 | 2008 JULY
July 22, 2008
Adm. Mullen: Iraq War Affects Deployment in Afghanistan
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, whose words have been parsed over the past weeks as the presidential campaign focuses on foreign policy, discusses the success of the surge and his opinion that troops would have to be withdrawn from Iraq before added to Afghanistan in a significant way.
     
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| July 22, 2008
Judge Orders Karadzic into U.N. Tribunal Custody
A judge has ordered ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic to be handed over to the U.N. war crimes court to face charges of genocide and other atrocities against Muslims and Croats in his country, a Serbian prosecutor said Tuesday.
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| July 21, 2008
War Crimes Suspect Karadzic Arrested in Serbia
Bosnian Serb wartime president Radovan Karadzic, one of the world's most-wanted men for his role in civilian massacres, was arrested Monday evening in a sweep by Serbian security forces, President Boris Tadic's office said.
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| July 21, 2008
Gitmo Trial Begins, but Questions Loom Over Detainee Legal Process
After years of legal delays, the trial for Osama Bin Laden's former driver began Monday at Guantanamo, marking the first full-scale military tribunal at the base since it opened in 2001. Two legal experts examine the future of the detainee program.
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| July 21, 2008
Obama's Trip Puts Focus on Candidates' Iraq, Afghan Plans
Sen. Barack Obama is working on his foreign policy credentials by meeting with leaders in Iraq and Afghanistan this week. Policy advisers discuss how Obama and GOP Sen. John McCain are approaching the conflicts.
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| July 18, 2008
Summer Camp Helps Children of Deployed Parents
Every summer at Operation Purple Camp in Colorado, more than half of the campers are children whose parents are deployed in military service. Spencer Michels visits the nurturing site for youth with special needs.
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| July 18, 2008
U.S. Marks Policy Shifts in Iraq, Iran Nuclear Talks
The Bush administration signaled policy shifts Friday by agreeing to set a "time horizon" for Iraq troop reductions and sending a top U.S. envoy to Iranian nuclear talks. Analyst Michael Rubin and columnist Trudy Rubin examine the moves.
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| July 18, 2008
U.S., Iraq to Set 'Time Horizon' on Troop Withdrawal
President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki have agreed to seek "a general time horizon" for reducing U.S. troops in Iraq as part of a broader security agreement, the White House said Friday.
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| July 18, 2008
Inside an Iraqi Detention Site
Camp Bucca in southern Iraq holds about 18,000 Iraqis considered an "imperative security threat". At the U.S.-run facility, the detainees take classes and get visits from their families as they await military reviews of their threat status. Col. David Glaser, who is in charge of detainee operations, describes the facility.
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| July 17, 2008
Air Raid Kills 15 Insurgents in Afghanistan
Airstrikes coordinated by U.S. special forces and Afghan troops against militants in western Afghanistan killed 15 insurgents and freed 15 hostages Thursday, officials said.
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| July 16, 2008
Hezbollah Returns Israeli Remains in Prisoner Swap
Coffins containing the bodies of two Israeli soldiers captured in 2006 by Hezbollah were turned over to Israel Wednesday as part of a trade for the release of five Lebanese prisoners.
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| July 15, 2008
Obama Calls for U.S. Military to Renew Focus on Afghanistan
In an interview with the NewsHour's Gwen Ifill, Sen. Barack Obama calls for the U.S. to dramatically scale down in military effort in Iraq and, instead, focus more forces on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.
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| July 15, 2008
Double Suicide Bombing Kills 28 at Iraqi Army Recruitment Center
Two suicide bombers blew themselves up in a crowd of Iraqi army recruits in the country's troubled Diyala province Tuesday, killing at least 28 people according to Iraqi police and military.
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| July 14, 2008
In Afghanistan, Troop Deaths Highlight Instability
On Sunday, Taliban militants waged the deadliest assault on U.S. and NATO troops in three years, highlighting the challenge of the ongoing armed conflict. A New York Times Magazine reporter and a counter-insurgency expert measure the complexity of the conflict.
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| July 14, 2008
Washington Post Reporter Answered Your Questions on Zimbabwe's Political Unrest
In collaboration with Zimbabwean journalists, Washington Post reporter Craig Timberg reported on the turnabout that kept President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe in power after a campaign of violence was enacted against his opponents. Timberg answered your questions.
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| July 10, 2008
Iran Continues Missile Tests Despite U.S. Warning
Iran continued its testing of medium- and long-range missiles Thursday after a warning from U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the U.S. will defend its allies in the region.
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| July 9, 2008
Iran's Missile Launch Provides Test for Obama, McCain
A day after Iran vowed to retaliate against Israel and U.S. interests if Tehran were attacked, the country test-fired nine missiles -- posing a policy test for the presidential hopefuls. Campaign advisers mull the issue.
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| July 9, 2008
Iran Tests Missiles amid Turmoil with U.S., Israel
A day after Tehran vowed to retaliate against Israel and U.S. interests if Iran were attacked, Revolutionary Guards test-fired nine missiles Wednesday, state-run media reported.
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| July 8, 2008
Group Proposes New Controls over U.S. War Powers
A bipartisan study group proposed a new war powers legislation that would force the president to consult lawmakers before launching a long-term combat. James Baker and Warren Christopher defend changing the original 1973 act.
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| July 8, 2008
In Policy Switch, Iraqis Push for U.S. Withdrawal Timetable
For the first time this week, Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki said that he expects a pending troop deal with the U.S. to include a timetable for withdrawal. Two Iraq analysts weigh the state of U.S.-Iraqi relations.
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| July 7, 2008
U.S. Hostages Speak Out After Captivity in Colombia
Three U.S. military contractors who spent more than five years as hostages of in Colombia made their first public statements Monday about the rebel group and their experiences. Kwame Holman reports.
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| July 7, 2008
41 Killed in Indian Embassy Bombing in Kabul
A suicide bomber ignited a car bomb Monday outside India's embassy in Afghanistan, killing 41 and injuring 139. The casualties included an Indian defense attache, a diplomat as well as two embassy guards and six Afghan police officers.
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| July 4, 2008
Marine, Author Reflect on Honoring Fallen Comrades
Author Jim Sheeler and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Steve Beck talk about Sheeler's book, "Final Salute," which chronicles the Marines who notify families about the death of their loved ones during war and provide support as families cope with their loss.
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| July 4, 2008
The U.S. Marine Corps' Final Salute
In the book, "Final Salute," former Rocky Mountain News reporter Jim Sheeler and photographer Todd Heisler chronicle the experiences of a U.S. Marine Corps casualty assistance officer, Lt. Col. Steven Beck, as he calls on families in Colorado to notify them of a family members' death.
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| July 4, 2008
U.S. Attack Kills 22 Civilians, Local Officials Claim
A U.S.-led airstrike killed 22 civilians in Afghanistan's eastern Nuristan province local officials said on Friday. American officials said the targets had been insurgents attacking their soldiers.
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| July 3, 2008
Colombian Defense Chief Describes Risks, Planning for Hostage Rescue
Following the dramatic rescue of fifteen hostages in Columbia by government forces, some held by rebels for years, Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos describes events and planning leading up to the rescue effort.
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| July 2, 2008
Betancourt and Americans Rescued from Colombian Rebels
Colombia's military announced Wednesday it rescued French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three Americans who were held hostage for years by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
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| July 1, 2008
After Delays and Criticism, Pentagon Shifts Priorities to Protect Soldiers
Beginning in 2007 the Pentagon shifted its spending priorities to meet the deadly threat of roadside bombs leading to the procurement of the MRAP, or 'Mine Resistant Ambush Protected'. The fourteen-ton vehicle is credited for a drastic decline in roadside bomb fatalities, but why did it take so long? Paul Solman investigates.
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| July 1, 2008
New G.I. Bill Aims to Provide Expanded Educational Benefits to Troops
A new G.I. bill signed into law Monday doubles funding for education benefits available to military personnel who have served since Sept. 11, 2001, and allows transfer of benefits to a spouse or children. Analysts discuss the law and its meaning for veterans.
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| JUNE
June 30, 2008
U.S. Lacked Clear Plan for Postwar Iraq, Army Report Says
The U.S. Army released a report Monday outlining the problems that kept it from being able to stabilize Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. Military experts discuss the report's findings.
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| June 27, 2008
Long Legislative Fight Led to Iraq War Funding Bill
In 2006, Democrats took over Congress with a promise to bring U.S. troops home. Kwame Holman looks at what's happened since then and the legislative fight over a bill to fund the Iraq and Afghan wars.
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| June 27, 2008
Resurgent Taliban May Step Up Attacks, Pentagon Says
A report released by the Pentagon Friday showed growing instability in Afghanistan and a continuing rise in Taliban forces. A reporter and a regional expert size up new security threats and discuss the new report.
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| June 27, 2008
N. Korea Destroys Plutonium-producing Reactor
North Korea demolished the cooling tower at its plutonium-producing reactor Friday, blasting apart the cylindrical structure in Yongbyon as a sign of its commitment to stop making plutonium for atomic bombs.
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| June 26, 2008
White House Removes North Korea From Terrorist List
President Bush eased trade restrictions against North Korea Thursday and removed it from a terrorism sponsor list after the country gave Chinese officials a partial accounting of its nuclear activity. Analysts examine this policy shift.
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| June 26, 2008
North Korea Delivers Nuclear Report; U.S. to Lift Sanctions
North Korea handed over a long-awaited accounting of its nuclear work to Chinese officials Thursday, fulfilling a key step in the denuclearization process.
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| June 25, 2008
Efforts to Resettle Displaced Kenyans Get Mixed Results
Despite government efforts to resettle hundreds of thousands of Kenyans displaced from election violence earlier this year, a state-funded human rights group has said too little is being done to address grievances back home.
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| June 24, 2008
Bomb Kills 4 Americans, 4 Iraqis in Sadr City
A bomb struck a municipal council building Tuesday in Baghdad, killing two U.S. soldiers, two U.S. government civilian employees, four Iraqi civilians and an Italian of Iraqi origin working as an interpreter for the Americans, U.S. officials said.
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| June 20, 2008
Detention Centers in Iraq Move from 'Chaos' to Reform
The abuse of detainees at the hands of U.S. soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq spurred worldwide protests, al-Qaida recruitment videos and system-wide changes at U.S.-run detention facilities in Iraq.
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| June 19, 2008
Minority Leader Boehner Details War Funding Moves, Energy Policy Debate
Lawmakers met Thursday to debate funding allocations for the Iraq and Afghan wars, while continuing to mull how to best address soaring gas prices. House Minority Leader John Boehner explains GOP priorities in the House and how Congress has handled its most pressing issues.
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| June 19, 2008
Fragile Cease-fire Between Israel and Hamas Takes Effect
The truce between Israel and Hamas took effect on Thursday, with both sides halting fighting in the Gaza Strip. But even as it begun, the truce between the two warring sides is said to already be in jeopardy.
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| June 18, 2008
GAO Backs Boeing's Claims in Tanker Contract Dispute
Congressional investigators sided with Boeing Wednesday in a dispute over the awarding of a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract to competitor Northrup Grumman. A reporter discusses the decision.
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| June 18, 2008
Report Details Alleged Abuse of Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib Detainees
The alleged abuse of 11 men, captured by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and held at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib, is detailed in a report released Wednesday by the advocacy group Physicians for Human Rights.
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| June 18, 2008
NATO, Afghan Troops Clash With Taliban Fighters
Afghan and NATO forces, backed by helicopter gunships, moved into villages outside Kandahar on Wednesday, killing at least 36 suspected Taliban fighters as part of an assault on insurgents holed up in the valley in southern Afghanistan.
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| June 17, 2008
More Than 50 Killed in Iraq Car Bomb Attack
A car bomb exploded in a crowded market area in a Shiite neighborhood in Baghdad on Tuesday, killing more than 50 people and wounding 75 others, officials said. It was the deadliest such attack in the Iraqi capital in months.
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| June 17, 2008
Israel and Hamas Agree to Truce in Gaza Strip, Officials Say
Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas have agreed to a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip starting Thursday, Egyptian officials reported Tuesday.
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| June 13, 2008
Iraq, U.S. Deadlocked Over Long-term Security Deal
Iraq and the United States are negotiating terms for a continued U.S. presence there once a U.N. mandate expires at the end of 2008, but quarrels over troop levels have led to an impasse. A reporter outlines the ongoing negotiations, which have become contentious.
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| June 13, 2008
War Veterans Ready to Fight for Mugabe in Zimbabwe Runoff
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said war veterans he commanded during his country's war for liberation are prepared to take up arms to prevent the opposition from winning a June 27 run-off presidential election.
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| June 12, 2008
Justices Rule Terror Suspects Can Appeal Detentions
A Supreme Court ruling Thursday granted Guantanamo detainees the right to challenge their cases in civilian courts. Experts examine the case and its impact on anti-terror efforts.
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| June 12, 2008
Justices: Terror Suspects May Appeal Detentions
The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that foreign terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay have rights under the Constitution to challenge their detention in U.S. civilian courts, handing a stinging setback to the Bush administration.
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| June 11, 2008
Pakistan Says U.S. Coalition Forces Killed 11 Troops
Pakistan's army said Wednesday that a U.S.-led coalition airstrike along the volatile Afghan-Pakistan border killed 11 of its paramilitary troops, condemning it as an act of aggression that "hit at the very basis of cooperation" on the war on terror.
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| June 10, 2008
China Contains Overflowing Quake-Formed Lake
China declared success Tuesday in preventing a lake -- formed by landslides from the massive May 12 earthquake -- from overflowing its banks and flooding downstream communities.
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| June 9, 2008
Attacks in Pakistan, Afghanistan Highlight Instability
The newly elected government in Pakistan is being confronted with a rise in insurgent attacks and a Taliban that is increasing in strength along the volatile Afghan border. Two experts discuss the latest outbreaks of violence.
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MILITARY