Operations
Other Conflicts
Defense Policy / Programs
News Reports

Current Operations

• Navy SEAL Killed, 2 Others Wounded in Afghanistan Navy NewStand 30 Jun 2003 -- The Department of Defense has confirmed that Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class Thomas E. Retzer (SEAL), 30, was wounded June 25 after his convoy made contact with enemy forces outside of Gardez, Afghanistan. He was transported to Bagram Air Base hospital in Afghanistan, where he died of his wounds June 26.
• EOD experts keep assessors safe AFPN 30 Jun 2003 -- Finding a bomb that accurately struck an Iraqi target but did not go "bang" is not a good thing, according to combined weapons effectiveness assessment team officials.
• 'Red Horse' rides in to Tallil AFPN 30 Jun 2003 -- The 1st Expeditionary Red Horse Group stepped off a plane here June 26, arriving on the very runway they came to repair.
• Predator team prowls Iraq AFPN 30 Jun 2003 -- It hunts alone, flying quietly for more than 20 hours at a time, carefully scouring the Earth for the most minute evidence of ground activity and discretely relaying intelligence information to analysts half a world away.
• Acting secretary of Army visits soldiers in Iraq Army News 30 Jun 2003 -- Temperatures topped out at 117 degrees as Acting Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee visited with soldiers in Iraq last week.
• Soldiers help train Fallujah police Army News 30 Jun 2003 -- Military police and other 3rd Infantry Division soldiers are helping train the police force in Fallujah, a city about 30 miles west of Baghdad that has been a hotbed of opposition to the coalition.
• Marine major shines in Aussie Forces USMC News 30 Jun 2003 -- When the conflict in Iraq finally exploded into a full-scale war, Wayalan Cain was proud to be serving as a major in the United States Marine Corps.

Other Conflicts

• Afghanistan: Rockets Hit Close To UN Office In Jalalabad RFE/L 30 Jun 2003 -- Security officials in eastern Afghanistan said several rockets landed near a United Nations office today.

• AUSTRALIA / SOLOMONS VOA 30 Jun 2003 -- South Pacific nations have unanimously backed an Australian plan for armed intervention in the chaotic Solomon Islands. The 16-member Pacific Islands Forum held an emergency session to discuss what to do about the breakdown of law and order and the collapse of the economy in the former British colony.
• South Pacific Nations Back Australian Plan for Armed Intervention in Solomon Islands VOA News 30 Jun 2003 -- South Pacific nations have unanimously backed an Australian plan for armed intervention in the chaotic Solomon Islands. The 16-member Pacific Islands Forum held an emergency session in Sydney to discuss what to do about the breakdown of law and order and the collapse of the economy in the former British colony.

