According to the latest news the US Flag Ceremony Puts An End To Iraq Operation after no less than nine years. Baghdad was the place where the flag was finally lowered. In the upcoming weeks the 4,000 soldiers will return home leaving Iraq as US Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta claims with pride, he also added that, “After a lot of blood spilled by Iraqis and Americans, the mission of an Iraq that could govern and secure itself has become real,”.

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Hussain al-Shahristani also shared his opinion about the nine years old collaboration, “They have been difficult years, […] We have had some successes together. We had some failures. We have some mishaps.[...]I think we are all happy that the American soldiers are returning home safely to their families and we are also confident that the Iraqi people and their armed forces, police, are in a position now to take care of their own security.”. Everyone remembers that this extremely dangerous conflict which led to the death of 4,500 US soldiers and 100,000 Iraqis was generated by the Bush administration back in 2003.

The election of Barack Obama marked a change in the policy of the US. Troops gradually left Iraq until the preset flag ceremony which has put an end to a tragic period, President Obama still considers a success. In his speech in North Carolina he states that, “Everything that American troops have done in Iraq, all the fighting and dying, bleeding and building, training and partnering, has led us to this moment of success, [...]The war in Iraq will soon belong to history, and your service belongs to the ages.”.

Image courtesy of BBC News

The French President Nicolas Sarkozy occupies the headlines of the greatest newspapers with his remark about Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The private conversation between Sarkozy and Obama on the G20 summit revealed the true feelings of the French President for another important political personality. The microphones were unintentionally left open and gave back the exact words of Sarkozy according to which, the President claims that , he can’t stand Benjamin Netanyahu and that, “He is a liar”.(Reuters)

Barack Obama responded the following way, “You’re fed up with him but I have to deal with him every day!” The discussion came during the vote in favor of the Palestinians to become the next members of the Unesco, an act Washington clearly opposed. The leaders then suddenly changed the subject and started to chat about the person of  Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the latest news reports Nicolas Sarkozy is clearly against the plan of Israel’s prime minister to build new Jewish settlements in the territories occupied by Palestinians.

Image courtesy of Dailymail.co.uk

The two influential families refuse to have any contact with each other. As the Dailymail reveals Kardashian sisters became very angry when hearing the fact that the President tried to stop his children from watching the popular reality show, “Keeping up with the Kardashians”.

Their answer to this act was to criticize the style sense of Michelle Obama calling her outfits, ‘pretend poor’ or ‘cheap suburban tack’. Undoubtedly audience is important for these reality stars and the girls, ‘Kim, Khloe and Kourtney are furiously dissing the First Lady,’ as a source revealed to the National Enquirer.

In spite of their sophisticated taste for high street fashion, the Kardashian girls apparently have no skills to choose their words and offer an objective opinion on the First Lady’s wardrobe. One of the sisters claimed that Michelle Obama’s clothes are selected as the secret weapon to ‘keep voters on a budget’.

Khloe Kardashian seemed to be the most offended as she couldn’t stop boasting about the positive feedback she got from the President when meeting him at the White House back in 2009. Irrespective of what Barack Obama said back then, his wife is still convinced that the show is bad for the girls.

Image courtesy of Dailymail.com

Troops will return home by the end of the year as President Obama revealed. As he claimed at a press conference: “After nearly 9 years, America’s war in Iraq will be over,”. Soldiers soon leave the Western Asian country and all troops will be home by January 1. The President further added that, “The transition in Afghanistan is moving forward, and our troops are finally coming home,…they will definitely be home for the holidays.”

The war in Iraq deprived the US from 4,400 troops and cost more than $700 billion. In spite of the fact that Iraqui and US officials have concerns about the complete withdrawal of troops, however as the Associated Press revealed on Sunday, “Iraqi leaders have adamantly refused to give U.S. troops immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts, and the Americans have refused to stay without it.”. Troops constantly return home from the Asian country, however 40,000 “non-combat” troops are still in Iraque and as the President claimed, “Iraqis have taken full responsibility for their country’s security”. He also added that from now on, “It will be a normal relationship between sovereign nations, an equal partnership based on mutual interest and mutual respect,”.

The future collaborations will include a complex training plan for Iraquian people and troops. Mr.Obama said that, “As I told Prime Minister Maliki, we will continue discussions on how we might help Iraq train and equip its forces, again, just as we offer training and assistance to countries around the world,…After all, there will be some difficult days ahead for Iraq and the United States will continue to have an interest in an Iraq that is stable, secure and self-reliant.”

The President of the USA Barrack Obama and the Prime Minister Of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu are confident that the latter will conduct peace talks directly with the President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas. Obama pointed out that the bonds that existed between US and Israel cannot be broken. The meeting between the two world leaders took place in the Oval Office and it lasted for over 90 minutes. The US President also stated that in the recent years the relationship between the two countries has broadened and the bond is improving with each passing day. The President stated that the US was concerned about the safety of Israel and that the nation believed in actions rather than words.

The President of Israel stated on the necessity of the direct peace talks that should be conducted for the settlement of peace in the region. He stressed on the importance of the unique opportunity and time to do so.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on his way to presenting U.S President Obama his new policy ideas pertaining to the peace procedure. In fact, the Prime Minster is in the hope of having a direct negotiation with Obama. Benjamin is scheduled to fly to the United States on Monday evening for meeting the American President. This is the fifth time that both of them will be having a meeting after both the leaders took office. We also come to know from a senior source (Jerusalem) that Netanyahu is hoping a positive outcome of the meeting. He has planned to help the American President with multiple proposals so as to co-ordinate progress in the Middle East peace process. Obama and Netanyahu haven’t yet managed to establish intimate and close working relationship after they have taken up the individual responsibilities of their respective countries. So, let’s wait and watch whether the ball is in Obama’s court or not.

President Obama signed the toughest US sanctions on Iran where he stated clearly that he would strike at Tehran’s potential to finance its nuclear plan followed by deepening its isolation. In addition to UN security council as well as European sanctions, the measures aim at choking off Iran’s access to refined petroleum products ( the once that are imported) such as gasoline and jet fuel. In fact, the sanction was also aimed at curbing Iran’s access to the international banking system. Obama pointed out at the White House ceremony that with these sanctions as well as with other they are aiming to strike the heart of the Iranian government’s potential to find as well as develop its nuclear plans. What is intended out here is that the US government is all set to show the Iranian government that “every action has an equal and opposite reaction”. So, let’s see how far Obama succeeds in keeping up to his words.

King Abdullah from Saudi Arabia is on a U.S. tour, and he made it a point to discuss with President Barack Obama the multiple ways for restoring peace in the Middle East.

President Obama proceeded with a warm welcome to Saudi Arabia’s king Abdullah this Tuesday at the White House. Previously the President had stirred criticism and raised eyebrows in April 2009 when he met King Abdullah at a summit gathering of G20 nations in London. However, this time, the king and President both were in the familiar wingback chairs at the Oval office when photographers and reporters were asked to come up and record the overall event. The two leaders had one to two minutes of conversation, providing the standard testimonial to American-Saudi friendship followed by reaffirmation of their joint interest so as to put a stop to violent extremism. Both of them also had an insignificant verbal blow.

James L. Jones, national security advisor of the US is planning for a visit to India next month so as to start off with the preparatory work for President Barack Obama’s visit to India. Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh reported that he has a truly ambitious agenda for Obama’s visit.

Formerly Obama had praised the statesmanship of Indian Prime Minister at G20 in Toronto. He also made it clear that he is extremely excited and keen on visiting India together with Michelle, first lady this year. From his words, it seemed as if President Obama was excited about the cultural, social and political values of India. He also has profound respect for the cultural heritage that India has been preserving since ages. Manmohan Singh on his part said that he his all ready to welcome the US president and the first lady. He wants them to see for themselves the changes that the country is going through.