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Iraq War News
in



Iraq rebuilding tally...Marine dead in Iraq...Meat plant killings in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Troops raid Iraq 'bomb factory': "Four car bombs and other weapons have been discovered in southern Baghdad, US troops say."

In BBC: Conflict with Iraq



U.S. Has Spent $366M of $18.4B on Iraq: "Its own figures show just 2 percent of the $18.4 billion Congress provided last fall for Iraqi reconstruction has been spent, but the Bush administration says significant work there is under way. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



U-S finds bomb facility, detains dozens in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Britons seek Guantanamo release: "The father of a Briton being held at Guantanamo Bay has welcomed a legal challenge to his son's detention along with eight other terror suspects."

In Ananova: War In Iraq

Iraq War News
Saddam rejects court 'theatre': "A defiant Saddam Hussein rejected charges of war crimes and genocide in a court appearance in Baghdad, telling a judge "this is all theatre, the real criminal is Bush"."

In Ananova: War In Iraq



Saddam 'entitled to defence': "A British lawyer who is part of Saddam Hussein's legal team has insisted the former Iraqi dictator had a fundamental right to a defence."

In Ananova: War In Iraq



An unbowed Saddam appears in court: "In court, he was clear-eyed, calm and most of all - unbowed."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Sudan villagers recount harrowing ordeal: "First come the airplanes. Then the horsemen who burn, rape and kill."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



U.S. GIs see Iraq security force changes: "Not much has changed for U.S. troops since the handover of power to an Iraqi government. The blowing dust, searing heat and guerrilla war still make life miserable, and the daily routine remains eat, patrol, raid, guard and sleep."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



IMF says recognition of Iraq 'imminent': "The International Monetary Fund said Thursday that its formal recognition of the new Iraq interim government is "imminent," a step that will clear the way for badly needed financial support for Baghdad's rebuilding effort."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Marine dies in action west of Baghdad: "A U.S. Marine was killed in action Thursday west of the capital, the U.S. military said."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Israel gov't scrambles to reroute barrier: "Israeli army planners were scrambling to reroute a key section of the West Bank separation barrier Thursday after the Supreme Court ruled that the original path would have caused too much hardship for Palestinians and violated international law."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Kuwaiti minister seeks Saddam execution: "Kuwait's information minister slammed Saddam Hussein for defending Iraq's 1990 invasion of the neighboring Gulf country during his Thursday court appearance in Baghdad and said the former Iraqi leader should be executed."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



in



Administration Changing Review at Guantánamo Bay: "Bush administration officials said that they were trying to comply with the Supreme Court's decision limiting their ability to imprison people indefinitely at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba."

In New York Times: World Special



Pentagon to Expand Its Anthrax Vaccinations: "Anthrax and smallpox vaccine will be administered to all soldiers and essential civilians in the Middle East and to troops in South Korea."

In New York Times: World Special



First Public Appearance by Former Dictator in 7 Months: "The seven charges included the invasion of Kuwait, the suppression of the Shiite uprising, and the gassing of the Kurds."

In New York Times: World Special

Iraq War News
Ashcroft says Supreme Court has given "more rights" to terrorists in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Saddam changes hands...Soldiers getting calls...Deadly highway in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Iraqi-American group thanks U-S for its support in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Custody transferred...Security is the key...Stocks advance in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



in

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An Iraqi tribal leader passes a U.S. (C) and Iraqi Army officers during a ceremony held at the headquarters of a Baghdad advisory council in which the Iraqi flag was raised, June 30, 2004 two days after Iraq formally regained sovereign powers from U.S.-British occupiers. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra Yahoo! News - World Photos - Reuters

A US soldier and Iraqi National Guardsmen patrol Baghdad's Sunni neighborhood of Azamiya. Iraqi police stepped up their presence on the streets of the capital, two days after the handover of power by the US-led coalition as residents yearned for an end to the violence.(AFP/Karim Sahib) Yahoo! News - Top Stories World Photos - AFP

This combo shows ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and 10 of the 11 former officials of his regime who were named by Iraqspecial tribunal to be transferred to Iraqi custody. The fate of Saddam Hussein, transferred to Iraqi custody, sparks controversy more than six months after his capture, as many Iraqis regard their foreign-bestowed sovereignty with mixed feelings.(AFP) Yahoo! News - Top Stories World Photos - AFP

Iraq War News
Iraqis given legal custody of Saddam: "Legal custody of Saddam Hussein and 11 others was transferred to the Iraqis on Wednesday, an international official said."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Israel orders West Bank barrier changes: "The Israeli Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered changes in the route of the country's West Bank separation barrier, saying the current route is causing too much harm to the local Palestinian population."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Saddam to face charges in Iraq: "The Iraqi prosecutors who will bring charges against Saddam Hussein on Thursday face a huge challenge: satisfying Iraq's need for justice without spawning new upheaval or further dividing his supporters and detractors."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



11 wounded in attack on U.S. base in Iraq: "Insurgents fired at least 10 mortar rounds at a U.S. base on the outskirts of Baghdad International Airport on Wednesday, wounding 11 soldiers, two of them seriously, and starting a fire that burned for well over an hour."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Archbishops slam Iraq jail abuse: "Two Anglican archbishops write to Tony Blair to condemn the conduct of coalition troops in Iraq."

