The Iraqi government condemned a U.S. military raid targeting an elite Shi’ite militia, allegedly armed by Iran, which killed two civilians Sunday. After hundreds protested in Southern Iraq after the attack, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said that the raid violated the U.S.-Iraqi security pact instituted this year, which stipulates that American soldiers cannot conduct military operations without coordination with the Iraqi government. Al-Maliki asked the U.S. military to release the detainees from the attack to the appropriate domestic courts. According to the pact, U.S. soldiers are immune from prosecution even if the raid is deemed illegal. (Reuters)The number of airline collisions with flocks of birds increased dramatically since 2000 according to information released by the Federal Aviation Association for the first time Friday at the urging of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The FAA resisted releasing the information, reportedly because it could harm its image and airline profits. The data indicated that airline collisions with wildlife — including birds, cows, and deer — have more than doubled at 13 major airports since 2000. Earlier this year, a U.S. Airways flight was forced to land in the Hudson River after colliding with a flock of birds after take off. (CBS News)
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=143422