Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Mother of defendant in 'American Sniper' trial testifies
• US to allow export of armed drones
• U.S. establishes policy for exports of armed drones
• A LIFE LIVED AS A TALL TALE
• Comparisons to brother 'interesting challenge' for Jeb Bush
• Analysis: Egypt embarks on ambitious anti-terror campaign
• Awash in opium, Afghan 'wild west' slips from Kabul's grasp
• UN Security Council to meet Wednesday on Libyan crisis
• New defense chief vows to protect troops' safety, dignity
• Prosecution rests in 'American Sniper' murder trial in Texas
• 'Sniper' film anti-Islam proaganda: Iran's Khamenei
• US to allow export of armed military drones
• Biden: Including immigrants key to stopping extremism in US
• Oil prices gain in choppy trade
• Egypt pushes for UN-backed intervention against Libya jihadists
• State Department rep says jobs could be key to eradicating Islamic State
• Denmark gunman: Could more have been done to stop him?
• Oil up from early sell-off as Brent sets 2015 high
• AJC Appalled by ISIS Execution of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians
• Why Egypt may be hard-pressed to fight Islamic State on two fronts
• Uneasy alliance of Kurds, Shiites formed in northern Iraq
• Saudi king, Qatar emir discuss ties, IS seen on agenda
• In fight against Islamic State, Iraqi sectarianism is rising, not falling
• US announces another $125 million in aid for Syria crisis
• Iraqi women trafficked into sexual slavery - rights group
• UN Security Council to meet Wednesday on Libya
• Story of Triumph Airing on Denver's KBDI Helps Mark 5 Years Since Haitian Earthquake
• New Pentagon chief promises 'candid' advice for Obama
• Iraq tells United Nations that Islamic State committed genocide
• Kurdish militants demand progress from Turkey or say peace talks may end
• Copenhagen attacks challenge soft Nordic approach to radicals
• Danish police thought gunman not likely to attack
• Islamic State targeted in 14 airstrikes by U.S., allies: task force
• With Culture, Guilt Can Sometimes Be a Good Thing
• Report: Iranian fighter killed in clashes with IS in Iraq
• Obama’s ‘Crusades’ controversy highlights war on terrorism’s rhetorical minefield
• Constitution Check: Is the President actually giving up some of his war powers?
• Growing pains: Oil boom turns prairie school to melting pot
• Canada cost of fighting IS group tops $100 mln
• Japan to give $15.5 million for anti-terror efforts

Mother of defendant in 'American Sniper' trial testifies Posted: 17 Feb 2015 04:52 PM PST STEPHENVILLE, Texas (AP) — The mother of the former Marine accused of killing "American Sniper" author Chris Kyle and another man testified Tuesday that she didn't know after asking Kyle to help her troubled son that they'd be going to a shooting range.

US to allow export of armed drones Posted: 17 Feb 2015 04:50 PM PST The United States said Tuesday that it will allow for the first time the widespread export of armed drones to some allied countries as part of its global counterterrorism fight. Armed drones are a cornerstone of Washington's battle against extremists in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, although they remain hugely controversial and opponents say they frequently kill or maim civilians. "The United States is the world's technological leader in the development and deployment of military Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS, or drones)," the State Department said in a statement.

U.S. establishes policy for exports of armed drones Posted: 17 Feb 2015 04:46 PM PST By Andrea Shalal and Emily Stephenson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Tuesday established a policy for exports of military and commercial drones, including armed ones, and said it plans to work with other countries to shape global standards for the use of the controversial weapons systems. The State Department said it would allow exports of lethal U.S. military drones under strict conditions, including that sales must be made through government programs and that recipient nations must agree to certain "end-use assurances." The policy, the details of which are classified, comes after a two-year review amid growing demand from U.S. allies for the new breed of weapons that have played a key role in U.S. military action in Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen. Privately held General Atomics, maker of the Predator and Reaper drones, Northrop Grumman Corp , Textron Inc and other arms makers have been urging Washington for years to loosen strict export curbs, which they say have caused them to lose orders to Israel and others in the growing market.

A LIFE LIVED AS A TALL TALE Posted: 17 Feb 2015 03:31 PM PST Arnaud de Borchgrave just happened to be, to my mind and to many other discriminating ones, the greatest foreign correspondent of our times. Given the sad way the American media are going, you might well ask not WHO was Arnaud de Borchgrave, but "What is a foreign correspondent?" Such are the intellectual shadows that are falling over American life today. He was balding, but with a smile at once engaging, imperious and devilish that would charm a Marilyn Monroe or a Mafia hitman.

