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 2008 [PDF]
• Three Terrorists Killed, 14 Detained in Iraq AFPS 17 Dec 2008 -- Three terrorists were killed and 14 suspects were detained as coalition forces continued to degrade al-Qaida in Iraq facilitation and leadership networks during multiple operations today and yesterday, military officials reported.
• Dec. 16 airpower summary: A-10s conduct shows of force AFNS 17 Dec 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 16, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

Deployments

• Checkmates Fly from Iraq into Sunset Navy NewsStand 17 Dec 2008 -- The Sailors of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 22 returned to Naval Air Station Jacksonville Dec. 15 after completing a five-month deployment to Al-Asad Air Base, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• British Troops to Complete Iraq Mission in 2009 VOA 17 Dec 2008 -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says British troops will complete their mission in Iraq by May 31, 2009 - and will leave the country by the end of July.

US Policy

United Nations

• Significant step taken for proposed referendum in Basra, says UN’s Iraq mission UN News Centre 17 Dec 2008 -- Preparations are in place enabling the people of the oil-rich Iraqi province of Basra to officially demonstrate their support of a proposed referendum to form a region with some devolved power from the central Government, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) announced today.

Reconstruction Issues

• US Commission Reports Iraqi Religious Minorities Face Persecution VOA 17 Dec 2008 -- In a new report on Iraq, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom says religious minorities in Iraq face persecution. The commission, which recommends that the U.S. government designate Iraq a country of particular concern because of religious freedom violations, issued its findings in a news conference on Capitol Hill.

Foreign Reactions

• Ex-MKO members: US impeding efforts to shut Ashraf Camp IRNA 17 Dec 2008 -- Several former members of the outlawed terrorist Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) have accused the United States of hampering efforts to close the notorious Ashraf Camp in Iraq

News Reports