REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• Sources involved with joint US-Iraqi inspections of Iraqi Interior Ministry detention centers have said abuse of prisoners was found at all the sites visited through February.

• Iraqi army and Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers began an extreme makeover of a small community north of Baghdad Sunday.

• The sister of Iraqi Vice-President Tareq al-Hashemi has been shot dead in a southern Baghdad suburb.

• British hostage Kenneth Bigley was buried near Fallujah after he was beheaded by his captors according to the lawyer of a suspected Al Qaeda operative who claims a role in the killing.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• The Al-Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT) Hydraulic Bridge System Repair has been completed, improving oil export capacity.

• USAID is providing an adviser to the Iraqi government, through consultancy BearingPoint Inc. (BE), to help draft a critical petroleum law.

• The Oil Ministry's inspector general Ali al-Alaak said graft and smuggling are the main threat to Iraq's economy.

• Iraq has asked the United Nation's nuclear watchdog to help clean up the radioactive remains of several nuclear sites, including one that now poses a health risk to more than 1,000 people.

• Iraqi economic officials have made tremendous progress in laying the foundation for a self-sufficient market economy, but face challenges in the energy and banking sectors.

IRAQI POLITICS

• Iraq's most revered Shiite Muslim cleric urged Prime Minister-designate Nouri al-Maliki to deal quickly with sectarian militias blamed for widespread killings, and to ensure that Iraqi police and soldiers remain loyal to the country and not to political factions.

• Oil revenue could give Iraq's Kurds greater economic distance from Baghdad, as they quietly assert pressure for political independence as well - Baghdad fears this.

• This week's Carnival of the Liberated is up.

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• Washington will step up efforts to stop Kurdish rebels from infiltrating Turkey from across the border in Iraq.

• Iraq is ready to move swiftly in negotiating multi-billion-dollar oilfield contracts with international majors and can sign deals before an investment law is passed by the government.

ETCETERA

• Former Secretary of State Colin Powell claims he recommended a larger force for the initial invasion of Iraq, but was overruled by the President's military advisors, adding his voice to the growing chorus voicing dissatisfaction with the Bush administration's handling of Iraq.

• U.S. Representatives Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) convened a forum on "Ending the War in Iraq" on Capitol Hill.

• 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.

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