Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• U.S. Doubts al Qaeda Kidnapping Claim AFPS 02 Oct 2005 -- A full accountability check is under way today following what is believed to be a false al Qaeda claim of having kidnapped two U.S. Marines in western Iraq, Multinational Force Iraq officials said today.
• One U.S. Soldier, One Afghan Soldier Die Fighting Enemy AFPS 02 Oct 2005 -- Enemy forces killed an American soldier and an Afghan National Army soldier during fighting north of Kandahar, Afghanistan, Sept. 30, Combined Forces Command Afghanistan officials said today.
• Iraqi contractors take home $22 million in cash MNF-I 02 Oct 2005 -- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Southern District paid out more than $22,000,000 in cash Sept. 29 to Iraqi contractors contributing to a number of projects in nine southern provinces of the country.
• Iraqi, U.S. Forces seize terrorist weapons, bombs MNF-I 02 Oct 2005 -- Iraqi Army and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers found five weapons caches hidden in north Baghdad Sept. 30.
• Al-Qaeda Claims 'Kidnapping' Of U.S. Marines RFE/RL 02 Oct 2005 -- A statement posted on a website used by Al-Qaeda claims the group has kidnapped two U.S. Marines in western Iraq.
• Iraq Death Toll Up Sharply In September RFE/RL 02 Oct 2005 -- Statistics issued by the Iraqi government indicate the number of Iraqis killed in attacks in September rose to 702 from 526 in August. Most of those killed were civilians.
• US Forces Press Offensive in Western Iraq VOA 02 Oct 2005 -- U.S. troops have killed eight insurgents in western Iraq, as military officials dispute claims that militants have kidnapped two U.S. Marines.
• Operation Iron Fist: Day 2 Update MNF-I 02 Oct 2005 -- Operation Kabda Bil Hadid (Iron Fist) continued today with a force of approximately 1,000 Marines, Soldiers and Sailors from Regimental Combat Team-2 engaging numerous terrorists in and around Sa'dah, approximately 12 kilometers east of the Syrian border.
• Marines doubt Al Qaeda claims; full accountability check in progress MNF-I 02 Oct 2005 -- There are no indications that Al Qaeda claims of having kidnapped two Marines in western Iraq are true.
• Task Force Liberty Soldiers seize cache near Balad MNF-I 02 Oct 2005 -- Task Force Liberty Soldiers discovered and seized a cache of munitions buried in a field near Balad at about 11 a.m. Oct 2.

Deployments

US Policy

• U.S. Generals Cite Positive Trends in Battle with Iraqi Insurgents Washington File 02 Oct 2005 -- The involvement of Iraqi forces in stabilizing that nation continues to increase, the U.S. general with oversight responsibility for the Middle East says.
• 'Progress Being Made' in Iraq, Abizaid Says AFPS 02 Oct 2005 -- Army Gen. John Abizaid noted on NBC's "Meet the Press" today that events are moving forward in establishing a free and democratic Iraq since Saddam Hussein was deposed by U.S. and coalition military force.
• Casey: Iraqi Forces' Development 'On Track' AFPS 02 Oct 2005 -- Iraqi soldiers and police are increasingly becoming more capable of taking over security duties from U.S. and coalition troops, the U.S. military's top ground commander in Iraq said on two talk shows today.
• Top US Generals Urge Public Support for Iraq Policy VOA 02 Oct 2005 -- The Bush administration, seeking support for its Iraq policies, is speaking out on national television

United Nations

Reconstruction Issues

• Split Emerges Between Iraqi Kurds and Shi'ites in Government VOA 02 Oct 2005 -- A high-level delegation from the northern Kurdish region of Iraq is due to arrive in Baghdad to hold urgent talks with Shi'ite leaders to avert a collapse of Iraq's government

Foreign Reactions

News Reports

• Iraqi Minister Speaks About Brother's Abduction RFE/RL 02 Oct 2005 -- Iraq's interior minister says he believes his brother's abduction yesterday was meant as "pressure."
• IRAQ: Thousands of civilians flee military offensive near Syrian border IRIN 02 Oct 2005 -- Thousands of civilians have fled the Iraqi town of al-Qaim near the Syrian border following the start of a fresh US military offensive against insurgents in nearby villages, local government officials said on Sunday.