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Current Operations

• U.S. SOLDIER INJURED IN MINE ACCIDENT 19 Feb 2003 -- A U.S. soldier was injured today in the vicinity of Gardez when the vehicle he was traveling in struck a mine. The incident happened at approximately 9 a.m. local. The soldier was on a routine mounted patrol. The soldier suffered a traumatic amputation of his right foot.
• San Diego-based DesRon 7 Shuts Down One-Third of Iraqi Oil-Smuggling Navy NewStand 19 Feb 2003 -- Feb. 11 wasn't just another day for the staff of San Diego-based destroyer squadron (DesRon) 7.
• `Eagle Fury' heavy drop a first in Afghanistan Army News 19 Feb 2003 -- Parachute riggers have dropped a total of 38,088 gallons of fuel to the Forward Area Refueling Point in support of Operation Eagle Fury in the Bahgran Valley, Afghanistan.
• Coalition Sailors, Marines Combine Efforts in Offload Operation Navy NewStand 19 Feb 2003 -- U.S. and British Sailors and Marines combined efforts in the offload of more than 900 pallets of ammunition and supplies from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Service Ship Fort Austin (A386).
• US / AFGHAN TERROR VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- The United States has designated Afghan warlord and former prime minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar a terrorist, subjecting him to economic sanctions including the seizure of any assets he may have in the United States.
• Deployment: Base Town VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- Across the country, tens of thousands of military personnel are emptying out of their bases, not knowing when they might return. For many towns around those bases, the impact will not only be an emotional one, but an economic one as well. As troops leave, apartments are left empty, and shops and restaurants are feeling the pinch.
• Deployment: Spouses VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- At military bases around the country, thousands of women are saying goodbye to their husbands as they leave for the Persian Gulf, not knowing when, or if, they will return. In addition to the emotional strain, many spouses find themselves having to manage the household finances alone for the first time. In Hinesville, Georgia, home of Fort Stewart, both the military and local churches have recognized the problem... and are teaching army wives the ABC's of making ends meet.
• Soldiers surprised by weekend deployment Army News 19 Feb 2003 -- The call caught everyone by surprise during a four-day weekend, but after a flurry of activity, the 63rd Signal Battalion received a tear-streaked, brass-band departure Feb. 16.
• Fort Riley soldiers depart for CENTCOM Fort Riley PAO 19 Feb 2003 -- Fort Riley's first active duty units deployed to an undisclosed location Sunday to support the war against terrorism.

Other Conflicts

• U.S. Remains Committed to Two-State Solution in Middle East Washington File 19 Feb 2003 -- State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher told the press on February 19 that the United States remains committed to a two-state solution in the Middle East. He urged Israel to take steps to prevent civilian casualties, and he pressed the Palestinians to end terror and violence. Boucher was speaking at the regular noon briefing at the State Department.
• ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have fired rockets at a nearby Israeli town, wounding at least one person. The attack was in apparent retaliation for an Israeli army raid into Gaza that killed 11-people.
• U.S. Backs Sri Lanka's Peace Process Washington File 19 Feb 2003 -- The United States will give "significant further assistance" to Sri Lanka, if its government quickly moves to protect the rights of all Sri Lankans and if rebels stop smuggling weapons and recruiting child-soldiers, said Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage
• U-S /ISRAEL/GAZA VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- The United States expressed renewed concern Wednesday about Palestinian civilian casualties stemming from Israeli military operations in Gaza. It urged Israel to take appropriate precautions.
• UNICEF/SOMALIA VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- Despite slow progress at peace talks aimed at ending more than a decade of anarchy in Somalia, the U-N Children's Fund says it is optimistic about the future.
• ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- Israeli forces have launched what is being described as a major operation into the Gaza Strip. The operation resulted in at least 11 Palestinians were killed and more than 20 injured.

