Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 07 Apr 2004 [PDF]
• TWELVE MARINES KILLED IN AGGRESSIVE OPERATIONS IN AL ANBAR PROVINCE
• Twelve Marines killed in aggressive operations in Al Anbar Province [CJTF-7 News Release] April 7, 2004
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualties
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualties
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualties

• Transcript: Defense Department Operational Briefing 07 Apr 2004 -- " In the red are what are labeled "former regime elements." Now, this is shorthand for former regime elements and Ba'athists, Iraqi extremists, extremists from outside, the Zarqawi network as well. They're primarily working in areas that they've always worked in out here, and 1 MEF is the primary force that has gone against them, as you're well aware because of the engagements in Fallujah and the engagements in Ar Ramadi. This is Operation -- in Fallujah -- Vigilant Resolve that we refer to. The green arrows depict, as accurately as we can, those thugs and gangs that would associate themselves with Sadr. The number of arrows does not indicate their strength. This is not -- it's not a lot of people. But this is where we think we have to conduct operations, not just the United States, but others conduct operations to deal with this particular issue as well."
• Transcript: Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing 07 Apr 2004 -- "Since the outset of violence on Sunday, the coalition has conduced over 4,600 patrols, 58 targeted raids, and captured over 200 enemy. In the west, ongoing operations along the border have significantly impacted the enemy's ability to bring in foreign fighters and equipment. In Fallujah, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, along with the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps, continues Operation Vigilant Resolve. (...) In Ar Ramadi, forces encountered resistance from a number of attacks, but remain in firm control of the city. (...) In the center and southern regions of Iraq, the coalition and Iraqi security forces are conducting operations to destroy the Mahdi Army. (...) In the south-central region of Iraq, continued attacks by Mahdi Army elements are met by determined coalition response, while offensive operations continue to take the fight to the Mahdi Army fighters, leaders and supporters."
• IRAQ SITREP VOA 07 Apr 2004 -- U-S Marines battling Iraqi insurgents in the Sunni stronghold of Fallujah have bombed the grounds of a mosque in the city, causing what witnesses say were a number of civilian casualties. The attack came as U-S led coalition forces fought both Sunni and Shiite insurgents across Iraq for a fourth day in battles that have killed at least 35 coalition soldiers and as many as 200 Iraqis.
• ATTACK ON MARINES NEAR MOSQUE CENTCOM Release 07 Apr 2004-- U.S. Marines observed anti-Coalition Forces today firing from the Haj Musheen Abdul Aziz Az-Kubaysi mosque complex in Fallujah. In order to gain access to the compound housing the mosque, Marines used air support to breach a wall located several hundred yards away from the actual mosque structure. One anti-Coalition force member was killed in the attack. There is no report of civilian casualties.
• OPERATION VIGILANT RESOLVE NETS HIGH VALUE TARGETS CENTCOM Release 07 Apr 2004-- I Marine Expeditionary Force continued to execute Operation Vigilant Resolve yesterday throughout the Al Anbar Province and in several cities known to harbor anti-Iraqi forces.
• IED NO DETERANT FOR MHG CONVOY Marine Corps News 07 Apr 2004-- Shrapnel tore through his legs, but that didn't stop Pfc. John J. Dawdy from maintaining control of his seven-ton truck -- maneuvering a distance of nearly 100 yards -- before pulling off the side of the road and losing consciousness.
• Infantry platoon provides security for 3rdMAW gear Marine Corps News 07 Apr 2004-- The Marines of 1st platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, conducted two nights of security [VSJ1]for a convoy of Marines and Soldiers bringing 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing gear from here to Al Asad, April 4 through 6.
• Marines Breach Wall to Reach Insurgents Using Mosque as Cover AFPS 07 Apr 2004 -- Marines in Fallujah, Iraq, used air support today to break through the wall of a mosque complex that insurgents were using to fire on them, a U.S. Central Command news release reported.
• Coalition Vows To Destroy Sadr's 'Mahdi Army' Militia AFPS 07 Apr 2004 -- U.S. officials in Baghdad today vowed to defeat insurgents and restore order in Iraq after a third day of countrywide attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces.
• U.S. Troops Bomb Mosque Compound In Al-Fallujah RFE/RL 07 Apr 2004 -- U.S. Marines in Al-Fallujah, west of Baghdad, fired rockets and dropped at least one 500-pound bomb on a mosque compound after coming under fire from insurgents inside, as U.S. and coalition troops today battled Iraqi insurgents in a fourth day of violence that left casualties on both sides.
• Situation in Iraq Not Out of Control, Rumsfeld Says Washington File 07 Apr 2004 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the current situation in Iraq is not out of control, and coalition forces will not allow oppressors and terrorists to block the path to a democratic and self-governing Iraq.
• Iraq: Fighting Rages On, Testing Coalition's Resolve RFE/RL 07 Apr 2004 -- A U.S Marine operation against Sunni insurgents continued in Iraq today as the U.S.-led coalition vowed to destroy a Shi'a cleric's rebellious militia. The latest wave of fighting is seen as testing the resolve of coalition troops in Iraq. Ukraine announced it has withdrawn from a flashpoint town in the south, while Bulgaria reaffirmed its determination to continue its engagement in Iraq, despite its troops coming under attack.
• U.S. Military Vows to 'Destroy' Al-Sadr As It Grapples With Unrest RFE/RL 07 Apr 2004 -- The U.S.-led coalition today vowed to destroy a militia led by radical Shi'a cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as coalition forces throughout Iraq clashed with Sunni and Shi'a insurgents.

Deployments

US Policy

• Sadr Group Losing Influence Among Iraq's Shiia, DoD Says AFPS 07 Apr 2004 -- The Mahdi Army, a militia group led by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, is losing influence among Shiia in Iraq, a Defense Department official said here today.
• IRAQ / DEMOCRATS VOA 07 Apr 2004 -- The upsurge in violence in Iraq could have important ramifications for the U-S presidential election campaign. National correspondent Jim Malone reports that the new fighting has reignited a debate in Washington over the Bush administration's handling of the situation in Iraq.
• CONGRESS / IRAQ / U-N VOA 07 Apr 2004 -- U-S lawmakers are calling on the United Nations to conduct a thorough investigation of alleged corruption in its oil-for-food program in Iraq. They say such a probe is crucial if the world body is to maintain credibility as it prepares to play a role in the transfer of sovereignty to Iraq in late June.
• BUSH IRAQ VOA 07 Apr 2004 -- President Bush has discussed the fighting in Iraq with his national security team. Mr. Bush also telephoned British Prime Minister Tony Blair before meetings between the two leaders next week in Washington.

United Nations

• UN envoy in Iraq continues canvassing views of broad cross-section of society UN News Centre 07 Apr 2004 -- United Nations Special Adviser Lakhdar Brahimi today continued his series of meetings with Iraqi officials and other leaders as part of an effort to canvass a broad range of views on the political transition set for the end of June, when United States-led occupation forces are scheduled to transfer power to an Iraqi administration.

Reconstruction Issues

• Iraq: Radical Shi'a Cleric Seeks To Be Symbol Of Insurgency RFE/RL 07 Apr 2004 -- As armed supporters of Shi'a cleric Muqtada al-Sadr continue to battle with coalition forces, the young cleric has almost overnight become the most visible symbol of Iraq's insurgency. How much influence does the young cleric have in the Shi'a community, and could his appeal grow further?
• IRAQ: Special on healthcare in north IRIN 07 Apr 2004 -- "Let me see what we had today," said one of Kirkuk province's leading general surgeons Mahmud Suleiman, in his small office at the Azadi hospital in northern Iraq. He counted his morning's work on his fingers: "A couple of nasty cases of bronchitis, a man with recurring nosebleeds, and half a dozen headaches."

Foreign Reactions

• Al-Sistani Condemns Coalition's Handling Of Iraq Violence, Calls For Calm RFE/RL 07 Apr 2004 -- Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has condemned the way the U.S.-led coalition is dealing with an upsurge of fighting between U.S. troops and insurgents in Iraq, and he called for calm on all sides.
• ARABS / IRAQ VOA 07 Apr 2004 -- The Arab League is appealing to the United Nations to help restore calm in Iraq, in the wake of fierce fighting involving both Suni and Shi'ite insurgents and coalition forces.
• IRAQ: FALLUJAH ATROCITIES PUT 'AMERICANS RESOLVE TO THE TEST' US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 07 Apr 2004
• POWELL'S 'EXTRAORDINARY ADMISSION' ON IRAQ WMD REFUTES WAR 'PRETEXTS' US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 07 Apr 2004

News Reports