REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• US and Iraqi troops sweeping through Fallujah have found what appears to be the Al Qaeda in Iraq HQ.

• Arthur Chrenkoff takes a look at two stories from Fallujah from Iraqis who faced the horrors of the battle. He's also got a look at the conspiracy theories springing up around the death of Margaret Hassan.

• Iraqi troops are preparing for an assault on insurgent and terrorist targets in Mosul. This is a continuation of the sweep through the Sunni triangle cities where anti-government resistance and general banditry is still strong.

• Wretchard examines the hard dilemma faced by reporter Kevin Sites, whose video of a Marine killing a wounded Iraqi has become a valuable piece of propaganda for anti-Americans the world over.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• There are plans for a major rebuilding effort in Fallujah. The Iraqi Minister of Industry and Minerals, Hashim Al-Hassani - a Sunni - has been appointed to coordinate
  with US forces and reconstruction program leaders to ensure humanitarian and reconstruction operations run smoothly. Al-Hassani was called upon to quit the interim government by the Iraq Islamic Party when the operation on Fallujah began, but has not done so.

• The UN, international agencies, and the Iraqi government agree: Iraqi children are suffering from malnutrition at a greater rate than before the war. David Adesnik points out that this logic presumes figures released by the Hussein government were accurate, but the rate as it now stands is still a whopping 7.7%. This is utterly unacceptable if the Coalition is to maintain popular support for regime change. (Hat tip: The Agonist.)

IRAQI POLITICS

• The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has been identified by the current Iraqi government as a terrorist organization. CENTCOM will work with the Iraqi government and other Kurdish political movements to eliminate the PKK influence in Iraq.

• Several groups in Iraq are calling for a boycott of the January 30 elections. The Iraq Islamic Party left government all-together because of the massive MNF operation in Fallujah. The MSM seems to think the validity of the elections will be undermined by up to 20% of the population choosing not to participate in the electoral process. Is it a valid concern? What makes Iraq different from countries where a great deal more choose not to particpate? Share your thoughts!

• Iraq'd discusses the Sunni persecution theory of Iraqi politics. Ayatollah al-Sistani's get out the vote campaign should provide some great support for that theory.

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• Foreign creditors will forgive some $33.6 billion in Iraqi debts. This concession includes a significant break from Paris, indicating that perhaps U.S.-French relations are recovering somewhat from their earlier nadir...or that there's more going on than can be seen at first glance. (Hat tip: Instapundit.)

• Rakhad Salameh, the Hussein regime representative responsible for paying the families of suicide bombers in Palestine has been sentenced to 8 years in prison in Israel.

ETCETERA

• US Marines found the body of Margaret Hassan in Fallujah. She had been kidnapped from her office in Baghdad October 19th. Hassan had worked in Iraq for Brussels-based CARE for more than 10 years. Hassan is remembered fondly by all who knew her.

• The troops are still there. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops: American, Australian, British, Canadian & Polish. Anyone out there with more information, contact us!

• Don't forget Chief Wiggles' Toys for Iraq drive!

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