Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 30 Nov 2005 [PDF]

• Iraqi Soldiers and U.S. Marines, Sailors and Soldiers begin operations MNF-I 30 Nov 2005 -- Iraqi Army Soldiers and U.S. Marines, Sailors and Soldiers began operations near Hit in the Hai Al Becker region.
• Soldiers find weapons caches, terrorists on island MNF-I 30 Nov 2005 -- Task Force Baghdad Soldiers found multiple weapons caches on an island in the Euphrates River Nov. 28.
• Iraqi, U.S. forces capture 33 terror suspects MNF-I 30 Nov 2005 -- Task Force Baghdad Soldiers teamed up with Iraqi security forces to conduct Operation Thunder Blitz in southern Baghdad Nov. 29, resulting in the capture of 33 terror suspects.
• MNDCS completes projects in Ad Diwaniyah MNF-I 30 Nov 2005 -- Multinational Division Central-South Soldiers completed three civil-military cooperation projects this week in the Diwaniyah province.
• Kirkuk weapons cache still yielding ammunition MNF-I 30 Nov 2005 -- Iraqi and U.S. forces have removed more than 4,200 mortar rounds from a major weapons cache found outside of an abandoned military base near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk Sunday.
• Gunmen Kill Nine Iraqis As Five Westerners Remain In Captivity RFE/RL 30 Nov 2005 -- Masked gunmen in Iraq opened fire on a minibus north of Baghdad today, killing nine people and wounding two.
• 9 Iraqi Workers Gunned Down Near Baghdad VOA 30 Nov 2005 -- Authorities in Iraq say nine people have been shot and killed in the northeast town of Baquba.
• U.S., Iraqi Forces Launch New Operation RFE/RL 30 Nov 2005 -- The U.S. military said today U.S. and Iraqi troops in western Iraq have launched an operation to clear insurgents from a suspected safe area.
• CENTAF releases airpower summary AFPN 30 Nov 2005 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.
• Huge Weapons Cache Yields Thousands of Buried Rounds AFPS 30 Nov 2005 -- Iraqi and U.S. forces have removed more than 4,200 mortar rounds from a major weapons cache found Nov. 27 outside of an abandoned military base near Kirkuk, Iraq, military officials reported.
• Soldiers find weapons caches on Euphrates island Army News 30 Nov 2005 -- Task Force Baghdad Soldiers found multiple weapons caches on an island in the Euphrates River Nov. 28.
• Iraqi, U.S. forces thwart assassination attempt Army News 30 Nov 2005 -- Iraqi Police and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers prevented an assassination attempt Nov. 27 in the Ghazaliyah neighborhood of western Baghdad.
• Kirkuk weapons cache still yielding ammunition Army News 30 Nov 2005 -- Iraqi and U.S. forces have removed more than 4,200 mortar rounds from a major weapons cache found outside of an abandoned military base near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk Nov. 27.
• Soldiers find weapons caches, terrorists on island MNF-I 30 Nov 2005 -- Task Force Baghdad Soldiers found multiple weapons caches on an island in the Euphrates River Nov. 28.

Deployments

US Policy

• National Strategy for Victory in Iraq The White House 30 Nov 2005 -- "The following document articulates the broad strategy the President set forth in 2003 and provides an update on our progress as well as the challenges remaining"
• Transcript: President Outlines Strategy for Victory in Iraq The White House 30 Nov 2005
• Bush Outlines 'Victory Strategy' for Iraq VOA 30 Nov 2005 -- President Bush says Iraqi security forces are increasingly taking responsibility for the fight against insurgents.
• U.S.: Bush Speech On Iraq Focuses On Training Local Forces, Offers No Timetable RFE/RL 30 Nov 2005 -- U.S. President George W. Bush is going on the offensive in an effort to restore support for the war in Iraq.
• Bush to Troops: 'The American People Stand Behind You' AFPS 30 Nov 2005 -- Victory in Iraq will require the strength and courage of U.S. servicemembers, who by fighting terrorists in Iraq are defeating a direct threat to the American people, President Bush said today at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
• Bush: Clear Strategy Will Ensure Victory in Iraq AFPS 30 Nov 2005 -- A clear, comprehensive U.S. strategy is showing solid progress in Iraq and will ultimately defeat terrorists there and ensure a free Iraq that inspires democratic reformers throughout the Middle East, President Bush said today in Annapolis, Md.
• Iraq Security Successes Critical to Victory in Iraq, Bush Says AFPS 30 Nov 2005 -- As Iraq's security forces gain capability and take on more and tougher missions, they're winning the confidence of the Iraqi people and setting the stage for coalition forces to stand down, President Bush said today in Annapolis, Md.
• Bush Rejects Calls for Iraq Withdrawal Timetable VOA 30 Nov 2005 -- President Bush says that setting an artificial deadline to withdraw from Iraq would send the wrong signal to allies and enemies of the United States.

• Bush Failed to Lay Out Plan in Iraq, say Congressional Democrats VOA 30 Nov 2005 -- Congressional Democrats are criticizing President Bush's speech on Iraq, saying he failed to detail a strategy for the eventual withdrawal of U.S. troops.

• Rumsfeld: U.S. Obliged to Train Iraqis to Prevent Abuse AFPS 30 Nov 2005 -- Though Iraq is responsible for dealing with prisoner abuse or mistreatment by Iraqi security forces, the United States has an obligation to ensure Iraqis are properly trained and are aware of the damage such abuses can cause, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said here Nov. 29.
• Rumsfeld: Iraq's Terrorists Not Worthy of 'Insurgent' Label AFPS 30 Nov 2005 -- "Insurgents" just seems like too positive a word to describe terrorists in Iraq and implies a level of legitimacy they don't have and don't deserve, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told Pentagon reporters Nov. 29.

• Chairman Calls White Phosphorous Legitimate Military Tool AFPS 30 Nov 2005 -- White phosphorous is a legitimate military tool, but U.S. forces have been highly judicious about using it to avoid harming civilians, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Pentagon reporters Nov. 29.

• U.S.: Washington Willing To Discuss Iraq With Iran RFE/RL 30 Nov 2005 -- The United States has confirmed plans by Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, to hold talks with Iranian officials about helping restore security to Iraq.

• Defense Department Checking Allegations US Military Paid to Place 'News' Articles in Iraqi Press VOA 30 Nov 2005 -- The U.S. Defense Department is looking into allegations in Wednesday's "Los Angeles Times" newspaper, that U.S. military officials in Iraq are paying Iraqi newspapers to publish articles written by soldiers that praise the work the coalition is doing.
• Report: US Military Pays Iraqi Media to Run Pro-American Stories VOA 30 Nov 2005 -- A U.S. newspaper says the American military in Iraq is secretly paying Iraqi newspapers to print stories highlighting the work of U.S. and Iraqi troops and denouncing insurgents.

United Nations

Reconstruction Issues

• Security Main Concern in Saddam Hussein Trial VOA 30 Nov 2005 -- The trial of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein resumes in Baghdad on Monday, December 5

• Iraqi government assumes control of borders MNF-I 30 Nov 2005 -- A ceremony was held Nov. 30 in western Iraq symbolizing the securing of the borders through cooperation of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Interior and Multi-National Force Iraq.

• Iraq: A Coalition With A Broad Tent And A Pragmatic Program RFE/RL 30 Nov 2005 -- RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq interviewed Tawfiq al-Yasiri, head of the Democratic Patriotic Coalition in Baghdad on 24 November 2005.
• Iraq: Regional Bloc Describes Its Loyalties RFE/RL 30 Nov 2005 -- RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq interviewed Ahmad Shahd Awwad, Dhi Qar Governorate candidate from the Loyalty to the South bloc (Kutlat al-Wafa li-l-Janub), candidate list No. 836.
• Iraq: Hamad Tries To Break The Cycle Of Sectarian Politics RFE/RL 30 Nov 2005 -- Democratic Society Movement head Hamid al-Kifa'i held a press briefing in Baghdad on 24 November to discuss his party's goals for the 15 December National Assembly elections, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI) reported on 25 November.
• IRAQ: Female politicians demand greater representation IRIN 30 Nov 2005 -- Iraqi women politicians of all stripes demanded greater representation in their respective political parties on Tuesday, at a meeting organised by US-based NGO the National Democratic Institute.

Foreign Reactions

• Iran Denies Reports Of Iraq Negotiations With U.S. RFE/RL 30 Nov 2005 -- Iran today denied reports that it will negotiate with the United States to help secure Iraq after U.S. troops start leaving.
• New Chancellor Says Germany Will not be 'Blackmailed' by Iraq Kidnapers VOA 30 Nov 2005 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has vowed that her government will not be "blackmailed" by insurgents who have kidnapped a German archaeologist in Iraq.

News Reports

• Iraq: New Surge Of Kidnappings Target Westerners RFE/RL 30 Nov 2005 -- Eleven foreigners and two Iraqi guides were kidnapped in Iraq in recent days in three separate incidents that draw attention to a new string of attacks targeting Westerners in Iraq: five of the victims were Westerners, while another six were Iranian pilgrims.