The Iraq War, which is also known as "Operation Iraqi Freedom", began on March 20, 2003 and is still going strong. Come September 1, 2010, when combat troops begin to leave Iraq, the war will be officially renamed "Operation New Dawn."

In a memo to Central Command commander Gen. David Petraeus, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates informed him of the name change. Gates said that by changing the name at the same time as the change of mission, the U.S. would be sending a "strong signal" that "our forces are operating under a new mission."

Gates also writes that the move "also presents opportunities to synchronize strategic communication initiatives, reinforce our commitment to honor the Security Agreement, and recognize our evolving relationship with the Government of Iraq."

The name change has received criticism from those who state that a simple name chance doesn't end the war itself, and is more of a public relations move than anything.

According to Citizen and Immigration Services, a part of the Homeland Security Department, more than 12,000 Haitians have applied for the chance to stay and work legally in the United States as their country struggles to recover from the devastating earthquake which struck last month.

CIS spokesman Bill Wright said that the applicatiosn have been rolling in, despite the July 20 deadline being months away. As of Feb. 10, the department said t has received 12,583 application packages. Last mont the agency estimated that between 100,000 to 200,000 Haitian immigrants would be eligible to apply. Application feels cost $470, and the status is only available to those immigrants who were already in the U.S. on January 12, the day the earthquake rocked Haiti.

The opportunity to work is critical for many of the Haitian immigrants that are hoping to help family and friends back home in Haiti still trying to overcome the affects of the magnitude-7 quake.

Because it is unsafe to return the illegal immigrants to Haiti, Homeland Security has said that it would grant eligible immigrants temporary protected status. This would allow successful applicants to remain and work for 18 months without having to worry about deportation or detention.

In response to reports over a dispute over who would pay for patients' care, White House spokesperson said Saturday that flights transporting critically injured Haitians into the United States have been temporarily suspended due to logistical issues.

White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said:

"There has been no policy decision by anyone to suspend evacuee flights -- this situation arose as we started to run out of room. Agencies across the [U.S. government] are working on solutions such as standing up hospitals for the critically ill in Haiti."

The US military, however, told a different tale on Saturday, stating that the flights were stopped on Wednesday because "some states are unwilling to allow entry for Haitian nations for critical care."

Navy Capt. Kevin Aandahl, a spokesman for the US Transportation Command, declined to reveal which states objected to receiving injured Haitians.

The New York Times first reported the suspension of flights on Saturday. According to Vietor, the White House is working closely with states, international partners, nongovernmental organizations and the Haitian government to provide medical care to victims of the January 12 earthquake.

Osama bin Laden has called for the world to boycott American goods and the US dollar, blaming the United States and other industrialized countries for global warming. In a new audio tape released Friday, the al-Qaeda leader also warned of the dangers of climate change and says that the way to stop it is to bring "the wheels of the American economy" to a halt.

Bin Laden further blamed Western industrialized nations for more of the world's problems, including hunger, desertification and floods across the world. He has called for "drastic solutions" to slow global warming, and "not solutions that partially reduce the effect of climate change."

This is not the first time that bin Laden has mentioned global warming and climate change, but this newest tape was his first dedicated to the topic. The speech contains no Islamic messages, and is considered by some to be an attempt to give his message appeal beyond just Islamic militants.

Bin Ladne has also called for the boycott of American products and an end to the dollar's domination as a world currency. He said:

On Thursday, the New York Times reported that private security guards working for Blackwater USA participated in secret CIA raids against suspected insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan. Blackwater's role now points to a much deeper connection between the security company and the spy agency than has previously been disclosed.

It also raises concerns over the legalities of involving contractors in the most sensitive operations conducted by the United States' government.

A U.S. official confirmed to the Associated Press that Blackwater provided security and moved around with CIA teams on missions in war zones. However, he denied that they performed CIA missions, and mentioned that CIA director Leon Panetta ordered a review of Blackwater's contracts a few months ago to make sure that its guards only perform security related work.

Former Blackwater employees also revealed to the Times that they helped provide security on CIA flights that transported detainees.

George Little, a spokesman for the CIA said:

"This agency, like many others, uses contractors in roles that complement and enhance the skills of our own work force, just as American law permits.

Agency staff officers have the decision-making authority and bear responsibility for results."

