Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 12 Apr 2005 [PDF]

• Iraq Announces Capture Of Former Saddam Regime Member RFE/RL 12 Apr 2005 -- Iraq's government says it captured a former high-ranking member of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party today.
• Task Force Baghdad nabs four terror suspects MNF-I/MC-I 12 Apr 2005 -- Task Force Baghdad Soldiers captured four suspects specifically targeted for their involvement in terrorist cells in four separate operations.
• Smuggling ring raided near Syrian border MNF-I/MC-I 12 Apr 2005 -- Multi-national forces conducted a raid April 12 on a known foreign-fighter and weapons-smuggling ring located near the Iraqi border town of Al Qaim, five miles east of the Syrian border.
• VBIED in Samarra kills 3 Iraqis, injures 26 MNF-I/MC-I 12 Apr 2005 -- A vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated in Samarra about 8 p.m. April 11.
• Search operation in Multinational Division Central-South MNF-I/MC-I 12 Apr 2005 -- From April 2 to April 11, operation Fontana was carried out throughout Babil and Wasit provinces, which are included in Multinational Division Central-South's (MND CS) area of responsibility.
• Task Force Baghdad Soldiers react to IEDs, shootings MNF-I/MC-I 12 Apr 2005 -- Task Force Baghdad Soldiers patrolling neighborhoods here responded to numerous reports of small-arms fire and improvised explosive devices April 11 as they continue security operations with the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police.
• EMF Dallas Cares for U.S., Coalition Troops in Kuwait Navy NewsStand 12 Apr 2005 -- Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) Dallas is bringing state-of-the-art medical care to military members serving on the front lines of Operation Iraqi Freedom from a tent city in Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. The Reserve unit, comprised of more than 300 doctors, nurses and support staff deployed to Kuwait earlier this year.
• Lejeune-based Intel Marines return from Iraq USMC News 12 Apr 2005 -- Cpl. Charles W. Ehm, an analyst assigned to 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, was happy to see his family and fiancé upon returning from deployment to Iraq.
• Marines on towers keep a keen eye on the desert plain USMC News 12 Apr 2005 -- For all service members, and civilians' here, their first line of defense for approaching enemy is the tower Marines on duty 24-hours a day.

Deployments

US Policy

• Transcript: Secretary Rumsfeld Press Availability with Dr. Jaafari 12 Apr 2005 -- Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and Dr. Jaafari
• Transcript: Secretary Rumsfeld Press Availability with Prime Minister Allawi 12 Apr 2005 -- Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and Prime Minister Allawi
• Iraqi Forces Playing Greater Security Role, Bush Says Washington File 12 Apr 2005 -- Iraq's army, police and security forces now outnumber U.S. troops in Iraq and are taking on greater responsibilities, President Bush told U.S. soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, April 12.
• Rumsfeld Discusses Progress of Iraqi Government During Visit AFPS 12 Apr 2005 -- Progress and continuity were central themes for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld today as he participated in a series of meetings with Iraqi leaders during an unannounced visit to the country.
• Rumsfeld Arrives in Baghdad to Meet with Troops, Iraqi Officials AFPS 12 Apr 2005 -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived in the Iraqi capital in predawn hours today after an overnight flight from Washington. He plans to visit U.S. troops and meet with coalition military leaders and Iraqi officials.
• IRAQ / RUMSFELD VOA/ 12 Apr 2005 -- Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has urged Iraq's new leaders to avoid delays in the transition to democracy. Mr. Rumsfeld made the remarks (Tuesday) after meeting the Iraqi president and prime minister during a visit to Baghdad.
• BUSH/IRAQ VOA 12 Apr 2005 -- President Bush marked the two-year anniversary of the liberation of Baghdad with a visit to a U.S. Army base in Texas. The president used the occasion to thank American troops for, what he called, their noble work.
• Rumsfeld Visits Iraqi, U.S. Military In Baghdad RFE/RL 12 Apr 2005 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld met with Iraq's new Prime Minister Ibrahim al Ja'fari in Baghdad, and warned against purging security forces amidst an active insurgency.
• Rumsfeld Meets Top Officials, U.S. Troops In Iraq RFE/RL 12 Apr 2005 -- In Baghdad today on an unannounced visit, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld met with U.S. generals and top Iraqi officials, saying the U.S.-led coalition hopes to cut troop numbers in the country as soon as Iraqi forces are up to speed. He also warned Iraqi officials against delaying the formation of a government and the writing of a new constitution.

United Nations

• U-N/OIL FOR FOOD VOA 12 Apr 2005 -- A U.S. official says former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein used a range of techniques as part of efforts to circumvent United Nations oversight of the Oil for Food program. The comments came during the latest U.S. congressional hearing into corruption in the U.N. program.
• UN designates South African legal expert to help Iraq write new constitution UN News Centre 12 Apr 2005 -- A veteran South African constitutional expert, who is a long-time legal adviser to former President Nelson Mandela and has been involved in the Burundi peace process, has been designated to lead the United Nations team helping Iraqis write their new constitution in anticipation that a request for such assistance will be forthcoming.
• U.N. Rep Pledges Ongoing Commitment to Iraqi Forces AFPS 12 Apr 2005 -- Iraq remains "a very difficult security environment," but strong progress is being made in the country's transition into a stable, democratic government with self-reliant security forces, said the acting U.S. representative to the United Nations on April 11.

Reconstruction Issues

Foreign Reactions

News Reports

• Iraqi Media Monitoring UNAMI 12 Apr 2005
• Iraq Joins Arabian Gauntlet 2005 Navy NewsStand 12 Apr 2005 -- For the first time in its country's history, the Iraqi Navy has joined with coalition forces to participate as observers during exercise Arabian Gauntlet 2005 in the Persian Gulf March 22-30.
• IRAQ: Campaign for blood donation launched IRIN 12 Apr 2005 -- A campaign to increase blood donations has been launched by the Iraqi National Centre for Blood Donation (INCBD) in the capital Baghdad, to help replenish supplies held for hospitals across the country. Medical staff say they have been struggling to cope with demand due to violence by insurgents.