Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• AP FACT CHECK: Trump trips on Saddam's record
• Army Reserve officer who threatened mosque set for hearing
• US sanctions North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un for rights abuses
• Blair defends Iraq war after damning inquiry report
• Congressman and Iraq War Vet Blasts Trump's Praise of Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein
• Who might Trump pick as running mate?
• Tony Blair's Secret Letters to George W. Bush on Iraq War Released
• Imprisoned transgender soldier Chelsea Manning hospitalized
• Thousands gather to mourn victims of Baghdad blast
• Obama, in shift, to keep 8,400 U.S. troops in Afghanistan until 2017
• 'Please stop saying I was lying,' says ex-UK PM Blair after Iraq war inquiry
• Criticized for sloppy Iraq reporting, U.K. spy agencies pursue reform
• Former US president Bush praises Britain's role in Iraq War
• Imprisoned U.S. soldier Manning hospitalized in Kansas
• British inquiry slams ex-PM Blair for catalog of failures over Iraq war
• Inquiry slams ex-PM Blair for catalogue of failures over Iraq war
• No end to Afghan war: Obama slows US withdrawal
• Britain's Iraq War Reckoning
• Britain's Chilcot Inquiry will shape Blair's legacy. How about Bush's?
• Five things to know about Tony Blair and the Chilcot report
• Syria declares 72-hour ceasefire during Eid
• Islamic State tightens grip on captives held as sex slaves
• Letters: Blair made early Iraq invasion commitment to Bush
• Condemned over Iraq, Blair fights for his reputation
• Iraqi who hammered Saddam's statue says Blair should be put on trial
• A look at bloody attacks around the world this Ramadan
• For Iraqis, British war inquiry changes little
• Iraq planning failure not repeated in Afghanistan - PM Cameron
• Rage against Blair as families mourn Iraq war dead
• The Latest: Bush hasn't read UK Iraq report yet
• Muslims mark end of a Ramadan marred by deadly attacks
• Bush cycles with vets as review blasting Iraq War released
• Labour leader Corbyn apologises for Iraq war on behalf of party
• AP PHOTOS: Muslims celebrate Eid, marking Ramadan's end
• Britain needs more independent ties with U.S. after Iraq: opposition leader
• Iraq planning failure not repeated in Afghanistan: UK's Cameron
• Turkey seeks militants linked to Istanbul attack near Syrian border: media
• Iraq PM accepts interior minister's resignation: official
• A timeline of US troops in Afghanistan since 2001
• Victims of gang violence in Central America flee homes to 'save their lives': U.N.

AP FACT CHECK: Trump trips on Saddam's record Posted: 06 Jul 2016 04:52 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump gives credit where credit isn't due when he brands Saddam Hussein a potent foil of terrorists.

Army Reserve officer who threatened mosque set for hearing Posted: 06 Jul 2016 04:08 PM PDT RAEFORD, N.C. (AP) — A lawyer for an Army Reserve officer accused of leaving bacon outside a mosque and making death threats against some of its members asked a judge on Wednesday for more time to probe the accusations, explaining later that his client has a distinguished military record and deserves due process.

US sanctions North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un for rights abuses Posted: 06 Jul 2016 03:54 PM PDT The United States placed North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on its sanctions blacklist for the first time Wednesday, calling him directly responsible for a long list of serious human rights abuses. "Under Kim Jong-Un, North Korea continues to inflict intolerable cruelty and hardship on millions of its own people, including extrajudicial killings, forced labor, and torture," said Adam Szubin, Acting Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

Blair defends Iraq war after damning inquiry report Posted: 06 Jul 2016 03:50 PM PDT Former British prime minister Tony Blair's case for going to war in Iraq in 2003 was based on flawed evidence and woefully executed, a hard-hitting official inquiry pronounced on Wednesday. The long-awaited Chilcot report offered a damning verdict on Britain's role in the US-led war, detailing the flawed intelligence, questionable legal basis and inadequate preparation for the occupation. The report said Britain deployed troops before diplomatic options had been exhausted.

Congressman and Iraq War Vet Blasts Trump's Praise of Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein Posted: 06 Jul 2016 03:45 PM PDT Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass. — an Iraq War vet — blasted Donald Trump's praise of Saddam Hussein at a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, Tuesday. "Saddam Hussein was a bad guy, right? "Whether you agreed or disagreed with the Iraq War, here's a sentence you would never hear from someone who served there: 'Saddam Hussein was a bad guy, but …' There is no 'but,'" Moulton said.

