iraq

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What Iraq's Oil Boom Means For The Global Market
In a remarkable shift, Iraq's oil exports jumped by 20 percent since January, and the country exported more oil in April than in any month since Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990. Energy expert Daniel Yergin discusses how Iraq's oil wealth is driving the Iraqi economy and reshaping the global oil market.
npr.org | 09-May-2012 19:00

Politics Not Far From Obama, Romney On Bin Laden Anniversary
Eight years ago, it was President George W. Bush who rode national-security to re-election by raising doubts about his 2004 Democratic challenger, Sen. John Kerry, This year, however, the tables have turned. It's the Democrat in the White House who is challenging Republicans on what has been a traditional area of GOP strength.
npr.org | 01-May-2012 22:46

VA Struggles To Provide Vets With Mental Health Care
The Department of Veterans Affairs says any veteran who seeks mental health services gets help within days. But a new investigation by the agency's inspector general says the statistics are skewed to make wait times appear shorter. The VA will have a chance at a Senate hearing Wednesday to explain how it's going to do better.
npr.org | 25-Apr-2012 09:01

'A Chance To Start Over': Wounded Vets Ride Again
An annual four-day bike ride organized by the Wounded Warrior Project is being held across the country this week. One Marine says the ride gives them back the camaraderie they had in the military. "You look back and you got guys missing legs, missing arms — it doesn't matter. We're just all riding together."
npr.org | 21-Apr-2012 12:26

Multiple Blasts Hit Baghdad, Northern Iraqi Cities
In all, officials said extremists launched 12 attacks in Baghdad and in northern Iraq, in Kirkuk, Samarra, Dibis and Taji. Additionally, mortars were fired into the northern cities of Beiji and Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, but no injuries were reported there.
npr.org | 19-Apr-2012 10:52

Arab League Holds Summit In Baghdad
Arab leaders were gathering in Baghdad for the first Arab summit in the Iraqi capital in decades. The government has spent half a billion dollars preparing for the meeting --including a huge security operation in a city still the scene of bombings and other attacks.
npr.org | 28-Mar-2012 10:00

Home Front: 'Citizen Soldiers' Start A Transition
Members of the National Guard's 182nd Infantry Regiment recently touched down in Indiana after a long trip and a long year in Afghanistan. Over the next year, Weekend Edition will follow these men and women through their shift from soldiers to civilians.
npr.org | 25-Mar-2012 12:07

Archaeologists Revisit Iraq
One of the first American archaeological teams to work in Iraq in 20 years has recently returned from a dig on the outskirts of Ur. Team leader Elizabeth Stone discusses the team's findings, and what the artifacts tell us about life in the region thousands of years ago.
npr.org | 23-Mar-2012 18:00

Dozens Killed By More Bombings In Iraq; 'Deadliest Day' In A Month
The attackers may be aiming to derail the Arab summit planned for next week in Baghdad. There were nearly simultaneous explosions and attacks in more than a dozen cities.
npr.org | 20-Mar-2012 12:10

Bombings Across Iraq Kill Dozens Ahead Of Summit
Officials have been bracing for attacks in the run-up to Baghdad's hosting of the Arab League summit, during which the Shiite-led government hopes to showcase Iraq's improved security and stability. There was no immediate claim of responsibility as the death toll neared 50, with nearly 200 wounded.
npr.org | 20-Mar-2012 09:37

Troops' Mental Health: How Much Is Unknown?
Service members are generally screened before, during and after deployment. But the Army lacks reliable diagnostic tools, according to former Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli. He says what the recent attack on Afghan civilians proves is "just how much we don't know."
npr.org | 18-Mar-2012 10:50

More Than A Dozen Killed In Iraq Robbery, Attacks
Insurgents struck security forces, a government office and jewelry stores, demonstrating a continued threat from armed groups ahead of a meeting of the Arab world's top leaders in Baghdad.
npr.org | 12-Mar-2012 16:46

Violent 'Emo Killings' Rattle Iraqi Youth
Young people who identify themselves as so-called Emos are being brutally killed at an alarming rate in Iraq, where militias have distributed hit lists of victims and security forces say they are unable to stop crimes against the subculture that is widely perceived in Iraq as being gay.
npr.org | 12-Mar-2012 00:51

Double Bombing Strikes Near Iraq Restaurant
Officials in Tal Afar said a car parked outside a popular downtown restaurant exploded in the early afternoon. As people rushed to the scene to help, a suicide bomber in the crowd detonated his explosives belt. At least 12 people died.
npr.org | 07-Mar-2012 14:41

Dozens Of Iraqi Police Killed In Shooting Spree
A gang of gunmen wearing military-style uniforms killed 25 police Monday in a carefully planned early morning shooting spree in western Iraq, officials said.
npr.org | 05-Mar-2012 08:29

