Monthly Archives: August 2008

Local man compses music fit for a queen

By NATASHA DERRICK – nderrick@thestate.com Erik Campos/ecampos@thestate.com Composer Albert Chaffoo wrote a song for Queen Elizabeth IIÕs birthday and received a thank you letter from her Highness. Here, he reflects on his international musical career at his West Columbia home on Friday, Aug. 22, 2008.…

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Iraqi archbishop to visit London

John Pontifex and John Newton AN Iraqi bishop close to the scene of some of the worst persecution against Christians in modern times is to visit the UK to tell his story. Archbishop Jean Sleiman is flying to London from Baghdad where he ministers to a dwindling Christian community who are fleeing the region in…

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Iraq archbishop speaks out as abductions increase

By John Pontifex A LEADING bishop in Iraq has appealed for government action to stem the growing tide of kidnappings, saying that Christians feel especially at risk. Hitting out at alleged media and government reluctance to confront the problem, Archbishop Jean Sleiman said there were “countless” reports of people being abducted.…

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Iraqi Christians face discrimination

ERBIL, Iraq, Aug. 26 (UPI) — Islamic militants have targeted the Christian minority population in northern Iraq, forcing more than 500,000 to flee their homes. John Klink with the International Catholic Migration Commission said the international community, and the United States in particular, could do more to offer aid to the displaced Christian minorities, InsideCatholic.com…

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A Half Million Iraqi Christians Among Refugees

Deal W. Hudson In two previous Windows I reported on the persecution of Iraqi Christians and continued vulnerability of the remaining Christian communities. Extortion and violence by Muslim extremists have driven 500,000 Christians out of Iraq, about one quarter of the 2,000,000 Iraqis who have left the country since the beginning of the Iraq War.…

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Saving the Christians of Iraq

By Deal W. Hudson 8/26/2008 Inside Catholic (www.insidecatholic.com) Iraqi Christian refugees find themselves in a particularly difficult position in the refugee camps because they have been targeted as Christians…

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troops ‘to quit Iraq by 2011’

US troops’ immunity from Iraqi law has been a controversial issue US combat troops could leave Iraq by 2011 under the terms of a deal awaiting approval by Iraq’s parliament and presidency, an Iraqi official has said.…

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Iraqi prime minister seeks German investment

By GEIR MOULSON Associated Press Writer | 2008-jul-22 | Iraq’s prime minister said Tuesday that improved security means his country is now ready to welcome foreign firms, using a trip to Germany to encourage investment from Europe’s biggest economy.…

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Lebanese PM calls on Arabs to embrace Iraq

Thursday, August 21, 2008 07:27 GMT Nine days following the visit of Jordan’s King Abdullah II to Baghdad, Lebanese Prime Minister Foad Siniora who made a one day visit to Baghdad is the second Arab leader to visit Iraq since 2003. In light of increasing Arab interest to re-establish diplomatic relations with Iraq, this visit…

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Hip-hop meets the Middle East

By: Mohamed Kadry / The Arab American News 2007-07-21 San Diego — As the war in Iraq burrows deeper into an abyss of utter catastrophe and the world continues to echo the removal of American presence in the region, George W. seems to be standing alone, defiant right to the very end of his presidency.…

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Iraqi Christians: Round trip to Death Street

Image: pattiane, Flickr Iraqi Christian refugees flee the horror of sectarian violence at home to struggle with life in Lebanon. By Simon Roughneen in Lebanon for ISN Security Watch (20/08/08) “My friend was stopped at a checkpoint on the road to Irbil from Baghdad. The people in the car had to show their ID cards…

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