Who might Trump pick as running mate? Posted: 06 Jul 2016 03:01 PM PDT Donald Trump's pick for vice president could make or break his hopes of defeating Hillary Clinton in the US election. The New York businessman has spoken of his desire to find a seasoned politician who can help force legislation through Congress and offset his lack of political experience. A sensible choice might help overcome the shortcomings of a 70-year-old who has never held elected office and lags an average of nearly five percentage points behind Clinton in national polls.

Tony Blair's Secret Letters to George W. Bush on Iraq War Released Posted: 06 Jul 2016 02:42 PM PDT The United States may have formally made the decision to invade Iraq in 2003, but according to a long-awaited British inquiry into the war, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair also played a key role in the decision. Blair deliberately exaggerated the threat posed by Iraq in an attempt to justify military action, according to the Chilcot report, which spans 12 volumes plus a 150-page summary. The Chilcot Inquiry is named after its chairman Sir John Chilcot and is also known as the Iraq War Inquiry.

Imprisoned transgender soldier Chelsea Manning hospitalized Posted: 06 Jul 2016 02:22 PM PDT KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The soldier imprisoned for sending classified information to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks was briefly hospitalized this week, the U.S. Army confirmed Wednesday without providing details.

Thousands gather to mourn victims of Baghdad blast Posted: 06 Jul 2016 02:17 PM PDT Thousands of Iraqis gathered Wednesday at the site of a Baghdad bombing that killed at least 250 people to mourn the dead and express solidarity with those stricken by the blast. A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle in Baghdad's Karrada district early Sunday as it teemed with shoppers ahead of the holiday marking the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, sparking infernos in nearby buildings. The street running between the charred remains of buildings burned in the attack claimed by the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group was packed with people on Wednesday, some carrying Iraqi flags, others holding candles.

Obama, in shift, to keep 8,400 U.S. troops in Afghanistan until 2017 Posted: 06 Jul 2016 02:16 PM PDT By Jeff Mason and Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday shelved plans to cut the U.S. force in Afghanistan nearly in half by year's end, opting to keep 8,400 troops there through the close of his presidency in January and let his successor determine the path forward. Acknowledging that security in Afghanistan remained precarious and Taliban forces had in some places gained ground, Obama put aside earlier plans to cut the U.S. troop presence from its current level of about 9,800 to 5,500 by the end of 2016. Obama took office in 2009 pledging to wind down the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

'Please stop saying I was lying,' says ex-UK PM Blair after Iraq war inquiry Posted: 06 Jul 2016 02:03 PM PDT By William James LONDON (Reuters) - Tony Blair, the former prime minister who led Britain into war in Iraq in 2003, launched a defense of his legacy following the publication of a highly critical report into the war with a simple message: "Please stop saying I was lying." The long-awaited report into a war which has cast a shadow over British foreign policy for more than a decade found that Blair relied on flawed intelligence and that the way the war was legally authorized was unsatisfactory. Blair faced hostile questioning from national and international media, who said his assurances to former U.S. President George Bush had amounted to a "blank cheque for war" and that he had abandoned diplomatic channels too easily.

Criticized for sloppy Iraq reporting, U.K. spy agencies pursue reform Posted: 06 Jul 2016 02:03 PM PDT By Mark Hosenball LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's foreign spy agency concluded within months of the invasion of Iraq that two key intelligence reports it had received about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction were fabricated, a British inquiry disclosed on Wednesday. In September 2002, the Secret Intelligence Service, known as SIS or MI6, distributed to senior British officials the reports it had received from its sources, alleging that Iraq had "accelerated the production of chemical and biological agents". The reports said Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was determined to maintain a chemical and biological weapon capability, according to the inquiry led by Sir John Chilcot.

Former US president Bush praises Britain's role in Iraq War Posted: 06 Jul 2016 01:52 PM PDT Former US president George W. Bush reiterated his belief Wednesday that the world is "better off" without Saddam Hussein, as a damning inquiry blasted Britain's part in the rush for war with Iraq in 2003. "Despite the intelligence failures and other mistakes he has acknowledged previously, President Bush continues to believe the whole world is better off without Saddam Hussein in power," Bush's spokesman Freddy Ford said in a statement. Britain's former prime minister was at the center of a detailed inquiry that probed Britain's role in the US-led war, examining the flawed intelligence, questionable legal basis and "woefully inadequate" preparation for the occupation.

