28/2/08

UN ambassador Jolie says troop surge in Iraq creates chance for …
NEW YORK — Actress and humanitarian activist Angelina Jolie said Thursday that the reinforcement of US troops in Iraq has created an opportunity for …
www.santafenewmexican.com/Movies/UN-ambassador
-Jolie-says-troop-surge-in-Iraq-creates-chance-for

Bush Criticizes Democrats Running for President on Trade, Iraq and …
New York Times – United States
On Iraq, the president dismissed as “an interesting comment” a remark by Mr. Obama, who had said in response to a hypothetical question during a debate on …
www.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/us/
politics/29bush.html?ref=politics

Ahmadinejad to visit Iraq
Melbourne Herald Sun – Australia
IRAQ will welcome Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday in a groundbreaking visit at a time when Washington is engaged in a proxy war with Tehran …
www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,
21985,23296737-5012750,00.html

Iraq back in focus for campaigns
CNN – USA
By Bill Schneider WASHINGTON (CNN) — As the intense bloodshed in Iraq began to let up in recent months, so did the political spotlight on the issue in the …
www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/28/schneider.iraq/

US Senate Leader Withdraws Bill To Cut Funds For Iraq War
Voice of America – USA
By Deborah Tate US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has withdrawn from Senate consideration a bill that calls for a troop pullout from Iraq and a cut-off …
www.voanews.com/english/2008-02-29-voa5.cfm

Bush Presses Turkey to Leave Northern Iraq
NPR – USA
by Ivan Watson All Things Considered, February 28, 2008 · Turkey is coming under increasing pressure to end its offensive into northern Iraq, as President …
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87775236

US Sanctions Four Syrians for Helping Iraq Terrorists
Voice of America – USA
It said the other three men helped coordinate the group’s activity inside Iraq including attacks on members of the US-led coalition and Iraqi security …
www.voanews.com/english/2008-02-28-voa68.cfm

Top US officer worries about quick Iraq pullout
International Herald Tribune – France
But he told reporters afterward he was worried pulling out of Iraq quickly could reverse gains in security achieved since President George W. Bush sent in …
www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/02/29/
asia/OUKWD-UK-USA-POLITICS-MILITARY.php

McCain, Bill Clinton Bring Iraq Debate to the Living Room
Wall Street Journal – USA
John McCain engaged in a debate, of sorts, with Bill Clinton today as a 24-year-old graduate student confronted the Arizona senator on Iraq and asked him to …
blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/02/28/mccain-bill-clinton-bring
-iraq-debate-to-the-living-room/?mod=googlenews_wsj

Jolie Sees Benefit in US Surge in Iraq
The Associated Press –
NEW YORK (AP) — Actress and humanitarian activist Angelina Jolie said Thursday that the reinforcement of US troops in Iraq has created an opportunity for …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j1a_Yl8p
ytmTfAUcapFYMKRMWQCQD8V3K9LO1

We can’t abandon Iraq now, says … Angelina Jolie?
By Allahpundit
The right gets a high-profile piece of anecdotal evidence about progress in Iraq to compensate for the media’s polite neglect and the left gets to sneer about wingnuts looking to glamorpuss actresses for good news on the war even as …
www.hotair.com/archives/2008/02/28/we
-cant-abandon-iraq-now-says-angelina-jolie/

Why You Don’t See The Iraq War on the News
By Yid With Lid(Yid With Lid)
Ever Wonder what ever happened to the War in Iraq? Did our hero’s come home? After all, you hardly ever hear about it on the eventing news any more. It used to be the top story every day. Where did it go? What ever happened to those …
yidwithlid.blogspot.com/2008/02/why
-you-dont-see-iraq-war-on-news.html

US Election Campaign Refocuses on Iraq
Voice of America – USA
By Jim Malone The war in Iraq has reemerged as a central issue in the US presidential election campaign. In recent days, Republican contender John McCain …
www.voanews.com/english/2008-02-28-voa56.cfm

Bush Calls for Quick End to Turkey’s Iraq Incursion
Voice of America – USA
By Paula Wolfson President Bush is calling for Turkey to end its military operation against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq as soon as possible. …
voanews.com/english/2008-02-28-voa49.cfm

Senate shelves Iraq US troop withdrawal bill
Reuters – USA
By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON, Feb 28 (Reuters) – A liberal Democrat’s attempt to impose quick US troop withdrawals from Iraq collapsed in the US Senate, …
www.reuters.com/article/middleeastCrisis/idUSN28492194

US blacklists four men accused of backing Al-Qaeda in Iraq
AFP –
“Since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, Syria has become a transit station for Al-Qaeda foreign terrorists on their way to Iraq,” said Stuart Levey, …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ieP1aq90AQZNzTdgTBDi93C7S9Gg

McCain Pushes Full-Blown Iraq Blurring Strategy
By Chris Bowers
“And what we’re going to do now is continue this strategy, which is succeeding in Iraq and we are carrying out the goals of the surge. The Iraqi military are taking over more and more responsibilities, the casualties are down, …
www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4223

Lawyer Back from Iraq Shares His Story
By Dan Slater
After Newman graduated from University of Georgia law school in 2003, he reported to officer basic school at Fort Lee to begin training to be a JAG officer — a lawyer for the army — in Iraq. Less than two years later, he was deployed in …
blogs.wsj.com/law/2008/02/28/l
awyer-back-from-iraq-shares-his-story/

Fewer US Dead = Less TV Coverage of Iraq
By Rich Noyes
One year ago, liberal journalists depicted the surge of US troops to Iraq as a certain failure. “A lot of people are going to go to bed tonight terrified,” MSNBC’s Chris Matthews opined just minutes after President Bush announced the …
www.newsbusters.org/blogs/rich-noyes/2008
/02/28/fewer-u-s-dead-less-tv-coverage-iraq

The Kurds Turkey invades northern Iraq
Economist – UK
THE latest incursion by Turkish forces into northern Iraq in an effort to squash the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which draws its support …
www.economist.com/world/africa/
displaystory.cfm?story_id=10766808

McCain: Obama Represents Iraq, Trade Politics of the Past
ABC News – USA
Barack Obama, saying the Illinois Democrat represented Iraq politics of the past. (Pat Sullivan/ AP Photo ) By JAKE TAPPER and BRET HOVELL In his …
www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote
2008/story?id=4359635&page=1

Maliki hails unity as Shiites crowd Iraq shrine city
AFP –
KARBALA, Iraq (AFP) — Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki hailed success in national reconciliation on Thursday as he joined millions of Shiite Muslims at a …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gwBaMMxpRvf7i2V9ud1mv7mTBOuw

McCain, In Hole On Iraq, Digs Deeper
By Blue Texan
McCain said this about Iraq:. “Al Qaeda is in Iraq. And that’s why we’re fighting in Iraq, and that’s why we’re succeeding in Iraq.” So we’re succeeding in Iraq … because al Qaeda’s in Iraq? WTF? And what happened to this from just a …
firedoglake.com/2008/02/28/mccain-in-hole-on-iraq-digs-deeper/

Al Qaeda, Iraq and the campaign
By Juan Paxety
“I said, ‘Well first of all, I do know that al Qaeda is in Iraq. That’s why I’ve said we should continue to strike al Qaeda targets. But I have some news for John McCain, and that is that there was no such thing as al Qaeda in Iraq …
paxety.com/2008/02/28/al-qaeda-iraq-and-the-campaign/

Obama and McCain trade barbs on Iraq
By CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
COLUMBUS, Ohio (CNN) – Presidential frontrunners Barack Obama and John McCain clashed over Iraq policy Wednesday, as the Illinois Democrat directed most of his criticism at the Arizona Republican – not his Democratic rival Hillary …
rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_politicalticker/~3/242287598/

US calls for quick end to Turkish N.Iraq operation
Swissinfo – Switzerland
Washington fears prolonging the Turkish operation, which began on February 21, will undermine stability in the region, particularly Iraq, though it backs …
www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/U_S_calls_for_quick
_end_to_Turkish_N_Iraq_operation.html?siteSect=143&sid=
8791904&cKey=1204207016000&ty=ti

