- Making News: Hostages in Iraq
As US-led coalition soldiers engage in fresh clashes with Sunni and Shia militants in Iraq, almost a dozen foreign civilians have been taken hostage. The Arabic television service al Jazeera has shown pictures of three Japanese, blindfolded and kneeling, with captors threatening to burn them alive. Melinda Liu, Beijing Bureau chief for Newsweek, says the kidnappers have demanded Japan's immediate withdraw all troops from Iraq. - Reporter's Notebook: Security Firms in Iraq Form an Alliance
As violence spreads to more and more of Iraq, private contractors have come under assault. Since they can-t count on protection from US forces, in the past 48 hours, they-ve been getting together, forming what could be the world-s largest private army. The alliance of private security firms in Iraq is being reported today by the Washington Post. Investigative reporter Mary Pat Flaherty co-wrote the story.
Condoleezza Rice's opening statement to 9-11 Commission