Imprisoned U.S. soldier Manning hospitalized in Kansas Posted: 06 Jul 2016 01:51 PM PDT (Reuters) - U.S. soldier Chelsea Manning, imprisoned for handing over classified files to pro-transparency site WikiLeaks, was hospitalized, her attorney said on Wednesday, after media reports that Manning had attempted to commit suicide. The Army confirmed Manning, 28, who was born male but identifies as a woman, had been released back into custody from the hospital, American Civil Liberties Union attorney Chase Strangio said. Manning's medical condition was not released.

British inquiry slams ex-PM Blair for catalog of failures over Iraq war Posted: 06 Jul 2016 01:44 PM PDT By Michael Holden and William James LONDON (Reuters) - Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's justification, planning and handling of the Iraq War involved a catalog of failures, a seven-year inquiry concluded on Wednesday in a scathing verdict on Britain's role in the conflict. Eight months before the 2003 invasion, Blair told U.S. President George W. Bush "I will be with you, whatever", eventually sending 45,000 British troops into battle when peace options had not been exhausted, the long-awaited British public inquiry said. More than 13 years since the invasion, Iraq remains in chaos, with large areas under the control of Islamic State militants who have claimed responsibility for attacks on Western cities.

Inquiry slams ex-PM Blair for catalogue of failures over Iraq war Posted: 06 Jul 2016 01:40 PM PDT By Michael Holden and William James LONDON (Reuters) - Former Prime Minister Tony Blair's justification, planning and handling of the Iraq War involved a catalogue of failures, a seven-year inquiry concluded on Wednesday in a scathing verdict on Britain's role in the conflict. Eight months before the 2003 invasion, Blair told U.S. President George W. Bush "I will be with you, whatever", eventually sending 45,000 British troops into battle when peace options had not been exhausted, the long-awaited British public inquiry said. More than 13 years since the invasion, Iraq remains in chaos, with large areas under the control of Islamic State militants who have claimed responsibility for attacks on Western cities.

No end to Afghan war: Obama slows US withdrawal Posted: 06 Jul 2016 01:39 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama scrapped plans Wednesday to cut American forces in Afghanistan by half before leaving office, a dispiriting blow to his hopes of extricating the U.S. after 15 years of fighting. He said he'll leave 8,400 troops to address the country's "precarious" security situation.

Britain's Iraq War Reckoning Posted: 06 Jul 2016 01:36 PM PDT What we know: —Britain's long-awaited Chilcot report found former Prime Minister Tony Blair joined the U.S.-led invasion before "peaceful options" to disarm Saddam Hussain had been exhausted.

Britain's Chilcot Inquiry will shape Blair's legacy. How about Bush's? Posted: 06 Jul 2016 01:09 PM PDT Britain's long-awaited Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War was released Wednesday, offering a harsh rebuke of then-Prime Minister Tony Blair's role in encouraging Britain to join the US invasion of Iraq. The report's release coincides with the 70th birthday of former US President George W. Bush, who pushed for the war in Iraq to eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and remove Saddam Hussein from power.

Five things to know about Tony Blair and the Chilcot report Posted: 06 Jul 2016 12:58 PM PDT Former British prime minister Tony Blair's decision to commit British forces to the 2003 US invasion of Iraq was hasty and ill-reviewed, and undermined the authority of the United Nations Security Council, said a report released on Wednesday after a seven-year inquiry into Mr. Blair's role in the invasion. "It is now clear that policy on Iraq was made on the basis of flawed intelligence and assessments. Blair's government, it said, neglected to exhaust all peaceful options – and often neglect to consult senior ministers on major decisions – before heading to war.

Syria declares 72-hour ceasefire during Eid Posted: 06 Jul 2016 12:48 PM PDT The Syrian army said Wednesday it was observing a 72-hour ceasefire across the country for the holidays marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The announcement did not say if the truce extends to jihadists of the Islamic State (IS) group or Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front, but a security source said they were apparently excluded. As fighting continued on the ground, especially in second city Aleppo, some rebel groups said they would respect the truce although they doubted the seriousness of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Islamic State tightens grip on captives held as sex slaves Posted: 06 Jul 2016 12:33 PM PDT KHANKE, Iraq (AP) — The advertisement on the Telegram app is as chilling as it is incongruous: A girl for sale is "Virgin. Beautiful. 12 years old.... Her price has reached $12,500 and she will be sold soon."