Remains Of Last Missing US Soldier Return From Iraq
The Army has identified the remains of the last missing American service member in Iraq. A Shiite extremist group handed over a wooden casket containing the remains of Staff Sgt. Ahmed al-Taie, who was abducted by gunmen in Baghdad in 2006. A Shiite lawmaker in Iraq says the gesture is part of a prisoner exchange agreement between the Iraqi government and an Iranian-backed insurgent group. Audie Cornish speaks with Wall Street Journal reporter, Michael Phillips.
npr.org | 27-Feb-2012 21:00

'Hallwalkers': The Ghosts Of The State Department
Veteran Foreign Service officer Peter Van Buren wrote a book critical of the State Department. And although the department approved the publication, Van Buren says State officials retaliated against him, effectively ending his career.
npr.org | 26-Feb-2012 22:46

Hezbollah Suspect May Face U.S. Military Commission
To date, U.S. military tribunals have been reserved for al-Qaida and Taliban suspects. But now the Obama administration is seeking to try a Lebanese man accused of orchestrating the killings of five American soldiers in Iraq.
npr.org | 24-Feb-2012 21:29

Dozens Killed, Hundreds Wounded In Iraq; Attacks Blamed On Al-Qaida
A wave of attacks, seemingly coordinated, struck security forces in predominantly Shiite areas. The attackers fired weapons and exploded bombs.
npr.org | 23-Feb-2012 13:05

Al-Qaida Blamed For Widespread Attacks In Iraq
A rapid series of attacks spread over a wide swath of Iraqi territory killed at least 50 people on Thursday. The attack targeted mostly security forces in what appeared to be another strike by al-Qaida militants bent on destabilizing the country.
npr.org | 23-Feb-2012 10:55

One Marine's Journey To 'Hell And Back Again'
Photojournalist Danfung Dennis embedded with the U.S. Marines Echo Company in Afghanistan for the Academy Award-nominated documentary Hell And Back Again. The film tells the story of Sgt. Nathan Harris' transition to life North Carolina after being wounded in Afghanistan.
npr.org | 20-Feb-2012 19:54

Army Moves To Act Fast On Battlefield Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are often caused by a blast: A bomb explodes and the concussive effect violently shakes the brain. The Army has had a mixed record treating soldiers for TBI. Now it's trying to spot the injury close to the battle and get soldiers out of the fight.
npr.org | 20-Feb-2012 06:01

U.S. To Scale Back Diplomatic Staff In Iraq
U.S. combat troops are gone from Iraq and soon, up to half the diplomatic staff will leave too. State Department officials say it's part of a plan to scale back embassy operations there. But conflicts with the Iraqi government may also be driving the decision. Tim Arango, a reporter with The New York Times , talks to Steve Inskeep about the decision.
npr.org | 08-Feb-2012 10:00

How Should We Welcome Home Iraq War Veterans?
St. Louis, Mo. held a parade for veterans of the Iraq War in January 2012 that drew an estimated 20,000 participants and 100,000 spectators. Fifteen other cities are considering similar parades, but some argue that such celebrations should not be held while the war in Afghanistan continues.
npr.org | 07-Feb-2012 19:00

Iraqi Town Says Justice Failed Victims Of U.S. Raid
In the Iraqi town of Haditha, which saw 24 unarmed civilians die in a U.S. raid seven years ago, residents expressed disbelief and sadness that the Marine sergeant who told his troops to "shoot first, ask questions later" reached a deal with prosecutors to avoid jail time.
npr.org | 25-Jan-2012 10:00

In Iraqi Killings Case, Marine Takes Plea Deal
A plea deal has been reached in the court martial case of Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich. He was the last person facing charges in the killings of 24 Iraqis at the village of Haditha in 2005. Monday, he admitted to one charge of dereliction of duty. The case became a touchstone for criticism of the Iraq war. Originally, several Marines were charged with murder in the case. But the Marines who killed the Iraqi civilians that day claimed that their actions were tragic — but legal under the official rules of engagement in a complex war fought in and among the people. Melissa Block talks to NPR Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman for the latest.
npr.org | 23-Jan-2012 21:00

After 20 Years, An Iraqi Returns To A Changed Land
After two decades in the U.S., Aseel Albanna couldn't wait to return to Baghdad, the place where she grew up. But the city has changed so much, she barely recognized parts of it.
npr.org | 19-Jan-2012 06:01

Gunmen Storm Iraqi Government Compound
Iraqi security forces on Sunday were battling the gunmen in a one-time Sunni insurgent hotbed in the country's west, police officials said. It marks the first serious gunbattle for Iraqi forces against insurgents without American backup since the U.S. military withdrew last month.
npr.org | 15-Jan-2012 13:47

Iraq: Bomb Explosion Kills Shiite Pilgrims
Iraqi officials say at least 30 people were killed near the port city of Basra. It was the latest in a series of attacks during Shiite religious commemorations that threaten to further increase sectarian tensions just weeks after the U.S. withdrawal.
npr.org | 14-Jan-2012 09:14

Defense Cuts To Reshape U.S. Military Strategy
The Obama administration has laid out billions in cuts to the U.S. military over the next decade. Some say the cuts will weaken the armed forces, while others argue it's time to reconsider the type of military presence the U.S. should maintain. NPR's Tom Bowman describes the proposed cuts and their potential implications for future military operations.
npr.org | 09-Jan-2012 19:00

After Seven Years, Families Of Slain Blackwater Contractors Settle Suit
Had the case gone to trial, it could have settled questions over the battlefield responsibilities of private companies.
npr.org | 06-Jan-2012 23:17

Baghdad Rocked Again By Deadly Bomb Blasts
About 30 people were killed today and more than 60 wounded, according to authorities, by explosions near two sites where day laborers were gathering to look for construction work. Shiite neighborhoods were targeted.
npr.org | 05-Jan-2012 13:10

Coordinated Bomb Blasts Rip Shiite Areas In Iraq
The bombings that killed at least 72 people began early in the morning when explosions struck two Shiite neighborhoods in Baghdad and continued a few hours later when a suicide attack hit Shiite pilgrims heading to the holy city of Karbala.
npr.org | 05-Jan-2012 12:36

Explosions In Shiite Areas Of Baghdad Kill 27
A wave of explosions struck two Shiite neighborhoods in Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 27 people and intensifying fears that insurgents are stepping up attacks after the U.S. troop withdrawal that was completed last month.
npr.org | 05-Jan-2012 11:25

Uncertainty For Iraqi Translator After Withdrawal
For four years, an Iraqi named Tariq worked for the U.S. military as a translator. He's faced death threats from other Iraqis and asked to be identified by only his first name for his protection. Once the troops pulled out of the country, he lost his job and the on-base security that came with it.
npr.org | 04-Jan-2012 19:00

Marine Sergeant On Trial For 2005 Deaths In Iraq
Twenty-four Iraqis were killed by U.S. Marines in the Iraqi town of Haditha in 2005. It was one of the more controversial episodes in the war, and Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich will stand trial at Camp Pendleton on Wednesday. He's charged with manslaughter, though his fellow Marines have either been acquitted or had the charges dropped.
npr.org | 03-Jan-2012 06:01

Iraqi Refugees Struggle For Peace In America
The Iraq War may be officially over, but for thousands of Iraqis who fled to America during the conflict, there's no going home. Many left successful careers to settle in Detroit, where finding a future is a challenge.
npr.org | 31-Dec-2011 12:16

Iraqi Journalist Reflects On 8 Years Of War
At NPR's Baghdad bureau, Isra' al Rubei'i has long worked as a reporter and translator. She submitted this short piece of fiction about a man standing before a judge — a character, who she says represents the Iraqi experience.
npr.org | 29-Dec-2011 12:40

Iraqi Interpreters Hope Visas Come Before Militants
During the Iraq War, the U.S. military employed tens of thousands of Iraqis, many of whom were branded traitors. Now, the U.S. troops are gone. But some of those Iraqis have been left behind — in danger and desperately awaiting American visas so they and their families can leave.
npr.org | 27-Dec-2011 21:23

One Iraqi Reflects On 8 Years Of War
As American forces leave Iraq, NPR Baghdad staffer Ghassan Adnan talks about how his life has changed over the past eight years.
npr.org | 27-Dec-2011 21:00

No U.S. Troops, But An Army Of Contractors In Iraq
Private security contractors were involved in a number of controversial shootings in Iraq during the war. With U.S. troops gone, American diplomats will be depending on up to 5,000 security contractors to keep them safe.
npr.org | 27-Dec-2011 06:01

Anti-American Bloc In Iraq Calls For New Elections
The anti-American Sadrist bloc is a partner in the Shiite-dominated government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Bahaa al-Aaraji, the head of the Sadrists' bloc in parliament, said the elections are needed because of instability in the country and problems that threaten Iraq's sovereignty.
npr.org | 26-Dec-2011 20:27

How Iraq, Afghanistan Have Changed The Military
U.S. forces have left Iraq and a drawdown in Afghanistan is underway, but both wars have left an indelible impact on the U.S. military. The armed forces have altered strategy and tactics, and countless lives have been changed — including those of the families of service members serving multiple deployments.
npr.org | 26-Dec-2011 19:00

Suicide Car Bomb Kills Seven In Baghdad
The attack at a checkpoint leading to the Iraqi Interior Ministry also injured 32 others, officials said. The attack followed a series of bombings last week that killed up to 70 people in a single day, increasing fears about Iraq's future after U.S. troops withdrew this month.
npr.org | 26-Dec-2011 12:40

Fears Renewed In Iraq With Wave Of Violence
In the week since U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq and Washington announced the end of the war there, bombs have killed scores in Baghdad and the government is being driven by sectarian discord. NPR's Sean Carberry speaks with host Audie Cornish about the latest events from Baghdad.
npr.org | 25-Dec-2011 14:00

Violent Explosions Rock Baghdad
A coordinated wave of bombings across Baghdad early Thursday left at least 60 dead and dozens more wounded. The violence came amid a worsening political crisis, with Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki seeking the arrest of Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, the highest ranking Sunni in the government, over allegations he ran a death squad.
npr.org | 22-Dec-2011 21:00