A Soldiers Blog

Koizumi Adamant Japan Will Send Troops to Iraq: "Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi insistedTuesday that Japan would send troops to help rebuild Iraq asdomestic media reported that ministerial approval could bedelayed after the death of two Japanese diplomats there. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Annan Organizes Group of Mideast Nations on Iraq: "Iraq's neighbors, includingIran, and Security Council members, including the UnitedStates, came together in a new grouping some delegates hopewill develop into an international conference on Iraq's future. (Reuters)"

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Hutton inquiry refuses to allow Blair to see report in advance: "British Prime Minister Tony Blair will have no advance warning of a report, expected early next year, into the death of British weapons expert David Kelly, London's Financial Times said. (AFP)"

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U.S. Sees Lesson for Insurgents in an Iraq Battle: "Americans vowed that the killing of as many as 54 insurgents would serve as lesson, but Iraqis disputed the death toll."

In New York Times: World Special



Rumsfeld Calls Peril in Iraq, Along With Progress, a 'Contradiction': "Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld acknowledged that attacks continue to kill U.S. forces even as the economy stabilizes."

In New York Times: World Special



Bush Aides Say Attacks Won't Scare Allies Into Leaving Iraq: "Bush administration officials said that a wave of attacks would not succeed in scaring anyone away from securing Iraq."

In New York Times: World Special



For a Respite in Iraq, a Nickel Ride Across the Tigris: "The River Tigris is Baghdad's one oasis where no one fears car bombs and the traffic moves freely."

In New York Times: World Special



Arafat hails informal Mideast peace pact: "Yasser Arafat praised an informal Israeli-Palestinian peace pact, but violence persisted in the West Bank with an Israeli sweep through the town of Ramallah, where Arafat has his headquarters."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



No happily ever after for married soldiers: "Love does not conquer all, it seems."

In Back to Iraq 2.0



Jordan's king vows to transform Jordan: "Jordan's King Abdullah II pledged Monday to transform his nation into a model democratic state that can serve as an example to other Middle East nations."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Council In Iraq Resisting Ayatollah: "BAGHDAD, Dec. 1 -- A majority of Iraq's U.S.-appointed Governing Council has decided to support an American plan to select a provisional government through regional caucuses despite objections from the country's most powerful Shiite Muslim cleric, according to several council members. (washingtonpost.com)"

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U.S. Troops Kill 54 Guerrillas in Iraq Firefight: "American troops killed 54guerrillas in a fierce battle to fight off coordinated ambusheson armored convoys carrying large quantities of banknotes inthe tense Iraqi town of Samarra, the U.S. Army said on Monday. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Battle Reveals New Iraqi Tactics: "SAMARRA, Iraq, Dec. 1 -- Sgt. 1st Class Robert Hollis knew there was trouble even before the shooting started. As he stood guard in his M1-A1 Abrams tank outside a bank in this Sunni Muslim town, the usually busy streets suddenly emptied Sunday. Men hurried down back alleys, some running. Women dragged their children away from the positions of U.S. troops. (washingtonpost.com)"

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Dutch protest against visit Colin Powell: "Some 1,000 people protesting against Colin Powell's visit to the Netherlands and the occupation of Iraq and Palestine gathered in the Dutch town of Maastricht ahead of a meeting of the the European security body, the OSCE."

In Electronic Iraq



It's time to get moving: "It's time to go back. Back to Iraq."

In Back to Iraq 2.0



Iraqis deny US accounts of fierce fight with 'guerrillas' (2 Dec 03) in Radio Free USA



Poll: Iraqis distrusting coalition troops: "Nearly four out of five Iraqis have little or no confidence in occupying U.S. and British forces, but more than 40 percent said the fall of Saddam Hussein was the best thing that happened to them in the past year, according to a poll published Monday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Soldier faces discharge for Iraq marriage: "An American soldier has been reprimanded and will be discharged for taking a break from a foot patrol in Baghdad to marry an Iraqi woman, his lawyer said Monday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Senate Dems Rip Bush on Iraq, Afghanistan: "Two Democratic senators just back from Iraq and Afghanistan predicted on Monday possible disastrous consequences from the Bush administration's policies for political and economic recovery in both countries. (AP)"

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U.S., Iraqi police dispute death toll in ambushes in CNN - War in Iraq



Putin demands early Iraq elections in CNN - War in Iraq



Bush remains firm on Iraq transition plan: "The Bush administration is holding to the terms of its plan for transition to Iraqi rule by the end of next June, despite rumblings of Shiite disapproval."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Shiite Assumes Rotating Iraqi Presidency: "Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim, a Shiite Muslim leader who has criticized U.S.-led plans for Iraqi sovereignty, assumed the rotating presidency of the Governing Council on Monday amid discussions about how to select a transitional government. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Bloodshed, religious politics put US Iraq policy on spot: "Despite vows of no surrender in Iraq, the United States has been thrust into a painful military dilemma by a swelling insurgency, days after a top Shiite cleric ambushed its new political strategy. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq