Iraq War News

Operation: Hidden Agenda
Oh My

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUN JULY 20, 2003 20:15:27 ET XXXXX

SECRET SERVICE CONCERN AFTER LOS ANGELES TIMES COMIC DEPICTS 'BUSH ASSASSINATION'

A LOS ANGELES TIMES comic Sunday that graphically showed President Bush being held at direct gun-point has raised concerns within the Secret Service, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

The shock cartoon by the paper's Michael Ramirez depicts the president's hands behind his back with a gun to his head -- assassination style -- as an unidentified man wearing a vest which reads "politics" appears ready to pull the trigger!

"We take all images such as this very seriously," a top secret service source who requested anonymity said from Washington. "Regardless of the politics behind any speech, images of the president, such as this, raise concern."

The sketch appears to be a take-off of a Pulitzer prize winning photo that memorialized the Vietnam war for the 60s Generation. It attempts to make the point that partisan politics are more of a threat to Bush than guerilla war.

"The world's first political 'snuff' cartoon... there's a viciousness to this, that's just not funny," noted one White House reporter.

Ramirez did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Developing... DRUDGE REPORT 2003®

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - An Elba resident became the 10th Alabamian to die in the war in Iraq when his infantry patrol was ambushed in a rocket propelled grenade attack.

U.S. Army Sgt. Jason Jordan, 24, was one of two soldiers from Fort Campbell, Ky., killed Sunday near Tallifar, according to a Department of Defense news release.

Jordan, assigned to the 1-187 Infantry Battalion, entered the Army in August 1998 and had been stationed at Fort Campbell since July 2002.

Also killed in the attack was Sgt. Justin W. Garvey, 23, of Townsend, Mass. Garvey had been at Fort Campbell since July 2000. He had served in the Army since 1997.

A third soldier suffered non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.

Ten Alabamians have been killed in the Iraq war. Tim Conneway, 22, of Enterprise, and Spc. Andrew Chris, 25, a native of Florence, became Alabama's eighth and ninth fatalities on June 2. The two died after a broken-down vehicle packed with explosives on the side of a Baghdad road detonated as their vehicle passed it.

Other Alabama casualties include:

_ Spc. Cedric L. Lennon, 32, who died June 24. Lennon is from West Blocton, about 25 miles east of Tuscaloosa. Lennon was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment based in Fort Polk, La.

_ Sgt. Troy Jenkins, 25, of Evergreen, died April 21 after grabbing a cluster bomb from an Iraqi child's hand.

_ Robert Channell, 36, a chief warrant officer in a transportation unit, was one of three U.S. Marines killed in an explosion April 21 at an Iraqi military base.

_ 21-year old Army Pfc. John E. Brown, was killed April 14 by friendly fire.

_ U.S. Army Pfc. Kelley Prewitt, 24, of Birmingham, was killed by enemy fire on April 6.

_ Army Staff Sgt. Nino D. Livaudais, 23, of Fort Mitchell, died along with two other Army Rangers from the 3rd Battalion when a pregnant woman jumped from a car screaming and the vehicle exploded on April 3.

_ U.S. Army Pfc. Howard Johnson II of Mobile died March 23 when his convoy was ambushed.

AP Wire | 07/21/2003 | Elba resident 10th Alabamian to die in Iraq war

The GOLF War: Balls & Equipment Donated to Troops In Iraq
Thanks to ClubCorp golf and country clubs in Texas, along with the Pinehurst resort in North Carolina, troops of the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division in Tikrit, Iraq, are driving their morale up and their golf handicaps down, literally – on a golf driving range bulldozed into the Iraqi landscape.
Cybergolf International

Heaton, who serves with the 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, part of the famed 82nd Airborne Division, saw action eight hours after being airlifted into Iraq from Kuwait. Boston.com / Latest News / Northeast / Some soldiers trickling home while other anxious families wait

Threat continues in Iraq, GI warns

Peacekeepers face dangers every day

7/21/03 - RAMADI, Iraq — It’s been more than two months since President Bush declared victory in Iraq, but peacekeeping soldiers know the violence is far from over.

