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TOP STORIES
Marines Plan Handoff To Militia In Fallujah
Car Bomb Kills 8 Soldiers In Baghdad Suburb
[Washington Post, April 30, 2004, Pg. 1]
U.S. Marines will pull back from Fallujah and give responsibility for
pursuing insurgents to a new militia headed by former Iraqi army officers
under a deal brokered by Marine Lt. Gen. James T. Conway.
Fallouja Pullout May Be In Works
Marines map out a plan to let an Iraqi force step in, But U.S. officials
say
no deal has been struck.
[Los Angeles Times, April 30, 2004, Pg. 1]
U.S. Marines and former Iraqi generals tentatively agreed to a plan that
would end the Marine's nearly month-long siege of Fallouja. The deal calls
for Fallouja to be patrolled by an all-Iraqi force headed by a former
general under Saddam Hussein.
Iraq's Deadliest Month
[USA Today, April 30, 2004, Pg. 1]
April has proven to be the deadliest month for U.S. troops in April. As
of
Thursday, the month's toll is at 134, more than the number of soldiers
killed in the war's opening stages.
Rebuilding Aid Unspent, Tapped To Pay Expenses
[Washington Post, April 30, 2004, Pg. 1]
Less than five percent of the $18.4 billion authorized by Congress for
rebuilding Iraq has been spent. Occupation officials have shifted more
the
$300 million earmarked for reconstruction projects to administrative and
security expenses.
Britain Seeks Legal Resolution For Deployment After June 30
[Washington Times, April 30, 2004, Pg. 1]
Britain said a firm legal framework based on a U.N. resolution or a deal
with the new Iraq government will be needed if British troops are to remain
in the country after the June 30 transfer of power.
Bush And Cheney Tell 9/11 Panel Of '01 Warnings
[New York Times, April 30, 2004, Pg. 1]
President Bush and Vice President Cheney spent more than three hours going
over events leading up to the Sept. 11 attacks with the commission probing
those terrorist actions. They said intelligence warnings received in 2001
suggested the al Qaeda was poised to strike overseas, not on American
soil.
IRAQ
U.S. Weighs Falluja Pullback, Leaving Patrols To Iraq Troops
[New York Times, April 30, 2004, Pg. 1]
U.S. military commanders moved to ease the siege against Falluja, proposing
to turn over the chore of ending a fierce anti-American insurgency to
a new
Iraqi force headed by officers once loyal to Saddam Hussein.
A Full Range Of Technology Is Applied To Bomb Falluja
[New York Times, April 30, 2004]
U.S. airstrikes in Falluja during the past three days have been the most
intense aerial bombardment since major combat ended nearly a year ago.
8 Troops Killed By Suicide Bomber; 2 Other Soldiers Die
[Los Angeles Times, April 30, 2004]
Eight soldiers died and four were wounded when a car bomb exploded on
a
rural road south of Baghdad. Two other U.S. personnel were killed in
separate incidents.
Allegations Of Abuse Lead To Shakeup At Iraqi Prison
[Washington Post, April 30, 2004, Pg. 24]
The military commander at Guantanamo Bay has been moved to Iraq to oversee
the treatment of 8,000 detainees as part of an investigation into alleged
sexual and physical abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad. The
alleged abuse occurred last November.
Iraq Prison Staff Seen As Issue
Lawyer for a U.S. soldier accused of abuse alleges contractors used to
question inmates there.
[Los Angeles Times, April 30, 2004]
A prison in Iraq, where U.S. troops are under investigation for abuse
of
prisoners, used private contractors to interrogate detainees, an attorney
for an accused soldier said.
U.S. Wants More British Troops Sent To Iraq
[London Times, April 30, 2004]
Colin Powell encouraged Britain to send more troops to Iraq. He admitted
that coalition forces are "going through a rough time" in attempting
to
restore order.
'Several Thousand' Foreign Fighters Slip Into Iraq
[Washington Times, April 30, 2004, Pg. 3]
U.S. military officials say "several thousand" foreign fighters
are in Iraq,
a number that has stayed fairly constant in recent weeks as those killed
or
captured get replaced by terrorists from across the border. Syria's 600-mile
desert border is a favorite for terrorists trying to enter Iraq undetected.
