IRAQ BRIEFING * The U.S. military conducted advance strikes in Iraq last year to destabilize the country and weaken Saddam's communications systems. * Blair and Bush aren't the only ones who believe that Saddam's WMDs will be found. The IDF intelligence expects to find them in the desert or in Syria. * In a sign confirming the difficulties of bringing democracy to a country rife with tribal rivalries, the Iraqi Administration was unable to reach a consensus on the selection of its first president last week and has instead resorted to a rotation of control between several individual members. * An Iraqi civil defense militia is being established to take over many of the peacekeeping duties now performed by U.S. soldiers in Iraq, providing the troops with much-needed relief and transitioning into Iraqi self-control. The militia's recruiting goal is to sign up 7,000 Iraqis within the next 45 days. Meanwhile, thousands of Iraqis have enlisted for the country's new army which will provide border security and guard sensitive installations, but will not be given the power of Saddam's former army in the area of internal security. * Beefed up security in preparation for Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz's visit there led to a confrontation between U.S. soldiers and Iraqi Shi'ites in Najaf. One official has described the confrontation as a "deliberate misunderstanding" fueled by the rhetoric of a local Shi'ite Muslim cleric who favors an Iranian-style government for Iraq. The cleric, Moktada al-Sadr, claimed that the increased military presence was a plot to surround his home and arrest him for his views. * Two U.S. soldiers were killed and a third was wounded over the weekend when their convoy was attacked by rocket-propelled grenades. * Which "cards" have we captured so far? The CENTCOM list. And the visual version of "Ba'ath Poker." * The troops are still there. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops. American, British and Australian. Anyone out there with more information, incl. the Poles and Czechs? [updated April 1, 2003] IRAN REPORTS * U.N. nuclear inspectors have discovered traces of enriched uranium in Iran, leading to the belief that Iran was processing weapons-grade materials long before it disclosed the existence of its nuclear program. Iranian officials say that the U.N. has not informed them of their findings, and they will not make their position known until the IAEA documents the claim. * Meanwhile, Iran has equipped its military with a ballistic missile, known as the Shahab-3, which has a range in excess of 800 miles. With this new weapon, Iran can now fire on Israel and U.S. troops in the region. The missile's technology is based on a North Korean missile, although it is locally made in Iran. THE WIDER WAR * Syria has undertaken steps to reduce its presence in Lebanon, a move long sought by the U.S., possibly in response to an upcoming Congressional hearing expected to focus on Syria's WMD program. * The recent flurry of diplomatic efforts by China may be related to that country's belief that North Korea has developed nuclear weapons already. Recent evidence, in fact, does indicate that North Korea has a second, secret nuclear facility and has been producing weapons-grade plutonium for some time. * French authorities are investigating an explosion in a tax and customs office in Nice. Anti-terrorist police were called in because a Corsican link is suspected. * On Sunday, the Palestinian Authority outlawed groups espousing violence (but apparently granted itself an exemption). Within hours, a Palestinian blew himself up while setting up a bomb targeting the Israeli Army. No one else was injured. * Al Sharpton says that Black Americans should be involved in deciding whether to send troops to Libera where Taylor now vows to hold on to his bloody power. * We try to close on a lighter note if possible and this note is not only nearly pitch-perfect, but stylish, too: Baghdad's "Backstreet Boys" (?), certain to have pre-teen girls throughout the Middle East swooning and clamoring for more. 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.