Iraq Sun
IraqSun.com Friday 27th January 2012 Issue 27/10
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"Listen, there are people that are coming down the pilot ladder of the prow. You go up that pilot ladder, get on that ship and tell me how many people are still on board. And what they need. Is that clear? You need to tell me if there are children, women or people in need of assistance. And tell me the exact number of each of these categories. Is that clear? Listen Schettino, that you saved yourself from the sea, but I am going to... I'm going to make sure you get in trouble. ...I am going to make you pay for this. Go on board."
Captain Gregorio De Falco
Captain De Falco of the Livorno Port Authority demanding the captain of the stricken cruise ship Costa Concordia to return on board where hundreds of passengers were still trapped.

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$£€ United States, Dollar Euro Iraq, Dinar Iran, Rial Saudi Arabia, Riyal
United States, Dollar - 0.704 1168. 10603 3.749
Euro 1.418 - 1657. 15043 5.320
Iraq, Dinar 0.000 0.000 - 9.074 0.003
Iran, Rial 0.000 0.000 0.110 - 0.000
Saudi Arabia, Riyal 0.266 0.187 311.6 2827. -

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bullet More Iraq News corner
Central Asian States, Iraq Last In Environmental Index
Bomb Attacks Kill 28 in Iraq
32 die in Baghdad suicide car blast
Dozens dead in Baghdad suicide blast
Suicide bomber kills 29 in Baghdad

bullet Editorials corner
Proposed U.S. reforms likely to undermine UN
Imran Khan won't be a pro-Western PM: paper
Go for it, Angela | Editorial
The Nation: The Ultimate GOP Debate Word Chart
Live By Debate, Die By Debate: Gingrich Challenge To Romney Stalls Where It Began
After Son's Sudden Death, Shock, Grief And Coping

bullet Regional corner
Taliban delegates arrive in Qatar for peace talks with US-Afghan officials
Israel senses a bluff in Iran's retaliatory strike threat
After President's Departure, Yemen Braces for Transition of Leadership
Egypt Blocks Departure of US NGO Workers

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Car bomb blast in Baghdad takes toll of 28 livesCar bomb blast in Baghdad takes toll of 28 lives
BAGHDAD - In the deadliest attack in nearly two weeks at least 28 people were killed and around 50 injured Friday in a car bomb blast in Zafraniyah district of east Baghdad near a funeral procession...

31 killed in Iraq car bombing
At least 31 people were killed and 60 others injured Friday in a suicide car bombing that targeted a funeral procession in Baghdad, Xinhua reported.

An interior ministry official said the attack...
22 killed in Iraq car bombing
At least 22 people were killed and 35 others injured in a suicide car bombing that rocked Baghdad Friday, Xinhua reported.

An interior ministry official said the attack took place near a funeral...
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Syrian security forces fire on protesters, 37 killedSyrian security forces fire on protesters, 37 killed
AMMAN - Security forces killed 37 people in Syria on Friday, activists and residents claimed, as the UN Security Council prepared to discuss Damascus later in the day ahead of a possible vote next...

Annual US, South Korea war games from Feb 27Annual US, South Korea war games from Feb 27
SEOUL - The United States and South Korea are to hold annual military exercises on the Korean peninsula soon, the first since the recent change of leadership in North Korea.

There had been...
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U.S. stocks drop as GDP fails to meet expectationsU.S. stocks drop as GDP fails to meet expectations
U.S. stocks dropped on Friday, and the dollar dived, as the fourth quarter GDP figure for the U.S. failed to meet expectations.

Disappointing earnings reports also punctured leading stocks Juniper...

Credit rating of five EU nations cut by FitchCredit rating of five EU nations cut by Fitch
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bullet US Troops Return From Iraq to Reflect on Their Future at Home Base corner

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Thousands of troops have been returning to bases in the United States as Washington completes its drawdown of forces in Iraq. Planeloads of soldiers have been arriving ahead of a December 31 deadline to withdraw from Iraq.

Home for the holidays, with a hero's welcome.

This was the last of several deployments in Iraq for U.S. Army Major Mike Williams.

"It's a sensational experience and the feeling is, I guess, of euphoria," said Williams.

Williams is one of the tens of thousands leaving Iraq after President Obama's decision to bring home the troops by the end of the year.

After eight years and with more than 4,000 Americans killed, troops are back on home soil.
Thousands are returning to Fort Hood alone, turning in their guns, and preparing for life at home.

The smell of freshly baked Christmas cookies, and hugs from his children mean for Williams that he is home, and this time he can plan to stay for some time.

His wife, Royann, has been on her own with the children. She says she is not sure if this was the right time for U.S forces to leave Iraq but she savors the moment of her husband's return.

"It's wonderful," she said. "We haven't been able to stop smiling and get the house decorated for Christmas because we waited for him and it's been wonderful."

She reflects on the suffering and the sacrifice that her family has had to make in the past eight years and says that for her, none of it was in vain if it means her children will live in a safer world.

"I would rather try to fight the terrorists on another soil than our own and if he had to go back as many times as he did, for our children hopefully not to have to go back over there," said Royann Williams. "As long as it was done right this time, it's definitely worth it."

Williams came under fire several times in Iraq. But he says the biggest reward is knowing that he did his part to make his country safer by ridding Iraq of Saddam Hussein and fighting terrorist groups like al Qaida.

"It was a great accomplishment in terms of, we've liberated a nation, we've taken care of the enemy on his soil, versus having him coming to the United States and attacking us again," said Williams. "And I think in the long run I think it has saved a lot of soldiers and a lot of civilians in our country from having to make the ultimate sacrifice and having another 9/11."

Williams, like thousands of others returning to Fort Hood, is going through a reintegration program and getting ready for his new role as a soldier at base.

"[My] personal plan now is to reintegrate with my family, get reset, refit, go back to my unit after the holidays and start getting our unit going through that whole refit process that you do when you reset all your equipment, get back into soldiering again," he said.

Williams says the war against terrorism is not finished and his job now is to get ready for the next engagement, whenever and wherever it may be.

For his family, this homecoming marks the advent of a new period of peace at home.Join the conversation on our social journalism site - Middle East Voices.


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Newspapers the world over strive to provide readers with the ultimate news coverage.

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As an online news service we have advantages over traditional newspapers in that stories can be added and updated 24 hours day.

Our objective is to provide the most comprehensive Iraq news available, from our resources, contracted wire services and an inventory of some thousands of sources comprising newspapers, cable and TV networks, radio stations, public broadcasters, NGOs and others, Iraqi news is a priority.

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Whether it's the latest Nikkei 225 reading in Tokyo, the sterling exchange rate in London, or the status of the Nasdaq in New York, whether it's local Iraq news, the weather forecast for Iraq you'll find it all in the Iraq Sun.

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