• Powell Welcomes Partial Israeli Withdrawal from Gaza Washington File 30 Jun 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell has welcomed the Israeli withdrawal from part of the Gaza Strip as "a positive development." He also said the cease-fire declared by the Palestinian groups Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah was "a step in the right direction."
• Israeli Withdrawal Eases Palestinian Movement in Gaza, Powell Says Washington File 30 Jun 2003 -- Following is a transcript of Secretary of State Colin Powell's June 30 interview on the U.S. television morning news program American Morning on CNN
• Powell Hopes Gaza Withdrawal Will Increase Confidence in Abbas Washington File 30 Jun 2003 -- Following is a transcript of Secretary of State Colin Powell's June 30 interview on the U.S. television morning news program The Early Show on CBS
• Vershbow Urges U.S., Russia to Stay United on Iran, N. Korea Washington File 30 Jun 2003 -- The future of U.S.-Russian relations depends "in large measure" on the ability of the two countries "to work together in facing the related security threats of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," says U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation Alexander Vershbow.
• Powell Expects Israel and Palestinians to Take More Steps Soon Washington File 30 Jun 2003 -- Following is a transcript of Secretary of State Colin Powell's June 30, interview on the U.S. television morning news program Today Show on NBC.
• Powell Says All Palestinian Terrorist Militias Must Be Abolished Washington File 30 Jun 2003 -- Following is a transcript of Secretary of State Colin Powell's June 30 interview on the American television news program "On Fox & Friends."
• Bush "Encouraged" by Israeli, Palestinian Efforts for Peace Washington File 30 Jun 2003 -- President Bush "is encouraged by the work that the Israelis are doing together with the Palestinian Authority leaders to promote the vision of peace, to make progress toward peace," White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters the morning of June 30 on Air Force One as Bush flew to Florida from Texas.
• Palestinian Ceasefire Is A Beginning, But Not Enough, Powell Says Washington File 30 Jun 2003 -- Following is a transcript of Secretary of State Colin Powell's June 30 interview on the U.S. television morning news program Good Morning America on ABC
• Annan welcomes ceasefire announcement by Palestinian groups UN News Centre 30 Jun 2003 -- Welcoming the ceasefire announcement made today by Palestinian groups, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on all parties to press ahead with the new Road Map peace plan to achieve the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace.
• Bulgarian Worker Killed in West Bank; Israeli Forces Ready Bethlehem Pullout VOA News 30 Jun 2003 -- A foreign worker has been killed in a shooting incident near the West Bank town of Jenin.
• POWELL / MIDEAST VOA 30 Jun 2003 -- U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell has welcomed the Israeli security pullback in Gaza and the cease-fire pledge by Palestinian militants. But he says, ultimately the factions carrying out terrorist attacks must be dismantled.
• ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS VOA 30 Jun 2003 -- foreign worker has been killed in a shooting incident near the West Bank town of Jenin. This is the first fatality since the three main Palestinian militant groups announced (Sunday) a ceasefire in attacks on Israelis.
• Israel Withdraws from Parts of Gaza Strip VOA News 30 Jun 2003 -- Israeli troops have withdrawn from parts of the northern Gaza Strip. The overnight pullout came just hours after the three main Palestinian militant groups declared a three-month ceasefire.
• ISRAEL PULLOUT VOA 30 Jun 2003 -- Israeli troops have withdrawn from parts of the northern Gaza Strip. The overnight pullout came just hours after the three main Palestinian militant groups declared a three-month ceasefire.
• ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS VOA 30 Jun 2003 -- A foreign worker has been killed in a shooting incident near the West Bank town of Jenin. This is the first fatality since the three main Palestinian militant groups announced (Sunday) a ceasefire in attacks on Israelis.

