Aug 2014 03:05 PM PDT President Barack Obama has pledged to consult Congress about any expanded military action against Islamic State militants operating in Iraq and Syria, but support from the divided legislature is unlikely to come quickly - if at all. Republicans are generally reluctant to vote for Obama's policy initiatives. If Congress were to be asked to approve extended military action or funding, it would probably be at a politically sensitive time just weeks before the Nov. 4 congressional elections in which Republicans hope to gain seats.

Stocks end higher following strong run in August Posted: 29 Aug 2014 02:54 PM PDT The Standard & Poor's 500 index delivered its fourth record high in five days Friday, ending with the biggest monthly gain since February.

Perry, Paul bash Obama for 'no strategy' on Syria Posted: 29 Aug 2014 02:40 PM PDT DALLAS (AP) — Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky pounced Friday on President Barack Obama's "we don't have a strategy yet" comments about the violent militant faction attacking cities in Iraq — but other potential Republican 2016 presidential hopefuls laid off as they wowed the crowd at an influential conservative gathering.

Building coalition for Syria action no easy matter Posted: 29 Aug 2014 02:29 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's acknowledgement the U.S. still lacks a strategy for defeating the growing extremist threat emanating from Syria reflects a still unformed international coalition.

US military mission in Iraq costs $7.5 million a day Posted: 29 Aug 2014 01:52 PM PDT The US military's bombing raids and other operations in Iraq cost about $7.5 million a day, the Pentagon said Friday. Since Islamic State (IS) militants seized territory in northern and western Iraq in June, President Barack Obama has deployed about 865 US troops to Iraq to bolster security for American diplomats and advise Baghdad government forces fighting the extremists. Both manned and unmanned US aircraft have flown surveillance flights to track IS jihadists and since August 8, American warplanes have carried out more than 100 air strikes against the militants -- most of them around the strategic Mosul dam in the north. The price tag of the US military mission dating back to mid-June has "averaged $7.5 million a day," Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters.

Westerners linked to extremist groups in Syria Posted: 29 Aug 2014 01:48 PM PDT As many as 12,000 foreigners have gone to Syria to fight the government of Bashar Assad. Many have joined extremist groups, including the al-Nusra front, an al-Qaida affiliate, and the Islamic State group, which now controls a territory straddling Syria and Iraq. The State Department lists these foreigners fighting the Assad government in Syria:

S&P 500 edges up to set new record; best month since Feb Posted: 29 Aug 2014 01:40 PM PDT Since falling to a near three-month low on Aug. 7, the S&P 500 has risen in 12 of the past 16 sessions. For the week, the Dow rose 0.6 percent, the S&P advanced 0.7 percent and the Nasdaq was up 0.9 percent, the fourth consecutive week of gains for all three.

At heart of Syria fears, extremists returning home Posted: 29 Aug 2014 01:24 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The case of Mehdi Nemmouche haunts U.S. intelligence officials.

Hagel to visit Georgia, Turkey after NATO summit Posted: 29 Aug 2014 01:15 PM PDT Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel will travel to Georgia and Turkey after attending a NATO summit in Cardiff next week, as escalating conflicts in Ukraine, Syria and Iraq dominate his agenda. Hagel will depart next Wednesday on the six-day trip that will begin with the NATO gathering in Wales, where leaders will discuss "crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, and how to strengthen the alliance for the future," Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters. Hagel will then proceed to Georgia, a country that has sought membership in NATO, and that "shares our concerns about Russia's actions in Ukraine," Kirby said.

Recommended Reading: Weekend Reads: Natural Architecture; Masterplanning Iraq Posted: 29 Aug 2014 01:00 PM PDT Welcome to Curbed's new weekly roundup of architecture, real estate, and urban planning-related feature stories from, well, anywhere that isn't Curbed. We'll be collecting a few of our favorite longer stories of the week; please be in touch if you...

Iraqi town holds out against militant onslaught Posted: 29 Aug 2014 12:39 PM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — As Islamic militants rampage across northern Iraq, seizing vast swaths of territory and driving hundreds of thousands of people from their homes, the Shiite Turkmens living in the hardscrabble town of Amirli have decided to stay and fight.

