Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 25 Aug 2005 [PDF]

• Efforts to halt terrorism are non-stop MNF-I 25 Aug 2005 -- Multi-National Forces of Task Force Freedom killed a few terrorists and detained four suspected terrorists Aug. 24 and 25.
• Airmen drop much-needed supplies to Soldiers, Marines AFPN 25 Aug 2005 -- Airmen from the 745th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron traveled to the eastern region of Afghanistan on Aug. 23 to resupply Soldiers and Marines who are helping Afghanistan prepare for elections Sept. 18.

Deployments

US Policy

• U.S. Encouraged by Iraq's Progress in Drafting Constitution Washington File 25 Aug 2005 -- White House official Trent Duffy says the United States is encouraged by the progress that Iraqis are making in drafting a constitution and is ready to assist them in that effort.

United Nations

Reconstruction Issues

• Iraq's Parliament Puts Off Constitutional Vote VOA News 25 Aug 2005 -- Iraq's National Assembly postponed a vote on a draft constitution Thursday, again missing a deadline for ratifying the document. No new date for a ratification has been announced, but negotiations appear to be at an end.
• Iraq: Efforts Under Way To Complete Draft Constitution As Tensions Rise RFE/RL 25 Aug 2005 -- Factional tensions in Shi'ite areas of Iraq are rising in the wake of clashes yesterday in Al-Najaf, Baghdad, and Al-Basrah.
• Despite Insurgent Efforts, Progress on Iraqi Constitution Continues AFPS 25 Aug 2005 -- Insurgents continued their attempts to derail the democratic process and discredit the Iraqi government this week, a spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq said during a briefing from Baghdad, Iraq, today.

Foreign Reactions

• Iraqi Foreign Minister Meets With Pope RFE/RL 25 Aug 2005 -- Pope Benedict XVI met today with visiting Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.

News Reports

• Gunmen Attack Iraqi Convoy, at Least 6 Talabani Bodyguards Dead VOA News 27 Aug 2005 -- Iraqi police say gunmen have attacked a convoy belonging to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, killing at least six of his bodyguards and wounding as many as 15 others.
• Iraq: Al-Sadr Reasserts Himself -- This Time Against Coreligionists RFE/RL 25 Aug 2005 -- Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr appears to be playing both agitator and mediator in the sudden surge of internecine fighting that broke out on 24 August between rival Shi'ite groups in Al-Najaf and subsequently spread to eight cities across Iraq.
• Iraqi Radical Cleric Calls For End To Clashes RFE/RL 25 Aug 2005 -- Radical Shi'ite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has called for an end to armed clashes between his followers and supporters of a rival Shi'ite group.
• Iraqi Shi'ite Cleric Condemns Fighting VOA News 25 Aug 2005 -- In Iraq, a radical Shiite cleric has called on his followers to end the deadly clashes that erupted in several Shiite cities Wednesday, and to concentrate on unity as the country's lawmakers struggled to agree on a new constitution.

• Iraqi Premier Tries To Quell Violence RFE/RL 25 Aug 2005 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'fari has appealed for calm following clashes between rival Shi'ite Muslim groups in the Shi'ite holy city of Al-Najaf and in Baghdad and elsewhere.

• Iraqi Police Find 36 Bodies Southeast of Baghdad VOA News 25 Aug 2005 -- Iraqi police say they have found the bodies of 36 men dumped in a river southeast of Baghdad.

• IRAQ: People falling ill from contaminated water IRIN 25 Aug 2005 -- Numerous cases of people falling ill from contaminated water in districts across Baghdad have been reported by local doctors and the Ministry of Public Works this week.