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Operations
Deployments
US Policy
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Reconstruction Issues
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Transcript: Video-teleconference Briefing from Baghdad 22 Aug 2003 -- Video-teleconference from Baghdad. Participating were Sgt. Maj. Kenneth O. Preston, Command Sgt. Maj., V Corps; Sgt. Maj. Michael Bush, U.S. Army 1st Armored Division; and Sgt. Maj. Charles Fuss, U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division
• DoD Reports Progress in Pneumonia Investigation 22 Aug 2003 -- The Department of Defense announced today progress on the investigation of a number of cases of pneumonia among military members deployed for military operations in Southwest Asia.
• COALITION REORGANIZES DAY-TO-DAY ISSUES CENTCOM 22 Aug 2003 -- Coalition soldiers are assisting with the reorganization of Iraq's day-to-day economy by negotiating with Baghdad's vendors to move their booths from the streets back into marketplaces and by accepting claims from Iraqis to pay for damages incurred by the actions of U.S. forces.
• Troops Doing "Magnificent Job" in Iraq Say Senior Leaders AFPS 22 Aug 2003 -- Americans can be proud of the work U.S. soldiers are doing in Iraq, said 5th Corps Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth O. Preston during a video teleconference from Baghdad today.
• Two U.S. Service Members Killed in Separate Incidents in Iraq AFPS 22 Aug 2003 -- One American soldier was killed and six were injured in Iraq Aug. 21 during a fire at a Baghdad small-arms shooting range, according to a U.S. Central Command press release.
• Coalition Soldiers Try To Learn From Baghdad Terrorist Attacks Washington File 22 Aug 2003 -- In the wake of the August 19 attack on United Nations headquarters and the August 7 attack against the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad, U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major Kenneth Preston says American soldiers serving in Iraq are trying to learn from the techniques and tactics "the enemy has used to conduct these terrorist attacks."
• Eyewitness gives account of attack on UN headquarters in Baghdad UN News Centre 22 Aug 2003 -- A United Nations official who was inside the world body's headquarters in Baghdad at the time of this week's terrorist bombing described today the first moments of the attack as an "extraordinary thud" followed quickly by the terrible smell of gunpowder and the screams and moans of people injured by showers of shattered glass.
• State Department Announces Capture of Iraq's "Chemical Ali" Washington File 22 Aug 2003 -- The State Department has formally announced the capture of Ali Hasan al-Majid, also known as "Chemical Ali" by Coalition Forces in Iraq.
• Iraq: 'Chemical Ali' Likely To Face War Crimes Trial RFE/RL 22 Aug 2003 -- The U.S. capture of Ali Hassan al-Majid, dubbed "Chemical Ali" for his past use of poison gas on civilians, puts one of the most notorious members of Saddam Hussein's former regime behind bars.
• IRAQ/DEATHS VOA 22 Aug 2003 -- Two American soldiers have been killed and a half-dozen wounded in separate outbreaks of violence in Iraq. The latest casualties come as investigators into Tuesday's bomb attack on United Nations headquarters in Baghdad begin to examine whether Iraqi security guards were involved in the attack.
• Iraq: Guards Suspected In Assisting UN Bombing In Baghdad RFE/RL 22 Aug 2003 -- News agencies say investigators of the 19 August bombing of the UN Baghdad headquarters suspect the attackers had inside assistance from Iraqi guards.
• 1 AD SOLDIER DIES DUE TO FIRE CENTCOM 22 Aug 2003-- A 1st Armored Division soldier died, and six others were wounded in a small arms range fire. The fire broke out at a range in Baghdad's Karadah district at 4:30 p.m. on August 21.
• SERVICE MEMBER KILLED IN AL HILLAH CENTCOM 22 Aug 2003-- A U.S. service member on duty with the I Marine Expeditionary Force died after being shot on Aug 21 in Al Hillah by an unidentified gunman.

