IRAQ REPORT * At the World Economic Forum, UK foreign minister Jack Straw eloquently defended the decision to invade Iraq. Tony Blair, ahead of the Hutton report on David Kelly's death, firmly stated he has "absolutely no doubt" the intelligence about Iraqi WMD that prompted the invasion was genuine. * Powell acknowledged we may not find WMD in Iraq. Meanwhile, David Kay turned over leadership of the Iraq Survey Group, then said that while he doubted Iraqi WMD would be found in large quantities, he had uncovered evidence that certain WMD-related materials were moved to Syria in the weeks before the Coalition invaded. * MAJ Gen Odierno, commander of the 4th ID, say the US Army has brought Sadaam loyalists "to their knees". * His boss, LT Gen Sanchez says there are signs of increased cooperation between al Qaeda and the Baathist remnants. However, an al Qaeda magazine has reportedly urged jihadis to leave Iraq and fight the US elsewhere because the large number of Muslim deaths from their attacks have created a backlash. * A new Iraqi battalion completed training last week, including the first company of a new Coastal Defence Force patterned on the US Marines. * As religious leaders push to base Iraqi law on sharia, the role and status of women in Iraq threatens to retrograde significantly. Zayed of Healing Iraq has some comments on this. Don't miss his post on a recent survey showing Iraqi top priorities as their country and society are reconstructed. 74% of respondents say the Coalition presence is necessary and 61% say that Coalition forces attitudes towards Iraqis are "cordial". * 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, Australian, British, Canadian & Polish [updated Jan. 15, 2004] * Don't forget Chief Wiggles' Toys for Iraq drive! IRAN UPDATE * The IAEA warned Iran of "serious consequences" if it did not cooperate with a probe into its nuclear program. The mullah's stalling game continues, however. Meanwhile, Iran and the EU are cementing closer ties. * Iran announced the start of production for its new R'ad missile and DM-3B radar system. * The battle for political control between hardliners and moderates continues. An emergency session of parliament voted to overturn the disqualification by clerics of hundreds of candidates for next month's elections, but the Guardian Council reportedly has vetoed the measure. * Amir Taheri, on the other hand, points out that there is no meaningful distinction between the moderates and hardliners in terms of their policy aims. He says it's more like a feud among insiders for the spoils. (Hat Tip: Blog Iran!) ISRAEL AND HER NEIGHBORS * Sharon agreed to a prisoner exchange with Hizbollah, but Nasrallah proclaimed that kidnappings of IDF members will continue, The complex deal was negotiated by German mediators. (hat tip: lgf) * Jordan's foreign minister calls on Arab states to denounce suicide bombings. * Yassir Arafat's wife has been granted French citizenship, raising speculation that Arafat may receive a French passport as a result. * 2/3 of Americans polled say that Palestinians have not fulfilled their obligations as agreed and therefore do not deserve their own state at this time. (hat tip: Europundit Nelson Ascher) HOMELAND SECURITY * A federal grand jury indicted a Minnesota man for conspiracy to provide material support for al Qaeda. Mohammed Abdullah Warsame, a Canadian citizen of Somali descent, trained in Afghan camps during 2000 and 2001, when bin Laden was the area. * The Iranian-American Society of Northern Virginia is holding a "solidarity" fund-raiser for survivors of the Bam earthquake in Iran, but Rep. Robert Ney, R-Ohio, has asked Attorney General John Ashcroft to investigate whether some of the event's sponsors are tied to Mujahedin-e Khalq, the MEK, or People's Mujaheddin, a known terrorist group which was supported by Saddam's regime. * The US and Saudi Arabia announced a joint effort to crack down on four branches of the huge Saudi-based charity Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, charging that its offices in Africa and Asia are being used to funnel money, arms and personnel to al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. THE WIDER WAR * Are we at war? Armed Liberal thinks so, but just to be sure he re-examines the issue. * Malaysia is host to factories creating precision centrifuges and other equipment for the nuclear black market. The country has agreed to work with the US to stop the flow of nuclear technology after its role in supplying Libya was uncovered. * Three Thai Buddhist monks were killed by Muslims in two days. * Police in Pakistan have arrested a former Taliban governor, Maulvi Abdul Mannan Khawajazai. * A Jewish school bus was set on fire in France.France considers outlawing beards as well as headscarves, crosses and skullcaps. Much easier than addressing the real issues, I guess. * A huge proposed mosque in Germany is being funded by Islamacist radicals. with links to terror groups, according to federal investigators in Berlin. * The President of China is about to visit Paris and the French are rolling out a year-long celebration of French/Chinese ties. Both France and Germany hope to sell weapons systems to China, whom the French hope will provide an alternative to US power. * As Britain considers whether to mothball some of its older destroyers, the Guardian suggests it might be better to do without a navy at all - that way, the UK couldn't be asked to join the US in future operations. And besides, big surface ships are really only needed for operations away from Britain's shores and why on earth would the need ever arise for that? Lord Nelson would be rolling in his grave, if he were the type to read the Guardian. Not likely he would have been, though. * Germany is restructuring its armed forces for peacekeeping roles. Martin Walker notes that this means Germany will need to rely on its allies for serious defense against armed threats. Will that ally be the US and NATO, I wonder, or the proposed EU defense force? The answer is clear, at least for the immediate future. (hat tip: Regions of Mind) * We try to close on a lighter note if possible. A maintenance worker on Long Island turned in $12,400 left behind by Brinks when an ATM was serviced. It's good to know that there are honest people living in our communities. 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 womething important, use the Comments section to let us know.