According to the Washington Post, President Barack Obama is dispatching an additional 13,000 US troops to Afghanistan beyond the 21,000 announced back in March. The latest surge has not been announced by Obama, and the additional troops primarily consist of support forces including engineers, medical personnel, military police, and intelligence experts.

With the unannounced 13,000, that will bring the increase that Obama has approved to send to Afghanistan to 34,000. It comes at the same time Obama is considering a request from General Stanley McChrystal, a top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, for more combat, training and support troops. There are several options to weigh, including one for 40,000 additional forces.

An unnamed defense official told the paper, "Obama authorized the whole thing. The only thing you saw announced in a press release was the 21,000."

The paper did note, however, that the maximum number of US service members expected in the war-torn country by year's end - 68,000 - would remain the same.

President Barack Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. Nobel observers were shocked by the unexpected choice, especially with it being so early in his presidency, which began just tow weeks before the February 1 nomination deadline.

According to White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, Obama woke up to the news a little before 6:00am ET. The administration was taken by surprise with the announcement, and thus far has made no immediate comment on it.

When informed of the decision this morning, one aide queried: "It's not April 1, is it?"

Obama was not informed that he won the award prior to the announcement out of Oslo this morning. The Norwegian Nobel Committee decided not to inform him because they did not want to wake him up. Committee chairman Thorbjoer Jagland said: "Waking up a president in the middle of the night, this isn't really something you do."

The committee applauded the change in the global mood shaped by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation. However, they also recognized several Obama initiatives that have yet to bear any fruit, including easing American conflicts with Muslim nations, reducing the world stock of nuclear arms, and strengthening the U.S. role in fighting climate change.

Jagland added:

Cindy Sheehan, an American anti-war activist whose son was killed during his service in the Iraq War, will be coming to Cleveland to speak next month. Sheehan will speak about "The Future of Anti-War and Peace Movements" on Thursday, July 9, 2009 from 7:00 to 9:00pm at St. Colman's Parish Hall*.

The event is free and open to the public. Special musical guest Charlie Mosbrook will also be in attendance, and donations are always welcome.

Sheehan's son was killed in Iraq on April 4, 2004. She attracted both national and international media attention in August 2005 for her extended anti-war protest at a makeshift camp outside then-President George W. Bush's Texas ranch. This protest drew both passionate support, as well as angry criticism.

You definitely won't want to miss Sheehan's visit to Cleveland next month. For more information, please call Cleveland Peace Action at 216-736-4716.

On Friday, Iranian state media declared current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner of their presidential election. However, his challenger, Mihossein Mousavi is now claiming irregularities and is claiming victory as well.

According to the head of the state election commission, Ahmadinejad was leading Mousavi by 69 percent to 28 percent with just 19 percent of ballots counted.

Attempting to pre-empt any official announcements, Mousavi had earlier called a news conference during which he claimed that there had been irregularities, including a shortage of ballot papers. He declared:

"I am the definite winner of this presidential election."

Mousavi said that many people were not able to cast their ballots, even after voting had been extended by four hours.

At the news conference, Mousavi also said:

"(We) are waiting for the counting of votes to officially end and explanations of these irregularities be given. We expect to celebrate with people soon."

"We hope that authorities in charge do their work in this regard with the wisdom of the supreme leader this issue would end in a good way."

Under Iranian rules, if neither candidate can secure 50 percent of the votes, a run-off will be held on June 19 between the two front-runners.

President Barack Obama began a goodwill tour of the Muslim world, visiting King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. At the same time, a new audiotape surfaced from Osama bin Laden with new threats to the U.S.

In the recording, Bin Laden said that Obama inflamed Muslim hatred towards the U.S. by ordering Pakistan to crack down on militants in Swat Valley and block Islamic law in the area. He also claimed that U.S. pressure led to a campaign of "killing, fighting, bombing and destruction" which prompted the exodus of a million Muslims in Swat Valley.

Osama's message was first broadcast on Wednesday on the Al-Jazeera Television network at almost the exact moment Obama touched down in Saudi Arabia.

Just one day earlier, Al Qaeda's #2 man dismissed Obama's trip aimed at repairing U.S. relations with the Muslim world, insisting that the overture is trumped by wars against Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In an audio message posted online, Ayman al-Zawahiri said:

"His bloody messages were received and are still being received by Muslims, and they will not be concealed by public relations campaigns or by farcical visits or elegant words."