Special Coverage: War on Iraq

Theater of War: Portrait of a Homeland Security State [Photo Slideshow Included]

Lindsay Beyerstein, AlterNet. November 22, 2008.
A new book by the award-winning photojournalist Nina Berman probes how the U.S. homeland security apparatus stokes fantasies about war.

From the blogs

Iraqi Oil Exports Have 'Nosedived'

by Saadoun al-Jaberi, Azzaman

Iraq's oil exports are decreasing by nearly 100,000 barrels a day every month, according to the former oil minister.

Retired Military Brass Call for Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

by Christian Ehret, Jurist Legal News and Research

100 retired admirals and generals of the U.S military called Monday for a repeal of the discriminatory policy.

Bush White House Flat Out Lies: 'We Did Not Torture'

by Ali Frick, Think Progress

Perino is trying to rewrite the sorry history of the Bush administration.

In Their Boots: Veterans Day Special (7PM ET)

by Staff, Brave New Foundation

A show dedicated to the sacrifices military families make in wartime.

Watch Phil Donohue's Documentary "Body of War" Tonight, 7PM EST

by Liliana Segura, AlterNet

The powerful film chronicles the life of paralyzed veteran Tomas Young following his return from Iraq.

We Must Listen to Veterans Not Just Today, But on the Other 364 Days Too

by Kelly Dougherty, Iraq Veterans Against the War

It is fitting that our nation reserves a day to honor the sacrifice of our soldiers, but we have fallen short of caring for our veterans.

On Iran and Obama, Battle Lines Being Drawn

by Robert Dreyfuss, The Nation

Everyone has an opinion on how Obama should respond to Ahmadinejad's post-election overture.

Will Obama Bring "Only Technical" Changes to Iraq?

by Raed Jarrar, Raed in the Middle

It's time to take a sober look at President-elect Barack Obama's Plans for Iraq.

Obama's Emerging National Security Team

by Robert Dreyfuss, The Nation

Who will dictate U.S. foreign policy under President Obama?

Iraqi MP to UN: Investigate Iraq's Secret Prisons

by , Middle East Online

Sunni MP Mohammad Al-Dainy says there are over 400 prisons, controlled by the Iraqi government and the U.S. military.

Iraqis Pour into Street to Protest U.S. Security "Agreement"

Middle East Online. November 21, 2008.
"The security agreement is shameful and humiliating."

U.S. Government to U.S. Mercenaries: Say Goodbye to Immunity in Iraq

Middle East Online. November 21, 2008.
Under the Status of Forces Agreement awaiting passage, private military contractors would be subject to Iraqi criminal and civil law.

Revealed: Gulf War Syndrome is Real, Caused by Pills and Pesticides

Kim Sengupta, Independent UK. November 20, 2008.
A groundbreaking study has found that pills given to U.S. and British troops to counter nerve gas is one of the causes of Gulf War Syndrome.

Are Pentagon Nerds Developing Packs of Man-Hunting Killer Robots?

Scott Thill, AlterNet. November 20, 2008.
A dystopian sci-fi fantasy may soon be coming to fruition on a battlefield near you.

This Is Change? 20 Hawks, Clintonites and Neocons to Watch for in Obama's White House

Jeremy Scahill, AlterNet. November 20, 2008.
A who's who guide to the people poised to shape Obama's foreign policy.

Yes We Can Cut the Defense Budget: Why it's Time to Stop the Military Spending Spree

Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Nation. November 19, 2008.
Our current military budget is almost equal to all of the rest of the world's defense budgets combined. This is unsustainable.

A War Without End: Savagery in Afghanistan is Centuries Old

Robert Fisk, Independent UK. November 19, 2008.
The brutal torture and killing of prisoners in Afghanistan is a routine of history.

What the Antiwar Movement Should -- and Shouldn't -- Do Now

T.J. Buonomo, AlterNet. November 18, 2008.
In the wake of Obama's victory, the antiwar movement must be ready to identify new pressure points or it risks losing credibility and relevance.

Why Did the Iraqi Cabinet Approve SOFA Now? (Two Hints: Obama and Iran)

Robert Dreyfuss, The Nation. November 17, 2008.
Obama's presidential victory softened Iran's opposition to the security deal -- an important sign that Tehran may be willing to work with the U.S.

How Did We Ever Let This Guy Get Away with Being a War President?

Gary Brecher, eXiled Online. November 17, 2008.
Only a fool like Bush could pick an anti-American Arab country, add an invading army, and expect a nice fluffy democracy souffle.

Do You Want to See What War Looks Like?

Jennifer Fenton, The Wip. November 17, 2008.
Dead bodies and blown-out humvees in Casey Porter's films reveal the brutality of the surge in Iraq.

