CitizenSugar -- Breaking News, Together.

President Bush Calls Iraq War a Success

LibertySugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:01:50 -0800

While debris from collapsing financial institutions continue to fall during the final days of the Bush Administration, the President has found something he considers a "success" — the Iraq war.

In an interview played on Japanese TV this week, a "very pleased" Bush said:

I think the decision to remove Saddam Hussein was right. . . . We are bringing troops home because of the success in Iraq. But Iraq is not yet completely safe. So there will be a US presence for a while there at the request of the Iraqi government. The United States is willing to continue to help. Most countries there within a very broad coalition have come home but we want to help this government.

Since the war began, more than 4,200 US soldiers have died, along with hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. And don't forget the monetary cost. At the five-year anniversary, the cost of the Iraq war topped $600 billion — perhaps Bush forgot his original prediction that the war would cost only $60 billion. Despite the human and financial cost, do you think the Iraq war will ultimately be a success?

Source

War Slang: New Words From US Soldiers

CitizenSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:30:54 -0800

Slang is hard to define, but you know it when you hear it. It's sarcastic and witty (when it's good) and establishes social bonds. War slang is no different, though it serves the additional function of exposing military problems. Slang from earlier wars — skedaddle, triumph, ballistic — has made a home in our vernacular, and now US soldiers in Iraq are playing with words, too. Check out what they're saying:

Splurge: Mocking term for "surge."
Hillbilly armor: Improvised vehicle armor, salvaged from digging through landfills for scrap metal to bolster armor on vehicles.
Sandbox: Iraq
Embrace the suck: The situation is bad; deal with it.
Geardo: The guy who has to have all the latest and greatest gear on his uniform, yet doesn’t know how to use it.

To see the rest,

Iraq Demands US Troops Out By 2011

CitizenSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:25:04 -0700

Iraq Demands US Troops Out by 2011 Iraq has demanded a clear commitment from the US that its forces will have left its soil by the end of 2011. The stance was revealed in a newly toughened-up version of a draft military pact that could eventually see the US presence forced to make their exit much sooner. With time fast running out to seal the deal, the Iraqi Cabinet today gave Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister, approval to submit a series of proposed amendments to the US side for further negotiation.

What You Could Buy For $1 Trillion — Besides the Iraq War

CitizenSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:00:04 -0700

Citizen Rob Simpson set out on a mission: to find out what else the US could have purchased for the $1 trillion dollars the war will probably cost. As with superhumanly large numbers, most recently and famously, the $700 billion bailout, it's helpful to put the number in concrete terms. That's what Simpson did with his new book What We Could Have Done With the Money.

The book's corresponding website has a ticker on it, calculating how much money has been spent since you've been looking at the site. I had it up for a bit this morning and presto, $25 million gone. Here's the entertaining (like a haunted house is entertaining) part of the website: you can "shop" with a $1 trillion dollar credit card. Anything from sports teams to Air Force One is up for sale — and if you choose the plane, the site asks you, "quantity"? The cost of the plane is only $325 million. I tried and bought every NFL franchise, Dracula's castle, and a theme park and didn't even come close.

To see what else $1 trillion buys,

Front Page: Foreclosures Grow by 70%, US Hands Province to Iraqis, Pirate Attacks Up 75%

CitizenSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 06:58:31 -0700

Foreclosures Grow by 70%:
The number of homes in a state of foreclosure grew 70 percent in the third quarter of this year, compared with the same time last year. Almost 766,000 homes received at least one foreclosure related notice between July and September. By the end of the year it's thought there will be a million bank-owned properties for sale, or a third of all houses on the market.

US Hands Province to Iraqis:
Iraqis have been given control of security of the province of Babil by the US military. This marks the 12th of 18 provinces to be given back to Iraqi control. Babil has seen much sectarian violence including a clash two days ago between militants and tribesmen which killed 15 people.

Pirate Attacks Up 75%:
On the Ukranian arms ship hijacked by Somali pirates, food and water are running low. So far only $1 million has been collected toward the pirates' initial $20 million ransom demand. Pirate attacks are up 75 percent this year off the coast of Somalia. A NATO flotilla is sailing to the waters now to begin anti-piracy operations in the next few days.

Source

Will the Recession Cause the End of the War in Iraq?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0700

While the subject of a timeline for withdrawal from Iraq has been hotly debated, it's a decision that might prove moot. The US may very well have to leave whether it's considered strategically correct or not. The democratically elected Iraqi government may actually want to employ their sovereignty, leading both US and Iraqi negotiators reportedly close to setting a withdrawal date, mostly at the insistence of Iraq. The agreement will likely require all US forces to leave the nation by the end of 2011 and by all cities by next summer. It still has to be approved by the Iraqi parliament.

The agreement comes as the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq is released — and the picture isn't so rosy. The surge, which coincided with a downturn in violence, may not even be the key reason for that result but rather just one contributing factor. A major reason, states the NIE is the truce with the Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr as well as the alliance with the Sunni insurgents, both of which occurred at roughly the same time. The bad news is that according to General David Patraeus, the gains made in Iraq recently are “fragile” and “reversible” due to a series of rising regional tensions.

