Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 05 Nov 2004 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualties
• ONE SOLDIER KILLED, ONE WOUNDED IN IED ATTACK
• ONE SOLDIER KILLED, FIVE WOUNDED BY INDERECT FIRE NEAR FALLUJAH
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty

• IRAQ/SITREP VOA 05 Nov 2004 -- U.S. forces are closing in on the Iraqi city of Fallujah, launching new air strikes on the rebel stronghold, while Iraq's prime minister warns that a long-threatened battle to regain control of the city could be imminent. At the Pentagon, Correspondent Nick Simeone tells us U.S. and Iraqi forces are now waiting for the order to move in.
• Fallujah-Ramadi Nov. 5 Operations Update MNF-I/MNC-I 05 Nov 2004 -- Iraqi Security Forces and the I Marine Expeditionary Force continue to degrade and disrupt anti-Iraqi forces in the Fallujah-Ramadi area. I Marine Expeditionary Force employed U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force air power to deliver precision munitions to destroy preplanned targets in Fallujah.
• Insurgents Target Children of Ramadi MNF-I/MNC-I 05 Nov 2004 -- An Army unit assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force, discovered and defused an explosive-laden youth center in Ramadi Nov. 4, which was rigged by insurgents to detonate and potentially kill dozens of Iraqi children. They also discovered more than two tons of explosives hidden in a mosque.
• Air Force aircraft join Fallujah offensive AFPN 05 Nov 2004 -- U.S. Air Force aircraft launched precision munitions to destroy preplanned targets here Nov. 4.
• MSSG-26 improves convoy operations USMC News 05 Nov 2004 -- More than 20 Marines from MEU Service Support Group-26 conducted simulated convoy missions in conjunction with Stability and Support Operations (SASO) training at the II Marine Expeditionary Force Simulation Center, here, Nov. 1-5.
• Marines prepare for convoy ops USMC News 05 Nov 2004 -- The trucks rumble along through the cool air like an armored procession of steel and rubber. The gunner in the final truck reaches up to remove his sunglasses as the sun disappears behind a blanket of grey clouds.

Deployments

• Stryker Brigade returns from Iraq Army News 05 Nov 2004 -- For a couple of thousand Fort Lewis families, the wait is over. And, for the remaining family and friends awaiting the return of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, the end is in sight.

US Policy

• IRAQ / ARMY LAWSUIT VOA 05 Nov 2004 -- A U.S. Army captain has won a federal lawsuit, challenging the Army's right to extend his enlistment and send him to Iraq. The Army asked him to report to Iraq, even though he submitted resignation papers in June, after eight years of service.

United Nations

• PRESS BRIEFING ON IRAQ ELECTORAL PROCESS United Nations 05 Nov 2004
• Iraq: UN Says Preparations For On-Time Elections Moving Ahead RFE/RL 05 Nov 2004 -- United Nations officials say preparations are advancing to hold national elections on time in Iraq this January. But they say security problems continue to hamper efforts. The UN undersecretary-general for political affairs and the head of the electoral-assistance division told reporters that the UN remains committed to supporting Iraq's efforts to organize the elections. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has cautioned the U.S.-led coalition that an assault on the city of Al-Fallujah, a stronghold of Sunni Muslim insurgents, could hurt elections plans.
• UN/ANNAN IRAQ LETTER VOA 05 Nov 2004 -- U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan has warned the United States, Britain and Iraq that a military assault on the Iraqi city of Fallujah could disrupt planned elections. VOA's Peter Heinlein at U.N. headquarters reports the warning elicited strong reactions.
• Annan says UN will do all it can to help Iraqis advance political process UN News Centre 05 Nov 2004 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today pledged the world body's full support for the political process in Iraq as a senior UN aide announced that more international staffers would head to the war-ravaged country to help with preparations for January elections.

Reconstruction Issues

Foreign Reactions

• Statement by the Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Alessandro Minuto Rizzo at the North Atlantic Council Meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, HE Mr. Ayad Allawi NATO 05 Nov 2004
• Speech by Dr. Ayad Allawi, Prime Minister of Iraq at the North Atlantic Council Meeting NATO 05 Nov 2004

• EU / IRAQ VOA 05 Nov 2004 -- European Union leaders have offered "strong support" for Iraq's interim government, including more technical assistance and the possibility of a trade deal. The pledge came after E.U. leaders attending a summit met with Iraq's interim prime minister, Iyad Allawi.
• Iraq/EU: Brussels Pledges Support To Visiting Iraqi Leader RFE/RL 05 Nov 2004 -- Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi held meetings with NATO and European Union officials in Brussels today. EU leaders reaffirmed their support for upcoming elections in Iraq and unveiled an aid package that included the possibility of a "rule of law" mission in 2005 to strengthen Iraqi law enforcement. But Allawi's visit was not without controversy. In an apparent snub, French President Jacques Chirac did not meet with the Iraqi leader. Allawi also scrambled to play down recent comments criticizing countries, such as France, that opposed the war to topple Saddam Hussein.

News Reports

• Iraqi Leader Warns That Al-Fallujah 'Window Closing' RFE/RL 05 Nov 2004 -- Iraq's interim prime minister says time is running out for a peaceful solution to the standoff with insurgents in the western Iraqi city of Al-Fallujah.
• ALLAWI / FALLUJAH VOA 05 Nov 2004 -- Iraq's interim prime minister, Iyad Allawi, says hopes are fading for a peaceful end to the standoff in the town of Fallujah, which is controlled by insurgents. Mr. Allawi was meeting with European Union leaders.
• RFE/RL Iraq Report, Volume 7, Number 41 05 Nov 2004 -- MOSUL: THE NEXT AL-FALLUJAH? / CAR BOMB APPEARS TO TARGET IRAQI NATIONAL GUARD / U.S. WARPLANES CONTINUE TO STRIKE AL-FALLUJAH... / ...AS U.S. MILITARY SAYS MILITANTS FORCING ARAB JOURNALISTS TO LEAVE CITY / JOURNALISTS REMAIN TARGET OF MILITANTS IN IRAQ / KIDNAPPED JORDANIANS SEEN ON NEW VIDEOTAPE / AL-SADR ESTABLISHES NEW ORGANIZATION / NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, CHRISTIAN DELEGATION MEET WITH SHI'A LEADER / ANSAR AL-SUNNAH ARMY DECAPITATES IRAQI OFFICER / U.S. CONTRACTOR KIDNAPPED IN IRAQ / MILITANTS ASSASSINATE IRAQI OIL OFFICIAL / KURDISTAN WOMEN'S UNION OFFICIAL KIDNAPPED / U.S. MILITARY ASKS BAGHDAD RESIDENTS TO USE TIP LINE / MILITANTS KIDNAP AMERICAN, TWO NEPALESE IN IRAQ / CAR BOMBS DETONATE IN BAGHDAD / MILITANTS ATTACK TRAIN ON BAGHDAD-DAMASCUS RAILWAY / DEPUTY GOVERNORS ASSASSINATED IN IRAQ / ELECTION DEVELOPMENTS THIS WEEK / VOTER, POLITICAL PARTY REGISTRATION BEGINS IN IRAQ... / ...AS ELECTION WORKERS THREATENED / U.S. FORCES BATTLE MILITANTS IN AL-RAMADI / ALLAWI SAYS GOVERNMENT'S PATIENCE 'RUNNING THIN.' / 94 AFGHANS ARRESTED IN IRAQ / TURKEY MAKES PLANS FOR IRAQ / ALLAWI CONGRATULATES U.S. PRESIDENT / IRAQIS REACT TO BUSH ELECTION VICTORY / U.S. MARINE COURT-MARTIALED OVER IRAQI POW DEATH / IRAQI SECURITY PERSONNEL BEGIN NATO TRAINING IN NORWAY