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Operations
Deployments
US Policy
United Nations
Reconstruction Issues
Foreign Reactions
News Reports

Current Operations

• Transcript: MARCENT Briefing from Bahrain 24 Apr 2003 -- Live briefing from Bahrain with Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Earl B. Hailston, Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command.

• Deputy Premier Aziz In U.S. Custody RFE/L 24 Apr 2003 -- U.S. Central Command has announced Iraq's former deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz, is in the custody of U.S.-led forces.
• TARIQ AZIZ IN COALITION CONTROL CENTCOM 24 Apr 2003 -- Tariq Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, is now under Coalition control.
• PENTAGON / AZIZ VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- U-S forces have in custody another top former Iraqi official --- Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz.
• US MILITARY - IRAQ VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- A growing number of voices in the Middle East are asking the U.S. to withdraw from Iraq, sooner rather than later. On the other hand, the U.S. maintains it's there to liberate Iraq.
• IRAQ WRAP UPDATE VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- The man who for years had been perhaps the most visible symbol of Saddam Hussein's regime -- former foreign minister and later deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz -- has surrendered to U-S led forces in Iraq. The man considered to be one of Saddam Hussein's closest advisors and principal spokesman to outside world is now in the custody of coalition forces.
• Marines Work to Bring "Requirements of Life" to Iraqis, Commander Says Washington File 24 Apr 2003 -- Combat operations are now all but over in Iraq, but a key Marine Corps commander says his forces are continuing their efforts to give the Iraqi people "the requirements of life," such as humanitarian assistance and security.
• Team brings captured base online AFPN 24 Apr 2003 -- Warfighters had a big problem as coalition combat forces pushed through Iraqi defenders: their tactical communications systems were not enough for the job at hand, but a better, more permanent solution wasn't yet available anywhere near the front.
• Cooperation Key for Coalition Success, Hailston Says AFPS 24 Apr 2003 -- The key to the success of Operation Iraqi Freedom was the outstanding cooperation among all of the services and coalition partners, the top Marine in the command said today.
• Comfort Faces Different War Navy NewStand 24 Apr 2003 -- Since March 20, Comfort has performed more than 450 surgical procedures during Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom.
• More Regime Leaders Captured, 3 Marines Die in Accident AFPS 24 Apr 2003 -- The Iraqi deck lost three more cards April 23, and coalition special operations forces took into custody another regime member who might be able to name all the Iraqi spies in the United States.
• PENTAGON / IRAQ DISARM VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- U-S-led coalition forces in Iraq continue to find and destroy caches of weapons. But defense officials say there is no coordinated effort under way to disarm the Iraqi population.
• Garner Back In Baghdad For Talks RFE/L 24 Apr 2003 -- Jay Garner, the U.S.-appointed civil administrator for postwar Iraq, is back in Baghdad today after visiting northern Iraq the last two days.
• 26th MEU (SOC) Force Recon catches looters USMC News 24 Apr 2003 -- In the city of Mosul, one of the busiest coalition units in recent weeks has been the Force Reconnaissance Platoon of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).
• Marines in rear provide secure 'comm' to the front USMC News 24 Apr 2003 -- As the Marines and Sailors of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) continue operations in Northern Iraq, secure communication serves as a corner stone for successful command and control and mission success on the battlefield.

Deployments

• USS Shiloh, Mobile Bay Return Home After 9 Months Navy NewStand 24 Apr 2003 -- The crews of the Ticonderoga-class cruisers USS Shiloh (CG 67) and USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) will return to port April 25 after carrying out a series of combat operations and Tomahawk cruise missile launches, completing its vital role in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Bomber group heads home USAFE 24 Apr 2003 -- After dropping 3.2 million pounds of explosives and 9 million leaflets during 120 combat sorties, more than 1,000 airmen are packing up and going home from this forward operating location.

US Policy

• Bush: U.S. "Used Might In The Name of Peace and Freedom" in Iraq Washington File 24 Apr 2003 -- President Bush told an audience at an army tank plant in Lima, Ohio, April 24 that thanks to the courage and might of the U.S. military and its coalition partners Iraq is no longer a threat, and the people of Iraq have been liberated from a "cruel dictator" who ruled "by torture and fear."
• Transcript: Coalition Troops Want to Leave Behind a Stable Iraq, Says Powell Washington File 24 Apr 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell told Arab television audiences April 24 that U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq do not wish to stay in the country "one day longer" than they have to, but want to ensure that they are leaving behind a stable and functioning country.
• BUSH-IRAQ VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- President Bush says he has faith in the ability of the Iraqi people to live in peace and freedom, and stresses they will ultimately decide their nation's fate. Mr. Bush says the United States will do all it can to help, but will not impose a government on the Iraqis.
• Secretary Powell Praises Asian Support for Operation Iraqi Freedom Washington File 24 Apr 2003 -- Asian nations have made valuable contributions to Operation Iraqi Freedom, says Secretary of State Colin Powell.
• BUSH IRAN - IRAQ VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- President Bush says he hopes Iran will stay out of Iraq, and will not try to gain influence over its Shi'ite Muslim majority. Mr. Bush says the United States will do all it can to encourage Tehran to cooperate.
• EDITORIAL: AN EMERGING IRAQ VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- As the U.S.-led coalition works to remove the remaining elements of the Saddam Hussein regime, the Iraqi people are emerging from the shadow of tyranny. Iraqis are helping coalition forces to find death squad members, uncover weapons caches, capture regime leaders, and restore order.
• EDITORIAL: GARNER IN IRAQ VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- The U.S.-led coalition is working to return the government of Iraq to the people of Iraq. Iraq's postwar civil administrator, retired U.S. General Jay Garner, is leading that effort

United Nations

• UN relief agencies send more international staff back to Iraq UN News Centre 24 Apr 2003 -- United Nations relief agencies reported the return today of more international staff to Iraq after their withdrawal on the eve of hostilities, and forecast an increase in food convoys, but said the security situation remained critical in Baghdad.
• Security Council extends Annan's authority over Iraqi aid programme UN News Centre 24 Apr 2003 -- The Security Council today extended for another three weeks the authority of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to run the United Nations programme that is the only source of food for 60 per cent of Iraq's population so that supplies already in the pipeline can be delivered.
• Security Council Extends U.N. Control Over Oil-for-Food Accounts Washington File 24 Apr 2003 -- The U.N. Security Council unanimously agreed April 24 to extend the special mandate of the Iraq Oil-for-Food program to early June in order to use the money already in the program for emergency aid to the Iraqi people.
• ANNAN / IRAQ / U-S VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan has come under criticism from U-S officials in Geneva for remarks he made Thursday about Iraq at the U-N Human Rights Commission. Mr. Annan urged coalition forces in Iraq to abide by international conventions, which the United States says its forces are already doing.
• U.S. Diplomats Object to Annan Statements on Iraq Washington File 24 Apr 2003 -- Senior U.S. Diplomats in Geneva have objected to statements by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan that the Coalition pursued the war in Iraq "without specific authorization by the Security Council" and that this was the source of "deep divisions."
• IRAQ: UN international staff to return to the south soon IRIN 24 Apr 2003 -- United Nations international staff are expected to be back working in southern Iraq very shortly, according to a senior humanitarian official. Speaking outside Basra International Airport, where he was due to discuss safety and logistical concerns, Kevin Kennedy, the UN deputy humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, said it was important for the UN to establish a presence in the south of the war-torn country.

Reconstruction Issues

• USAID: Assistance for Iraq - Nightline: Project Iraq, April 23, 2003 Transcript USAID 24 Apr 2003 -- "ANDREW NATSIOS - Well, in terms of the American taxpayers contribution, I do, this is it for the US. The rest of the rebuilding of Iraq will be done by other countries who have already made pledges, Britain, Germany, Norway, Japan, Canada, and Iraqi oil revenues, eventually in several years, when it's up and running and there's a new government that's been democratically elected, will finish the job with their own revenues. They're going to get in $20 billion a year in oil revenues. But the American part of this will be 1.7 billion. We have no plans for any further-on funding for this. (...) That is our plan and that is our intention. And these figures, outlandish figures I've seen, I have to say, there's a little bit of hoopla involved in this." [This transcript was removed from the USAID website]

