Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Kerry urges caution over timing of releasing U.S. torture report
• New Pentagon chief inherits friction with White House
• Syria's al Qaeda offshoot Nusra says it killed Lebanese soldier
• Obama promises more aid, loan guarantees to Jordan
• Militants announce killing of Lebanese soldier
• Obama shakes up Pentagon leadership, not policy
• Ashton Carter: Pentagon insider known to get things done
• Can the U.S. Defeat ISIS Without a War Powers Deal?
• Jordan king warns IS fight a 'third world war'
• Is it already too late for a Democrat to derail Hillary Clinton in 2016?
• U.S.-led forces conduct 20 air strikes against Islamic State
• Obama nominates Ashton Carter as Pentagon chief
• Obama nominates Ashton Carter for Pentagon chief
• Britons jailed for Syria-related terror offences
• Bahrain prince urges new name for extremist fight
• Jihadi hostage-taking: Could it get out of control in Lebanon?
• Up to 50,000 displaced Iraqi families left without aid despite access: MSF
• Global oil prices slide, rout undeterred by U.S. jobs data
• House leaders move to avoid immigration showdown
• The Many Trials for Ashton Carter
• An exclusive look at life in Syrian town of Kobani
• McCain blocks Obama's pick as No.2 diplomat over Iraq policy
• Prison sentence for German who joined IS
• Mismanagement allegations at Pearl Harbor memorial
• House leaders move on plan to fund government
• U.S. training of Syrian rebels still months away: coalition chief
• Gulf countries’ failure to take Syrian refugees 'shameful': Amnesty
• The Best Cure for America’s Political Mess: More Politicians
• Kuwait set to appoint Tunisian Maaloul as new coach
• Obama to nominate Pentagon chief Friday
• Writers Guild Nominates 'Transparent' and 'True Detective' for TV Kudos

Kerry urges caution over timing of releasing U.S. torture report Posted: 05 Dec 2014 04:40 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday privately expressed concern about the timing of the release of a long-awaited Congressional report criticizing the CIA's use of harsh interrogation methods days before it was expected to be released. Kerry's spokeswoman said he called Senator Dianne Feinstein, chairwoman of the Intelligence Committee, to urge her to take foreign policy considerations into account when choosing when to publish. ...

New Pentagon chief inherits friction with White House Posted: 05 Dec 2014 04:04 PM PST President Barack Obama's pick to be the next defense secretary, Ashton Carter, will inherit a tense relationship between the US military and the White House that is unlikely to ease even with a fresh face at the Pentagon. Carter, 60, a policy wonk with degrees in medieval history and theoretical physics, is a bona fide defense expert but also a blunt-spoken figure who could run into trouble with a White House said to be given to micro-management. With years of experience in senior Pentagon posts, "it's hard to imagine someone better prepared for this job," said Stephen Biddle, a professor at George Washington University who knew Carter at Harvard.

Syria's al Qaeda offshoot Nusra says it killed Lebanese soldier Posted: 05 Dec 2014 03:24 PM PST By Laila Bassam BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria's al Qaeda offshoot Nusra said on Friday it killed a captive Lebanese soldier in retaliation for the arrest by Lebanese authorities of women identified as wives of Islamist militants. The soldier was one of more than two dozen members of the security forces taken captive by militants affiliated to the Nusra Front and Islamic State when they staged an attack on the Lebanese border town of Arsal in August. Lebanese authorities earlier this week said they had detained a wife of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the wife of a Nusra front ...

Obama promises more aid, loan guarantees to Jordan Posted: 05 Dec 2014 02:40 PM PST By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Friday that the United States and its allies are making slow but steady progress in the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, and he pledged new aid to Jordan to grapple with Syrian refugees. Obama and Jordan's King Abdullah made a show of solidarity against Islamic State, holding Oval Office talks that covered the gamut from Iran's nuclear program to tensions between Israel and the Palestinians. ...

Militants announce killing of Lebanese soldier Posted: 05 Dec 2014 02:30 PM PST BEIRUT (AP) — An al-Qaida-linked group in Syria announced Friday that it killed a Lebanese soldier it was holding captive as retaliation for the Lebanese government's detention of the wives and children of Islamic militants.

Obama shakes up Pentagon leadership, not policy Posted: 05 Dec 2014 01:29 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The nomination of policy wonk Ashton Carter to lead the Defense Department marks the most significant change to President Barack Obama's beleaguered national security team in nearly two years. But there is little indication the shake-up portends a broader shift in administration policy — nor is it clear that Carter can break into the president's tight inner circle.

Ashton Carter: Pentagon insider known to get things done Posted: 05 Dec 2014 12:51 PM PST In nominating Ashton Carter to be his fourth secretary of Defense, President Obama picked a veteran Pentagon operator who is little known outside Washington, but who has a reputation for getting things done.

Can the U.S. Defeat ISIS Without a War Powers Deal? Posted: 05 Dec 2014 12:51 PM PST President Obama may have announced his choice of Ashton B. Carter as the next secretary of defense, but he and Congress are still nowhere near agreement on new presidential war powers for a critical campaign ...

Jordan king warns IS fight a 'third world war' Posted: 05 Dec 2014 12:48 PM PST Jordan's King Abdullah II warned Friday that the fight against Islamic State militants is a "third world war," as President Barack Obama pledged a sizable US aid increase to his country. As the two men met at the White House, Obama promised to increase US aid to Jordan from $660 million to more than $1 billion per year.

Is it already too late for a Democrat to derail Hillary Clinton in 2016? Posted: 05 Dec 2014 12:37 PM PST Liberals are hoping a new Obama will emerge soon. But his 2016 counterparts are way behind where he was in December 2006 — with one notable exception.

U.S.-led forces conduct 20 air strikes against Islamic State Posted: 05 Dec 2014 12:25 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and partner nations have conducted 20 air strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq since Wednesday, the U.S. Central Command said on Friday. Five of six air strikes by U.S. military forces in Syria targeted the contested city of Kobani near the border with Turkey, Centcom said in a statement. Those destroyed six Islamic State fighting positions and a heavy weapon, it said. In Iraq, U.S. and partner nations conducted 14 air strikes, mostly targeting areas in the oil-producing north of the country controlled by Islamic State. ...

Obama nominates Ashton Carter as Pentagon chief Posted: 05 Dec 2014 12:23 PM PST President Barack Obama on Friday named Ashton Carter, a highly regarded technocrat, to lead the Pentagon as the US military embarks on the latest phase in its 13-year war against Islamic extremists. "All of which means on day one, he will hit the ground running," Obama said, making the announcement from the White House. Carter, who is expected to be confirmed by the Senate, was named to replace Chuck Hagel, who resigned under pressure last week, criticized by some as too passive in the face of a rapidly changing security situation.

Obama nominates Ashton Carter for Pentagon chief Posted: 05 Dec 2014 12:19 PM PST By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Friday nominated veteran defense expert Ashton Carter as his defense secretary, a job that will require him to tackle messy wars in the Middle East and Afghanistan and try to fend off potentially damaging budget cuts. In Carter, Obama chose a policy expert who has worked for 11 defense secretaries. The 60-year-old Carter pronounced himself ready to give Obama honest, strategic advice once he clears U.S. Senate confirmation, which should move quickly early next year. ...

Britons jailed for Syria-related terror offences Posted: 05 Dec 2014 12:18 PM PST London (AFP) - Two British men were sentenced to prison for terror offences Friday, as security forces crack down on what they say is a mounting threat from jihadists radicalised by the Syria conflict.

Bahrain prince urges new name for extremist fight Posted: 05 Dec 2014 11:53 AM PST MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — A top Bahraini official called Friday for new terminology to describe the fight against extremists such as the Islamic State group that better describes their desire for theocratic rule.

Jihadi hostage-taking: Could it get out of control in Lebanon? Posted: 05 Dec 2014 10:58 AM PST While the world has been transfixed – and horrified – by the gruesome and chilling hostage dramas played out in the Middle East these past months, Lebanon has been gripped by its own increasingly convoluted kidnapping crisis.

Up to 50,000 displaced Iraqi families left without aid despite access: MSF Posted: 05 Dec 2014 10:37 AM PST By Magdalena Mis LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Up to 50,000 displaced Iraqi families in the Kirkuk area are being neglected by international aid groups despite sheltering in areas accessible to humanitarian organizations, medical charity Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) said on Friday. Only a handful of local organizations are providing essential items including food, hygiene kits and blankets, but the aid is sporadic and does not cover even the basic needs of the uprooted families, said MSF. ...

Global oil prices slide, rout undeterred by U.S. jobs data Posted: 05 Dec 2014 09:43 AM PST By Catherine Ngai NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global oil prices slid further on Friday, with Brent on track for the first weekly close below $70 a barrel since 2010, as strong U.S. employment data did little to lift the oil market's bearish mood a day after Saudi Arabia cut official selling prices. Brent and U.S. crude both remained near five-year lows as the market grappled with oversupply due to the U.S. shale boom and the recent decision by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries not to cut production. Prices pared early losses after stronger-than-expected U.S. employment data. ...

House leaders move to avoid immigration showdown Posted: 05 Dec 2014 09:29 AM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Trying to avoid a showdown over immigration, House Republican leaders are moving to make a deal with Democrats to pass a spending bill that would keep the government running past next week.