Pentagon says Iraq operations costing on average $7.5 million per day Posted: 29 Aug 2014 12:35 PM PDT Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, told a briefing the expense of U.S. He did not offer an estimate of the Pentagon's total costs so far, but an average cost of $7.5 million per day for 71 days would mean the department has spent roughly $532 million. By comparison, the Pentagon has been spending roughly $1.3 billion per week on Afghanistan, analysts said.

EU ministers call for new sanctions against Russia Posted: 29 Aug 2014 12:12 PM PDT MILAN (AP) — Several European Union foreign ministers on Friday accused Russia of invading eastern Ukraine and said Moscow should be punished with additional economic sanctions.

New Turkish top diplomat: pro-EU Erdogan ally with daunting task Posted: 29 Aug 2014 12:06 PM PDT Mevlut Cavusoglu, who was on Friday named as the new Turkish foreign minister, is a strong supporter of Turkey's integration with the European Union as well as part of the inner circle of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Cavusoglu takes on the post at a critical time, facing an enormous task with Turkey mired in foreign policy difficulties in the Middle East amid the strife in its conflict-torn neighbours Syria and Iraq. Some analysts believe his predecessor Ahmet Davutoglu -- now promoted to prime minister -- overreached himself with an ambitious foreign policy aimed at asserting Turkey as an Islamic power.

Middle East Staggers Under Weight of 3 Million Syrian Refugees Posted: 29 Aug 2014 12:00 PM PDT PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to the United Nations, there are now 3 million registered Syrian refugees spread across the Middle East, with the majority living in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. The global humanitarian organization Mercy Corps works closely with these refugees and the neighboring countries hosting them to stretch scarce resources and strengthen communities' ability to peacefully resolve urgent issues. ...

U.S. says no precise threat to homeland from Islamic State Posted: 29 Aug 2014 11:00 AM PDT By Doina Chiacu and Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is not aware of any specific threat to the U.S. Islamic State militants and their supporters, however, "have demonstrated the intent and capability to target American citizens overseas," Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement.

Cameron promises tough action to fight militants Posted: 29 Aug 2014 10:52 AM PDT LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister David Cameron pledged Friday to plug gaps in Britain's armory to combat terror, describing the extremist threat posed by the Islamic State group as being more dangerous than even that of al-Qaida.

U.S. Wont Raise Terror Threat Level Even Though U.K.'s Is 'Severe' Posted: 29 Aug 2014 10:47 AM PDT U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron announced earlier in the day that Britain's Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre had raised the country's threat level to "severe" – the first time it has been that high in three years. A severe threat level in the U.K. means a terrorist attack is considered "highly likely." White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters that senior Obama administration had been in touch with their British counterparts but that the U.S.

Britain raises its terrorism threat level over Syria, Iraq Posted: 29 Aug 2014 10:44 AM PDT By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - Britain raised its terrorism alert on Friday to the second-highest level with Prime Minister David Cameron saying the Islamic State (IS) group operating in Syria and Iraq posed the country's greatest ever security risk. "What we're facing in Iraq now with ISIL (IS) is a greater and deeper threat to our security than we have known before," said Cameron, adding he was "absolutely satisfied that ISIL ... would make specific threats to the UK". It is the first time since mid-2011 that Britain has been placed on this grade of alert by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Center (JTAC), the independent body responsible for setting the national threat level. The national threat level was first published in 2006, just over a year after four British Islamists carried out suicide bombings on London's transport network killing 52 people.

Britain Raises Terror Threat Level to ‘Severe’ Posted: 29 Aug 2014 10:35 AM PDT Terror Attack 'Highly Likely' But Not Necessarily Imminent, U.K. Government Says

Syria refugees top 3 million, US has no strategy 'yet' Posted: 29 Aug 2014 09:50 AM PDT The number of refugees from the Syria conflict now tops three million, the UN said Friday, as US President Barack Obama admitted he has no strategy to tackle advancing jihadists. In Geneva, UN refugee agency chief Antonio Guterres said Syria had become the "biggest humanitarian emergency of our era" after a million people joined the exodus in the past year alone. They have fled the war-wracked country where Islamic State (IS) jihadists have sown panic with atrocities and executions, including of scores of Syrian soldiers and a US journalist this month alone. The scale of the crisis facing the international community deepened after rival Islamists led by Al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate, Al-Nusra Front, seized 43 Fijian UN peacekeepers on the Golan Heights.

