searching-for-saddam

searching-for-saddam

searching-for-saddam

searching-for-saddam

Iraq war news
London and World Protests Oppose Iraq Occupation: "Chanting "Troops out of Iraq and Blairout of Number 10," thousands of anti-war protesters took to thestreets of London on Saturday to demonstrate against Britain'scontinued military involvement in Iraq. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



UN staff continue to flee Baghdad violence, US sets constitution time table: "UN staff continued their exodus from Iraq as a Baghdad hotel housing US officials came under fire, while Washington agreed to a six-month target to draw up a new constitution. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraqis killed in U.S. checkpoint shooting in CNN - War in Iraq



No end to Baghdad dangers (27 Sept 03) in Radio Free USA



Bush Says 'World Is Safer' Without Saddam: "President Bush sought to reassureAmericans on Saturday that the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq wasappropriate despite the failure to find weapons of massdestruction and with U.S. troops under daily guerrilla attack. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Pentagon taps 10,000 soldiers for Iraq, puts 5,000 more on standby: "The Pentagon has mobilized two US Army National Guard brigades for deployment to Iraq and put a third on standby as US calls for international troop contributions go unheeded. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

U.S. holding 19 al-Qaida suspects in Iraq: "U.S. forces in Iraq are holding 19 suspected members of the al-Qaida terrorist network, the American civilian administrator said Friday."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



West Bank gunman kills Israeli man, baby: "A Palestinian gunman broke into a Jewish settlement in the West Bank on Friday and opened fire in a home where a family had gathered to mark the Jewish New Year, killing an Israeli man and a toddler and shattering Israel's efforts to maintain calm over the holiday."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Schwarzenegger declines debate challenge: "Gov. Gray Davis challenged Arnold Schwarzenegger to a debate "right here, right now," accusing the actor Friday of distorting his record. The Schwarzenegger campaign declined."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Bush, Putin to hold talks at Camp David: "President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin brought deep differences over postwar Iraq and Iran's nuclear program to a two-day Camp David summit. But they were expected to play down those disputes and emphasize economic and anti-terrorist cooperation."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press

Iraq war news
Finnish Ex-Leader to Head U.N. Iraq Probe: "Finland's former president will lead an independent investigation of the security situation at U.N. headquarters in Baghdad just before the August bombing that killed 22 people and injured more than 160, a U.N. spokesman said Monday. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



For Bush's Iraq Request, Tough Comparisons Loom: "With lights recently blacked out in the mid-Atlantic and wetlands conservation being squeezed, President Bush wants to spend nearly $5.7 billion on Iraq's electricity system and as much as $100 million next year to restore that nation's drained marshlands. (washingtonpost.com)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Bremer Urges Senate to Approve Iraq Funds: "Iraq could become a haven for terrorists if the United States fails to provide money needed to help rebuild the country, the U.S. administrator told senators Monday. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



2 Killed, 19 Wounded in Iraq Car Bombing: "A suicide bomber, his body wrapped in explosives and his car filled with 50 pounds of TNT, struck a police checkpoint outside U.N. headquarters in Baghdad on Monday, killing an Iraqi policeman who stopped him and wounding 19 people. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Bush unbending on Iraq in BBC: War in Iraq



AP: Bush paper details Iraq spending plan: "The administration wants $100 million for an Iraqi witness protection program, $290 million to hire, train and house thousands of firefighters, $9 million to modernize the postal service, including establishment of ZIP codes."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Iranian agent charged in Canadian's death: "An agent for Iran's Intelligence Ministry was charged with murder Monday in the death of an Iranian-Canadian photojournalist from injuries she received while in custody."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Iraq oil assets 'up for sale' in BBC: War in Iraq



UN rifts over Iraq remain deep: "President Bush's speech to the UN will highlight rather allay international divisions."

In BBC: War in Iraq



Musharraf Wary on Iraq: "In an interview, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the president of Pakistan, said his government needed more support from the Islamic world before it could send troops to Iraq."

In New York Times: World Special

Iraq war blog
Bomb kills 2 at U.N. compound in Baghdad: "A car bomb exploded Monday morning while the vehicle was being examined at a checkpoint as it tried to enter the U.N. compound, killing at least two people and injuring eight others."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Israeli troops exchange fire in Hebron: "Israeli troops backed by tanks surrounded a house in Hebron early Monday, exchanging fire with at least one gunman inside and then demolishing the building, Palestinian witnesses and military officials said."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Chirac says he has no intention to veto new US Iraq resolution: "French President Jacques Chirac said, in an interview, that he has no intention to veto a new UN Security Council resolution proposed by the United States on Iraq. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraq adopts sweeping reforms in BBC: War in Iraq

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

Iraq war news
Israeli officials visit U.S.: "A delegation headed by a top aide to Israel's prime minister began a visit to Washington on Sunday to present proposed routes for a hotly disputed security barrier between Israel and the West Bank."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



New Survey of 2,000 Iraqi households reveals human rights abuses and attitudes on reconstruction, justice and government: "A survey of 2,000 households, conducted by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), finds that people living in southern Iraq experienced widespread human rights abuses under Saddam Hussein?s Ba?ath regime and revealed that Iraqis support protection of women and minorities and a UN-led reconstruction effort. More than half of the respondents (53 percent) felt the Coalition Forces should not be involved in direct delivery of humanitarian assistance."

In Electronic Iraq



Lebanese troops clash with Hezbollah: "Lebanese troops fired at militant Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon Sunday in the first such clash in more than a decade, killing one guerrilla and wounding two, a Hezbollah official said."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Iraq hopes for around 70 billion dollars in aid: "Iraqi interim finance minister Kamel al-Kilani said that his government hoped to get financial commitments of around 70 billion dollars from donors at a key aid conference next month. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



U.S. Military Denies Report of Saddam Exile Offer: "The U.S. military on Sunday denieda British media report that Saddam Hussein had offered moneyand information on weapons of mass destruction in return forsafe passage to the ex-Soviet republic of Belarus. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Democrat Biden Urges U.S. to Out-Maneuver France: "A top Senate Democrat urgedPresident Bush on Sunday "to outsmart the French" in theiropposition to a new U.N. resolution on Iraq by having theSecurity Council decide when to turn control back to Iraqis. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Airline passengers' data used in study (20 Sept 03) in Radio Free USA



Halliburton's secret deal -- Even the reason it's secret is a secret (20 Sept 03) in Radio Free USA



Soaring Iraqi Costs Mean More U.S. Business: "Sabotage, looting and a more fragileinfrastructure than anticipated are driving up costs in Iraq,where U.S. companies will likely reap billions of dollars inthe next round of reconstruction contracts. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



COALITION ENGINEERS WORK ON BAGHDAD?S SEWER SYSTEM in CENTCOM: News Release



Community powderkeg ready to explode in Kirkuk despite official cool: "Simmering tensions between Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen in this northern Iraqi city could boil over at any time, but community leaders offer vocal support for US efforts to maintain calm. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

Iraq war news
Arafat sees U.N. vote as sign of support: "Yasser Arafat told hundreds of supporters Saturday that a United Nations vote condemning an Israeli decision to remove him is of the "utmost importance" as a sign of international support for the Palestinians."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Iraqi Council Member Shot; Europeans Still Divided: "Gunmen seriously wounded aleading woman member of Iraq's Governing Council Saturday, asEurope's three biggest powers failed to resolve their rift overIraq and its future six months after the war began. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

In Iraq, Demand Makes Security Growth Industry: "Some Iraqis have turned to political militias and private companies for their own protection having already given up on the Americans."

In New York Times: World Special



U.S. Is Struggling to Make New Iraq Resolution Matter: "The intense diplomatic efforts over a new resolution to change the military and political realities in Iraq are aimed at making it matter."

In New York Times: World Special



Three nations asked to bolster Iraq force: "The United States has asked Turkey, Pakistan and South Korea to send up to 40,000 troops total to Iraq as part of a global U.S. drive for help to secure the country still wracked by violence, officials from those nations told The Associated Press."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



U.S. tanks patrol Iraqi city after ambush: "U.S. tanks and armored fighting vehicles rumbled through Saddam Hussein's hometown and its outskirts early Saturday in a show of force following a coordinated ambush against American forces that killed three soldiers and wounded two."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



A Look at U.S. Daily Deaths in Iraq: "As of Friday, Sept. 19, 298 U.S. service members have died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq, according to U.S. Central Command. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Saudi says his country against terrorism: "Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States insisted Friday his country stands firmly against terrorism, despite continued criticism from Capitol Hill that funds could still be moving through Saudi charities to organizations such as al-Qaida."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq

Isabel's outer bands lash N.C. coast: "The outer rings of a weakened but still potent Hurricane Isabel began lashing the North Carolina coast early Thursday with gusting winds, while already rain-soaked areas as far away as Pennsylvania prepared for possibly ruinous flooding."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Bush works toward U.N. Iraq compromise: "President Bush, working to find common ground with allies on a new U.N. Iraq resolution, sought to dispel controversy about recent administration statements on Saddam Hussein and the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



NYSE seeks successor after chairman quits: "Dick Grasso is gone, and his millions with him, leaving a new, almost certainly less extravagant and more public era to be ushered in by the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Jobless claims at lowest level in 3 weeks: "After rising for three straight weeks, new claims for unemployment benefits dropped last week to the lowest level in nearly a month, raising hopes that the pace of layoffs may be starting to slow down again."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Spanish police make more al-Qaida arrests: "Police have arrested several suspects on orders of a Spanish judge who is investigating al-Qaida links, the government said Thursday, a day after he issued the first known indictment against Osama bin Laden in the Sept. 11 attacks."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Gunman who held class hostage is killed: "A 26-year-old man with a history of mental problems held at least a dozen college students at gunpoint during a nine-hour standoff before a SWAT team stormed the school building and killed him."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Calif. seeks to hold recall on schedule: "The fate of the gubernatorial recall election was back in the hands of an appeals court as candidates ramped up their rhetoric in anticipation of a reversal that would reinstate the historic Oct. 7 vote."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



New version of Beatles' 'Let It Be' coming: "A new version of The Beatles' album "Let It Be" will be released in November, the group's company Apple Corps announced Thursday."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Stocks expected to open higher: "U.S. stocks were expected to open higher Thursday as investors remained upbeat about the prospects for the economy. Futures were up early on the first day of trading after the resignation of New York Stock Exchange Chairman Dick Grasso."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press

