Jolie fights for Iraq

Angelina Jolie has written an op-ed article appealing to the US government to provide humanitarian aid for Iraqi refugees who have been displaced by the war. The Oscar-winning actress, who also serves as a goodwill ambassador for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has described the plight of these people in the Washington Post piece titled, 'Staying to Help in Iraq.'

The 32-year-old actress, who recently visited the war-torn country, stated that American support is key to addressing the humanitarian crisis, which has displaced more than 4 million people. According to the actress, of the 2 million refugees within the country, 58 percent are under 12 years old.

"What we cannot afford, in my view, is to squander the progress that has been made. In fact, we should step up our financial and material assistance," People quoted Jolie, as stating in the article.

Source: http://entertainment.oneindia.in/

Drake's bid for Angelina Jolie's Iraq input draws foe's fire

Mother- actress- humanitarian- goodwill- ambassador Angelina Jolie got a new title on Saturday: campaign issue.

Glenn Nye, a Democrat hoping to challenge U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake, R-2nd District, in the November election, went on the attack over Drake’s suggestion Friday that Jolie be invited to address members of Congress on the situation in Iraq.

“Where are Thelma Drake’s priorities?” Nye said in a statement released by his campaign. “It’s time for serious people to do serious work to bring a sensible and responsible end to the war in Iraq.”

Drake on Friday urged that Jolie, who recently returned from a trip to Iraq on behalf of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, be invited to a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the plight of displaced Iraqis.

Travis Burk, a spokesman for Drake, suggested Saturday that Nye is engaged in “hyper-partisanship” and said the congresswoman is interested in hearing from Jolie “in her role as a goodwill ambassador.”

“Her perspective is every bit as valid as Glenn Nye’s,” Burk added.

Drake is in her second House term representing portions of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Nye, a former foreign service officer, is a political newcomer. He has indicated that opposition to the war will be a focal point in his campaign.

source:http://hamptonroads.com/

The Angelina Jolie Iraq Plan: What Now Hollywood Democrats?

Angelina Jolie has weighed in on US Policy in Iraq and she believes that the presence of US Troops in the county is a good match for humanitarian and security reasons. Actor and Jolie pal George Clooney once told Barack Obama that he liked him and wanted him to be the next president but would not campaign of him because so many people see Hollywood celebrities as political poison.

That much is certainly true but it appears that Angelina Jolie is set out to change all of that as she desperately tries to focus attention on humanitarian efforts to assist the displaced and desperate Iraqi refugees. Jolie wrote an op-ed piece in the Washington Post ("A Reason to Stay in Iraq,") that was quite eloquent and she warned against squandering the good works there by a premature pull out of American forces. Jolie was criticized for her trip to Iraq earlier because she is pregnant and some believed that she was putting her unborn child in danger but it appears that she believes in her cause enough to do the leg work.

She made the trip and even spoke with Gen. David Petraeus, the American military commander in Iraq, and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. She would later do an interview with CNN as well to try and draw even more attention to the crisis.

All good things, but she really put herself out there when she decided to promote the troop surge, a pivotal part of the US presidential elections and a still raging debate among the US Congress. Jolie wrote, "I can only state what I witnessed. When I asked the troops if they wanted to go home as soon as possible, they said that they miss home but feel invested in Iraq," she wrote. "They have lost many friends and want to be a part of the humanitarian progress they now feel is possible."

Wow - not your typical Hollywood response. Even conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh praised the actress and now her editorial has sparked even more debate on who she supports for president and why she would ever support more troops and go so far against the grain of Hollywood.

source:http://www.nationalledger.com/

What now Hollywood democrats?

Angelina Jolie Wants More Efforts Made To Help Iraqi Refugees

Angelina Jolie has begged US authorities to "step up" their efforts to help Iraqi war refugees.

The 32-year-old actress - who is the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - believes America must address the growing humanitarian crisis following the US invasion of the Middle Eastern country in 2003.

In a piece Angelina penned for The Washington Post newspaper titled 'A Reason to Stay in Iraq', she wrote: "What we cannot afford, in my view, is to squander the progress that has been made. In fact, we should step up our financial and material assistance."

The UNHCR has asked the US government for $261 million this year to tackle the problem. Angelina claims the sum is "less than the US spends each day to fight the war in Iraq."

The star - who visited Baghdad earlier this month - is deeply concerned there is no coherent plan to cope with two million refugees within the country, 58 per cent of which are under 12, and the two million that have already fled Iraq.

She said: "It will be quite a while before Iraq is ready to absorb more than four million refugees and displaced people. But it is not too early to start working on solutions."

