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

Current Operations

• Iraq: Top U.S. Commander Says Troops Face Guerrilla Resistance RFE/L 17 Jul 2003 -- The new top commander of American forces in Iraq, General John Abizaid, says his troops are facing a coordinated guerrilla resistance there. His statement marks a clear change in how Washington regards the continuing armed attacks in Iraq, which the Pentagon originally characterized as the work of a number of isolated groups.
• WEAPONS CACHES SEIZED IN SODA MOUNTAIN RAIDS CENTCOM 17 Jul 2003 -- The 4th Infantry Division seized an extensive amount of weapons in Operation Soda Mountain in support of the effort to create a secure environment in Iraq.
• MASS GRAVE FOUND IN AL HATRA CENTCOM 17 Jul 2003 -- The remains of an estimated 200 people were found by soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) recently in a mass grave in Al Hatra, about 40 miles south of Mosul.
• V CORPS HELPS TRAIN FIRST GRADUATES OF BAGHDAD POLICE ACADEMY V Corps Release 17 Jul 2003-- Units under V Corps command helped the effort to improve security in Baghdad reach another milestone this week as the first class of Iraqi policemen graduated from a three-week training course at the Baghdad Public Safety Academy.

Deployments

• U-S / IRAQ / SOUTHEAST ASIA VOA 17 Jul 2003 -- More than three months after the end of major combat in Iraq, U-S scholars and military experts are analyzing what impact that war had on Southeast Asia. One result is likely to be an increase in U-S military presence in the region.

US Policy

• CONGRESS IRAQ - DEFENSE VOA 18 Jul 2003 -- The U-S Senate has approved a 367 billion dollar defense spending bill for the next budget year. Democrats used debate on the bill to challenge President Bush on Iraq
• BUSH BLAIR VOA 17 Jul 2003 -- President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have issued a strong defense of their decision to take military action against Iraq. This, as controversy continues to build concerning the evidence they used to make the case for war.
• Senator says White House Pressured CIA on Uranium Allegation VOA News 17 Jul 2003 -- A U.S. Senator quotes CIA Director George Tenet as saying a White House official insisted on putting questionable information about Iraq's nuclear ambitions into a key presidential address.

United Nations

• Report of the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 24 of Security Council resolution 1483 (2003) United Nations 17 July 2003 -- "The present report is submitted pursuant to paragraph 24 of Security Council resolution 1483 (2003), in which the Council requested me to report to it at regular intervals on the work of my Special Representative with respect to the implementation of the resolution. The present report provides an initial assessment of the scope of the challenges involved in implementing the mandate conferred by the resolution, and to indicate those areas in which I consider that the United Nations can play a useful role based on its expertise and comparative advantage. I have kept foremost in mind the interests of the Iraqi people, especially their demand for the early restoration of Iraqi sovereignty." [PDF]
• Negroponte Says Sending U.N. Peacekeepers to Iraq in "Discussion Phase" Washington File 17 Jul 2003 -- The United States is engaged in discussions but has no current plans to propose a new resolution to put peacekeeping forces in Iraq under a U.N. mandate, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Negroponte said July 16.
• Calls for greater UN role in Iraq multiply UN News Centre 17 Jul 2003 -- The top United Nations envoy for Iraq heard more calls for broadening the world body's role there while visiting neighbouring Iran today even as major governments, including the United States, which runs the current ruling Provisional Authority in Baghdad, are raising that possibility with Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Reconstruction Issues

• U.S. Committed to Women's Participation in Rebuilding Iraq Washington File 17 Jul 2003 -- The following fact sheet, released by the Department of State's Office of International Women's Issues on July 17, highlights U.S. commitment to the involvement of women in the political, economic and social rebuilding of Iraq
• USAID Says First Iraqi Infrastructure Reconstruction Project Completed Washington File 17 Jul 2003 -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) July 17 announced the completion of the first Iraqi infrastructure reconstruction project, the bypass of the Al Mat bridge on Highway 10 connecting Baghdad to Jordan.
• Poll Shows Fear, Uncertainty Among Baghdad Residents VOA News 17 Jul 2003 -- A poll of Baghdad residents reflects a mood of fear, uncertainty and some ambiguity among local residents. The survey was commissioned by a British magazine and a broadcasting organization.
• IRAQ/POLL VOA 17 Jul 2003 -- A poll of Baghdad residents reflects a mood of fear, uncertainly and some ambiguity among local residents. The survey was commissioned by a British magazine and a broadcasting organization.