New Iraq army to cost $2 billion to build: "At an estimated cost next year of $2 billion, the United States plans to build, virtually from scratch, a new Iraqi army of 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Arafat, Fatah meet to pick ministers: "Yasser Arafat and leaders of his Fatah movement met Thursday to choose ministers in the new Palestinian government, and the Palestinian leader reported progress in truce talks with Islamic militant groups."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Valuable Sumerian relic recovered in Iraq: "The Lady of Warka, one the two most precious relics looted from the Iraqi National Museum in the chaos that followed the April 9 fall of Baghdad, has been recovered by U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police, the head of Iraq's Antiquities Department said on Thursday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



'Comical Ali' criticises Saddam in BBC: War in Iraq



GOP to Closely Examine $87B War Request: "Republicans say they will try to push President Bush's $87 billion war request rapidly through Congress, but not before lawmakers sensitive to record federal deficits give it a thorough look. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



British forces in Iraq sack Basra police chief: "Some 200 police officers gathered outside coalition headquarters in Basra to protest the British forces' decision to sack the police chief of the southern Iraqi city. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



German, French Leaders Hold Talks on Iraq: "The leaders of France and Germany met Thursday for talks on postwar Iraq and ways to boost Europe's economy, ahead of a weekend meeting with their British counterpart. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Blix Attacks 'Spin and Hype' of Iraq Weapon Claims: "Former U.N. chief weapons inspector HansBlix on Thursday attacked the "spin and hype" behind U.S. andBritish allegations of banned Iraqi weapons used to justify waragainst Saddam Hussein. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



US soldiers kill teenager, wound four in flashpoint Iraqi town: "US soldiers killed an Iraqi teenager and wounded four other people, further fueling tensions in this flashpoint town that has seen several outbursts of violence over the last week, witnesses said. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Rumsfeld's McArmy goes to war: "The Pentagon's new public-private military was supposed to be a lean, mean fighting machine. It isn't working."

In Salon: Iraq War



Japan's PM in a Bind Over Troops, Funds for Iraq: "Japan will provide at least $1 billion inaid for the reconstruction of Iraq, media reports said onThursday, as the government struggles to balance promises madeto Washington with voters' misgivings about the Iraq war. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraqi Governing Council Seeks U.N. Seat: "The U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, its image buttressed by new support from the Arab League and OPEC, now plans to send its president to New York to claim Iraq's seat at the U.N. General Assembly, diplomats said. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraq's Former Info Min Says Baghdad Had No WMD: "Iraq's former Information MinisterMohammed Saeed al-Sahaf said on Wednesday Iraq had destroyedall banned chemical weapons, missiles and its nuclear programimmediately after the 1991 Gulf War. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Treasury Chief: Saudis are strong allies: "U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow on Wednesday said Saudi Arabia is a strong partner in the fight against terror and that "significant progress" has been made in halting the cash flow to terrorists."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Saudi terror crackdown irks some Muslims: "A Saudi crackdown on cash donations to charities aimed at blocking the flow of money to terrorists has had one immediate effect: angering Muslim groups that help the poor, including one that expects contributions to drop by one-third."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



U.S.: Iraq soldiers won't be in combat: "The new Iraqi army will not initially join U.S. troops in combat operations against holdouts from the deposed government of Saddam Hussein, a senior American adviser to the U.S. occupation authority said Wednesday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq

Four soldiers wounded in recent attacks in Iraq in CNN - War in Iraq



Iraq to attend first postwar OPEC in CNN - War in Iraq



British PM believes public support on Iraq will take time: "British Prime Minister Tony Blair believes it will take at least six more months for the public to acknowledge that the invasion of Iraq by the US and Britain in March was the right course, the Guardian newspaper reported. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraq's Abu Ghraib Prison Remains Notorious: "The holding cells in the death chamber at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison are a chilling reminder of the terror inmates felt as they awaited the inevitable. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraqi interim government to form security forces as Europe seeks unity: "Iraq's interim government has moved closer to establishing security forces to protect religious sites amid further unrest in the war-torn country, as Britain prepared to close ranks with Europe on Iraq. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



U.S. Detains Alleged Westerners in Iraq: "

ABU GHRAIB, Iraq - Six people claiming to be Americans and two who say they are British are in U.S. custody on suspicion of involvement in attacks on coalition forces, an American general said Tuesday. They would be the first Westerners reported held in the insurrection against the U.S.-led occupation.
Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski, who is in charge of coalition detention centers in Iraq, said they were considered security detainees, meaning they were suspected of involvement in guerrilla attacks. She did not identify them but said they were being interrogated by military intelligence in Baghdad, where they were being held.

More from AP via Yahoo!..."

In Command Post: Irak



Powell Finally Visits Crisis Hot Spots: "The subject matter at city council meeting was fairly routine - street crime, youth programs, education and how to get women more engaged in politics. But this was Baghdad and there, of all people, sat the American secretary of state - taking it all in. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



French, German and British Leaders to Meet on Saturday: "The leaders will hold a summit meeting that seems aimed at working out a position on the American request for help in Iraq."

