<$BlogRSDURL$>
A Soldiers News Blog
Friday, January 30, 2004
 
Iraq War News
  8:13 AM
Thursday, January 29, 2004
 
U.S. commander: al-Qaida working in Iraq: "Osama bin Laden's terror network is seeking a foothold in Iraq as evidenced by the recent arrest of a top al-Qaida operative trying to enter northern Iraq, the commander of coalition forces said Thursday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Saudi agents killed in security raid: "Suspected terrorists exchanged fire with Saudi security forces raiding a house in Riyadh on Thursday, killing several Saudi agents, an Interior Ministry official said. One suspect was arrested."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



U.S. Commander: al - Qaida Working in Iraq: "A roadside bomb exploded a day after Shiites protested to demand the resignation of the U.S.-appointed provincial governor."

In New York Times: World Special



Whispers of Revolution: "Whispers of revolution are in the air in Baghdad, according to the Miami Herald."

In Back to Iraq 2.0



Japan reportedly pays Iraqis ? 75 million protection money to guard SDF in RISQ



Iraq Elects New Olympic Committee: "A new Iraqi national Olympic committee was elected Thursday to replace one headed by Saddam Hussein's brutal son Odai, a first step toward letting its athletes compete in the Summer Olympics. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraq Foreign Minister: WMD Could Be Found: "Iraq's foreign minister warned Thursday that weapons of mass destruction could still be found in Iraq, but the search could take time because of the sophistication of Saddam Hussein's regime. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraq foreign minister: WMD could be found: "Iraq's foreign minister warned Thursday that weapons of mass destruction could still be found in Iraq, but the search could take time because of the sophistication of Saddam Hussein's regime."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



The shadow of Iraq: Hutton report a total whitewash: "The report by Lord Hutton into the death of British weapons scientist David Kelly is a sideshow and whitewash. By setting up an inquiry into the Kelly affair, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair created a partially successful diversion from the far more serious - and more threatening to him personally - questions raised by the war itself. The real issue is who will pay the price for war and occupation, writes The Guardian's Seumas Milne."

In Electronic Iraq



Iraqi officials probe 'illegal jail' in CNN: War in Iraq



Demands grow for inquiry into the case for war as Hutton is accused of a 'whitewash' (29 Jan 04) in Radio Free USA



At Baghdad Forum, Topic Is Democracy, but Not Elections (29 Jan 04) in Radio Free USA



Iraq Elects National Olympic Committee in IraqWar.ru (English)



Blair repeats call for BBC apology in IraqWar.ru (English)



BBC director general quits: "The director general of the BBC, Greg Dyke, resigned, a day after a judicial inquiry questioned the corporation's editorial judgement. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Israel IDs soldiers' remains in Germany: "Israel on Thursday confirmed the identities of the remains of three soldiers at a German air base, clearing the way for a complex prisoner swap with the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah, security officials said."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Iraq elects national Olympic committee: "A new Iraqi national Olympic committee was elected Thursday as a first step toward letting Iraqi athletes compete in the Summer Olympics."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Kay: Iraq Intel Inquiry Needed: "Former top U.S. weapons inspector David Kay, at hearings and in recent interviews, has said evidence that Saddam possessed banned weapons in recent years was faulty. He believes an outside inquiry would be important to see why intelligence failed."

In CBS News: Iraq Crisis



2ND BRIGADE, 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION HANDS OFF COMMUNITY TO 1ST ARMORED DIVISION in CENTCOM: News Release



False Casualty Counts, Beating Sheikhs in Ramadi (29 Jan 04) in Radio Free USA



Europeans are not cowards. It's that we know war. (28 Jan 04) in Radio Free USA



In full voice against Bush (29 Jan 04) in Radio Free USA



Iraq minister says Saddam's WMD carefully hidden in IraqWar.ru (English)



