Reuters - The U.S. government is looking to cut the size of its embassy in Iraq, by far its largest and most expensive mission, months after the last American troops withdrew, U.S. officials said Tuesday.

AP - Ministers from Iraq's Sunni-backed bloc ended their boycott of the Cabinet on Tuesday, a move that could restore some stability to the war-ravaged nation that has been mired in a security and political crisis since the U.S. completed its military withdrawal from the country.

Reuters - Lawyers for a U.S. Marine court-martialed for his role in killing Iraqi civilians in Haditha slammed the international hacking collective Anonymous as "cowards" on Monday after they knocked out the firm's website and published internal e-mails on the web.

ContributorNetwork - COMMENTARY | I want to preface this commentary by stating upfront that I am a former soldier and veteran of the 1991, (first) Persian Gulf war. Thus, I am not fundamentally opposed to the use of military force, particularly in opposition to abject tyranny and/or in direct defense of our nation -- the United States -- and its proven, steadfast allies. Having said this, let me be clear, I was opposed to this current, dubious incantation of the war on Iraq early on, and remain so after nine long years of irrevocable bloodshed and depletion of our nation's treasures -- both human and financial.

AP - President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will host a Feb. 29 dinner at the White House honoring members of the armed forces who served in Iraq.