Britain's Cameron plans new laws to tackle terrorism threat Posted: 29 Aug 2014 09:48 AM PDT British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Friday he planned to introduce new legislation to make it harder for Britons to travel to Syria and Iraq to fight alongside Islamist extremists. Cameron, who said he would detail his plans in parliament on Monday to confiscate passports, was speaking as Britain raised its international terrorism threat level to "severe", its second highest level. This will include further steps to stop people traveling, with new legislation that will make it easier to take people's passports away," Cameron told a news conference.

Cameron on ISIS: Tougher Talk But Still No Strategy Posted: 29 Aug 2014 09:39 AM PDT The contrast between U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron's speech Friday morning about the threat posed by the terror group ISIS and remarks delivered just one day earlier by President Obama was stark. He denounced the "poisonous ideology" of the Islamist extremist group currently occupying parts of Syria and Iraq and said ISIS must not be allowed to expand its reach lest the world face "a terrorist state on the shores of the Mediterranean." Obama's problem was that he came right out and said it. "We don't have a strategy yet," said Obama, adding that he wanted to lower expectations of any immediate military response to ISIS.

White House: No change to US terror warnings Posted: 29 Aug 2014 09:37 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House does not expect the U.S. to raise its terrorism threat warning level.

NYPD monitoring Britain terror precautions Posted: 29 Aug 2014 09:36 AM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — New York Police Commissioner William Bratton says the city is closely following developments overseas after Britain raised its terror threat level.

US delivers military aid to Lebanese army Posted: 29 Aug 2014 09:25 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — The United States has delivered an emergency shipment of weapons to Lebanon's military, officials said Friday, part of a broader regional effort to combat the growing threat posed by Islamic extremists.

One In Four Republicans Say Global Warming Is ‘Major Threat’ To U.S. Posted: 29 Aug 2014 09:02 AM PDT One in four Republicans say global warming is a major threat to the U.S. Asked if they perceive global warming as a "major threat," 25 percent of Republicans said yes in the survey of 1,501 adults conducted last week. A majority of Republicans said the other threats listed are major, such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and Iran's quest for nuclear power, but more Democrats are concerned about global warming than any other threat. Sixty-seven percent said al-Qaida and other terrorist groups are a major threat, and 65 percent said ISIS is a major threat.   By contrast, 78 percent of Republicans said ISIS is a major threat.

Gun tourism grows in popularity in recent years Posted: 29 Aug 2014 08:57 AM PDT LAS VEGAS (AP) — The death of an Arizona firearms instructor by a 9-year-old girl who was firing a fully automatic Uzi displayed a tragic side of what has become a hot industry in the U.S.: gun tourism.

UN says Syria refugees top 3 million mark Posted: 29 Aug 2014 08:56 AM PDT GENEVA (AP) — The civil war in Syria has forced 3 million people out of the country, including more than a million people who fled in the past year, creating a crisis that the U.N. refugee agency said requires the biggest operation in its 64-year history.

Marines deactivate decorated 'Walking Dead' unit Posted: 29 Aug 2014 08:45 AM PDT RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Decades before the television show, a Marine Corps battalion decorated for extensive combat in World War II and Vietnam earned the nickname the "Walking Dead."

U.S. Senate Candidate Rep. Cory Gardner & House Candidate Rep. Mike Coffman Receive Bolton's Endorsement & PAC Contribution Posted: 29 Aug 2014 08:00 AM PDT WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the focus on Colorado, Ambassador John Bolton endorses and makes PAC contributions to U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Cory Gardner and House candidate Rep. Mike Coffman. Colorado is at the intersection of national security with military instillations including the U.S. Air Force Academy and three major Air Force bases, along with energy resources.   "National security includes energy policy and Colorado is at the center of energy security," said Bolton. ...

Dutch government clamps down on radicalization Posted: 29 Aug 2014 07:53 AM PDT AMSTERDAM (AP) — The Dutch government unveiled a package of measures Friday aimed at countering radicalization of Muslims in the country, a day after police announced the arrest of two men suspected of recruiting people to fight in conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

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