August 31, 2003 (Sunday)
- Tens of thousands of people turn out in Baghdad for the funeral procession of the murdered Shia Muslim leader Ayatollah Sayed Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim.[1] The Iraqi police handling the investigation say they have arrested 19 men in connection with the blast, many of them foreigners and all with admitted links to al-Qaeda.[2]
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declassifies carbon dioxide as a pollutant, a move seen as leading to the elimination of restrictions on industrial emissions of the controversial gas. Climate scientists have debated carbon dioxide's role in global warming for over a decade, with most voices (though notably fewer within the US) calling it the biggest factor, while others call it negligible.[3]
- Occupation of Iraq: American and Iraqi officials are discussing the possibility of forming a large Iraqi militia or paramilitary force to help improve security in the country.[4]
- Terrorist: Terrorism group Jemaah Islamiyah has schemes, revealed in a 40-page manifesto (the Pupji book or General Guide to the Struggle of Jemaah Islamiyah), for a suicide bombing campaign designed to change Asia and the Pacific region into Islamic provinces. Jemaah Islamiyah is also shown to be a well-formed organization with a constitution, rules of operation, and leadership structure.[5]
- Afghanistan: Soldiers are killed in a remote region (near the town of Shkin) near the Pakistani border. Taliban reinforcements moved into mountainous region in southern Afghanistan where U.S. and Afghan forces have been attacking hideouts in a battle over the past week.[6]
- ^ "Middle East | Thousands mourn murdered Iraq cleric". BBC News. 2003-08-31. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ Roberts, Joel (2003-02-24). "Iraqi PM Appeals For Reconciliation". CBS News. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2005-03-10. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "U.S. and the Iraqis Discuss Creating Big Militia Force". TheLedger.com. 2003-08-31. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2004-08-03. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)