Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'iraq'

Using Anthropologists In Afghanistan Proves Complicated

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

The U.S. military has been embedding social scientists with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. These anthropologists offer their knowledge about local cultures to help troops avoid misunderstandings, but the program, called the Human Terrain System, has seen many problems in recent months.

Cleric Supporters Protest Security Agreement

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

Thousands of Iraqis gathered at a central square in Baghdad Friday to demonstrate against a security agreement that would keep American forces in Iraq for another three years. The protesters are supporters of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who opposes the accord. Iraqi lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the agreement Monday.

Security Contractors Play By 'Big Boy Rules' In Iraq

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:58:00 EST

Washington Post reporter Steve Fainaru has extensively covered the "parallel army" of private security contractors. His book Big Boy Rules: America's Mercenaries Fighting In Iraq, details the tens of thousands of "mercs" who arrived in Iraq in the absence of sufficient levels of U.S. troops.

Fight Breaks Out As Iraqi Lawmakers Debate Pact

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:03:00 EST

Tempers flared in Iraq's Parliament hall Wednesday as lawmakers debated whether to ratify a new security agreement with the United States — one that calls for the withdrawal of American forces by the end of 2011.

Black Iraqis In Basra Face Racism

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:16:00 EST

Iraqis of African descent in the southern port city of Basra say they're still discriminated against because of the color of their skin. Long relegated to menial jobs or work as musicians and dancers, some have recently formed a group to advance their civil rights.

Confronting A Resurgent Taliban

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

What direction might the U.S. military campaign against the Taliban take? President-elect Obama has said he will shift resources from Iraq to Afghanistan. Retired Army Col. John Nagl, an expert on counterinsurgency, surveys the prospects.

U.S. Forbids Interpreter Masks

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

The U.S. military is no longer allowing its Iraqi interpreters to wear masks. Interpreters worry they could be attacked by former detainees if their identities are known. Madeleine Brand speaks to Washington Post reporter Ernesto Londono, who has the details on the mask ban.

How Obama Plans To Defeat Al-Qaida

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

President-elect Barack Obama has promised to turn America's attention from the war in Iraq to what he calls the real war on terror: the fight against al-Qaida in Afghanistan. But the new administration may find its options are limited.

U.S. Troops In Iraq Until 2012

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

Iraq's parliament could vote as early as this week on a security pact with the United States that would allow American forces to remain for three more years. The Iraqi Cabinet overwhelmingly approved the deal Sunday.

Troop Withdrawal Plans Approved; Vote Next

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 11:53:00 EST

After nearly a year of hard-bargaining with U.S. negotiators, the Iraqi government voted to approve a draft agreement for the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq within the next three years.

Violence Rises In Iraq

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 08:55:00 EST

There's been a recent upsurge of bombing attacks on police patrols and civilians. But it's difficult to gauge how serious the upsurge may be, because U.S. and Iraqi sources give widely differing reports of the casualties.

Iraq's Drama: An Easier Sell On The Stage...

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST

Iraq-war movies always seem to flop: Stop Loss, Redacted, Rendition, In the Valley of Elah — all were box-office disappointments. But several plays about Iraq have been hits. Why does Iraq work on stage but not on screen?

Iran Poses Early Challenge For Obama Presidency

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:39:00 EST

The Obama administration faces a Rubik's Cube of policy problems in Iran, including Tehran's nuclear activities, its hostility to Israel, its role in Iraq and Afghanistan, its support for Hamas and Hezbollah and the nature of the Islamic Republic itself.

Galbraith Sounds Off On Obama's Iraq Plan

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:56:00 EST

Peter Galbraith, senior diplomatic fellow at the Center For Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, says he supports president-elect Barack Obama's timetable for getting U.S. troops out of Iraq because as long as U.S. troops remain, the nation's prestige continues to suffer.

Iraqi Refugees Find Michigan Is No Land Of Plenty

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:45:00 EST

More than 14,000 Iraqi refugees are expected to enter the U.S. this year, and most of them have gravitated to Detroit. But the economy is so bleak that the State Department no longer wants to allow Iraqis to settle in Michigan unless they have immediate relatives already living there.

Former General Sounds Off On Obama's Iraq Plan

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:23:00 EST

Gen. Jack Keane, former Army vice chief of staff, oversaw military operations in Iraq during the U.S. invasion. He talks about president-elect Barack Obama's plan to end the war. Keane says the focus now should be on achieving the goal of the mission, not getting out.

Madeleine Albright Has Advice For Obama

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:16:00 EST

When he takes office in January, President-elect Barack Obama will face leadership challenges few would envy: a crippled economy, the Iraq war, rising gas prices and the threat of terrorism. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright offers advice on how the new president should confront the challenges ahead.

'American Widow Project' Born From Grief

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

Taryn Davis was just 21 years old when her husband was killed in Iraq. As an young widow, she felt bereft, and very alone. She channeled her grief into the "American Widow Project."

Bush, Obama To Meet At White House

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:37:00 EST

President George W. Bush and President-elect Barack Obama will meet in the Oval Office Monday at 2:30 p.m. for a symbolic passing-of-the-torch discussion. There is much to talk about, including the country's precarious economy and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Iraqi City Of Basra Revives After A Long Nightmare

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:42:00 EST

The life and culture of Iraq's southern port city are slowly returning as security improves. Backed by American air power, Iraqi government forces were able to regain control of the city, breaking the grip of Islamist gangs that had dominated Basra for years.

Will Obama Sign-Off On New Afghan Strategy...

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

President-elect Barack Obama will have to grapple with conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. He will have to decide whether to negotiate with members of the Taliban as a way of stemming the violence in Afghanistan. The idea is supported by the new chief of the U.S. Central Command, Gen. David Petraeus, who used a similar tactic as part of a broader strategy in Iraq.

Stories Of War From Women Veterans

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST

A new book out this week compiles poems and memoirs from women veterans. It's called, "Powder: Writing by Women in the Ranks, from Vietnam to Iraq." The women share experiences, such as interrogating suspected terrorists and fending off advances from Iraqi men. Host Liane Hansen talks to Charlotte Brock, a former Marine Corps officer who wrote an essay about trying to identify dead bodies in Iraq. Warning: Graphic content.

Obama Made Inroads Into Rural Republican Base

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST

Rural voters have been considered reliably Republican since Bush won their support in the 2000 and 2004. But this election, Obama was able to win over rural voters who don't place a high priority on social issues and are concerned about the economy and the war in Iraq.

An Old Soldier Returns To Iraq

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 11:05:00 EST

At 60, Maj. James Richards Jr. is in Iraq because he heard the call to duty after Sept. 11. He had retired from the Navy in 1993, but re-enlisted. He and his wife, Angela, must now face a situation familiar to military families across America.

Can Obama Make Good On Promises About Wars...

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:50:00 EST

The president-elect made bold promises on the campaign trail: to end the war in Iraq and refocus the war in Afghanistan. Whomever he taps as Defense secretary will have to make military and diplomatic decisions abroad that might not match expectations at home.