Iraq

12 May 2008 -- The U.S. military in Iraq says it has killed three gunmen who attacked American patrols in Baghdad's Sadr City district despite a ceasefire deal for the district.

U.S. officials reported several incidents Sunday evening and Monday morning.

US soldiers enter Sadr City, March, 2007: US Army photo

Residents of Sadr City say the overall level of violence has dropped since Iraq's government announced the ceasefire deal on Saturday.

The truce was negotiated by Iraq's main Shi'ite political bloc and representatives of Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. His militia has a stronghold in Sadr City.    » read more »

12 May 2008 -- Two former U.S. State Department officials say the Bush administration has done little to fight corruption in Iraq. In testimony to a congressional panel Monday, they said administration policy has allowed corruption to fester - an accusation the State Department vehemently denies.

George W. Bush with John and Cindy McCain: Photo by Talk Radio News Service (CC)

Arthur Brennan briefly served as director of the State Department's Office of Accountability and Transparency in Baghdad last year.    » read more »

10 May 2008 -- The UN refugee agency warns it may have to reduce or even suspend a number of aid programs for hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees because it has received only about half of the $261 million it needs.

The UN refugee agency says fading international interest in Iraq is having a terrible impact on the nearly five million people who have fled their homes.

A young boy watches as U.S. Marines distribute clothes and toys to Iraqi refugees: Humanitarian aid compound in Fallujah, Iraq. Photo by James Gordon (CC)    » read more »

Iraq Veterans Urge Lawmakers to Vote Yes on GI Bill Funding

NEW YORK -On Thursday, May 8, the House of Representatives will vote on a World War II-style GI Bill for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, strongly endorses this critical legislation.    » read more »

5 May 2008 -- Iran says it will not hold a fourth round of talks with the U.S. on security in Iraq, as long as U.S. forces continue what it called "open bombings" in Iraq.

Speaking in Tehran today Monday Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ali Hosseini said under the current circumstances, any new talks would be meaningless.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Reese and his military working dog Grek: U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Reese and his military working dog Grek wait at a safe house before conducting an assault against insurgents in Buhriz, Iraq, April 10, 2007. U.S.Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall    » read more »

May 01, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Barack Obama statement on the fifth anniversary of President George W. Bush's "Mission Accomplished" speech aboard the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln.

"Five years after George Bush declared 'mission accomplished' and John McCain told the American people that 'the end is very much in sight' in Iraq, we have lost thousands of lives, spent half a trillion dollars, and we're no safer.

Iraq war protesters: Photo by Angela Radulescu (CC)    » read more »

May 1, 2008 -- Asked today about President Bush's infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech, John McCain said the President should not be held accountable for the banner, but should be blamed for "comments by members of his administration that exaggerated the prospects for success in Iraq in contradiction to the facts on the ground."

John McCain protest sign: Photo by EphusBailey (CC)

Not only did the White House accept responsibility for the banner yesterday, but John McCain himself was one of the key voices echoing the misleading rhetoric coming from President Bush and the Bush Administration. [Associated Press, 5/1/08]    » read more »

May 1, 2008 -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement on the fifth anniversary of President Bush's "Mission Accomplished" speech on the deck of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln where he declared that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended:"

Iraqi girl in Kirkuk Province, Iraq: An Iraqi girl stands close to the wall as US Army soldiers search for high value insurgents in her village, Upper Dugmut, Kirkuk, Iraq. Photo by James Gordon (CC)    » read more »

April 29, 2008 -- Even as John McCain and the Republican Party resort to baseless legal complaints and blatant distortions to avoid defending McCain's willingness to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years, new video emerged today that shows John McCain once "rejecting the very policy he urges today."

Sandstorm in Iraq: Photo by Tobin (CC)

McCain's campaign is arguing that he has not changed is view, and that he has always advocated a long-term troop presence in Iraq similar to that in Germany and South Korea. [Chicago Tribune, Swamp blog, 4/29/08]    » read more »

April 29, 2008 --John McCain has said his comments on Iraq have been distorted and his cronies at the RNC have complained about the use of his statements in a new DNC television ad. In fact, that has not been the case--McCain's own words prove the point.

John McCain: Photo by Marc Nozell (CC)

At a town hall meeting earlier this year, when asked if he agreed with Bush Administration comments that our troops could be in Iraq for 50 years, McCain responded "Maybe 100" and "that would be fine with me." [McCain Town Hall, Derry NH Opera House 1/3/2008]    » read more »

April 27, 2008 -- On NBC's Meet the Press this morning, Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean previewed a second television ad, entitled "100," that highlight's John McCain's willingness to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years. During a wide-ranging discussion with host Tim Russert, Dean discussed John McCain's weaknesses as a candidate, continued to outline how out of touch McCain is with the American people, and discussed the state of the race.

Sunset over the guided missile destroyer USS John McCain: Photo by Matthew Watts (CC)

To view the DNC's new ad, click here: http://www.democrats.org/a/2008/04/dnc_ad_on_mccai.php    » read more »

21 April 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has failed to secure any firm Arab pledges on debt relief for Iraq or greater Arab diplomatic presence in Baghdad.

After a meeting of Arab states in Bahrain, Rice told reporters that a number of countries around the table expressed a desire for having permanent representation in Iraq, but that there were no firm commitments.

Condi Rice meets with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in Baghdad, Iraq: Photo courtesy US State Dept.

The top U.S. diplomat said she believes it is a process that eventually will move forward.    » read more »

Bill Would Extend Law To War Fraud Related To Iraq, Afghanistan

WASHINGTON -- April 18, 2008 – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today introduced legislation to improve the enforcement of contracting fraud in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Soldiers in Chowkay Valley, Afghanistan: Photo by soldiersmediacenter (CC)    » read more »

20 April 2008 -- The New York Times newspaper reports the Pentagon used military analysts working for U.S. television networks to generate favorable coverage of the war in Iraq and other issues.

The newspaper Sunday said the analysts were invited to private briefings with senior military leaders, taken on tours of Iraq and given access to classified intelligence.

Fox News gift store at Houston airport: Photo by ario_j (CC)

The Times also said viewers were not made aware that most of the analysts have ties to military contractors. Many of the analysts are retired high-ranking military officials.    » read more »

“Operation Vermont Maple Sweetness” Nears Completion

April 18, 2008 -- Underhill Center, VT—Vermont maple syrup, donated by producers all around the state, will soon be on its way to Vermont troops as a reminder of the sights, smells and tastes of home.

Over the past three months, the Operation Maple Sweetness committee has been soliciting donations of Vermont maple syrup from sugarmakers throughout the state.

Wood-fired maple syrup evaporater: Photo by Doug Letterman (CC)    » read more »