Al-Iraqiya Member Says Most Blocs Reject Maliki
17 Aug 2010 – Baghdad (AKnews) – A member of the al-Iraqiya list, led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, said that the leader of the State of Law Coalition (SLC) Nouri al-Maliki is rejected by most of the political blocs as a candidate for the prime minister’s position.
Bahrain arrests four Shia activists on security charges
Authorities in Bahrain have arrested four Shia Muslim activists on security related charges, officials say.
Main factions break off talks, further delaying formation of govt
By News Wires the 16/08/2010 – 19:33
Iraqi political turmoil persisted Monday with former Iraqi premier Iyad Allawi’s Iraqiya alliance breaking off coalition talks with PM Nuri al-Maliki, a move that will further delay the formation of a government months after elections.
Iran to go ahead with new enrichment plant
By News Wires the 16/08/2010 – 10:14
An Iranian official announced Sunday that the country would start building a third uranium enrichment plant in 2011, despite a new wave of sanctions over its sensitive nuclear programme.
Al Qaeda cell leader killed in Afghan north – NATO
KABUL (Reuters) – An al Qaeda cell leader who may have been training suicide bombers was among two insurgents killed in an air strike in northern Afghanistan at the weekend, NATO-led forces said on Monday.
Two Islamist militants killed in clashes with army forces
By News Wires the 14/08/2010 – 20:27
Lebanese troops killed two Islamist rebels on Saturday, including a leading figure in Fatah al-Islam, an al Qaeda-inspired group that fought the Lebanese army in 2007.
U.S. Magazine Says Israel Likely To Bomb Iran In Next 12 Months
13 Aug 2010 (RFE/RL) The odds of an Israeli military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities within the next year have risen to above 50 percent, according to a report in a leading U.S. magazine.
The Point of No Return
For the Obama administration, the prospect of a nuclearized Iran is dismal to contemplate— it would create major new national-security challenges and crush the 
Our Proxy War in the Middle East
Even Israelis didn’t mind this time when we sold F-15s to Saudi Arabia. That’s because they share an enemy, Iran, and know that we’re going to help them fight it.
US troops should stay until Iraqi army is ‘ready’ in 2020, military chief say
Iraq’s army chief warned on Wednesday that the planned departure of US troops by the end of 2011 would be premature and that US forces must stay “until the Iraqi army is fully ready in 2020”, contradicting statements by other Iraqi leaders.
