Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 23 Dec 2005 [PDF]
• TWO TASK FORCE BAGHDAD SOLDIERS KILLED

• CENTAF releases daily airpower summary AFPN 23 Dec 2005 -- Coalition aircraft flew 34 close-air-support missions Dec. 22 for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Two U.S. Soldiers Killed; Baghdad Rocket Factory Discovered AFPS 23 Dec 2005 -- Two Task Force Baghdad soldiers were killed when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Baghdad today, military officials reported.
• Iraqi Soldiers Discover Weapons Caches, Detain Terror Suspects AFPS 23 Dec 2005 -- Iraqi army troops discovered several weapons caches and took suspected terrorists into custody Dec. 22 as they continue to take on more responsibility for their nation's security, military officials reported today.
• Rocket launcher factory found; bomb hoax unveiled Army News 23 Dec 2005 -- An Iraqi citizen provided a tip to Soldiers of the 7th Cavalry about a home in east Baghdad Dec. 22 that was being used as a factory to make improvised rocket-launchers.
• Transcript: Secretary Rumsfeld Fallujah Townhall Meeting 23 Dec 2005 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld
• Mosul media emir and administrator captured MNF-I 23 Dec 2005 -- An Ansar al-Sunna of Mosul Media Emir and Administrator were captured by Coalition Forces during raids on suspected terrorist safe houses near Mosul.
• Three terrorists caught emplacing bomb MNF-I 23 Dec 2005 -- Three terrorists were captured as they were caught emplacing a hoax roadside bomb in east Baghdad Dec. 21.
• Iraqi citizen helps Coalition Forces MNF-I 23 Dec 2005 -- A local national identified a home in east Baghdad that was being used as a factory to make improvised rocket-launchers.
• Iraqi Insurgents Attack Checkpoint RFE/RL 23 Dec 2005 -- Insurgents in Iraq attacked an army checkpoint early this morning killing at least 10 soldiers and wounding 20.
• Ten killed in terrorist attack on mosque MNF-I 23 Dec 2005 -- Ten Iraqis, including an Iraqi policeman, were killed and four others wounded Dec. 23 in Balad Ruz in a suicide bombing.

Deployments

• Iraq Force Adjustments Announced 23 Dec 2005 -- The Department of Defense announced today a decision to not deploy portions of the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, based atFort Riley, Kansas to Iraq, and to modify the deployment orders of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, based in Baumholder, Germany, to remain in Kuwait as a call-forward force.
• SECDEF visits Camp Fallujah, announces U.S. troop reductions MNF-I 22 Dec 2005 -- Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld met with Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen here today to remind them of the support they have back home.
• U.S. To Reduce Iraq Force By Two Brigades RFE/RL 23 Dec 2005 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says President George W. Bush has approved reducing the number of U.S. combat troops in Iraq by two brigades.

US Policy

• SECDEF announces plans for troop reductions in Iraq MNF-I 23 Dec 2005 -- In a joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, Minister of the Interior, US Ambassador Khalilzad, and General George Casey, Commander, Multi-National Force-Iraq, the U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld Dec. 23 announced the decision to not deploy to Iraq Soldiers assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division as well as Soldiers assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division.
• Casey Explains Troop Reduction Rationale AFPS 23 Dec 2005 -- Two U.S. brigades will not deploy to Iraq as originally planned, the commander of coalition forces in Iraq said here today.
• Rumsfeld Announces Reduction in Iraq Troop Level AFPS 23 Dec 2005 -- The United States will have two fewer brigades in Iraq in 2006, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said here today.
• No Plans for Long-term U.S. Bases in Iraq, Rumsfeld Says AFPS 23 Dec 2005 -- The United States has not discussed basing American troops in Iraq, and would do so only following negotiations with the new Iraqi government, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said here today.
• Rumsfeld Sees Iraqi Special Operations Training in Jordan AFPS 23 Dec 2005 -- "Bark Allah finkom," Army Lt. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey told a class of Iraqi special police during a break in training at a special operations academy near here.
• Khalilzad, Casey Release Joint Statement on Troop Reduction AFPS 23 Dec 2005 -- The U.S. ambassador to Iraq and the commander of coalition forces there issued a joint statement in the wake of today's announcement of a reduction in U.S. forces in Iraq.
• U.S. Troop Withdrawal in Iraq Linked to Increased Iraqi Capacity Washington File 23 Dec 2005 -- There now are more than 216,000 trained, equipped Iraqi troops, up from 115,000 in November 2004, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad announced December 23.
• Rumsfeld Announces Combat Troop Reductions in Iraq VOA 23 Dec 2005 -- Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced Friday that U.S. troops in Iraq would decrease by some seven thousand soldiers this spring.

United Nations

Reconstruction Issues

• Iraq Completes Debt-Swap, Receives IMF Standby Arrangement Washington File 23 Dec 2005 -- Iraq announced the successful closing of a debt exchange offer on $14 billion in outstanding commercial obligations and received a $685 million standby credit agreement from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) December 23.

Foreign Reactions

• Berlusconi Defends Italy's Strategy on Terrorism, Iraq VOA 23 Dec 2005 -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi held a lengthy end-of-year press conference in Rome and has confirmed that Italy would hold its general elections on April 9.

News Reports

• Dutch Court Rules Genocide Occurred Against Iraqi Kurds RFE/RL 23 Dec 2005 -- A Dutch court ruled today that the killing of thousands of Kurds in Iraq in 1988 was an act of genocide.