Operations
Other Conflicts
Defense Policy / Programs
News Reports

Current Operations

• VMU-1 breaks flight hour record Marine Corps News 16 July 2003-- Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 surpassed the old standard of annual flight hours by a country mile while supporting Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Well drillers bring water to Dikhil Marine Corps News 16 July 2003-- Soldiers from the U.S. Army's 916th engineer detachment, in conjunction with the Djiboutian Ministry of Agriculture, are in the process of constructing a well here to supply the district of Dikhil region with a much-needed water supply.

Other Conflicts

• Military Coup Ousts Government Of Sao Tome and Principe VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- Military forces in the tiny island nation of Sao Tome and Principe have toppled the government in a bloodless coup.
• Annan strongly condemns coup in São Tomé and Príncipe UN News Centre 16 Jul 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today strongly condemned the coup d'état in São Tomé and Príncipe and called for the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order.
• Sao Tome Coup Leaders Move to Establish New Government VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- Leaders of the military coup in the tiny west African nation of Sao Tome and Principe say they are dissolving all state bodies and setting up a military government. The coup comes as the island state is about to reap its first revenues from offshore oil fields.
• SAO TOME / REVOLT VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- Leaders of the military coup in the tiny west African nation of Sao Tome and Principe say they are dissolving all state bodies and setting up a military government. The coup comes as the island state is about to reap its first revenues from offshore oil fields.
• SAO TOME / REVOLT VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- Military troops in the tiny west African island state of Sao Tome and Principe have launched a coup. Sao Tome is one of the world's poorest countries, but it also has potential oil wealth.
• African Island State of Sao Tome and Principe Besieged by Coup VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- Military troops in the tiny west African island state of Sao Tome and Principe have launched a coup. Sao Tome is one of the world's poorest countries, but it also has potential oil wealth.
• Soldiers Seize Power in Sao Tome and Principe VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- Soldiers in the tiny West African island nation of Sao Tome and Principe have staged a coup, detaining government officials and the country's first female prime minister.

• Military Operations in Chechnya Spreading to Neighboring Ingushetia VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- A senior official of the group Human Rights Watch said Russia's military operations in Chechnya are spreading to neighboring Ingushetia. The official is urging Russia to rein in its forces, or risk further undermining security in the region.
• RUSSIA / CHECHNYA VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- A senior official of the group Human Rights Watch says Russia's military operations in Chechnya are spreading to neighboring Ingushetia. The official is urging Russia to rein in its forces, or risk further undermining security in the region.

• Plans for Liberian Force are Progressing, Annan Says Washington File 16 Jul 2003 -- Plans by the international community to help calm the situation in Liberia are progressing, but the deployment of a peacekeeping force may not take place before the end of July, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said July 16.
• Annan Disappointed in Slow Deployment of Liberia Peacekeepers VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has expressed disappointment at the slow pace of deployment of peacekeepers to Liberia.
• Warning of 'danger' in delaying troop deployment, Annan outlines UN plans for Liberia UN News Centre 16 Jul 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today outlined the world body's likely strategy to help restore order in war-torn Liberia, beginning with the arrival of a promised West African force meant to ensure calm as President Charles Taylor steps down, and possibly paving the way for troops from the United States and elsewhere.
• U-N / ANNAN / LIBERIA VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan has expressed disappointment at the slow pace of deployment of peacekeepers to Liberia.
• Powell to Discuss Liberia with US Lawmakers VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell meets with members of the U.S. Senate at the Capitol on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of sending U.S. troops to Liberia. Many lawmakers would like the United States to play a role in securing peace in Liberia, a country founded by freed American slaves in the 19th century.

