Iraq War News Updates -- September 11, 2009

US Army soldiers tie down the blades on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at Balad Air Base, Iraq, June 13, 2006. U.S. Air Force photo: Airman 1st Class Andrew Oquendo

Iraq Attacks Raise Questions About US Withdrawal -- Christian Science Monitor

Violence reduced over the summer, but attacks surged in Baghdad and Ninewa Province and some US bases since American troops withdrew from the cities.

Washington - Daily attacks in Baghdad and Iraq's Ninewa Province are increasing, according to the Pentagon. The spurt comes as experts worry that the Obama White House is neglecting the mission there, where 130,000 American troops still remain.

Baghdad and Ninewa Province averaged five to six attacks per day this past summer, compared with about four attacks per day in the spring, according to Pentagon spokesman Maj. Shawn Turner. These areas typically see some of the worst violence in Iraq.

Overall, violence in the country has fallen by 18 percent from the spring, he says.

Read more ....

More News On Iraq

Envoy Says US on Track for 2010 Combat Force Withdrawal from Iraq -- Voice of America
US will stick to plan for Iraq pullout-Hill -- Reuters
Envoy says US sticking to withdrawal plan in Iraq -- AP
U.S. envoy: Timeline for troops leaving Iraq on track -- CNN
US ambassador tries to allay fears about Iranian dissidents in Iraq -- AFP
Iraq says Syria must show will to stop militants -- Reuters
Stormy Iraq-Syria talks on militants issue -- AP
US general says Iraqis have rejected Al-Qaeda -- AFP
Al-Qaeda behind most attacks in Iraq since June: US -- AFP
Inmates attack guards at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison -- AP
Inmates riot at Iraq's notorious Abu Ghraib prison -- AFP
Prisoners start fire, riot at Iraq's Abu Ghraib -- Reuters
Riot at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison -- BBC
Bombing Kills 20 In Iraq -- Washington Post
Bomb Kills 25 in North Iraq, Stirring Fears of Instability -- New York Times
Suicide Bombing Kills 20 in Attack on Kurds in Northern Iraq -- L.A. Times
Iraq Needs a Real Air Force -- Omar Fadhil Al-Nidawi and Austin Bay, Wall Street Journal opinion.
Saddam revisited as Iraq accuses Syria of sheltering Baathist bombers -- Robert Fisk, The Independent
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,343 -- AP