Month: May 2009

Sunday: 4 Iraqis Killed, 13 Wounded

Updated at 3:05 p.m. May 10, 2009 U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Rep. Rush Holt dropped in on Iraqi lawmakers to discuss increasing the United States’ role in intelligence gathering even as troops withdraw from the country. Meanwhile, at least four Iraqis were killed and 13 more were wounded in the latest attacks. Also, the central government avoided aggravating tensions between the Kurdish Regional Government and themselves by approving the sales of Kurdish oil to foreign clients.

Obama Aide Puts Israel’s Nukes in the Diplomatic Mix

LONDON — Last month in Prague, President Barack Obama vowed that he would seek a world without nuclear weapons. On Tuesday, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller spelled out that this policy would apply to Israel, as well. Speaking at a conference on the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Gottemoeller said that "Universal adherence … Continue reading “Obama Aide Puts Israel’s Nukes in the Diplomatic Mix”

Friday: 1 US Soldier, 2 Iraqis Killed; 4 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 7:05 p.m. EDT, May 8, 2009 This prayer day was particularly quiet. Only two Iraqis were reported killed and another four were wounded. One U.S. soldier died yesterday from wounds sustained in a May 5 accident. Back in the U.S., an American soldier was convicted of raping a 14-year-old girl and murdering her along with her family. The girl’s remaining relatives are pressing for the death penalty. Also, the Kurdish Regional Government claimed it was ready to start exporting oil, but the central government said no permission was given to use national pipelines for the transfer. Oil has been the source of tensions between the Kurds and Shi’ite-led central government.