Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 20 May 2005 [PDF]
• SOLDIER KILLED IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT AFTER IED EXPLOSION
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties

• Rocket attack on Abu Ghraib injures 5 detainees MNF-I 20 May 2005 -- Five detainees were injured in a rocket attack on Forward Operating Base Abu Ghraib Internment Facility May 20.
• Marines keep eyes in the sky USMC News 20 May 2005 -- The Dragon Eye unmanned aerial vehicle system provides the Marine Corps an eye in the sky while conducting operations throughout Iraq, but the Dragon Eye system requires meticulous maintenance to remain operational.
• Alpha 1/5 Marines, NIA soldiers conduct mission together in Ramadi USMC News 20 May 2005 -- Marines with 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, teamed up with soldiers from the Iraqi Security Force and, together, executed a cordon and search mission in the city here.
• Marines enjoy benefits of camp life USMC News 20 May 2005 -- Since arriving at Camp Buehring May 15-17 to conduct a live-fire exercise at nearby Udairi Range, Marines and Sailors from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) have had to endure harsh sand storms and extreme temperatures topping out at 110 degrees.

Deployments

US Policy

• Rice Criticizes Syrian Support for Iraqi Terrorists VOA 20 May 2005 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has sharpened U.S. criticism of alleged Syrian support for the Iraqi insurgency, saying the Damascus government is out of step with the rest of the region. She held talks Friday with Iraq's planning minister, Barham Salih, who said former dictator Saddam Hussein could face trial within a few months.
• Pentagon Probes Release of Saddam Photos VOA 20 May 2005 -- The U.S. Defense Department says it did not orchestrate the release of photos of Saddam Hussein in jail, wearing only underpants in one picture, and is investigating how the shots were taken and published.
• Statement regarding recently published photos of Saddam Hussein MNF-I 20 May 2005 -- Regarding photos that appeared in a London newspaper May 20 of the detained Saddam Hussein: The source of those photos is unknown at this time. It is believed the photos were taken over a year ago.

United Nations

Reconstruction Issues

• Iraqi Premier Vows To Take Steps On Security RFE/RL 20 May 2005 -- Prime minister Ibrahim al-Ja'fari told reporters in Baghdad during a joint press conference with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick yesterday that he intends to take new steps to confront terrorism and provide security in Iraq
• Iraq: Sunni-Shi'ite Political Rift Intensifies RFE/RL 20 May 2005 -- Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist leader Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi must be pleased with the turn of events this week in Iraq. While his insurgency cannot take all the credit for the escalation of tensions between Sunnis and Shi'a, his 18 May statement justifying the killing of innocent Muslims and labeling Iraq's Shi'a as collaborators that have betrayed the Muslim cause has added fuel to a rift that appears to be reaching crisis proportions.

Foreign Reactions

• FM Kharrazi terms talks with Iraqi officials "satisfactory" IRNA 20 May 2005 -- Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said here on Thursday evening that he had held satisfactory talks with the top religious and political officials of Iraq during his three-day visit to the country.
• Iran to export electricity to Iraq IRNA 20 May 2005 -- Iran's Charge de Affairs to Baghdad Hassan Kazemi Qomi said, concerning to the importance of electricity in Iraqis' life Iran will export electricity to Iraq.

News Reports

• RFE/RL Iraq Report, Volume 8, Number 16 20 May 2005 -- SUNNI-SHI'ITE POLITICAL RIFT INTENSIFIES / TENSIONS LINGER BENEATH IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER'S BAGHDAD VISIT / BRITISH MP REBUKES U.S. PANEL AS OIL-FOR-FOOD INQUIRY WIDENS