Suicide bomber kills 12 in attack on pilgrims in Baghdad

UPDATE: 3:35PM ESTSome reports are now saying that 19 people are dead, and about 75 are injured." A female suicide bomber killed at least19 people and wounded 75 on Thursday when she detonated anexplosive vest in a crowd of pilgrims being escorted by policeto a shrine south...

Al Qaeda in Iraq "never closer to defeat": U.S. envoy

Here's some progress."The U.S. ambassador to Iraq praisedPrime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Saturday for cracking down onShi'ite militias and Sunni Arab militants and said al Qaeda inIraq had never been closer to defeat."You are not going to hear me say that al Qaeda...

U.S. troops detain news editor of Iraq TV station

According to Reuters, Mr. al-Beshara is being detained as part of an investigation into the conduct of his son, who is suspected to be a "militia intelligence operative"."The U.S. military said on Monday they had detained the news editor of a television station owned by...

Hamas: We're allowed to lie

"February 7, 2008 Hamas: We're allowed to lie “A Muslim is permitted to say things that oppose his beliefs in order to prevent damages or to be saved from death.” When I point that out, I get called an "Islamophobe." I'm told this is a Shi'ite idea that Sunnis shun --...

Maliki orders security forces to crush foes

News from Iraq:"BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki told his security forces on Tuesday to show no mercy toward insurgents in a security crackdown in Baghdad. Iraqiya state television showed Maliki, a Shi'ite Islamist leader, talking to an Iraqi soldier...

Scotland on Sunday

"THE ingredients most likely to spark confrontation between the United States and Iran could scarcely be simpler or more combustible: a tin filled with an explosive charge and a lump of copper is all that is needed to manufacture what the US military calls an Explosively...

Iraqi cult leader killed in Najaf battle

"The leader of an Iraqi cult who claimed to be the Mahdi, a messiah-like figure in Islam, was killed in a battle on Sunday near Najaf with hundreds of his followers, Iraq's national security minister said on Monday. Women and children who joined 600-700 of his "Soldiers of...

Top aide to Muqtada al-Sadr killed in Iraqi raid

Got another bad guy in Iraq "A top aide to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr was killed in a raid by US troops Wednesday in the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf, an Iraqi lawmaker said. The US military, however, said American troops participated in a raid led by Iraqi...