Israel releases 400 Palestinian prisoners: "Israel released 400 Palestinian prisoners Thursday in the first stage of a complex prisoner swap with the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah in exchange for an Israeli businessman and the bodies of three Israeli soldiers."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Bomb wounds 11 Iraqis in Sunni Triangle: "A roadside bomb exploded Thursday in a central Iraqi city, wounding 11 Iraqis, a day after thousands of Shiite Muslims protested in the south to demand the resignation of the U.S.-appointed provincial governor."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Israel frees 400 Palestinians in exchange: "Jubilant relatives cheered as Israel released 400 Palestinian prisoners Thursday in a swap with the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Bomb Wounds 11 Iraqis in Sunni Triangle: "A roadside bomb exploded Thursday in a central Iraqi city, wounding 11 Iraqis, a day after thousands of Shiite Muslims protested in the south to demand the resignation of the U.S.-appointed provincial governor. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



With BBC in crisis, Blair demands stronger apology: "British Prime Minister Tony Blair demanded a stronger apology from BBC governors huddled in crisis talks after a judicial inquiry cleared the government of charges that it doctored intelligence on Iraq. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraq Elects National Olympic Committee: "A new Iraqi national Olympic committee was elected Thursday as a first step toward letting Iraqi athletes compete in the Summer Olympics. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Inquiry Clears Blair of Charges on Iraq: "LONDON - A senior judge Wednesday exonerated Prime Minister Tony Blair and his government of charges that they knowingly used false intelligence to make the case for war in Iraq. But the judge castigated another British institution, the BBC, for airing an "unfounded" allegation that the Blair government had "sexed up" its case for war. (Los Angeles Times)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Roadside bomb wounds 4 in Iraqi patrol in CNN: War in Iraq



Jerusalem Bus Bomber Kills 10, Wounds 50: "A suicide bomber blew up a bus near the prime minister's residence Thursday, killing 10 bystanders and wounding at least 50 in the deadliest attack in four months."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Al Qaeda And Iraq: "The commander of coalition forces in Iraq says the recent arrest of a top al Qaeda operative as he attempted to enter Iraq shows that al Qaeda is trying to establish a foothold there. Also Thursday - another roadside bomb blast, in central Iraq."

In CBS News: Iraq Crisis



Iraq Minister Says Saddam's WMD Carefully Hidden: "Iraq's foreign minister said on Thursdayweapons of mass destruction acquired by the country's formerrulers, which inspectors have failed to find, had beencarefully hidden and he was confident they could be found. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



al-Qaida Said Seeking Presence in Iraq: "The arrest of top al-Qaida operative Hassan Ghul shows that the terrorist network is seeking to establish a foothold in Iraq, a U.S. commander said Thursday. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Al-Qaida said seeking presence in Iraq: "The arrest of top al-Qaida operative Hassan Ghul shows that the terrorist network is seeking to establish a foothold in Iraq, a U.S. commander said Thursday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Iraq elects new Olympic committee: "A new Iraqi National Olympic Committee headed by a former star athlete was elected Thursday as a first step toward letting Iraqi athletes compete in the Summer Olympics."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq

  5:29 PM
Monday, January 26, 2004
 
US inspector says Saddam had no banned weapons before war: "David Kay, who just resigned as the chief US weapons inspector in Iraq, said he did not think that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction when US-led forces invaded the country. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Intelligence services 'must answer for Iraq WMD claims': "Intelligence chiefs should explain why they believed Iraq possessed banned weapons of mass destruction before the coalition invasion, outgoing US weapons inspector David Kay said."

In Ananova: War In Iraq



Kay Doubts Presence of Illicit Iraq Arms: "The outgoing chief U.S. weapons inspector says his inability to find illicit arms in Iraq raises serious questions about American intelligence-gathering. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraqi Cleric Shows Political Clout: "Many Americans tend to be wary about aging Shiite Muslim clerics who dabble in politics. They recall how Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini transformed Iran into a rabidly anti-American state and changed the region's political map as well. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Blair feared Chirac was "out to get him" before Iraq war: "Tony Blair believed that Jacques Chirac was "out to get him" ahead of the Iraq war, because the French leader feared Britain's prime minister was usurping his own position as the natural leader of Europe, the Financial Times (FT) newspaper reported. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraqi Women Deal With Mixed Legacy: "With the backing of the U.S.-led coalition, Nidal Jreo was appointed in July as the first woman judge in the conservative Shiite Muslim city Najaf. Six months later, she has yet to hear her first case. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Jordanian driver for Japan forces killed near Baghdad in IraqWar.ru (English)



US must quit Iraq before vote, say Sunnis in IraqWar.ru (English)



Iraqi women deal with mixed legacy: "With the backing of the U.S.-led coalition, Nidal Jreo was appointed in July as the first woman judge in the conservative Shiite Muslim city Najaf. Six months later, she has yet to hear her first case."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Troops in Iraq struggle with language: "U.S. troops warned Iraqi guards they should leave the area because it was "risky." The Iraqis thought the soldiers threatened them unless they brought "whisky.""

