Iraq – In Afghanistan, a drive to lure Taliban with jobs, security (Los Angeles Times)

In Afghanistan, a drive to lure Taliban with jobs, security (Los Angeles Times)
The aim is to persuade Taliban foot soldiers to put down arms in exchange for jobs and protection from militants. The drive will be modeled on the ‘Sons of Iraq’ initiative that helped calm Iraq. The Afghan government and the U.S. military have begun a fledgling drive to lure Taliban foot soldiers away from the battlefield by offering them job opportunities and protection, diplomats and military …

Alleged Iraq bombers offer confessions (AP via Yahoo! News)
Three jailed suspects in Oct. 25 bombings that killed more than 150 people in Iraq said they filmed the targeted buildings before the attack and escorted the car bombs in a convoy into Baghdad, according to confessions shown on Iraqi television Sunday.

Iraqi Turkmen politician killed at his home (Khaleej Times)
BAGHDAD – An Iraqi Turkmen leader was assassinated at his home in the northern city of Mosul on Sunday by gunmen who knocked at his door then shot him, police and Turkmen sources said.

Iraq denies Sinopec bid (AME Info)
The Iraqi oil ministry has rejected a bid by China’s Sinopec Corp to pay participation fees to bid for oilfields on offer in Iraq’s second bidding round, Reuters has reported.

Saudi Arabia goes to war | Mai Yamani (Guardian Unlimited)
By attacking the Houthi rebels of Yemen, Riyadh is ill-advisedly turning up the heat on the region’s cold war A crucially important conflict, woefully under-reported in the west, has now come to a head in the Middle East. In response to an ongoing fight that could spill out beyond the Arabian peninsula, Saudi Arabia has entered into direct war with the Houthi rebels in northern Yemen. Saudi …

FOCUS: Iraq Issues Biding Rules For 2nd Licensing Auction (Nasdaq)
AMMAN (Dow Jones)-The Iraqi oil ministry has released bidding rules and final model contracts for Iraq’s second post-war oil licensing auction to develop some of the country’s prized fields with estimated proven reserves of more than 35 billion barrels.

British to train local Afghan militias in new hearts and minds push (Times Online)
British forces in Helmand province will begin training local militias to secure communities against the Taleban.

Taliban debating whether to end Afghan war: expert (National Post)
A debate is underway among the Taliban s senior leadership about finding ways to end the war in Afghanistan, and the Western coalition should pursue peace talks with moderate leaders of the insurgency, says the man widely considered to have the closest contacts, of any Westerner, with the Taliban

Iraq offers incentive to intermarry (USA Today)
Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi has an unusual proposal to mend some of Iraq’s sectarian wounds: He offers mixed couples a $2,000 “gift” if they get married.

A Child’s Doctor Turns To Iraq War’s Youngest Victims (NPR)
Dr. Chris Coppola was a pediatrician in the U.S. before he shipped off to Iraq. As a military surgeon, he expected to treat soldiers, but he found himself helping war-ravaged Iraqi children as well. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Dr. Coppola about his memoir, Coppola: A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq .

Iraqi Turkmen politician killed at his Mosul home (AFP via Yahoo! News)
An Iraqi Turkmen leader was assassinated at his home in the northern city of Mosul on Sunday by gunmen who knocked at his door then shot him, police and Turkmen sources said.

Iraq- Basra hosts conference on polymers tech. (MENAFN)
Iraq- Basra hosts conference on polymers tech.

Iraqi parliament fails to reach election deal (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
The Iraqi parliament on Sunday failed to resolve an impasse threatening to delay the country’s election in January, which could affect the U.S. military’s plans for a partial pullout next year.

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