News Headline

Iraq Signs Oil Deal With China

OurFuture.org Staff — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:06:52 -0400

In the first major oil deal Iraq has made with a foreign country since 2003, the Iraqi government and the China National Petroleum Corporation have signed a contract in Beijing that could be worth up to $3 billion, Iraqi officials said. Under the new contract, which must still be approved by Iraq's cabinet, the Chinese company will provide technical advisers, oil workers and equipment to help develop the Ahdab oil field southeast of Baghdad, according to Assim Jihad, a spokesman for Iraq's Oil Ministry. The 22-year contract is a renegotiated version of a 1997 agreement between China and Iraq under Saddam Hussein. The original contract included production-sharing rights, but under the new contract China will be paid for its services but will not share in profits.

Bush Ready to Scrap Russia Nuclear Deal

OurFuture.org Staff — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:02:37 -0400

Three months ago, President George W. Bush reached a long-sought agreement with Russia intended to open a new era of civilian nuclear cooperation and sent it to Congress for review. Now, according to administration officials, Bush is preparing to scrap his own deal. The imminent collapse of the nuclear deal, once a top Bush priority, represents the most tangible casualty so far of the deteriorating relations with Russia after its brief war with neighboring Georgia. Vice President Dick Cheney is heading to Georgia next week, and Bush is poised to announce about $1 billion in economic aid to the country, the officials said.

Georgia Breaks Ties With Russia

OurFuture.org Staff — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:57:21 -0400

Georgia has decided to cut diplomatic ties with Russia, days after Moscow recognized the independence of Georgia—s two breakaway regions. Deputy Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said his ministry had received its instructions and —the final decision has been made.— The move came after another day of heated exchanges over the provinces South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia and Georgia fought a brief war over the issue earlier this month.

Spending on Contractors Increases

OurFuture.org Staff — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:12:54 -0400

The United States is spending more money than ever on private security contractors in Iraq as thousands of troops return home amid steady declines in insurgent attacks, federal records show. This year, spending on contractors, who protect diplomats, civilian facilities and supply convoys, is projected to exceed $1.2 billion. Most of that bill — about $1 billion — is State Department spending, which is up 13 percent over 2007. The remaining $200 million covers Pentagon contracts. Congress is raising concerns about the costs of relying on contractors for that work and the challenges of ensuring that they are supervised properly.

Russia Faces Fresh Condemnation

OurFuture.org Staff — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:50:23 -0400

Seven of the world's leading industrialized nations have jointly condemned Russia's decision to recognize Georgia's breakaway regions. Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.S. and U.K. said Moscow's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia violated Georgia's integrity and sovereignty. Earlier, the U.K.'s foreign secretary said Western countries should re-examine their relations with Russia. David Miliband also warned Russia not to start a new Cold War. Speaking during a visit to Ukraine, Mr Miliband said Moscow had not reconciled itself with the new map of the region and that the West should look at ways to reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas.

Army Opens Dropout Prep School

OurFuture.org Staff — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:37:56 -0400

The U.S. Army, eager to fill its ranks amid wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, formally opened its first prep school for dropouts. The soldiers work in small classrooms outfitted with simple desks, chairs, and dry-erase boards. In-desk computers are used for test-taking. Grouped three to four to a class, the students hunch over special GED preparation books, working on basic math, social studies and reading selections. Recruits must score in the top half of the Army's aptitude test to qualify for the prep school and get two tries at a General Educational Development certificate. If they still can't pass, the Army will release them from their contract, Sanderson said.

Putin Pans WTO

OurFuture.org Staff — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:56:01 -0400

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that Russia should abandon some of the commitments it made during World Trade Organization accession talks. Putin's statement is another sign that a war of words between Russia and the West is likely to go beyond empty threats. Also Monday, President Dmitry Medvedev warned that Russia might cut its ties with NATO. Putin said at a regular meeting of his Presidium that it was "sensible" to abandon some of the commitments Russia made during the WTO accession talks.

Iraq Seeking 2011 Pullout

OurFuture.org Staff — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:38:07 -0400

The Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has spoken in detail about a deal to bring an end to the foreign combat troop presence in the country. He said the agreement would lead to the withdrawal of the troops by 2011, but he added that no specific timetable had been agreed with the U.S. A U.S. state department spokesman has said there was no final deal and only a draft text had been agreed.

U.S. May Ice Russian Nuclear Deal

OurFuture.org Staff — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:59:53 -0400

The Bush administration is set to put a high-profile nuclear deal with Russia on hold, according to U.S. diplomats. Officials expect Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to recommend that George W. Bush, president, recall the civil nuclear co-operation agreement from Congress in the wake of Russia's conflict with Georgia. The deal would be one of the most visible victims so far of tensions between Washington and Moscow, which have risen to levels rarely seen since the end of the cold war. The move to put the nuclear agreement on ice would darken prospects for bilateral co-operation between the two countries in the area of nuclear safety.

U.S. Warship Reaches Georgia

OurFuture.org Staff — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 21:39:18 -0400

A U.S. warship has arrived in the Georgian port of Batumi carrying the first delivery of aid supplies by sea. Russian forces are still in control of the military port of Poti, to the north of Batumi, after Moscow withdrew most of its combat troops from the country. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who brokered the ceasefire, has urged Moscow to pull out those forces too, and called a summit of EU leaders.