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Kay doubts presence of illicit Iraq arms: "The outgoing chief U.S. weapons inspector says his inability to find illicit arms in Iraq raises serious questions about American intelligence-gathering."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



U.S. loses fifth copter this month in Iraq: "The U.S. military lost its fifth helicopter this month in Iraq, which crashed in the Tigris river while searching for a soldier whose boat had capsized. The aircraft's two crew members and the soldier remained missing Monday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Hunt for missing helicopter crew: "A search is under way for two crew members of a US helicopter that crashed in Iraq's Tigris river while searching for a missing soldier, the military said."

In Ananova: War In Iraq



Robin's Winds of War: Jan 26/04: "Welcome! Our goal is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. Today's "Winds of War" is brought to you by Robin Burk.
TOP TOPICS
  • The threat of nuclear proliferation, especially to non-state entities (such as Islamacist terror networks) is serious and growing. Libya's decision to renounce WMD programs has blown the cover off of a black market in nuclear technologies.The head of the IAEA, Mohammed elBaradai, says that illicit trafficking of nuclear-related material and equipment has grown so widespread that it amounts to a Wal-Mart for weapons-seeking countries.
  • The IAEA has acquiesced to a continued US role in dismantling Libya's programs; key equipment and materials are already being prepared for shipment to the US for safekeeping. A Congressional delegation visted Tripoli by invitation this weekend.

Other Topics Today Include: Blair, Straw defend the decision to invade Iraq; Iraqi WMD in Syria?; Iraqi Marines; power struggle in Iran; prisoner swap in ME ; Israel & her neighbours; al Qaeda supporter indicted in US ; China and France get together; German armed forces restructure.
Read the Rest?"

In Command Post: Irak



Australia Says Iraq WMD May Yet Be Found: "Australia has no regrets over its involvement in the Iraq war and believes weapons of mass destruction might still be found, the government said Monday. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Kay: U.S. Must Explain Iraq WMD Research: "U.S. intelligence agencies need to explain why their research indicated Iraq possessed banned weapons before the American-led invasion, says the outgoing top U.S. inspector, who now believes Saddam Hussein had no such arms. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



U.S. Searches for 2 Pilots in Iraq Crash: "A U.S. helicopter crashed in the Tigris river while searching for a missing soldier on Sunday, and the aircraft's two crew members were missing, the military said. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



UN to Decide on Iraq, Three U.S. Soldiers Missing: "U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan saidhe may decide as early as Monday on sending a mission to help aU.S. handover of power to Iraqis, while U.S. forces searchedfor three missing military personnel. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Search on for 2 Army Pilots in Iraq Crash: "A U.S. helicopter crashed in the Tigris river while searching for a missing soldier on Sunday, and the aircraft's two crew members were missing, the military said. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraq set to dominate Cheney talks with Berlusconi: "The reconstruction of Iraq will be high on the agenda when visiting US Vice President Dick Cheney holds talks with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Rome, diplomats here said. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Search on for 2 Army pilots in Iraq crash: "A U.S. helicopter crashed in the Tigris river while searching for a missing soldier on Sunday, and the aircraft's two crew members were missing, the military said."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Get Out The Link!: "Many readers have supported us with donations, which we appreciate. But the best way to support The Post is with traffic. So with the final push in New Hampshire to get out the vote, we ask that you help us "Get Out The Link."
Support Command Post this Monday by sending the www.command-post.org URL to everyone in your contact list who you think might enjoy the site. We're not picky: we just want to introduce people to The Command Post, and think the day before the primary is a great day to do so.
So "Get Out The Link" on Monday the 25th, and thanks for reading The Post!"

