REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• An interesting account of a night raid in Mosul from an AP reporter who came along for the ride.

• Bill Roggio looks into the ongoing attempts to recruit more police forces in the face of al Qaeda attempts to intimidate Iraqis from taking such jobs.

• The U.S. released some 500 prisoners from Abu Ghraib after clearing them of ties to the Iraqi insurgency. Among those released were two Reuters journalists.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• Palestine Chronicle - Reconstruction that Counters Insurgency: "It is critically necessary for the United States to provide maximum support for every Iraqi neighborhood and village to develop reconstruction projects. Hundreds and thousands of new socio-economic development projects that local communities determine, manage and benefit from will alienate insurgents, and advance democracy and the withdrawal of American and international forces." Read the rest!

• Take a look at this week's reconstruction highlights:

Unfettered by political parties or governing powers, the women who work at Iraq's first independent radio station redefine their community's understanding of freedom as they broadcast music and talk shows championing the rights of women.

Over 40 Iraqi professionals attended a public awareness session on the World Trade Organization (WTO).

This week, local workers completed reconstruction of a canal bridge in Babylon governorate. The Agriculture Reconstruction and Development Program for Iraq (ARDI), funded by USAID, financed the project.

Three local organizations collaborated to develop and organize a trash cleanup and removal campaign, bringing neighborhood residents together for a common goal. Over 10,000 local residents, particularly families and local youths, benefited from the three grants by the Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI). This public education campaign compliments other ITI-sponsored sewage and garbage removal projects, helping create employment for Iraqis and engaging them in behavioral change activities.

An Iraqi neighborhood discussed and voted to renovate a local school. Located in central Iraq, a local non-governmental organization (NGO) worked with students and community leaders to implement a community priority—the renovation of a village school.

In a multi-ethnic community in northern Iraq, a local government worked with USAID to sponsor a two-week soccer championship, helping build a sense of community and engaging young people in positive ways – important priorities for maintaining stability. An ITI grant provided sports equipment and uniforms to 38 soccer teams from surrounding villages.

IRAQI POLITICS

• The latest Carnival of the Liberated is up at Dean's World.

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• The US Ambassador to Iraq discusses The Challenge Before Us.

• Boy does this sound familiar! "A RETIRED British general has called for impeachment proceedings against Tony Blair, accusing the British Prime Minister of misleading Parliament and the public over the invasion of Iraq."

• The Bulgarian government is assessing the possibility of deploying forces to assist in humanitarian efforts at an Iraqi refugee camp. According to Defense Minister Veselin Bliznakov, the decision will be made whether or not to deploy the troops within two weeks.

ETCETERA

• Walter Cronkite says it's time for America to get out of Iraq. Austin Bay says Cronkite is just hoping to relive his earlier role as a defeatist in Vietnam.

• Check out Isobel Coleman's discussion of Women, Islam, and the New Iraq in Foreign Affairs.

• UK Army Sergeant Kevin Sheppard says he prepared for the Commonwealth Games by dodging bombs in Basra.

• A troupe of Iraqi actors take to the London stage for a new Anglo-Arabic production later this month, but the biggest challenge for the cast of the politically charged play will be performing it in Baghdad.

• Happy Birthday Lance Corporal Sensing - he just turned 20.

• Do you have your GI Bracelet? Many military families fall into financial hardship when the breadwinner is injured or killed. The entire purchase price of the GI Bracelet is donated to support our troops and their families! Please join us to give back to these brave people in their time of need.

• 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!

• Many American troops have taken it upon themselves to reconstruct schools and gather learning tools for the children of Iraq. Their efforts have been met with immense gratitude from the local Iraqis and their children. You can help too! Visit Operation Iraqi Children and get involved.

Thanks for reading! If you found something here you want to blog about yourself (and we hope you do), all we ask is that you do as we do and offer a Hat Tip hyperlink to today's "Winds of War". If you think we missed something important, use the Comments section to let us know. And if you have a tip for a future Iraq Report, email us at MondayIraqReport(at)windsofchange.net.