Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• IRAQ/VIOLENCE (L-UPDATE) VOA 27 Jun 2003 -- Reports say a U-S soldier was shot Friday in Baghdad. The shooting comes one day after an American marine was killed in an attack south of the Iraqi capital. Meanwhile, three people have been detained in connection with the suspected kidnapping of two other American soldiers.
• IRAQ / VIOLENCE VOA 27 Jun 2003 -- The U-S military says another U-S soldier has been killed in an ambush in Iraq. Meanwhile, three people have been detained in connection with the suspected kidnapping of two American soldiers. The news comes amid an upsurge in resistance attacks on U-S troops in Iraq.
• Soldier Killed, Two Missing in Separate Incidents in Iraq AFPS 27 Jun 2003 -- A soldier was killed near an Najaf June 26 and coalition forces are searching for two soldiers missing since June 25, U.S. Central Command officials said today.
• Coalition Not in Guerrilla War, Rumsfeld Says AFPS 27 Jun 2003 -- Former regime sympathizers and criminals are behind the attacks on coalition forces in Iraq, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said on Capitol Hill today. The secretary also said he does not believe the activity in Iraq rises to the level of a guerrilla war.
• Silent No Longer: Iraqi People Reveal the Past AFPS 27 Jun 2003 -- For the first time in decades, the Iraqi people can talk openly about what happened during Saddam Hussein's regime.
• Three US Soldiers Killed in Iraq in 24 Hours VOA News 27 Jun 2003 -- U.S. military officials say three U.S. soldiers have been killed in the last 24 hours in Iraq in the latest attacks on U.S.-led forces.
• US Soldier Killed in Ambush in Iraq VOA News 27 Jun 2003 -- The U.S. military says another U.S. soldier has been killed in an ambush in Iraq. Meanwhile, three people have been detained in connection with the suspected kidnapping of two American soldiers.
• Another US Soldier Shot in Iraq VOA News 27 Jun 2003 -- Witnesses in Baghdad say an American soldier has been shot, in the latest attack on U.S.-led occupation forces in Iraq.
• ONE U.S. SOLDIER KILLED NEAR AN NAJAF CENTCOM 27 Jun 2003 -- A U.S. soldier attached to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force was killed in an ambush attack near An Najaf June 26 while investigating a car theft.
• Iraq: Two U.S. Soldiers, Two Civilians Die In Fresh Attacks RFE/L 27 Jun 2003 -- Two U.S. soldiers and two Iraqi civilians died in the latest attacks yesterday in Iraq.
• Soldiers miss Fedayeen colonel, but uncover sizeable weapons cache Army News 27 Jun 2003 -- Soldiers in Baghdad conducted an early morning raid on an alleged Saddam Feyadeen colonel's house and found a sizeable buried illegal weapons cache in a former Ba'ath Party building in Baghdad June 17 and 18.
• 1/5 recalls battle for Hussein's palace USMC News 27 Jun 2003 -- This is the second installment in a two-part series on 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment's experience in Operation Iraqi Freedom
• Live fire exercise in Iraq USAREUR 27 Jun 2003 -- Even though 1st Infantry Division, 3rd Brigade, 63rd Armored Regiment, is deployed to Iraq, they're still conducting live fire exercises to hone in on their infantry skills. On the outskirts of Kirkuk, the regiment used a deserted Iraqi military range for life fire exercises.

Deployments

US Policy

• Press Stakeout Following Closed Briefing for Senators on Iraq 27 Jun 2003 -- Also participating: Senator John Warner and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace
• Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz Interview with The Washington Post 27 Jun 2003 -- Interview with Tom Ricks, The Washington Post
• Powell Confident Mobile Labs in Iraq Used for Biological Weapons Washington File 27 Jun 2003 -- After meeting at the State Department June 26, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio responded to journalists' questions on the reported arrest of a major Al Qaeda operative in Saudi Arabia, continued U.S. casualties in Iraq, and the debate in the U.S. intelligence community over the interpretation of mobile laboratories found in Iraq.
• US Lawmakers Still Have Many Questions Over Iraq War Intelligence VOA News 27 Jun 2003 -- Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have begun a week-long Independence Day break. But in their absence, controversy continues over intelligence information used by the Bush administration to justify the war in Iraq, and persuade Congress to authorize the use of military force. Democrats in the House of Representatives are demanding an independent investigation, and some have introduced legislation to that effect.
• EDITORIAL: MAKING IRAQ SECURE VOA 27 Jun 2003 -- Ten weeks have passed since the removal of the regime of Saddam Hussein. Since then, the U.S.-led coalition has been focused on making Iraq secure. Iraq is still a dangerous place. There have been frequent attacks on coalition forces, including the June 24th murder of six British soldiers in the southern Iraqi town of Majar al-Kabir.
• CONGRESS / WEAPONS DEBATE VOA 27 Jun 2003 -- Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have begun a week-long Independence Day break. But in their absence, controversy continues over intelligence information used by the Bush administration to justify the war in Iraq, and persuade Congress to authorize the use of military force. Democrats in the House of Representatives are demanding an independent investigation, and some have introduced legislation to that effect.
• Powell: US Can Restore Security in Iraq VOA News 27 Jun 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell says he's confident that American forces in Iraq can "wipe out" elements there responsible for the series of lethal attacks that have killed at least 20 U.S. soldiers since combat was declared over on May 1. Two U.S. servicemen were killed and several others wounded in fresh attacks Thursday.

