Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 21 Dec 2005 [PDF]
• TASK FORCE BAGHDAD SOLDIER KILLED
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty

• CENTAF releases daily airpower summary AFPN 21 Dec 2005 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.
• Soldier Killed in Iraq; Insurgents Killed, Detained in Raids AFPS 21 Dec 2005 -- A Task Force Baghdad soldier was killed by a roadside bomb south of Baghdad Dec. 19, military officials reported today.
• 20,000 tons of weapons, munitions destroyed Army News 21 Dec 2005 -- U.S. troops destroyed nearly 20 thousand tons of weapons and munitions Dec. 16, signaling the end of a year-long project to rid the Saddam regime-era ammunition dump of its deadly stores.
• Army Engineers, Iraqis rebuild Umm Qasr Port Army News 21 Dec 2005 -- With help from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Iraqi seaport of Umm Qasr is closing in on final certification to become fully operational as an international transfer point for shipping goods.
• Nine insurgents killed, 16 detained in overnight raids MNF-I 21 Dec 2005 -- At least nine Anti-Iraqi Forces were killed and 16 terror suspects were captured in two separate incidents in southern Baghdad Dec.19-20.
• Operation Moonlight concludes MNF-I 21 Dec 2005 -- Operation Alkamra Almaner (Moonlight) concluded Dec. 20.
• U.S. patrol finds munitions cache MNF-I 21 Dec 2005 -- Task Force Baghdad Soldiers on patrol discovered a large cache of munitions in northeast Baghdad Dec. 21.
• Iraqi citizens wounded by IED MNF-I 21 Dec 2005 -- Two civilians were wounded in east Baghdad Dec. 20 when the vehicle they were traveling in was struck by a roadside bomb.

Deployments

• Ukraine, Bulgaria Pull Troops Out of Iraq VOA 21 Dec 2005 -- Ukraine and Bulgaria began the final withdrawal of their combat troops from Iraq this week, reducing the U.S.-led military coalition to 24 countries.

US Policy

• White House Rejects as 'Preposterous' Saddam's Claims of Torture VOA 21 Dec 2005 -- The United States has rejected claims from ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein that he has been beaten and tortured by his American captors.
• U.S.: National Security Adviser Urges Support For Iraq Goals RFE/RL 21 Dec 2005 -- U.S. President George W. Bush has spent the last month of 2005 trying to restore American support for what has been labeled the 'plan for victory' in Iraq.

United Nations

Reconstruction Issues

• Saddam's Trial Resumes with More Charges and Countercharges VOA 21 Dec 2005 -- Saddam Hussein's trial continued Wednesday in Baghdad after a two week recess for Iraq's election of a new National Assembly.
• Saddam Back in Court as Trial Resumes in Baghdad VOA 21 Dec 2005 -- The trial of Saddam Hussein resumed Wednesday morning in Baghdad.

• Iraqi Security Forces Working Toward Self-Sufficiency AFPS 21 Dec 2005 -- Those who question why it seems to be taking so long to build Iraq's security forces don't fully understand the magnitude of the challenge, a general who recently returned from training them explained during a recent interview with the Pentagon Channel and the American Forces Press Service.

• IRAQ: Sunni leaders question initial election results IRIN 21 Dec 2005 -- Sunni Arab parties claimed that results of Iraq’s parliamentary election were inaccurate after initial counts in the capital, Baghdad, showed nearly 59 percent of the vote going to the Shi’ite United Iraqi Alliance.

Foreign Reactions

• Mottaki: Chemically disabled, proof of Iranians' innocence IRNA 21 Dec 2005 -- Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said here Wednesday that the chemical disabled are proof of the innocence of Iranian people during the Sacred Defense era (1980-88).

News Reports

• Iraq: Iraqis Reflect On What 2006 May Hold In Store RFE/RL 21 Dec 2005 -- U.S. President George W. Bush this week called on Americans this week to stand by his policies in Iraq and not to lose hope in what he called "this difficult, noble, and necessary cause."
• IRAQ: Aid needed for displaced in Anbar, demonstrators say IRIN 21 Dec 2005 -- Some 400 people demonstrated in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Tuesday, calling for more aid for people displaced in the western Anbar governorate, due to ongoing clashes between US forces and insurgents.