Letters: Blair made early Iraq invasion commitment to Bush Posted: 06 Jul 2016 11:55 AM PDT LONDON (AP) — Letters published by the U.K.'s Iraq War Inquiry show that then-Prime Minister Tony Blair assured U.S. President George W. Bush of his support for regime change in Iraq eight months before the U.S.-led invasion began in March 2003.

Condemned over Iraq, Blair fights for his reputation Posted: 06 Jul 2016 11:46 AM PDT At times close to tears, former prime minister Tony Blair faced the world's media Wednesday to defend his place in history after the damning findings of Britain's inquiry into the Iraq war. There was an apology -- of sorts -- from the former Labour leader, who in 1997 at the age of 43 became Britain's youngest premier in nearly two centuries. "I express more sorrow, regret and apology than you may ever know or can believe," said a hoarse-sounding Blair, his voice breaking.

Iraqi who hammered Saddam's statue says Blair should be put on trial Posted: 06 Jul 2016 11:34 AM PDT By Saif Hameed and Ahmed Rasheed BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The Iraqi man who was filmed attacking Saddam Hussein's statue with a sledgehammer when U.S. troops stormed into Baghdad in 2003 said Iraq was in a better shape under his rule and George W. Bush and Tony Blair should be put on trial "for ruining" it. Kadhim Hassan al-Jabouri was speaking on Wednesday as British former civil servant John Chilcot released a long-awaited report criticizing Britain's role in the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq. The report said that "policy on Iraq was made on the basis of flawed intelligence and assessments", and that claims that Iraq posed a threat by possessing weapons of mass destruction were "presented with unjustified certainty".

A look at bloody attacks around the world this Ramadan Posted: 06 Jul 2016 11:33 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — A series of attacks, most linked to the Islamic State group, has killed nearly 350 people in eight countries during the holy month of Ramadan. The attacks are widely seen as an attempt to distract from a string of battlefield losses suffered by the extremist group in Syria and Iraq, where the borders of its self-styled caliphate are shrinking.

For Iraqis, British war inquiry changes little Posted: 06 Jul 2016 10:20 AM PDT For Iraqis, a British war inquiry criticising former premier Tony Blair means little as, whoever is to blame, they are still suffering the devastating consequences of the 2003 US-led invasion. The Chilcot report was released just days after one of the deadliest bombings ever to hit the country tore through a crowded shopping area in Baghdad, killing at least 250 people. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group, which includes members of Saddam Hussein's toppled regime and has its roots in the insurgency that began after the dictator's overthrow in 2003.

Iraq planning failure not repeated in Afghanistan - PM Cameron Posted: 06 Jul 2016 10:14 AM PDT Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday that Britain's military involvement in Afghanistan had not repeated the planning failures of the 2003 Iraq invasion. "I don't accept that all the same failures are apparent in some way when it comes to planning in Afghanistan," he said in parliament. "In Afghanistan, there was a very clear connection between a Taliban regime which was playing host to al Qaeda," he said.

Rage against Blair as families mourn Iraq war dead Posted: 06 Jul 2016 10:06 AM PDT As protesters outside bayed for Tony Blair's prosecution, inside the building where John Chilcot delivered his damming Iraq War Inquiry report the father of a dead serviceman delivered his own verdict: "My son died in vain". Having waited seven years for the former civil servant to deliver his verdict on Britain's role in the 2003 conflict, bereaved families and anti-war protesters were united in an outpouring of anger. "There is one terrorist in this world that the world needs to be aware of, and his name is Tony Blair, the world's worst terrorist," Sarah O'Connor, whose brother Bob was killed in Iraq in 2005, told a press conference following the report's publication.