To see where the recession fits in,

Front Page: Bush Defends Economic Measures, China's Media Freedoms to End, US Pushes for Iraq Security Deal

CitizenSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:00:41 -0700

Bush Defends Measures:
In a speech at the US Chamber of Commerce moments ago, President Bush defended the government's recent intervention in the financial crisis as measures of "last resort," saying that it will "take a while" for the credit system to thaw and that Americans can be confident it will. He said of the intervention, "Had the government not acted. . . We would have been forced to respond with even more drastic and costly measures later on."

China's Media Freedoms to End:
The rules that allowed greater freedom for foreign reporters during the Olympics are set to expire. There has been no word yet whether they will be extended, tossed, or traded for a new set of rules. The rules that allowed journalists to travel around China without applying for permission did not apply to Chinese journalists. Many hope the freedom will expand as a legacy of the Games.
US Pushes for Iraq Security Deal:
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is seeking to extend the US mandate in Iraq which is set to expire later this year. The details of the planned draft would have US troops withdraw from Iraq by 2011. Official approval by Congress isn't required though approval from Iraq, is. The current mandate expires on Dec. 31.

Source

Front Page: Key al-Qaeda Leader Killed, Bush, Paulson Promise Improvements, Austrian Incest Dad Fit For Trial

CitizenSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:00:18 -0700

Key al-Qaeda Leader Killed:
The US military has announced that the second-in-command of al-Qaeda in Iraq has been killed. The militant leader Abu Qaswarah had ties to senior al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He was killed in a raid on Oct. 5 in Mosul, a city described as the military as one of the group's last strongholds.
Bush, Paulson Promise Improvements:
President Bush and Treasury Secretary Paulson said today that confidence and cash will rehabilitate the economy, but that improvements will take time and patience. Bush said he's confident the economy will "come back" in the long run. Speaking on the $250 billion bank investment announced yesterday, Paulson said, "There's no doubt that the way to get the maximum bang for the taxpayers here was to invest in banks."
Austrian Incest Dad Fit For Trial:
Josef Fritzl, the Austrian man accused of holding his daughter in the cellar for 24 years and fathering seven children with her, has been declared mentally fit to stand trial. The court said the psychiatric evaluation of the 73-year-old found him lucid enough, but that he suffers from a "profound personality disorder."

Source

State Dept's Use Of Private Contractors To Investigate Iraq Contractors May Be Illegal

CitizenSugar — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:45:29 -0700

State Dept's Use Of Private Contractors To Investigate Iraq Contractors May Be Illegal In an apparent violation of federal regulations, the State Department has outsourced to private contractors the responsibility to investigate possible crimes committed by security contractors in Iraq. Earlier this year, the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security hired the private firm US Investigations Services (USIS) to fill positions in the newly created Force Investigation Unit (FIU) that investigates potential misuses of force against civilians by US security contractors.

Sunni Volunteers to Start Getting Paycheck Next Month

CitizenSugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:48 -0700

The Iraqi government is set to start paying nearly 54,000 Sunni soldiers in their fight against al-Qaeda. However, this shift doesn’t mean the US is ready to leave anytime soon according to Lt. General Lloyd Austin, the No. 2 US commander in Iraq.

The transfer is however, a continuation of the trend marking progress in Iraq as more and more of the Iraqi military take over the reigns in regions like Anbar and Baghdad. In the case of Anbar, the US transferred control three weeks ago, he says, "for the foreseeable future, I am not forecasting a further drawdown of capability in Anbar." He still anticipates careful monitoring of Iraq as they take over payments for the Sons of Iraq — previously being funded by the US government.

The Sons of Iraq are a force made mainly of ex-Saddam loyalists who decided to fight al-Qaeda and are believed to be a key group in the decline of sectarian violence in Iraq. According to Austin the region has seen less than 200 attacks a week in 16 of the 17 weeks and four or fewer attacks in the capital for most of the past three months. He says of the force, "We will continue to follow up in the future to ensure that they get paid and that they do, in fact, transition to meaningful employment."

Source

Front Page: Stocks Rally on Bailout Plan, I-35 Bridge Has First Day, South Korea Withdraws Troops, Prison Riots

CitizenSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:00:47 -0700

Stocks Rally on Bailout Plan:
European stocks rebounded sharply after US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced yesterday evening plans to introduce new laws to buy hundreds of billions of bad debt from struggling banks. Options include establishing a government agency to buy bad loans, a plan that could, "ultimately undermine the dollar, push up inflation" according to one expert.

I-35 Bridge Has First Day:
The rebuilt I-35 W Bridge in Minneapolis had its first full day of service yesterday, three months ahead of schedule. Hundreds of vehicles lined up on both sides of the span to inch across shortly before 5 a.m. The 10-lane, $234 million span replaced the bridge that collapsed on August 1, 2007, killing 13 and injuring 145.

South Korea Withdraws Troops:
South Korea is set to completely withdraw its remaining troops in Iraq by the end of the year. The country has had troops stationed in Iraq for a reconstruction mission at the request of the US. From a high of 3,600 troops, now only 520 remain. The Defense Minister said, "There is no more need for us to stay there."
More Than 20 Die in Prison Riots:
Over 20 inmates in an overcrowded Tijuana prison died in riots this week according to police. The violence broke out after a prisoner died, apparently after abuse from a guard. The prison was built to hold 3,000 and now houses 8,000.

Source

Soldier Gets Seven-Month Sentence In Iraq Murder Case

CitizenSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:07:06 -0700

Soldier Gets Seven-Month Sentence in Iraq Murder Case A US soldier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder and was sentenced to seven months in prison Thursday in the deaths of four Iraqis. The relatively lenient sentence for Spc. Belmor Ramos was part of a deal that will see him testify against others alleged to have been involved. The four unidentified Iraqi men were bound, blindfolded, shot in the head, and dumped in a Baghdad canal, killings prosecutors said were in retribution for casualties in Ramos's unit at the time.

Front Page: Fed Pumps in Money, Petraeus Leaves Iraq, Rivals Sign Power Sharing Agreement

CitizenSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 07:00:17 -0700

Fed Pumps in Money:
The Federal Reserve has added $70 billion of reserves into banks, the largest cash infusion since the attacks of 9/11. They're hoping to reverse a surge in borrowing costs caused by the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Meanwhile, stocks in Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong all fell sharply.

Petraeus Leaves Iraq:
Gen. David Petraeus has handed over command of the US military in Iraq to Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno amid praise from Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Upon leaving, Petraeus said, ". . . the reality is that there has been significant progress but there are still serious challenges.” His successor Odierno warned of the progress saying, "gains are fragile and reversible."

Rivals Sign Power Sharing Agreement:
And end to 28 years of uninterrupted power, Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has signed an agreement with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to divide the responsibilities for the troubled country. Mugabe said of the plan, “we are committed to the deal. We will do our best, and Tsvangirai said it means he, “sees the return of hope to all our lives.” Among the audience watching the signing were many opposition workers who had been in hiding after government sponsored violence forced them to flee.

Source

Car Bomb in Iraq Kills at Least 32, Wounds 43

CitizenSugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:23:19 -0700

Car Bomb in Iraq Kills at Least 32, Wounds 43 A car bomb ripped through a crowded commercial district in a mainly Shiite town on Friday, killing at least 32 people, Iraqi officials said — the latest attack north of Baghdad where violence has been slower to decline than elsewhere in the country. The explosion in Dujail, which wounded 43 others, was apparently targeting a police station but instead badly damaged a nearby medical clinic, according to police. Concrete barriers largely protected the police station, the officials said.

Front Page: Bush to Announce Troop Levels, Thai PM Told to Resign, Kim Jong-Il's Health Questioned

CitizenSugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:00:05 -0700

Bush on Troop Levels:
In moments, President Bush is set to order a reduction of 8,000 more combat and support troops out of Iraq by February, leaving about the same level for the rest of the year. Bush's address today may be the final stamp on the war during his presidency. Of the 146,000 US troops in Iraq, there have been hints that troops could come home in the first half of 2009 if conditions improve.

Thai PM Told to Resign:
The Thai Prime Minister has been ordered to resign after being found guilty of constitutional misdeeds on a TV cooking show. He was found to have violated the ban on ministers having outside interests by accepting money to host the show. His entire cabinet must step down as well.

Kim Jong-Il's Health Questioned:
North Korea's 60th anniversary today is marked by boasts of its "war-deterring" nuclear capabilities, and questions whether its leader, Kim Jong-Il would appear. No plans for the massive military parades usually seen have been made, and Kim Jong-Il hasn't been seen in public since mid-August. The conspicuous absence raises questions of his health.

Source

Woodward: "Surge" Not Solely Responsible For Decline In Iraq Violence

CitizenSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:25:24 -0700

Woodward: "Surge" Not Solely Responsible For Decline in Iraq Violence In the Summer of 2007, the high of 1,550 attacks a week fell below 800 — nearly a 50 percent reduction. It has continued to fall over the past year. Why did the violence drop so dramatically? In Washington, conventional wisdom translated these events into a simple view: The surge had worked. But the full story was more complicated. At least three other factors were as important as, or even more important than, the surge. These factors either have not been reported publicly or have received less attention than the influx of troops.

Thousands Protest the War at the Republican Convention

CitizenSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:00:13 -0700

While the Republicans prepared for a subdued opening to their convention, the protesters were out in full-force. An event called "March on the RNC" drew 8,000 to 10,000 people with seven arrests.

The group chanted slogans like "war is not pro-life" and displayed signs against President Bush, who canceled plans to speak at the convention because of the hurricane. The protesters paraded across St. Paul, from the state capitol to the Xcel Center, where it's expected that John McCain will accept the Republican nomination later this week.

To see video of the event,

Front Page: McCain Powder Not Dangerous, Iraq Withdrawal Agreed Upon, 200,000 Muslims Protest

CitizenSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:54:24 -0700

McCain Powder Not Dangerous:
Two of McCain's campaign offices received suspicious letters and white powder yesterday — the substance has been deemed not dangerous by police and fire officials. The Denver and Manchester, NH, offices reacted quickly to the letters with Denver return addresses. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist also received a letter with powder that has been deemed nontoxic.

Iraq WIthdrawal Agreed Upon:
The US has agreed to remove combat troops from cities by next June and from the rest of Iraq by 2011. The schedule, which the Bush administration calls "aspirational goals" rather than deadlines, depends on the stability of Iraq. Ending combat operations in Iraq in less than a year didn't seem possible even a short time ago.

200,000 Muslims Protest:
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims gathered in Indian Kashmir's main city today in the largest protest against Indian rule in two months of conflict. Long lines and huge groups of people prayed and spoke as part of the protest sparked in June in a land dispute. One protester said, "This is a freedom movement, a people's movement. We are united to fight India until we get freedom." 68,000 have died in Kashmir conflicts since 1989.

Source

Front Page: Spanish Plane Crash Possible Cause, Pakistan Suicide Attack Kills 60, Rice Surprise Visit to Iraq

CitizenSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:56:58 -0700

Spanish Plane Crash Possible Cause:
The plane that crashed in Madrid yesterday and killed 153 people, including two babies and 20 children, had reported an overheated air intake valve before the first attempt at takeoff. The problem was reported and the equipment turned off to fix it. It's not known if this is the only factor in Spain's worst air disaster in almost 25 years.

Pakistan Suicide Attack Kills 60:
Killing 60 and wounding dozens more, a suicide bomber attacked Pakistan's largest military munitions plant. The Pakistan Taliban has claimed responsibility. The violence comes amid political uncertainty in the country following the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf earlier this week.

Rice Surprise Visit to Iraq:
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice surprised Baghdad with a visit to discuss the future of US forces in Iraq. Amid negotiations over the timing of the final withdrawal of US forces, reports suggest that a compromise draft agreement of the plan is being considered by both governments. RIce will meet with Prime Minister Nouri Maliki during her visit.

Source

Iraqi Hit Squads to Target Officials and Troops Training in Iran

CitizenSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:00:52 -0700

Iraqi Shi'ite assassination teams are being readied in four locations in Iran, with the mission to return to Iraq and kill specific Iraqi officials before targeting US and Iraqi troops. The info comes from captured militia fighters and sources within Iraq. A senior US military intelligence officer confirmed the story under the condition of anonymity, acknowledging that disclosing the info is an attempt to pressure Iran to suspend the training and prevent militia fighters from returning to Iraq. To this end, "Wanted" posters picturing the men thought to be involved.

The fighters are expected to return to Iraq between now and October, and the US is encouraging the Iraqi government to confront Iran on the issue. It's thought that part of the reason violence has declined is that the militants have moved from Basra and Sadr City to Iran. The fighters are thought to be offshoots of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's militia having made their own groups after al-Sadr declared a cease-fire with the Iraqi government in August 2007.

Are the training pockets small and isolated incidents, or does it put the notion that the surge has worked to quell violence into question?

Source

Front Page: Phelps Breaks Gold Record, Russian Convoy Violates Truce, Contractors Cost US $85 Billion

CitizenSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 07:00:50 -0700

Phelps Breaks Gold Record:
US swimmer Michael Phelps has broken the record for most Olympic gold won by scoring his 10th and 11th in a double victory in races today. A win in the 200m butterfly gave him his 4th gold for these Olympics, keeping him on track to take home eight golds for these games. The most golds ever won prior to Phelps was nine.

Russian Convoy Violates Truce:
A Russian military convoy has moved deep into Georgia today in violation of a new truce agreement. Georgia's soldiers have retreated following the truce and the new movement by the Russians surprised the few remaining. The new movement came 12 hours after the cease-fire plan supposed to end the fighting that has uprooted an estimated 100,000 people.

Contractors Cost US $85 Billion:
Between 2003 and 2007 the US government spent $85 billion on contractors to support the Iraq war. The figure is likely to top $100 billion by the end of 2008, according to a review by the Congressional Budget Office. There are currently 190,000 employed on a one-to-one ratio with military personnel. Contractors have been used in Iraq at a much larger scale than in any other major conflict.

Source

Iraqi Shi'ite Cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr To Disarm If US Withdraws On Timetable

CitizenSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:10:59 -0700

Iraqi Shi'ite Cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr To Disarm If US Withdraws On Timetable Influential Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr would dissolve his Mehdi Army militia if the United States starts withdrawing troops according to a set timetable, a spokesman said. The statement comes at a crucial point in talks between Baghdad and Washington over a new security pact that will provide a legal basis for U.S. troops to operate in Iraq

Front Page: Bin Laden Driver Sentenced, 13 Dead in Texas Bus Crash, Iraq Proposes Timetable

CitizenSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:54:43 -0700

Bin Laden Driver Sentenced:
A panel of military officers have sentenced the convicted former driver of Osama bin Laden to five and a half years in prison. Ignoring the prosecution's pleas for a strict sentence, the 66 month decision means that the first detainee convicted of a war crime in court could complete his punishment by the end of the year. The military judge said he had already planned to give credit for the 61 months the detainee has already served.

13 Dead in Texas Bus Crash:
A charter bus carrying 55 church members rolled on its side killing 13 instantly and sending 24 to the hospital. A blown tire caused the bus to run off a highway overpass. The passengers had been on their way to a religious festival honoring the Virgin Mary.

Iraq Proposes Timetable:
Iraqi negotiators have decided on October, 2010, as the deadline when combat troops will have left the country. US troops will begin to withdraw from the streets in the middle of next year, and be gone by 2010, though some support units would stay on. If agreed upon by President Bush, the schedule will be close to the proposal of Barack Obama.

Source

Iraq Has $79 Billion Surplus — What's the US Deficit Again?

LibertySugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:15:00 -0700

Thanks to rising oil prices, Iraq will enjoy a $79 billion surplus by the end of the year, according to a report requested by a bipartisan group of senators. While the US has spent $48 billion in American taxpayer money on Iraq's reconstruction since 2005, Iraq has spent only a fraction of its oil revenue on reconstruction projects. And, Iraq spent only 1 percent of its 2005-2007 budget to maintain existing projects already funded by Americans or Iraqis. Thus, preinvasion promises that Iraqi oil money would finance the rebuilding of Iraq have gone unfulfilled.

The Central Bank of Iraq cites a lack of expertise in Iraqi ministries along with security problems as reasons for the lack of spending. There seems to be a vicious cycle: Iraq can't use its money to increase security because there's not enough security.

Congressional Democrats have already called for Iraq to spend its own money on reconstruction. Since the US just predicted a record $489 billion deficit for 2009, hopefully Iraq's windfall surplus will be put to use soon. Should Americans struggling with rising oil prices be frustrated that Iraq is sitting on oil profits while America pays for the reconstruction?

Source

More Than 10,000 Detainees Released in Iraq

CitizenSugar — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:50:14 -0700

Open Door Policy? More Than 10,000 Detainees Released in Iraq The US military said Saturday it has released more than 10,000 detainees in Iraq so far this year — more than in all of 2007 — as it continues to try phase out its running of Iraqi prisons. The military said about 21,000 people remained in custody, and it is currently releasing about 45 detainees and detaining 30 a day. The United States wants to transfer the detainees to Iraqi control.

Front Page: Combat Tours Reduced, Olmert to Quit, Fewer Illegal Immigrants, Karadzic Due in Court

CitizenSugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:55:37 -0700

Combat Tours Reduced:
President Bush said in an appearance at the White House this morning that combat tours in Iraq will be reduced to 12 months from 15. He said, "we are now in our third consecutive month with reduced violence levels holding steady." With a deal on security close, it "relieves the burden on our forces." Five US soldiers died in Iraq this month compared to 66 in July 2007.

Olmert to Quit:
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has announced he will resign in September after his party chooses a new leader. Olmert is tangled in a corruption investigation, and the announcement heightens uncertainty in both the Middle East peace effort and the political legacies of both Olmert and Bush, who'd hoped for breakthroughs before leaving office.

Fewer Illegal Immigrants:
The number of immigrants in the US illegally has fallen by 1.3 million in the past year, an 11 percent fall since the peak last August. The report accompanying the census showed a "strong indication" that stricter enforcement by authorities played a major role in the reduction, though others say the shifting economy has made the US a less desirable location.
Karadzic Due in Court:
Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic will be charged with 11 counts of war crimes by the UN war crimes tribunal today. The exact charges will only be revealed in court; afterward he can enter a plea but doesn't have to. Karadzic had been on the run for 13 years before being captured in Belgrade last week.

Source

Front Page: New Offensive in Iraq, Fire Consumes UK Landmark, Oprah School Abuse Trial Begins

CitizenSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:00:05 -0700

New Offensive in Iraq:
Iraqi forces with support from American troops just launched a new major operation against insurgents in the Iraqi province of Diyala, one of the last pockets of al-Qaeda militants in the country. The commander of the Iraqi ground forces says the operation's goal is ''to clear al-Qaeda in Diyala. We have a list of wanted persons that the troops will arrest during the operations.'' The offensive comes after deadly attacks in Baghdad and Kirkuk.

Fire Consumes UK Landmark:
The historic seaside pier, the Grand at Weston-super-Mare, was consumed by fire yesterday. Stretching a quarter of a mile into the water, the two-story wooden structure was reduced to ash in a couple of hours. The fire broke out in a kitchen on the pier, though no one was hurt. A spokesman for the pier, Nigel Heath, says, “it is a tragedy. It epitomized the English seaside resort.”

Oprah School Abuse Trial Begins:
The trial of the former matron at Oprah Winfrey's school in South Africa has begun with the defendant pleading not guilty. The six alleged victims will testify in private, amid reports that they're "very scared". The defendant, 28, was arrested at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy near Johannesburg last year. The $40 million school opened in 2007.

Source

CBS News Edits Out McCain's Misunderstanding of Iraq

LibertySugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:30:40 -0700

John McCain may mock the media's love affair with Barack Obama, but CBS attempted to give him a generous pass by editing out McCain's incorrect account of crucial events in Iraq. Last night CBS replaced the plainly wrong assertion that the "surge" prompted the Sunni (Anbar) Awakening, which happened before the idea of a surge even existed, with a completely different answer.

Get Flash to see this player.

Here's how it actually went down:

Katie Couric: Senator Obama says, while the increased number of US troops contributed to increased security in Iraq, he also credits the Sunni awakening and the Shiite government going after militias. And says that there might have been improved security even without the surge. What's your response to that?

McCain: I don't know how you respond to something that is as — such a false depiction of what actually happened. Colonel MacFarland was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks. Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others. And it began the Anbar Awakening. I mean, that's just a matter of history.

The record overwhelmingly shows that McCain was wrong. For example, the military official cited by McCain actually discussed the Anbar Awakening four months before the surge was even announced. To see how McCain's camp responded,

Aide Says Obama Burdened With Supporters' Unrealistic Hopes

CitizenSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:00:07 -0700

Is the hope of Obama supporters, entirely too audacious? Perhaps so, according to one of Obama's own senior aides. In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph in the midst of Obama's big trip abroad, it appears like that famous hope has become a burden wrapped in unrealistic expectations of what Obama can actually achieve if he becomes president.

Greg Craig, one of Obama's top foreign policy advisers with him on the trip said that Obama is well aware of the burden of hope:

He is very conscious of it. He knows he has become a vehicle for peoples' hopes and dreams and expectations and we all fear that such expectations tend to be unrealistic.

In his trip that includes a swing through Europe, Obama is expected to meet with Gordon Brown to encourage the UK to proceed with planned troop cuts in Iraq next year to free them up to redeploy in Afghanistan.

Obama's plan for Iraq also caused a big email misunderstanding this weekend. To see the audacity of the Inbox,

General Petraeus: Al Qaeda May Be Shifting Focus Back To Afghanistan From Iraq

CitizenSugar — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:50:33 -0700

General Petraeus: Al Qaeda May Be Shifting Focus Back To Afghanistan From Iraq After intense US assaults, al-Qaeda may be considering shifting focus to its original home base in Afghanistan, where American casualties are running higher than in Iraq, the top US commander in Iraq said Saturday. "We do think that there is some assessment ongoing as to the continued viability of al-Qaeda's fight in Iraq," said Gen. David Petraeus. Whatever the result, Petraeus said no one should expect al-Qaeda to give up entirely in Iraq.

Bush Agrees To "General Time Horizon" For Troop Reductions

CitizenSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:10:48 -0700

Bush Agrees to "General Time Horizon" For Troop Reductions
The US and Iraq have agreed to seek "a general time horizon" for deeper reductions in American combat troops in Iraq despite President Bush's once-inflexible opposition to talking about deadlines and timetables. Iraqi officials have been pressuring the US to agree to a specific timeline to withdraw forces. The White House said Friday that the timeframe being discussed would not be "an arbitrary date for withdrawal."

New MoveOn Iraq Ad: "Timeline"

CitizenSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:51:08 -0700

New MoveOn Iraq Ad: "Timeline"
MoveOn is rolling out a new Iraq-focused ad called "Timeline." The spot makes a clear contrast — Obama wants a timetable to get troops out of Iraq, John McCain doesn't. But the timing, music, and visuals are unconventional — it's certainly not your typical political ad. The RNC responds: "MoveOn.org is repaying Barack Obama for his ideological position on Iraq by running ads that ignore the improving situation in Iraq."

Au Revoir, Sanctuary: Canada Deports US Iraq War Deserter

CitizenSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:00:41 -0700

US Army deserter, Robin Long, fled to Canada in 2005 to avoid serving in Iraq. Yesterday, Long was deported back to the US, the first time a resister to the US war effort in Iraq has been sent home by Canadian authorities. Long claims that he fled to avoid participation in an "illegal war of aggression in Iraq."

The judge who heard his case this week, ruled that Long couldn't provide clear evidence he would suffer irreparable harm if he was sent back to the United States. Though Long was sent home, in another deportation case last week the Federal Court blocked the deportation of National Guard Sgt. Corey Glass, 25, who also refused redeployment to Iraq, while it decides whether to hear his case.

Both Long and Glass are part of a group of about 200 American deserters thought to have crossed the northern border to avoid service in Iraq. To this point, Canadian immigration officials and courts have refused to grant them refugee status, with Prime Minister Harper's consent; he's ignored a nonbinding House of Commons motion that would allow the deserters to stay.

To see how this case compares to Vietnam, and the opposition to granting refugee status,

McCain Answers Obama on Iraq in New Mexico Town Hall

CitizenSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:44:20 -0700

At a town hall that just concluded (orchestrated masterfully to rebut the speech Obama gave this morning) John McCain said, "Barack Obama is directly contradicting statements he made regarding the surge in Iraq. Today we know the surge is succeeding."

