Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 08 Dec 2005 [PDF]
• TASK FORCE BAGHDAD SOLDIER KILLED
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• MARINE KILLED IN ACTION IN RAMADI
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty

• Operations Update, Dec. 8, 2005 MNF-I 08 Dec 2005
• Operations Update (Elections), Dec. 8, 2005 MNF-I 08 Dec 2005 -- PRESS CONFERENCE WITH MEMBERS OF THE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF IRAQ TOPIC: DECEMBER 15TH ELECTIONS
• CENTAF releases airpower summary AFPN 08 Dec 2005 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.
• Weapons cache uncovered, 14 suspects caught Army News 08 Dec 2005 -- Just a week after a huge cache of mortars was uncovered near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, another large terrorist cache was discovered Dec. 6 near the neighboring city of Tuz.
• Roadside Bomb Claims Soldier; Suicide Bomber Kills 19 Civilians AFPS 08 Dec 2005 -- A Task Force Baghdad soldier was killed today when a convoy he was riding in struck an improvised explosive device in eastern Baghdad, military officials said.
• Combined effort successful in two separate searches MNF-I 08 Dec 2005 -- Iraqi Soldiers and Police along with U.S. troops, successfully conducted two separate operations that resulted in the capture 14 suspected terrorists early Dec. 8.
• Suicide Bomber Blows Up Crowded Bus in Baghdad VOA 08 Dec 2005 -- A suicide bomber has killed at least 30 people and wounded nearly 20 others on a bus in Baghdad
• Baghdad Suicide Bomber Kills At Least 30 RFE/RL 08 Dec 2005 -- A suicide bomber has killed at least 30 people and injured many others in Baghdad today, Iraqi police report.

Deployments

• Japanese Cabinet Approves Extension of Iraq Troop Mission VOA 08 Dec 2005 -- Japan's government has formally extended its non-combat military mission in Iraq.
• Armenian Parliament Extends Mandate Of Iraq Force RFE/RL 08 Dec 2005 -- Armenian lawmakers today voted 73-12 to extend the mandate of troops stationed in Iraq for another year. The opposition abstained.

US Policy

• Pentagon Addresses Responsibility to Prevent Abuse by Other Forces VOA 08 Dec 2005 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has asked for a review of rules covering the responsibility of U.S. troops to stop abuse by other armed forces, when they see it or hear about it.

• Terrorists Won't Quit After Dec. 15 Iraq Voting, Official Says AFPS 08 Dec 2005 -- Al Qaeda's top leader in Iraq likely will try to stop Iraq's Dec. 15 election of a permanent government, and failing that, terrorists will continue their campaign of violence to try to unseat the new government, a senior U.S. military officer told reporters at a Baghdad news conference today.
• Fighting Terrorists Prevents Attacks on U.S., General Says AFPS 08 Dec 2005 -- By combating terrorists in Iraq, the U.S. military is helping to prevent another terror attack on American soil, a senior U.S. military officer told reporters at a Baghdad news conference today.
• Security Situation Dominates Iraq Discussions AFPS 08 Dec 2005 -- The security situation in Iraq continues to dominate any discussion of the road ahead in the country, coalition military officials said on background here today.
• Officials Have Great Hopes for Iraqi Elections AFPS 08 Dec 2005 -- Iraqi and coalition officials have great hopes for the success of Dec. 15 national elections, officials here said on background today.
• U.S. Officials Explain Iraq Political, Economic Transformation Washington File 08 Dec 2005 -- Three U.S. officials involved in the political and economic reconstruction of Iraq say important progress is taking place toward the goal of establishing a democratic, prosperous country.
• U.S. Says No Confirmation Contractor Killed In Iraq RFE/RL 08 Dec 2005 -- The White House said today it had no confirmation that an insurgent group in Iraq had killed a kidnapped American security consultant.
• White House Can't Confirm American Hostage in Iraq is Dead VOA 08 Dec 2005 -- The White House says it cannot confirm a statement from Iraqi kidnappers that they have killed American hostage Ronald Schulz.

United Nations

• Dismayed by kidnappings in Iraq, Annan calls for release of all those abducted UN News Centre 08 Dec 2005 -- Dismayed by the recent wave of kidnappings in Iraq, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called for the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all those abducted and strongly reiterated his appeal to all sides to respect at all times the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.

Reconstruction Issues

• Iraq: Relative Peace Underscores Issue Of Kurdish Region's Future RFE/RL 08 Dec 2005 -- With parliamentary elections due on 15 December, violence is expected to surge in much of Iraq. But the Kurdish autonomous region in the north of the country is a case apart.
• Iraq: Turmoil In Hussein's Trial Seen As Damaging Court's Reputation RFE/RL 08 Dec 2005 -- The trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein for crimes against humanity has been adjourned for two weeks while Iraq prepares for parliamentary elections.

Foreign Reactions

• NATO to expand training mission in Iraq IRNA 08 Dec 2005 -- Foreign ministers of the 26-member North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting in Brussels Thursday agreed to expand the alliance's training mission for Iraqi security forces.
• Turkish Leader Says Iraq A Terrorist Training Ground RFE/RL 08 Dec 2005 -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the U.S.-led intervention in Iraq has had the effect of turning Iraq into a training ground for terrorists.
• Britain Seeks Contact With Iraq Kidnappers VOA 08 Dec 2005 -- Britain wants to hear from the kidnappers of four Western hostages in Iraq after the abductors delayed a threat to kill their captives.

News Reports

• Office Of Allawi's Movement Set Ablaze In Karbala RFE/RL 08 Dec 2005 -- Gunmen have set ablaze an office belonging to the Iraqi National Reconciliation Movement of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
• Iraq Kidnappers Extend Deadline RFE/RL 08 Dec 2005 -- Kidnappers in Iraq are reported to have extended by 48 hours their deadline to execute four Christian peace campaigners unless Iraqi detainees are freed.
• IRAQ: NGOs lament dangerous working conditions, urge release of colleagues IRIN 08 Dec 2005 -- NGOs working in Iraq complained bitterly on Wednesday about dangerous working conditions coupled with the absence of legal protection, calling for the release of all kidnapped humanitarian workers.