Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Further Reading

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

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 15 Dec 2004 [PDF]
• SOLDIER DIES OF FATAL WOUNDS
• MARINE KILLED IN AL ANBAR PROVINCE
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

• Transcript: Special Defense Department Briefing on CENTCOM Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan 15 Dec 2004 -- Lieutenant General Lance Smith, CENTCOM Deputy Commander
• Transcript: Special Defense Department Briefing on Iraq Reconstruction Update 15 Dec 2004 -- Charlie Hess, Director, Iraq Project and Contracting Office
• Blast In Karbala Kills at Least Seven People RFE/RL 15 Dec 2004 -- A bomb explosion in the holy city of Karbala in central Iraq has killed at least seven people and wounded more than 30 others.
• ING soldiers and Multi-National Forces Detain Five in Raid MNF-I/MNC-I 15 Dec 2004 -- Iraqi National Guard soldiers from the 201st ING Battalion detained five individuals during a joint raid with Multi-National Forces near Bayji at about 10 p.m. on Dec. 14. The Soldiers were searching for suspected bomb makers.
• Task Force Danger Soldiers Detain 3 Near Tuz MNF-I/MNC-I 15 Dec 2004 -- Task Force Danger Soldiers from E Troop, 196th Cavalry Regiment, detained three suspected anti-Iraqi forces in the village of Yanijah about 11:30 p.m., Dec. 14.
• Iraqi Security Forces Foil 2 Insurgent Attacks MNF-I/MNC-I 15 Dec 2004 -- Iraqi Security Forces defeated two attacks in Mosul by anti-Iraqi insurgents as they attempted to seize two police stations on Dec. 14, while in other operations Multi-National Forces detained 10 people wanted for anti-Iraqi activities in northern Iraq.
• Marines kill three, capture 13 south of Baghdad MNF-I/MNC-I 15 Dec 2004 -- U.S. Marines killed three insurgents and captured 13 suspected others in action south of Baghdad on Dec. 14.
• Marines Find Multiple Insurgent Arms Caches South of Baghdad MNF-I/MNC-I 15 Dec 2004 -- U.S. Marines uncovered five weapons stockpiles south of Baghdad Wednesday, continuing to ferret out the hidden tools militants are using to sustain their campaign of chaos and terror.
• Convoys help win logistics victory for Marine Air Wing USMC News 15 Dec 2004 -- Driving across Iraq is not like the typical car-pool or commute to work. Snipers, unpredictable local traffic, roadside bombs and ambushes by insurgents are just a few of the hazards.
• Increased C-130, C-17 flights relieve Army ground convoys AFPN 15 Dec 2004 -- Airmen are moving more cargo, including armored vehicles, repair parts and ammunition, to assist Soldiers in getting needed materiel to troops in the Iraq theater.
• Corps' top leaders address concerns in Iraq USMC News 15 Dec 2004 -- From future troop rotations to new weaponry, Marines got their chance to ask any and every question to the Commandant and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps during their recent visit to Iraq.
• Commandant sees how Marines at Al Asad use technology to fight war on terror USMC News 15 Dec 2004 -- Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. John L. Estrada recently visited Al Asad, Iraq to see how and if the Marine Corps' new technologies are helping their Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Deployments

US Policy

• Transcript: Special Defense Department Briefing 15 Dec 2004 -- Major General Stephen Speakes, U.S. Army G-8, Force Development; Brigadier General (P) Jeffrey Sorenson, Deputy for Acquisition Systems Management to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology; Colonel John Rooney, Chief of Staff, Army Test and Development Command
• Myers Stresses Importance of Jan. 30 Elections AFPS 15 Dec 2004 -- Since the retaking of Fallujah, there has been a decrease in attacks throughout Iraq, officials said. But officials are unsure what this means, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he expects the attacks to increase as the Jan. 30 election approaches.
• Most Iraqi Provinces Ready for Elections, General Says AFPS 15 Dec 2004 -- Noting that "we could probably have elections tomorrow" in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces, U.S. Central Command's No. 2 officer today pledged continued efforts to stabilize the country's remaining security problems in time for Iraqis to elect a national assembly Jan. 30 as scheduled.
• Bush Warns Neighbors Against Meddling in Iraq's Internal Affairs Washington File 15 Dec 2004 -- President Bush warned Iraq's neighbors not to meddle in that country's internal affairs and called on them to help Iraqi authorities stop the flow of people and money across its borders.
• Army Pushes Forward on Up-Armoring Wheeled Vehicles AFPS 15 Dec 2004 -- Up-armoring tactical wheeled vehicles continues to be a priority for the Army, officials involved in the effort told reporters today at the Pentagon.

United Nations

• United Nations to Expand Operations in Iraq Washington File 15 Dec 2004 -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan intends to increase the number of U.N. personnel in Iraq soon after January 1, 2005, the United Nations announced December 15.
• Annan intends to increase number of staff in Iraq, orders security review UN News Centre 15 Dec 2004 -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced today that he intends to increase the number of United Nations staff in Iraq, which he cut back after last year's terrorist bombing of UN headquarters in Baghdad, and has ordered a review of security conditions in the violence-wracked country in order to move as soon as practicable.
• UN / IRAQ STAFF VOA 15 Dec 2004 -- The United Nations is preparing to open two new offices in Iraq before next month's elections. The announcement came days after Iraqi officials criticized the world body's low level of involvement in the country's democratic transition.
• UN Finds Irregularities In U.S.-Run Iraqi Oil Sales RFE/RL 15 Dec 2004 -- A UN watchdog found irregularities in Iraq's oil-export sales under U.S.-led authorities between May 2003 and June 2004.

Reconstruction Issues

• Iraqi Team to Visit Washington for Joint Economic Talks Washington File 15 Dec 2004 -- Iraqi Finance Minister Adil Abd al-Mahdi will lead a delegation of senior Iraqi economic officials on a visit to Washington, December 16 through 21, to participate in the second meeting of the U.S.-Iraq Joint Economic Commission (JEC).
• Iraq Reconstruction Progresses AFPS 15 Dec 2004 -- Despite security concerns and intimidation by insurgents, Iraq's reconstruction continues, with thousands of construction projects started and thousands more Iraqis showing up for work.
• Iraqi War Crimes Tribunal Will Begin Soon, Prime Minister Says Washington File 15 Dec 2004 -- Ayad Allawi, Iraq's interim prime minister, announced on December 14 that a special war crimes tribunal to try Iraqis suspected of committing war crimes during Saddam Hussein's regime will begin this month.
• Iraq: Election Campaign Begins As Trials Announced For Former Officials RFE/RL 15 Dec 2004 -- Iraq's political parties kicked off their first official day of campaigning today for national elections. On 30 January, Iraqis are scheduled to elect a 275-member assembly that will appoint a government and draft a constitution. The campaign began one day after Iraq's interim prime minister announced that some leaders of the former regime would go on trial as early as next week for crimes against humanity and war crimes. For now, there are no indications when ousted President Saddam Hussein will stand trial.
• Interview: Adnan Pachachi On Upcoming Election RFE/RL 15 Dec 2004 -- RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI) interviewed interim National Assembly member Adnan Pachachi in Baghdad on 12 December. Pachachi discussed upcoming national elections in January, and his party's participation in them.
• IRAQ / TRIALS VOA 15 Dec 2004 -- Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi says war crimes trials involving the inner circle of former leader Saddam Hussein are to begin next week. But, Iraqi citizens seem to have mixed emotions about whether now is a good time to conduct the trials. Some Iraqis say Mr. Allawi is looking for political gain before national elections next month, while others say the trials could further divide the country.
• Election Campaign Kicks Off In Iraq RFE/RL 15 Dec 2004 -- Campaigning for Iraq's 30 January elections officially began today.
• IRAQ: Iraqis queue at petrol stations as fuel crisis continues IRIN 15 Dec 2004 -- Recent attacks on Iraq's oil industry infrastucture are exacerbating fuel shortages in the country, with many Iraqis queuing for up to eight hours to fill their cars with petrol or get gas for cooking, according to oil ministry spokesman Assem Jihad.

Foreign Reactions

• Gov`t spokesman refutes Iraqi defense minister`s anti-Iran allegation IRNA 15 Dec 2004 -- Government spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh on Wednesday refuted the allegations once again the Iraqi Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan has made over Iranian interference in Iraq.
• Iraqi Minister Blasts Iran As Source Of 'Terrorism' RFE/RL 15 Dec 2004 -- Iraqi Defense Minister Hazim Sha'lan al-Khuza'i today accused Iran of orchestrating terrorist attacks in Iraq.

News Reports

• Iraqi Media Monitoring UNAMI 15 Dec 2004
• IRAQ-JORDAN: Human rights NGOs in dire need of support IRIN 15 Dec 2004 -- Iraqi human rights NGOs and activists participating in a workshop in the Jordanian capital, Amman, earlier this week, have called for financial and moral support from the international community to carry out their activities.