Iraq News Updates -- August 17, 2011

Biggest Threat to Iraq? Iran-Backed Militias, Not Al Qaeda, US Official Says -- Christian Science Monitor

The series of bombings that hit Iraq Monday bear the markings of Al Qaeda, but in the long term, Iran-backed militias are a greater problem, says a top US military official.



On the heels one of the deadliest weeks of the year in Iraq, a senior US military official says Iranian-backed militias, not Al Qaeda in Iraq, pose the gravest threat to the country’s future.



Though the car bomb attacks that hit 13 cities in Iraq Monday bear the markings of Al Qaeda in Iraq, militias are the greater concern because of the support they “are getting on a daily basis from Iran," said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, spokesman for US forces in Iraq.



The military has found caches of rockets supplied by Iran and “manufactured as recently as 2010," he added.



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More News On Iraq

US general: Iran-backed groups biggest Iraq threat -- AP

Iranian-Backed Militias Pose Top Threat to Iraq, General Says -- Bloomberg

Iran is the biggest threat to Iraq's security, says Pentagon official -- CNN

U.S. official says Iraq can defend itself -- USA Today

US recently carried out two air strikes in Iraq: general -- AFP

U.S. Says It Carried Out Unilateral Air Strikes In Iraq -- Radio Free Europe

Official: Bloodiest day of the year won’t change U.S. drawdown, Iraq’s government will -- Stars and Stripes

Official: U.S. withdrawal plans in Iraq unchanged -- UPI

Al-Qaeda Targeting Police and Security Forces in Iraq -- Blog Critics

Iraq's bloodiest day revives al Qaeda fears -- Reuters

Bloody Ramadan: More Than 100 Killed in Iraq So Far -- CNS News



Attacks in Iraq Heighten Political Tensions -- New York Times

Iraq PM names interim defence minister: aide -- AFP

IRAQ: Nouri Maliki's uneasy alliance with Muqtada Sadr's movement -- L.A. Times



IRAQ: Is al-Maliki taking sides with U.S. enemies? -- Kevin Baron, Stars and Stripes

Al Maliki has to make some tough choices -- Gulf News editorial

Surging Iraq violence: Have we seen this story before? -- Dan Murphy, Christian Science Monitor

Iraq’s ‘burning’ question -- Khaleej Times editorial

TIMELINE-Deadliest attacks in Iraq in last year -- Reuters

Iraq profile and timeline -- BBC

Iraq News Updates -- August 1, 2011

PRESS BRIEFING - U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addresses the media during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, July 31, 2011. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

Mullen Says That Iraq Indecision On US Troops Threatens Smooth Drawdown -- Washington Post

MOSUL, Iraq — Iraq’s indecision on whether to ask American forces to stay beyond the end of the year is pushing the U.S. close to the point where a smooth, safe troop withdrawal will be jeopardized, the top U.S. military officer said Monday as he arrived in the country.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that American and Iraqi operations over the last several weeks have tamped down a recent surge in violence there, but he’s not sure how long that will last.

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More News On Iraq

Top US Military Officer Calls for Iraqi Decision on Troop Withdrawal -- Voice of America
Admiral Mullen: Iraq Needs to Decide on Troop Withdrawal -- Voice of America
Top US officer arrives in Iraq: military -- AFP
Iraq boosts purchase of U.S. jets, but still no decision on troops -- Stars and Stripes/McClatchy News
Al-Maliki Confirms Need for Foreign Military Trainers Following Withdrawal of U.S. Forces -- Memri
U.S. sees dramatic drop in Iran-backed attacks in Iraq -- Reuters
Iraq ‘less safe’ than a year ago, US inspector says -- Boston.com/Washington Post
Iraq civilian deaths in July match highest for 2011 -- Reuters
Iraq death toll for July second highest in 2011 -- AFP
Iraq is MORE dangerous now than a year ago after resurgence in violence by Shi'ite militias -- Daily Mail
Analysis: Kurds Serve Warning as U.S. Withdrawal Nears -- New York Times/Reuters
Iraq set to double planned purchase of F-16s, but will US troops stay into 2012? -- Christian Science Monitor
Iraq declares holiday as mercury soars -- Yahoo News/AFP
Washington aims to retain garrison force in Iraq -- The Militant

Iraq News Updates -- July 4, 2011

The scene of an attack in Iraq (file photo)

In Iraq, New Wave Of Attacks Target Police, Iraqi Soldiers -- Washington Post

BAGHDAD — Bombings and booby-trapped vehicles targeting police and Iraqi soldiers killed at least 10 people and injured dozens more Monday, ending a relatively peaceful week across Iraq.

By midday, none of the attacks appear to have targeted U.S. troops or military installations as American diplomatic and military officials prepared to mark the July 4 holiday with a series of events.

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More News On Iraq

Iraq civilian deaths at highest level since January -- Arab News
Bombings, Shootings Kill 8 People in Iraq -- Voice of America
Eight killed after attacks in Iraq target security forces -- Reuters
Officials: Insurgent attacks kill 7 Iraqis -- AP
Separate Attacks in Iraq Kill 4 -- Voice of America
11 killed in spate of bomb attacks in Iraq -- Xinhuanet
8 killed in separate attacks in Iraq -- CNN
Gunmen Kill 6 Iraqi Policemen -- Voice of America
Taking Lead, Iraqis Hope U.S. Special Operations Commandos Stay -- New York Times
Iraq military cracks down on militias and arms smuggling -- Reuters
Call to keep 13,000 US troops in Iraq -- Financial Times
Iraq open to reconciliation with anti-US fighters -- AFP
Iranian dissidents in Iraq want refuge in 3rd country -- Miami Herald/McClatchy News
IRAQ: A bad place for children -- IRIN
Iraq Parliament Starts Debate On Reviving National Oil Company -- Wall Street Journal
The Propaganda Narrative of U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq -- Jeremy R. Hammond, Foreign Policy Journal

Iraq News Updates -- June 29, 2011

No Quick Solution To Political Crisis, U.S. Forces Extension Expected - Analysts -- Aswat Al-Iraq

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Political analysts excluded a quick solution to the present political crisis, even following President Jalal Talabani's call for further dialogue, expecting that the extension of the U.S.
forces will take place, according to an agreement among political entities.

Analyst Ibraheem al-Sumaida'i told Aswat al-Iraq that "any attempt to meet around one table at this stage is a productive endeavor, but the return to Barzani's initiative will be more serious and liable to have solutions with the attendance of Barzani himself."

"A new initiative will be useless," he stressed.

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More News On Iraq

US forces 'disappointed' by Iraq freeing bomb suspects -- AFP
Iraqi Kurds tense as U.S. deadline nears -- eKurds
Security for U.S. diplomats in Iraq still not ready, report says -- Washington Post
Lots of Work Ahead As Withdrawal Deadline Will Move 46,000 Troops Out of Iraq By End of Year -- FOX News
Three killed in Iraq bombings -- AFP
Iraq sentences Al-Qaeda chief's widow to life -- AFP
China opens oil field in Iraq. -- New York times
INTERVIEW-Iraq can barely handle oil security in south -- Reuters
Is Iran killing U.S. soldiers in Iraq? -- Robert Zeliger, Passport/Foreign Policy
Iraq: A timeline of foreign occupation -- Al Jazeera
Timeline: Iraq 2003 - 2011 -- Al Jazeera
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,466 -- AP

Iraq News Updates -- April 11, 2011

Demonstrators hold a picture of Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on Saturday at a rally. He issued a call for the United States to leave Iraq on the anniversary of Saddam Hussein's fall. Kareem Raheem/Reuters

On Anniversary Of Saddam's Fall, Iraq's Sadr Issues Warning On US Presence -- Christian Science Monitor

Hardline Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr rallied thousands of followers Saturday. Their message: United States civilians as well as troops must leave by the end of the year.

Hardline Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr mobilized tens of thousands of followers Saturday, using the anniversary of the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s regime to issue a warning to American civilians as well as soldiers that it was time to go.

Far from Baghdad's Firdous Square, where US Marines helped Iraqis bring down Saddam Hussein’s statue in 2003, the cleric’s supporters marched from Sadr City to Mustansiriya Square, near a major university in northeast Baghdad. Black smoke rose from the square from the burning American flags, and protesters set up a grisly display of Americans in business suits being burned in cages.

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More News On Iraq

Iraqi cleric threatens to bring feared Mahdi Army militia out of retirmenet if American soldiers don’t leave -- The Daily Mail
Iraqi Cleric Vows to Reactivate Militia if US Forces Stay -- Voice of America
Iraqi cleric warns of violence if U.S. troops don't go -- Reuters
Iraq's Sadr warns of resistance if US forces stay -- AFP
Al-Sadr Calls for Resistance Eight Years After Fall of Baghdad -- Bloomberg
Iraqis demonstrate against U.S. troop presence -- CNN
Iraq Protests Urge U.S. Out Sooner -- NPR
Iraqis Protest U.S. After Comments From Gates -- New York Times
Pentagon's second thoughts on Iraq withdrawal -- MSNBC
6 killed, 20 wounded in 2 car bombs in Iraq's former insurgent stronghold of Fallujah -- Canadian Press
Iraqi officials: 6 killed in bombings, assassinations in Baghdad -- CNN
Should US stay in Iraq, or leave? -- Korea Times

Christians Are Now Targeted In Iraq

In Iraq, Christians Fear They Could Be Wiped Out – Like Jews Before Them -- Christian Science Monitor

The Oct. 31 attack on a Baghdad church – the worst in recent memory – has spurred a fresh exodus among Iraq's Christian community, already decimated by the war.

In the flickering candlelight of Our Lady of Salvation Church, Nagam Riyadh sits against a pillar singing Ave Maria, her voice rising to the shrapnel-marked rafters.

“We are singing the hymns we couldn’t finish on Sunday,” says Ms. Riyadh, who was in the choir on Oct. 31 when gunmen stormed the church in an attack that has traumatized the Christian community here and raised questions about its future.

Read more ....

More News On Iraq

Baghdad Attacks Fuel Christian Fears -- New York Times
Bombs kill six Baghdad Christians, sow panic -- AFP
Iraq's Christian community hit by new wave of attacks -- The Telegraph
Christian areas targeted in Baghdad attacks -- BBC
Bombings target Christian neighbourhoods in Baghdad -- The Guardian
Christians targeted in Iraq attacks -- Al Jazeera
Blasts target Iraq Christians, 3 dead, dozens hurt -- Reuters
Iraq's Christians at Risk From Targeted Violence -- Atlantic Wire
French asylum for Iraqi Christians -- Al Jazeera
UN condemns attack on Iraqi Christians -- Washington Post/AP
On air: Is it best for Christians to leave the Muslim world? -- BBC News

Mortars wound 7 near Baghdad's Green Zone -- CNN
10 killed, 27 injured in Iraq attacks -- Sify News
Iraq gripped by new Sunni-led insurgency -- UPI (Special Reports)
Factbox: Security developments in Iraq -- Reuters
Round-up of Daily Violence in Iraq - Monday 8 November, 2010 -- McClatchy News

Iraq power-sharing talks resume as Allawi ends boycott -- AFP
Iraq PM Maliki likely to win support for second term -- Reuters
British troops face probe over Iraq abuse allegations -- The Telegraph
Three soldiers investigated for alleged Iraqi abuse -- AFP
Iran role wanes in Iraq: US officer -- AFP
Back to Baghdad? Recovering Iraq to emerge as 'exciting' new tourist destination -- The Daily Mail