In Command Post: Irak



Army copter crashes into Tigris; 2 aboard: "A U.S. helicopter crashed in the Tigris river while searching for a missing soldier on Sunday, and the aircraft's two crew members were missing, the military said."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Back and enlightened: "      Yep, another long period with very little posts, sorry about that.  I was at the Himalayan Institute for the weekend (a really cool place, by the way, partly because it gives you a break from these evil computing devices and the cynicism that comes with surfing the web too much), and now I'm sitting up straighter and think I might actually start doing yoga or at least some exercise..."

In Catalyzer Newsroom



Kay Asks Why U.S. Thought Iraq Had WMD: "U.S. intelligence agencies need to explain why their research indicated Iraq possessed banned weapons before the American-led invasion, says the outgoing top U.S. inspector, who now believes Saddam Hussein had no such arms. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Kay asks why U.S. thought Iraq had WMD: "U.S. intelligence agencies need to explain why their research indicated Iraq possessed banned weapons before the American-led invasion, says the outgoing top U.S. inspector, who now believes Saddam Hussein had no such arms."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Army Chopper Crashes in Iraq; 2 on Board: "A U.S. helicopter crashed in the Tigris river while searching for a missing soldier on Sunday, and the aircraft's two crew members were missing, the military said. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Dean: Iraqi Standard of Living Worse Now: "Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean said Sunday that the standard of living for Iraqis is a "whole lot worse" since Saddam Hussein's removal from power in last year's American-led invasion. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Democrats Call for Probe of Iraq Weapons Claims: "Democratic presidential candidateSen. John Kerry said on Sunday the Bush administration,including Vice President Dick Cheney, should be "heldaccountable" for claims Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Army chopper crashes in Iraq; 2 on board: "A U.S. helicopter crashed in the Tigris river while searching for a missing soldier on Sunday, and the aircraft's two crew members were missing, the military said."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Iranian hard-liners veto election bill: "Iran's hard-line Guardian Council vetoed a bill on Sunday that would have curbed its power, throwing elections into doubt in a historic confrontation between reformers and conservatives."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Kay: Lack of Iraqi WMD requires review: "U.S. intelligence agencies need to explain why their research indicated Iraq possessed banned weapons before the American-led invasion, says the outgoing top U.S. inspector, who now believes Saddam Hussein had no such arms."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Syria denies weapons received before war: "Syria on Sunday denied claims that it received weapons of mass destruction from Iraq shortly before the United States and its allies invaded."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



US abuses human rights in Iraq, useless compensation system: "According to a new report, the US military in Iraq is arrogant and cruel when dealing with Iraqis seeking compensation for wrongful death, injuries and property destruction. The report, authored by Iraq Occupation Watch and The National Association for the Defense of Human Rights in Iraq (NADHRI), slams US military practice in Iraq since March 1, 2003 and charges that the US compensation system in Iraq is useless. The "Joint Report on Civilian Casualties and Claims Related to US Military Operations", investigates cases of civilian casualties caused by random shootings, house searches, car accidents between civilian and military vehicles, and deaths caused by cluster bombs. It also explores how the compensation system is working. Chris Spannos reports for eIraq."

In Electronic Iraq



US Army lied on killing Journalists in Palestine Hotel in Baghdad: "In a report Reporters Without Borders called today for the reopening of the enquiry into who was really responsible for the US Army's "criminal negligence" in shooting at the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad on 8 April 2003 and causing the death of two journalists. Reporters Without Borders called today for the reopening of the enquiry into who was really responsible for the US Army's "criminal negligence" in shooting at the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad on 8 April 2003 and causing the death of two journalists - Ukrainian cameramen Taras Protsyuk (of Reuters news agency) and Spaniard Jos Couso (of the Spanish TV station Telecinco)."

In Electronic Iraq



Howard Dean: Iraqis Are Worse Off Now: "
"You can say that it's great that Saddam is gone and I'm sure that a lot of Iraqis feel it is great that Saddam is gone," said the former Vermont governor , an unflinching critic of the war against Iraq. "But a lot of them gave their lives. And their living standard is a whole lot worse now than it was before."

Feel free to refute or defend the statement while I dig up some links."

In Command Post: Irak

  11:32 AM
Blog Menu