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The Duffel Brief · the free edition, Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Vol. 15 · No. 130 · Friday, 30 October 2026

Veterans

Spirit Halloween store to become pop-up ICE detention center

DHS praises seasonal retailer's expertise in occupying abandoned buildings and disappearing overnight

Army FRG unveils haunted house featuring spouses saying ‘I’m fine’

Hasan execution venue double-booked with Comic-Con

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Vol. 15 · No. 130

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Vol. 15 · No. 130 · Deployed worldwide

Friday

30 October 2026

0102 Zulu

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· Page 2

Ikea signs $800 million contract to assemble Iraqi prime minister's cabinet

Filed · 1538

BAGHDAD — The US Department of State has achieved a major breakthrough in Iraq's attempt to assemble a cabinet, after brokering a deal in which Swedish home goods retailer IKEA was contracted to assemble it, according to sources.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who had been unable to assemble the cabinet himself, reportedly "breathed a heavy sigh of relief," after learning of the $800 million contract.

Ikea, infamous for its complex cabinet designs that require an immense amount of assembly with vague instructions, was brought in after al-Abadi and US advisers stayed up for two days straight trying to put together a cabinet themselves. US State Department spokesman John Kirby confirmed the arrangement and said he expects Ikea's assembly fee "will be worth it."

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