In New York Times: World Special



Rumsfeld Sees No Link Between Iraq, 9/11: "Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Tuesday he had no reason to believe that Iraq's Saddam Hussein had a hand in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

WTO Review: Delegates Conflate Fair Trade with Market Access in RISQ



Annan pushes ahead with efforts to achieve Security Council consensus: "Pushing his efforts to achieve consensus on the next steps in Iraq, Secretary-General Kofi Annan planned to meet today with the remaining members of the United Nations Security Council following his weekend talks with the Foreign Ministers of the 15-nation body's five veto-wielding powers in Geneva."

In Electronic Iraq



"Our Grief is Not a Cry for War": "At the time of the second anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Not in Our Name says more than ever: "our grief is not a cry for war". The two years since 9-11 have also been two years of building resistance to the U.S. government's course of war and repression, resistance that reached new heights worldwide. What is needed are not schemes to make U.S. occupation more palatable but an end to the occupation of Iraq and expanded resistance to the U.S. government's whole war on the world."

In Electronic Iraq



Palestinian envoy walks out of U.N. talks: "Any attempt by Israel to kill or expel Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat would be an "illegal and insane act," the Palestinian envoy to the United Nations said Monday before stalking out of the Security Council debate."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Gunmen Assassinate Iraqi Police Chief: "Three gunmen, their faces covered with red and white Arab headdresses, assassinated the police chief of a Sunni town today."

In New York Times: World Special



Inquiry Into British Arms Expert's Death Resumes: "The defense secretary will be cross-examined next week at an inquiry into the apparent suicide of David Kelly."

In New York Times: World Special



Suspected resistance organizers arrested in Iraq in CNN - War in Iraq



U.S. Holds to Hopes of Turkish Troops in Iraq: "The United States will keep trying toovercome the objections of Kurdish politicians to acceptingTurkish troops as part of a multinational force in Iraq,Secretary of State Colin Powell said Monday. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraq's new 750-strong army eager -- but far from effective: "They've got weapons, they've got uniforms and they've got a base. But it is still far from clear when the New Iraqi Army, which now numbers just 750 raw recruits, is going to be an effective fighting force. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



UN's Annan plays down Security Council split on Iraq: "UN Secretary General Kofi Annan played down the division in the Security Council following weekend talks in Geneva over how to handle the political future of Iraq. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



U.S. Soldier Killed in Baghdad Attack: "One U.S. soldier was killed in arocket-propelled grenade attack while on patrol in centralBaghdad Monday, the U.S. military said. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Tax wealthy to pay for Iraq war: " (USA TODAY)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



IRAQI ORPHANS ENJOY FUN IN THE SUN WITH SOLDIERS in CENTCOM: News Release



3RD COSCOM SOLDIERS TRAIN VOLUNTEER VEHICLE INSPECTORS in CENTCOM: News Release



Civil libertarians prepare to fight Bush over tougher anti-terror laws (15 Sept 03) in Radio Free USA

U.S. arrests suspected Saddam loyalists: "Dozens of U.S. troops raided homes near Tikrit's dangerous "RPG Alley" Monday, arresting five men suspected of helping to bankroll attacks against American troops in Saddam Hussein's hometown."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Arab Rulers Leery of New Iraq Role Model: "Not that it would come as any surprise, but it appears the rest of the unelected dictators in the Arab world aren?t so enthusiastic about a democratic peer in their midst. The AP has the story, reported here via the Guardian ."

In Command Post: Irak



Powell: U.S. had planned to include U.N. on Iraq strategy in CNN - War in Iraq



Iraq producing average of 1.5 million barrels of oil a day: "Iraq's battered oil industry is managing to produce 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd), the top US official in the occupied nation said. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Key Israeli says killing Arafat an option: "Israel's vice prime minister said killing Yasser Arafat is an option for Israel, as Palestinians on Sunday took to the streets across the West Bank and Gaza Strip promising to protect their leader."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq

Powell visits mass grave of Iraqi victims: "Secretary of State Colin Powell visited a mass grave Monday to highlight perhaps the single biggest human-rights abuse of Saddam Hussein's brutal regime - the chemical weapons murder of some 5,000 people in March 1988."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Palestinians demand U.N. protect Arafat: "The Palestinians are urging the United Nations to demand that Israel ensures Yasser Arafat's safety and key Security Council members are pushing both parties to implement the peace plan known as the "road map.""

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Cheney: U.S. may seek more aid for Iraq: "Vice President Dick Cheney hinted Sunday that the Bush administration would seek more money next year than the additional $87 billion already requested to pay mainly for postwar costs in Iraq."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Sgt killed after row: "SOLDIER shot his sergeant at his leaving party, inquest will hear today"

In The Sun - News



Readers' fury at Hook: "SICKENED readers bombard Sun to blast welfare payouts to Abu Hamza"

In The Sun - News



War plan for killer bug: "HEALTH Secretary orders battle plan against killer MRSA hospital bug"

In The Sun - News



Israel 'is to kill Arafat': "ISRAEL considers killing Palestinian leader, says country's deputy PM"

In The Sun - News



Bush Insists Strategy for Iraq Is 'Clear': "Underscoring his belief and hope that Iraq will be a stable democracy one day, President Bush told Americans on Saturday that his administration has a clear strategy and is moving forward on its work to complete the transformation of Iraq. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Faux Osama?: "Buzzflash says it's interesting that: one, Osama bin Laden always seems to resurface any time the Bush administration wants to do something unpopular; two, bin Laden seems to have undergone a little "nip and tuck" in his latest video. The editors don't assert that the Osama tapes are a hoax, but remind us that is nothing is impossible in "a war of appearances.""

