Report: US Had Secret Plans for Iraqi Oil

March 18, 2004 - --

Secret US Plans For Iraq's Oil
The Bush administration made plans for war and for Iraq's oil before the 9/11 attacks, sparking a policy battle between neo-cons and Big Oil, BBC's Newsnight has revealed. (BBC)

Halliburton Exec On Fraud Charges
A former employee of a Halliburton subsidiary has been indicted on charges of defrauding the US military of more than $3.5m for fuel in Iraq. (BBC)

Fake Cable Labeled Writer a Spy for Iraq
Someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to produce a document accusing journalist and activist William Arkin of serving as a spy for Saddam Hussein. (Washington Post)

Shiites, Kurds Work Toward Coalition Gov't
Shiite and Kurdish officials say they may need another week to put together Iraq's coalition despite progress in resolving disagreements over territory and Cabinet posts. (AP)

Sizable Cut in U.S. Forces in Iraq Called Possible in '06
An Army general said that the number of American troops in Iraq would probably drop to around 105,000 from 150,000. (NY Times)

Dutchman In Iraq Genocide Charges
Hearings open in Rotterdam in the case of a Dutchman accused of selling chemicals to Saddam Hussein's regime. (BBC)

Bulgaria to Pull Troops Out of Iraq by Year's End
Bulgaria intends to cut the number of its troops in Iraq in July and to completely pull them out by the end of the year, the defense minister said Thursday. (AP)

Philippines Detains al Qaeda Suspect
A Saudi Arabian man, detained for suspected al Qaeda links after arriving at Manila's airport, was turned over to the Saudi ambassador on Friday after investigators failed to find any evidence against him, Philippine immigration officials said. (The Guardian)

AP: Terrorists Train for Seaborne Attacks
Two of the most dangerous al Qaeda-linked groups in Southeast Asia are working together to train militants in scuba diving for seaborne terror attacks, according to the interrogation of a recently captured guerrilla. (AP)