Iraq War News Updates -- March 2, 2009

U.S. Army Capt. McKeel, center, and 1st Lt. Stamper, left, confer with an Iraqi officer about the route through the Samra Jungle, Iraq, Nov. 26, 2008. The soldiers are assigned to the1st Armored Division's 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. The patrol found artillery rounds and a 14.5mm heavy machine gun barrel in a weapons cache. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Chase Lee Kincaid

Iraq Plans Census To Map Ethnic Divisions -- Reuters

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq will hold a nationwide census in October, its first in 22 years, mapping ethnic divisions in a survey which could encourage reconciliation or fan the feuds threatening its fragile calm.

The census, the first including Iraq's Kurdish north since 1987, will take place over the course of one or two days, said Mehdi al-Alak, who heads Iraq's Central Organization for Statistics and Information Technology (COSIT).

Alak is planning to send at least 250,000 schoolteachers to homes across major cities and dusty hamlets to shed light on the true makeup of Iraq's diverse population.

Read more ....

More News On Iraq

Military Leaders Back Obama's Iraq Plan -- Voice of America
Gates Defends Iraq Withdrawal Plan -- New York Times
Gates: Plans on Track for New Transition Force Role in Iraq -- U.S. Department Of Defense
Mullen Voices Support for Iraq Decision - U.S. Department of Defense
Iraq Civilian Death Toll Rises in February -- Voice of America
February sees a sharp rise in Iraq violence with at least 258 people killed -- Daily Star
Oil Price Drop Squeezes Iraq on Security -- Associated Press
Hundreds of Iraqi Shiites Protest Voting Results -- Washington Post
FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, March 2 -- Reuters
Iran Pushes Iraq to Close MKO Camp -- Christian Science Monitor
Combined Forces Discover Weapons, IEDs in Iraq -- U.S. Department Of Defense
Iraqis get U.S. technology to fight roadside bombs -- LA Times
Iraq Withdrawal Can Only Work With Pressure On Iran and Syria -- Counter Terrorism Blog
Iraq's "Chemical Ali" given third death sentence -- International Herald Tribune
Iraq's 'Chemical Ali' sentenced to death for third time -- AFP
We will leave Iraq a better place - British general -- The Guardian
Iraq will be left 'a better place' when army leaves -- The Telegraph
Gates assesses success in Iraq -- UPI
A withdrawal of sorts from Iraq -- Asia Times opinion
We're really leaving Iraq -- Salon
Obama Can't Leave Iraq in the Lurch -- Christian Science Monitor
Mission Accomplished -- The Australian editorial
A Hard-Earned Opportunity, Indeed -- National Review editorial
The Economic Cost of War -- New York Times opinion
Commentary: Obama give welcomed news on timetable of Iraq withdrawal -- McClatchy