Drive for Sanctions Likely in Wake of North Korean Test

Sunday's underground nuclear test by North Korea drew strong condemnation Monday from U.S. President Barack Obama, who suggested that Washington will seek strong international sanctions by the UN Security Council and possibly impose tough unilateral measures of its...

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Monday: 9 Iraqis, 1 Syrian Killed; 8 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 7:10 p.m. EDT, May 24, 2009 The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) offered to end a decades long conflict with Turkey if the Turks are willing to negotiate a settlement. At least nine Iraqis were killed, along with a Syrian fighter, and another eight were wounded in the latest attacks. Meanwhile, Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament Iyad al-Samarraie said that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has the right to reshuffle or select cabinet ministers in order to implement government programs. Political pressure had prevented Maliki from doing so previously.
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Obama’s Democratic Authoritarianism

He's not closing Guantanamo, he's continuing the "preventive detention" policy of the Bush administration under a new rubric ("prolonged detention"), he's on board with military commissions ("reformed," of course) and the denial of habeas...

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Sunday: 24 Iraqis Killed, 39 Wounded

Updated at 11:40 p.m. EDT, May 24, 2009 At least 24 Iraqis were killed and 39 were wounded, mostly in Mosul where a suicide bomber stuck in the al-Duwasa neighborhood. Casualty numbers could rise, as American figures have not yet been reported for this incident. No other Coalition attacks were reported.
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Saturday: 1 US Soldier, 2 Americans, 13 Iraqis Killed; 11 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 8:20 p.m. EDT, May 23, 2009 At least 13 Iraqis were killed and 11 more were wounded in light attacks. One U.S. soldier was killed in a non-combat incident in Baghdad province as well. Also, two American contractors were killed in separate attacks in the Green Zone. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki blamed Sunni ex-detainees for the recent increase in violence and is now rejecting an amnesty law that has allowed thousands of innocent Iraqis to leave jail.
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