Friday, October 21, 2011

10/21/11

* Barack Obama: All US troops to leave Iraq in 2011 All US troops will be pulled out of Iraq by the end of the year, President Barack Obama has announced.

* Row over Muammar Gaddafi's body delays burial plans Col Gaddafi's burial has been delayed by differences among officials about what should be done with the body.

* Turkey and Iran 'collaborating against Kurdish rebels' Turkey and Iran have vowed to co-operate to defeat separatist Kurdish militants, on the third day of a Turkish offensive on its Iraq border.

* Qaddafi's Death Places Focus on Arab Spring's 'Hard Road' Like the flight of Tunisia’s dictator or the trial of Egypt’s, the capture of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi on Thursday afternoon captivated the Arab world.

* Gadhafi's Death Energizes Syrian, Yemeni Protests Energized by the killing of Libya's Moammar Gadhafi, thousands of protesters in Syria and Yemen poured into the streets Friday.

* Cybercommand chief opposes U.N. net control The commander of the U.S. Cyber Command said Thursday that he does not favor giving the United Nations the power to regulate the Internet.

* Saudis said looking to China for strategic ties after U.S. 'betrayal' of key ally Mubarak The Saudi distrust of Washington is said to have grown in wake of the U.S. disclosure of an Iranian plot to assassinate Riyad's ambassador to Washington.

* UN Security Council Shuffle to Favor Israel According to Bloodberg, A shuffle of the 15-member United Nations Security Council could impact Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas' statehood bid at the world body.

* Will the U.S. Begin Writing "Israel" on IDs of Jerusalemites? Harvey Schwartz, Chair of the American Israeli Action Coalition, participated this week in the Jerusalem Conference for English speakers.

* New virus threatens Iran's nuclear program First there was the Stuxnet computer virus that wreaked havoc on Iran's nuclear program. Now comes "Duqu," which researchers on Tuesday said appears to be quite similar.