Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 10 Mar 2004 [PDF]

• Transcript: 82nd Airborne Division Commanding General's Briefing from Iraq 10 Mar 2004 -- Army Maj. Gen. Charles H. Swannack, Jr.
• Transcript: Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing from Iraq 10 Mar 2004 -- Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt and Dan Senor
• IRAQ WRAP VOA 10 Mar 2004 -- In Iraq, two American civilians working for the U-S Defense Department have been shot dead, along with their Iraqi translator, in a roadblock ambush.
• MORTAR ROUND STRIKES HOUSE IN EJBA CENTCOM Release 10 Mar 2004-- A mortar round from elements of Task Force Olympia struck a building in the southeast side of Ejba, killing one citizen and injuring another Monday.
• COALITION DETAINEE DIES IN CUSTODY CENTCOM Release 10 Mar 2004-- Palestinian terrorist Abu Abbas, also known as Mohammed Abbas, died on March 8, 2004.
• STRYKER BRIGADE CAPTURES THREE, COLLECTS WEAPONS CENTCOM Release 10 Mar 2004-- Soldiers from Task Force Olympia detained one suspect and conducted ongoing weapons collection operations in northern Iraq Sunday and Monday.
• 3 Killed in Iraq; Coalition Continues Offensive Operations AFPS 10 Mar 2004 -- Two Defense Department civilians and an Iraqi translator were killed in a March 9 attack in Hillah, Iraq, coalition officials said today.
• Western Iraq Insurgents in Disarray, Says 82nd Commander AFPS 10 Mar 2004 -- Anti-coalition forces in western Iraq are "pretty much in disarray," Army Maj. Gen. Charles H. Swannack Jr., commander of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division, told journalists today during a Baghdad press conference.

Deployments

US Policy

• Iraq: U.S. Scrambles To Set Up World's Biggest Embassy In Baghdad RFE/RL 10 Mar 2004 -- The United States is setting up a new embassy in Baghdad to assume U.S. responsibilities in Iraq after sovereignty is returned to Iraqis on 30 June. It will be the world's biggest U.S. embassy, with some 4,000 staff members. But the sheer size of the project is proving an organizational challenge -- and raising questions about America's future intentions in Iraq.

United Nations

Reconstruction Issues

• Iraqi Reconstruction Contracts Awarded 10 Mar 2004 -- The Department of Defense announced today the award of seven contracts to provide dedicated support under the Coalition Provisional Authority Program Management Office (PMO). These contracts will provide dedicated program management and coordination support for all design and construction activities being performed for the PMO and within the six sectors of construction.
• Transcript: Briefing on Contracting Programs in Iraq 10 Mar 2004 -- Participating were Lawrence Di Rita, principle deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, and Retired Navy Rear Adm. David J. Nash, director, Program Management Office, Coalition Provisional Authority
• IRAQ: Judges complete first human rights law course IRIN 10 Mar 2004 -- Over 50 Iraqi jurists and lawyers have completed their first course in international human rights law run by the International Bar Association (IBA), the association said in a statement on Tuesday.

Foreign Reactions

• IRAQ'S INTERIM CONSTITUTION: AN 'IMPORTANT FIRST STEP' US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 10 Mar 2004

News Reports

• Iraq: Palestinian Militant Abu Abbas Dies In U.S. Custody RFE/RL 10 Mar 2004 -- The United States says Palestinian militant Abu Abbas, who planned the hijacking of the Italian cruise liner "Achille Lauro" in 1985, has died in U.S. custody in Iraq. A spokesman said Abbas died on 8 March, apparently of natural causes. Abbas, whose real name was Muhammad Abbas, had been held by the U.S. military since his arrest in Iraq last April.
• Iraq: History Filled More With Ethnic, Political Violence Than Religious Conflict RFE/RL 10 Mar 2004 -- Recent attacks on Shi'a targets in Iraq raised fears of sectarian violence. But analysts say religion plays a rather modest role in Iraqi society. The country's history, they note, provides more examples of ethnic violence -- against the Kurds, for example -- or political turmoil, such as coups, than conflicts along religious lines.