Iraq Notebook
Release of female prisoners demanded

AP This image, from a Web site known for its Islamic militant content, reportedly shows three civilian hostages.

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BAGHDAD, Iraq — Kidnappers threatened in a videotape yesterday to slit the throats of three civilians — two Americans and a Briton — unless authorities released female prisoners from two U.S.-run prisons in Iraq.

The Iraqi government said there were no women at the facilities, Abu Ghraib near Baghdad and Camp Bucca in Umm Qasr. A U.S. military official said two Iraqi women were in U.S. custody, but said neither was being held at Abu Ghraib or Camp Bucca.

The video, posted on the Internet and played by Qatar-based Al-Jazeera TV network, showed the three captives kneeling blindfolded on the ground while a black-hooded gunman aimed his rifle at the head of one of the Americans.

"My name is Jack Hensley. My job consists of installing and furnishing camps at Taji base," the American said nervously while swallowing hard. Fellow American Eugene "Jack" Armstrong and Briton Kenneth Bigley followed suit, giving their names and the same job description at the military base 15 miles north of Baghdad.

The gunman claimed to belong to the Tawhid and Jihad group led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian-born militant with links to al-Qaida. The group kidnapped and beheaded American hostage Nicholas Berg in May and is suspected in many high-profile attacks across Iraq during the past 17 months, including Tuesday's car bombing near a Baghdad police station that killed dozens of Iraqis applying for jobs.

The video was the first word on the three Westerners' fate since they were snatched in a brazen raid on their home in the al Mansour district of Baghdad before dawn Thursday. The three work for ASCS/GSCS, a construction-and-services company based in the United Arab Emirates.

Memo questions

Bush's war motive

LONDON — A confidential government memo written on the eve of the U.S. war against Iraq said there was little evidence of weapons of mass destruction and theorized that President Bush wanted to invade to complete his father's "unfinished business," Britain's Daily Telegraph said yesterday.

Bush's father was president during the first Gulf War when a U.S.-led coalition freed Kuwait in 1991 and then drove Saddam Hussein's forces deep into Iraq before withdrawing.
 
"Even the best survey of Iraq's WMD [weapons of mass destruction] programme will not show much advance in recent years," the Telegraph said, quoting a memo it said was leaked by a senior Foreign Office official. "Military operations need clear and compelling military objectives. For Iraq 'regime change' does not stack up. It sounds like a grudge match between Bush and Saddam [Hussein]."

Britain may add

troops for elections

NOORDWIJK, Netherlands — Britain may send extra troops to Iraq to boost security during elections scheduled for January, Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said Friday.

Britain currently has 9,000 troops serving with the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, and that number is due to drop to 8,500 for the next rotation scheduled for November.

"If it is necessary to put a few extra troops in to provide appropriate security for the elections, we will do that," Hoon said. "We are still absolutely determined that elections should take place."

Iraqi Airways

goes international

AMMAN, Jordan — Iraqi Airways resumed international flights for the first time in 14 years yesterday, with a plane taking off from neighboring Jordan for Baghdad and another leaving the Iraqi capital for Damascus, Syria. Officials declined to say how many passengers were aboard the Boeing 737 to Damascus.

Iraqi Airways will fly once daily to Amman and Damascus, officials said. Another route to the United Arab Emirates will be added later.

Iraqi insurgents have taken aim at some commercial and military flights over Baghdad, firing rockets at aircraft flying to and from the airport, which also is used by the U.S. military.

2 soldiers to be tried

in alleged drowning

FORT CARSON, Colo. — Two soldiers face charges over the alleged drowning of an Iraqi civilian forced to jump off a bridge.

In courts-martial ordered Friday, 1st Lt. Jack Saville and Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Perkins will be tried in a military court on charges of manslaughter, assault, conspiracy, making false official statements and obstruction of justice.

The Army and family members of 19-year-old Zaidoun Hassoun contend Hassoun drowned Jan. 3 near Samarra when he and his cousin were forced to jump into a river.

19 killed in explosion

at national-guard post

KIRKUK, Iraq — At least 19 people were killed and 67 wounded yesterday morning when a car sped at a crowd of would-be recruits lined up at the offices of the Iraqi national guard in this northern city. Guardsmen opened fire on the vehicle and it exploded.

It was the third bombing this week targeting the beleaguered security forces, seen as collaborators with the United States and its allies.

France, Belgium stall

NATO training plans

NOORDWIJK, Netherlands — France and Belgium on Friday stalled plans for NATO to launch a training academy for senior Iraqi military officers in Iraq, diplomats and officials said.

They said the two countries, which have feuded with the United States for two years over the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, wanted clarification on how the mission would operate, but expressed confidence an accord could still be reached in days.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer played down differences over the mission.

"I am very optimistic we can reach agreement soon on the remaining points," he said.