McCain went on to say of Obama's statement before he heads off to Iraq:

Sen. Obama is departing soon on a trip abroad that will include a fact-finding mission to Iraq and Afghanistan. And I note that he is speaking today about his plans for Iraq and Afghanistan before he has even left, before he has talked to Gen. Petraeus, before he has seen the progress in Iraq, and before he has set foot in Afghanistan for the first time. In my experience, fact-finding missions usually work best the other way around: first you assess the facts on the ground, then you present a new strategy.

McCain didn't mince words on his thoughts about this plan, "he has it exactly backwards. It is the success of the surge that shows us the way to succeed in Afghanistan. They are not disconnected. Success breeds success."

To see the fiery conclusion to his remarks,

Obama's Major Policy Address Mirrors Times Op-Ed on Iraq

LibertySugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:11:53 -0700

Moments ago, Barack Obama reinforced his plan for Iraq. In the major policy speech Obama said:

As president, I will pursue a tough, smart, and principled national security strategy. . . . I will focus this strategy on five goals essential to making America safer: ending the war in Iraq responsibly; finishing the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban; securing all nuclear weapons and materials from terrorists and rogue states; achieving true energy security; and rebuilding our alliances to meet the challenges of the 21st century. . . It is unacceptable that almost seven years after nearly 3,000 Americans were killed on our soil, the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 are still at large.

McCain is set to answer the speech at a New Mexico town hall meeting at noon EDT.

The speech echoed Obama's op-ed in the New York Times yesterday. There, he repeated his belief that "we must be as careful getting out of Iraq as we were careless getting in." In case you missed the piece, for some of the highlights,

Optimism in Iraq: Gains In Security, Solvency, and Stability

CitizenSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:00:52 -0700

Could this be the good news from Iraq that we've been waiting for? After five years of struggle, Iraq may be holding the line on two major fronts: al-Qaeda and its finances. The positive news is buoyed this morning by the report that Iraq may agree to a timetable for US withdrawal.

Here's what's happening: American and Iraqi troops appear to be in the midst of driving al-Qaeda from their last stronghold in Northern Iraq in what's being called, "one of the most spectacular victories of the war on terror." Operation Lion's Roar (possibly the best title ever) combined Iraqi and US forces to capture more than 1,000 suspects. It was thought that nearly 1,200 al-Qaeda soldiers remained in a final stand in the northern city of Mosul, down from a previous force of nearly 12,000 in May.

Though it might be premature to call a victory over the Sunni-led terrorist group, they are confident through the mission that al-Qaeda has now been forced to operate in the desolate and remote regions of the Iraq countryside, and the reduced violence has led some to be comfortable enough to spend time outside, like this tike at an amusement park in Baghdad. Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced over the weekend that his government has "defeated" terrorism.

To see how Iraq's piggy bank is about to get some relief as well,

Americans Provided Iraqi Oil Ministry Contract Templates

LibertySugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:30:18 -0700

Despite previous confirmation that it would award exceptional no-bid contracts to Western oil giants, Iraq just announced that it has failed to sign the deals. Meanwhile, American officials have confirmed that the Bush Administration was directly involved in the creation of the contracts, as American advisers led by a State Department team directly advised Iraqi officials. But today, Iraq announced that it failed to finalize the deals as expected, because the oil companies "refused to offer consultancy based fees as they wanted a share of the oil."

American government lawyers and private sector consultants provided the Iraqi Oil Ministry sample contracts, and offered detailed suggestions during the drafting process. Sources told the New York Times that assistance was simply technical and legal, and that the team did not help choose which companies received the lucrative deals. Still, the close involvement raises questions of an inherent conflict of interest and about America's commitment to Iraqi sovereignty. Although Iraq says it continues to negotiate with Western oil giants, they "think there is no need to share Iraq's oil with anybody."

Even if the US only provided technical direction, does a perception of inappropriate intrusion threaten America's credibility in the region? Does this inflame suspicions that the US went to war for oil?

Source

Western Oil Companies Back in Iraq With Unusual Contracts

LibertySugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:02:44 -0700

Thirty-six years after Saddam Hussein nationalized oil and kicked out Western companies, Iraq's Oil Ministry has awarded Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total, and BP contracts set to bring the oil giants back.

Despite the fact that high oil prices put these contracts in high demand, Iraq granted very unusual no-bid contracts, meaning the companies did not have to compete with their counterparts in China, Russia, and India. Today's New York Times explains:

There was suspicion among many in the Arab world and among parts of the American public that the United States had gone to war in Iraq precisely to secure the oil wealth these contracts seek to extract. The Bush administration has said that the war was necessary to combat terrorism. It is not clear what role the United States played in awarding the contracts; there are still American advisers to Iraq’s Oil Ministry.

The oil companies assure that they intend to help Iraq rebuild its neglected oil infrastructure. To see how,

Front Page: Gaza Blast Kills 5, US/Iraq Talks Stall, Midwest Pounded

CitizenSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 06:55:45 -0700

Gaza Blast Kills 5: A large explosion in Gaza yesterday killed at least five Palestinians, including several Hamas militants and a baby girl. Despite the death and destruction of a residential building, responsibility is unclear. Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, first blamed the blast on an Israeli air strike, causing them to fire rockets and mortar rounds at Israeli towns and villages around Gaza. The Israeli military has vehemently denied any involvement in the explosion.

US/Iraq Talks Stall: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki declared that talks with the US aimed at reaching a long-term agreement allowing US forces to remain in Iraq have "reached an impasse". According to Maliki, the US demands compromised Iraqi sovereignty. President Bush has said he wants an agreement by the end of July, as the UN mandate for US forces to be in Iraq expires at the end of 2008. Maliki said of the proposal, "We cannot allow US forces to have the right to jail Iraqis or assume, alone, the responsibility of fighting against terrorism."
Midwest Pounded: Iowa's Cedar River broke its banks yesterday, forcing the evacuation of thousands of homes and causing a railroad bridge to collapse. Officials estimated that 100 blocks are underwater in Cedar Rapids, where preparations weren't enough to hold back the water. The sheriff said of the weather crisis, "We're just kind of at God's mercy right now, so hopefully people that never prayed before this, it might be a good time to start." Estimates show that 3,200 homes were evacuated and 8,000 residents have been displaced. This news comes after a deadly tornado hit an Iowa Boy Scout camp, and a similarly deadly twister tore through Kansas, leaving residents to dig out of the destruction.

To see an exclusive, first-hand photo account of the Kansas aftermath,

Gaffe or Straight Talk: When Troops Return Not Too Important

LibertySugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:45:00 -0700

The ghosts of presidential elections past are coming out of the dark to go back and forth about John McCain's latest quote on Iraq. Let's check out the exchange.

Get Flash to see this player.

On the Today show Matt Lauer asked McCain if he had a better estimate of when the troops will come home. McCain said: No, but that's not too important. What's important is the casualties in Iraq.

Former Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry responded saying: It is unbelievably out of touch and inconsistent with the needs of Americans and particularly the families of troops who are over there. To them it’s the most important thing in the world when they come home.

And let's not leave out former Dem veep nominee Joe Lieberman, who said: The attacks on Senator McCain this morning [are] another partisan attempt to distort John McCain’s words, to distract the American people from the fact that McCain has been both courageous and right about the surge in Iraq, and Barack Obama has unfortunately been consistently wrong.

Click here for a roundup of other reactions to the comment. Even if McCain's interview is not so bad, he's already had to spend time explaining away his "100 years" in Iraq comment. It still remains to be seen whether the "not too important" line will help him contextualise his stance, or simply provide useful fodder for Obama supporters. Who do you agree with — John or Joe?

Gaffe or Straight Talk: When Troops Return Not Too Important

Kerry! McCain is out of touch with the needs of our troops and the needs of US security.

Lieberman! Listen beyond sound bites, you'll understand McCain's responsible position.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

Bush: No Regrets Over Iraq Invasion

CitizenSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:55:37 -0700

Bush: No Regrets Over Iraq Invasion
CNN reports: US President George W. Bush says he had no regrets about the decision to invade Iraq and topple Saddam Hussein in 2003. "Removing Saddam Hussein made the world a safer place," Bush said. But he admitted once again that he regretted the tough rhetoric he had used had made it appear he was eager to go to war. In an interview with UK's Times newspaper Wednesday, Bush said using phrases such as "dead or alive" and "bring them on" had not created an impression of a man of peace.

$23 Billion Could Be the Cost of War Profiteering in Iraq

LibertySugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:02 -0700

$23 billion has been lost, stolen, or not properly accounted for in Iraq, according to a BBC News investigation. BBC claims that private contractors have exploited the conflict and reconstruction in a potentially criminal manner. There are 70 pending cases against private US companies for war profiteering, but the details of these cases are being kept mum under a gag order.

The article details that leading up to the war, VP Dick Cheney's former company Halliburton was the only company to bid on a $7 billion contract, which was granted over objections of the most senior Pentagon official on the contracts. The BBC also alleges that Hazem Shalaan, who became Iraq's defense minister, siphoned $1.2 billion out of the ministry by purchasing used Polish weapons but billing them as top class weapons. Shalaan was sentenced to jail but has succeeded in fleeing Iraq.

Estimates suggest that the volume of cash that has been misappropriated could give the Iraq War the worst war profiteering legacy in history. Do you hope that the gag order regarding US companies that may be involved is lifted soon? Does the public deserve some transparency?

Source

Painful Solution — Self-Harm Rising Among Desperate Soldiers

CitizenSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:30:13 -0700

A pen in a stomach. A bullet in the toe. A jump off a roof. These incidents all end with a trip to the ER, but never in a tour of Iraq. For soldiers desperate to avoid a repeat tour in the Middle East, these "accidents" are missions accomplished.

Self-harm is a rising, and alarming, trend among soldiers headed to Iraq — especially those on their second or third trip. "Some soldiers," said Col. Kathy Platoni, an Army Reserve psychologist, "will do almost anything not to go back."

It's a shocking, though sadly not new, trend. To see when it began,