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Thousands of Iraqi Shiites answer cleric’s call to arms, mobilize to fight Sunni militants

By WTOP Staff

BAGHDAD (AP) — Thousands of Shiite men from Baghdad and across southern Iraq are answering an urgent call to arms, joining security forces to fight the Islamic militants who have captured large stretches of territory north of the capital and now threaten Samarra and other cities with revered religious shrines.

The mobilization has a clear sectarian slant. State-run television has been airing a constant flow of nationalist songs and interviews with troops vowing to crush the militants, while other broadcasts have been showing clips of Iraq’s top Shiite clerics and shots of Shiite shrines.

But Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki denies the call to arms is directed against Sunnis, saying it’s meant to protect the country and its holy shrines. He’s calling for the unity of all Iraqis.

The crisis has sent food prices soaring in Baghdad as army troops go house-to-house searching for militants and weapons in neighborhoods close to government installations.

Today, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant gained more territory. A local official in Diyala province says the Sunni militants seized a small town about 60 miles north of Baghdad after Iraqi security forces pulled out.

%@AP Links

136-a-16-(Glen Rangwala (rayng-WAH’-lah), lecturer in politics and international studies, Cambridge University, in interview)-“in those areas”-Middle East expert Glen Rangwala says after a kind of truce with the Iraqi government, members of the group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria — or ISIS — have moved into areas they think they can control. COURTESY: Sky News ((mandatory on-air credit)) (14 Jun 2014)

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137-a-16-(Glen Rangwala (rayng-WAH’-lah), lecturer in politics and international studies, Cambridge University, in interview)-“of Iraqi society”-Middle East expert Glen Rangwala says the Iraqi government has to guard against backlash as it moves against the militants who’ve gained ground in parts of Iraq. COURTESY: Sky News ((mandatory on-air credit)) ((refers to ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria)) (14 Jun 2014)

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138-a-18-(Glen Rangwala (rayng-WAH’-lah), lecturer in politics and international studies, Cambridge University, in interview)-“arms of ISIS”-Middle East expert Glen Rangwala says he’s seen firsthand the anger felt against the Iraqi government, which many believe is a pawn of neighboring Iran. COURTESY: Sky News ((mandatory credit))(ISIS is an acronym for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) ((note cut length)) (14 Jun 2014)

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139-a-17-(Glen Rangwala (rayng-WAH’-lah), lecturer in politics and international studies, Cambridge University, in interview)-“it go easily”-Middle East expert Glen Rangwala says as Iraq’s Kurds have asserted themselves in the conflict, powers such as the U.S. should help guard against the potential of a three-way war in Iraq. COURTESY: Sky News ((mandatory credit)) (14 Jun 2014)

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APPHOTO XKK126: Iraqi Shiite tribal fighters raise their weapons and chant slogans against the al-Qaida inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Baghdad’s Sadr city, Iraq, Saturday, June 14, 2014. Thousands of Shiites from Baghdad and across southern Iraq answered an urgent call to arms Saturday, joining security forces to fight the Islamic militants who have captured large swaths of territory north of the capital and now imperil a city with a much-revered religious shrine. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (14 Jun 2014)

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APPHOTO BAG113: Iraqi Shiite fighters deploy with their weapons in Basra, Iraq’s second-largest city, 340 miles (550 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, June 14, 2014. Thousands of Shiites from Baghdad and across southern Iraq answered an urgent call to arms Saturday, joining security forces to fight the Islamic militants who have captured large swaths of territory north of the capital and now imperil a city with a much-revered religious shrine. (AP Photo/ Nabil Al-Jurani) (14 Jun 2014)

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APPHOTO BAG120: Iraqi Shiite tribal fighters raise their weapons and chant slogans against the al-Qaida inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Basra, Iraq’s second-largest city, 340 miles (550 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, June 14, 2014. Thousands of Shiites from Baghdad and across southern Iraq answered an urgent call to arms Saturday, joining security forces to fight the Islamic militants who have captured large swaths of territory north of the capital and now imperil a city with a much-revered religious shrine. (AP Photo/ Nabil Al-Jurani) (14 Jun 2014)

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APPHOTO BAG125: In this photo taken on Friday, June 13, 2014, Ammar al-Hakim, leader of Iraq’s largest Shiite party, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, observes the main army recruiting center in Baghdad, Iraq. Thousands of Shiites from Baghdad and across southern Iraq answered an urgent call to arms Saturday, joining security forces to fight the Islamic militants who have captured large swaths of territory north of the capital and now imperil a city with a much-revered religious shrine. (AP Photo) (13 Jun 2014)

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Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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