Quote:But the CID has no authority over civilians off base. "I don't even know that if you engage someone there's even an investigative authority to follow up," Kelly said. "With no parameters, how do I know if I've done something wrong? It's like the Wild West, but nobody's the sheriff."

Quote:Bill had spent months in Somalia around the time of the Black Hawk disaster in 1993, commanding a surveillance team in downtown Mogadishu. Feuding warlords, khat-addled lunatics driving pickups with .50-caliber machine guns mounted on the back—it sounded like a hairy place. Bill said Baghdad was more dangerous.

Quote:Kimmitt:  Yeah.  Okay.  Right.  On the evening of 19 February, coalition forces received small-arms fire from a house in the Al-Jazeera area of Habbaniya, approximately 90 kilometers west of Baghdad.  Coalition forces returned fire, resulting in one enemy killed in action.  Inside the house, the unit discovered a large quantity of bomb-making materials, explosives and electronic components, pro-Saddam literature, pictures of Abu Musaab al-Zarqawi. The enemy killed has been identified as Abu Muhammed Hamza, an explosives expert and believed to be one of Zarqawi's lieutenants.

While assessed as a blow to the Zarqawi network, he and his group remain a threat to the security and stability of Iraq.  And the coalition renews its offer for a $10 million reward for information leading to Zarqawi's apprehension.

Senor:  I would just add that the information that the general referred to in the overall picture we are continuing to piece together about Mr. Zarqawi's network and his activities inside Iraq -- obviously this is consistent with what we have been seeing and certainly what we have been reading about in the Zarqawi letter in which he talks about the 25 operations -- specifically bombings, really -- that he's been involved in here in Iraq -- he has orchestrated.

We obviously have reason to believe that this individual that was killed two evenings ago was a part of that overall network, a part of that overall effort.  And we view this as a significant step forward. Still much work to do; obviously we are still in hot pursuit of Mr. Zarqawi.  But this does fit with the overall puzzle that we've been piecing together on the activities of the Zarqawi network, what we believe to be the Zarqawi network, inside Iraq.

Quote:But, I'm also sure that the crappy security situation in Iraq is attracting terrorists like flies from the entire islamic world.

Quote: I do not find reading the entire text of UN mushmouth speak to be worth my time, but thanks for the link anyway.

Quote:What I can't determine is whether or not "smoking out terrorists" was deliberate or not.

Quote:However, beating terrorists in the media war is an aim worth pursuing, even though it is an incredibly hard fight to win in a global media setting.

Quote:That having been said, I also believe that the alternative that has been put forth –- the process of selection and caucusing –- has to be inclusive and transparent and be seen as fair by Iraqis -– and for the Iraqis to feel it is a process they have ownership over.  I think if that is done, the outcome will be accepted and it will be credible within Iraq, in the region and beyond.  So, I consider it a viable alternative, but it has to be handled carefully.

Question:  Will it be done by 1 July?

The Secretary-General:  You mean the selection process?  I think that could be done:  the selections.  Actual full-fledged elections are not possible to be done by June.  But the other process, properly handled, is possible.

Quote:Question:  Critics of the United Nations are quick to cite bodies like the Commission on Human Rights and the fact that the past year it was chaired by Libya and it did not have a stellar record.  Some human rights activists have called for some sort of criteria for countries to join the Commission on Human Rights.  How do you feel about that type of proposal?