Defense Policy / Programs

• White House Daily Briefing White House 19 Feb 2003
• Command releases RQ-1 accident report ACC News 19 Feb 2003 -- Air Force investigators have determined that human error caused an RQ-1 Predator aircraft to crash Sept. 17 at a classified forward-operating location in Southwest Asia.
• ACC releases F-16 accident report ACC News 19 Feb 2003 -- Air Force investigators have determined engine failure caused an F-16C aircraft to crash Sept. 11, during a basic surface attack training sortie.
• Last active duty FA-18D Hornets leave Miramar USMC News 19 Feb 2003 -- A chain of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121 aircraft filled the sky over San Diego as the last active duty FA-18D Hornets left Miramar Friday in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
• Air Force receives newest Global Hawk AFPN 19 Feb 2003 -- The seventh Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle touched down here Feb. 14 after its flight from Air Force Plant 42 in nearby Palmdale, Calif., where it was built by lead government contractor Northrop Grumman.
• Bush, Robertson Welcome NATO Move to Aid Turkey Washington File 19 Feb 2003 -- President Bush and NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson spoke briefly with reporters prior to their meeting at the White House February 19, and both took note of the decision by NATO's Defense Planning Committee to approve the deployment of AWACS aircraft, Patriot missiles, and biological and chemical defense equipment to Turkey.
• Future threats envisioned during technology game AFPN 19 Feb 2003 -- Warfighters, leading scientists and engineers from across the United States met Feb.11 to 13 in McLean, Va., to contemplate what the battlefield will be like in 25 years.
• USS Carl Vinson F/A-18 Hornet Crashes In Western Pacific Navy NewStand 19 Feb 2003 -- A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet aircraft operating from USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) crashed in the Western Pacific ocean at approximately 8:15 p.m. EST Feb. 18.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing - Secretary Rumsfeld and Gen. Myers 19 Feb 2003 -- The Canadian minister of Defense announced Canada's willingness, beginning in late summer, to commit a battle group and a brigade headquarters to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan for a period of one year. Canada has been a solid ally in the global war against terrorism, and we thank the Canadian people for their support in defending freedom around the globe.
• Bush Welcomes NATO Defense Planning Committee Decision on Turkey Washington File 19 Feb 2003 -- President Bush welcomed the decision February 19 by NATO's Defense Planning Committee to approve the deployment of AWACS aircraft, Patriot missiles, and biological and chemical defense equipment to Turkey as "an important demonstration of the solidarity of NATO allies in view of a potential threat to an Alliance member."
• U.S. Welcomes Talks With South Korea to 'Rebalance' Forces AFPS 19 Feb 2003 -- The United States welcomes South Korean President-elect Roh Moo-hyun's proposal to discuss "rebalancing" the relationship between the two countries, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said today.
• BUSH NATO VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- President Bush met at the White House Wednesday with NATO Secretary General George Robertson to talk about alliance issues and the possibility of war with Iraq. The meeting followed a decision by NATO to help member Turkey prepare to defend itself in the event of a U-S led war on neighboring Iraq.
• US / TURKEY AID VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- Turkey and the United States are embroiled in a dispute over financial aid, the price Turkey is seeking for allowing the U-S military to use its territory as a platform for a possible strike against Iraq.
• NATO / TURKEY VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- NATO has approved deploying surveillance aircraft, anti-missile systems, and chemical and biological response units to Turkey, which says it would be threatened in case of a U-S-led war against Iraq. The decision ends one of the worst crises in the alliance's history.
• NATO to Send AWACS, Patriot Missiles to Defend Turkey AFPS 19 Feb 2003 -- NATO is sending several defensive weapons systems to Turkey to protect that alliance member from possible attack by neighboring Iraq.
• Armament Systems Branch Fields New Gun System on Deploying Ships NAVSEA 19 Feb 2003 -- Naval Surface Warfare Center, (NSWC) Crane was tasked by NAVSEA (PMS NSW) in direct support of Chief of Naval Operations' (N764) Operation Task Force Hip Pocket to install additional small arms weapons on deploying ships for force protection. The directive to provide MK44 systems to several ships scheduled for near-term deployment was received late last year and in less than 45 days, 56 systems were procured, assembled, inspected, and delivered to the Truman Battle Group (BG) ships in Norfolk and the Nimitz BG in San Diego.
• Navy Releases LCS Draft RFP Package for Review NAVSEA 19 Feb 2003 -- The Navy released the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Request for Proposal (RFP) package in draft form for review and comment. This information is offered in conjunction with the previously announced LCS Industry Day at the Crystal City Forum 0900-1100 on 20 February 2003. Included in the RFP package for review is the Navy approved Preliminary Design Interim Requirement Document (PD-IRD) and the Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC) developed Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for additional direction and guidance, respectively.
• LPD 17 Looks Like a "Gator" NAVSEA 19 Feb 2003 -- With the installation of its stern gate and final section of bow, San Antonio (LPD 17) now has the distinctive appearance of an amphibious transport dock. The first of twelve ships of the San Antonio class continues to progress toward its delivery in late 2004.
• Teamwork and Trust, Key to PSNS Success on Stennis Navy NewStand 19 Feb 2003 -- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) completed another successful planned incremental availability (PIA) in San Diego, with USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) becoming the next in what has become a long line of superbly executed carrier availabilities.
• Hawk/CVW-5 Team Celebrates Cat 1 Milestone Navy NewStand 19 Feb 2003 -- The crews of USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 reached a milestone, when the ship's bow catapult team launched an aircraft from Kitty Hawk's No. 1 catapult for the 150,000th time in the ship's nearly 42 years of service.
• 'Skinny Dragons' Return to Hawaii Navy NewStand 19 Feb 2003 -- More than 30 "Skinny Dragons" from Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 returned home to Hawaii Sunday.
• Air Defense Cruiser Lives in the Shadow of America's Big Stick Navy NewStand 19 Feb 2003 -- Anzio has to sort out all air traffic for the entire battle group, including who is in the air, where they are going and if they are a threat, he said. With TRBATGRU moving into the Mediterranean Sea, Anzio will have to identify both civilian aircraft and all of the military aircraft in the area.

