Operations
Other Conflicts
Defense Policy / Programs
News Reports

Current Operations

• MEF Engineer Group Seabees Helping to Rebuild Iraq Navy Newsstand 30 May 2003-- While many of the U.S. troops in the Middle East are starting to think about going home, the First Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) Engineer Group (MEG) Seabees continue to seek out and complete a multitude of rebuilding projects in Iraq.

Other Conflicts

• Powell Sees "New Dynamic" at Work in Mideast Washington File 30 May 2003 -- There is a "new dynamic" in the Middle East resulting from the ouster of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, new governments in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and President Bush's ability in recent weeks to get Israelis and Palestinians to begin steps on the road map to peace, says Secretary of State Colin Powell.
• Bush Says He is Committed to Work for Middle East Peace Washington File 30 May 2003 -- President Bush says he is determined to work towards a peaceful two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Speaking to Egypt's Nile TV May 29, just days before he was to travel to Egypt and Jordan, Bush said "People have got to know when I say something, I mean it ... we're serious about our intentions."
• Bush Says Mideast Trip Will Demonstrate His Commitment to Peace Washington File 30 May 2003 -- President Bush, speaking with journalists on the eve of his departure for a week-long trip to Europe and the Middle East, said he will talk with friends, allies and important parties about "how, working together, we can achieve [the] grand goals" of peace, freedom, hope and prosperity.
• Bush Will Hold Mideast Leaders Accountable For Peace Commitments Washington File 30 May 2003 -- President Bush said he was going to hold Israeli and Palestinian leaders accountable for their commitments to the Middle East road map, which both parties have now agreed to.
• MIDEAST / GAZA VOA 30 May 2003 -- The U-S says it has received warnings of possible plans to kidnap its citizens in the Gaza Strip.
• EDITORIAL: MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS VOA 30 May 2003 -- President George W. Bush plans to travel to the Middle East as part of the effort to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
• United Nations Troops Sent to Congo VOA 30 May 2003 -- The United Nations Security Council has approved a resolution to send an emergency military force to the eastern Ituri area of the Democratic Republic of Congo. U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan called for the measure earlier this month to end ethnic violence in the main town of Bunia.
• DR of Congo: UN human rights chief applauds deployment of emergency force UN News Centre 30 May 2003 -- The top United Nations human rights official today applauded the unanimous decision by the Security Council to authorize the deployment of an international emergency force to the Ituri district of in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
• Security Council seeks to bring peace and development to Africa UN News Centre 30 May 2003 -- Faced with the conflicts and complex crises plaguing Africa, the United Nations Security Council today discussed ways to refine prevention and containment strategies by involving regional and global organizations and exploring the links between peace and security on the one hand and social and economic development on the other.
• Security Council authorizes deployment of emergency force for DR of Congo UN News Centre 30 May 2003 -- Signalling its "utmost concern" at the fighting and atrocities in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations Security Council today authorized the deployment of an international emergency force to help stabilize the situation in the country's volatile north-east, where ethnic fighting has killed more than 400 people.
• UN mission in Western Sahara extended by two months UN News Centre 30 May 2003 -- In order to further consider the best way forward on a new plan proposed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to resolve the situation in Western Sahara, the Security Council today extended by two months the mandate of the United Nations mission responsible for organizing a referendum in the territory.
• SPAIN / BOMB VOA 30 May 2003 -- Two policemen have died in a car bomb explosion in Spain's northern region of Navarre. Spanish officials are blaming the attack on the Basque Separatist group ETA.
• UN / DRC / TROOPS VOA 30 May 2003 -- The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution (Friday) to send a French-led emergency force to the eastern Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where recent fighting and atrocities have left at least four-hundred civilians dead.
• CONGO / BUNIA VOA 30 May 2003 -- Government officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are welcoming the announcement (Friday) that the United Nations will send a rapid reaction force to the country to help end fighting in the northeastern province of Ituri.
• PHILIPPINE MUSLIMS VOA 30 May 2003 -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is dismissing an offer by Islamic rebels for a 10-day truce beginning Monday. But the Moro Islamic Liberation Front says it intends to go ahead with the truce, and will wait for the government's response.
