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

Current Operations

• Transcript: Army Maj. Gen. Swannack Jr., Live Video Tele-conference from Baghdad 18 Nov 2003 -- "we extend all the way from south of Baghdad, in towns like Iskandariyah and Mahmudiya (sp), directly to the south, all the way out 530 kilometers to the borders with Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. And this battle space is about 410 kilometers north to south, or it's about the size of the state of Wyoming. Has some chief towns associated with it, most closest, and probably some that you want to ask me some questions about -- Fallujah, then it goes to Habbaniya, generally tracing the Euphrates River to the west, and then Ar Ramadi, and then up towards Husaybah, which is on the Syrian border. Matter of fact, it's a very important border port of entry. Down to the south, 850 kilometers of border with the three countries. Farthest south is the border crossing port called Tanif (sp) in southern Syria, then Tribil (sp) at Jordan, and then RR, that we've just started occupying on the Saudi Arabian border."
• Increased Military Offensive Weeding Out Iraqi Regime Loyalists Washington File 18 Nov 2003 -- Coalition forces have increased offensive operations in order to defeat anti-coalition elements in Iraq and further the restoration of essential services, economic activity and democratic governance for the citizens of Iraq, says Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, deputy director for operations at the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA).
• Transcript: Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing 18 Nov 2003 -- Participating was Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, Deputy Director Operations and Dan Senor, Senior Advisor to Coalition Provisional Authority
• 82D AIRBORNE DIVISION CONTINUES CRACK DOWN ON INSURGENTS CENTCOM Release 18 Nov 2003-- 82d Airborne Division, also known as Task Force "All American," conducted operations in order to stop violence and acts of insurgents who oppose the transition of Iraq to a free and democratic state.
• 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION DISCOVERS WEAPONS CACHES CENTCOM Release 18 Nov 2003-- Two weapons caches were discovered by the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during an aerial reconnaissance of an area two kilometers west of the Qayyarah West Airfield on Nov. 17.
• 101ST ROUNDS UP EIGHT SUSPECTS, WEAPONS DURING SEARCHES CENTCOM Release 18 Nov 2003-- The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) apprehended and detained eight Iraqis during four cordon and knock searches on Nov. 17 in northern Iraq.
• Security Situation in Al Anbar Province Improving, Says 82nd Airborne Commander AFPS 18 Nov 2003 -- Attacks against coalition forces in the Al Anbar province have decreased in the past weeks, 82nd Airborne Division Commander Maj. Gen. Charles H. Swannack Jr., said in an interview from Baghdad, Iraq, today.
• Raids Net 99 Suspects as Coalition Roots Out Insurgents AFPS 18 Nov 2003 -- Coalition forces in Iraq captured 99 anti-coalition suspects in 25 raids, and the 4th Infantry Division conducted 36 attacks against anti-coalition targets, a U.S. military official told reporters in Baghdad Nov. 17.
• IRAQ / SECURITY VOA 18 Nov 2003 -- A U-S military commander in Iraq says his troops may soon pull back from the restive town of Ramadi, in the so-called Sunni triangle, and turn security responsibilities over to the Iraqi police.
• Supplemental Bill to Improve Quality of Life for Troops in Iraq AFPS 18 Nov 2003 -- Part of the $87.5 billion supplemental appropriations bill for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan signed earlier this month by President Bush will go toward improving quality of life for troops there.

Deployments

US Policy

• Secretary Powell Sees Transfer of Power in Iraq by June Washington File 18 Nov 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell highlighted the emerging expectation within the Bush administration that the Iraqi leadership should be in a position to assume sovereignty over Iraq's affairs by June 2004.
• Goal in Iraq is Peace and Freedom, Bush Tells UK's Sun Newspaper Washington File 18 Nov 2003 -- President Bush said that if he were to speak with antiwar protestors during his trip to the United Kingdom, he would tell them that while they may disagree with America's tactics or policy in Iraq, "we share a common goal, which is peace," and also that the world is "more secure as a result of the decisions we made."
• Powell Urges Europe to Join in Rebuilding Iraq Washington File 18 Nov 2003 -- There are so many things that pull the United States and Europe together -- a common belief in democracy, in human rights, in openness, in market economics -- "that we have to remember these and refresh our memory from time to time, when we think things are coming apart over a particular issue," said Secretary of State Colin Powell of the message he planned to deliver to his European counterparts in meetings in Brussels November 18.
• EDITORIAL: ABIZAID ON IRAQI SECURITY VOA 18 Nov 2003 -- Iraqis are increasingly working with coalition forces to bring stability to their country. General John Abizaid, head of the U.S. Central Command, says that more than one-hundred-thousand Iraqis are now directly involved in providing police services, guarding borders, and forming Iraq's new army. They include thirty-thousand in the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps

United Nations

Reconstruction Issues

• Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Updates USAID 18 Nov 2003 [PDF]
• Iraq Weekly Update Joint Staff/Coalition Provisional Authority 18 Nov 2003 -- Power / Oil / Education / Health Care / Security / Governance / Economics [PDF 4.75 Mb]
• Iraq: In One Provincial Town, Iraqis Wait For Aid RFE/RL 18 Nov 2003 -- Musayyib is a sleepy provincial town located some 70 kilometers south of Baghdad. Populated mainly by Shi'a Muslims, there is no resistance to the presence of coalition troops. Residents of Musayyib say they were hoping the fall of Saddam Hussein would bring new resources to their shabby, rustic town. But more than seven months later, the streets of Musayyib remain unpaved, hospitals and schools are badly in need of repair, and local police are scarce and ineffective. City officials say they are in desperate need of reconstruction aid. But none appears forthcoming.

Foreign Reactions

• UK bought Israeli cluster bombs ahead of Iraq war IRNA 18 Nov 2003 -- The British army started to buy Israeli-made cluster munitions for the first time during the months leading up to the Iraq war, Arms Forces Minister Adam Ingram has revealed.
• London mayor denounces Bush ahead of visit IRNA 18 Nov 2003 -- London major Ken Livingstone joined the growing opposition to George W Bush`s state visit to the UK Tuesday, denouncing the US president as the gravest threat to world peace.
• Participation in Iraq`s reconstruction will stabilize Middle East IRNA 18 Nov 2003 -- Iran`s ambassador to Kuwait, Seyed Jafar Mousavi said that participation in Iraq`s reconstruction will help establish stability in the Middle East region.
• Iraq: Europeans React Favorably To New Sovereignty Plans RFE/RL 18 Nov 2003 -- European capitals are welcoming U.S. plans to speed the creation of a provisional Iraqi government, but their reactions differ. Germany is praising Washington's timetable for a handover of power to a new government in June, while France is urging the U.S. to move much faster.
• ITALY / FUNERAL VOA 18 Nov 2003 -- Italians are observing (observed) a national day of mourning and held the funerals of the 19 victims of the truck bombing last week in Iraq. Thousands of people turned out for the solemn mass at Saint Paul's basilica. Italians across the country watched it live on television.
• Iran Says It Will Not Meddle In Iraqi Affairs RFE/RL 18 Nov 2003 -- Iran's official IRNA news agency says Iran again assured Iraq that it will not interfere in its affairs. The assurance was made today by Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi (pictured) to visiting Iraqi Governing Council chairman Jalal Talabani.
• BUSH BRITAIN VOA 18 Nov 2003 -- President Bush has left for Britain where he will be a guest of Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. Thousands of demonstrators are expected to protest the U-S occupation of Iraq.
• ARABS / IRAQ VOA 18 Nov 2003 -- Officials in three of Iraq's neighboring countries are showing a willingness to help Iraq achieve full independence, following Washington's announcement that a provisional government would be in place in Iraq by June 2004.

News Reports

• SHIFT IN IRAQ POLICY VOA 18 Nov 2003 -- U-S officials in Iraq say they are speeding up the turnover of more authority to the Iraqi people. The move is being greeted in the U-S press with wide approval
• IRAQ / POLL (UPDATE) VOA 18 Nov 2003 -- In Iraq, a new opinion poll, conducted by an independent Iraqi research group shows an increasing number of people view coalition forces as occupiers rather than liberators.
• IRAQ/POLL VOA 18 Nov 2003 -- In Iraq, a new opinion poll conducted by an independent Iraqi research group indicates an increasing number of people view coalition forces as occupiers rather than liberators.
• JORDAN: Refugees from Iraq prepare for the winter IRIN 18 Nov 2003 -- Nearly seven months after the war in Iraq ended and little chance of an early return for Iraqi refugees who fled to neighbouring Jordan, they are preparing for the winter.