Iraq war news stories on Newser

US: We Won't Scrap Iraqi Police Training

Neal Colgrass — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:40:00 CDT

The US embassy in Baghdad today denied a New York Times report that Washington may scrap its Iraqi police training program, AFP reports. "The Police Development Program is a vital part of the US-Iraqi relationship and an effective means of standing by our Iraqi friends," an embassy rep said. But...

Organs From US Troops Save Lives in Europe

Dustin Lushing — Sat, 05 May 2012 06:26:15 CDT

Since 2006, organ donations from mortally wounded US troops have saved around 140 European lives, reports USA Today . The families of 36 American servicemembers who were declared brain dead from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan agreed to donate their hearts, kidneys, lungs, livers, and pancreases to patients in Europe. It's...

US Diplomat: 'We Lost the War' in Iraq

Kevin Spak — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:41:32 CDT

Don't let anyone tell you the US "won" the Iraq war. During his stint in Iraq, State Department officer Peter Van Buren was so shocked by "the eye-watering waste and mismanagement" he saw that he wrote a blistering book about it. Nothing that's happened since has changed his conclusion that...

Bombings Sweep Iraq on Anniversary of US Invasion

Kevin Spak — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 08:35:19 CDT

Car bombs exploded in cities across Iraq today, including Baghdad, Fallujah, and Kirkuk, in a spate of violence that both marks the ninth anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, and presages the Arab League's summit in Baghdad next week. The attacks struck eight cities in all, killing at least...

Abu Ghraib Ex-Soldier: Prisoners Got Better End of Deal

Mary Papenfuss — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 03:01:18 CDT

Poor Lynndie England. The female soldier linked to shocking abuse at the infamous Abu Ghraib military prison remains steadfastly unremorseful about what happened, and apparently believes the prisoners ended up faring better than she has. Prisoners' "lives are better. They got the better end of the deal,” Lynndie England tells...

5 Questions to Ask Before Starting a War

Matt Cantor — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:46:12 CDT

As the drum-beating grows louder on Iran and Syria, Bill Keller looks back on Iraq and beyond. To avoid a debacle, there are five questions we should ask ourselves before entering a war, he writes in the New York Times : "How is this our fight?" Are American interests directly involved,...

Al-Sadr Militia Releases US Hostage Held in Iraq

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 16:42:30 CDT

An Iraqi militia linked to Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr released a former US soldier today after keeping him prisoner for nine months, Reuters reports. Identified as Randy Michaels, the American appeared on television in a US military uniform without insignia, alongside two lawmakers from al-Sadr's movement. Speaking briefly to reporters,...

Iraq, Afghan Wars Put 'Severe' Hit on US Finances

Matt Cantor — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:57:05 CST

In the short term, wars might help the US economy—but the brief uplift is just a bubble, according to a report. In the long run, wars are a serious drag on the country's finances, the Institute for Economics and Peace finds after studying all major American wars since World...

Last Missing US Soldier in Iraq Identified

Neal Colgrass — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 15:57:53 CST

The US military has identified the remains of America's last service member missing in Iraq—an Army interpreter who was kidnapped at gunpoint in 2006, the AP reports. Staff Sgt. Ahmed Kousay al-Taie, a native of Iraq who lived in Michigan, had sneaked off base by motorcycle to visit his...