Source:http://www.ecanadanow.com/

Jolie, JLo ecstatic with motherhood dreams

Rumours of Angelina Jolie being pregnant with twins have become more realistic after a source revealed that the actress and partner Brad Pitt are 'thrilled to be adding to their brood.' The actress had recently set the treadmills running when she was seen with her baby bump in a curve-hugging black dress at the Film Independent's Spirit Awards with Pitt.

"They are very, very happy," People quoted the source, as saying. The 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' pair already has 4 kids in their family, Maddox, 6, Pax, 4, Zahara, 3, and Shiloh, 1. In fact, the couple's adoption of Pax was made official only last week.

New mum Jennifer Lopez too is said to be "over the moon" after giving birth to twins on 22nd Feb. A friend of J Lo and hubby Marc Anthony has revealed that the star is ecstatic and is "doing great." She is so happy right now.

Everything is wonderful. She is beyond thrilled to become a mom. She is over the moon," People quoted the friend, as saying.

In fact, Anthony was also the same and was happy to see his baby boy and girl in his hands. "Here he is - he got the girl of his dreams and now she's the mother of his children," said the friend. The pal also said that after wanting to be a mother for a long time, "this is a turning point in Jennifer's life. It's a dream come true. She loves those babies."

In the mean time, J-Lo is being bombarded with advice on motherhood from almost everybody in the showbiz, such as Rachael Ray, Kate Beckinsale, Paula Abdul, etc.

Source:http://entertainment.oneindia.in/

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie sighted in Bastrop County

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are rumored to be in Bastrop County on the set of a new movie.

They are supposed to be in Smithville, a town that calls itself ‘Texas best kept secret,’ but the secret of celebrity sightings may be out now.

Locals are buzzing about the movie, which Pitt is rumored to star in, but protective of the stars.
Star sightings abound in neighboring Bastrop though, where some claim to have spotted Jolie at a Wal-Mart.

“Well, I'm curious. And so we'll see how it comes out. I'm sure we'll get to see them somewhere somehow and that'll be fun, and that's an excitement that usually doesn't come to a town like us,” Smithville resident Sandy Hightower said.

The movie is called "Tree of Life." This isn’t the first time that Smithville has been a film star; the town was featured in the movie “Hope Floats”, which came out in 1998 and starred Harry Connick Jr. and Austinite Sandra Bullock.

The movie is listed to be in “pre-production” on the movie web site IMDB. According to that web site, the movie will also star Sean Penn, and is written and directed by Terrence Malick, who also and directed “The Thin Red Line.”

Source : http://www.keyetv.com/

Brad Pitt confirms: 'We're having twins'

Angelina Jolie is pregnant with twins, her partner Brad Pitt has confirmed to friends.

After weeks of silence on the subject, Jolie's rounded belly on the red carpet of the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday confirmed she was expecting.

Coinciding with Jolie's bump debut, excited dad Pitt has begun telling friends about their impending arrivals, the Mail Online has learned.

The couple are already adoptive parents to Cambodian Maddox, six; Ethiopian Zahara, three; and Vietnamese Pax Thien, four; and have a biological daughter Shiloh Nouvel, 21 months.

In preparation for the birth this summer, Pitt has been rescheduling his work so he has enough time to spend with Jolie and the children.

A friend of the couple tells the Mail Online: "Brad's been very quiet about this pregnancy so far but this was the weekend he decided to let the cat out of the bag. He's telling everybody close to him, because he's having to change around his work schedule to get ready for the birth.

"They're having twins, Angelina is healthy, and he's thrilled that he's going to be a father once again.

"They didn't exactly plan this pregnancy, but they wanted more children and Brad says Angelina was very willing to have them herself."

In contrast to the exotic birth of Shiloh in Namibia in 2006, Jolie is expected to undergo a more low-key birth in her native America.

The friend said: "They want to have these children in Los Angeles or New Orleans. I don't think Brad wants to isolate himself and the family again like he did when Shiloh was born.

"But he's also probably not going to take on a major acting role before the birth either, so he can focus on making sure Angelina is happy, healthy and comfortable."

Pitt will have a tough time balancing his work schedule with family life this year - he's signed up to star in five films, as well as produce seven other movies.

Jolie's pregnancy has ended recent reports the couple were planning to adopt another child to add their rapidly expanding brood.

Pitt has previously joked he wants enough children for his own football team.

Before she met Pitt on the set of Mr & Mrs Smith in 2005, Jolie said she thought she would only adopt children, but changed her mind when she was the actor interacting with her eldest son Maddox.

She said: "I believe I'm meant to find my children in the world and not necessarily have them genetically."