Comparisons to brother 'interesting challenge' for Jeb Bush Posted: 17 Feb 2015 03:30 PM PST DETROIT (AP) — It's a question Jeb Bush gets often, and will surely get again, over and over.

Analysis: Egypt embarks on ambitious anti-terror campaign Posted: 17 Feb 2015 02:59 PM PST CAIRO (AP) — Egypt is making an ambitious bid to place itself at the center of the fight against extremism across the Middle East. Beyond fighting militants in its own Sinai Peninsula, it is trying to organize an international coalition against the Islamic State in Libya and helping Saudi Arabia defend its borders.

Awash in opium, Afghan 'wild west' slips from Kabul's grasp Posted: 17 Feb 2015 02:54 PM PST By Jessica Donati and Mirwais Harooni FARAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) - In fields less than a 10-minute drive from the intelligence headquarters of Afghanistan's remote western province of Farah, farmers are planting their first illegal opium crop of the year. Taliban insurgents control half of the region bordering Iran, government officials estimate. In one district, Khaki Safed, the sacked local government chief refuses to step down. Worried villagers there say a former Taliban commander is leading an armed band several dozen strong who have pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

UN Security Council to meet Wednesday on Libyan crisis Posted: 17 Feb 2015 02:30 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council prepared to meet in emergency session on Libya on Wednesday, as permanent council members expressed initial support for a resolution on a response to the country's crisis.

New defense chief vows to protect troops' safety, dignity Posted: 17 Feb 2015 02:23 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Ash Carter, sworn in Tuesday as President Barack Obama's fourth secretary of defense amid multiple global threats, pledged to offer his most candid strategic advice and carefully consider decisions about sending troops into harm's way.

Prosecution rests in 'American Sniper' murder trial in Texas Posted: 17 Feb 2015 02:16 PM PST By Jon Herskovitz AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Prosecutors finished calling witnesses on Tuesday in the murder trial of Eddie Ray Routh, who is charged with fatally shooting Chris Kyle, the former U.S. Navy SEAL whose autobiography was turned into the hit movie "American Sniper." Over several days of witnesses' testimony, prosecutors reconstructed the day two years ago when they say Routh, 27, killed Kyle and Kyle's friend Chad Littlefield at a gun range about 70 miles (110 km) southwest of Fort Worth, stole Kyle's pickup truck and was taken into custody following a high-speed car chase. Routh's lawyers have not contested accusations that Routh fired the fatal shots. They are trying to have him declared innocent by reason of insanity and said in opening arguments they would call expert witnesses who will attest to Routh's troubled mental state.

'Sniper' film anti-Islam proaganda: Iran's Khamenei Posted: 17 Feb 2015 02:03 PM PST The Oscar-nominated movie "American Sniper" about an elite US Navy Seal is an example of anti-Islam propaganda, Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei was reported on Tuesday as saying. Veteran actor-director Clint Eastwood's film, which was released on December 25 and has garnered six Oscar nominations, tells the story of Chris Kyle's four tours in Iraq as a sniper. Kyle, played by Bradley Cooper in the movie, is officially credited with killing 160 people in Iraq. "This 'Sniper' film which has made so much noise... encourages a young person, for example a Christian or non-Muslim, to harass a Muslim as much as possible," the official IRNA news agency quoted Khamenei as saying.

US to allow export of armed military drones Posted: 17 Feb 2015 01:40 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is amending its regulations for weapons sales to allow the export of armed military drones to friendly nations and allies.

Biden: Including immigrants key to stopping extremism in US Posted: 17 Feb 2015 01:29 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States must ensure that immigrants are fully included in the fabric of American society to prevent violent ideologies from taking root at home, Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday as he opened a White House summit on countering extremism and radicalization.

Oil prices gain in choppy trade Posted: 17 Feb 2015 01:17 PM PST World oil prices rose Tuesday, reversing earlier losses, as traders kept an eye on the crisis in crude exporter Libya. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for March delivery advanced 75 cents to settle at $53.53 a barrel, on the contract's final day of trade. "It's been a pretty impressive move," said Bob Yawger of Mizuho Securities. Last week's report showed US crude inventories reached their highest levels on record..

Egypt pushes for UN-backed intervention against Libya jihadists Posted: 17 Feb 2015 01:16 PM PST Egypt called Tuesday for UN-backed international intervention in Libya after launching air strikes on Islamic State targets in retaliation for the jihadist group's beheading of Egyptian Christians. The matter will be taken up by the UN Security Council on Wednesday after a request by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, diplomats said. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said "there is no choice" but to create a global coalition to confront the extremists in Libya. Shoukry was in New York seeking backing for military intervention and to demand "full support" against the jihadists, his ministry said.

