Middle East

14 April 2008 -- The U.S. war in Iraq has now lasted more than five years. Thousands of American soldiers and Iraqis have been killed or wounded in the conflict. In addition to the tragic human toll, the war has also run up a large price tag for the United States. But determining the exact cost in dollars and cents is both elusive and politically sensitive.

Iraq - The $3 Trillion War: Photo by Mark Kobayashi-Hillary (CC)    » read more »

CNNI Provides Additional Resources for Inside Middle East, Market Place Middle East Programs

4/7/2008 -- Cal Perry, CNN’s award-winning Baghdad bureau chief and producer, has been appointed as the network’s new international correspondent based in Beirut, Lebanon, it was announced today by Parisa Khosravi, senior vice president of international newsgathering for CNN Worldwide.

Perry, who has been instrumental in coordinating and guiding CNN’s unrivaled coverage of Iraq over the past four years, takes up his new position in April. In this new role, he will cover Lebanon and also support CNN’s growing presence across the Middle East with editorial operations in Abu Dhabi, Amman, Baghdad, Cairo, Dubai and Jerusalem.    » read more »

April 7, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) sent the following letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, calling on her to condemn a recent ruling by a prominent Saudi cleric against two Saudi journalists for reporting what he considered heretical articles.

Barack Obama mural, Brooklyn: Photo by Erica (CC)

According to recent reports, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman al-Barrak issued a fatwa last month stating that two journalists should be put to death if they did not retract their articles. Last week, over 100 Arab rights groups also condemned the fatwa.    » read more »

April 2, 2008 -- Oregon Governor wants to further understanding of the critical factors supporting the growth of Intel manufacturing and the R&D center in Israel and look for lessons learned that might apply to Oregon.

(Kiryat Gat, Israel)-- Governor Ted Kulongoski continued his business development mission in Israel today where met with representatives from Intel’s Israeli research and development (R&D) facility.

Intel is Israel’s largest non-governmental employer, with 7,300 workers in production and R&D. By way of comparison, Intel has approximately 15,500 employees in Oregon. Intel chose Israel as the location for its first design and development center outside the US in 1974, the same year Intel acquired its first Oregon site in Aloha.    » read more »

31 March 2008 -- Witnesses in Iraq say a barrage of rockets or mortar bombs has struck Baghdad's heavily-fortified Green Zone, home to the U.S. Embassy and Iraqi government headquarters.

There were no immediate reports of any fatalities following the attack Monday. But recent intense militant attacks on the Green Zone have killed at least two Americans in the past week.

Today's attack comes a day after Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ordered his militant supporters to withdraw from deadly street battles against Iraqi government and coalition forces. Hazem al-Aaraji, A spokesman for the cleric, says Sadr issued the cease-fire order Sunday to stop the shedding of Iraqi blood.    » read more »

30 March 2008 -- In Iraq, Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has ordered his militia off the streets in an effort to press the government for an end to the military offensive that has rocked Basra and other Sadr strongholds since Tuesday. The government has welcomed the move.

Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said he was ordering his militia, the Mahdi Army, to stop fighting and cooperate with government security efforts. In exchange, he asked the government to release Mahdi Army prisoners and declare an amnesty.    » read more »

29 March 2008 -- Iraqi authorities say the death toll from five days of intense fighting between Iraqi forces and Shi'ite militias has surged to more than 200.

Many of the casualties have occurred in Baghdad's Sadr City, a stronghold of militias loyal to radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. A spokesman for the Iraqi Health Ministry says at least 75 people have been killed there and nearly 500 wounded in clashes and U.S.-led airstrikes.

Reports say dozens of policemen in Sadr City surrendered their weapons to Sadr's forces, saying they could not fight their own people.

To the south, a British military spokesman, Major Tom Holloway, says U.S. warplanes bombed militia strongholds in a neighborhood just north of the city of Basra. There was no immediate word on casualties.    » read more »

March 19, 2008 -- I send greetings to those celebrating Nowruz.

For the millions of people who trace their heritage to Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey, Pakistan, India, and Central Asia, Nowruz is a time to celebrate the New Year with the arrival of spring. This cherished and ancient festival brings together family and friends to reflect on what has come before and celebrate a season of new beginnings.

Our country is proud to be a land where individuals from many different cultures can pass their traditions on to future generations. The diversity of America brings joy to our citizens and strengthens our Nation during Nowruz and throughout the year.    » read more »

March 18, 2008 -- Playing to the pro-war wing of his Party, John McCain often says on the campaign trail that he knows the facts on the ground in Iraq and that anyone who talks about how long our troops will be there "does not understand the military." [Foxnews.com, 2/11/08]    » read more »

18 March 2008 -- Iraq's main Sunni Muslim bloc has boycotted a conference aimed at reconciling differences among the country's rival political groups.

A spokesman for the bloc says it was not properly invited. He also says the bloc's political concerns are not being heard.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shi'ite Muslim, opened the conference Tuesday in Baghdad and called on all political leaders to support national reconciliation.    » read more »

17 March 2008 -- Five years after the US-led invasion of Iraq, the country is still in disarray. The human rights situation is disastrous, a climate of impunity has prevailed, the economy is in tatters and the refugee crisis continues to escalating.

A new Amnesty International report, Carnage and Despair: Iraq five years on, says that, despite the heavy presence of US and Iraqi security forces, Iraq is one of the most dangerous countries in the world, with hundreds of Iraqi civilians killed every month.    » read more »

13 March 2008 -- Iraqi medical officials say at least 18 people have been killed and more than 50 others wounded in a car bomb attack in central Baghdad.

Police say the bomb went off Thursday, in Bab al-Sharji, a shopping district in the Iraqi capital.

Insurgents have stepped up attacks in Baghdad in recent weeks after a lull in violence that lasted several months. A double bomb attack in another commercial district of Baghdad killed almost 70 people last week.    » read more »

The inability of the United States to monitor insurgent trends in Iraq and apply new counterinsurgency tactics led many Iraqi civilians to side with sectarian groups, propelling the country to the brink of civil war, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

The study, "Counterinsurgency in Iraq: 2003-2006," is the latest in a series examining insurgency and counterinsurgency, and details how the United States should improve its capabilities for future conflicts. The capstone report of the series, "War by Other Means," was released in February by RAND, a non-profit research organization.    » read more »

March 06, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - U.S. Senator Barack Obama released the following statement on the Jerusalem seminary attack:

"I strongly condemn this cowardly and outrageous attack. The United States must strongly support Israel's right and capability to defend itself.

Today, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, and with the Israeli people who defeat these terrorists every single day that they go about their daily lives."

Source: Barack Obama campaign

The current estimate of gas flared or wasted in the Middle East and North Africa region is about 50 billion cubic meters annually, which makes it the second largest flaring region in the world

DOHA, March 5 — The World Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Reduction partnership (GGFR) today called on oil producing countries and companies in the Middle East to join worldwide efforts in reducing the burning of natural gas or flaring, and in increasing energy efficiency to mitigate impact on climate change.    » read more »