Boat Bombings Herald New Style Of Fighting In Waters Off Iraq
[Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, April 30, 2004]
U.S. officials anticipate that Arab terrorists or Iraqi insurgents behind
the failed suicide attacks against offshore Iraqi oil facilities will
try
more such boat bombings in the coming weeks.
Book Names Iraqi In Alleged '99 Bid To Buy Uranium
[Washington Post, April 30, 2004, Pg. 16]
Mohammed Saeed Sahhaf, better know as "Baghdad Bob," approached
an official
of Niger in 1999 to discuss trade---an overture that the official saw
as a
possible effort to buy uranium. That information is contained a new book
by
Joseph C. Wilson IV, who was sent to Niger by the CIA in 2002 to investigate
reports that Iraq had been trying to obtain enriched "yellowcake"
uranium.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Pentagon To Try To Fix War Zone Voting Woes
[Washington Post, April 30, 2004, Pg. 27]
The Pentagon will soon unveil a program designed to do a better job of
getting ballots overseas and back so units deployed in combat zones and
elsewhere can cast votes in the November elections.
U.S. To Set Free 40 Gitmo Prisoners
[UPI.com, April 29, 2004]
The U.S. has agreed to turn over 40 Pakistani prisoners held at Guantanamo
Bay to Pakistani authorities, who will take the men into custody when
they
arrive in Pakistan.
ARMY
'I Need To Go And Do This'
Devoted Soldier Is Laid to Rest
[Washington Post, April 30, 2004, Pg. B3]
Sgt. Maj. Michael B. Stack was well aware of the dangers inherent with
duty
in Iraq. He went to "take my unit over and bring my unit home."
On Easter
Sunday, Stack was killed in an ambush while manning a .50-caliber machine
gun. He was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery yesterday.
AIR FORCE
Air Force Chaplain Is Relieved Of Duties By Catholic Archbishop
Disagreement over the frequency of Masses was cited. Some see a swipe
at a
victims' advocate.
[Philadelphia Inquirer, April 30, 2004]
Air Force chaplain, an ardent champion of sex-abuse victims among America's
Roman Catholic clergy, has been dismissed from his chaplain duties by
his
archbishop and is forbidden to lead public Masses. His career as an Air
Force major ends this summer.
CONGRESS
Wolfowitz Comes Up Short On Troops Deaths
[Los Angeles Times, April 30, 2004]
Paul Wolfowitz, testifying before a congressional subcommittee,
underestimated the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq since the war
began.
He said that approximately 500 soldiers had died---726 troops have been
killed and 524 of those were combat related.
Fund For U.S. Operations In Iraq Proposed
[Los Angeles Times, April 30, 2004]
Congress is considering establishing a special reserve fund to pay for
American military operations in Iraq, which would eliminate the need for
President Bush to request extra Iraq funds before the November elections.
Negroponte Wins Senate Panel Nod
[Washington Times, April 30, 2004, Pg. 19]
John Negroponte is expected to be confirmed as the new ambassador to Iraq
next week by the full Senate. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee
approved his selection by President Bush.
Peacekeeping Force Planned For Africa
Global unit would relieve U.S. military
[Washington Times, April 30, 2004, Pg. 4]
The Pentagon and State Department are planning to establish a 75,000-member
international peacekeeping force for Africa.
Hunter Says He Will Press For Increase Of 39,000 Troops Over Next Three
Years
[CQ Today, April 30, 2004]
House Armed Service Committee Chairman Rep. Duncan Hunter said his panel
will propose that the Pentagon add 10,000 soldiers to the Army and 3,000
to
the Marines Corps in each of the next three years.
STATE DEPARTMENT
Powell, During His European Trip, Shows His Continuing Appeal
[Wall Street Journal, April 30, 2004, Pg. 6]
Some may think Colin Powell is a weakened figure within the Bush cabinet,
but his two-day trip to Europe showed that he still brings substantial
political assets to the president---both at home and outside America.
He
address before a European conference on anti-Semitism electrified the
audience and struck a tone that will play well with Jewish voters and
campaign contributors in America.
TERRORISM
Report Says Terrorism Fell In 2003
Data Don't Count Attacks On Most U.S. Troops in Iraq; Problem Isn't Fading
Away
[Wall Street Journal, April 30, 2004, Pg. 6]
International terrorist attacks dropped to their lowest level on record
last
year, but the recent bombing in Madrid suggests that the U.S. and its
allies
haven't succeeded in stopping al Qaeda's ability to launch major operations.
