Globe Trot 08.17

A deadly string of attacks in Iraq killed 93 on Thursday and wounded many more in the second deadliest day since U.S. troops left in December. The wave of killings included targeted attacks of Christians in Mosul, the country's third largest city and near the ancient city of Nineveh. "With the spotlight currently on Syria, Nigeria, and Afghanistan and the pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq last December, Iraq has been placed on the back-burner. But we as Christians in the West must continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Iraq, who face extinction if we don't pray and advocate for them," read a press statement from Open Doors.

Another "blue on green" attack in Afghanistan took place this week, with two U.S. service members killed by a newly recruited Afghan policeman. A NATO helicopter crashed in Kandahar province, killing 11.

Whoever wins the presidency will face urgent international threats to U.S. interests, warns former U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton. Oil prices are so important to global economic recovery that "instability and conflict in the Levant could well contribute to another recession," he wrote. And as if on cue, the White House is reportedly "dusting off plans" for a potential release of U.S. strategic oil reserves. Sanctions against Iran, coupled with instability across the Gulf region, are threatening a drastic rise in prices with a drop in supply.

Sudanese officials have freed Rudwan Dawod, the U.S. aid worker arrested, tried, and rearrested in Sudan on terrorism charges. "We understand that the government of Sudan is saying he is free to leave," said Tom Prichard, the director of Sudan Sunrise, a relief and reconciliation organization that employs Dawod as a project director in his homeland.

In defense of Fareed Zakaria, whom CNN suspended last week over suspected plagiarism: I agree with Wall Street Journal columnist Bret Stephens that the lifting of text from another story appeared unintended, or thoughtless. Having made a full apology, Zakaria can be forgiven. I also, having once lunched with Fareed, agree with Stephens that the Time columnist and CNN host "anchors one of the few shows that treats foreign policy seriously, that aims for an honest balance of views, and that doesn't treat its panelists as props for an egomaniacal host. He's also one of the few prominent liberals I know who's capable of treating an opposing point of view as something other than a slur on human decency."

We're watching: The suicide rate in the U.S. Army and other branches of services. Suicides among active-duty soldiers in July more than doubled from June, with 26 active duty military personnel killing themselves in July alone.