Foreign Reactions

• Prime Minister's speech to Congress 10 Downing Street 17 Jul 2003 -- "But if our critics are wrong, if we are right as I believe with every fibre of instinct and conviction I have that we are, and we do not act, then we will have hesitated in face of this menace, when we should have given leadership. That is something history will not forgive."
• President Bush, Prime Minister Blair Discuss War on Terrorism The White House 17 Jul 2003 -- "The close partnership between the United States and Great Britain has been and remains essential to the peace and security of all nations. For more than 40 years of the Cold War we stood together to ensure that the conflicts of Europe did not once again destroy the peace of the world. The duties we accepted were demanding, as we found during the Berlin Blockade and other crises. Yet, British and American leaders held firm and our cause prevailed."
• BUSH BLAIR VOA 18 Jul 2003 -- President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have issued a strong defense of their decision to take military action against Iraq. This, as controversy continues to build concerning the evidence they used to make the case for war.
• Blair Delivers Impassioned Speech to US Congress VOA News 17 Jul 2003 -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair has delivered an impassioned defense of the war in Iraq, saying history will forgive the United States and Britain if weapons of mass destruction are not found. His speech to a joint meeting of the U.S Congress comes amid controversy in London and Washington over questionable pre-war intelligence about Iraq's nuclear ambitions.
• Bush, Blair Defend Decision to go to War in Iraq VOA News 17 Jul 2003 -- President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have staunchly defended their decision to go to war in Iraq.
• CONGRESS BLAIR VOA 17 Jul 2003 -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair has delivered an impassioned defense of the war in Iraq, saying history will forgive the United States and Britain if weapons of mass destruction are not found. His speech to a joint meeting of the U-S Congress comes amid controversy in London and Washington over questionable pre-war intelligence about Iraq's nuclear ambitions.
• Blair Says Freedom, Liberty Best Weapons Against Terrorism AFPS 17 Jul 2003 -- The values of liberty and freedom are America's and Great Britain's best weapons against terrorism, British Prime Minister Tony Blair told a joint meeting of Congress July 17.

• Russia: Vershbow's Comments Raise Hackles In Moscow RFE/L 17 Jul 2003 -- Recent comments by the U.S. ambassador to Moscow have raised hackles at the Russian Foreign Ministry. U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow said U.S. forces could not guarantee the security of the Russian Embassy in Baghdad, as Washington no longer recognizes the mission's official status. Vershbow also called on Moscow to actively cooperate in sharing its intelligence with the United States on Iraq. What effect are Vershbow's comments likely to have? Is there validity to the U.S. argument that Moscow's mission in Baghdad is no longer covered by diplomatic immunity?
• U.S./Turkey: Relations Still Racked By Mutual Distrust Despite Attempts To Mend Fences RFE/L 17 Jul 2003 -- U.S. and Turkish officials have expressed regret over the recent detention of Turkish soldiers by U.S. troops in northern Iraq. But neither side has officially apologized for the incident, and mutual distrust continues to simmer between the two NATO allies.
• IRAQ/TAPE VOA 17 Jul 2003 -- Another audiotape, purported to be the voice of Saddam Hussein, has aired on Arab-language television on the anniversary of the 1968 Baathist revolution that brought Saddam's party to power. Meanwhile, U-S troops are on heightened alert for a possible surge of attacks against them by Saddam loyalists.
• CONGRESS IRAQ INTELLIGENCE VOA 17 Jul 2003 -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair is making a brief visit to Washington amid controversy in Washington and London over pre-war intelligence about Iraq's weapons program.
• Pre-War Iraq Intelligence Expected to be Major Focus of Blair US Visit VOA News 17 Jul 2003 -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair is making a brief visit to Washington amid controversy in Washington and London over pre-war intelligence about Iraq's weapons program.
• Russia: Moscow Calls For New UN Resolutions On Iraq RFE/L 16 Jul 2003 -- Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov today called for new UN Security Council resolutions on Iraq to stabilize the country, as the U.S.-led coalition has admitted it is facing guerilla resistance.
• SINGAPORE/IRAQ INVESTMENTS VOA 17 Jul 2003 -- Economic advisers to the interim authority in Baghdad are in Asia in hopes of attracting investors in Iraq's reconstruction.