Bremer Warned Bush Was Lax On Terrorism
The Iraq administrator said in a speech six months ahead of Sept. 11 attacks
that the administration was 'paying no attention.'
[Los Angeles Times, April 30, 2004]
Paul Bremer said in a speech six months before the Sept. 11 attacks that
the
Bush administration wasn't paying enough attention to terrorism, and a
war
against terrorism would be unending.
AFRICA
Why A Village Well Is A Weapon In The War On Terror
[New York Times, April 30, 2004]
The U.S. Central Command is digging a well for the people of Siyu, Kenya.
The well is just one of many public works projects aimed at convincing
locals that America is not their enemy.
NORTH KOREA
North Koreans Agree To Mid-Level Talks
[Washington Post, April 30, 2004, Pg. 14]
North Korea agreed to attend a round of mid-level diplomatic talks, starting
May 12, aimed at dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. The
North
Koreans bluntly stated that the communist state must receive a "reward"
for
taking even a preliminary step toward a nuclear freeze.
AMERICAS
General Says More U.S. Troops Are Needed To Help Colombia
[Wall Street Journal (wsj.com), April 29, 2004]
Army Gen. James Hill, commander of U.S. military operations in Latin
America, said U.S. efforts to provide advice and training for Colombian
troops fighting Marxist rebels and drug traffickers have been hurt by
Congress' stipulation that no more than 400 U.S. troops and 400 U.S.
contractors can be in Colombia at one time.
UNITED NATIONS
U.S. Weighs U.N. Proposal For An Interim Iraqi Leader
[New York Times, April 30, 2004]
The Bush administration is considering a U.N. proposal to appoint Iraq's
current planning minister, a Shiite, as prime minister when the American
occupation is dissolved on June 30.
Brahimi Holds USA's Iraq Exit Strategy In His Hands
[USA Today, April 30, 2004, Pg. 7]
Lakdhar Brahimi seems to have emerged, by default, as the Bush
administration's best hope for an orderly political exit from Iraq.
POLL
Most Believe Saddam Is Guilty Of Atrocities, Will Be Put To Death
[USA Today, April 30, 2004, Pg. 5]
Iraqis expect Saddam Hussein to be tried this year, found guilty and
sentenced to death for murdering Iraqi civilians, according to a new poll.
Even Saddam's fellow Sunni Muslims, by more than 60 percent, say he ordered
the deaths of Iraqis.
Poll Finds Optimism About What Lies Ahead
[USA Today, April 30, 2004, Pg. 5]
A new USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll shows Iraqis are optimistic about their
future, despite deep and dangerous divides among competing factions about
the role of religion in government and autonomy for the Kurdish minority.
MEDIA
Iraqi Television Viewers Get More Options
Frustrated by Arab Broadcaster al-Jazeera, The U.S. Concentrates on
Competing Networks.
[Wall Street Journal, April 30, 2004, Pg. 4]
The U.S. is hoping to convince Iraqis to switch channels away from
al-Jazeera, the Qatar-based television station that often incites violence
against the U.S.-led coalition, and is building a rival network to
accomplish that goal.
Some Stations To Block 'Nightline' War Tribute
[New York Times, April 30, 2004]
Sinclair Broadcast Group, one of the largest owners of television stations,
will not show ABC's "Nightline" tonight. Ted Koppel is scheduled
to read
aloud the names of every member of the armed forces killed in Iraq. Sinclair
says the program is motivated by an antiwar agenda and threatens to
undermine U.S. efforts in Iraq.
BUSINESS
Marines Lead Way In Approving C-130J For Use
[Atlanta Journal and Constitution, April 30, 2004, Pg. 4E]
The Marines is the first U.S. military branch to approve Lockheed Martin's
C-130J Hercules. The Marines' thumbs-up is likely to lead to similar
conclusions from other military branches and could help foreign sales.
Lockheed F/A-22 Begins Combat Testing, Air Force Says
[Bloomberg.com, April 29, 2004]
Lockheed Martin's F/A-22 Raptor begins four months of testing today, the
final step before full production of planes worth at least $22.6 billion
begins, after the Pentagon and the Air Force gave approval.
OPINION
Agonizing Choices
George F. Will
[Washington Post, April 30, 2004, Pg 29]
The war in Iraq won't be won until the losing side knows it has lost.