State Department rep says jobs could be key to eradicating Islamic State Posted: 17 Feb 2015 01:07 PM PST Those causes, she added, are tied to weak governance and a lack of opportunity for young people, which groups like the Islamic State or ISIS tend to exploit. The debate between Matthews and Harf reflects a broader debate about the underlying causes of violent extremism and how to counter it. "Since poverty and ignorance often provide a breeding ground for radicalism, socioeconomic development appears compelling as an effective antidote," wrote Mr. Taspinar, a professor at the National War College and an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.

Denmark gunman: Could more have been done to stop him? Posted: 17 Feb 2015 12:37 PM PST The parallels between the shooting attacks in Copenhagen and Paris are hard to ignore. Both were carried out by young Muslim men with troubled pasts and criminal records.

Oil up from early sell-off as Brent sets 2015 high Posted: 17 Feb 2015 12:35 PM PST By Barani Krishnan and Robert Gibbons NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil closed up after a weak start on Tuesday, with Brent crude rising to a 2015 high of $63 a barrel as short-covering returned to a market depressed earlier by worries about euro zone stability. "We're in this mode where the market continues to discount bearish news," said Dominick Chirichella, senior partner at the Energy Management Institute in New York. Brent oil's front-month contract for April delivery settled up $1.13 at $62.53 a barrel, rebounding from the day's low of $60.27. Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government has threatened to withhold oil exports if Baghdad failed to send its share of the budget.

AJC Appalled by ISIS Execution of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians Posted: 17 Feb 2015 12:21 PM PST NEW YORK, Feb. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC is appalled by the ISIS execution of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya, the latest act of brutality from a terrorist organization that has already claimed thousands of victims across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in Europe.

Why Egypt may be hard-pressed to fight Islamic State on two fronts Posted: 17 Feb 2015 12:14 PM PST Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's government is positioning itself as a key member in the anti-Islamic State coalition, and the popular strongman appears to have domestic backing to take things up a notch. Mr. Sisi is already fighting Islamist-inspired militants at home, including an Islamic State (IS) affiliate in the eastern Sinai Peninsula. For months, Sisi's government has provided clandestine support to Libya's internationally recognized but largely ineffectual government in its fight against Islamist and regional militia. The airstrike was in retaliation for the videotaped beheading of the Egyptian Christians by militants in Libya.

Uneasy alliance of Kurds, Shiites formed in northern Iraq Posted: 17 Feb 2015 11:25 AM PST KIRKUK, Iraq (AP) — Shiite militiamen shuttle back and forth to the nearby front lines from a sprawling military base near the northern oil-rich city of Kirkuk. They hoist billboards of their commander, bellow Shiite prayers from mosque loudspeakers and chant the name of their spiritual leader.

Saudi king, Qatar emir discuss ties, IS seen on agenda Posted: 17 Feb 2015 11:12 AM PST Saudi Arabia's King Salman held talks in Riyadh Tuesday with Qatar's emir, in what an analyst sees as part of a regional effort to strengthen ties against the Islamic State (IS) group. Qatar's Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani is the latest Gulf leader to visit Riyadh this week, after Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, the emir of Kuwait. He and the Saudi monarch discussed the enhancement of their relations, as well as international developments, the official Saudi Press Agency said.

In fight against Islamic State, Iraqi sectarianism is rising, not falling Posted: 17 Feb 2015 10:48 AM PST When Haider al-Abadi became Iraq's prime minister last August, President Barack Obama hailed what he described as a new "inclusive" Iraqi government with the ability to unite Shiite and Sunni Arabs, and ethnic Kurds, in the fight against the self-styled Islamic State. The US had withheld military support to Iraq because of concerns that the previous prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, was far more dedicated to protecting Shiite interests in Iraq rather than Iraqi ones. In the six months since, it hasn't worked out that way: Iraq's sectarian death squads and militias are rampant again after a few years of relative quiet.

US announces another $125 million in aid for Syria crisis Posted: 17 Feb 2015 10:42 AM PST The United States announced Tuesday it will provide an additional $125 million (110 million euros) in emergency food aid for Syrians affected by the civil war. The US State Department's Kelly Clements said the money will go to the UN World Food Program, which feeds nearly six million Syrians inside and outside the country every month. "We will continue working through all possible channels to provide aid to those in need wherever they reside," Clements, deputy assistant secretary for the department's bureau of population, refugees and migration, told reporters in Geneva. Saying the "dire situation facing Syrians requires an urgent collective response," Clements announced the aid as US officials meet over the next two days in Geneva with key donors and the heads of international organisations responding to the Syria crisis.

Iraqi women trafficked into sexual slavery - rights group Posted: 17 Feb 2015 10:35 AM PST By Emma Batha LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Up to 10,000 women and girls in Iraq have been abducted or trafficked for sexual slavery, prostitution or ransom, rights groups said on Wednesday, as they called for the Iraqi government to crack down on crimes against women. Some women have been so traumatized that they have committed suicide, according to a report by Minority Rights Group International and the Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights. The authors say trafficking in Iraq has "mushroomed" in recent years and that the militant Sunni group Islamic State (ISIS) has become a major actor in the buying and selling of girls. Women trafficked across Iraq end up in Baghdad or northern Iraqi cities or are sent to Syria, Jordan or the United Arab Emirates.

UN Security Council to meet Wednesday on Libya Posted: 17 Feb 2015 10:01 AM PST The UN Security Council will meet Wednesday to discuss the situation in Libya after the apparent IS execution of 21 Egyptian Christians, with Egypt's foreign minister in attendance, diplomats said Tuesday. The meeting follows the release of a videotape by the Islamic State group purportedly showing the mass beheading in Libya. Egypt launched retaliatory air strikes against IS targets in Libya on Monday.

Story of Triumph Airing on Denver's KBDI Helps Mark 5 Years Since Haitian Earthquake Posted: 17 Feb 2015 09:57 AM PST NEW HAVEN, Conn., Feb. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An award-winning documentary about hope and healing in the midst of horrific tragedy will air in Denver on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 4 p.m., marking five years since Haiti's historic 2010 earthquake. The documentary will be broadcast on Denver's KBDI, a PBS station. "Unbreakable: A Story of Hope and Healing in Haiti" won the Most Inspirational Documentary Award at the DocMiami International Film Festival in September. The program was a partnership in which the University of Miami-affiliated Project Medishare provided medical expertise and treatment while the Knights of Columbus offered funding of nearly $1.7 million.

New Pentagon chief promises 'candid' advice for Obama Posted: 17 Feb 2015 09:40 AM PST Ashton Carter was sworn in as the new US defense secretary on Tuesday and pledged that he and the top brass would give President Barack Obama their "candid" advice on matters of war and peace. Carter took the oath of office in a ceremony presided over by Vice President Joe Biden, who said the Pentagon chief faced the task of ensuring the American military remained "second to none" and that the government meet its "sacred obligation" to take care of those who volunteer for the armed forces. Carter's predecessors often clashed with the White House, accusing senior aides of trying to micromanage the Pentagon's affairs. The US Senate overwhelming approved Carter's nomination last week, after he signaled an independence of mind on some issues, including voicing his support for sending weapons to Ukraine's army.

Iraq tells United Nations that Islamic State committed genocide Posted: 17 Feb 2015 09:22 AM PST By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iraq told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday that Islamic State militants have committed genocide. They have committed the most heinous criminal terrorist acts against the Iraqi people whether Shi'ite, Sunni, Christians, Turkmen, Shabak or Yazidis," Iraq's U.N. Ambassador Mohamed Ali Alhakim said. The country's Shi'ite-led government, backed by U.S.-led air strikes, has been trying to push back Islamic State since it swept through mainly Sunni Muslim provinces of northern Iraq in June. Alhakim said Iraq needed more help to liberate all areas under Islamic State control.

Kurdish militants demand progress from Turkey or say peace talks may end Posted: 17 Feb 2015 09:15 AM PST By Daren Butler ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Kurdish militants demanded concrete steps from Turkey to advance a fragile peace process on Tuesday, accusing the ruling AK Party of stalling and warning that the negotiations could break down. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu responded with a call for the rebels to declare they have renounced armed struggle - a key government demand to advance talks before a June general election. There has been speculation in recent weeks that jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan would call an end to a conflict which has killed 40,000 people over three decades and stunted development in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast. "Concrete steps should be taken by the AK Party.