Iraqi Cabinet Approves U.S. Withdrawal Deal

Anne Penketh, Independent UK. November 16, 2008.
The pact, months in the making, dictates that the U.S. will pull out troops in 2011. The Iraqi parliament is expected to ratify it Monday.

From Baghdad to Brooklyn: My Journey with an Iraqi Refugee

Jennifer Utz, AlterNet. November 15, 2008.
From 2007 to 2008, I spent five months in Syria with Mohamed, an Iraqi refugee. Now, we are roommates in New York City.

Blackwater Busted? Six Guards May Be Charged in Iraq Massacre

Jeremy Scahill, TheNation.com. November 15, 2008.
Critics still fear reckless behavior by the 140,000 private corporate contractors in Iraq will continue.

Iraq's Tribes Critical to Future Security

Basel Abdulmajeed, Azzaman. November 14, 2008.
With a new minister for tribal affairs, the Iraqi government is increasingly relying on different tribes to maintain law and order.

College Life in Baghdad: How Much Has it Improved?

Naseer Al-Ily, Asharq Al-Awsat. November 13, 2008.
As safety returns to some Baghdad universities, political and religious influences are still pervasive.

Could an Obama Presidency Dampen Enthusiasm for Jihad?

Bramantyo Prijosusilo, New America Media. November 12, 2008.
If Obama upholds democratic values abroad without double standards, jihadi ideologues will have a much harder time recruiting.

The New Gulf War Syndrome

Nora Eisenberg, The Guardian. November 11, 2008.
Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are in danger from toxic chemicals, yet most don't know what they've been exposed to or where to get help.

U.S. Still Losing a Brigade's Worth of Vets Every Year to Suicide

Penny Coleman, AlterNet. November 11, 2008.
Obviously, the most immediate and reliable way to prevent soldier suicides is to get troops out of harm's way -- bring them home.

Raped in the Military? You May Have to Pay for Your Own Forensic Exam Kit

Penny Coleman, AlterNet. November 11, 2008.
This outrage gives "supporting the troops" a whole new meaning.

This Veterans Day, U.S. Soldiers Say 'Stop the War'

Benjamin Lewis, Brandon Neely, AlterNet. November 11, 2008.
An open letter from war resisters calls for an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Why Obama Should Declare an End to the "War on Terror"

Jonathan Steele, The Guardian. November 10, 2008.
If Obama truly believes in diplomacy, he will use it to forge new, individual relationships with Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Bush's Unauthorized Attack on Syria Killed Civilians; Dems Silent

Stephen Zunes, AlterNet. November 10, 2008.
By the time it was over, eight people had been killed, at least seven of whom were civilians, including three children.

Iraq Insurgents to Obama: "Withdraw Your Forces"

Middle East Online. November 9, 2008.
In a taped message yet to be verified, insurgents called "unjust" wars the "principal cause of the collapse of the economic giant."

Why Are Arab Ambassadors Returning to Baghdad Now?

Adam Morrow, Khaled Moussa al-Omrani, IPS News. November 7, 2008.
"Many Iraqis ... see it as little more than a U.S. attempt to legitimize the occupation and bolster Arab support for the unpopular government."

Why Iraqis, Afghans, Palestinians, and Others Might Be Nervous About President Obama

Amy Goodman, Juan Gonzalez, Democracy Now!. November 7, 2008.
John Pilger, Mahmood Mamdani, Raed Jarrar, Tariq Ali, Laura Carlsen, and more on Obama's troubling foreign policy ideas.

Kurdistan Parliament Forbids Forced Marriages

Iraq Updates. November 7, 2008.
An sweeping amendment to a 1959 law will punish those who try to force marriage upon family members.

What Iraqis Want From Obama

Fatih Abdulsalam, Azzaman. November 6, 2008.
Morally and ethically, Obama's administration is responsible for the orphans, refugees, and chaos left by Bush.

Military Families to Obama: End the War

Military Families Speak Out. November 5, 2008.
"It is time for all our troops to be brought home from Iraq and for their families to sleep easily once again."

Obama: Drop Gates

Robert Dreyfuss, The Nation. November 5, 2008.
There is wide speculation that Robert Gates will stay on as Secretary of Defense under Obama. This would be a huge mistake.

U.S. Raid into Syria an Idiotic Move

Fatih Abdulsalam, Azzaman. November 1, 2008.
The attack give Iraq's neighbors proof that the presence of U.S. troops on Iraq's soil is a major reason to worry.

Red Cross: Millions of Iraqis at Risk from Contaminated Water

Angela Balakrishnan, The Guardian. October 31, 2008.
Ten liters of bottled water costs 50 cents, but many Iraqis cannot afford it, drinking water from polluted rivers instead.

"Serious Risk of Torture" for Iraqi Prisoners Facing Transfer by U.S.

