Iraq

Biden's visit to Iraq raises questions about Iraq's future

BAGHDAD — Vice President Joe Biden's surprise two-day visit this weekend to Iraq was meant to "re-establish contact" with leaders here, but some Iraqis bristled at the messenger more than the message.

Biden is well known in Iraq for his earlier support of a plan to give three-way autonomy to each major ethnic group here — Sunni Arab, Shiite Arab and Kurd — under a central government.

Protestors burned an American flag in Sadr City, a crowded Baghdad slum, and chanted, "No, no for occupation! No, no for America!" One of them, Mohammed Kathem, 40, an administrator, said many of the protestors hit the streets after an imam encouraged them to do so at Friday prayers. "Biden's visit sent the signal to us that Iraq will be divided," he said. "Biden's background doesn't allow him to play any role in reconciliation." » read more

Posted on Fri, July 3, 2009

4 Americans killed as Iraq takes over its own security

BAGHDAD — On a historic day for Americans and Iraqis alike — a rare if not unprecedented handoff of military sovereignty in an active war zone — the violence that's marred six years of U.S.-led occupation struck again.

Four American service members were killed Monday in a still-sketchy incident, and 28 Iraqis died Tuesday in a bombing in the northern city of Kirkuk, which has become the epicenter of recent insurgent bomb attacks.

The U.S. military command refused to provide any details of how the American troops died. Security officials in Kirkuk said that many women and children were among the casualties there, who included at least 93 wounded. The carnage was caused by a bomb concealed in a Mercedes sedan that exploded at 5:30 p.m. in a market. Two weeks ago, a truck bomb killed 72 people and wounded 135 in Kirkuk. » read more

Posted on Tue, June 30, 2009

Iraqi exercise craze pumps up home fitness business

BAGHDAD — Khalida Waleed wants to thank Oprah Winfrey for keeping her fit.

The 34-year-old office manager at an oil company doggedly does her 30-minute treadmill workout several times a week while watching. "I changed my life because of Oprah," she said, sighing. "Sometimes I don't exercise for a while, but when I watch her, I return to it."

Waleed represents a surging trend in Iraq: With or without Winfrey's inspiration, more exercise machines are going into more homes. Neither the Ministries of Finance nor Trade could provide reliable statistics, but anecdotal evidence suggests that a growing number of Iraqis are emerging from the fog of war into the sunshine of regular workouts. » read more

Posted on Mon, June 29, 2009

As U.S. troops move on, Iraqis fear the coming turmoil

BAGHDAD — The guys with the guns and bombs and best-laid plans may think the U.S. withdrawal of combat troops from major Iraqi cities will work.

But some ordinary Iraqis harbor another idea.

"They're terrified," said one U.S. soldier who works with Iraqi army and police units in the capital city. "They know there are more bad guys out there than good guys." » read more

Posted on Sun, June 28, 2009

BLOG

Inside Iraq

Written by Iraqi journalists working for McClatchy in Baghdad and outlying provinces.

BLOG

Baghdad Observer

Baghdad Observer is written by McClatchy journalists staffing the Baghdad Bureau.

IRAQ INTELLIGENCE

Q&A: THE THREE TRILLION DOLLAR WAR

For two weeks, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz and Harvard professor Linda Bilmes, authors of "The Three Trillion Dollar War," fielded questions about the cost of the Iraq war and its impact on the U.S. economy. They're not taking new questions, but they're still posting answers to ones they've already received. Read their responses.

DAILY VIOLENCE REPORT

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Fifth anniversary of the war, 2008

Audio: McClatchy's Iraqi staff talks about the war:
  • Jenan talks about unfulfilled expectations.
  • Haider recalls the deafening bombings.
  • Hussein A. lives a secretive life with fake IDs.
  • Omar is a virtual prisoner because of his name.
  • Nassif is looking for an escape route.
  • Hussein K. had misgivings dating back to 1991's war.
  • Laith watched the invasion of his country from abroad.

CONFRONTING IRAQ

confronting iraq

See our interactive media guide on Iraq.

BLACKWATER

blackwater in iraq

See our timeline and interactive guide to Blackwater's activities in Iraq. Also read stories from McClatchy newspapers on the Blackwater controversy.

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