Combat
zones are not the place to build soccer fields, which the U.S. Marines
wanted to do before insurgents in Fallujah showed their determination
to
kill Americans. Military commanders in Iraq face agonizing choices regarding
"regime change" and "nation building." They also have
to deal with fanatics
who don't care about democracy coming to Iraq, which has many times in
recent months proved itself to not be about soccer fields.
Hiding Coffins Is About Politics, Not Sensitivity
Leonard J. Pitts Jr.
[Miami Herald, April 30, 2004]
The Pentagon's anger that photos of flag-draped coffins were made available
to the general public should not be allowed to get in the way for ending
this political farce. Keeping the coffins undercover is meant to keep
public
concern about the war in Iraq to a minimum, and has little to do with
being
sensitive to feelings of the dead soldiers' families.
Spirit Of America Is A Good Start On Iraq Homefront
Daniel Henninger
[Wall Street Journal, April 30, 2004, Pg. 14]
U.S. Marines are helping Iraqi restore seven local television stations.
This
is more than an anecdote about Americans helping out, it is also about
the
need for an Iraqi homefront. Jim Hake, founder of Spirit of America, raised
$1.52 million from donors across the globe to purchase the equipment needed
to restore the television stations. The American political class and media
treat the war as something whose "policy" details can somehow
be revisited,
even rethought. And regardless of Ted Kennedy's remonstrations, Iraq is
not
another Vietnam. Americans want to win the peace in Iraq. Spirit of America
has made one step toward that goal---the Bush administration should begin
considering how to let more people pitch in and help.
In Front Of Your Nose
Paul Krugman
[New York Times, April 30, 2004]
Krugman doesn't have a plan for success in Iraq. He believes that ship
left
port several months ago, when American leaders made so many bad decisions.
From Dream To Nightmare
Bob Herbert
[New York Times, April 30, 2004]
American troops in Iraq are dying for a pipe dream concocted by the Bush
administration. President Bush has put us in a war we can't win, and don't
know how to end.
EDITORIAL
Troops Without Armor In Iraq
[New York Times, April 30, 2004]
Why did the Pentagon tell U.S. Army and Marine replacement divisions headed
for Iraq earlier this year to leave their tanks and other heavily armored
vehicles behind? That has proven to be a fatal call, with U.S. troops
being
killed by roadside bombs that could have been at least somewhat deflected
by
the better protected vehicles.
Hope And Honor In Iraq
[USA Today, April 30, 2004, Pg. 20]
Most Iraqis, a new poll shows, are glad Saddam Hussein is gone. Even more
of
them believe they have more freedom to voice political views. Most also
think Iraq will be better off in five years. Struggling through the
resentment, tears, anger and hope to help Iraqis craft their future is
the
best tribute to Americans who lost their lives for that just cause.
A War Gone Terribly Wrong, And Deadly
[Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 30, 2004]
Iraqi public opinion, in the wake of increased violence, still believes
getting rid of Saddam Hussein was a good thing. But Iraqis are also strongly
turning against an occupation that began with Secretary Rumsfeld's shocking
lack of planning for Iraq's security, public order and infrastructure.
The
situation in Iraq threatens to become even more dangerous and less
productive of any good.
The Wrong Message
[Los Angeles Times, April 30, 2004]
The contract for a system to link U.S. military officials and Iraqi police
and firefighters should be awarded on cost, technology and ability, after
competitive bidding. Ineffective use of taxpayers' money flooding into
Iraq
could lead to a closing of the U.S. aid spigot.
Shameful Acts
[Baltimore Sun, April 30, 2004]
Television pictures of Iraqi prisoners being mistreated by American troops
are disturbing and reminiscent of the horror stories from Saddam Hussein's
regime. America is distinguished from many Arab world states because of
our
system of laws. The Pentagon must be held accountable if the military
failed
to adequately train, staff, and supervise those soldiers suspected of
abusing prisoners of war.
Citizens And Enemies
[Washington Post, April 30, 2004, Pg. 28]
The Supreme Court, hearing cases brought by two U.S. citizens being held
by
the military, must reaffirm that an American who takes up arms against
this
country may be held as an enemy combatant but has to be given the chance
to
contest that designation, with timely access to counsel. It is not
acceptable that the president can designate enemy combatants and then
hold
them indefinitely.
Source: Defense News
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