A Soldiers Blog

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