Operations
Other Conflicts
Defense Policy / Programs
News Reports

Current Operations

• FIRST TEAM RECEIVES DEPLOYMENT ORDERS 03 Mar 2003 -- The First Cavalry Division, stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas has received deployment orders to reposition forces as required to support the President's global war against terrorism.
• MPs in Kuwait train for guarding EPWs Army News 03 Mar 2003 -- To prepare for what may come, soldiers in Kuwait are learning how to deal with enemy prisoners of war. Internment and resettlement training was conducted by the 3rd Military Police Battalion (Provisional) Feb. 17 and 18 in preparation for possible future operations.
• Four killed, two injured in Kuwait Army News 03 Mar 2003 -- Four soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash and two others injured in separate training accidents in Kuwait last week.
• VMAQ-1 deploys to support Southern Watch USMC 03 Mar 2003 -- Several hundred Marines from Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 1 and a Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14 detachment deployed to support Operation Southern Watch Feb. 15.

Other Conflicts

• US-LIBERIA RELATIONS VOA 04 Mar 2003 -- A top U-S diplomat is calling for additional sanctions against Liberia if President Charles Taylor fails to comply with existing U-N resolutions.
• UN rights chief appeals to parties in Burundi to implement peace agreements UN News Centre 03 Mar 2003 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello, wrapped up a three-day trip to Burundi with a strong appeal to all parties to press ahead with the regional peace process and to exert every effort to protect civilians and end the recruitment of child soldiers.
• UN dismayed by indiscriminate shooting of schoolgirl by Israeli forces UN News Centre 03 Mar 2003 -- After a 12-year-old girl was shot in the head while sitting at her desk in a United Nations school in the Palestinian territory, a top UN relief official in the region has expressed dismay at the Israeli military's indiscriminate use of force in civilian areas.
• Sporadic Violence Still Possible in Afghanistan AFPS 03 Mar 2003 -- Even though Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said the war on terror is "largely over," it doesn't mean his country is suddenly a safe place.
• US / ISRAEL / DEMOLITIONS VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- The United States again expressed concern Monday over Israel's use of house demolitions in military operations against Palestinian extremists in Gaza. The comments follow weekend raids in Gaza in which a number of Palestinian civilians died. In one incident a pregnant woman was killed by falling debris as Israeli troops demolished houses said to have been used by suicide bombers.
• ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have fired rockets at a nearby Israeli town, following an Israeli army operation in the territory during which eight Palestinians were killed.
• INDONESIA / ACEH VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- A mob attacked an office belonging to international peace monitors in Indonesia's restive northern province of Aceh - slightly injuring two people. Thousands of Achnese were protesting Monday that not enough was being done to reign in separatist rebels when the event turned violent.
• LIBERIA / IVORY COAST VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- At least 20 deaths have been reported in the latest fighting along the tense border between Ivory Coast and Liberia.
• NIGERIA / CLASHES VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- Nigerian police say at least 40 people have been killed in fighting between herdsmen and farmers in the northeastern part of the country.
• ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- Palestinians say at least eight people have been killed and nearly 40 wounded during an overnight raid by Israeli forces on two refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip. A 13-year-old boy and a woman were among the dead.

Defense Policy / Programs

• White House Daily Briefing White House 03 Feb 2003
• Briefing on Chemical and Biological Defense Readiness 03 Mar 2003 -- "Today we're going to host a -- what's called -- we call a roundtable, but it's an opportunity for some very trained and professional individuals to talk to you about Army training and readiness in nuclear, biological and chemical defense."
• U-S TROOPS / CHEM BIO DETECTION VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- U-S military analysts say the biggest risk American troops would face in a war against Saddam Hussein is the possibility that the Iraqi leader could use chemical and biological weapons. Chemical and biological detection teams are standing by in northern Kuwait for possible deployment to the battlefield.
• U.S. Forces Said Prepared to Defend Against Chem-Bio Weapons Washington File 03 Mar 2003 -- A U.S. Army official says Iraqi President Saddam Hussein may have "some grave reservations" about ordering his troops to use chemical and biological weapons against U.S. forces in the case of an Iraq war because the capability of his troops to defend against their use "is extremely limited."
• Defending Against Iraqi Chemical Biological Threats AFPS 03 Mar 2003 -- If Saddam Hussein decides to use chemical or biological weapons against U.S. forces, he may well kill or injure more of his own forces than Americans.

• USEUCOM Defense Information Group Press Briefing 03 Mar 2003 -- As you know, the European Command is supporting the Central Command in these issues so General Franks is the overall military commander for whatever happens with regards to the situation with Iraq. I wouldn't want to speculate on what his recommendation might be in what we might do and not do in that event and I think we'll just wait and see what happens.
• BIDEN / FOREIGN POLICY VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- The top ranking Democrat on the U-S Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Joseph Biden of Delaware, says the Bush administration is alienating allies needed to help fight the war on terrorism. Mr. Biden says the United States will remain vulnerable to terrorist threats until the president defines long-term foreign policy and national security strategies that include international cooperation.
• Army and Air Force share watch AFPSC 03 Mar 2003 -- The Air Force separated from the Army more than 50 years ago, but recently they have reunited. Nationwide, almost 9,000 Army National Guard members from around the country have been deployed to 163 Air Force bases to provide force protection.
• Army changes policy for AGR extensions Army News 03 Mar 2003 -- The Army has changed the process for extending Active Guard and Reserve officers beyond 20 years of active federal service. As of Feb. 11, eligible AGR officers and warrant officers will go before extension boards to determine whether or not they can stay on active duty.
• Leaders address sexual assault at academy AFPN 03 Mar 2003 -- The Air Force's senior leaders vowed March 3 to work closely with Congress to uncover the facts behind recent sexual assault cases and to address the broader climate at the U.S. Air Force Academy in a comprehensive manner.
• Robins C-130 team reaching accelerated goals AFPN 03 Mar 2003 -- Air Force Special Operations Command warfighters are getting back to work quicker thanks to aircraft maintainers shaving 30 days off programmed depot maintenance on four AFSOC aircraft.
• MOBI Safety Device Approved for Fleet Implementation Navy NewStand 03 Mar 2003 -- A lifesaving device that will revolutionize the way the Navy handles man overboard situations is coming to a ship near you.
• PHILIPPINES / U-S TROOPS VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- The Philippines defense secretary says plans for a large scale U-S military deployment in the southern Philippines may have to be altered.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 03 Mar 2003
• SHAPE News Summary Analysis SHAPE 03 Mar 2003
• ZIMBABWE / LAND VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- In the last week, the Zimbabwe government has dramatically increased the compulsory acquisition of the few hundred remaining white-owned commercial farms. The farmers are being given seven to 90 days to leave their properties, and many of those affected in this latest wave of seizures have crops in the ground.
• ESTONIA / ELECTION VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- Politicians in Estonia are facing weeks of maneuvering. They are attempting to form a coalition government following general elections on Sunday that ended in a virtual tie.
• INDONESIA TIMOR VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- East Timor's foreign minister is defending his government's stance on bringing human rights violators to justice. Jose Ramos-Horta says East Timor's highest priority is eradicating poverty, not jailing people.