In BBC: Conflict with Iraq



Saddam's court appearance...Sudan inspections...Net porn ruling in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Customs asked to look for terror signs; pilots, truckers have possible terror links in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Iraq captors free Turk hostages: "Three Turkish men held hostage in Iraq are released by the militants holding them."

In BBC: Conflict with Iraq



in



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in



GI Reportedly Killed By Terrorists: "The Arab al-Jazeera network reports that militants have killed Spc. Keith Maupin, 20, who had been a hostage since April. The news came hours after the surprise early transfer of power to Iraq's provisional government."

In CBS News: Iraq Crisis



Saudis issue amnesty for weapons holders: "Saudi Arabia announced an amnesty Tuesday for citizens who have unlicensed weapons, following a recent wave of violence against foreigners, the official Saudi Press Agency reported."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Ambassadors present credentials to Iraq: "Ambassadors from the United States, Australia and Denmark presented credentials to President Ghazi al-Yawer on Tuesday, marking the restoration of diplomatic relations between Iraq and the three coalition countries."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Olmsted's Iraq Report: June 29/04: "Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from Iraq that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. This (updated) briefing is brought to you by Andrew Olmsted of Andrew Olmsted dot com .
TOP TOPICS

• JK : In a surprise move, the USA has handed over formal sovereignty to the new Iraqi government 2 days earlier than planned. That ought to distrupt a few terrorist timetables - and probably doesn't do Reuters and The New York Times any favours, either. Here's a roundup of reaction from the Iraqi blogosphere .

• Al Jazeera is reporting that an Iraqi terrorist group has captured a U.S. Marine and will behead him unless the U.S. released certain Iraqi prisoners. The Pentagon has confirmed that a Marine has been missing since June 21, but cannot confirm that this Marine is actually a captive or not. One thing is certain: if the Iraqis follow through on their threat and behead a Marine, terrorists facing Marines in future combats won't need to worry about being mistreated at Abu Ghraib.
  UPDATE: There are reports that PFC Keith Maupin has been executed .

• President Bush is meeting with the heads of state of NATO for a two-day summit in Istanbul that will include discussion of NATO 's role, if any in Iraq as the transitional government takes charge. The U.S. is hopeful it can gain at least limited NATO support for training and technical assistance to the new Iraqi government. If successful, the summit will garner some valuable international support for the new Iraqi government; if not successful, the Bush administration may have to go to the well yet again to draw on American forces to provide the necessary training. More NATO analysis here .

Other Topics Today Include: how 1AD beat al-Sadr; Violence continues in Iraq; Car bombing updates; Sovereignty's limitations; A new (Iraqi) sheriff is coming to town; An al-Qaeda terrorist recants; Books for Iraq; Toys for Iraq; How to support the troops.
Read The Rest?"

In Command Post: Irak

Iraq War News
Afghanistan makes plea...Reports: Hostages to be freed in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



in



Deal struck to hand over Saddam to Iraq: Special Tribunal: "The US-led multinational force in Iraq has agreed to hand jailed dictator Saddam Hussein and 11 senior members of his old regime over to Iraqi custody in the next few days, the head of the country's special tribunal told AFP. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Militants Say U.S. Soldier Executed in Iraq: "An Arabic television station broadcasta video tape showing what militants said was the execution of aU.S. soldier, hours after the United States and Britainformally handed power to an interim Iraqi government. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Roadside Blast Kills U.S. Marines in Iraq: "A roadside bomb explosion killed anunknown number of U.S. Marines in eastern Baghdad on Tuesday, aMarine at the scene said. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Sister furious over soldier's death: "Family and neighbours of a British solider killed in Iraq have hit out at the army, claiming the teenager did not have adequate training to be sent to the war-torn country."

In Ananova: War In Iraq



Report: Turkish co. stops business in Iraq: "A Turkish company has agreed to stop doing business with the U.S. military in Iraq to win the freedom of two employees held hostages by militants who have threatened to behead them, a news report said Tuesday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



IRAQ: Insecurity means rising unemployment: "BASRA, 28 Jun 2004 (IRIN) - Many foreign companies have scaled back or paused operations in Iraq in part due to rising security threats, exacerbating the still high unemployment rate in the country."

