http://www.mail.com/locations/1570-iraq.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.23/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/locations/1570-iraq.html http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1861220-white-house-hagel-will-win-senate-confirmation.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Friday dismissed criticism of Chuck Hagel's hesitant congressional testimony and insisted that it expects the Senate to confirm him as defense secretary. One day after Hagel was roughed up in a grueling confirmation hearing, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Hagel did a "fine job" and the Obama administration would... Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:56:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1861220-white-house-hagel-will-win-senate-confirmation.html 2013-02-01T18:56:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1861236-iraq-sunnis-protest-al-qaida-front-calls-to-arms.html BAGHDAD (AP) — Tens of thousands of Sunni protesters blocked a major highway in western Iraq on Friday, as an al-Qaida-affiliated group called on Sunnis to take up arms against the Shiite-led government. The rally comes at a time of mounting sectarian tensions in Iraq. Minority Sunnis complain of official discrimination against them, and the arrests of bo... Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:51:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1861236-iraq-sunnis-protest-al-qaida-front-calls-to-arms.html 2013-02-01T15:51:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1861032-iraqi-presidents-absence-leaves-political-hole.html BAGHDAD (AP) — President Jalal Talabani's unexpected exit from Iraqi politics couldn't have come at a worse time for his nation, threatened by mounting antagonism among Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites. The 79-year-old Talabani, who suffered a stroke six weeks ago, had assumed the role of father figure, the only leader seemingly capable of transcending Iraq's se... Fri, 01 Feb 2013 06:02:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1861032-iraqi-presidents-absence-leaves-political-hole.html 2013-02-01T06:02:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1858372-republicans-hammer-defense-nominee-chuck-hagel.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican senators hammered former GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel at his confirmation hearing Thursday on issues ranging from Israel and Iran to his support for a group that advocates the elimination of nuclear weapons. But with most Democrats in his corner, an unflustered Hagel seems headed for approval as defense secretary. Hagel, a former two-... Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:17:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1858372-republicans-hammer-defense-nominee-chuck-hagel.html 2013-01-31T22:17:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1858548-congress-grapples-with-gap-scofflaw-contractors.html WASHINGTON (AP) — With thousands of civilian contractors remaining in Iraq and Afghanistan, Justice Department officials want Congress to resolve a legal issue they say obstructs efforts to prosecute any such workers who rape, kill or commit other serious crimes abroad. Scofflaw Pentagon employees and contractors supporting the American war mission overse... Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:37:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1858548-congress-grapples-with-gap-scofflaw-contractors.html 2013-01-31T18:37:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1859390-hagel-mccain-tangle-iraq-war-troop-surge.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. John McCain is tangling with Chuck Hagel over his past statements about the Iraq war. The Arizona Republican says that his dissatisfaction Hagel's answers could affect whether he votes for or against the former Republican senator who is President Barack Obama's choice for secretary of defense. McCain, a strong backer of t... Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:35:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1859390-hagel-mccain-tangle-iraq-war-troop-surge.html 2013-01-31T15:35:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1854384-un-seeks-major-aid-boost-syrian-catastrophe.html KUWAIT CITY (AP) — International aid officials are framing their latest gathering on Syria's humanitarian crises in terms not seen in the region since the height of the Iraq war: Refugee numbers possibly swelling toward 1 million, more than double that number in need of help inside the country and political policymaking among Bashar Assad's foes torn between the battlefield ... Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:18:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1854384-un-seeks-major-aid-boost-syrian-catastrophe.html 2013-01-29T18:18:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1851286-soldier-who-lost-4-limbs-double-arm-transplant.html On Facebook, he describes himself as a "wounded warrior...very wounded." Brendan Marrocco was the first soldier to survive losing all four limbs in the Iraq War, and doctors revealed Monday that he's received a double-arm transplant. Those new arms "already move a little," he tweeted a month after the operation. Marr... Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:36:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1851286-soldier-who-lost-4-limbs-double-arm-transplant.html 2013-01-28T21:36:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1850368-refugees-again-palestinians-flee-syrias-war.html EIN EL-HILWEH, Lebanon (AP) — When Syrian warplanes bombed a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus last December, Umm Sami rounded up her three sons, shut the windows and locked the doors so they could neither hear nor heed the call to arms by rebels and pro-government gunmen fighting in the streets. Then she told her sons they were leaving their home in t... Mon, 28 Jan 2013 12:03:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1850368-refugees-again-palestinians-flee-syrias-war.html 2013-01-28T12:03:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1847482-health-answers-sought-burned-off-war-garbage.html WASHINGTON (AP) — J.D. Williams didn't think much about the smoke cloud that often shrouded his air base in Iraq. Not when it covered everything he owned with black soot or when his wheezing and coughing made it difficult to sleep at night. "We just went about our business because there was a war going on," said Williams, a retired chief warrant officer w... Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:26:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1847482-health-answers-sought-burned-off-war-garbage.html 2013-01-26T13:26:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1847664-iraq-2-soldiers-killed-rally-shooting-site.html FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) — Gunmen killed two Iraqi soldiers and abducted three others in Fallujah on Saturday as hundreds of mourners gathered in the restive western city for the funeral of protesters killed during a shooting by army troops a day earlier, according to officials. The attacks and kidnappings appeared to be in retaliation for the deaths of protes... Sat, 26 Jan 2013 11:42:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1847664-iraq-2-soldiers-killed-rally-shooting-site.html 2013-01-26T11:42:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1847440-iraqi-insurgents-try-to-harness-opposition-rage.html BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi insurgents are trying to capitalize on the rage of anti-government protesters and the instability caused by rising civil unrest, complicating the government's efforts to stamp out a resurgent al-Qaida and other militants. Organizers of the protests attracting minority Iraqi Sunnis insist they have no links to terrorist groups. Yet Ira... Sat, 26 Jan 2013 08:24:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1847440-iraqi-insurgents-try-to-harness-opposition-rage.html 2013-01-26T08:24:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1845356-violence-erupts-iraq-rally-5-protesters-killed.html BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi troops opened fire on stone-throwing Sunni demonstrators in the country's restive west on Friday, leading to the deaths of at least five protesters — the first fatalities in more than a month of anti-government rallies. Two soldiers were also killed, apparently in retaliation. The violence is likely to exacerbate tensions between the ... Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:11:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1845356-violence-erupts-iraq-rally-5-protesters-killed.html 2013-01-25T20:11:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1845826-countries-where-women-combat.html From France's Joan of Arc to female resistance fighters in World War II and the black-clad women warriors of the Viet Cong, history is filled with stories of women fighting alongside men. In many modern armies, however, ground infantry combat is still largely a male preserve — either by regulation, practical issues such as physical requirements of living ... Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:45:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1845826-countries-where-women-combat.html 2013-01-25T16:45:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1842424-women-combat-good-to-they-meet-standards.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Women in the military must have the same opportunities as men to take on grueling and dangerous combat jobs, whether loading 50-pound artillery shells or joining commando raids to take out terrorists, defense leaders declared Thursday as they ordered a quarter-million positions open to service members regardless of gender. As Defense Sec... Thu, 24 Jan 2013 21:54:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1842424-women-combat-good-to-they-meet-standards.html 2013-01-24T21:54:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1842574-un-kuwait-invasion-fund-pays-13-billion.html GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. panel that settles claims for damages from victims of Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait has paid out another $1.3 billion — bringing the total so far to $40.1 billion. The U.N. Compensation Commission did not disclose the identities of the claimants on Thursday but said the money goes toward settling two claims for damages to Kuwait's ... Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:42:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1842574-un-kuwait-invasion-fund-pays-13-billion.html 2013-01-24T08:42:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1841140-ap-sources-pentagon-opens-combat-roles-to-women.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is lifting its ban on women serving in combat, opening hundreds of thousands of front-line positions and potentially elite commando jobs after generations of limits on their service, defense officials said Wednesday. The changes, set to be announced Thursday by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, will not happen overnight. The s... Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:32:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1841140-ap-sources-pentagon-opens-combat-roles-to-women.html 2013-01-24T00:32:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1840312-suicide-blast-funeral-kills-25-iraq.html BAGHDAD (AP) — A suicide bomber struck a packed funeral ceremony at a Shiite mosque in northern Iraq on Wednesday, killing at least 25 people and wounding dozens in an attack likely to further deepen the country's ethnic and sectarian rifts. The bomber detonated his explosives at the Sayyid al-Shuhada mosque in Tuz Khormato as mourners marked the death of... Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:43:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1840312-suicide-blast-funeral-kills-25-iraq.html 2013-01-23T16:43:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1839878-exxon-mobil-meets-kurd-leader-baghdad-talks.html BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's Kurdish regional government says its president has held talks with the head of Exxon Mobil amid signs that the energy giant may be exploring new options with the Kurds' rival, the central government in Baghdad. The Kurds said late Tuesday that regional President Massoud Barzani met with Exxon Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson in Switzer... Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:23:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1839878-exxon-mobil-meets-kurd-leader-baghdad-talks.html 2013-01-23T09:23:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1836980-wave-attacks-iraq-leaves-22-dead.html BAGHDAD (AP) — A string of attacks, including three car bombings in and around Baghdad, killed at least 22 people Tuesday, deepening fears of a surge in violence as sectarian tensions fester in Iraq. Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility, blame is likely to fall on Sunni insurgents such as al-Qaida's local franchise for Tuesday's bloodsh... Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:06:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1836980-wave-attacks-iraq-leaves-22-dead.html 2013-01-22T17:06:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1834876-exxon-mobil-boss-meets-iraqi-leader-baghdad.html BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's prime minister met with the head of Exxon Mobil on Monday to discuss the firm's plans in the country, raising the possibility that Baghdad could be mending its dispute with America's largest oil company. Exxon is helping to develop one of Iraq's largest oil fields, but it has infuriated Baghdad by signing separate deals with the OPEC... Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:06:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1834876-exxon-mobil-boss-meets-iraqi-leader-baghdad.html 2013-01-21T15:06:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1833232-iraqi-protester-tries-to-set-fire.html BAGHDAD (AP) — A demonstrator tried to set himself on fire in the north of Iraq Sunday in what is thought to be the first attempted self-immolation since anti-government rallies erupted a month ago. The man, identified by police and hospital officials as Talal Ali Abbas, ignited himself in a central square in Mosul where protesters have been rallying for ... Sun, 20 Jan 2013 15:50:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1833232-iraqi-protester-tries-to-set-fire.html 2013-01-20T15:50:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1831710-officials-4-die-violence-iraq.html BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi authorities say four people, including two off-duty policemen, have been killed in Iraq where violence has ebbed but insurgent attacks are still frequent. Police officials say the first attack occurred Saturday morning when gunmen shot and killed the two policemen in a drive-by-shooting near the northern city of Mosul. Another policem... Sat, 19 Jan 2013 11:14:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1831710-officials-4-die-violence-iraq.html 2013-01-19T11:14:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1829606-iraq-sunnis-rally-shiite-led-government.html BAGHDAD (AP) — Thousands of Sunnis rallied Friday in western and central Iraq, denouncing the Shiite-led government's policies they claim sideline their sect and saying that recent concessions by the authorities are not enough. The protests — the fourth Friday in a row of rallies in Sunni parts of the country — come as tensions are rising among Iraq's eth... Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:18:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1829606-iraq-sunnis-rally-shiite-led-government.html 2013-01-18T14:18:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1829516-oil-firm-to-boost-exports-iraqi-kurdish-area.html BAGHDAD (AP) — Genel Energy PLC, a company led by the former BP chief executive that recently started shipping oil from Iraq's self-rule Kurdish region, said Friday it plans to increase the amount it exports from the enclave despite Baghdad's opposition. The exports risk provoking lawsuits from the central government and are likely to exacerbate tensions ... Fri, 18 Jan 2013 12:42:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1829516-oil-firm-to-boost-exports-iraqi-kurdish-area.html 2013-01-18T12:42:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1827526-us-commandos-boost-numbers-to-train-mexican-forces.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is stepping up aid for Mexico's bloody drug war with a new U.S.-based special operations headquarters to teach Mexican security forces how to hunt drug cartels the same way special operations teams hunt al-Qaida, according to documents and interviews with multiple U.S. officials. Such assistance could help newly elected Mexi... Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:06:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1827526-us-commandos-boost-numbers-to-train-mexican-forces.html 2013-01-17T23:06:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1826422-bombs-iraq-kill-26-shiite-pilgrims.html BAGHDAD (AP) — Insurgents unleashed a string of bomb attacks mainly targeting Shiite Muslim pilgrims across Iraq on Thursday, killing at least 26 people and extending a deadly wave of bloodshed into a second day. The violence that left nearly 60 dead since Wednesday morning followed nearly two weeks of relative calm and threatened to fuel rising tensions ... Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:46:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1826422-bombs-iraq-kill-26-shiite-pilgrims.html 2013-01-17T16:46:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1826928-iraq-considering-bp-work-kirkuk-oil-field.html BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq is considering a proposal for British oil giant BP PLC to begin work on a major oil field that lies in territory contested by Baghdad and the country's Kurdish minority, officials said Thursday. If the project moves ahead, it could help reverse years of production declines at the Kirkuk oil field and strengthen BP's relationship with I... Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:31:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1826928-iraq-considering-bp-work-kirkuk-oil-field.html 2013-01-17T15:31:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1823764-string-attacks-iraq-kill-33.html BAGHDAD (AP) — A suicide bomber driving a vehicle packed with explosives blew himself up outside the offices of a major Kurdish party in northern Iraq early Wednesday, the deadliest in a wave of morning attacks that killed at least 33 people across the country. The violence comes amid rising tensions among Iraq's ethnic and sectarian groups that threaten ... Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:01:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1823764-string-attacks-iraq-kill-33.html 2013-01-16T15:01:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1821610-iraq-sunni-lawmaker-killed-suicide-bombing.html BAGHDAD (AP) — A suicide bomber assassinated a Sunni lawmaker in western Iraq on Tuesday, raising tensions in a part of the country that has been roiled by weeks of demonstrations. Seven people were killed in the attack. While it was unclear who carried out the attack, the killing is likely to further strain relations between the central government and mi... Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:01:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1821610-iraq-sunni-lawmaker-killed-suicide-bombing.html 2013-01-15T18:01:00Z