Iraq Tribunal Eyes Saddam Trial; 2 U.S. Soldiers Killed: "A special Iraqi court will try SaddamHussein in absentia for crimes against humanity, if thefugitive dictator is not caught or killed, and bring keymembers of his regime before the tribunal, officials said onWednesday. (Reuters)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Annan Names U.N. Interim Envoy to Iraq: "Iraq is still too dangerous to reopen the U.N. office in Baghdad, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Wednesday after appointing a replacement for the top envoy to Iraq, who was killed in an August suicide bombing along with 21 other people. (AP)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
U.S. faces backlash over contracts in CNN - War in Iraq
CIA Plans Iraqi Domestic Spy Service, Newspaper Reports: "The United States plans to set up anIraqi intelligence service to spy on groups and individualsinside Iraq that are targeting U.S. troops and civilians, TheWashington Post reported on Thursday. (Reuters)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Arafat dismisses Israeli settlement idea: "Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Wednesday dismissed as meaningless the Israeli premier's hints of evacuating some Jewish settlements, while a meeting of Israeli and Palestinian foreign ministers raised hopes for renewed peace talks."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Annan Rules Out UN Return to Iraq in Near Future: "U.N. Secretary-General KofiAnnan said on Wednesday that Iraq was still too dangerous forU.N. foreign staff to return but indicated he was willing toplay a bigger role once the U.S.-led occupation ended. (Reuters)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Israeli troops, Palestinians clash in Gaza: "Israeli troops battled Palestinians in a Gaza refugee camp on the Egyptian border early Thursday. Residents said two Palestinians were wounded."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
US defends Iraq contracts ban: "The White House says its policy on Iraq tenders aims to encourage more countries to join the coalition."
In BBC: Conflict with Iraq
Protesters in Syria call for freedoms: "In a highly unusual protest, more than 150 Syrian pro-democracy activists staged a sit-in Wednesday outside the prime minister's office in downtown Damascus, calling for more freedoms, the release of political prisoners and the abolition of the country's emergency law."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
U.S. faces backlash over contracts in CNN - War in Iraq
US president calls French, German, Russian leaders by phone: "US President George W. Bush called French President Jacques Chirac, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to talk about Iraqi debt, White House officials said. (AFP)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Who saw that coming?: " The US, again showing the selectiveness of its free-trade obsession, just officially banned French, Russian, and German companies from getting reconstruction contracts in Iraq. The New York Times' source for this appears to be this document (PDF) from rebuilding-iraq.net,..."
In Catalyzer Newsroom
Lebanon: Bomb plot on U.S. embassy foiled: "Lebanese authorities said they halted a bomb attack against the U.S. Embassy on Wednesday, arresting two men outside the compound, one of whom was carrying more than two pounds of explosives."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Annan says Iraq still too dangerous for UN: "UN Secretary General Kofi Annan ruled out quickly resuming a major UN role in postwar Iraq, saying the country remains too dangerous to put his staff at risk. (AFP)"
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Bush Welcomes New Iraqi Envoy to U.S.: "President Bush welcomed Rend Rahim Francke to the White House on Wednesday, praising the woman who comes the closest to being Iraq's first ambassador to the United States since a diplomatic break 13 years ago. (AP)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
U.S.-Europe Split on Iraq Takes New Turn: "The Bush administration has reopened an emotional rift with Europe - just as its damaged relations with Germany, France and Russia seemed on the mend. (AP)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
"A Great Day for Iraq": "Blogger Zeyad of Healing Iraq:
The rallies today proved to be a major success. I didn't expect anything even close to this. It was probably the largest demonstration in Baghdad for months. It wasn't just against terrorism. It was against Arab media, against the interference of neighbouring countries, against dictatorships, against Wahhabism, against oppression, and of course against the Ba'ath and Saddam.
Read the rest. Zeyad also has plenty of pictures."
In Command Post: Irak
Israel, Palestinians have new aid effort: "The Israeli and Palestinian foreign ministers announced a new effort Wednesday to improve the distribution of international aid in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as donors expressed impatience over the stalled Mideast peace process."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
U.S. Troops Kill Saddam Fedayeen Officer: "U.S. troops shot and killed a senior officer of the paramilitary group Saddam Fedayeen after storming his house in this northern city on Wednesday, his neighbors said. (AP)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Iraq Bids Ban Reopens Diplomatic Rift: "Across Europe, response was swift and angry Wednesday to the U.S. order barring firms based in important allied countries - opponents of the Iraq war - from bidding on Iraqi reconstruction projects. (AP)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
U.S. Calls Iraq Contract Restrictions Appropriate: "The United States said on Wednesdayits decision to bar Iraq war opponents like France, Germany andRussia from $18.6 billion in U.S. reconstruction projects wasappropriate and an inducement for countries to commit troopsand provide other support. (Reuters)"
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Pentagon: Many of New Iraq Soldiers Quit: "Plans to deploy the first battalion of Iraq's new army are in doubt because a third of the soldiers trained by the U.S.-led occupation authority have quit, defense officials said Wednesday. (AP)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
On Killing Children: An Open Letter to US Military Spokesman Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty (10 Dec 03) in Radio Free USA
Iran's Nobel Winner Hits Out at U.S. Foreign Policy (10 Dec 03) in Radio Free USA
Pentagon: Barring bidders not punitive: "The U.S. government's decision to bar firms based in countries that oppose the Iraq war from bidding on contracts for Iraqi reconstruction projects was not meant to punish them, a Pentagon spokesman said Wednesday."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Iraq bids ban reopens diplomatic rift: "Across Europe, response was swift and angry Wednesday to the U.S. order barring firms based in important allied countries - opponents of the Iraq war - from bidding on Iraqi reconstruction projects."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
U.S. Troops Kill Saddam Fedayeen Officer: "U.S. troops shot and killed a senior officer of the paramilitary group Saddam Fedayeen after storming his house in this northern city on Wednesday, his neighbors said. (AP)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Iraq Bids Ban Reopens Diplomatic Rift: "Across Europe, response was swift and angry Wednesday to the U.S. order barring firms based in important allied countries - opponents of the Iraq war - from bidding on Iraqi reconstruction projects. (AP)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Annan Rules Out U.N. Return to Iraq in Near Future: "U.N. Secretary-General KofiAnnan on Wednesday said Iraq was still too dangerous for U.N.international staff to return but indicated he was willing toplay a bigger role once the U.S.-led occupation ended. (Reuters)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
TASK FORCE ?ALL AMERICAN? CAPTURES SPANISH ATTACKERS in CENTCOM: News Release
4TH ID CAPTURES CRIMINALS, CONFISCATES WEAPONS in CENTCOM: News Release
U.S. raids net dozens of Iraqi insurgents in CNN - War in Iraq