United Nations

• Iraq: UN envoy to meet Muslim Shi'ite religious leaders UN News Centre 27 Jun 2003 -- Continuing his efforts to meet with and listen to all shades of Iraqi political, religious, intellectual and civil leaders, United Nations envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello is scheduled to go to the Islamic holy city of Najaf tomorrow to meet with Muslim Shi'ite religious leaders.
• World Food Program says Humanitarian Crisis Avoided in Post-War Iraq VOA News 27 Jun 2003 -- The U.N. World Food Program says its operations in post-war Iraq are a success and a potential humanitarian crisis has been avoided. Iraq's entire population of 27 million is currently dependent in some way on global food assistance.
• IRAQ / WFP VOA 27 Jun 2003 -- The U-N World Food Program says its operations in post-war Iraq are a success and a potential humanitarian crisis has been avoided. Iraq's entire population of 27 million is currently dependent in some way on global food assistance.

Reconstruction Issues

• Iraqi Political Committee To Be in Place in July, Powell Says Washington File 27 Jun 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell said that Ambassador Paul Bremer, the U.S. Special Envoy to Iraq, hopes to put in place a political committee of Iraqi leaders by the middle of July to take responsibility for Iraqi ministries.
• Iraqi Women Demand Role in Steering Iraq's Future Washington File 27 Jun 2003 -- Iraqi women can and must play an essential, active role in the reconstruction of a free Iraq, said State Department Senior Coordinator for International Women's Issues Charlotte Ponticelli and Women for Women International's Founder and President Zainab Salbi during discussions hosted June 20 at the State Department.
• Lack of Electricity Cripples Life in Iraq VOA News 27 Jun 2003 -- Lack of security remains the top concern for most Iraqis, as they hear of almost daily attacks against coalition forces in the country and witness rampant crime. Go into any Iraqi household, and talk soon turns to electricity.
• IRAQ/ELECTRICITY VOA 27 Jun 2003 -- Lack of security remains the top concern for most Iraqis, as they hear of almost daily attacks against coalition forces in the country and witness rampant crime. But the lack of adequate electricity is certainly the Number Two item on their list of worries.
• THE CHALLENGES OF REBUILDING IRAQ VOA 27 Jun 2003 -- Six British soldiers were killed in Iraq near the southern town of Amarah. The ambush was just one of a growing number of attacks on coalition forces working to bring security and stability to the country. Natural gas pipelines have also been attacked, acts meant to sabotage the energy industry that is the core of Iraq's economy. In cities across Iraq, reconstruction efforts are focused on restoring electricity, clean water, and other basic services, while laying the groundwork for Iraqis to build their own government. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that though the challenges are real, they will be overcome.

Foreign Reactions

• Britain: BBC Fending Off 'Unprecedented' Government Pressure Over Iraq Coverage RFE/L 27 Jun 2003 -- Britain's vast public service broadcaster, the BBC, is clashing with a top aide to Prime Minister Tony Blair over the continuing Iraqi intelligence row. The aide, Alastair Campbell, has demanded the BBC apologize for claims that the prime minister's office exaggerated the Iraqi weapons threat. The BBC says it won't, and that it stands by its story. The broadcaster, which is largely funded through public money, has run afoul of governments before. But it says Campbell's demands amount to "unprecedented" government pressure.
• Iraq: Britain's Straw Defends Decision On War RFE/L 27 Jun 2003 -- U.K. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw today renewed his defense of Britain's participation in the Iraq war, again rejecting charges that intelligence reports were exaggerated to support the need for the U.S.-led invasion.

News Reports

• RFE/RL Iraq Report, Volume 6, Number 28 27 Jun 2003 -- BANI HAJIM TRIBES REJECT CALLS TO ATTACK U.S. FORCES / CLERIC SAYS RESISTANCE TO CONTINUE, BACKS PACHACHI / SCIRI MEMBER VOWS HIS GROUP WILL RESIST PEACEFULLY / AL-DA'WAH PARTY CALLS FOR 'EXPANDED MEETING'... / ...DENOUNCES ACTS THAT DEFAME ISLAMIC MOVEMENTS / CLERIC CALLS FOR ESTABLISHING 'CONTEMPORARY IRAQ.' / IRAQI COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER WANTS COUNCIL TO ADMINISTER BAGHDAD / U.S. MILITARY VEHICLE HIT DURING PATROL / FORMER IRAQI SCIENTIST HANDS OVER NUCLEAR PLANS / RESIDENTS PROTEST ARREST OF POLICE CHIEF / TERRORIST GROUP SENDS VIDEOTAPE THREATENING U.S. FORCES / SIX BRITISH TROOPS KILLED IN SEPARATE ATTACKS / U.S. ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR NEW IRAQI ARMY... / ...AND AGREES TO PAY DISMISSED IRAQI ARMY PERSONNEL / DETAILS EMERGING ON IRAQI-SYRIAN BORDER CHASE / FOUR POLITICAL PARTIES MERGE / OPERATION DESERT SCORPION CONTINUES / U.S. TROOPS STORM SCIRI OFFICES IN BAGHDAD / IRAQ TELEVISION BACK ON THE AIR... / ...AND GOVERNMENT WEBSITES EXPECTED ONLINE IN COMING DAYS / IRAQI OIL FLOWS TO TURKEY / REPRESENTATIVES AT WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM DISCUSS FREE-TRADE AREA / SYRIA-U.S. TALKS UNDER WAY FOR RETURN OF BORDER GUARDS / UN APPEALS TO DONOR COUNTRIES TO MAKE UP SHORTFALL / EUROPEAN DONORS PROPOSE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR IRAQ / DOWNING STREET PRESS CHIEF DENIES 'SEXING UP' DOSSIER ON IRAQI WMD / U.S. COMMITTED TO EMPLOYING IRAQIS IN RECONSTRUCTION EFFORT / U.S. ADMINISTRATOR DETAILS PLAN FOR IRAQ /