Chasing Miracles in Iraq

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig May 22, 2015 The Islamic State was supposed to be reeling from U.S.-led airstrikes. Yet the group was able to capture Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, and is now consolidating control over that strategically important city. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Brokering a Fragile Peace in Iraq

Staff / Truthdig Oct 21, 2008 A key overlooked fact about the much-ballyhooed "surge is working" argument in Iraq is that the U.S. military actually paid some former insurgents $10 a day to help American troops keep the peace in parts of the country. But what happens when that setup changes in volatile regions like Anbar? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

New McCain Gaffes on Iraq

Staff / Truthdig Jul 24, 2008 Sen. John McCain didn't just get his cause-and-effect order wrong on the so-called surge strategy in Iraq, he also claimed in a CBS interview that the increased troop deployment and associated change in tactics protected a key Sunni sheik who helped lead the "Anbar Awakening." Problem? Said sheik was actually assassinated during the surge. Meanwhile, CBS is under fire for editing out these gaffes in its on-air presentation of the interview. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Who Killed the Sheik?

Staff / Truthdig Sep 15, 2007 LinkTV's "Mosaic Intelligence Report" analyzes the assassination of Sheik Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha, President Bush's chief ally in Anbar province, from a Middle Eastern perspective. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Mission … Evolving

Staff / Truthdig Sep 14, 2007 President Bush capped off his administration's weeklong campaign to convince America that the "surge" is working with a televised address on Thursday. Nestled among assorted pseudo-announcements and stale slogans was a telling pitch from a president who has repeatedly revised his motive for war: "Our mission in Iraq will evolve." Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Bush Drops In on His Mideast Timeshare

Staff / Truthdig Sep 3, 2007 The "What, me worry?" president paid a cheerful visit to U.S. troops in Iraq's Anbar province, an auspiciously timed trip (his third since the war began in 2003) that falls mere days before Congress is scheduled to hear Army Gen. David Petraeus' Iraq "progress" report. For another status report (read: reality check), follow this link. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pentagon Report: ‘Surge’ Only Shifts Violence

Staff / Truthdig Jun 14, 2007 Further evidence that the U.S. military buildup in Iraq is failing to quell violence in the country came Wednesday with the release of a Pentagon report detailing the sobering statistics about widespread bloodshed in Baghdad and other areas. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iraqis Sickened by Chlorine Gas Blasts

Staff / Truthdig Mar 18, 2007 Following a toxic trend that began in late January, three Iraqi suicide bombers set off explosives Friday in Sunni-dominated Anbar province that were rigged to release chlorine gas. The three blasts, which killed two and sickened more than 350 with noxious fumes, occurred in areas where resistance to the insurgency has been growing lately. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Nightmare: Iraq

Staff / Truthdig Nov 29, 2006 A classified Marine Corps report says that the US cannot defeat the insurgency in western Iraq Iran-backed Hezbollah is training Shiite militia members in Iraq, according to a U official. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )