WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2009 – Iraq’s government and its security forces deserve praise for overseeing the successful and mostly violence-free provincial elections that were held countrywide Jan. 31, a senior U.S. military officer posted in Iraq said today.
“First and foremost, I’d like to congratulate the government of Iraq for a successful, legitimate and credible election,” [...]

By John Valceanu
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2009 – Senior military officials congratulated the Iraqi people for holding provincial elections yesterday, praising the Iraqi and U.S. forces that helped make the elections safe.
More than 14,400 candidates competed for 440 seats in 14 of 18 Iraqi provinces. Though five candidates were reported killed in the [...]

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2009 – As the Defense Department prepares plans to close the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, defense officials acknowledge the possibility that released detainees could return to the battlefield.
“It’s something that we’re cognizant of. It’s obviously something that we try to assess at the [...]

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2009 – The Senate voted overwhelmingly this afternoon to confirm Sen. Hillary Clinton as secretary of state and as a member of President Barack Obama’s national security team.
The Senate confirmed Clinton’s nomination by a 94-to-2 vote.
Clinton has represented New York since her election in 2000 and has [...]

HarpBlaster.com News Wire
WASHINGTON — President Bush, in his farewell address to the nation, said that while debate may exist about some of the “tough decisions” he made during his eight years in office, the country is safer.
“I have followed my conscience and done what I thought was right. You may not agree with some [...]

Voice of America
WASHINGTON — U.S. President George Bush has given his farewell speech to the nation, five days before President-elect Barack Obama takes office.
In remarks made from the White House, Bush on Thursday called the first eight years of this century a “time of consequence” but said he leaves office with a thankful heart.
He recalled [...]

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2009 – On the heels of a fact-finding trip to the Middle East, Vice President-elect Joe Biden described his impression of the U.S. mission in the region and praised the American troops he encountered there.
Speaking to reporters here yesterday, Biden emphasized that President-elect Barack Obama’s reason [...]

Voice of America
A U.S. official says Washington would condemn any unnecessary use of force against the journalist who threw his shoes at U.S. President George Bush.
Asked about reports that journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi was beaten when detained by security forces Sunday, a U.S. State Department spokesman said Tuesday he does not know if it happened, but [...]

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2008 – The war in Iraq isn’t over, but a successful end is in sight, thanks to hard work between the United States and Iraq, President George W. Bush said in his weekly radio address.
“Earlier this week, Iraq’s Presidency Council approved two landmark agreements that will [...]

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2008 – Citing “monumental” improvements since his soldiers arrived in Iraq last year, the outgoing commander of Multinational Division North today credited his troops, Iraqi security forces and the Iraqi people with creating a historic turnaround.
Army Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling and his 1st Armored Division soldiers [...]