In Alternet: War On Iraq



Repeat after me: Saddam, 9/11, Al-Qaeda: "With the occupation of Iraq rapidly deteriorating, Dubya liberally sprinkled the word "terror" in his speech. L.A. Times, noting the obvious, says Bush's speech "represent(s) a new tack by the White House: a concerted effort to quiet second-guessing about the campaign, cast the effort as part of a broader anti- terrorism cause and remind the public of the outcome's stakes."
There is, of course, no evidence that Al-Qaeda was ever connected to Saddam. James Steinberg of the Brookings Institution says, "(Iraq) wasn't the place you had to confront Al Qaeda. They weren't there, and this is not what that war was about." Unfortunately, as the article notes, many Americans continue to believe their lying liar of a president. For a very funny spoof of Bush's speech, check out San Francisco Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll's column today."

In Alternet: War On Iraq



WMD? What WMD?: "The search for Saddam's deadly arsenal is now merely a footnote in the war. In what amounts to a political "do-over", Bush has recasted the mission in Iraq into Ground Zero in the broader war on terror. Rumsfeld didn't even ask about the weapons in his recent Baghdad visit. They've changed their minds about why they went to war and their sticking to it -- at least until that reasoning also fails them."

In Alternet: War On Iraq



U.S. approved exodus: ""The United States allowed members of Osama bin Laden?s family to jet out of the US in the immediate aftermath of September 11, even as American airspace was closed," writes the Edinburgh Evening News. The Bush administration allowed a plane to land in several cities to pick up passengers before heading home out of the country."

In Alternet: War On Iraq



Meet our new best friend: the United Nations: "In just the latest flurry of overtures by the White House toward the UN, George Bush reportedly told the prime minister of Netherlands that he supports an increased international role in Iraq. This sudden change of heart is most likely a result of the reality check delivered by the Congressional Budget Office. The CBO report, delivered in the form of a letter to Sen. Robert Byrd, says that given the present one-year rotation policy, the Pentagon would be forced to reduce the 180,000 soldiers in Iraq and Kuwait to between 38,000 and 64,000 in six months. To put it bluntly, the Pentagon simply doesn't have the soldiers to secure Iraq, let alone fulfill its commitments in Afghanistan.
But some experts are calling the latest U.S. proposal to pull together an international force under the command of an American general "too little, too late," Iraq expert Toby Dodge told the BBC, "The danger now is that diluting the US presence might not do the trick. The resentment against the occupation is so great.""

In Alternet: War On Iraq

Palestinians vow to shield Arafat: "Two dozen Palestinians at Yasser Arafat's headquarters settled down for a third straight night Saturday, pledging to serve as human shields if Israel tries to forcibly expel the Palestinian leader."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Arafat calls for return to peace talks: "Ten years after the signing of historic peace accords whose goals were never achieved, Yasser Arafat said Saturday the Mideast conflict is facing its most difficult point since and he urged Israel to return to negotiations following its threat to exile him."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Angry Iraqis mourn deaths of officers: "Angry mourners swarmed this central Iraqi city Saturday, firing into the air, attacking journalists and cursing the American occupation as they followed the flag-draped coffins of eight Iraqi police killed in a friendly fire incident involving U.S. troops."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Key UN powers agree on Iraqi sovereignty, but timetable and UN role unclear: "The five veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council failed to resolve their differences on Iraq's future, reiterating their commitment to restore Iraqi sovereignty without giving specifics on a timetable for self-rule or the United Nations' future role in the country. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



What Bush should tell United Nations: " (USA TODAY)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Saudis declare Barbie's clothes offensive: "Saudi Arabia's religious police have declared Barbie dolls a threat to morality, complaining that the revealing clothes of the "Jewish" toy - already banned in the kingdom - are offensive to Islam."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



U.S. sees some Iraq contact with al-Qaida: "The Bush administration has evidence of some prewar Iraqi contacts and training with al-Qaida, based on prisoner interrogations, defector statements and documents collected in Iraq and Afghanistan, but no proof of joint terror operations, according to U.S. officials."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Powell: Gap On Iraq Narrowed: "But after conferring with fellow U.N. Security Council members in Geneva, Powell also said differences among them remain. He spurned a French proposal for Iraqis to take control in Iraq in a month. In a surprise, it was announced he would visit Iraq."

In CBS News: Iraq Crisis



Fallujah Fumes Over Friendly Fire: "Angry mourners at a burial ceremony for victims of the incident peppered gunfire into the air and sneered at an American apology. One cleric urged the crowd to save its bullets for "the chests of the enemy." The U.S. says GIs were fired at first."

In CBS News: Iraq Crisis



ARTILLERYMEN, IRAQIS SPIN WRENCHES TO KEEP COALITION ROLLING in CENTCOM: News Release

Making trade fairer (12 Sept 03)
In Radio Free USA

Powell rejects French timetable for Iraq: "Secretary of State Colin Powell on Friday rejected as "totally unrealistic" a French timetable for the full transfer of authority in Iraq to local control, starting with the establishment of a provisional government next month."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Task force notes problems before blackout: "Voltage shifts, line problems and power plant shutdowns were observed "well before" midday and across several states on the day of the nation's worst blackout, a government task force said Friday."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Israel shrugs off criticism over Arafat: "Israeli leaders shrugged off condemnation of their decision to "remove" Yasser Arafat whenever they choose, saying Friday the Palestinian leader should have been ousted long ago and the world has no right to judge a nation facing constant suicide bombings."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



CIA: bin Laden voice probably authentic: "The CIA said Friday the purported voice of Osama bin Laden on the newly aired al-Qaida videotape probably is an authentic recording of the terrorist leader, but it is impossible to determine when the tape was made."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



TV sitcom icon John Ritter dies at 54: "John Ritter, a master of sitcom silliness who ruled TV comedy with "Three's Company" and rediscovered success 25 years later with "8 Simple Rules ... For Dating My Teenage Daughter," has died of an undetected heart problem. He was 54."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Geoghan case inmate said to write letter: "A letter purporting to be from Joseph L. Druce, the convict accused of killing former priest John Geoghan in prison, claims Druce was sexually abused as a child and calls for tougher measures against those who prey on children."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



U.N. votes to lift sanctions on Libya: "The U.N. Security Council on Friday lifted 11-year-old sanctions on Libya after Moammar Gadhafi's government took responsibility for bombing a Pan Am jet over Scotland and agreed to pay the victims' families $2.7 billion."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Red Sox escape White Sox 7-4: "Johnny Damon drew three of Boston's 12 walks, including two with the bases loaded, and the Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox 7-4 Friday night despite getting just five hits."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press

Iraq war news
Palestinians rally round Arafat after exile threat (11 Sept 03) in Radio Free USA



At least 9 dead in apparent friendly fire in Iraq in CNN - War in Iraq



India 'won't send troops' to Iraq in CNN - War in Iraq



Exploiting the atrocity (12 Sept 03) in Radio Free USA



Foreigners may not have liked the war, but they financed it (12 Sept 03) in Radio Free USA



'Iraq policemen killed' in friendly fire tragedy (12 Sept 03) in Radio Free USA



Blair's war: PM ignored intelligence advice on Iraq (12 Sept 03) in Radio Free USA



Jerusalem Post Editorial: Kill Arafat (11 Sept 03) in Radio Free USA



Bloody Day In Iraqi Town: "In one of the bloodiest nights of fighting since the end of major combat on May 1, two Americans were killed, seven were wounded and U.S. troops may have mistakenly shot a dozen Iraqi cops in Fallujah."

In CBS News: Iraq Crisis



Israeli police quell shrine disturbance: "Israeli police entered a disputed Jerusalem shrine Friday, firing tear gas and stun grenades to disperse Muslim worshippers who threw stones after noon prayers, police and witnesses said."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



17 Palestinians wounded in Lebanon march: "Attackers hurled a hand grenade and fired rifles at pro-Yasser Arafat demonstrators in this Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, injuring 17 people, a Palestinian official said Friday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq

Iraq war news updates
Bush Urges Foreign Troop Role in Iraq: "President Bush said Wednesday it is in other nations' interests to contribute money and troops to postwar Iraq, but his defense chief cautioned against expecting offers of large numbers of troops even if the United Nations authorizes a multinational force. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Rumsfeld admits infrastructure woes underestimated: "US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld admitted the United States underestimated the devastation of Iraq's infrastructure but said ultimately it would be up to Iraqis to rebuild their country. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Al-Jazeera airs new bin Laden videotape: "The Arabic satellite channel Al-Jazeera aired video and audio tapes of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and his deputy on Wednesday. The footage - the first video image of bin Laden in nearly two years - was aired on the eve of the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Bush lukewarm to new Palestinian PM: "President Bush withheld judgment Wednesday on the new Palestinian prime minister and kept a diplomatic distance from a power structure that inevitably leads back to Yasser Arafat."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



No deal yet in US-militia showdown in Iraqi holy city: "Mediators pressed talks to avert a showdown between US forces and armed Iraqi militia they have vowed to disarm after nearly a fortnight of turning a blind eye to their presence on the streets of this Shiite Muslim holy city. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



France, Germany Seek to Downgrade U.S. Role in Iraq: "France and Germany have offeredthe United States a deal that effectively recognizes an Iraqitransitional government but downgrades the U.S. political rolein the occupied state, according to documents circulated onWednesday. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



West overrates terrorism (10 Sept 03) in Radio Free USA



France and Germany seek full UN control over Iraq (10 Sept o3) in Radio Free USA



Bush urges UN action on Iraq: "The US president calls on UN members to put aside 'past bickering' and commit troops and money to Iraq."

In BBC: War in Iraq



Iraq council names central bank governor: "The U.S.-appointed Governing Council on Wednesday named economist Sinan Mohammed Rida al-Shibibi as the country's first central bank governor since the ouster of Saddam Hussein's government five months ago."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



New film of Osama bin Laden is shown: "The Arabic satellite channel Al-Jazeera aired a video of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahri on Wednesday, and an accompanying audiotape attributed to al-Zawahri called on Iraqi guerrillas to "bury" American troops in Iraq."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Bush calls on nations to help with Iraq: "President Bush said Wednesday it is in other nations' interests to contribute money and troops to the postwar reconstruction of Iraq."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



U.S. says 3,000 Iraqi artifacts recovered: "Investigators have recovered more than 3,000 antiquities taken from Iraq's collection but still don't know exactly what else might have been pillaged during the war, the Pentagon said Wednesday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



France, Germany Seek to Downgrade U.S. Role in Iraq: "France and Germany have offeredthe United States a deal that effectively recognizes an Iraqitransitional government but downgrades the U.S. political rolein the occupied state, according to documents circulated onWednesday. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



IRAQI WORKERS, COALITION SOLDIERS RESTORE MOSUL?S ZOO in CENTCOM: News Release



WEAPONS CACHE DISCOVERED IN 3RD BRIGADE AREA in CENTCOM: News Release



3RD ACR PATROLS NET BIG WEAPONS HAUL in CENTCOM: News Release



Two U.S. soldiers die in Iraq in CNN - War in Iraq



Iraqi Pleads Not Guilty to Bombing: "An Iraqi pleaded innocent Wednesday to a charge of detonating an explosion near a U.S. Navy base here during the Iraqi war, his defense lawyer said. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Suicide bomber kills at least one, wounds dozens in northern Iraq: "A suicide bomber killed at least one child and wounded dozens of people, including six US defence staff, in the Iraqi city of Arbil, shattering the calm US commanders had hailed in the Kurdish north. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

Al-Jazeera airs new bin Laden videotape: "The Arabic satellite channel Al-Jazeera aired video and audio tapes of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and his deputy on Wednesday. The footage - the first video image of bin Laden in nearly two years - was aired on the eve of the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Bush seeks to improve homeland security: "Americans will never forget the "servants of evil" who plotted the Sept. 11 attacks, President Bush said Wednesday as he pushed to give law enforcement officers the same powers to investigate and prosecute suspected terrorists as they have to combat some other criminals."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Senate votes to block new overtime rules: "The Senate voted Wednesday to bar the Bush administration from issuing new overtime pay rules that Democrats and organized labor said would take money from the pockets of millions of workers."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Court gives Indiana lt. governor power: "As Gov. Frank O'Bannon lay in critical condition following a stroke, the state Supreme Court formally transferred power Wednesday to Indiana's lieutenant governor."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Israeli air strike misses Hamas leader: "Israeli warplanes flattened the home of senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar with a half-ton bomb Wednesday, wounding him and killing his eldest son and a bodyguard in retaliation for two Hamas suicide bombings that killed 15 Israelis a day earlier."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Ex-Enron Corp. treasurer sentenced: "A former Enron Corp. treasurer pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal conspiracy charge and became the first executive sentenced to prison in the scandal that toppled the energy company."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press

Iraq war news
Palestinian PM demands parliament backing: "Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, weakened by his power struggle with Yasser Arafat, told parliament Thursday it must either support him or send him home."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



U.S. says more troops are needed in Iraq: "The top U.S. commander in Iraq said Thursday he needs more international forces to deal with an array of potential security threats, including al-Qaida terrorists, Iranian fighters and clashes between ethnic and religious militias."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Arnold sits out California recall debate: "Five top candidates hoping to replace Gov. Gray Davis clashed over how they would lead the state and the best way to solve California's budget crisis during their first debate, an event some believed hurt only the candidate not present: Arnold Schwarzenegger."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



U.S. productivity soars in 2nd quarter: "The productivity of U.S. companies in the second quarter posted the biggest gain in more than a year as businesses produced more with fewer workers. New claims for unemployment benefits climbed last week to the highest level since the middle of July"

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Tropical storm warning issued for Florida: "A tropical depression was strengthening early Thursday in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and was expected to become Tropical Storm Henri before crossing the northern Florida Peninsula, forecasters said."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Abortion clinics fear execution reprisals: "The execution of Paul Hill for the murders of an abortion doctor and his bodyguard left abortion providers holding their breath, wary that the former minister may become a martyr to the anti-abortion cause and spur others to act violently."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Court blocks FCC media ownership rules: "In a break for small media companies fearful of industry consolidation, an appeals court blocked new federal rules that would relax restrictions on how many TV stations a company can own and lift a ban on owning newspapers and broadcast outlets in the same city."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Juanes sweeps major Latin Grammy awards: "Three years ago, Juanes was a relative unknown and wondering whether his decision to move to Los Angeles and start a solo career was a good idea."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



U.S. stocks expected to open lower: "U.S. stocks are set to open lower Thursday, with investors taking a breather after the recent highs in the markets."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Astros move into first in tight NL Central: "With first place on the line in the tight NL Central race, the Houston Astros scored four first-inning runs, and Jeriome Robertson set a franchise record for wins by a rookie left-hander in an 8-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press

Iraq war news
UN orders independent security review after Baghdad attack in IraqWar.ru (English)



Quit Iraq: Hakim?s Brother to US in IraqWar.ru (English)



Latest Iraq threat: cash crunch in IraqWar.ru (English)



War against terror is being fought ? and won ? in Iraq in IraqWar.ru (English)



Annual Iraq occupation cost may hit $29B: "The U.S. military occupation of Iraq could cost from $8 billion to $29 billion annually, but the least expensive option would dramatically reduce the force, according to scenarios analyzed by the Congressional Budget Office."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Bush 'offers UN greater Iraq role': "The US president is proposing to expand the UN mandate in Iraq in exchange for more foreign troops, White House officials say."

