IRAQ BRIEFING * U.S. forces are tightening the noose on Saddam Hussein. The latest progress: capturing one of Saddam's 'guerilla leaders' and two of his bodyguards in Tikrit, where searches and raids by coalition forces are systematically eliminating Saddam's hiding spots. * Elsewhere in Iraq, the U.S.-led raids led to the arrest of 18 suspected guerillas and the discovery of a huge stockpile of weapons. According to Centcom, the raids have produced rocket-propelled grenade launchers, mortar rounds and anti-aircraft ammunition, among other items. Although Centcom attributes the success of these raids to cooperation between Iraqis and Coalition forces, the New York Times (reg. req'd) reports that U.S. forces will be narrowing the scope of their raids to lessen some of the tension arising between Iraqi citizens and American soldiers. * Meanwhile, although retired, Hans Blix refuses to go away. Interviewed on Swedish Radio recently, Blix opined that Iraq never presented a threat to the United States and therefore the war was illegal. * Ahmed al-Rikabi, the U.S.-appointed broadcaster who became known as "the voice of Iraq" walked out yesterday, claiming that the coalition is losing the 'propaganda war' to foreign-funded broadcast stations like al-Jazeera and al-Arabiyya. Although the Iraqis don't want to "turn against their liberators," according to Rikabi, stations prosleytizing anti-American sentiments are better-funded and therefore gaining more popularity than the U.S.-funded station. * Iraq itself is also "under-funded," according to the United Nations, which has announced that Iraq needs to raise $5 billion to make up the difference between projected oil revenues of $15 billion and it's anticipated $20 billion operating cost next year. Although calling on international donors to aid the country, the U.N. claims that donations are unlikely due to "continuing security problems." * Speaking of security - law and order are spreading through the streets of Iraq as 1,000 new police men are being added every eight weeks, while thousands more are being trained to guard public facilities, customs and immigration. * Finally, Army officials continue to investigate the more than 100 cases of a mysterious illness believed to be pneumonia, which has been spreading through the troops. In at least two of the cases, a common form of pneumonia caused by the streptococcal bacterial infection has been positively identified. Army officials say they are fairly close to ruling out biological or chemical agents as the cause in the remainder of the cases, although they remain puzzled by the lack of common circumstances or identifiable contagion pattern. * 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 * Iraq's nuclear program continues to be an object of great international concern as Tehran vows that it will not surrender its efforts to acquire nuclear technology. * In an effort to appease other nations, Iran's former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani asserts that Islamic tenets prohibit the country from possessing "weapons that destroy humanity." (Via Noble Pundit.) * Despite Rafsanjani's claim, it appears that Tehran is currently negotiating with North Korea to purchase long-range ballistic missiles and jointly develop nuclear warhead technology. The warheads will be assembled in Iran using missile components exported by North Korea's Changgwang Sinyong Corporation which, as I reported last month, has been sanctioned by the U.S. for exporting not only missile technology to Iran, but also to Yemen. * So, how long before Iran goes nuclear? According to a story found by Common Sense and Wonder, thanks to the help of Pakistan, China, North Korea and Russia, Tehran is closing in on the final steps toward construction of a nuclear bomb. U.S.A. HOMELAND SECURITY BRIEFING * In the wake of al-Qaeda's latest threats, the Homeland Security Department is issuing numerous warnings and advisories, with particular emphasis on air travel. Airport screeners have been particularly warned about the need to closely examine electronic devices, particularly mobile phones, remote-control auto keys, and laptop computers. Other items on the list include lipstick cases, canes and even fake playing cards - everything but the kitchen sink. THE WIDER WAR * JK: Europundit has some articles on America's grand strategy that are worth your time. P. has the collected links, as well as comments on a recent Financial Times article about "divisive" American freedoms. With friends like these, he says... * As al-Qaeda reaches its fifth year of terrorizing the world, some analysts are beginning to question whether America's current emphasis on being politically correct and promoting multiculturalism may be self-defeating in the war on terror. (Via LGF.) * JK: Try Polyculturalism instead. Here's more from Dinesh D'Souza. * Meanwhile, former Intel engineer Maher "Mike" Mofeid Hawash - a naturalized U.S. citizen who immigrated from the formerly Jordanian-controlled town of Nablus on the West Bank - has pled guilty to charges that he conspired with five others to enter Afghanistan and fight on behalf of the Taliban against the United States. * Instapundit points to another approach to reining in terror: using the free market system to bring about political and economic progress in the Muslim world. * While Indonesia is still reeling from the blast at the Marriott hotel in Jakarta, terror experts warn that Jemaah Islamiah - now widely considered linked to al-Qaeda - is poised to conduct further attacks "within weeks". Their fears are compounded by the group's threat to extract "an eye for an eye" in retaliation for sentencing the Bali bomber Amrozi bin Nurhasyim to death today. * More on Indonesia - Gweilo Diaries has a full briefing on recent events. * We try to close on a lighter note if possible, but there's nothing "light" about these guys - they're Sikhs, they're hunky, and they're taking the fashion world by storm. Better hurry out and get your turban soon, because these men are determined to make them the latest trend in haute couture! 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.