Iraq

Officials: US to blacklist a Syrian rebel group

By By MATTHEW LEEAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration is preparing to designate a Syrian rebel group with alleged ties to al-Qaida as a foreign terrorist organization in a step aimed at blunting the influence of extremists within the Syrian opposition, U.S. officials said

Hearing on WikiLeaks suspect's confinement resumes

By By DAVID DISHNEAUAssociated Press FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) - Military prosecutors are slowly working up the chain of command of a Marine Corps brig to show the government was justified in keeping an Army private tightly confined after he was arrested for allegedly sending classified information

Pentagon begins planning for massive budget cuts

By By LOLITA C. BALDOR and DONNA CASSATAAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - The Defense Department has begun planning for the roughly $500 billion in personnel and program cuts over a decade that will be needed if Congress and the White House fail to reach a deal that would avoid the double hit

Mongolia finds China can be too close for comfort

By By CHARLES HUTZLERAssociated Press TSOGTTSETSII, Mongolia (AP) - After years of testy debate, Mongolia broke ground this spring for a railroad that will haul coal across the pebbled Gobi desert to China, but with one costly condition. Citing national security, the government ordered the