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On Wednesday in the U.S. House, two Republicans and one Democrat introduced a bill that would authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for military valor, to Army sergeant first class Alwyn C. Cashe, a Black soldier who died on November 8, 2005 from extensive burns he received while rescuing troops from a burning vehicle during an attack amid the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Republican Representative Michael Waltz of Florida, Democratic Representative Stephanie Murphy of Florida and Republican Dan Crenshaw of Texas filed legislation that would award Cashe the Medal of Honor even though current federal law renders him ineligible because more than five years have elapsed since his actions.

In October 2005, while serving during his second tour of duty in Iraq, Cashe's military vehicle was hit by an IED (improvised explosive device) before he and his fellow troops came under fire from nearby combatants. Injured, Cashe pulled the driver from the vehicle as its fuel cell drenched Cashe's uniform in fuel, eventually igniting.

While Cashe's body was literally in flames, he avoided the small arms fire and pulled all six passengers from the vehicle, including the body of an interpreter killed by the IED explosion. Covered in burns and flames, he ensured that his fellow troops escaped the area before leaving himself.

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Cashe eventually succumbed to the second- and third-degree burns covering nearly two-thirds of his body. He died at the San Antonio Military Medical Center in Texas a month later.

After his death, he was awarded a Silver Star for his actions, partly because a paperwork error didn't disclose that he had been in active duty and under fire at the time of his death, criteria required to be considered for the Medal of Honor.

However, current federal law also requires Medal of Honor recipients to receive the honor within five years of their qualifying actions. Since Cashe's actions occurred nearly 15 years ago, he is ineligible.

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"For well over a decade, there has been a painstaking effort by Cashe's family, friends, and former comrades to have his Silver Star upgraded to the Medal of Honor, which is clearly justified by the facts of this case," Murphy said in a statement on Wednesday.

"With [this bill] today, my colleagues and I are working together to remove the one remaining technical obstacle that stands in the way of this incredible soldier receiving the recognition he earned," she continued.

In August, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he reviewed Cashe's case and supported efforts to award him the Medal of Freedom. If awarded, Cashe would become the first Black soldier to receive the medal as a veteran of recent conflicts.

In addition to the proposed legislation, the aforementioned representatives also added an amendment in the most recent Defense Reauthorization Bill that would revise Medal of Freedom guidelines so that more veterans of recent conflicts may be considered for it. However, the bill is considered unlikely to be passed before the November 3 elections as many congressional officials campaign in their districts during October.

According to Military Times, only 24 Medals of Honor have been awarded to soldiers who served in the U.S. invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Comparatively, 3,500 Medals of Honor have been awarded since the 1865 conclusion of the American Civil War. A total of 406 Medals of Honor were given to soldiers of the Korean and Vietnamese invasions.

Newsweek contacted the Department of Defense for comment.

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Bipartisan Bill Would Waive Rules Keeping Iraq War Hero From Receiving Medal of Honor - Newsweek

Iraq named its oil minister Ishan Ismael as the head of a recently revived national oil company.

Mr Ismael, who was appointed to his ministerial role in June by Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, will now head of the Iraq National Oil Company.

The INOC, which was established in 1966, has largely functioned in a nominal role. Regional companies such as the Kirkuk-based North Oil Company as well as the South Oil Company in Basra have been responsible for exploring and entering into partnerships to produce oil in Iraq.

In 2018, Iraq's parliament moved to revive the INOC, appointing former oil minister Jabbar Al Luaibi as its chief. The parliament passed a vague law in 2018 to revive the INOC, instituting it to be a "separate corporate entity enjoying financial and administrative autonomy, to be represented by the president or the authorised representative and reporting to the council of ministers.

The INOC was supposed to have its head office in Baghdad, with branches in various oil-producing provinces. The law also mooted plans for the INOC to establish international offices with the approval of the Cabinet.

The appointment of Mr Ismael as the head of the INOC indicates Iraq's intent to advance a corporate strategy for a country that depends on oil to meet 90 per cent of its government revenue.

According to the 2018 law, the INOC was to be a vehicle to help ensure "the best exploitation of oil and gas wealth in the areas of oil and gas exploration, rehabilitation and development of oilfields, as well as producing, marketing and all activities".

The law also proposed to expand its role to include "investing in the oil and gas manufacturing industries on technical and economic bases to ensure the highest returns and lowest costs for the benefit of the Iraqi people.

Mr Ismael was previously the director general of the state-run Basra Oil Company, overseeing the production and export of crude from Iraqs southern oilfields.

Updated: September 16, 2020 04:14 PM

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Iraq appoints oil minister as head of its national oil company - The National

In 24 hours a British convoy, the US embassy and US vehicles were targeted. Diplomatic sources report that paramilitary groups and militias close to Iran are behind the attacks. Retaliation against the Prime Minister's reformist and anti-corruption policies. Changes at the top of the Central Bank and the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Baghdad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - In the last 24 hours at least three different attacks in Iraq have hit foreign military or diplomatic installations, confirming an escalation of tension in the country exacerbated by the fight against corruption and armed groups launched by the current government.

Security sources report that there were no victims or injuries in the attacks, but the attacks confirm a growing climate of "pressure" on the executive. In recent days, the Chaldean patriarch himself had emphasized to AsiaNews the unity of purpose in this all-out fight against groups and militias that foment ill-dealings and divisions.

Yesterday morning a rudimentary device exploded as a British embassy vehicle passed, returning from the airport. The attack, the first in over 10 years against a British vehicle, took place near the Green Zone, the high-security area in the center of the capital that hosts diplomatic offices, international institutions and government offices.

