Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 16 Oct 2007 [PDF]
• Oct. 15 airpower summary: F-15E Strike Eagles hit enemy positions AFPN 16 Oct 2007 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 15, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Coalition Forces Detain 10 Suspected Terrorists in Iraq AFPS 16 Oct 2007 -- Coalition forces captured four wanted individuals and detained six suspected terrorists today during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks in central Iraq.
• Coalition Forces Finish Terror-Fighting Operations Southeast of Baghdad AFPS 16 Oct 2007 -- Iraqi communities, once lawless and infested with terrorists, are safer today thanks to a just-completed mission, a coalition commander said today.

Deployments

• Georgia plans to cut troops in Iraq to 500 - defense ministry RIA Novosti 16 Oct 2007 -- Georgia is planning to reduce the number of its peacekeepers in Iraq from 2,000 to 500 troops in 2008, while enlarging its contingent in Afghanistan, a deputy defense minister said on Tuesday.

US Policy

• Senior Official: Diplomacy Best Approach to Turkey-Iraq Tensions AFPS 16 Oct 2007 -- Turkey is a strong NATO ally and partner in the war on terror, and the best way to handle its conflicts with neighboring Iraq over Kurdish rebels is diplomatically, a senior Joint Staff official told Pentagon reporters today.
• US House Overwhelmingly Approves Measure on Iraq Corruption VOA 16 Oct 2007 -- The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly (395 to 21) approved a resolution crafted by majority Democrats criticizing the State Department for withholding information on corruption in the Iraqi government
• Marine Commandant Worries Corps Losing 'Expeditionary Flavor' AFPS 16 Oct 2007 -- The Marine Corps commandant is worried about the service becoming "a second land army" and said al Qaeda in Iraq is crippled, but not destroyed.

United Nations

Reconstruction Issues

• Iraq: Former Official Says Political Parties 'Failing' To Work Together RFE/RL 16 Oct 2007 -- Kamran al-Karadaghi, a former chief of staff for Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, says that Iraq's political climate will not improve until the country's leaders find the political determination to make "very hard decisions."

Foreign Reactions

• Turkish military operation in Kurdistan imminent - Russian experts RIA Novosti 16 Oct 2007 -- Turkey is certain to launch a military campaign in northern Iraq to repel frequent attacks of Kurdish separatists, Russian experts said on Tuesday.
• Turkey PM hopes invasion of north Iraq will be unnecessary RIA Novosti 16 Oct 2007 -- Turkey's prime minister said on Tuesday he hoped a cross-border military operation against Kurdish separatists in northern Iraq would not be necessary.
• Iraq's Vice President Visits Turkey to Discuss Border Tensions VOA 16 Oct 2007 -- With Turkey threatening to launch a military incursion against Kurdish separatist bases of the Kurdish workers party in Northern Iraq, Ankara is at the center of intense diplomatic activity

News Reports

• Analysis: Iraq's Forgotten Refugees cfr.org 16 Oct 2007
• Gelb: Federalism Is Most Promising Way to End Civil War in Iraq cfr.org 16 Oct 2007
• Oil Prices Hit Record High on Turkey-Northern Iraq Tensions VOA 16 Oct 2007 -- Oil prices traded at a record high Tuesday on concerns that Turkey will pursue Kurdish rebels into northern Iraq and disrupt oil supplies in the region.