The CIA's bleak assessment was in sharp contrast to the optimistic picture painted by President George W Bush.
Al-Nassr are one of 40 clubs from 20 leagues across the confederation drawn in 10 groups to face one another from Monday, with only the winners guaranteed to advance to the knockout rounds in the quest for the top prize of US$4 million.
Iraq has been the scene of bitter battles and bloodshed for years, but the poignant photos you will see here show how life has moved on for Iraqis.
Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan was number 36 on the US list of most wanted officials of the Saddam regime in Iraq.
Indian companies could get major sub-contracts in Iraq reconstruction projects worth $20 billion next year, according to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.\n\n\n\n
If parliament approves the request, Turkey would become the first major Muslim nation to contribute troops for the American campaign in Iraq.
Whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks has released nearly 400,000 secret American documents on Iraq war, calling it the "largest classified military leak in history", despite Pentagon's warning that it could endanger informants and reveal war strategy.
Reports indicate that the US may hand over Fallujah to the newly formed Iraqi army.
"In principle, the ask in return is that India should not support the G7 (Group of Seven) proposal. "A decision on this issue will be taken later following talks with all the partners," an official with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.These "substantial discounts" will be steeper than those offered by Iraq in the past two months, officials said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday received support from unexpected quarters over the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with senior Congress leader and former Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony's son Anil saying that placing the views of the British broadcaster over Indian institutions would "undermine" the country's sovereignty.
The country's new 275-member parliament also chose Shiite Islamist Adel Abdel Mahdi and outgoing Sunni president Ghazi al-Yawar as Talabani's deputies.
The Booker Prize-winning author wants people to join a "non-violent resistance against a very violent occupation."
Early indications put interim prime minister Iyad Allawi's outfit in second place with about 18.4% in the partial count.
As Iraq moves forward on the path of reconstruction and economic revival with the end of war and withdrawal of American forces from the country, it is expected to grow much faster than the two Asian giants, India and China, US President Barack Obama said on Monday.
Japan survived early pressure from Zico's Iraq to beat them 1-0 at home on Tuesday, taking a significant step towards qualifying for the 2014 soccer World Cup in Brazil.
An ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll revealed that the US president's job approval rating fell to 50 per cent.
The Al Qaeda has called for a boycott of next month's elections in Iraq and endorsed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as his deputy in the country, according to an audiotape broadcast by Aljazeera.
Santiago Sanchez was last heard from on Oct. 1 when he sent friends a picture of himself on the Iraq-Iran border
- Iraq's footballers brought a ray of comfort to the war-torn country by upsetting Portugal 4-2 in their opening game of the Olympic men's soccer tournament.
South Korea moved a step closer to burying their 55-year Asian Cup hoodoo when they grabbed a goal in each half to beat Iraq 2-0 on Monday and set up a final against Australia or United Arab Emirates.
Rediff.com takes a look at the most haunting images of the war that changed the destiny of two nations.
'It will make the world more peaceful and more secure,' he said.
Justifying his decision on Iraq, former US President George W Bush said on Friday said dislodging of the "brutal dictator" Saddam Hussain was a necessity after 9/11 attacks but regretted that military had to be used to do so as there was no other "choice".
The head of the British Army during the invasion of Iraq Sir Mike Jackson has launched a scathing attack on the United States for the way it handled the post-war administration of the country.
India is looking at massive agri-business opportunities in war-ravaged Iraq, including those for sale of wheat, rice, tea and sugar, the commodities
United States assured Indian companies on Wednesday of a pie in the huge sub-contracting business offered by the reconstruction work in the war-ravaged Iraq, Association of Indian Chambers of Commerce said.
There are about 50 Indians, including embassy staff, in Iraq, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said.
The new executive order, which will come into force on March 16, covers people from Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen.
'The principle guiding my decisions on troop levels in Iraq is: return on success. The more successful we are, the more American troops can return home,' he said in a televised speech to the nation on Thursday night.
"The president is going on the last mile for diplomacy. We shall see if the other nations on the Security Council are\n\nwilling to entertain the last mile," White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said.