DOD data: More forced to stay in Army

The Army has accelerated its policy of involuntary extensions of duty to bolster its troop levels, despite Defense Secretary Robert Gates' order last year to limit it, Pentagon records show.

The policy shows the Army is "unraveling a bit" while "under tremendous strain," said Rep. Joe Sestak, a Pennsylvania Democrat and retired vice admiral. Sestak, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said relying on stop loss could be masking problems the Army is having with recruiting.

Iran and Syria to Join US talks in Kuwait

From Bahrain Ms Rice will travel on to Kuwait for talks with countries that neighbor Iraq.

Officials from Iran and Syria are expected at the discussions in Kuwait although there are no plans for the secretary of state to meet them.

WHO: 151,000 Civilian Deaths in Iraq

The World Health Organization said its study, based on interviews with families, indicated with a 95 percent degree of statistical certainty that between 104,000 and 223,000 civilians had died. It based its estimate of 151,000 deaths on that range.

Old Enemies are New Friends in Iraq

The United States is empowering a new group of Sunni leaders, including onetime members of former president Saddam Hussein's Baath Party, intelligence services and army, who are challenging established Sunni politicians for their community's leadership. The phenomenon marks a sharp turnaround in U.S. policy and the fortunes of Iraq's Sunni minority.

West Point Study on Foreign Fighers in Iraq

Although it remains unclear the degree to which Shiite-dominant Iran is influencing the violence in Iraq, the analysis indicates that most of the foreign intervention is Sunni-based, which includes Al Qaeda.

The Sunni Divide in Iraq

As violence has faded, an argument has been raging over who really speaks for Iraq's Sunni Arab minority: the province's largely secular and fiercely independent tribal leaders, who resisted the U.S. invasion, or the main Sunni political party, an Islamist group led by former exiles who cooperated with the Americans from the start.

The Shia Divide in Iraq

So the US wants a united Iraq, but backs the Shia who want independence?

A referendum on creating an autonomous Shiite region of nine provinces is scheduled for April, mandated by Iraq's constitution, although political deadlines in Iraq are seldom met. The Supreme Council wants a mini-Shiite state, but opponents such as Sadr, who views himself as an Iraqi nationalist, fear it will lead to a breakup of the country.

Bush Vetos Military Bill

Why does George Bush hate our military?

For months President Bush harangued Democrats in Congress for not moving quickly enough to support the troops and for bogging down military bills with unrelated issues.

Iraq Anglican Leader: Country Better Under Saddam

Life was “better” for Christians in Iraq under the regime of Saddam Hussein than it is today, according to the only Anglican vicar working in Baghdad.

US weighs Iraq post-surge troop levels

You mean the surge isn't the end of the war?

General George Casey, the army chief of staff who preceded Gen Petraeus in Iraq, has repeatedly warned that the US is deploying in Iraq at an unsustainable pace.

DOD Nominee Gives Maliki Government An 'F'

"At this time, I would give the Maliki government an 'F'," Mary Beth Long told the Senate Armed Services Committee during her confirmation hearing today. The nascent government has not performed in an "exemplary manner" to pass needed legislation, Long said.

British Colonel Speaks Out on Iraq

“I think the whole enterprise has been characterised by muddled thinking and lack of planning and over-optimism.”

Pentagon Says Services in Iraq Are Stagnant

More progress in Iraq.

There have been only “minimal advances in the delivery of essential services to the people of Iraq, mainly due to sectarian bias in targeting and execution of remedial programs.”

Iraq Parliament Condems Turkish Bombings

Someone forgot to tell them who the real leaders of Iraq are.

"We strongly condemn this cruel attack on Iraqi sovereignty and on the principle of friendly neighbourhood," the Iraqi parliament said in a statement that spoke of "several innocent civilian casualties"

UK has left behind murder and chaos, says Basra police chief

Link includes 6 min video.

"I don't think the British meant for this mess to happen. When they disbanded the Iraqi police and military after Saddam fell the people they put in their place were not loyal to the Iraqi government. The British trained and armed these people in the extremist groups and now we are faced with a situation where these police are loyal to their parties not their country."

Turkey Bombs Northern Iraq

What if Iran had done this?

The early morning attack, confirmed by Turkey, renewed concerns of a major new front opening in the Iraq war.

A Beacon of Democracy in the Middle East?

“Victory” in George Bush's wars will at most mean preventing catastrophe.

Afganistan on Shakey Ground

Bush will probably just blame it all on Iran...

“I have a real concern that given our preoccupation in Iraq, we’ve not devoted sufficient troops and funding to Afghanistan to ensure success in that mission,” Mr. Skelton said. “Afghanistan has been the forgotten war.”

US: Returning Refugees May Destabilize Iraq

For the military, the prospect of refugees returning to reclaim houses long since occupied by others, particularly in Baghdad, threatened to destroy fragile security improvements.

"There is an element of the violence being down because segregation has already happened," said Col. William E. Rapp, a senior aide to Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq. "The violence is still at the fault lines, and we're sitting on those fault lines."

Britain Cedes Control of Basra

Another "Coalition of the Killing" member cuts and runs.

Whatever mistakes have been made," Mr Blair was saying in mid-2004, "... let us be pleased that Iraq is liberated."