US troops gradually decreases in Iraq

The number of American troops in Iraq has fallen below 50,000 for the first time since the US-led invasion more than seven years ago.
The US now has 49,700 troops in Iraq, and plans to maintain that level through next summer, according to General Ray Odierno, the head of US forces in Iraq. They have been dubbed "advisory and assistance brigades," responsible for training Iraqi forces and conducting joint missions.
US officials say the troops will no longer conduct independent missions after August 31, though they will be fully armed and allowed to defend themselves.
"We've met our goal," Odierno said. "But the story is not about 50,000. The story is that we are continuing to be committed to Iraq. But our commitment is going to change."
Odierno, too, will leave Iraq shortly: He will turn over command to his successor, General Lloyd Austin, on September 1.
Second US milestone
Odierno's "goal" was established by Obama in February 2009, when he announced in a speech that the US would withdraw all combat troops from Iraq by the end of August 2010.
It is the second of three major milestones on the road to an (almost) complete US withdrawal. The first came in June of last year, when US forces withdrew from Iraqi cities and towns; the last will come in December 2011, when the US is required to end its occupation of Iraq.
Both of those milestones were established by the status-of-forces agreement, a document negotiated in 2008 by the US and Iraqi governments.

The US invaded Iraq in 2003 with roughly 150,000 troops, and the Pentagon confidently predicted they would not stay long: Pre-war plans called for a force of less than 50,000 by the end of 2003.
But "combat operations" - which former US president George Bush declared over in May 2003 - would continue for another seven years. The US presence in Iraq hit a low of around 115,000 troops in 2004, and then started an uphill climb, maxing out at around 171,000 in 2007 - the height of the so-called “surge”.
Troop levels have declined steadily since then, with the largest drops coming since Obama took office.

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South Africa set up Pakistan flood relief Twenty20 game

South Africa will play a second Twenty20 international against Pakistan to raise funds for the victims of the country's worst floods in history.

The United Nations says more than 17 million people have been affected and about 1.2 million homes destroyed.

The two teams will also play two Tests and five one-dayers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai during October and November.

"This is only a small contribution but we hope it will play some part," said Cricket South Africa's Gerald Majola.

"This has been a dreadful tragedy and our hearts go out to the people of Pakistan. 

"Social responsibility plays an important role in the brotherhood of sport that brings nations together from across the world."

Pakistan's players and officials agreed to donate half of their bonuses totalling £35,000 towards the relief effort following their four-wicket win in the third Test against England last week. 

game schedule:

South Africa v Pakistan, Abu Dhabi and Dubai

27 Oct: Twenty20 international

TBC: Twenty20 international, venue TBC

29 October-8 November: Five-match one-day series

12-24 November: Two-Test series 

/news.bbc.co.uk/sport2

Many Americans say Obama is Muslim

One-fifth of Americans have said they believe Barack Obama, the US president, is a Muslim, according to a new opinion poll.
Time poll, published on Thursday, also suggested that almost a third of Americans said Muslims should be barred from running for president or serving on the US Supreme Court.
Bill Burton, the White House deputy press secretary, said hours after the poll was published "the president is obviously a Christian. He prays everyday".
Americans care more about the economy and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and "are not reading a lot of news about what religion the president is", he added.
Another poll conducted by Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life showed that 18 per cent of Americans said that Obama is a Muslim.
Pew poll results are based on interviews conducted before the controversy over whether Muslims should be permitted to construct a centre near the World Trade Center site in New York.
Obama affirmed  last week the right to build the centre on religious freedom groundsbut, saying he will not take a stand on  the "wisdom" of doing so.
Time conducted its survey afterwards.
Muslim centre controversy
Time poll showed that 61 per cent of Americans opposed building the centre near the Trade Center site, where the September 11 attacks took place, while 26 per cent said they favour it.
The Pew study noted the overall number of those saying Obama is a Muslim had spiked from 11 per cent in March 2009 but that the view "is more widespread among his political opponents than among his backers".
Still, "even among many of his supporters and allies, less than half now say Obama is a Christian. Among Democrats, for instance, 46 per cent say Obama is a Christian, down from 55 per cent in March 2009", Pew said.
Some believe that, with congressional elections just over two months away, the polls may represent bad news for the Democratic party.
Pew analysts attribute the findings to attacks by Obama's opponents and Obama's limited attendance at religious services, particularly in contrast with Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, whose worship was more public.
Andrew Kohut, Pew Forum's director, said the confusion partly reflects "the intensification of negative views about Obama among his critics".
'24-hour noise box'
Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell of Houston told the Associated Press news agency he knew Obama for years and said the president is a Christian who prays every day.
He called false media reports about it "a 24-hour noise box committed to presenting the president in a false light."
Six in 10 of those saying Obama is a Muslim said they got the information from the media, with the largest portion, 16 per cent, saying it was on television.
Eleven per cent said they learned it from Obama's behaviour and words.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/08/2010819191334584676.html