While everyone is enjoying the three-day Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start to the summer travel and leisure season, we hope they will take a moment to reflect on the real purpose of the holiday formerly known as Decoration Day: Honoring the men and women who have lost their lives while members of the nation's military. ...more

May 23, 2009

The State Department will not renew Blackwater Worldwide's contract to protect American diplomats in Iraq when it expires in May, a senior U.S. official said Friday. ...more

January 30, 2009

Five Blackwater Worldwide security guards indicted in Washington for the 2007 shooting of Iraqi civilians plan to surrender to the FBI in Utah today, a person close to the case said, setting up a fight over the trial site. ...more

December 8, 2008

More than a year after the fatal shootings of 17 Iraqi civilians, five decorated military veterans who were Blackwater Worldwide security guards are headed to court in a case that strained diplomatic ties and raised the level of anti-Americanism in Baghdad. ...more

December 6, 2008

Federal agents raided Blackwater Worldwide this week as part of an investigation into whether the private security company sidestepped federal laws prohibiting the private purchase of automatic assault rifles, the company said Thursday. ...more

June 27, 2008

Members of Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's political bloc Sunday announced the group would not compete as a party in coming local elections but would endorse candidates. ...more

June 16, 2008

U.S. military deaths plunged in May to the lowest monthly level in more than four years and civilian casualties were down sharply, too, as Iraqi forces assumed the lead in offensives in three cities and a truce with Shiite extremists took hold. ...more

June 1, 2008

A Marine intelligence officer went on trial Wednesday on charges of obstruction of justice and making false statements related to a squad's killings of 24 Iraqi civilians. ...more

May 29, 2008

A Marine Corps veteran injured in Vietnam told an audience at Rest Haven Memorial Park on Monday that community service and stronger voting turnout are a better tribute to fallen soldiers than somber ceremonies and rifle salutes. ...more

May 27, 2008

The Iraqi government backed away Sunday from accusations of Iranian interference, saying it has appointed a committee to determine whether there is merit to U.S. charges that Iran is arming and training Shiite Muslim militants in Iraq. ...more

May 5, 2008