Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 17 Dec 2007 [PDF]
• MNC-I Soldier dies from non-combat related injury (Camp Taji)
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 17 Dec 2007 -- Presenter: Commanding General Multinational Division, Baghdad and 1st Cavalry Division, Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil
• Dec. 16 airpower summary: F-16s support OIF AFPN 17 Dec 2007
• Predator crashes in Iraq AFPN 17 Dec 2007 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials announced an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashed at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time Dec. 17 near Al Muqdadiya in Iraq.
• Balad aerial port bests cargo movement record AFPN 17 Dec 2007 -- The 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Aerial Port Flight broke the single-day cargo-movement record here Dec. 6.
• Coalition Troops Kill Six, Seize 29 Suspected Terrorists in Iraq AFPS 17 Dec 2007 -- Coalition forces killed six suspected terrorists, detained 29 others and destroyed five weapons caches in Iraq over the past five days, military officials said.

Deployments

US Policy

• US General Hails Security Improvements in Iraq VOA 17 Dec 2007 -- A top U.S. general in Baghdad says the security situation in Iraq has improved dramatically in recent months, but that progress remains tenuous and any rapid pullout of U.S. troops would be "risky."
• US Reacts Cautiously to Turkish Air Strikes in Iraq VOA 17 Dec 2007 -- The Bush administration is encouraging greater coordination between Turkey and Iraq, following Turkish air strikes targeting Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq
• Commander Reflects on Successes in Baghdad AFPS 17 Dec 2007 -- In partnership with Iraqi forces and concerned local citizens, coalition forces in Baghdad have made significant progress against al Qaeda and have helped foster reconciliation, the commander of U.S. forces in the Iraqi capital said today.
• Success in Iraq, Afghanistan Critical to Military Way Ahead, Mullen Says AFPS 17 Dec 2007 -- Three months after taking the helm of a military that has been at war for six years, Joint Chiefs Chairman Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen said U.S. troops are performing "magnificently," but added that he is concerned about stress on ground forces.
• Petraeus Calls British Turnover of Basra Control 'Positive Step' AFPS 17 Dec 2007 -- In a joint statement issued Dec. 16, 2007, U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, Multinational Force Iraq commander, and Patricia A. Butenis, chargé d'affaires, said "the United States and Multinational Force Iraq welcome the transfer of security responsibility in Basra Province to Iraqi responsibility as a positive step on the path to Iraq's self-reliance.

United Nations

• Ban Ki-moon voices concern over Turkish air attacks against Iraq UN News Centre 17 Dec 2007 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern over yesterday's Turkish air strikes into northern Iraq and reports of possible civilian casualties, as well as continued attacks by the armed group PKK.

Reconstruction Issues

• Basra Province Returns to Iraqi Control AFPS 17 Dec 2007 -- Multinational Division Southeast relinquished control of Iraq's Basra province to the Iraqi government yesterday at Basra International Airport.

Foreign Reactions

• Berlin "concerned" over Turkish air force bombings in northern Iraq IRNA 17 Dec 2007 -- The German Foreign Ministry expressed "concern" over the latest wave of Turkish air force attacks on northern Iraq.
• Iraqi Parliament Condemns Turkish Air Strikes in Northern Iraq VOA 17 Dec 2007 -- Iraq's parliament has condemned Turkish air strikes on a Kurdish region in northern Iraq as a major violation of Iraq's sovereignty.

News Reports

• IRAQ: Women MPs, activists call for more support for widows, divorced women IRIN 17 Dec 2007 -- Iraqi women parliamentarians and activists are pressing for a new law to help the increasing number of widows and divorced women in their war-torn country.