Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 29 Nov 2005 [PDF]
• 2 TASK FORCE BAGHDAD SOLDIERS KILLED

• Transcript: News Briefing with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Gen. Peter Pace 29 Nov 2005 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace
• CENTAF releases airpower summary AFPN 29 Nov 2005 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.
• Air Force gun trucks deliver the goods AFPN 29 Nov 2005 -- As Airmen saddle up for one of the most notorious jobs in Iraq, the mood is not dread, but drive and determination.
• Airmen outside the wire AFPN 29 Nov 2005 -- Air Force security forces are usually associated with base defense, but with the increased needs of the Army, deployed Airmen here are finding themselves outside the wire performing area security and winning hearts and minds.
• Troops Find Car Bombs, Detain Suspects AFPS 29 Nov 2005 -- Soldiers from the 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, discovered three car bombs and detained nine possible terrorists west of Rawah today after their patrol was attacked by a suicide bomber, military officials reported.
• Two Soldiers Killed, One Injured in Separate Incidents AFPS 29 Nov 2005 -- Two Task Force Baghdad soldiers were killed when their patrol struck a roadside bomb north of Baghdad today, military officials reported.
• Seabee Commander Visits Troops in Iraq Navy NewsStand 29 Nov 2005 -- The Commander of First Naval Construction Division (1NCD), Rear Adm. Robert L. Phillips, visited Seabees and Soldiers throughout the Al Anbar Province for three days beginning Nov. 12. The Seabees and Soldiers are providing construction support to II Marine Expeditionary Force (forward) (MEF(FWD)).
• NMCB 133 Relieves NMCB 3 in Iraq Navy NewsStand 29 Nov 2005 -- Capt. Paula C. Brown, commander, 30th Naval Construction Regiment (forward) ((NCR) (FWD)), presided over the transfer of authority (TOA) between Commanding Officer Cmdr. Allan M. Stratman, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133, and Executive Officer Lt. Cmdr. Donald D. Naiser, NMCB 3, at a brief ceremony Nov. 23.
• Coalition Forces' Top NCO Recognizes NMCB-22 Personnel Navy NewsStand 29 Nov 2005 -- U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Mellinger, Multi-National Force, Iraq, paid a surprise visit to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 22's quarterdeck Nov. 11, speaking to Seabees and recognizing individuals for their service.
• Multiple caches uncovered in western Iraq Army News 29 Nov 2005 -- Iraqi Army Soldiers and U.S. Marines, Soldiers and Sailors of the 2nd Marine Division, discovered 66 weapons caches during the past week in al Anbar province in western Iraq.
• Citizen's tip about bomb saves lives MNF-I 29 Nov 2005 -- A local citizen provided a potentially life-saving tip to the Iraqi Army in Sadr City Nov 26, alerting them to what appeared to be a bomb placed in the road.
• Task Force Baghdad Soldiers prevent bomb attack MNF-I 29 Nov 2005 -- Task Force Baghdad Soldiers killed a terrorist trying to set up an improvised explosive device Nov. 26 in the Abu Ghraib area west of Baghdad.
• Iraqi and U.S. forces continue hunting for weapons MNF-I 29 Nov 2005 -- As Iraqi and U.S. forces in Kirkuk continue unearthing weapons from a major cache discovered Nov.27th, several smaller caches were discovered around the north-central region Nov 28th.
• Nine terrorists detained west of Rawah MNF-I 29 Nov 2005 -- U.S. Soldiers from the 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment discovered three car bombs and detained nine possible terrorists west of Rawah Nov. 29 after their patrol was attacked by a suicide bomber.
• Multiple caches uncovered by Iraqi and U.S. Forces MNF-I 29 Nov 2005 -- Iraqi Army Soldiers and U.S. Marines, Soldiers and Sailors of the 2nd Marine Division, discovered 66 weapons caches during the past week in al Anbar.

Deployments

US Policy

• White House Sees Possible Troop Cuts In Iraq RFE/RL 29 Nov 2005 -- The White House says it expects Iraqi troops to be sufficiently trained next year to permit a reduction in U.S. forces in Iraq.
• Rumsfeld Emphasizes Need for Iraqis to Take Control VOA 29 Nov 2005 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is placing new emphasis on the need for Iraqis to take control of their future, as their security forces improve and the country prepares to elect its first permanent government since the U.S.-led invasion more than two and a half years ago
• Bush to Deliver Major Address on Iraq War VOA 29 Nov 2005 -- President Bush is expected to discuss his Iraq strategy in a major speech Wednesday at the U.S. Naval Academy near Washington.
• Rumsfeld: Quitting No Exit Strategy for Iraq AFPS 29 Nov 2005 -- "Quitting is not an exit strategy" for Iraq and would open a Pandora's box of risks to the American people, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told Pentagon reporters today.
• Iraq Troop Withdrawal Would Be 'Huge Mistake,' Bush Says AFPS 29 Nov 2005 -- The U.S. commander in chief today dismissed talk of any major withdrawal of American troops from Iraq before victory over insurgents there is achieved.
• Iraqi Security Forces Steadily Improving, But Still Need Support AFPS 29 Nov 2005 -- U.S. and coalition initiatives to create well-trained and -equipped Iraqi security forces are paying off, with Iraqis taking on more of the fight, a U.S. Central Command general said Nov. 28 at the Heritage Foundation here.
• US Congressman Says Soldiers Do Not Want to Leave Iraq VOA 29 Nov 2005 -- A U.S. congressman from Pennsylvania who was injured during a visit to Iraq says U.S. soldiers oppose a swift withdrawal from the country.
• Iraqi and U.S. forces continue hunting for weapons MNF-I 29 Nov 2005 -- As Iraqi and U.S. forces in Kirkuk continue unearthing weapons from a major cache discovered Nov.27th, several smaller caches were discovered around the north-central region Nov 28th.

United Nations

• S/2005/742: Twenty-third quarterly report UNMOVIC 29 Nov 2005 [PDF]

Reconstruction Issues

• IRAQ: Rights groups urge fairness in Saddam trial IRIN 29 Nov 2005 -- Deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants, whose trials in Iraqi law courts have recently resumed, must be guaranteed a fair trial and respect for their civil liberties, say rights groups.

Foreign Reactions

• Daily: Iran-US talks on Iraq in national interest IRNA 29 Nov 2005 -- The US, through its ambassador in Iraq, has offered to hold talks with Tehran on a very limited scope -- issues related to the mounting insurgency in that war-torn country.
• Iran calls for immediate punishment of Iraqi dictator IRNA 29 Nov 2005 -- Head of the Judiciary Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi on Tuesday called for setting up a revolutionary court in Iraq and immediate punishment of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

News Reports

• Al-Jazeera Airs Video Said to Be of Aid Workers Kidnapped in Iraq VOA 29 Nov 2005 -- Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera has aired video from an insurgent group in Iraq that purportedly shows four Western aid workers who were kidnapped Saturday in Baghdad.
• More Kidnappings Reported In Iraq RFE/RL 29 Nov 2005 -- The spate of kidnappings in Iraq is continuing, as the U.S. military and the Iraqi police said today six Iranian pilgrims have been kidnapped by gunmen, together with their Iraqi driver and guide, near Balad, 75 kilometers north of Baghdad.
• German Woman Missing In Iraq RFE/RL 29 Nov 2005 -- Germany's Foreign Ministry says a German woman has gone missing in Iraq and a special team has been set up to establish what has happened to her.
• Two Britons Face Charges of Leaking Government Document VOA 29 Nov 2005 -- Two Britons have appeared in a London court to answer charges of leaking a sensitive government memo on reported comments by President Bush about bombing the headquarters of the Arab satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera.
• IRAQ: Humanitarian activities to go on despite kidnapping IRIN 29 Nov 2005 -- NGOs working in Iraq will continue their activities until further notice despite the recent kidnappings of Western aid workers in the capital, Baghdad, relief workers said on Monday.
• IRAQ: Families of grave victims seek compensation IRIN 29 Nov 2005 -- Relatives of the victims found in a mass grave discovered in the city of Talafar in early November are calling for compensation, particularly for those who have left orphans and widows behind.