The Many Trials for Ashton Carter Posted: 05 Dec 2014 09:08 AM PST Ashton Carter's stewardship of the Pentagon may only last for the final two years of the Obama presidency, but the veteran of Washington's national security establishment won't have the luxury of being a caretaker defense secretary.

An exclusive look at life in Syrian town of Kobani Posted: 05 Dec 2014 08:41 AM PST KOBANI, Syria (AP) — From a small, backwater tucked in northern Syria, the Kurdish town of Kobani was thrown onto the world stage in September when Islamic State militants stormed in and captured almost half the town, triggering a surge of tens of thousands of refugees.

McCain blocks Obama's pick as No.2 diplomat over Iraq policy Posted: 05 Dec 2014 07:43 AM PST By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - (Story corrects spelling of first name to Antony in first paragraph) U.S. Senator John McCain said on Thursday he is blocking President Barack Obama's nomination of Antony Blinken as the country's number two diplomat, citing sharp disagreement with the nominee's past statements on Iraq. "He's totally unqualified," the Republican senator told Reuters, when asked why he was holding up Blinken's nomination to be deputy Secretary of State. "He's the guy who said we're leaving behind the richest, safest Iraq in history. ...

Prison sentence for German who joined IS Posted: 05 Dec 2014 06:03 AM PST BERLIN (AP) — A court on Friday convicted a 20-year-old German of joining the Islamic State terrorist group and sentenced him to 3 years and 9 months in prison.

Mismanagement allegations at Pearl Harbor memorial Posted: 05 Dec 2014 05:27 AM PST The USS Arizona is one of the nation's most hallowed sites, an underwater grave for more than 900 sailors and Marines killed when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and sank their ship in 1941. Now, it's the scene ...

House leaders move on plan to fund government Posted: 05 Dec 2014 05:24 AM PST Sidestepping immigration hardliners, House Republican leaders are moving to make a deal with Democrats to pass a spending bill that would keep the government running past next week. The emerging strategy ...

U.S. training of Syrian rebels still months away: coalition chief Posted: 05 Dec 2014 05:01 AM PST COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Western plans to train and equip non-jihadi rebels in Syria will not start until at least late February, a leading opposition figure said on Friday, depriving them of support they need to counter both rival insurgents and Syrian government forces. The relatively moderate rebels loosely grouped under the "Free Syrian Army" label are struggling to hold their ground against much more militant groups such as Islamic State and the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front and against government forces. A U.S. ...

Gulf countries’ failure to take Syrian refugees 'shameful': Amnesty Posted: 05 Dec 2014 04:03 AM PST By Magdalena Mis LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Wealthy Gulf states have failed to resettle a single refugee from the Syrian conflict - a "particularly shameful" omission by countries that should be at the forefront of those offering shelter, Amnesty International said on Friday. Syria's supporters in the U.N. Security Council, China and Russia, have also failed to resettle any refugees since the crisis began more than three years ago, Amnesty said in a report ahead of a U.N. pledging conference for Syria in Geneva next week. ...

The Best Cure for America’s Political Mess: More Politicians Posted: 05 Dec 2014 03:15 AM PST The "Slatepitch," named after the venerable online magazine Slate, describes their métier of commonly publishing counter-intuitive takes or defenses of unpopular subjects. Well, here's my Slatepitch: The ...

Kuwait set to appoint Tunisian Maaloul as new coach Posted: 04 Dec 2014 11:55 PM PST (Reuters) - Asian Cup finalists Kuwait are closing in on the managerial appointment of Nabil Maaloul after dispensing with the services of Brazilian Jorvan Vieira following a disappointing Gulf Cup of Nations campaign. Former Tunisian international Maaloul had been identified as the number one target after a wave of interest in the position, Kuwait FA president Sheikh Talal Al-Fahad said in a statement. ...

Obama to nominate Pentagon chief Friday Posted: 04 Dec 2014 06:16 PM PST President Barack Obama on Friday will announce his choice to replace Chuck Hagel as Pentagon chief, the White House said. Favored for the post is Ashton Carter, a former deputy defense secretary under Leon Panetta from October 2011 to December 2013. While stopping short of confirming the pick, the White House has hailed Carter's "detailed understanding" of the Pentagon's inner workings, and recalled that the Senate had unanimously confirmed his nomination as the Defense Department's number two in 2011.

Writers Guild Nominates 'Transparent' and 'True Detective' for TV Kudos Posted: 04 Dec 2014 05:53 PM PST Returning series scoring noms include 'Mad Men,' 'The Good Wife' and 'Game of Thrones'

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