In BBC: War in Iraq



Erdogan seeks to reassure Turks on troops: "Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan tried to reassure wary Turks on the possible deployment of Turkish peacekeepers to Iraq as the commander of U.S. forces in Europe arrived here Tuesday to discuss the possibility."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Pentagon May Have to Reduce U.S. Forces in Iraq -CBO: "The Bush administration may have tocut U.S. troops in Iraq by more than half to keep enough forcesto face other threats, a congressional agency said on Tuesdayin a report that fueled calls for more international help forpeacekeeping in Iraq. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraq occupation could cost up to $29B: "The U.S. military occupation of Iraq could cost from $8 billion to $29 billion annually, but the least expensive option would dramatically reduce the force, according to scenarios analyzed by the Congressional Budget Office."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Jordanian king arrives in Tehran: "Jordan's King Abdullah II met with Iran's president Tuesday on the first visit by a Jordanian monarch to Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution, with the situation in Iraq topping the agenda."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



US to seek new UN resolution on Iraq: senior official: "US President George W. Bush has signed off on a proposal for a new UN Security Council resolution that would expand the United Nations mandate in Iraq, making it easier for more countries to join the stabilization force, a senior US official said. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



U.S. Blamed For Mosque Attack: "Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis mourned the moderate Shiite cleric assassinated in a car bombing last week. The cleric's brother blamed U.S. troops for the lax security that led to the attack and demanded they leave the country."

In CBS News: Iraq Crisis



Saddam Hunt Is High Tech: "CBS' Dan Rather reports from Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown, where the most technologically advanced arm of the U.S. military has employed a digital mapping system to pinpoint Saddam's location."

In CBS News: Iraq Crisis



Israeli says Arafat could be expelled: "Israel could seek to expel Yasser Arafat by the end of the year, the defense minister said Tuesday, calling the Palestinian leader the biggest obstacle to peace."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Israeli groups want ban on rubber bullets: "The Israeli army must remove rubber bullets from its arsenal, a human rights group said Tuesday, after a commission of inquiry ruled they are too deadly for crowd control."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Critics: Israeli strikes doing more harm: "Every two or three days, Israeli helicopters track down suspected Islamic militants and unleash Hellfire missiles, blowing up cars and sending crowds surging around the charred bodies."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Four weeks, Four bombs, 121 Dead: "[CNN]

The fourth car bombing in Iraq in a month killed a police station employee Tuesday, wounded at least 18 other people, and sent a column of thick black smoke rising over the Rasafa police station in western Baghdad.

The attack occurred as Shiite Muslims gathered in Najaf, to mourn the death of Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim, a longtime Iraqi dissident, who was among the 83 people killed in Friday's bombing of the Imam Ali Mosque.

At least 121 people have died in the four assaults, each of which has targeted people cooperating with the U.S.-backed Coalition Provisional Authority: In addition to the bombings at the Baghdad police station and the Najaf mosque, 17 people were killed in the August 7 bombing at the Jordanian embassy. The August 19 attack on the United Nations' Canal Hotel headquarters killed 20 people, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, the U.N.'s top envoy to Iraq.

Full story..."

In Command Post: Irak



Alleged killer said to have poison files: "A suspected terrorist charged with killing a U.S. diplomat had computer files on making explosives and poison, a Jordanian military court heard Tuesday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq

Iraqis mourn cleric; Brother blames U.S.: "About 400,000 mourners took to the streets Tuesday, flailing their backs and pounding their chests in anguish at the funeral of a leading Shiite cleric assassinated in a car bomb attack. In Baghdad, another car bomb exploded outside police headquarters, killing one and wounding 13."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



U.S. to train up to 5,000 air marshals: "The Homeland Security Department will train as many as 5,000 customs and immigration agents to serve as air marshals when U.S. airliners are especially threatened by terrorists, officials said Tuesday."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Economy, Iraq focus for Bush upon return: "President Bush focused on the economy and national security on his first day back at work in the White House, and the administration said it was still struggling to come up with figures on the cost of rebuilding Iraq and the number of troops needed for the job."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Kerry touts war experience in '04 kickoff: "Democrat John Kerry, seeking to regain his political footing, formally launched his presidential candidacy Tuesday by offering his Vietnam War-hero credentials and Senate tenure as an alternative to President Bush's record."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Abortion doctor's killer expects 'reward': "An unrepentant Paul Hill boasted Tuesday on the eve of his execution for the shotgun slaying of an abortion doctor: "I expect a great reward in heaven.""

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Cancer deaths may be leveling after drop: "Cancer deaths may be leveling off after several years of decline, and many states are lagging in proven methods to fight the most common tumors, says the nation's annual report on cancer."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press