Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
10 April 2008 - Iraq Special Weapons News
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Current Operations
Deployments
- Army Deployments to CENTCOM Return to 12 Months Army News Release 10 Apr 2008 -- Following President Bush's announcement today, April 10, and as directed by the Secretary of Defense, the U.S. Army will reduce deployment lengths from 15 months to 12 months for all active Army Soldiers deploying to the CENTCOM area of operations, starting on 1 August 2008.
US Policy
- President Bush Discusses Iraq The White House 10 Apr 2008
- Bush Orders Shortened Tours, Pause in US Troop Withdrawals from Iraq VOA 10 Apr 2008 -- President Bush has ordered a suspension of U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq after July and shortened tours for incoming troops.
- Petraeus Gives High Marks to Maliki’s Anti-terror Offensive AFPS 10 Apr 2008 -- Iraqi security forces acquitted themselves well, in view of their relative inexperience, in recent fighting against terrorists and criminals in the southern part of the country, including Basra, as well as in parts of Baghdad, the top U.S. military officer in Iraq said here today.
- Gates: Reduced Iraq Violence Enables Exit of Surge Forces AFPS 10 Apr 2008 -- Sharply decreased violence in Iraq has set the stage for the departure of the remaining surge forces by the end of July, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee here today.
- As Iraqi Progress Update Closes, Dialogue Remains Open AFPS 10 Apr 2008 -- The top U.S. military commander in Iraq presented Congress a comprehensive Iraq progress update in a grueling two days that comprised nearly 20 hours of testimony.
- Petraeus: Conditions on Ground to Dictate Troop Withdrawals AFPS 10 Apr 2008 -- After the last of the surge brigades leaves Iraq this summer, future troop withdrawals will be based on conditions on the ground and will be evaluated continuously, the top U.S. commander in Iraq said in a recent television interview.
- Analysis: The Next President and the ‘Surge’ Cfr.org 10 Apr 2008 -- The “new way forward” in Iraq is now a waiting game. In testimony before the U.S. Congress on April 8 and 9, Gen. David H. Petraeus, the coalition commander in Iraq, called for an open-ended suspension (AP) of troop withdrawals scheduled to begin this summer
- Democrats, Republicans Respond to Bush Decisions on Iraq VOA 10 Apr 2008 -- Democrats are criticizing President Bush's latest decisions on military deployments in Iraq, based on recommendations of the U.S. military commander and senior U.S. diplomat in the country
- US Lawmakers Seek Vote on Troop Pact With Iraq VOA 10 Apr 2008 -- U.S. lawmakers are calling on the Bush administration to submit any deal on future U.S. troop operations in Iraq to Congress for approval
- Iraqi Refugee Crisis Focus of US Lawmaker's Attention VOA 10 Apr 2008 -- The Iraqi refugee crisis was a focus of attention again on Capitol Hill and Washington this week
- US Defense Chief Hopes for Further Iraq Withdrawals This Year VOA 10 Apr 2008 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he no longer holds out the hope that the U.S. troop level in Iraq will be down to 100,000 by the time the Bush administration leaves office in January
- Petraeus Says Breakaway Shi'ite Militias Must Be Dealt With, But Sensitively VOA 10 Apr 2008 -- The top U.S. commander in Iraq says anyone who uses violence, including Shi'ite militiamen, will have to be dealt with. But he also urged the Iraqi government to be "sensitive" in the way it handles the problem
- Bleak assessment of Iraq IRNA 10 Apr 2008 -- The recommendation by the top American commander in Iraq to suspend troop reductions reflects a bleak assessment of Iraq in terms of responsibility of the occupying forces to guarantee security of the country under occupation.
- Petraeus Report Means Large US Troop Presence in Iraq Will Remain VOA 10 Apr 2008 -- In congressional testimony this week, the top U.S. military and civilian officials in Iraq reported what they called "real" but "fragile" progress, and urged caution in any discussion of further U.S. troop withdrawals, beyond the end of the surge in July
- Petraeus, Crocker Pressed on US Commitment to Iraq VOA 10 Apr 2008 -- Lawmakers have pressed the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, about the duration of the U.S. military presence in Iraq, and political progress by the Iraqi government
United Nations
Reconstruction Issues
Foreign Reactions
News Reports
- Iraq: Americans Believe Iraq War Was Wrong, But That Surge Is Working RFE/RL 10 Apr 2008 -- As the United States enters its sixth year of involvement in Iraq, polls show Americans are growing weary of waging war and are increasingly impatient with political leaders who say more time is needed to achieve victory.
- IRAQ: “Acute shortages” in clash-hit Baghdad suburbs IRIN 10 Apr 2008 -- A humanitarian crisis is looming in two sprawling Shia suburbs in Baghdad, as clashes continue between government forces (backed by US soldiers) and Shia militants, members of parliament and residents said on 10 April.
