U.S. Revises Iraq Resolution in Push for U.N. Vote: "In an effort to meet objectionsfrom Security Council members, the United States submitted anew draft of its resolution to lift sanctions against Iraqwithout changing any basic demands. (Reuters)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
3rd Infantry return to US on hold in IraqWar.info
Official: Baathists Out for Iraqi Gov't: "Between 15,000 and 30,000 Baath Party officials will be banned entirely from any future Iraqi government, a senior U.S. official said Friday. He said the move will eliminate Saddam Hussein's party and "put a stake in its heart." (AP)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
US wins German support on Iraq sanctions, modifies UN resolution: "The United States and Germany, badly split over the Iraq war, made a joint call for the swift lifting of United Nations sanctions against Baghdad, as Washington moved to placate concerns from other UN Security Council members. (AFP)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Powell Seeks German Support to End Iraq Sanctions: "
BERLIN ( Reuters ) - Secretary of State Colin Powell will meet German leaders on Friday seeking support for a United Nations resolution to end sanctions on Iraq with the offer of warmer bilateral relations in return."
Powell holds talks with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer on Friday morning, expected to start mending relations soured by disagreement over the U.S.-led Iraq war as long as Germany supports the United States on post-war Iraq.
The United States is looking for support for a U.N. Security Council resolution that would lift blocks on Iraqi oil exports and Powell made it clear he hoped for backing from Germany, one of the non-permanent members on the council.
In Command Post: Irak
Gruesome Iraqi desert execution uncovered: "
Reuters via Yahoo News - Film uncovered after the fall of Saddam Hussein shows what seems to be new evidence of brutality under his rule -- three men being executed in gruesome fashion by being blown up with explosives packed around their bodies.
Convicted in 1985 of a bomb attack that killed children in Baghdad, Saddam's security police wired them up to explosives in the desert and simply blew them up, one by one - the whole proceedings captured on a film obtained by Reuters on Thursday.
The footage shows men in the uniforms of Iraqi security officers strapping what appears to be explosive to one of the blindfolded men and attaching wires to a large vehicle battery.
Full story..."
In Command Post: Irak
Injured Ali leaves intensive care in BBC News | War in Iraq
Umm Qasr leads the way: "Jane Peel on how the return of Umm Qasr to Iraqis is significant for all the country."
In BBC News | War in Iraq
Baghdad Airport Remains Closed: "Steven Edgeley, a lanky Australian in brown-and-yellow camouflage, stood in the circular room atop Baghdad airport's control tower and peered through binoculars at the empty, sprawling runways below - and at the empty sky above. (AP)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Guardian Skeptical about Lynch: "Is this the real story behind Pvt. Lynch's rescue:
"It was like a Hollywood film. They cried, 'Go, go, go', with guns and blanks and the sound of explosions. They made a show - an action movie like Sylvester Stallone or Jackie Chan, with jumping and shouting, breaking down doors." All the time with the camera rolling. The Americans took no chances, restraining doctors and a patient who was handcuffed to a bed frame.
There was one more twist. Two days before the snatch squad arrived, Al-Houssona had arranged to deliver Jessica to the Americans in an ambulance. "I told her I will try and help you escape to the American Army but I will do this very secretly because I could lose my life." He put her in an ambulance and instructed the driver to go to the American checkpoint. When he was approaching it, the Americans opened fire. They fled just in time back to the hospital. The Americans had almost killed their prize catch.
I recall seeing the footage, and don't remember seeing any blank adaptors on weapons, so I am skeptical about the accuracy of this report.
(via Calpundit )"
In Command Post: Irak
