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The Bush administration's top officials, including Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, have sought to alleviate concerns that a Shiite-run Iraq could emerge following last weekend's elections. In a series of TV interviews, they emphasized that most Iraqis reject an Iranian-style theocracy, citing
United States
Violence has gripped Iraq in recent days, with kidnappings, bombings, and attacks becoming increasingly common. On Sunday, four Egyptian contractors were kidnapped outside their residence in Baghdad, and an American soldier was killed and two others wounded in a roadside bombing north of the capital. The contractors worked for an
Bush, George W.
As the United States prepares for elections in Iraq, parallels between the American involvement in Vietnam and the ongoing war in Iraq are being drawn by military experts, historians, and politicians. The Johnson administration's goal of holding national elections in South Vietnam in 1967 was seen as a
Bush, George W.
The US invasion of Iraq nearly two years ago has been marked by its bloodiest day, with 37 US soldiers killed in a helicopter crash and hostile fire, while President George W. Bush remains optimistic about Sunday's Iraqi election, declaring it a "grand moment for those who
United States
As Sunday's nationwide elections in Iraq draw near, a determined group of insurgent groups has vowed to disrupt the voting process by any means necessary. Leaflets warning Iraqis to stay away from voting booths, threatening violence and death against those who participate, have been found in neighborhoods across
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The United States Army plans to maintain approximately 120,000 soldiers in Iraq through 2006, according to a senior operations officer, who cited the number as the "most probable" level under current assumptions. This projection comes as Congress is pressing the administration for a more detailed explanation of
United States
A year to the day after the incident that sparked international outrage, Specialist Charles A. Graner Jr.'s defense in the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal abruptly ended on Thursday, without put him on the stand to testify. The defense rested after nearly a year of trial, citing that other
United States
The Bush administration has stepped up its criticism of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan in the ongoing oil-for-food scandal, saying he will have to be held accountable for mismanagement in the program. The criticism comes amid internal audits that have found management lapses in the $64 billion program, which
United States
Prosecutors announced Friday that three Iraqi detainees who were allegedly abused by soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison will testify against Specialist Charles A. Graner Jr., the reservist accused of leading the abuse. The trial, which is expected to begin with opening statements on Monday, marks the first contested trial in
United States
The US military's operation in Iraq has reached a critical juncture, prompting a top Pentagon official to dispatch a retired four-star Army general to conduct a comprehensive review of the entire policy, including troop levels, training programs, and insurgency-fighting strategies. The move reflects growing concern among senior Pentagon
United States
Fresh criticism of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld from prominent Republican senators, a retired general, and a leading intellectual architect of the war has raised concerns about his leadership and the repeated failures to predict the strengths of the insurgency in Iraq. The criticism comes after Rumsfeld's response
United States
Air Force officials have announced a significant expansion of airlift operations in Iraq to reduce the number of ground convoys, a move aimed at mitigating the threat of roadside bombings and ambushes to American military personnel. Dozens of Air Force C-130 and C-17 transport planes, as well as contracted commercial