Since Bush’s announcement, 37 U.S. soldiers have been killed during ambushes and random attacks by Iraqi militants still loyal to Saddam Hussein or angry over what they see as U.S. occupation of Iraq.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Patrick Strobel said of those 37 killed, 11 were from his unit.

Strobel is stationed with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment out of Fort Carson, Colo. He is an East Butler native and a Butler High School graduate.

“As you can see, 3rd ACR makes up almost half of the deaths,� Strobel said. “Not a very proud statistic.�

For complete story, please see Monday’s Butler Eagle or to subscribe, call (724) 282-1859.
0721-n02

Wolfowitz tells Iraqis to remain patient: "The Pentagon's No. 2 official cautioned Iraqis on Monday not to expect the United States to solve their economic plight in the aftermath of the Saddam Hussein regime."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Mideast peace focus widens to EU and DC: "The diplomatic drive for progress on a Mideast peace plan widened Monday when the Palestinian premier headed to Egypt for talks and the European Union planned to host the Israeli and Palestinian foreign ministers in Brussels."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Judge outlines Kelly inquiry plans in BBC: War in Iraq



Big Welcome Awaits Jessica Lynch: "Wirt County, West Virginia, is abuzz with activity, as just about everyone there prepares to roll out the red carpet for Jessica Lynch, the army private who will return home on Tuesday."

In CBS News: Iraq Crisis

Support Our Troops
NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

No. 526-03
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jul 20, 2003
(703)697-5131(media)
(703)428-0711(public/industry)

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were
supporting Operation Iraq Freedom.

Sgt. Mason Douglas Whetstone, 30, a Utah native, died on July 17 in Baghdad, Iraq.
Whetstone died as a result of non-combat injuries. The incident is under
investigation. Whetstone was assigned to the 3d Battalion, 58th Aviation (Forward),
Hanau, Germany.

Second Lt. Jonathan D. Rozier, 25, of Katy, Texas died on July 19 at Baghdad, Iraq.
Lieutenant Rozier s unit was fired upon by rocket-propelled grenades and small arms
fire while providing security at a municipal building. Rozier was assigned to B
Company, 2-70th Armor Battalion, Fort Riley, KS (1st Armored Division).

[Web Version: http://www.dod.mil/releases/2003/nr20030720-0209.html]

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Jack Kelly: Operation backfire / Democrats who hammer Bush on Iraq might regret it





DoD
NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

No. 527-03
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jul 20, 2003
(703)697-5131(media)
(703)428-0711(public/industry)

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today that Sgt. Jason D. Jordan, 24 of Elba,
Ala. died on July 20 in Tallifar, Iraq. Sgt. Jordan was patrolling a village when
the vehicle was ambushed by RPGs (rocket propelled grenades).

Jordan was assigned to Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 1-187 Infantry Battalion,
Fort Campbell, Ky.

[Web Version: http://www.dod.mil/releases/2003/nr20030720-0210.html]

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-- DoD News: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/dodnews.html
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Australian radio admits to sarcasm but denies bias in Iraq war coverage: "Australia's public radio broadcaster conceded some of its reports on the Iraq war were sarcastic and excessive but denied government allegations its coverage of the conflict was anti-American. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Palestinians in Iraq Now Refugees Again: "Their existence is miserable - relentless heat and sun with only tents set up in soccer stadium for cover. Palestinians who thought they had found a haven in Saddam Hussein's Iraq have become refugees yet again after the U.S.-led war. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



U.N. Chief Backs New Iraqi Council: "BAGHDAD, July 20 -- U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan has given a report to members of the U.N. Security Council urging them to endorse the new Governing Council created by the U.S.-led occupation authority in Iraq, calling it "a broadly representative partner with whom the United Nations and the international community at large can engage." (washingtonpost.com)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Britain's press rounds on BBC after death of weapons expert: "London's newspapers rounded on the BBC after it owned up that the dead British arms expert, David Kelly, was the sole source of its report that the government had "sexed up" evidence to justify war on Iraq. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Um, could you leave your hardware at home?: "Clattering Apache helicopters and extra troops on the streets said to be providing security for a visit by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz apparently added to underlying skittishness and friction in the religiously important (and previously peaceful) town of Najaf, becoming the rationale for an explosion of protests by Shiites demanding an end to the U.S. occupation, the New York Times reported Monday."

