Iraqi Suicide Bomber Kills at Least 33

Defense secretary sees need to stabilize gains after 'al-Qaeda routed'

(NEWSER) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates today backed a "pause" in pulling out US forces from Iraq once the 30,000 troops added for the surge are sent home in July. “The notion of a brief period of consolidation and evaluation probably does make sense,” Gates told reporters during a surprise visit to Baghdad today. How long a period? “That’s one of the things we are still thinking about.” More»

But Petraeus calls the group country's 'biggest threat'

(NEWSER) - Al-Qaeda in Iraq is down 75%, one Baghdad official said today—but US Gen. David Petraeus maintained that al-Qaeda is still “the most significant challenge" facing the country. Maj. Gen. Abdul Kareem Khalaf attributed the alleged al-Qaeda cut to beefed Iraq security, armed Sunni fighters, and the recent US troop surge. More»

Praises successor Odierno as 'perfect man for the job'

(NEWSER) - Citing a "long struggle" in Iraq despite his successes, Gen. David Petraeus handed over his command of the country, reports the BBC, amid a smattering of violence that served as a reminder of reversible gains. Defense Secretary Robert Gates praised security gains made on Petraeus' watch as authority was passed to Gen. Ray Odierno, whom Petraeus praised as "the perfect man for the job." Two bomb blasts in Baghdad and one in Diyala province killed 34 people during Gates' visit. More»

Insurgents reeling from citizen backlash, troop surge

(NEWSER) - Outsmarted and overwhelmed by allied forces in Iraq, al-Qaeda is getting desperate, Marie Colvin writes for the London Times. The insurgents, masters of organized resistance, are now resorting to small-scale hit-and-run attacks amidst waning support from Iraqis. “Al-Qaeda in Mosul is pretty much not able to do the attacks that they could do previously,” said an Iraqi commander. More»

(NEWSER) - Recent battles in Basra prove that Iran is crippling Iraqi stability while al-Qaeda's influence there wanes, US officials say. David Petraeus pointed to Iran's influence in testimony this week, and now Shiite militias are said to have benefited from Iranian weapons, training, and guidance in Basra fighting—prompting a Washington probe of Iran's impact, the Washington Post reports. More»