• IRAQ / CURRENCY VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- The collapse of the Iraqi government has meant the collapse of the Iraqi currency. U-S officials charged with reconstruction are now bringing in U-S dollars as a stopgap currency. But a decision has to made soon about Iraq's money.
• Garner Says Ministries in Liberated Iraq Could Re-Open Soon Washington File 24 Apr 2003 -- Government ministries in liberated Iraq may begin to re-open in early May, Jay Garner, director of the U.S. Defense Department's Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, said April 24.
• Powell Says Embryonic Iraqi Authority Will Grow Into Full Government Washington File 24 Apr 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell says an embryonic Iraqi Interim Authority "will eventually grow into a full government for the people of Iraq by the people of Iraq."
• New Government Must Represent All Iraqis, U.S. Says Washington File 24 Apr 2003 -- The new Iraqi government that arises out of the ashes of Saddam Hussein's regime must represent all of Iraq's people, says Richard Boucher, the State Department spokesman.
• Iraqis Need Work, Paychecks, U.S. Administrator Says AFPS 24 Apr 2003 -- American officials are working to reconstitute Iraqi government ministries and get employees back to work and receiving paychecks, the man charged with getting Iraq running again said today.
• IRAQ WRAP VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- The top U-S official in Iraq says the process of forming a government will start by the end of next week. Retired general Jay Garner also told reporters in Baghdad that he believes Iran was involved in recent anti-U-S demonstrations in Iraq.
• IRAQ/RECONSTRUCTION VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- The U-S and British officials in charge of reconstructing Iraq expect government ministries to reopen next week.The officials say oil has started to flow in the south, and will soon flow in the north, to help fire up electricity plants.
• IRAQ/IRAN VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- The U-S official handling Iraq's reconstruction is expressing concern about growing Iranian influence in the country.
• IRAQ: POWs set to be released IRIN 24 Apr 2003 -- Thousands of Iraqi prisoners of war (POWs) could begin to be released within a few days. About 6,000 prisoners are currently being held at Camp Bucca in southern Iraq, near the port of Umm Qasr.

Foreign Reactions

• IRAQ/ARAB DEMOCRACY VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- The United States is working to establish a democratic government in Iraq. But there is considerable skepticism in the Arab world about whether that will be possible, and whether it would even be good for the United States.

News Reports

• Saddam's Removal Will Encourage Israeli-Palestinian Talks, Indyk Says Washington File 24 Apr 2003 -- The removal of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq has created new opportunities for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, according to Martin Indyk, a former assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs during the Clinton administration.
• OPEC / OIL VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, says it will increase its official production quotas but reduce the actual amount of oil on the global market.
• Lessons of the Iraq War VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- Despite sporadic fighting, the war to oust Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is all but over. And military analysts are beginning to assess how the war was won.
• Postal Policy in Persian Gulf VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- The U-S Postal Service is violating the first amendment to the United States Constitution. At least that's the allegation of a man in North Carolina, who was told by postal officials there that he couldn't mail Christian literature to his son. a soldier stationed in the Persian Gulf. A postal policy implemented during the First Gulf War in 1991 is being challenged in court.
• US AMBASSADOR ON IRAQ AND MIDEAST, PART I VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- United States Ambassador to Kuwait Richard H. Jones feels quite at home when he attends the uniquely Kuwaiti diwaniyaslocal gatherings where people discuss the recent events of the day. There, Ambassador Jones uses his fluent Arabic to put forth the American viewpoint, something often absent from discussion in the Middle East.
• U-S AMBASSADOR- IRAQ AND MIDEAST (PART II) VOA 24 Apr 2003 -- Recently, Voice of America broadcast part one of an interview with U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait, Richard H. Jones, where we discussed the work of the Ambassador in regards to war preparations and the strategic importance of Kuwait. In this second part of the interview, the Ambassador offers an analysis of Iraq's chances at democracy and the future of a U.S. military presence in Kuwait.
• IRAQ: Humanitarian aid slow to arrive IRIN 24 Apr 2003 -- With aid organisations slowly arriving in the south of Iraq, the first steps are being taken towards getting much-needed supplies to those most in need. However, despite most of the south having fallen to coalition troops several weeks ago, only limited assistance is actually reaching the region as concerns persist over safety.