McCain, Obama Clash Over Al Qaeda In Iraq
U.S. News & World Report – Washington,DC,USA
Barack Obama’s “view of al-Qaida in Iraq, and the Democratic contender responded that GOP policies brought the terrorist group there. …
www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_080228.htm

Maliki boasts of Iraq reconciliation ‘success’
AFP –
KARBALA, Iraq (AFP) — Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Thursday that Iraq had achieved success in national reconciliation and eliminated sectarian …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gx7Io5ZgWSSXDwJUY6iqS-L1l9Lg

Ahmadinejad’s Iraq visit underlines Iran’s growing role
Reuters India – Mumbai,India
“Iran has the ability to destabilise the political situation in Iraq by triggering violence, by supporting and arming some militia and through its influence …
in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-32204820080228

Barack’s Position on Iraq Completely Unclear… But He Sure Sounds …
By tony
Barack: I’ll will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. Barack (yesterday): If Al Queda formed a base in Iraq, I’d attack. McCain: Al Queda is in Iraq and if we leave they’ll take the country. Barack: I know they are there, …
www.tonyspencer.com/2008/02/28/baracks-position-on-iraq
-completely-unclear-but-he-sure-sounds-good-on-stage/

Turkey pushes into Iraq, again
By Catholicgauze(Catholicgauze)
Terrorist and other groups in mere presence in Iraq create the risk of other incursions. The Islamic Communist cult People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) in the past killed major leaders of Iran and remain a target of Iran’s wrath. …
catholicgauze.blogspot.com/2008/02/
turkey-pushes-into-iraq-again.html

Turkey rejects US push for Nth Iraq withdrawal
ABC Online – Australia
Turkey resisted calls from the US Defence Secretary Robert Gates to commit to a quick withdrawal of its troops from northern Iraq. Turkey sent ground troops …
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/
02/28/2175825.htm?section=world

Millions Gather in Iraq for Shi’ite Religious Ceremony
Voice of America – USA
By VOA News More than two million pilgrims have gathered in the Iraqi city of Karbala to mark one of the holiest religious ceremonies on the Shi’ite Muslim …
voanews.com/english/2008-02-28-voa11.cfm

US calls for quick end to N. Iraq operation, Turkey defiant
Hürriyet – Turkey
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates repeated his call for Turkey to end the ground operation against outlawed separatist PKK in northern Iraq “in a week or …
www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/turkey
/8332429.asp?gid=231&sz=69274

John McCain clumsy attempt to defend Iraq War position
By Reading on Walden Bookstore
The “Straight Talker” has been fairly consistent on his pro-Iraq War position, although he has occasionally critisized Bush’s handling of the Iraq War. But now he has criticized Obama’s recent statements about the Iraq War situation. …
politicalinquirer.com/2008/02/28/john-mccain
-clumsy-attempt-to-defend-iraq-war-position/

Event: Winter Soldier — Iraq and Afghanistan
By Mike E
From March 13-16th, US veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan will testify to what is really happening day in and day out, on the ground in these occupations. To provide a preview, we’ve created this short film. …
mikeely.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/
event-winter-soldier-iraq-and-afghanistan/

Turkey Declines to Give Date for Ending Northern Iraq Incursion
Bloomberg – USA
28 (Bloomberg) — Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul declined to set a timetable for ending his country’s latest military incursion into northern Iraq, …
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=
20601087&sid=a8ZP.awn42YQ&refer=home

Obama, McCain trade jabs on Iraq, terror
Los Angeles Times – CA,USA
John McCain and Barack Obama sparred long distance Wednesday over Iraq and terrorism, previewing a likely foreign policy debate should the two men face each …
www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics
/la-na-campaign28feb28,1,6480350.story

Iraq provincial law rejected
Los Angeles Times – CA,USA
By Borzou Daragahi, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer BAGHDAD — Iraq’s presidential council Wednesday rejected a law on the powers of local government that …
www.latimes.com/news/printedition/
asection/la-fg-law28feb28,1,7574852.story

