A Soldiers Blog

Iraq war news
Bush holds fast to his Mideast approach: "President Bush showed guarded interest Thursday in an unofficial peace plan for the Middle East but held firm to his own approach that calls for a democratic Palestinian state and the end of terror attacks against Israel."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



U.S. exporting 'tools of torture' (04 Dec 03) in Radio Free USA



Powell urges greater NATO role in Iraq: "US Secretary of State Colin Powell called on NATO to take on a greater role in Iraq to help stabilize the violence-wracked country where the US is seeking to ease the pressure on its own forces. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



"We have happy children, lots of them": "Twelve-year-old Ahmad Mu'ayyad is learning how to wrestle. Aspiring painter Hanin Rida, aged 10, is throwing pots, firing her finished pottery and learning how to draw. Budding actor Mithaq Abu Ali, has already acted and sung in three plays."

In Electronic Iraq



Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights and Iraqi human rights minister discuss human rights in Iraq: "The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has offered to make its expertise available to Iraqi officials and representatives of the country's civil society as they establish a legal framework to promote and protect human rights. This initiatives was discussed by Bertrand Ramcharan and Abdel Baset Turki."

In Electronic Iraq



Iraqi Governing Council bans satellite television station Al-Arabiya: "RSF has called on the Iraqi Governing Council to reverse its decision banning the Dubai-based satellite television news channel Al-Arabiya from operating in Iraq until it signs a written commitment not to encourage terrorism."

In Electronic Iraq



Ex-minister: Accord needs Arafat backing: "An organizer of an alternative Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty said Thursday that it was unlikely the agreement would succeed without support from Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Guerrillas fire on Iraqi police station: "Guerrillas fired on a police station Thursday in a town west of Baghdad, wounding six Iraqis, and a roadside bomb destroyed a U.S. armored vehicle in the capital. There were no American casualties in either attack."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



U.S. Seeks to Cut Off Money to Guerrillas: "A spate of U.S. raids on Iraqi smugglers signals a new strategy to deny the guerrilla insurgency one of its chief recruiting assets: money. If U.S. military strategists are correct, the insurgency will soon face a financial crisis when old Iraqi dinar notes bearing the face of Saddam Hussein will be worthless. The military wants to deepen the crisis by launching raids on black marketeers thought to be funding the guerrilla movement. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Kyoto Protocol in Peril (04 Dec 03) in Radio Free USA



Bush Plane Flew Under False Cover on Iraq Trip: "President Bush's flight plan wasfalsified last week to hide his Thanksgiving Day visit to Iraq,the White House said on Thursday, in another example of theextraordinary -- and deceptive -- steps taken in arranging thebattle-zone trip. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Guerrillas Fire on Iraqi Police Station: "Guerrillas fired on a police station Thursday in a town west of Baghdad, wounding six Iraqis, and a roadside bomb destroyed a U.S. armored vehicle in the capital. There were no American casualties in either attack. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Daily U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq: "As of Thursday, Dec. 4, 441 U.S. service members have died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq, according to the Department of Defense. Of those, 304 died as a result of hostile action and 137 died of non-hostile causes, the department said. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Stand by your body count: "Despite eyewitness testimonies to the contrary, the U.S. military stands by its assertion that there were no civilian casualties in the firefight in Samarraon Sunday, as reported by Editor & Publisher Online. Continue »"

In Alternet: War On Iraq



U.S. Seeks to Cut Off Money to Guerrillas: "A spate of U.S. raids on Iraqi smugglers signals a new strategy to deny the guerrilla insurgency one of its chief recruiting assets: money. If U.S. military strategists are correct, the insurgency will soon face a financial crisis when old Iraqi dinar notes bearing the face of Saddam Hussein will be worthless. The military wants to deepen the crisis by launching raids on black marketeers thought to be funding the guerrilla movement. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Powell Hopes for More German Help in Iraq Next Year: "Secretary of State Colin Powell saidThursday he hoped that Germany, a fierce opponent of theU.S.-led war in Iraq, would feel able to give more help to thecountry when Iraqis are granted more control. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Correction: Vatican-Iraq Story: "In a Dec. 3 story about the election of the patriarch of Chaldean Catholics, The Associated Press, using information from the Vatican, erroneously reported his chosen name as Karim III. The Vatican said Thursday the correct name is Emmanuel III Delly. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Bush Plane Flew Under False Cover on Iraq Trip: "President Bush's flight plan wasfalsified last week to hide his Thanksgiving Day visit to Iraq,the White House said on Thursday, in another example of theextraordinary -- and deceptive -- steps taken in arranging thebattle-zone trip. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Israel: Syria still backing militants: "Israel brushed off signs Syria is ready to resume peace talks, saying Thursday the Damascus government continues to back militant groups like one Israel says was behind a suicide bombing attempt on a school."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq