Iraq

Iraqi Kurds Seek U.S. Influence, Get Pro-War Help

by Diane Farsetta — April 23, 2007 - 12:06pm

"In the past year, the [Iraqi] Kurds have spent more than $3 million to retain lobbyists and set up a diplomatic office in Washington," writes Rajiv Chandrasekaran.

Main Source: 
Washington Post, April 23, 2007

Just What Iraq Needs: More U.S. Propaganda

by Diane Farsetta — April 19, 2007 - 4:16pm

Gen. David Petraeus, "the top U.S. commander in Iraq, has asked for changes that would allow" the blending of public affairs -- the military's truth-telling function -- with "information operations," or propaganda. In response, Pentagon officials are reconsidering 2004 guidelines drafted by Gen. Richard Myers, which directed that the two be separate.

Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, April 18, 2007

Last U.S. Newspaper Bureau in Canada to Close

by Judith Siers-Poisson — April 13, 2007 - 9:45am

The Washington Post will close its Toronto bureau this summer, and with it, end direct coverage of Canadian issues by American newspaper correspondents. Permanent bureaus will be replaced by wire services, contract writers, freelancers and reporters deployed to cover specific events.

Main Source: 
The Toronto Star, April 3, 2007

AP Photographer Marks One Year in U.S. Prison Camp

by Diane Farsetta — April 12, 2007 - 4:49pm

For one year, Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein has been "held at a prison camp in Iraq by U.S. military officials who have neither formally charged him with a crime nor made public any evidence of wrongdoing," AP reports.

Main Source: 
Associated Press, April 11, 2007

Iraq: Why the Media Failed

by Sheldon Rampton — April 12, 2007 - 10:47am

"It's no secret that the period of time between 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq represents one of the greatest collapses in the history of the American media," observes Gary Kamiya. "Why did the media fail so disastrously in its response to the biggest issue of a generation? To answer this, we need to look at three broad, interrelated areas, which I have called psychological, institutional and ideological.

Main Source: 
Salon.com, April 10, 2007

America's Hidden War Dead

by Sheldon Rampton — April 8, 2007 - 11:17pm

In addition to the 3,200 U.S. soldiers who have died in Iraq, notes Howard Witt, "More than 770 civilians working for U.S. firms have lost their lives supporting the military in Iraq, and some families are now speaking out." Family members are complaining that companies like KBR/Halliburton have placed their workers in harm's way in Iraq without adequate protection and that their own financial and psychological hardships have been ignored.

Main Source: 
Chicago Tribune, March 26, 2007

How to End the War in Iraq? MoveOn Answers Its Critics

by John Stauber — March 30, 2007 - 9:57am

Alternet's Don Hazen interviews the founders of MoveOn. He writes, "For the first time ... members of Congress -- at least the new Democratic majority, along with a handful of Republicans -- finally caught up with the population" and "confronted Bush over the financing of the war and a real timeline for ending it. ... The ability to win this first victory was difficult and complex. It was achieved in part with the energetic and savvy support of millions of progressives and particularly MoveOn.org ...

Main Source: 
Alternet, March 30, 2007

Sarah Olson Reports: Opposition to the War Growing Among Troops

by John Stauber — March 29, 2007 - 9:06pm

It was Sarah Olson's reporting on military opposition to the war in Iraq that made her a target of an Army subpoena. That hasn't deterred her from continuing to report on the subject.

Main Source: 
Common Dreams, March 29, 2007

Senate Upholds Call for Iraq Withdrawal in Spending Bill

by Conor Kenny — March 28, 2007 - 6:12pm
  • Topics: Iraq, U.S. Congress, U.S. Government

    • A bill calling for the 2008 withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq is now one step closer to reaching President Bush’s desk.

    On Tuesday, the Senate rejected a Republican-backed amendment to strip a timeline for withdrawal from a $122 billion supplemental spending bill, 48-50. Democrats were joined in opposing the amendment by two Republicans, Sens. Chuck Hagel (Neb.) and Gordon Smith (Ore.). One Democrat, Sen. Mark Pryor (Ark.), sided with the remaining Republicans and independent Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) in supporting the amendment. Hagel and Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), both of whom supported keeping the withdrawal timeline in the spending bill, had just two weeks ago opposed a separate Senate resolution calling for an identical timetable.

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