NATO to pull out of Iraq by 2012 after talks break down

NATO to pull out of Iraq by 2012 after talks break down

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — NATO has decided to withdraw from Iraq. Officials said the Western alliance was pulling out all of its staff from Iraq, which failed to agree on an extension. They said NATO would complete its personnel withdrawal from Iraq by 2012. “Agreement on the extension of this successful program did not […]

Out of options: Report says U.S. must prepare to strike Iran before 2013

Out of options: Report says U.S. must prepare to strike Iran before 2013

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States must plan for a campaign to destroy Iran’s nuclear weapons program, a leading think tank said. The American Enterprise Institute stated that the United States is unlikely to stop Iran’s nuclear program either through sanctions or deterrence. As a result, the Washington-based institute said in a report […]

Russia threatens to ‘take out’ U.S. nuclear defense system in Europe

Russia threatens to ‘take out’ U.S. nuclear defense system in Europe

Special to WorldTribune.com Compiled by Bill Gertz, Geostrategy-Direct.com Russian President Dmitri Medvedev threw down the gauntlet of strategic nuclear escalation in Europe last week. Evidently angry over U.S. missile defense deployments in Europe, Medvedev said Moscow would be bolstering its strategic missiles and planning for new deployments of advanced missiles in southern and western Russia. […]

U.S. troop presence in Iraq down to 9,000

Special to WorldTribune.com BAGHDAD — The U.S. military has nearly completed its withdrawal from Iraq. The Iraqi Defense Ministry said the U.S. military presence in the Arab League state has declined to 9,000 troops. The ministry said the remaining U.S. soldiers would leave by the end of December. “The number of remaining U.S. soldiers until […]

Security fears for Americans in Iraq: Contractors have ‘stopped carrying weapons’

Security fears for Americans in Iraq: Contractors have ‘stopped carrying weapons’

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — A former State Department official said the 16,500 security personnel retained to provide security in Iraq are increasingly vulnerable to a range of insurgency groups. Peter Van Buren, a former State Department reconstruction team leader in Iraq, said his former employer has instituted rules that endanger private contractors. “The security […]

Iraqi president: Military wants continued U.S. presence beyond 2011

Iraqi president: Military wants continued U.S. presence beyond 2011

Special to WorldTribune.com BAGHDAD — Iraq is still seeking to retain a U.S. military presence in 2012. President Jalal Talabani said that the Iraqi military wanted U.S. aid after the American troop withdrawal at the end of 2011. Talabani, in a statement believed to have been cleared by the government of Prime Minister Nouri Al […]

U.S. military trainers to remain at 10 Iraqi bases

U.S. military trainers to remain at 10 Iraqi bases

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. military plans to retain a presence in 10 bases in Iraq in 2012. The Defense Department and Joint Chiefs of Staff have approved a plan in which U.S. military trainers would operate out of 10 bases in Iraq after the American troop pullout at the end of 2011. […]

Israeli firm markets unmanned vehicles to U.S. for border security

Israeli firm markets unmanned vehicles to U.S. for border security

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — An Israeli defense major has been marketing border security solutions to the United States. Elbit Systems has been presenting border security solutions at an exposition in San Diego, Calif. Through its subsidiary, Elbit Systems of America, executives have been briefing U.S. officials and security officers on Israeli-origin unmanned vehicles. “We […]

U.S. Air Force takes delivery of 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator

U.S. Air Force takes delivery of 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has acquired a massive bomb designed to destroy underground nuclear facilities in Iran. Officials said the U.S. Air Force has taken delivery of a new bomb meant to penetrate and destroy underground facilities. They said the Air Force first received the Massive Ordnance Penetrator in September under […]