Iraq’s PM Heads to Iran for Advice

Staff / Truthdig Oct 18, 2010 Nouri al-Maliki is more than influenced by the Shiite clerics in Iran who have done so much for the troubled Iraqi prime minister. Maliki just schlepped over the border for a powwow with Iranian bigwigs. Tehran's spokesman said the PM was in town to exchange views, but for all we know he just needed a hug. (continued) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Maliki: Iraq Is Now ‘Independent’

Staff / Truthdig Aug 31, 2010 Iraq is now "sovereign and independent," according to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who made this optimistic pronouncement on Tuesday, the official end day of the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from his war-ravaged country. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Suicide Bombing Kills at Least 59 at Baghdad Army Center

Staff / Truthdig Aug 17, 2010 A suicide bomber struck an army recruitment center in a busy part of central Baghdad early Tuesday morning, killing at least 59 people and injuring more than 100, according to the BBC. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Two Top Al-Qaida Leaders Killed in Iraq

Staff / Truthdig Apr 19, 2010 Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced Monday that two major al-Qaida figures in Iraq, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and Abu Ayyub al-Masri, were killed by American and Iraqi forces Sunday morning. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

They Don’t Build Democracies Like They Used To

Staff / Truthdig Mar 30, 2010 Iraq’s recent election was supposed to remove Nouri al-Maliki from power, but the prime minister, sounding rather like a Bond villain, declared “the game is still very much on.” Now a governmental commission created to keep Baathists out of public life says that on the night before the election it banned six candidates who went on to win. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iraqi Front-Runners Headed for Election Deadlock

Staff / Truthdig Mar 17, 2010 It could be a case of good for democracy, bad for Iraq if analysts monitoring the outcome of the recent election in Iraq are right in thinking that the very close race between Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Ayad Allawi (continued). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Two Front-Runners Claim Victory as Iraqis Await Election Results

Staff / Truthdig Mar 10, 2010 The final tally from Sunday's parliamentary elections in Iraq hasn't been announced yet, but that didn't stop Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his opponent, Ayad Allawi, from claiming victory for their respective teams. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iraq Welcomes Back Saddam’s Soldiers

Staff / Truthdig Feb 26, 2010 One of the most criticized decisions made by the U.S. back in 2003 when it stumbled into Iraq like a drunk Mel Gibson at a bar mitzvah was the disbanding of the Iraqi army. All these years later, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is reinstating 20,000 of Saddam Hussein's officers. (continued) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Triple Bomb Attack Targets Baghdad Hotels

Staff / Truthdig Jan 26, 2010 On Monday, a series of three coordinated bombings targeting landmark hotels in Baghdad killed at least 36 people and wounded 71, according to The New York Times. Also Monday, Iraqis hung Saddam Hussein's cousin and former aide Ali Hassan al-Majeed --aka "Chemical Ali" -- for crimes against humanity, largely for his role in the mass killing of Iraqi Kurds in 1988. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Shoe-Throwing Iraqi Journo to Be Released From Jail

Staff / Truthdig Sep 14, 2009 Muntadhar al-Zaidi's simple but powerful gesture of lobbing his shoes at then-President George W. Bush brought him international notoriety, praise, scorn and nine months in prison. Now it looks like the Iraqi journalist is nearing the end of his jail time. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iraqi Death Toll Hits 13-Month High in August

Staff / Truthdig Sep 2, 2009 Perhaps it was to be expected after the mass exodus of American forces in late June, but August was a cruel month in terms of the Iraqi death toll caused by insurgent violence -- the worst in 13 months. Unfortunately, the trend might continue as Iraqis navigate the aftermath of U.S. troop withdrawal and anticipate their national elections early next year. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Psst! We May Never Leave

Staff / Truthdig Jul 24, 2009 While affirming the Dec. 31, 2011, date for the pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki did mention in a speech to a Washington think tank the possibility of extending that deadline if Iraqi forces still required "further training and further support." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )