Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 11 Apr 2005 [PDF]
• SOLDIER SERVING WITH MARINES DIES IN NON-HOSTILE INCIDENT
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty

• Soldiers storm through terrorist networks in Al-Rasheed MNF-I/MNC-I 11 Apr 2005 -- More than 500 Iraqi Security Forces in cooperation with Task Force Baghdad Soldiers detained 65 terrorists in the Al-Rasheed district April 11.
• Early raids target terrorists MNF-I/MNC-I 11 Apr 2005 -- In the last few hours, Task Force Baghdad Soldiers, working in conjunction with Iraqi Security Forces, conducted several combat operations in and around Baghdad in the continuing effort to bring peace and stability to the area.
• Gunmen Assassinate Local Official In Iraq's Mosul RFE/RL 11 Apr 2005 -- A member of the provincial council in Mosul was shot dead by gunmen outside the city's main hospital.
• Balad's pharmacy techs help save lives AFPN 11 Apr 2005 -- Within the chaotic center of the Air Force Theater Hospital here is a group of Airmen whose job is to ease pain and help people heal faster.

Deployments

US Policy

• CONGRESS/OIL FOR FOOD OVERNIGHTER VOA 11 Apr 2005 -- The U.S. Congress is continuing its examination of corruption in the former United Nations Oil for Food Program in Iraq. The latest hearing on the subject today (Tuesday) comes during a week of intense scrutiny by congressional committees of the United Nations
• US / IRAQ TROOPS VOA 11 Apr 2005 -- The New York Times is reporting that the U.S. Defense Department is planning to withdraw as many as one quarter of the U.S. troops now in Iraq by early next year. But a department spokesman told VOA there is no specific plan, and any U.S. withdrawal will depend on a variety of factors.

United Nations

• World Must Support Iraq's Political Transition, U.N. Envoy Says Washington File 11 Apr 2005 -- Terrorists and insurgents remain determined to try to thwart Iraq's progress toward peace and democracy, U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson told the U.N. Security Council April 11.
• Nearly all Iraqis seek greater UN role in political transition, Security Council told UN News Centre 11 Apr 2005 -- Virtually all sectors of Iraqi society want the United Nations to play a larger role as the country moves forward in its political transition to writing a new constitution and holding fresh elections, the Security Council was told today.

Reconstruction Issues

• Iraqi Security Forces Gain Strength Washington File 11 Apr 2005 -- Following is a fact sheet issued by the U.S. delegation to the United Nations April 11 regarding the state of Iraqi security forces
• New Iraqi President: Coalition Needed Till 'No Danger' AFPS 11 Apr 2005 -- The Iraqi government will require "American and other allied forces in Iraq . until we will be assured that there will be no danger" of terrorists intervening in Iraqi internal affairs, Iraq's new president said April 10 in Baghdad.
• Iraq: New Iraqi President Urges U.S. To Stay Amid Protests RFE/RL 11 Apr 2005 -- Amid anti-American protests in Baghdad, new Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has stated he wants U.S. troops to stay in the country as violence continues and insurgents reject an offer of amnesty. But the protests have nonetheless put the issue of possible withdrawal of U.S. troops on the new Iraqi government's agenda.

Foreign Reactions

• Pakistan sending envoy to Iraq to secure release of kidnapped diplomat IRNA 11 Apr 2005 -- Pakistan is sending a special envoy to Iraq to discuss with Iraqi authorities the kidnapping of a Pakistani embassy official in Baghdad, Foreign Office said on Monday.
• PAKISTAN-IRAQ / HOSTAGE VOA 11 Apr 2005 -- Pakistan is intensifying efforts to free one of its nationals, kidnapped Saturday in Iraq. Government officials have said that the kidnappers appear more interested in making money than political statements.
• JORDAN: Trade fair promotes momentum for reconstruction in Iraq IRIN 11 Apr 2005 -- A four-day international trade fair for business and reconstruction in Iraq ended in the Jordanian capital Amman, on Thursday.

News Reports

• Iraqi Media Monitoring UNAMI 11 Apr 2005
• IRAQ: Focus on increase in kidnappings IRIN 11 Apr 2005 -- Haydar Jabbar, 15, will never be able to forget the miserable days he spent in captivity after being kidnapped and shot in the leg. He bares the scars of his ordeal - a row of stitches in his right leg. The young man has been bed-ridden for 40 days and doctors say he may never walk again.