Topic: Iraq

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10 best books of May, according to Amazon

Amazon's editors picked these 10 books as the best for the month.
Briefing
Top 3 reasons why Al Qaeda is more dangerous than ever

On the one-year anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death, defense analysts say that there are plenty of reasons to think that a resurgence of the perniciously resourceful Al Qaeda is not out of the question.
Who are the Taliban and what do they want? 5 key points

While Pakistani and Afghan insurgents often get labeled as the 'Taliban,' in reality there are several groups that often act independently and have distinct command structures, ideologies, and strategies.
Six reasons to keep America as No. 1 superpower

Many around the world say American decline would preserve global stability through a better balance of power. They’re wrong, says Steve Yetiv, a political science professor at Old Dominion University. It’s not that other countries or international institutions can’t play vital roles. They do. But they can't yet do what Washington does around the world, Yetiv says. Here he gives six examples.
International Women's Day: How it's celebrated around the globe

International Women's Day has served for more than a century as a day to honor the achievements of women globally. Here are some ways people are celebrating:

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Keep Calm
With Crocker's exit, a chance for a new approach to Afghanistan

Ambassador Ryan Crocker announced he is stepping down as the US ambassador to Afghanistan. 
Two harrowing US military rescues offer haunting portrait of Afghan war

Rescue pilots in Afghanistan describe flying five to 10 combat missions a day, on constant alert. Describing one mission, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor last week, Col. Christopher Barnett says: 'It was like the Alamo.'
Iran talks in Baghdad: Western naiveté

As world powers head into nuclear talks with Iran in Baghdad on Wednesday, is Obama so naive as to hang on to a fake fatwa promising no nukes? With enough enriched uranium to eventually make six nuclear bombs, Tehran is simply stalling for time. Recent chronology bears this out.
American jihadi in Somalia writes an autobiography

Omar Hammami, an American jihadist from Alabama, wrote a 127-page book about his experience fighting on the front lines with Somalia's Al Qaeda affiliate, Al Shabab.
Focus
NATO summit: Why US, allies don't just call it quits in Afghanistan

Al Qaeda, oil, and Pakistan, a trifecta of troublesome issues, make the US withdrawal from Afghanistan far more complicated than it was in Iraq.
Afghanistan security for less? How low can NATO go?

As NATO leaders convene for the weekend summit in Chicago, one pressing issue is whether, and how much, the post-NATO-withdrawal Afghan security forces can be pared down to save money.
Keep Calm
Good Reads: on optimism, rise of a global middle class, and geek revivals

It may be easy to feel down in an election year, but between the rise of the global middle class and a geek resurgence, there are reasons for hope.
House reauthorizes Afghan conflict in bipartisan vote

They rejected an amendment that would have required troops to be swiftly withdrawn.
Romney hits back on economy, says Obama causing a 'prairie fire of debt' (+video)

The GOP candidate was in Iowa, making his case that the President's administration has not done enough to keep the country fiscally sound.
Rebekah Brooks discusses links to British PM Cameron in phone hacking inquiry

Rebekah Brooks, former CEO of Rupert Murdoch's News International, talked about her relationship with British Prime Minister David Cameron and former prime minister Tony Blair in testimony Friday before the Leveson inquiry.
Terrorism & Security
Damascus bombings prompt warnings of Iraq-style insurgency

Yesterday's bombings in Damascus were the largest since the uprising began. The US and others are sounding an alarm about a particularly worrisome turn in the conflict.
10 best books of May, according to Amazon

Amazon's editors picked these 10 books as the best for the month.
Iran nuclear talks: Are sanctions on the table?

A senior Iranian figure stated that Iran's 'minimum expectation' for the upcoming negotiations was a lifting of some sanctions, but sanctions are notoriously hard to remove.
Terrorism & Security
Two bombings rock Damascus in one of largest attacks since uprising (+video)

No group has claimed responsibility for today's bombings in Damascus that killed at least 40 people, but an Al Qaeda-inspired group has claimed similar attacks in the past.
Latin America Monitor
Is French journalist kidnapped in Colombia a prisoner of war?

The ambiguities over FARC-kidnapped Romeo Langlois' status as a POW is indicative of a wider debate over the status of journalists in modern conflict zones, writes a guest blogger.
Global News Blog
Majority of Americans reject new US-Afghan security pact: poll

A large majority of Americans disapprove of a new strategic partnership with Afghanistan that will keep US troops on Afghan soil beyond 2014, according to a Monitor/TIPP poll.
Keep Calm
Clinton in India: a gentle reminder about all that Iranian oil (+video)

The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wants India to stop buying oil from Iran, given concerns over Iran's nuclear program. But can Delhi stop?
François Hollande – no more 'Mr. Pudding'?

Style – more than policy differences on austerity – separated Socialist winner François Hollande from Nicolas Sarkozy in the French presidential elections. France may have simply preferred Hollande, dubbed 'Mr. Pudding,' over bombastic Sarkozy. But Hollande may not be so soft.
Readers Write: Israel could be a threat and Obama should be praised on Iran

Letters to the Editor for the weekly print issue of May 7, 2012: John Bolton is wrong. Obama is protecting the US and world economy from a disastrous attack on Iran. It's Israel that has the nukes. And the best way to foment regime change in Iran is to support the opposition there.
Obama makes it official: He's running for reelection

President Obama has been fund-raising and making political speeches for months, most recently taking jabs at presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney. At rallies in Ohio and Virginia Saturday, Obama officially launched his campaign for reelection.
Iraq's unity tested by rising tensions over oil-rich Kurdish region

As Iraqi Kurdistan ramps up oil production that could soon surpass Libya's output, Kurdish leaders have warned they may seek independence if disputes over oil revenues, power-sharing aren't resolved.
For a 2012 Obama win, hip-hop stars must 'Barack the vote' like they did in 2008

Rap and hip-hop artists have turned down the volume on their once-boisterous efforts to rally their fans – a key part of President Obama’s base – to support him in 2012. To see Obama take office for a second term, the hip-hop community needs to return to the momentum it built in 2008.
Why Bin Laden disapproved of Al Qaeda in Yemen, Iraq, and Somalia

Osama bin Laden held some of the Al Qaeda franchises in disdain, according to the 17 letters released. Bin Laden also ordered an attack in 2010 on Air Force One, Obama's plane.
Ayatollah Khamenei gives Iran nuclear talks unprecedented legitimacy

Iran's supreme leader appears much more involved in current nuclear negotiations, meaning that any deal struck will not face resistance back in Iran. But he's also likely to press for a harder line.
How can Army keep soldiers fighting fit after Afghanistan? Avatars

Military officials are using video games to evaluate troops, but making soldiers' avatars – their virtual selves – more closely mimic the soldiers' actual skills is the next frontier.