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Operations
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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 03 May 2007 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Insurgent attack targets MND-B Soldiers
• Press briefing on Operation Rat Trap with Maj. Gen. William Caldwell IV, Multi-National Force - Iraq spokesman, May 3, 2007. MNF-I 03 May 2007 -- TOPIC: SITUATIONAL UPDATE DISCUSSING OPERATION RAT TRAP
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Brig. Gen. Wiggins from the Pentagon 03 May 2007 -- Presenter: Deputy Director for Operations, Joint Staff, Brig. Gen. Perry Wiggins
• Operation Polar Scrum helps get suspected terrorists, IEDs off the streets MNF-I 03 May 2007 -- Iraqi and U.S. forces conducted Operation Polar Scrum Tuesday, resulting in 85 terror suspects detained and an improvised explosive device found during the all-day mission.
• Operation Eagle Thunder III nets detainees, weapons MNF-I 03 May 2007 -- U.S. and Iraqi forces detained nine suspected terrorists and discovered weapons in Mahmudiyah Wednesday.
• May 2 airpower summary: B-1B provides close-air support AFPN 03 May 2007 -- Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, in Afghanistan in the following operations May 2, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Coalition, Iraqi Forces Detain 39 Suspects, Discover Weapons Caches AFPS 03 May 2007 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces nabbed 39 suspected insurgents and seized weapons caches during operations in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said.
• Coalition’s ‘Operation Rat Trap’ Targets al Qaeda in Iraq AFPS 03 May 2007 -- Coalition forces have been targeting al Qaeda in Iraq over the last six days in a series of raids dubbed “Operation Rat Trap,” a senior spokesman told reporters in Baghdad today.
• US Military Says Senior al-Qaida in Iraq Leader Killed VOA 03 May 2007 -- The U.S. military says its troops have killed a senior member of "al-Qaida in Iraq" who was involved in the kidnappings of Americans.

Deployments

US Policy

• US Defense Secretary says Iraq War Long, Difficult VOA 03 May 2007 -- In a speech before the Dallas Chamber of Commerce Thursday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates cautioned against allowing weariness with the war in Iraq to provoke a withdrawal that he said would bring chaos to the Middle East
• US Commander Calls Political Interference in Iraqi Army 'Disturbing' VOA 03 May 2007 -- The commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East has expressed concern about a new Iraqi government office that has been accused of interfering in the operations of the Iraqi military, as it tries to implement the Baghdad security plan.
• Rice Urges Broad International Participation in Iraq Compact Washington File 03 May 2007 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, praising Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s agenda of national reconciliation, economic recovery and good governance, urged the international community to support Iraq’s efforts by participating in the International Compact for Iraq.
• Steady Progress Continues Despite Challenges in Iraq, General Says AFPS 03 May 2007 -- Though they face daily challenges that will continue, U.S. forces remain dedicated to the fight in Iraq and are making steady progress, the deputy director for operations on the Joint Staff said here today.
• Fallon: Agencies Must Act Now to Move Iraq Forward AFPS 03 May 2007 -- U.S. and coalition troops have made significant progress in improving the security situation in Iraq, but the Iraqi government and other U.S. government agencies need to act more quickly to improve the political situation and build infrastructure needed to sustain the country, the commander of U.S. Central Command said in congressional testimony today.

United Nations

• Ban Ki-moon stresses need for international support at launch of new Iraq plan UN News Centre 03 May 2007 -- Launching a five-year peace and development plan for Iraq today, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the international community to assist the violence-plagued country to follow through on commitments for progress in security, unity, resource sharing and other areas.

Reconstruction Issues

• Iraq Security Conference Opens In Egypt RFE/RL 03 May 2007 -- A two-day international conference on Iraq opened today in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, with talks to focus on ways to end sectarian violence as well as a five-year plan offering Iraq financial and political support.
• Premier Calls On World To Forgive Iraq's Debts RFE/RL 03 May 2007 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called on all countries today to forgive his country's foreign debts on the opening day of a conference on Iraq.
• Middle East: Sharm El-Sheikh 'Very Good' First Step For Region RFE/RL 03 May 2007 -- A two-day meeting on Iraq opens today at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
• Iraqi PM calls on donor countries to write off debt RIA Novosti 03 May 2007 -- Iraq's prime minister called on donor states to write off the Iraqi government's debts accumulated during Saddam Hussein's rule.
• International Iraq conference opens in Sharm el-Sheikh RIA Novosti 03 May 2007 -- An international conference on Iraq opened in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh Thursday, and its participants intend to adopt an agreement on assistance to Iraq.
• International Iraq Conference Begins in Egypt VOA 03 May 2007 -- A crucial international conference aimed at stabilizing Iraq has begun in the Egyptian resort town, Sharm el-Sheikh
• Iraq committed to political dialogue, reforms in draft accord RIA Novosti 03 May 2007 -- Iraq has pledged to continue political dialogue and economic reforms with proactive international assistance, a draft international agreement with the Middle East country says.
• IRAQ: Violence hampering efforts to tackle IDPs IRIN 03 May 2007 -- The United Nations Refugees Agency (UNHCR) has welcomed the Iraq government’s efforts to tackle internal displacement issues, but analysts say much more needs to be done.
• IRAQ: Baghdad Christians flee as violence against them mounts IRIN 03 May 2007
• IRAQ: Palestinians refugees despair after year marooned between Iraq and Syria IRIN 03 May 2007 -- Over 1,000 Iraqi-Palestinian refugees stranded in camps on the Syrian-Iraqi borders are sinking into despair as their situation continues to deteriorate and a solution to their plight remains elusive.

Foreign Reactions

• FM: Sharm el-Sheikh confab to attract support for Iraqis people IRNA 03 May 2007 -- Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Thursday that the international conference on Iraq should mainly aim to attract the support of countries to restore security in the country.
• China pledges debt relief, $6.5mln in aid to Iraq RIA Novosti 03 May 2007 -- China pledged debt relief and $6.5 million in humanitarian aid for Iraq Thursday at an international conference discussing ways to restore security and economic prosperity to the conflict-torn Middle Eastern country.

News Reports

• Rice Meets with Syrian Foreign Minister at Iraq Conference Washington File 03 May 2007 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem May 3 on the margins of the Iraq Neighbors’ Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in the highest-level contact between U.S. and Syrian officials since Washington recalled its ambassador from Damascus in February 2005.
• Rocket Attack Kills Four In Baghdad's Green Zone RFE/RL 03 May 2007 -- The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad today said four U.S. government contractors, all from the Philippines, were killed in a rocket attack on the heavily fortified Green Zone compound on May 2.