Iraq News Updates -- August 3, 2010

U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commanding general, U.S. Forces, Iraq, bid farewell to Gen. Babaker Zibari, Iraqi Armed Forces chief of staff, in Baghdad, July 27, 2010. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

Iraq Violence Flares As US Begins To Draw Down Troop Levels -- Christian Science Monitor

The killing of five policemen in Baghdad on Tuesday came as President Barack Obama vowed again to fulfill an agreement with the Iraqi government to lower US troop levels from 80,000 to 50,000 by the end of August.

Assailants shot dead five Iraqi policemen at a road checkpoint in Baghdad on Tuesday, getting August off to a grim start just days after the local government said July was Iraq’s deadliest month in two years.

The attacks come amid a drawdown of US forces and political instability in Iraq. Iraqi politicians are still fighting over who should become prime minister because of unclear results in the March elections and there is speculation that insurgents are taking advantage of the discord.

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More News On Iraq

Iraqis fear renewed violence as U.S. disengages -- Reuters
U.S. Urges Iraqi Deal Before Pullout -- Wall Street Journal
Obama is also pulling equipment and bases from Iraq -- USA Today
Text of Obama’s Speech on Iraq -- Wall Street Journal
Obama tells veterans that end of Iraq war is about to begin -- Washington Post
President Barack Obama strains to see victory in Iraq -- Politico
Obama Reaffirms Iraq Exit Plan -- Voice of America
Obama: Iraq combat mission ending, but challenges linger -- Stars And Stripes
Iraq withdrawal: 27 bases in 29 days -- Ynet News
Obama Reaffirms Iraq Exit Plan Despite Violence -- Wall Street Journal
Obama stands by Iraq combat deadline -- Financial Times
Obama speaks with vets on Iraq drawdown -- Washington Post
Obama On The Iraq Drawdown: 'As Promised and On Schedule' -- ABC News
Obama: U.S. combat mission in Iraq ends this month -- USA Today
US front line troops to leave Iraq by end of month -- The Telegraph
US combat role in Iraq set to end on schedule, says Barack Obama -- The Guardian
Obama to cut U.S. troop levels in Iraq to 50,000 by end of August -- L.A. Times
Iraq Withdrawal: What are Non-Combat Troops? -- CBS News

Iraqi Premier Says Opponents Want a Weak Leader -- New York Times/AP
Maliki Says Impasse Over Iraqi Govt Not His Fault -- New York Times/Reuters
Shiite bloc suspends talks, undermining Maliki's chances to remain Iraq's leader -- Washington Post
In Iraq, an impasse as U.S. troops draw down -- L.A. Times
Iraqis don't expect political impasse to be resolved by fall -- Washington Post
Deadly assault exposes Iraq's delicate state of security -- L.A. Times
Nine killed as Qaeda fighters plant flag in Baghdad -- AFP
Al Qaeda kills 5 police at Baghdad checkpoint -- Reuters
Al-Qaida militants kill 5 Iraqi troops, plant flag -- AP
Five policemen killed, 14 people wounded in Baghdad violence -- Xinhuanet
Death toll dispute highlights Iraq security concerns -- BBC News