Ali Gharib, Zainab Mineeia, IPS News. October 31, 2008.
"We're getting out of the detention business," says a U.S. military spokesman.

Did the Raid Into Syria Signal the Death of International Law?

Robert Dreyfuss, The Nation. October 30, 2008.
If standard U.S. military doctrine claims any country can be declared "criminal" and lose its sovereignty, the answer is yes.

Oil for Soil: Crisis Group Proposes "Grand Bargain" on Iraq Oil Land Dispute

Iraq Oil Report. October 29, 2008.
The goal is to de-escalate tensions between Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government and the central government in Baghdad.

U.S. on Deadly Attack in Syria: "We're Taking Matters Into Our Own Hands"

Patrick Cockburn, Independent UK. October 28, 2008.
The attack, which killed eight, was labeled "terrorist aggression" by Syria and is an unexpected expansion of the Iraq war.

Getting to the Bottom of the Deceptive, Secretive and Artificial Iraq-U.S. Negotiations

Phyllis Bennis, Foreign Policy in Focus. October 27, 2008.
Whatever the U.S.-Iraqi "agreement" ends up looking like, it is unlikely to have much of an effect on the occupation.

The Devastation in Iraq Is Systematic -- And It's About to Get Much Worse

Michael Schwartz, Tomdispatch.com. October 27, 2008.
Iraq's state of complete disrepair has created a population in steaming discontent.

Report: Notorious Palestinian Mercenary Was Hired by U.S. to Find Link Between Saddam and Al-Qaeda

Robert Fisk, Independent UK. October 25, 2008.
Iraqi papers obtained by The Independent state that Abu Nidal was "colluding" with the U.S.

U.S. Animosity Towards Iran Thwarts Policy in Afghanistan

Barnett R. Rubin, Sara Batmanglich, MIT Center for International Studies. October 25, 2008.
Using Afghanistan as a base for anti-Iran policies handicaps U.S. efforts in the region.

Military Mom: Why I'm Sour About Sarah Palin

Pat Alviso, AlterNet. October 25, 2008.
After all, if my son can buck up and do yet another tour of duty in Iraq, I can face a crowd of Palin supporters.

Who Is Driving Christians Out of Iraq?

Azzaman. October 24, 2008.
Although Christians are not the only minority being persecuted, their fleeing comes at a crucial moment.

Despite the Threat of Harsh Punishment, Soldier Says "No" to Deployment in Afghanistan

Sarah Lazare, AlterNet. October 23, 2008.
How 21-year-old soldier Blake Ivey came to see war as "flat-out murder."

Tens of Thousands of Iraqis Protest U.S. Plan to Stay Until 2011

Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!. October 22, 2008.
An interview with Iraq correspondent Patrick Cockburn and Iraqi blogger Raed Jarrar on the Status of Forces Agreement.

Controversial Status of Forces Agreement Facing Iraqi Opposition

Middle East Online. October 20, 2008.
While some reports are treating the SOFA as a forgone conclusion, top Iraqi players are fiercely opposing it.

New Wave of Violence Against Iraqi Journalists

Shawkat Al-Bayati, Institute for War and Peace Reporting. October 20, 2008.
"Conditions for journalists and media workers were relatively good, but now we are seriously thinking of quitting our work."

Obama vs. McCain: Iraq, Afghanistan and the Treatment of Veterans -- Voter Guide

AlterNet. October 17, 2008.
See how the candidates compare on the occupation of Iraq, the use of mercenaries in war and other issues in the so-called War on Terror.

Camp Bucca: Iraq's Guantanamo

David Enders, The Nation. October 17, 2008.
What will the United States do with the thousands of Iraqis it is holding in legal limbo?

Private Military Contractors Writing the News? The Pentagon's Propaganda at Its Worst

Liliana Segura, AlterNet. October 17, 2008.
Months after the Pentagon pundits flap, the Department of Defense continues to hand down contracts for propaganda in Iraq and beyond.

Sign up

About

News and analysis on Sunni, Shiites, Kurds, oil, Blackwater, terrorism, anti-war protests, troop withdrawal debates, and more.

RSS Feed

Check out War on Iraq's RSS feed!

IWPR

Providing hands-on training, extensive reporting and publishing, and support for local media, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting works to build democracy at the frontlines of conflict.

IVAW

Iraq Veterans Against the War calls for immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces in Iraq, reparations for the Iraqi people, and full benefits and adequate healthcare for returning servicemen and women.

No More Victims

One of the most effective ways to combat militarism is to focus on direct relief to its many victims. No More Victims connects American communities with war-injured Iraqi children and their families.

Courage to Resist

Tens of thousands of service members have resisted illegal war and occupation. Courage to Resist is a grassroots organization devoted to supporting GI resisters and their families.