al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) was routed in an attempted strike on the leader of the Anbar Salvation Council in Amirya. The attack resulted in AQI casualties of 50 or more and 80 plus captured. Iraqi Police initially held off the attack until the Iraqi Army and splintered factions of the 1920 Revolution Brigade and the Islamic Army in Iraq joined the defensive and routed the enemy. As Bill Roggio notes, the details of the attack have been somewhat misreported thus far.

The DoD has approved the sale of up to 453 missiles manufactured by Raytheon to Taiwan’s (RoC) Air Force. The potential sale includes 218 AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM’s and 235 AGM-65G2 Maverick’s for use by the Republic’s contingent of F-16’s. China (PRC) has complained that the sale violates prior agreements with the US, and the internal affairs of the People’s Republic.

Taiwan’s President Chen Shui-bian warned China that Taiwan is “very likely … to take more actions toward further independence.” He noted China’s military build-up as a cause for the independence movement.