Deployments

US Policy

• Iraq Site of "Continuing Battle" in War on Terror, Bush Says Washington File 22 Aug 2003 -- White House Rep., Aug. 22: Iraq, Mideast, recess appointments, nomination
• U.S., U.K. Talk of New U.N. Resolution on Iraq Washington File 22 Aug 2003 -- The United States and United Kingdom began talks inside the Security Council August 21 about the possibility of a new resolution to encourage additional international support for Iraq and strengthen the role of the United Nations in restoring the country.
• Annan continues push for increased security in Iraq following terrorist bombing UN News Centre 22 Aug 2003 -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan continued his push today for increased security for United Nations operations in Iraq after Tuesday's deadly terrorist bombing of UN headquarters in Baghdad, meeting with Foreign Secretary Jack Straw of the United Kingdom, main partner of the United States-led coalition running the occupied country.
• Iraq: U.S. Senators Urge Bush To Seek Foreign Police Expertise In Iraq RFE/RL 22 Aug 2003 -- A series of recent attacks in Iraq culminating in this week's bombing of the UN in Baghdad has popped the lid on a frightening security situation. Washington is now pressing major nations to send troops to help stabilize and rebuild Iraq. Among the most urgent needs, experts say, is a European-style constabulary force, such as the Italian Carabinieri or French Gendarmerie, to help with policing.
• EDITORIAL: POWELL ON BAGHDAD BOMBING VOA 22 Aug 2003 -- On August 19th, terrorists in Baghdad turned their violence against the United Nations. The U-N personnel and Iraqi citizens killed by the suicide bombers were there to work on reconstruction, provide medical care, and help with the distribution of food.
• EDITORIAL: IRAQ DRAFTS A CONSTITUTION VOA 22 Aug 2003 -- More than one-hundred days have passed since major combat operations in Iraq ceased. The Saddam Hussein regime is gone and the difference, says President George W. Bush, is clear to the Iraqi people
• EDITORIAL: LAW ENFORCEMENT IN IRAQ VOA 22 Aug 2003 -- It has been a little over one-hundred days since the Iraqi people were liberated from the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, but Iraq is moving toward self-government and stability. As President George W. Bush said, this is "a time of change and rising hopes for the Iraqi people after decades of tyranny."
• EDITORIAL: CHEMICAL ALI CAPTURED IN IRAQ VOA 22 Aug 2003 -- The U.S.-led coalition in Iraq has captured one of the Saddam regime's most notorious criminals. Ali Hassan al-Majid [AH-lee HAH-sahn ahl-mah-JEED], known as "Chemical Ali," was number five on the coalition's list of the fifty-five most wanted Iraqis.
• EDITORIAL: THE IRAQI ECONOMY VOA 22 Aug 2003 -- The August 19th attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad shows that remnants of Saddam's regime, aided by foreign terrorists, are trying to prevent order and stability in Iraq. But as President George W. Bush said, "We're on the offensive against these killers"

United Nations

• UN: Intense Security Council Debate Looms Over UN Role In Iraq RFE/RL 22 Aug 2003 -- The United States has begun formal discussions with UN Security Council members on a resolution aimed at improving security in Iraq. Many Security Council members have signaled they want to see an explicit broadening of the UN mandate in Iraq. But U.S. officials do not appear ready to turn over any control of the administration of Iraq to the UN.
• Iraq: Annan, Straw Discuss Measures To Strengthen UN's Role RFE/RL 22 Aug 2003 -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan says the Security Council may pass a new resolution giving a mandate to international forces in Iraq.
• JORDAN: UN staff arrive in Amman IRIN 22 Aug 2003 -- United Nations staff from Baghdad have been relocating to the Jordanian capital Amman following Tuesday's deadly bomb attack on its head office. UN Resident Coordinator in Jordan, Christine McNab, told IRIN on Friday that 129 staff from the UN Baghdad office have already arrived in Jordan, and that there are more to come.

Reconstruction Issues

• Bremer Names New Director of Economic Policy in Iraq Washington File 22 Aug 2003 -- L. Paul Bremer, civilian administrator in Iraq, has named former Polish Minister of Finance Marek Belka to replace Peter McPherson as Director for Economic Policy in the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA).
• Iraq: UN-organized donor conference to be held in Madrid on 24 October UN News Centre 22 Aug 2003 -- The Spanish Government is set to host a United Nations-organized donor conference on 24 October in Madrid to seek billions of dollars to finance Iraq's reconstruction, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) announced today.
• IRAQ: New model army training begins IRIN 22 Aug 2003 -- Fifty men queue in the hot morning sun for their turn to undergo a physical examination to determine their fitness to join a new Iraqi National Guard force, about to be formed.

Foreign Reactions

• U-N / IRAQ VOA 22 Aug 2003 -- Britain's foreign secretary, Jack Straw, says the British and U-S-led Coalition will not relinquish decision-making responsibility in Iraq, despite efforts to broaden the United Nations role in Iraq's reconstruction.
• AUSTRALIA/IRAQ VOA 22 Aug 2003 -- A former Australian intelligence analyst has accused the government of ignoring reports casting doubt on Iraq's weapons capabilities. A parliamentary panel is investigating the accuracy and interpretation of intelligence that was used to justify Australia's involvement in the U-S-led war in Iraq.

News Reports

• Terrorists Strike Baghdad VOA 22 Aug 2003 -- A suicide bomber detonated a truckload of explosives at the U-N compound in Baghdad Tuesday. The explosion killed some twenty people, including the head of the U-N mission in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. The bomb the terrorists used was not homemade, but rather was put together from military munitions, including a Soviet-built five-hundred-pound bomb. U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan said "We will not be intimidated." President George W. Bush said that "these killers will not determine the future of Iraq."
• Sergio Vieira de Mello VOA 22 Aug 2003 -- On Tuesday, a suicide bomber drove a truck filled with explosives into the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq. More than twenty people were killed and almost one-hundred others were wounded.
• UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello begins final journey home UN News Centre 22 Aug 2003 -- Sergio Vieira de Mello, veteran United Nations servant, defender of human rights and protector of refugees, began his final journey home today, his body borne aboard a Brazilian Presidential plane at Baghdad airport amid prayers, praise and pledges to continue his mission.
• U-N / DE MELLO VOA 22 Aug 2003 -- The remains of the top United Nations' envoy to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, are being flown from Baghdad to his home town of Rio de Janeiro aboard a Brazilian presidential plane.