Iraq war

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Militants Again Flow From Syria to Iraq

Border security troubled by funding cuts

(Newser) - For years, the threat of fighters entering Iraq through Syria seemed to have faded—but recent attacks show the al-Qaeda in Iraq pipeline is pumping again, the Washington Post reports. Soon after Iraqi elections, the number of militants entering via Syria had dropped to just a few, said an official....

Pentagon Backs iPhone, iPod Apps for Combat Troops

Pentagon develops apps for ubiquitous Apple devices

(Newser) - With more than 30,000 third-party applications now available for the iPhone and iPod touch, a new organization is getting into the game: the American military. As the Independent reports, the Pentagon thinks Apple's gadgets are ideal for "network centric warfare" and is funding projects for everything from translation...

With Paychecks Scarce, Iraqi Awakening Unravels

(Newser) - The imminent withdrawal of US troops and the lack of funds to keep Sunni Awakening members on the payroll has led to rising violence there, the Wall Street Journal reports. The steep decline in oil revenues has left the Iraqi government broke, and former insurgents hired by the US to...

Ex-US Soldier Guilty of Rape, Murder in Iraq

Private killed girl, 14, along with her family; faces death penalty

(Newser) - A jury in Kentucky convicted a former US soldier of raping a 14-year-old lraqi girl and killing her and her family, Reuters reports. Former Private 1st Class Steven Green faces the death penalty when the sentencing phase of his trial begins Monday. Green, 24, was the leader of a group...

Blackwater's Iraq Contract Ends

Virginia firm takes over security duties

(Newser) - Blackwater’s turbulent term in Iraq ends today with the expiration of its contract, CNN reports. The US opted not to renew the firm’s security services deal in January after Iraqi officials denied it a renewed operating license in the wake of a 2007 shooting in a public square....

Accidents, Illness Kill Most Troops in Iraq

"Nonhostile" incidents pose greatest threat in recent months

(Newser) - Troops serving in Iraq in the past eight months were most likely to die from "nonhostile" causes such as illness or accidents, according to new statistics. The period marks the first time insurgents have not been responsible for the majority of troops deaths, reports the Boston Globe. While the...

Abu Ghraib Guards Say They Were Scapegoats

(Newser) - Lawyers for US soldiers convicted of abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison say the recently released CIA memos prove their clients were just following orders, the Times of London reports. Some of the dozen soldiers who were convicted plan to appeal, arguing that the Bush administration kept quiet during their...

Iraq PM Vows to Prosecute US Troops After Fatal Raid

First time Iraq has threatened prosecution against American soldiers

(Newser) - Iraq’s prime minister is threatening the country’s first prosecution of US troops after two Iraqis were killed yesterday morning in a US raid, the Washington Post reports. Nouri al-Maliki said the raid violated a security agreement that bans unilateral American action; the US says Iraq’s military had...

Talks Begin on Keeping US Troops in Mosul, Baghdad

Despite deadline, US may keep forces in some Iraqi cities

(Newser) - The US and Iraq are negotiating exceptions to the June 30 deadline for withdrawing combat troops from Iraqi cities, reports the New York Times. While the US military will leave most cities and towns by the deadlines, troops may remain in Mosul, the northern city critical to al-Qaeda in Iraq,...

Army Introduces New Measures to Stem Suicides

Officials to hire more therapists, boost drug and health screening

(Newser) - The army has begun a new effort to stem the rising toll of soldier suicides, hiring more mental health workers and instituting new rules for drug testing and health screening, reports AP. The number of suicides in the first three months of 2009 reached 56—after a record 140 last...

87,000 Iraqis Killed Since 2005
 87,000 Iraqis Killed Since 2005 
Apr 23, 2009 5:02 PM CDT

87,000 Iraqis Killed Since 2005

(Newser) - Iraq's government has a put a number on the toll of violence in the country: 87,215 deaths since 2005. The number—provided to AP by a Health Ministry official—counts people killed in violent attacks such as bombings through February. It doesn't count deaths attributed to factors such as...

73 Killed in Iraq Suicide Bombings

Pair of attacks are part of recent spate

(Newser) - A suicide bombing in Baghdad today killed at least 28 people and wounded 50 as police handed out relief packages, the Guardian reports. At least five children and 13 police officers were killed in the attack, police said. Meanwhile, an attack in northeast Iraq killed 45, the BBC reports. Attacks...

Iraq Busts Baby Suicide Bombers

Security forces swoop on cell of al-Qaeda-groomed kids

(Newser) - Iraqi security forces say they have smashed a cell of kids recruited to become al-Qaeda suicide bombers, the Times of London reports. Military officials have arrested four children under the age of 14 they believe were preparing to carry out attacks in the northern city of Kirkuk and had been...

Banned Blackwater Still Working in Iraq

(Newser) - Washington refused to renew Blackwater's contracts in Iraq, and Baghdad told the company to get out—but that doesn't mean it's actually left, the AP reports. The private mercenary firm, now called Xe, still runs ground operations and provides air security for US convoys, and may continue doing so until...

Army May Not Want You So Bad After All

Jobless rate drives surge in applicants

(Newser) - Rising unemployment and safer conditions in Iraq have boosted interest in joining the Army, allowing recruiters to raise acceptance standards. The Washington Post reports that felons and recent drug users need not apply, and the pool of applicants also is better educated. For the first time since 2004, the Army...

Meet the New Blackwater, Same as the Old Blackwater

New contractor may hire the same people

(Newser) - The military contractor known as Xe—and far better known as the former Blackwater—has changed little more than its name, NPR reports. Despite having said it's leaving the international security business, Xe recently extended its deal with the State Department to fly protective missions in Iraq. And as another...

Gas-Guzzling Pentagon Turns to Green Energy

Fuel is costing the military in money and lives

(Newser) - The nation's biggest gas guzzler, the Defense Department, is trying to kick its oil habit and use alternative energies—not to support the green movement or save money, but to save lives, the Washington Post reports. Half of US casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan are from IEDs deployed on fuel-carrying...

General: Al-Qaeda Threatens Iraq Withdrawal Deadline

Troops may stay in Mosul, Baqubah beyond June 30

(Newser) - The US may have to ignore the June 30 deadline for US troops to pull out of Iraqi cities if al-Qaeda is to be defeated, America's top commander in Iraq tells the Times of London. Gen. Ray Odierno believes the military can stick to most of the withdrawal timetable, but...

Obama Seeks $83.4B for Wars
 Obama Seeks $83.4B for Wars 
Apr 9, 2009 5:13 PM CDT

Obama Seeks $83.4B for Wars

(Newser) - President Obama will ask Congress for $83.4 billion in supplemental funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the AP reports. Obama had in the past opposed such requests outside of the federal budget, but the administration says it's necessary one final time to fund the military through the...

2nd Marine Acquitted in Fallujah Killings

(Newser) - A Marine was acquitted today in a court-martial for civilian deaths during the battle for Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Sgt. Ryan Weemer acted in self defense and had orders to fire, there was no forensic evidence, and he was manipulated by investigators, his lawyers argued....

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