top news - "iraq"

The U.S. State department has agreed to renew Blackwater USA's license to protect diplomats in Baghdad for one year.

The State department will renew its contract with Blackwater to provide security in iraq, Greg Starr, acting assistant secretary of state for diplomatic security, said Friday.

In chilling videos shown to a jury Friday, defendants accused of plotting to bring down jetliners over the Atlantic called for revenge for the wars in iraq and Afghanistan.

US employers in March cut more jobs than at any time since the start of the iraq war and the unemployment rate climbed more than expected, reinforcing fears that the economy has slipped into recession

Recent fighting between Shiite militia and Iraqi troops highlighted severe, lingering problems for the U.S.-trained forces, including tactical and logistical issues and desertion. Even more grave, evidence points to executions of detained militiamen by some of the security forces.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. private security firm Blackwater's deal to protect american diplomats in Baghdad will be extended for a year while the FBI investigates a 2007 incident in which the company's guards are accused of killing 17 Iraqis, the State department said on Friday.

Sources: The $240 million extension was requested by U.S. embassy officials.

Despite some critics describing the new 50 Cent game, 'Blood on the Sand', as Fiddy in iraq, developer Swordfish assure that there is no political dimension to the new action title; despite the obvious geographic significance of the title's setting.

Commentator Eric Greitens is a Navy SEAL, iraq war veteran and chairman of an organization that works with wounded and disabled veterans to begin new careers in public service. Greitens asks Americans, whatever their view of the iraq War, to at least keep paying attention.

Democratic leaders told President Bush on Friday that it's not too late to change course in iraq and pleaded with him not to hand the war off to the next president.