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WMR - Veterans

The Middle East in the News
•Your Name    & Date: Kaki Elgin, Nov. 12
•Title of Editorial: The Nuances of Celebrating Veterans Day
•Source of Article — Include a Link
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/soldiershome/archive/2008/11/11/the-nuances-of-celebrating-veterans-day.aspx
•Article Summary
Time: Yesterday
Place: The US, Iraq
Key People: Veterans
Main Ideas: Our definition of the word “veteran” is being forced to change.  Growing up, the author (and we students, I suppose) [...]

Iraq and U.S. Confer on Iraqi Economy

The New York Times
November 1st
 
Representatives from Iraq and the United States met on Saturday, November 1st, to discuss ways to stimulate the Iraqi economy.  With oil prices as low as they are, Iraq is struggling to find new sources of income, given that 95 percent of Iraq’s revenue comes from oil exports.  American officials stressed [...]

Iraq updates Hussein-era Air Force

Summary:
New Iraqi Air-force recruits are training on equipment that is comparable to that of the US Airforce.
At the beginning 2008 year the IQAF had 800 airmen, but that figure has already more than doubled to just over 2,000, and by the end of 2009, the IQAF is set to triple to over 6,000 airmen.
“Their biggest [...]

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U.S. Hands Over Governance of Wasit Province to Iraqis

Today the U.S. handed over control of Wasit Province to the Iraqi government, the 13th of Iraq’s 18 provinces. 
Story at the BBC (with map)

U.S. Forces Hand Province To Iraqi’s

Recently, U.S. forces have handed over the city of Babil to Iraqi forces. This is the 12th province of 18 Iraqi provinces whose control has been given to Iraqi forces. Babil, a majority Shia city, in March of last year had a suicide bomb kill nearly 100 Shia pilgrims and also has a section of [...]

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WMR Syria Closes American School

Zoe Weinberg October 28, 2008
Article: Syria Orders American School Closed After Raid
By Eric Schmitt and Graham Bowley
Time: October 28, 2008
Place: Damascus, Syria
Key People: Abu Ghadiya, Syrian officials, US officials, Pres. Bush, Gen. Petraeus
Summary:
This article documents the first of the responses to the US’s (the American Special Operations forces) raid into Syria on Sunday, in which [...]

Gen. David Petraeus and the Counterinsurgency Manual

General William Usher, our guest today, referred to Gen. David Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command and one of the principal military officers responsible for writing ”the book” on counterinsurgency warfare. General Usher mentioned that the manual is available online. It is a large file (12.6 MB):
General David Petraeus and Marine Lt. Gen. James F. Amos, Field Manual 3-24 [...]

Iraq’s Constitution and Governmental Structure

Re. the questions in class today about the Iraqi constitution click here to go the page at the History of the Middle East Database on the CPA.   In the yellow box you will see links to the draft constitutions.  In the body of the text, use “Find,” insert “constitution,” and read the summaries.   Click in the box to go [...]

U.S. Raid Into Syrian Territory Along Border With Iraq

Story at BBC
BBC reports on this incident suggest that this was the first known incursion of U.S. forces into Syrian territory.  This is not so.  On June 18, 2003, just three months after the war began, U.S. forces fired upon a convoy of vehicles believed to contain members of the recently deposed Iraqi leadership who [...]

When to call the soldiers home

Oct 23rd 2008
From The Economist 
Why it is in America’s own interest to let the Iraqis have their way
 
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12471116