• BANGLADESH MILITARY / CRIME VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- The Bangladesh government has resumed a controversial operation to use the military to curb violent crime in the country's major cities.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 19 Feb 2003
• SHAPE News Summary Analysis SHAPE 19 Feb 2003
• YUSUF KANLI / U-S - TURKEY VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- Turkey's government has put off a parliamentary vote permitting the deployment of thousands of U-S troops in Turkey, in preparation for a possible war with neighboring Iraq. Turkey's Prime Minister, Abdullah Gul, says without an acceptable economic aid package, parliament will never allow U-S troops to be stationed in Turkey. Reports say Turkey is asking for up to 50-billion dollars in U-S loans and grants -- more than twice as much as the Bush administration originally offered.
• POWELL / ASIA VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell flies to Asia later this week for a three-nation trip ending with a stop in Seoul for the February 25th inauguration of incoming South Korean president Roh Moo-Hyun. His talks in Japan, China and South Korea will be dominated by the North Korean nuclear issue.
• U-S POL GEPHARDT VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- Congressman Richard Gephardt of Missouri has become the latest Democrat to formally announce he is running for president.
• WORLD POPULATION / MIGRATION VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- The world population quadrupled in the 20th century in what the United Nations terms unprecedented growth. India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Indonesia will account for one half the entire world's population growth over the next 50 years. But U-N demographers point out that the global migration of people for economic, political or family reasons, also influences a lopsided growth pattern.
• CHANGES IN SAUDI ARABIA VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- The New York Times has reported that after a major private discussion, the royal family of Saudi Arabia is contemplating substantial changes in the government. The article suggests that more democracy will be established and, among other things, the religious police will be curbed.
• NY/RUSSIAN ENVOY VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin's special representative on human rights in the Chechen Republic was in New York today (Wednesday) to discuss the rebuilding of Chechnya after many years of war.
• ZIMBABWE / TRIAL VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- The treason trial of Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai continued with the defense seeking details from Canadian businessman Ari Ben-Menashe about his contract with the Zimbabwe government. The state's main witness is unable to supply details of what he did to earn 615-thousand-dollars.
• ISRAEL / PALESTINIAN REFORM / AID VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- International donors meeting in London say they expect the Palestinian Authority to receive more than one-million-dollars in financial support this year to address the humanitarian and economic crisis in the Palestinian territories. The donors want political reform in the Palestinian Authority.
• Afghan Leaders Observe Islam and Other Religions in America Washington File 19 Feb 2003 -- Six distinguished Afghan citizens -- editors, government officials, and religious leaders -- spent January 21 to February 7 traveling across the United States talking to American Muslims and interfaith-understanding groups. Under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' International Visitor Program, the six went from Washington, D.C., to New York City to Salt Lake City, Utah, to Portland, Oregon, and Cincinnati, Ohio.
• CHINA/JAPAN ASLYLUM SEEKERS VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- Japan's government has not decided the fate of four North Korean refugees who walked into a Japanese school Tuesday in Beijing asking for asylum in Japan. Tokyo is apparently concerned that granting asylum might spark a flood of North Korean refugees.
• KOSOVO/WAR CRIMES VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- Slovenian authorities say police have arrested a prominent ethnic-Albanian war crimes suspect from Kosovo. The arrest followed the detention by NATO-led peacekeeping forces of three ethnic-Albanian suspects indicted by the U-N War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague.
• ARMENIA/ELECTION VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- Voters in Armenia went to the polls Wednesday to elect a new president. The election is being watched closely by international observers for signs of fraud.
• BURMA/NOBEL LAUREATES VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi says tough economic sanctions against Burma must continue until the military government begins meaningful dialogue with the political opposition. The comment was relayed through Nobel laureate Jody Williams.
• SOKOR SUBWAY VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- South Koreans are mourning the deaths of more than 120-people Tuesday in a deadly subway arson attack. The families of the victims are growing angry at the pace of identifying their relatives.
• U-N/POVERTY VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan says the possibility of war in Iraq should not distract governments from the fight to combat hunger and poverty in the world. Mr. Annan was speaking at a conference of the International Fund for Agricultural Development in Rome.
• FRANCE / SUMMIT / MUGABE VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe arrived in Paris Wednesday for the start of a three-day French-African summit aimed at strengthening political and economic relations between the two sides. Mr. Mugabe's presence in France has already sparked controversy.
• CONGO/EBOLA VOA 19 Feb 2003 -- The World Health Organization says laboratory tests confirm an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in a northwestern area of the Republic of Congo. Latest W-H-O figures show 73 cases of Ebola, that have killed 59-people.