News Reports

• RFE/RL Iraq Report, Volume 6, Number 31 17 Jul 2003 -- AL-DA'WAH OFFICIAL DISCUSSES PARTY, SPLIT / PUK HEAD SAYS PESHMERGA TO JOIN IRAQI ARMY, POLICE / PRETENDER TO THRONE MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF FALL OF MONARCHY / RESISTANCE GROUPS CONTINUE TO ISSUE THREATS AGAINST COALITION... / ...AS OTHER GROUP CLAIMS IT HAS HALTED ATTACKS / COALITION FORCES ATTACKED ON HUSSEIN ANNIVERSARY / COALITION LAUNCHES OPERATION IVY SERPENT / HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH RELEASES REPORT ON VIOLENCE AGAINST IRAQI WOMEN AND GIRLS / INC NEWSPAPER CLAIMS CHALABI 'STRONGEST CANDIDATE.' / COALITION FORCES SEIZE ARTIFACTS / FORMER CENTCOM HEAD SAYS 10-25 VIOLENT INCIDENTS OCCUR IN IRAQ EACH DAY / JORDAN FREEZES IRAQI ASSETS, BUT WON'T TURN THEM OVER / TURKOMANS IN ANKARA FOR POLITICAL TRAINING / IRAQ, IRAN SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING / UN ENVOY HAILS GOVERNING COUNCIL / IAEA REPORTS TO UN ON IRAQ INSPECTIONS / JOINT U.S.-TURKISH STATEMENT ISSUED ON COMMANDO ARRESTS IN IRAQ / CENTCOM CHIEF SAYS IRAQI RESISTANCE ORGANIZING / U.S. AMBASSADOR SAYS RUSSIA MIGHT KNOW WHERE DEPOSED IRAQI PRESIDENT IS... / ...AS RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DEPLORES AMBASSADOR'S STATEMENTS / IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL IS INAUGURATED: A LOOK AT THE FIRST WEEK
• Another Purported Saddam Tape Airs on Baath Party Anniversary VOA News 17 Jul 2003 -- Another audiotape, purported to be the voice of Saddam Hussein, has aired on Arab-language television on the anniversary of the 1968 Baathist revolution that brought Saddam's party to power. Meanwhile, U.S. troops are on heightened alert for a possible surge of attacks against them by Saddam loyalists.
• Arab Network Broadcasts New Purported Saddam Tape VOA News 17 Jul 2003 -- An Arab television channel has aired an audiotape purportedly made by Saddam Hussein, urging Iraqis to fight the U.S.-led occupation. Dubai-based Al-Arabiya television broadcast the tape Thursday, the 35th anniversary of the revolution that brought Saddam's Ba'ath party to power.
• New Purported Saddam Tape Criticizes Recent Events in Iraq VOA News 17 Jul 2003 -- An Arab television channel has broadcast an audiotape it claims is the voice of Saddam Hussein, criticizing recent events in Iraq. The tape was broadcast on the anniversary of the Baath Party's rise to power in Iraq.