During the night, two Katyusha rockets were launched against the American embassy, also within the Green Zone. The C-RAM missile defense system installed at the mission at the beginning of the year foiled the threat. The device warns of the possible arrival of ammunition or explosives and is activated, causing them to explode in the air hitting them with thousands of bullets per minute.

In the early hours of September 14 two explosive devices hit a convoy of US vehicles and supplies.

Intelligence sources say that there are para-military groups or militias linked to Iran behind the attacks. It would be retaliation against Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi's reform agenda, which would end up depriving these groups of funds in their struggle.

In recent days, the premier's cabinet has finally announced a substantial change at the top of some key sectors, including the central bank, the commission for the fight against corruption and that on investments.

The appointments aim to create greater transparency and rigor in the management of public funds and state coffers. Iraq is among the top 20 countries in the world for corruption according to Transparency International, with at least 340 billion in public funds that, since 2003, have ended up in the pockets of unscrupulous traffickers, politicians and entrepreneurs.

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IRAQ Baghdad: three attacks on Westerners, but the goal is government policy - AsiaNews

The US Central Command has recently announced they will be withdrawing roughly half of their troops from their current deployment in Iraq.

According to a statement that was issued by Central Commands General Frank McKenzie last week, the US plans to reduce its military presence from 5,200 to 3,000 troops during the month of September.

Moving forward, we must continue our D-ISIS [defeat ISIS] work together with our partners in Iraq and Syria, said McKenzie, who commands the US military presence in the Middle East. We are continuing to expand on our partner capacity programs that enable Iraqi forces and allow us to reduce our footprint in Iraq.

This reduced footprint allows us to continue advising and assisting our Iraqi partners in rooting out the final remnants of ISIS in Iraq and ensuring its enduring defeat. This decision is due to our confidence in the Iraqi Security Forces increased ability to operate independently.

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It has been 13 years since the US military reached its peak number of active troops in Iraq with 170,000 deployed service members in 2007.

According to NPR, American military presence in Iraq has remained largely steady for the last four years, although the US reportedly began withdrawing troops from Iraqi bases in January.

The news outlet goes on to report that Central Command is also planning to reduce its military presence in Afghanistan from 6,500 troops to 4,000.

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US Government Plans to Reduce Number of Troops in Iraq by Nearly Half This Month - Good News Network

New York, September 10, 2020 Iraqi authorities must investigate the threats against employees of Dijlah TV and do their utmost to ensure they can work freely and without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Since August 28, at least six reporters and camera operators working in Iraq for the Jordan-based broadcaster have quit their jobs and gone into hiding amid a campaign of threats for allegedly offending Iraqi Shias, according to a statement issued by the journalists, copies and screenshots of the threats, which CPJ reviewed, and several of the journalists, who communicated with CPJ via messaging app and email.

The threats against the journalists began after Dijlah Tarab, a music broadcaster and an affiliate of Dijlah TV, broadcast a concert during Ashura, a day of mourning for Shia Muslims. In a statement issued on August 30, Dijlah TV blamed the affiliate for broadcasting the concert at an inappropriate time and apologized to those offended.

Iraqi authorities are utterly failing to protect journalists who are in danger and leaving them to fend for themselves against militias, said CPJs Middle East and North Africa representative Ignacio Miguel Delgado. Iraqi authorities must launch an investigation into the threats and incitement against the Dijlah TV staff and do their utmost to protect them and ensure that they do not have to live in fear.

On August 31, Baghdads Rusafa Investigative Court issued an arrest warrant for Dijlah TV owner Jamal Karbouli for allegedly insulting Shia Muslims in Iraq by broadcasting the concert, and protesters ransacked the broadcasters Baghdad office, as CPJ documented at the time. Karbouli has not been arrested and was posting freely on social media as of today, as seen on his social media accounts.

Several journalists who quit and went into hiding after they received threats asked CPJ not to publish their names, citing fear of reprisal. Those who agreed to share threats they received with CPJ and be identified by name include Al-Diwaniyah-based reporter Ziad al-Fatlawi and camera operator Mohammad al-Bolani, Al-Kut based reporter Ali Mohammad, Najaf-based reporter Karar al-Asaf, Dhi Qar-based reporter Rasem Kareem, and Baghdad reporter Saif Ali.

In their statement, the journalists said they had no connection to Dijlah Tarab or any influence over the broadcaster, and that their resignations have not stopped the threats.

In text messages, social media posts, and threatening photos and videos shared with CPJ, internet users and Facebook groups have disclosed the names of Dijlah TV employees, called for the journalists to be expelled from the governorates where they work, for the broadcasters offices in Iraq to be torched and closed, and called on Shia Muslims in Iraq to make an example of every Dijlah TV employee they find.

Al-Fatlawi showed CPJ a message he received from an unidentified person that included a photo of his car with the message, we will get you if youre in your room and an emoji depicting a stick of dynamite.

Al-Fatlawi told CPJ that three militiamen tried to attack him on August 31, and he shared CCTV footage with CPJ that depicted three men standing outside Dijlah TVs office in Al-Diwaniyah.

A Dijlah TV reporter who preferred to remain anonymous, citing fear of reprisal, said that the leader of an Iraqi militia, whose name he declined to disclose for fear of retaliation, told him that he and his colleagues could return from hiding if they apologized to religious authorities and publicly thanked the Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella group consisting of mainly Shia militias, for their protection.

Al-Asaf told CPJ that he has been receiving death threats on social media and messaging apps from alleged members of militias and the Popular Mobilization Forces.

I have been forced underground because of the incitement to kill me and because there are people in Najaf who are searching for me in order to kill me, he said.

CPJ emailed the Iraqi Interior Ministry for comment, but did not receive a response.

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At least 6 Iraq-based journalists with Dijlah TV resign, go into hiding following threats - CPJ Press Freedom Online