AFP: Despite warnings from Iraq’s top officer, the United States stuck Wednesday to its drawdown schedule and suggested just “dozens” of US embassy troops might remain in Baghdad after 2011.
US sticks to Iraq timetable, says only ‘dozens’ might stay
Iraqi general says planned US troop pull-out ‘too soon’
BBC: Iraq’s top army officer has criticised the planned US troop withdrawal by the end of next year as premature.
Syria, Iran underline support for Lebanon against Israel
AFP: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki underlined on Wednesday their joint support for Lebanon in the face of Israeli “aggression,” state news agency SANA said.
Iran curbs LNG-export ambitions
Wall Street Journal: Iran is greatly curbing its once-lofty ambitions to become a major liquefied natural-gas exporter, a reversal that energy executives and analysts tie to the country’s difficulty accessing Western technology amid fresh international sanctions.
US plans missile interceptor sale to Kuwait
AFP: The Pentagon on Wednesday said it had notified the US Congress of a planned sale of Patriot missiles to Kuwait, which is looking to bolster its defenses against the threat from Iran.
Iranian activists face execution as ‘enemies of God’
VOA News: Human rights groups and the families of a number of Iranian opposition activists condemned to death as “enemies of God” are warning that their loved ones may soon be hanged after their sentences were recently confirmed by Iran’s supreme court.
It’s time to get tough on Iran
Foreign Policy: It may be Iran, not the United States or Israel, that strikes the blow that sets off an international conflict. President Obama must act firmly with the Islamic Republic to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
Iran keeps top terror distinction
VOA News – Editorial: The U.S. State Department’s annual report on international terrorism found the Islamic Republic of Iran is still the most active state sponsor of terrorism in the world.
Iranian government plans IPO of 5% of Dana Insurance this month, TSE Says
Bloomberg: The Iranian government plans to sell shares in Dana Insurance Co. representing 5 percent of the total, the Tehran Stock Exchange said today.
Obama, national security team hold meeting on Iraq
AFP: President Barack Obama convened his national security team Wednesday to discuss the situation in Iraq, with just three weeks to go before the official end of the US combat mission there.