In Alternet: War On Iraq



What Is Yellowcake, Anyway? in IraqWar.ru (English)



Saddam's wife, daughters are in the UAE in IraqWar.ru (English)



Drudging Up Personal Details in IraqWar.ru (English)



AIR DEFENSE: Strela Goes Senile While Serving Terrorists in IraqWar.ru (English)



The war that just won't end: the hunt goes on in Afghanistan in IraqWar.ru (English)



Turkey, US mull joint action against Turkish Kurd rebels in Iraq in IraqWar.ru (English)



Bush stonewalling will bring on probe in IraqWar.ru (English)



Ambush Kills Two U.S. Soldiers in Iraq in IraqWar.ru (English)



Something to Hide? in IraqWar.ru (English)



Italian Says She Gave U.S. Uranium Info in IraqWar.ru (English)



Why Not Blair and Bush? in IraqWar.ru (English)



Envoy pours scorn on Niger intelligence in IraqWar.ru (English)



Extension of Stay in Iraq Takes Toll on Morale of G.I.'s in IraqWar.ru (English)



Iraqis clamour to join new army as US builds 12,000-strong force in IraqWar.ru (English)



Losing the Real War [One for Fifth Estate] in IraqWar.ru (English)



Iraq row over fate of seized scientists in IraqWar.ru (English)



Dirty, hunched and hungry: Tariq Aziz digs his own latrine in IraqWar.ru (English)



Iraqi Shi'ite Faction Warns U.S. of 'Uprising' in IraqWar.ru (English)



Britain Tried First. Iraq Was No Picnic Then. in IraqWar.ru (English)



F.B.I. Is Accused of Bias by Arab-American Agent in IraqWar.ru (English)



Shiite protesters rally in Najaf, vow to march on US base in IraqWar.ru (English)



'God, I hate these people,' says the sergeant. Some utter the V-word: Vietnam in IraqWar.ru (English)



Arab-American sues FBI in IraqWar.ru (English)



After 9/11, US planes began softening Iraqi defenses in IraqWar.ru (English)



How Britain Exports Weapons of Mass Destruction in IraqWar.ru (English)



Afghans describe travails in US jail in IraqWar.ru (English)



Death deals devastating blow to Iraq arms hunt in IraqWar.ru (English)



Desperate Blair blames Hoon in IraqWar.ru (English)



Caesar's favour in IraqWar.ru (English)



U.S. Troops Fix Bayonets Against Iraqi Crowd: "U.S. Marines fixed bayonets onSunday to disperse an angry crowd of 10,000 Iraqi Shi'ites inthe holy city of Najaf after tempers flared over rumors of U.S.harassment of a radical cleric. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Shiites warn US troops to leave Najaf (21 July 03) in Radio Free USA



Jessica Lynch goes home Tuesday in CNN - War in Iraq



U.S. Is Creating an Iraqi Militia to Relieve G.I.'s: "NY Times :

The United States is creating a new Iraqi civil defense force within the next 45 days that will free up thousands of American troops for anti-guerrilla missions and put an Iraqi face on the coalition's postwar security efforts, two top American generals said today.

The immediate goal is to field about 7,000 American-trained Iraqi militia in several areas around the country to protect coalition supply convoys and replace American troops that are now guarding buildings like power plants and ammunition depots.

"These are not forces intended to conduct offensive operations," Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the ground commander of all American forces in Iraq, told reporters in a lunch interview today. "They will be on patrol with us. They will be on fixed sites."

More ..."

In Command Post: Irak



Kuwaitis: U.S. should release prisoners: "The United States should show its appreciation for Kuwait's support in the war on Iraq by freeing 12 Kuwaitis held at Guantanamo Bay or giving them a fair trial, a spokesman for their families said Sunday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Kuwait to propose women's rights bill: "Kuwait's Cabinet will seek to amend a law that bars women from voting or running for office in the Gulf state, the new prime minister said Sunday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Jordan's Cabinet resigns: "Jordan's Cabinet resigned Sunday and King Abdullah II directed the prime minister to form a new one, the official Petra news agency reported."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq