Patriot Paradox

AFP – US forces are carrying out operations against Shiite insurgents, almost a year after the military announced a formal end to its combat operations in Iraq, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said on Monday. Read the rest of this entry »

AFP – Newly appointed US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta told American troops in Baghdad on Monday that 9/11 was the reason they were in Iraq, before he was quickly corrected by his spokesman. Read the rest of this entry »

AFP – Iraq’s government said Monday it would not reconcile with members of Al-Qaeda or anyone who has killed Iraqis, but suggested it was open to talks with those who had fought American forces. Read the rest of this entry »

AFP – A secret US federal grand jury is looking into the role of CIA agents in several alleged “war on terror” abuse cases, including the November 2003 homicide of a prisoner at Iraq’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison, Time magazine reported Monday. Read the rest of this entry »

AFP – Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday he hopes Iraqi leaders will ask US troops to stay in their country beyond a year-end deadline but acknowledged the United States was unpopular there. Read the rest of this entry »

AFP – Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called for greater cooperation with Washington after a US army pullout from Iraq at the end of 2011, in talks Saturday with US Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Read the rest of this entry »

AFP – The killing on Friday of an American soldier made April the deadliest month for US forces in Iraq since 2009, according to figures compiled by AFP. Read the rest of this entry »

AFP – A controversial general who commanded US ground forces in Iraq during the Abu Ghraib scandal said Monday he is mulling a run under the Democratic ticket for a US senate seat in Texas. Read the rest of this entry »

AFP – Iraqi leaders should not expect US forces to return to help in a crisis once they leave at the end of the year, a senior American military official said on Wednesday. Read the rest of this entry »

AFP – US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that American forces were prepared to stay in any role beyond a scheduled pullout late this year, but time was running out for Iraq to ask. Read the rest of this entry »