In answer to the call, thousands of Shiites _ many with militia experience from the sectarian war that pitted Sunnis against Shiites and killed thousands from 2006 to 2008 _ flooded the cities of Baghdad, Najaf and Karbala to receive weapons, enlist in organized units and receive their orders.◼ UN: 800K REFUGEES
Hours later, President Barack Obama made it clear that the United States was unwilling to commit itself to the defense of a government that had been unable to resolve Iraq’s ethnic and sectarian differences.
The U.N. refugee agency says Iraq's refugee population has increased by almost 800,000 this year as the government struggles against rebels and Islamic militants.◼ CHRISTIANS ON THE RUN - CNS
The agency says 300,000 people fled for safety this week in Erbil and Duhok as Islamic militants seize control of large areas in northern Iraq.
Agency spokesman Adrian Edwards told reporters Friday in Geneva that many of the refugees are arriving with little more than the clothes they wear and have no money and nowhere to go.
◼ Government 'paralyzed' - YAHOO/AP
◼ IRAN TO THE RESCUE? - REUTERS
◼ VIDEO: Thousands of soldiers captured - GATEWAY PUNDIT
◼ REPORT: 200 American contractors surrounded - WND
A U.S. contractor in Iraq told WND the Iraqi Air Force has begun evacuations from Balad Air Force Base, where 200 American contractors were trapped by the al-Qaida-inspired jihadists who have seized control of two cities and are now threatening Baghdad.◼ Vets watch as insurgents undo sacrifices - AP
◼ 'It's Like Punch In Gut' - CBS SF
“You know it’s really hard, because part of what you learn in the military is mission success, mission accomplishment and never to accept failure,” the two-time Iraq War veteran said. “It can make you feel a lot of loss was in vain.”◼ Oil Soars
In December 2011, nearly all American troops left the war-ravaged nation, and leaders in Baghdad failed to negotiated a security agreement that would have retained a U.S. presence.