In IRIN: Iraq Crisis



Blair and Bush hail Iraq handover: "Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush have hailed the birth of a new Iraq after the early transfer of power to Baghdad."

In Ananova: War In Iraq



Britons split on Iraq 'success': "Britons are split on the prospects of success for the new Iraqi government, a new poll shows."

In Ananova: War In Iraq



Soldier killed in convoy attack: "A British soldier killed when a military convoy on routine patrol was attacked in southern Iraq has been named."

In Ananova: War In Iraq



Saddam to face court 'within days': "Saddam Hussein will appear before an Iraqi judge in the "next few days," to face charges related to his 23 years of misrule, Iraqi and coalition officials said in Baghdad."

In Ananova: War In Iraq



On the airwaves, Iraqis rejoice and warn terrorists: "BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraqi voices filled the airwaves of the nation's first independent talk radio station Monday, applauding a surprise move by the U.S.-led coalition to return sovereignty to Iraq two days early."

In Fresno Bee: Iraq



They Hate us because we?re Free...: " Book Review. 'Occidentalism ? The West in the Eyes of Its Enemies' by Ian Buruma and Avishai Margalit (Penguin Press: New York, 2004) 'In their attempt to ground Occidentalism historically, the authors end up shoving animosity towards the West under a make-shift rubric of pathological hatred.'"

In RISQ



U.S. Hands Power to Iraqis Two Days Early: "Iraq's new leaders reclaimed their nation two days early, accepting limited power Monday from U.S. occupiers, who wished them prosperity and handed them a staggering slate of problems - including a lethal insurgency the Americans admit they underestimated. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Family Fights to Free Accused Soldiers: "It's hard to defend the image in the photograph: Staff Sgt. Ivan "Chip" Frederick II stands behind a naked Iraqi prisoner who's been smeared in feces. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Hometown holds prayer vigil for captive soldier after grim report in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



U-S military says explosions in Baghdad due to mortar barrage in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Soldier's death unconfirmed...Power change...Key Supreme court ruling in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Report: Iraqi militants kill U.S. soldier: "Iraqi militants killed an American soldier they have held hostage for nearly three months, saying the killing was because the U.S. government did not change its policy in Iraq, Al-Jazeera television said Tuesday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Wait and see in Kurdish north: "The transfer of power catches Iraq's Kurds in an unsettled and insecure mood, the BBC's Jim Muir reports."

In BBC: Conflict with Iraq

Iraq Is Free
U.S. transfers sovereignty to Iraqi govt.: "The U.S.-led coalition transferred sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government Monday, speeding up the move by two days in an apparent bid to surprise insurgents who may have tried to sabotage the step toward self rule."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Iraq dominates NATO summit: "NATO leaders opened a summit Monday dominated by the situation in Iraq as the U.S.-led administration handed over power to an Iraqi government two days ahead of schedule in an apparent attempt to surprise insurgents."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press



Palestinian militants kill two Israelis: "Palestinians fired a barrage of home-made rockets at this Israeli border town Monday, killing an Israeli man and a 3-year-old boy near a nursery as youngsters were arriving at school."

In JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press

Iraq War News
The multibillion robbery the US calls reconstruction (26 June 04) in Radio Free USA



US edicts curb power of Iraq's leadership (27 June 04) in Radio Free USA



More than 40,000 protest Bush in Turkey: "Tens of thousands of Turks chanting anti-Bush slogans demonstrated against the president's visit to their country on Sunday and a NATO summit."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Suspected Taliban kill 10 Afghans: "Suspected Taliban gunmen stopped a van packed with people on a road in southern Afghanistan, then sprayed the occupants with bullets after finding that they had registered to vote, a local police official said Sunday. Ten people were killed."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



NATO to create alliance for Iraqi forces: "NATO's mission to train Iraqi forces will include alliance forces both inside and outside of the country, the NATO Secretary General said Sunday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



U.S. working to free Turkish hostages: "The United States is doing all it can to locate and free three Turkish nationals kidnapped by terrorists in Iraq who are threatening to cut off their heads, Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sunday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Nato agrees to train Iraqi troops: "Nato ambassadors meeting in Turkey reach an initial agreement to train Iraq's armed forces."

In BBC: Conflict with Iraq (UK Edition)



Turks 'face beheading' in Iraq: "Al-Qaeda militants threaten to kill three Turks unless Ankara pulls firms out of Iraq, al-Jazeera reports."

In BBC: Conflict with Iraq (UK Edition)



Iraq leader warns of poll delay: "Iraq's Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi says January's planned election may be pushed back unless the violence abates."

In BBC: Conflict with Iraq (UK Edition)