• Liberia: Security Council meets on Annan's call for multi-national force UN News Centre 30 Jun 2003 -- The United Nations Security Council held closed-door consultations today to discuss Secretary-General Kofi Annan's call for the deployment of a multi-national force in Liberia to prevent the volatile situation in the war-torn West African country from deteriorating into a massive humanitarian catastrophe.
• UN ends 10-year peacekeeping presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina UN News Centre 30 Jun 2003 -- The United Nations liaison offices in Zagreb, Sarajevo and Belgrade will complete their mandate and close at midnight today, marking the end of the world body's 10-year peacekeeping presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Ethiopian and Eritrea peace process still at a critical stage - Annan UN News Centre 30 Jun 2003 -- The Ethiopian-Eritrean peace process continues to be at a critical stage and lasting peace cannot be based on temporary arrangements, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in a new report released today.
• Congolese parties agree on security and military structure UN News Centre 30 Jun 2003 -- The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the country's two main opposition factions have signed an agreement on military and security arrangements, a major step towards the formation of a two-year national transitional government, according to the United Nations mission in the country.
• UN agency prepares to evacuate Sierra Leonean refugees in Liberia UN News Centre 30 Jun 2003 -- The United Nations refugee agency has stepped up preparations to evacuate Sierra Leonean and other refugees trapped in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, as a tenuous ceasefire in the battle-weary city enters its fourth day.
• West African Leaders Urge US Mediation Role in Liberia VOA News 30 Jun 2003 -- West African mediators have joined growing calls for U.S. military intervention to end a four-year civil war in Liberia.
• U-N / LIBERIA / D-R-C VOA 30 Jun 2003 -- A high level U-N official warns that conflicts in Congo's eastern Ituri region and in Liberia are having a devastating effect on children.
• IVORY COAST / REBELS VOA 30 Jun 2003 -- Rebels in Ivory Coast have declared a state of emergency in northern areas under their control, after their leader was attacked while performing his new functions as communications minister.
• ANNAN / LIBERIA VOA 30 Jun 2003 -- -N Secretary General Kofi Annan has called for the United States to lead a multi-national force to restore law and order in Liberia.
• SUDAN/CEASE-FIRE VOA 30 Jun 2003 -- The Sudanese government and southern-based rebels have agreed to renew a cease-fire in the south for another three months.
• LIBERIA U-S VOA 30 Jun 2003 -- West African mediators have joined growing calls for U-S military intervention to end a four-year civil war in Liberia.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Lt. Gen. Campbell outlines role of U.S. military in Korea US 8th Army Release MS WORD DOC 30 Jun 2003-- In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the ROK/U.S. alliance, the ROK Military History of Compilation Institute and the United Nations Command History Office conducted a seminar Thursday on the history of the Korean War.
• After support of Freedoms, Spica heads home Military Sealift Command 08 Jul 2003-- Between November 2002 and June 2003, while Military Sealift Command's combat stores ship USNS Spica supported Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, the ship set new benchmarks for service to the fleet.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing - Secretary Rumsfeld and Gen. Myers 30 Jun 2003 -- Participating were Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Pilot referred to court-martial AFPN 30 Jun 2003 -- Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson referred Maj. Harry Schmidt to court-martial for dereliction of duty June 30 after Schmidt refused to accept nonjudicial punishment June 25.
• ARMY APPROVES NEW BUSINESS INITIATIVES TO ENHANCE ARMY AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CAPABILITIES Army News Release 30 Jun 2003 -- The Army Business Initiative Council has approved 16 new business initiatives as part of the process to identify and implement business efficiencies and reforms.
• Exercising For The Future In The Baltic Navy NewStand 30 Jun 2003 -- "I've got a possible sub bearing 195." "Gun mount 64 is manned and ready." "Heave around line 3." "The helo has a green deck." It's not uncommon to hear these phrases at sea, but how often are you conducting Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), manning the SCAT (Small Caliber Arms team), conducting Underway Replenishment and flight operations simultaneously? Still not impressed?
• ICAP III Enters LRIP, Awards Contract NAVAIR 30 Jun 2003 -- Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD - The latest technology in selective-reactive jamming capability is on its way to the fleet with the recent announcement of the EA-6B's Improved Capability III (ICAP III) weapons system contract award.
• USS Port Royal Earns Coveted Battle 'E' Navy NewStand 30 Jun 2003 -- After a two-month maintenance period, the crew of USS Port Royal (CG 73) was finally able to paint the coveted Battle "E" on the ship's bridge-wings. The Battle "E" is awarded annually to the best ships in the fleet.
• Teamwork South Participants Conduct Anti-Air Gunnery Exercise Navy NewStand 30 Jun 2003 -- The loud retort of the 5-inch gun was heard, and felt, throughout the ship. A puff of smoke was seen 15,000 yards in the distance. It was a hit! And it signaled the completion of a successful drone gunnery exercise (DRONEX/GUNEX) for USS O'Bannon (DD 987) and USS McInerney (FFG 8).
• LCUs: Workhorse of the Amphibious Fleet Navy NewStand 30 Jun 2003 -- Day in and day out, their backs are laden with heavy loads. They trudge over coastal waters moving men and their machines between the beach and ships in the North Arabian Gulf. They can take it, though - because they're built tough, built to last. The Landing Craft Utility, or LCU, was built for just this type of mission: transporting equipment and troops between shore and sea.

• ROK, US Agree on Fast-Track Force Realignment ROK Ministry of National Defense 30 Jun 2003 -- The Republic of Korea and the United States agreed Friday to start relocating the U.S. military's main Yongsan Garrison out of Seoul as soon as possible and to consolidate frontline U.S. troops of the 2nd Infantry Division.

• U-S/CRIMINAL COURT VOA 30 Jun 2003 -- The State Department says three dozen countries around the world risk a U-S military aid cut-off starting Tuesday because they have not granted U-S troops immunity from prosecution by the new International Criminal Court, the I-C-C.

• Ukraine: Colorful New Defense Minister Has His Work Cut Out For Him RFE/L 30 Jun 2003 -- Ukraine has a new defense minister. President Leonid Kuchma has appointed Yevhen Marchuk, one of the country's most colorful public figures, to the post after accepting the resignation of Volodymyr Skidchenko over issues related to the lack of military reforms and alleged corruption. What will the appointment mean for the future of Ukraine's beleaguered military and its ambitions to join NATO?

• Plans for NATO support to Poland's Iraq mission finalized Washington File 10 Jul 2003 -- On 30 June 2003, a force review conference held at NATO's main European military headquarters in Belgium finalized the plans for NATO support to Poland in its planned role in Iraq.

• Keynote Speech by NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Conference on "NATO & Mediterranean Security: Practical Steps towards Partnership" NATO Release 30 Jun 2003 -- It has been quite a year. NATO's Summit at Prague set the seal on a radical process of transformation, demonstrating that the Alliance was again capable of adapting quickly to the changing security needs of its members. We also established a qualitatively new working relationship with Russia, and completed the complex but vitally important Berlin Plus arrangements to enable the EU to use NATO assets, a key element of the Strategic Partnership between our two organisations.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 30 Jun 2003 -- American senators say U.S. should accept help in Iraq from NATO, others / U.S. forces launch massive new operation to stem insurgency / UK police officer to train Iraqi police force-FT
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 30 Jun 2003 -- In interview with Czech daily, Gen. Jones views forthcoming ISAF mission / U.S. strikes at Iraqi resistance / New German air security concept to allow greater military authority against terrorism

• Nigerian Police Break Up Protests over Fuel Price Increase VOA News 30 Jun 2003 -- Nigerian police have broken up protests at the start of a general strike over a massive fuel price hike. Police in the main city Lagos fired tear gas and bullets in the air Monday to disperse protesters who chanted anti-government slogans while burning tires in the street.
• Bosnia-Herzegovina: Bosnian Serb Indicted For War Crimes Surrenders In Serbia RFE/L 30 Jun 2003 -- Media reports say a Bosnian Serb indicted by the United Nations tribunal for war crimes in the former Yugoslavia surrendered today to Serbian police.
• Romania: Lawmakers Approve New Constitution RFE/L 30 Jun 2003 -- Romania's lower house of parliament today adopted a new constitution in line with European Union requirements.
• Czech Republic: Former Government Official Sentenced For Conspiring To Kill Journalist RFE/L 30 Jun 2003 -- A Czech court today sentenced Karel Srba, a former Foreign Ministry official, to eight years in prison for conspiring to murder a journalist.
• ITALY / E-U / BERLUSCONI VOA 30 Jun 2003 -- The European Union is bracing for a potentially difficult time as Italy takes over the bloc's rotating presidency on Tuesday from Greece. CMost of the concerns about Italy's presidency center on the country's controversial prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi.
• SOUTH KOREA STRIKE VOA 30 Jun 2003 -- Striking railway workers in South Korea face threats of arrest and being fired if they remain off their jobs. The three-day protest, which has disrupted train services, was sparked by government plans to privatize the railway system.
• NIGERIA STRIKE VOA 30 Jun 2003 -- Nigerian police have broken up protests at the start of a general strike over a massive fuel price hike. Nigerian authorities say the work stoppage is illegal.