The Latest: Bush hasn't read UK Iraq report yet Posted: 06 Jul 2016 10:02 AM PDT LONDON (AP) — The Latest on Britain's inquiry into its role in the Iraq war (all times local):

Muslims mark end of a Ramadan marred by deadly attacks Posted: 06 Jul 2016 09:49 AM PDT Millions of Muslims on Wednesday celebrated the festival at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, marked this year by a series of deadly jihadist attacks. The three-day Eid al-Fitr festival traditionally means family gatherings and the exchange of gifts and sweets after a month of fasting from dawn until dusk. Tens of thousands of worshippers gathered for Eid prayers at Islam's second-holiest site, the Prophet's Mosque in the Saudi city of Medina, just two days after a suicide bombing that killed four security guards in a nearby carpark.

Bush cycles with vets as review blasting Iraq War released Posted: 06 Jul 2016 09:44 AM PDT DALLAS (AP) — Former U.S. President George W. Bush says he still believes the world is better off without Saddam Hussein, despite what he acknowledges were "intelligence failures and other mistakes" leading up to the Iraq War.

Labour leader Corbyn apologises for Iraq war on behalf of party Posted: 06 Jul 2016 09:26 AM PDT London (AFP) - British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn on Wednesday apologised for the Iraq war on behalf of his Labour Party after former Labour prime minister Tony Blair defended his actions despite a damning inquiry report.

AP PHOTOS: Muslims celebrate Eid, marking Ramadan's end Posted: 06 Jul 2016 08:56 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — Muslims around the world are celebrating the Eid al-Fitr holiday, a time for family and feasting, to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan and its daytime fasting.

Britain needs more independent ties with U.S. after Iraq: opposition leader Posted: 06 Jul 2016 08:56 AM PDT Britain needs a more open and independent relationship with the United States to avoid a repeat of the 2003 invasion of Iraq which was an "act of military aggression", opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Wednesday. Corbyn, a veteran anti-war campaigner who opposed the conflict at the time, was speaking in parliament during a debate on Britain's joining the 2003 invasion following the publication of the long-awaited Chilcot report into the war. "The war was not, in any way, as Sir John Chilcot says, a last resort," Corbyn said.

Iraq planning failure not repeated in Afghanistan: UK's Cameron Posted: 06 Jul 2016 08:44 AM PDT Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday that Britain's military involvement in Afghanistan had not repeated the planning failures of the 2003 Iraq invasion. "I don't accept that all the same failures are apparent in some way when it comes to planning in Afghanistan," he said in parliament. "In Afghanistan, there was a very clear connection between a Taliban regime which was playing host to al Qaeda," he said.

Turkey seeks militants linked to Istanbul attack near Syrian border: media Posted: 06 Jul 2016 08:41 AM PDT By Daren Butler ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish authorities are seeking two suspected Islamic State militants thought to be linked to last week's Istanbul airport attack and believed to be in hiding near the border with Syria, a Turkish newspaper said on Wednesday. Turkey has jailed a total 30 suspects pending trial over the triple suicide bombing at Ataturk Airport, which killed 45 people and wounded hundreds, the deadliest in a series of bombings this year in Turkey. Turkish officials are not commenting on reports about the investigation, although one government official has said the attackers were Russian, Uzbek and Kyrgyz nationals.

Iraq PM accepts interior minister's resignation: official Posted: 06 Jul 2016 08:40 AM PDT Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has accepted the interior minister's resignation, which he tendered following a Baghdad bombing that killed at least 250, an official in the premier's office said Wednesday. Interior Minister Mohammed Ghabban criticised the security system as fundamentally flawed and said he could no longer accept responsibility for the consequences, calling for a series of changes that would ultimately increase the ministry's power. Iraqi media also reported that Abadi had accepted the resignation, but the premier did not issue an official statement on the matter.

A timeline of US troops in Afghanistan since 2001 Posted: 06 Jul 2016 08:37 AM PDT During the nearly 15 years since the United States went to war in Afghanistan, the number of American troops there spiraled to 100,000, then dropped slightly below 10,000. President Barack Obama had planned to drop the number to 5,500 by the end of this year. Now he has decided to leave about 8,400 through the end of his presidency.

Victims of gang violence in Central America flee homes to 'save their lives': U.N. Posted: 06 Jul 2016 08:23 AM PDT By Anastasia Moloney BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Children and women whose husbands were killed in front of them are among the growing numbers of people fleeing gang violence in Central America, the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) said, as it urged governments to do more to identify and protect refugees. UNHCR said the number of refugees and asylum seekers from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras reached 109,800 in 2015 – a more than five-fold increase over the past three years.

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