• BUSH / TRAVEL VOA 30 May 2003 -- President Bush has left Washington on a week-long journey to Europe and the Middle East, where he hopes to push the peace process forward. It may well be the most ambitious trip of his presidency.
• MIDEAST SUMMIT VOA 30 May 2003 -- U-S envoys are in the Middle East to prepare for next week's visit to the region by President Bush and his separate meetings with Arab and Israeli leaders. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas met late Thursday to try to iron out differences over the U-S-backed peace plan for the Middle East.
• SRI LANKA/REBELS VOA 30 May 2003 -- In Sri Lanka, Tamil Tiger rebels have rejected a government proposal aimed at reviving the island's deadlocked peace process.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Wolfowitz: U.S. Firmly Committed to Asia-Pacific Security Washington File 30 May 2003 -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz stressed to reporters in Singapore May 30 that the United States "is committed to security and stability" in the Asia-Pacific region.
• U.S. Marines Not Leaving Okinawa for Australia, Wolfowitz Says AFPS 30 May 2003 -- The American military is reviewing its troop deployments worldwide, but U.S. Marines aren't being pulled out of Okinawa for redeployment to Australia, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz said here May 30.
• Boxer Sailors Enjoy Liberty in UAE Navy Newsstand 30 May 2003-- Sailors aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4) pulled into Jebel Ali for some much needed "R&R" after spending 100 days at sea.
• U.S. 'Committed' to East Asian Peace, Prosperity AFPS 30 May 2003 -- The United States remains "committed" to peace and prosperity across East Asia, a senior U.S. defense official noted May 29.
• ASIA / SECURITY CONFERENCE VOA 30 May 2003 -- U-S Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz says the United States is re-examining its worldwide military posture. He made the comment in Singapore, where he is attending an Asia-Pacific security conference.
• G-6 says OIF validates IT Transformation path Army News Service 30 May 2003-- While there still remain some bugs to tweak and a lot of work, Operation Iraqi Freedom has validated the Army Knowledge Management framework track for transforming the way soldiers of all ranks get and share information, both in peace and war, according to the Army's top Signal Corps officer.
• USS McCampbell Makes Successful Drug Bust on First Deployment Navy Newsstand 30 May 2003-- USS McCampbell (DDG 85), on its first operational deployment, seized 1.36 metric tons of cocaine from a sailing vessel off the coast of Central America.
• Advanced Enclosed Mast/Sensor System Installed on San Antonio NAVSEA News Wire 30 May 2003-- The future USS San Antonio (LPD 17) now shows its distinctive appearance. When shipyard workers lifted the 83.7-foot high aft Advanced Enclosed Mast/Sensor system (AEM/S) into place on the amphibious transport dock's superstructure, San Antonio became the first ship to have two of the revolutionary masts.
• Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Completes Record Setting ERO on Albuquerque NAVSEA News Wire 30 May 2003-- USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) is back with the Fleet and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) has set the new record for the fastest Engineered Refueling Overhaul ever --completing in 22.3 months.
• U.S., Royal Thai Marines hone their decon skills Marine Corps News 30 May 2003-- Nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological weapons have altered the way Marines prepare for combat. Not only must Marines be proficient in their occupational specialty, but they must also be able to perform their job in a mission orientated protective posture suit.
• BSSG-3 is working non-stop: U.S. Marines and Sailors prepare Camp Samaesan for III MEB Marine Corps News 30 May 2003-- The Marines and Sailors of Brigade Service Support Group 3, III Marine Expeditionary Brigade, arrived in full force to Royal Thai Marine Base, Camp Samaesan, Kingdom of Thailand, April 27.
• Memorial Day reunions - MACS-1 returns from overseas operations Marine Corps News 30 May 2003-- The advance party of Marine Air Control Squadron 1 returned home May 20, preparing the way for the remainder of the squadron's return Memorial Day weekend.
• VMA-513 families send lovin' to Afghanistan Marine Corps News 30 May 2003-- When Marines are deployed overseas, communications with friends and family members can be very critical to unit morale. Although phone conversations, e-mail letters and photos can be exchanged fairly often, chances to see children and spouses fully interacting can be few and far between, if any.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 30 May 2003 -- Iraq row jolted NATO back on track, Robertson says / Bush visit to Poland crowns NATO ally's shift toward West / Czech defence minister quits but govt safe / Parliament approves plan to send up to 500 peacekeepers to Iraq / German peacekeeper killed when vehicle hits land mine in Afghanistan / Australia, U.S. deny plans for Marines bases
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 30 May 2003 -- NATO plans 5,000-strong strike force by October / Poles step up dual strategy with Bush visit and EU poll / Allies help in Iraq less than U.S. expected / Bulgarian Parliament approves plan to send up to 500 peacekeepers to Iraq / NATO chief insists no row with Spain over Turkey plane crash / U.S. Forces in Europe set sights East, South

• U-S / BELARUS MEDIA VOA 30 May 2003 -- The United States Friday deplored a decision by authorities in Belarus to suspend publication of one of the eastern European country's opposition newspapers, Belaruskaya Delovaya Gazeta.
• ZIMBABWE / FUEL VOA 30 May 2003 -- International oil companies are ready to import fuel into Zimbabwe to alleviate the country's fuel shortage, but there is serious disagreement between the companies and the government over the pricing of oil products.
• BUSH / POLAND OVERNIGHTER VOA 30 May 2003 -- President Bush is in Krakow, Poland, the first stop on a weeklong journey to Europe and the Middle East. He wants to personally thank the Polish people for their support in Iraq.
• U-S / CAMBODIA ELECTIONS VOA 30 May 2003 -- The United States on Friday called on the Cambodian government to take "strong measures" to insure the safety and fairness of national elections set for July 27th. The call follows an expression of concern by two leading U-S Senators about reports of election-related harassment and intimidation in that country.
• Turkmenistan: Ashgabat Protests 'Slanderous' Attacks By Russian Deputy RFE/L 30 May 2003 -- Turkmenistan's Foreign Ministry today responded to critical comments against Turkmenistan and its leadership made by a deputy in the Russian Duma last week.
• Russia/Turkmenistan: Are Tensions Growing Between Moscow And Ashgabat? RFE/L 30 May 2003 -- Less than two months after declaring friendship and signing a 25-year deal on the Russian purchase of Turkmen gas, Moscow and Ashgabat may be at odds. The Russian media is speculating on new tension in relations between the two countries. Regional experts say Moscow, having secured the gas deal, has achieved what it wanted from Ashgabat and now does not want to look particularly supportive of the Turkmen government, which has come under widespread criticism for human-rights violations.
• EU: Draft Constitution Overshadowed By Deadlock Over Institutions RFE/L 30 May 2003 -- Tensions are high as a draft text of a constitution for the European Union -- publicized this week -- did not include any amendments submitted by members to the all-important clauses on the future institutional makeup of the EU.
• World: Evian, Normally Peaceful, Prepares For Potentially Raucous G-8 Summit RFE/L 30 May 2003 -- The normally quiet French spa town of Evian plays host this weekend to thousands of journalists, demonstrators, and security personnel who are on hand for the annual G-8 summit of leaders of the eight leading industrialized nations. France is taking no chances of anything going wrong -- and thousands of soldiers are in place to protect the participants from anything ranging from a biological attack to broken bottles lobbed by angry anti-globalization protesters. Much of the squabbling, however, may take place behind closed doors, as leaders try to patch up their own personal differences in the wake of the Iraq war.
• EDITORIAL: BROADCASTING TRUTH TO CUBA VOA 30 May 2003 -- Over forty-four years ago, Cuba's Communist dictator Fidel Castro hijacked Cuban independence. Since then, he has built a legacy of political repression and economic ruin.
• ZIMBABWE / PROTESTS VOA 30 May 2003 -- Zimbabwe is preparing for planned anti-government protests next week.
• EDITORIAL: BURMA CONTINUES REPRESSION VOA 30 May 2003 -- Burma's military regime has reportedly sentenced three senior members of the National League for Democracy, including an elected member of parliament, to two years in prison. Their alleged crime? Helping farmers write letters demanding the return of lands confiscated by Burmese authorities. Seven other democracy activists were reportedly given prison terms ranging from five to twenty years.
• POLAND / EUROPE / U-S VOA 30 May 2003 -- President Bush arrives in Poland Friday to thank the country for rallying behind the U-S-led war in Iraq, which was opposed by other major European countries like France and Germany. Mr. Bush's visit will cement Poland's status as an increasingly important friend of the United States.
• Western Press Review: Bush Heads To Europe And Iraq's Alleged Weapons RFE/L 30 May 2003 -- Several items in the Western dailies today address the persistent failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to support prewar U.S. and British claims that the regime of Saddam Hussein posed a threat to the region and beyond. As U.S. President George W. Bush's trip to Europe and the Middle East begins tonight in Poland, Washington's relations with its EU allies and Russia are also at issue.
• ASIA SARS VOA 30 May 2003 -- Researchers in Hong Kong have unraveled new clues as to how and why health care workers treating SARS patients continue to get sick despite special precautions. The revelations come as Hong Kong reports a slightly higher number of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome cases.
• CHINA/G-8 VOA 30 May 2003 -- China's president, Hun Jintao, is scheduled to attend a conference Saturday connected to the G-8 meeting in Evian, France.
• ALGERIA / QUAKE VOA 30 May 2003 -- Algeria has announced an emergency building program to house victims left homeless by a series of powerful earthquakes that have recently hit the country. More than 22-hundred people died and 10-thousand others were injured in the quakes.
• NEPAL/ POL VOA 30 May 2003 -- Nepal's prime minister has resigned, following political protests earlier this week and a continuing stalemate with opposition parties. Opposition parties are welcoming the resignation, but want Nepal's disbanded parliament reconvened as soon as possible.
• TOGO / ELECTIONS VOA 30 May 2003 -- Thousands of people in Togo are demanding their voting cards, as the campaign for Sunday's presidential election ends (today/Friday). The opposition alleges authorities are delaying handing out the cards to ensure Africa's longest ruling leader, Gnassingbe Eyadema, wins again.