Suicide Bomber Hits Bus in Iraq’s North, Killing at Least Eight
Washington Post – United States
26 — A suicide bomber detonated his explosives belt outside a bus in northern Iraq on Tuesday, killing at least eight people and injuring another eight, …
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/
story/2008/02/27/ST2008022701637.html

Iraq’s Kurds deserve better neighbours
New Statesman – London,England,UK
Addressing that issue would surely be better than infringing the sovereignty of the most successful part of Iraq. Besides, the PKK is based mainly inside …
www.newstatesman.com/200802280021

Iraq Rewards Trump Risks for Job Seekers
The Associated Press –
Must be willing to relocate to Iraq. For many around the world, that is the sound of opportunity knocking. The war in Iraq — nearing the fifth anniversary …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jT57sBl
m5h5kmqwkJrLZqtLr4mUwD8V37F7G1

US policy suffers setback as Iraq rejects election bill
Houston Chronicle – United States
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s presidential council rejected a plan for new provincial elections and sent the bill back to parliament Wednesday for reworking, …
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/world/5576860.html

McCain skewers Obama over Iraq in pre-election skirmish
AFP –
The Vietnam War hero lashed out after Obama, at a debate with his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in Ohio, reserved the right to re-enter Iraq after a …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gDMHF2XvUKwF9Wj8khj4LvREAEBA

US commander wants only brief pause in Iraq troop reductions
International Herald Tribune – France
Those comments by Admiral William J. Fallon, leader of the military’s Central Command, added to indications that American troop levels in Iraq would hold at …
www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/28/africa/28military.php

McCain, Obama square off on Iraq, al-Qaida
TYLER, Texas — Republican Sen. John McCain accused Sen. Barack Obama of making ill-informed comments about Iraq and al-Qaida at Tuesday night’s Democr …
www.santafenewmexican.com/National%20
News/McCain-Obama-square-off-on-Iraq—al-Qaida

Senate Continues Debate on Iraq Pullout
Washington Post – United States
By Paul Kane The Senate yesterday continued a heated but largely theatrical debate on a bill to start withdrawing US troops from Iraq within 120 days and …
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/
article/2008/02/27/AR2008022703382.html

Pentagon to Probe Delays of Gear to Iraq
The Associated Press –
… to Iraq also will examine whether the Marines were too slow to send a special laser that can divert drivers and people from checkpoints and convoys. …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hIXnFb
PmqPdz2Z5hIsnKQCsAKvGAD8V2RGLO0

Turkey to pull out of Iraq in days as US calls for swift end to …
Guardian – UK
Turkey’s military operations against Kurdish guerrillas in northern Iraq will last another three or four days, a senior Turkish official said yesterday, …
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/28/turkey.iraq

Iraq election call rejected
Gulf Daily News – Manama,Bahrain
BAGHDAD: Iraq’s presidential council rejected a plan for new provincial elections yesterday in a major blow to one of the key measures aimed at promoting …
www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?
Article=210087&Sn=WORL&IssueID=30345

US commander sees brief pause in Iraq troop reductions
International Herald Tribune – France
By Thom Shanker TAMPA, Florida: The commander of American forces in the Middle East says he will endorse a brief pause in troop reductions from Iraq this …
www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/27/mideast/troops.php

Pastor Fights Fine for Prewar Iraq Trip
The Associated Press –
NEW YORK (AP) — Lawyers for a clergyman who defied regulations and visited Iraq in 2003 to protest the pending US-led invasion argued Wednesday the …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hV8rTcQ
2Gdy5fS40kn8ZwiWfTGKQD8V2TVVG2

Obama on Iraq: Two Disturbing Alternatives
By Roger W. Gardner(Roger W. Gardner)
Raging In [Iraq].” BIN LADEN: “I now address my speech to the whole of the Islamic nation: Listen and understand. The issue is big and the misfortune is momentous. The most important and serious issue today for the whole world is this …
radarsite.blogspot.com/2008/02/
obama-on-iraq-two-disturbing.html