Copenhagen attacks challenge soft Nordic approach to radicals Posted: 17 Feb 2015 09:13 AM PST By Sabina Zawadzki and Erik Matzen COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Known for a soft approach to security that emphasizes helping radical Muslim youths with housing and jobs, Denmark may face pressure after the Copenhagen attacks to prioritize tougher laws and more resources for the police. The weekend's deadly shootings at a cafe and synagogue came at a time when the Nordic countries, worried about an increasing number of immigrant youths traveling to fight in Iraq or Syria, have already been considering tougher laws. Countries like Sweden and Denmark have given up traditional Scandinavian neutrality to participate in military missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. "For a while Denmark tried the soft approach but after this weekend we believe it's time for the tough approach," Peter Skaarup, the deputy chairman and justice spokesman for the right-wing populist Danish People's Party told Reuters.

Danish police thought gunman not likely to attack Posted: 17 Feb 2015 08:53 AM PST By Sabina Zawadzki and Balazs Koranyi COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danish authorities had a Copenhagen gunman in their sights even before his attacks on Saturday but did not consider him a threat, police said on Tuesday, even as reports emerged that he had served time in prison with a Muslim radical. The gunman, reported in Danish media to be Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein, was known for violence and gang activity, and served time in jail for stabbing a man. The man first attacked a cafe hosting a free speech event, probably trying to kill Lars Vilks, a Swedish artist who has received death threats for drawings of the Prophet Mohammad. The gunman also attacked a synagogue, killing a guard, before police killed him in Sunday morning shootout.

Islamic State targeted in 14 airstrikes by U.S., allies: task force Posted: 17 Feb 2015 08:37 AM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies have staged six airstrikes around the Syrian town of Kobani, where Kurdish forces have been pushing back Islamic State forces, a joint task force statement said on Tuesday. During a 24-hour period starting early Monday local time, the coalition forces also conducted eight strikes on Islamic State in Iraq, the task force said in a report on its daily action. The six strikes near Kobani destroyed eight Islamic State fighting positions, a checkpoint and a vehicle. The U.S. ...

With Culture, Guilt Can Sometimes Be a Good Thing Posted: 17 Feb 2015 08:27 AM PST I wouldn't put The New Classic on my list of greatest albums of all time, but as far as empty-headed bubblegum rap goes, it's more consistently entertaining than Nicki Minaj's The Pinkprint, which (despite some great singles) gets mired in bland ballads and incongruous sincerity. None of that for Iggy, who tosses off one cheerfully snotty anthemic chorus after another, complete with an affected hood accent. Liking Iggy, even a little bit, is a major aesthetic faux pas, a guilty pleasure, and whether people should feel guilty about culture has been the source of much debate in recent years. The UCLA English professor Megan Stephan speaks for the critical consensus when she declares, "I'll be grateful when the back-and-forth chatter about whether our reading should make us feel guilty fades to a silence that allows me to hear the sound of pages turning." Ignore the elitist sneering of cultural arbiters who don't want you to enjoy Fifty Shades of Grey or The Avengers, these voices say.

Report: Iranian fighter killed in clashes with IS in Iraq Posted: 17 Feb 2015 08:25 AM PST TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An Iranian news agency is reporting the death of an Iranian fighter during a battle with the Islamic State group in Iraq.

Obama’s ‘Crusades’ controversy highlights war on terrorism’s rhetorical minefield Posted: 17 Feb 2015 08:01 AM PST President Barack Obama describes the so-called Islamic State as a "death cult." But critics want him to label its fighters "Islamist radicals." Ahead of the White House's "Countering Violent Extremism" summit, Yahoo News looks at the rhetorical battles in the war on terrorism.

Constitution Check: Is the President actually giving up some of his war powers? Posted: 17 Feb 2015 08:00 AM PST Lyle Denniston, the National Constitution Center's constitutional literacy adviser, looks at how the fundamental question of how war powers are shared between the President and Congress remains an issue in constitutional conflict.

Growing pains: Oil boom turns prairie school to melting pot Posted: 17 Feb 2015 07:42 AM PST Every morning as principal Brad Foss arrives at his school — after just a 60-second commute — he's reminded of oil's giant footprint in this town. There's the revolving-door student roster that reads like ...

Canada cost of fighting IS group tops $100 mln Posted: 17 Feb 2015 07:41 AM PST Ottawa (AFP) - The cost of Canada's six-month bombing mission against the Islamic State group in Iraq was estimated at more than $100 million, according to officials Tuesday.

Japan to give $15.5 million for anti-terror efforts Posted: 17 Feb 2015 06:31 AM PST Japan said Tuesday it will provide $15.5 million in development aid to support anti-terrorism efforts in the Middle East and Africa. The move comes after the recent beheadings of two Japanese hostages ...

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