• UN Security Council urges Somalis to pursue lasting peace UN News Centre 16 Jul 2003 -- Reiterating their commitment to a lasting settlement of the conflict in Somalia, members of the United Nations Security Council today encouraged all concerned parties to "pursue sincerely" their efforts aimed at achieving sustainable peace and reconciliation.
• UN welcomes 'historic' arrival of opposition leaders in DR of Congo capital UN News Centre 16 Jul 2003 -- Two of the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) main rebel leaders have arrived in the capital of Kinshasa ahead of tomorrow's swearing-in ceremony that will ultimately name four Vice-Presidents to a new power-sharing government, the United Nations reported today.
• New International Criminal Court Could Hear Congo Slaughter Case VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- The prosecutor at the new International Criminal Court says he is closely following the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and that mass killings in the northeast of the country could be the basis for the court's first case.
• WAR CRIMES / CONGO VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- The prosecutor at the new International Criminal Court says he is closely following the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and that mass killings in the northeast of the country could be the basis for the court's first case.
• Kosovo: Court Jails Ethnic Albanian Former UCK Commander RFE/L 16 Jul 2003 -- A Kosovo court today jailed an ethnic Albanian former Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) commander and three others for war crimes committed during the 1998-99 conflict.
• CONGO / GOVERNMENT VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- The leader of the largest rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo has arrived in the country's capital, Kinshasa, after several days of uncertainty. He will take his place as one of four vice presidents in a new transitional government that is to be put in place on Thursday to end Congo's four-year war and plan elections.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Guard Chief Committed to State Partnership Program AFPS 16 Jul 2003 -- States affiliated with foreign countries should strengthen those bonds. States that have not forged similar international alliances might want to think about doing so.
• Navy Christens Amphibious Ship 16 Jul 2003 -- The U.S. Navy will christen the lead ship of the latest class of amphibious ships, San Antonio, Saturday, July 19, 2003, during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Avondale Operations in New Orleans.
• SnowGoose: UAVs Enter the Airlift Business AFPS 16 Jul 2003 -- The popular idea of unmanned aerial vehicles is that they are like aggrandized radio-controlled planes, good only for reconnaissance and scouting.
• Helicopter Crashes in Sicily Navy Newsstand 16 Jul 2003-- A helicopter from Helicopter Support Squadron (HC) 4 crashed approximately 10 miles on land, west southwest of Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella near Palagonia, Sicily, July 16 at 5 p.m. local time (11 a.m. EST). Four crew members were aboard at the time of the accident.
• NMCB-7 Makes Schools Operational in An Nasiriyah Navy Newsstand 16 Jul 2003-- While the headmasters from schools around Nasiriyah were attending a meeting in the auditorium of the Al-Goumhoria secondary school, members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 from Gulfport, Miss., were quietly working down the hall. The Seabees were here restoring utilities for the school.
• UNITAS Pacific Phase Begins Navy Newsstand 16 Jul 2003-- UNITAS 44-03 Pacific Phase commenced July 10 when more than 2,400 Sailors and Coast Guard personnel, assigned to ships, aviation squadrons and Coast Guard vessels from five countries, rendezvoused in Manta and Salinas, Ecuador. The two-week annual exercise is designed to foster multinational coalition operations by building mutual capabilities and cooperative relationships among naval forces in the Americas.
• Marines, Sailors return from Russia Marine Corps News 16 Jul 2003-- Nearly 200 Marines from 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force returned to Okinawa July 11, after a two-week deployment aboard the USS Fort McHenry to Vladivostok, Russia.
• Sharing skills... U.S., ROK Marine snipers stay on target Marine Corps News 16 Jul 2003-- The scout sniper platoon, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division trained the 33rd Battalion, Republic of Korea Marine snipers during their deployment to Korea in support of the Korean Integrated Training Program (KITP).

• Lugar Says Patience Needed to Win War Against Terrorism Washington File 16 Jul 2003 -- This column by U.S. Senator Dick Lugar, Republican of Indiana and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was published in the Chicago Tribune July 15 and is in the public domain.

• EU: Military Arm Developing More Quickly Than Expected RFE/L 16 Jul 2003 -- The European Union appears to be developing its new military arm rapidly. Its first-ever deployment of peacekeeping troops came earlier this year in Macedonia, and since then it has also sent forces to the Congo. Now the Netherlands, an EU member, has suggested that union troops be sent to Moldova to back a peace settlement there.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 16 Jul 2003 -- NATO commander sees progress in Hungary's military integration / Turkish-U.S. statement expresses regret at Iraq row / President Chirac sees no prospect of French troops in Iraq / Greek and Italian presidents back stronger defense, political ties in EU / House panel cuts President Bush's nuclear weapons research funds
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 16 Jul 2003 -- U.S.: Iraq will rule on coalition forces / Georgia defends plan to deploy NATO AWACS plane / EU pledges support for an African peacekeeping force in Burundi / Czechs won't choose sides in U.S.-EU rift

• Lawmakers Condemn Rangoon Junta in Burma Sanctions Debate Washington File 16 Jul 2003 -- During the debate July 14 over the Burma sanctions bill, HR 2330, lawmakers from both major parties in the U.S. House of Representatives joined in condemning the military regime ruling Burma, and said sanctions were called for as a response to the harsh rule of Burma's State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).
• House Passes Burma Sanctions Bill Washington File 16 Jul 2003 -- The House of Representatives passed its version of the Burma Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 in a 418-2 vote in the early hours of July 15.
• Bush Applauds Congress for Passing Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act Washington File 16 Jul 2003 -- President Bush in a statement July 16 praised the passage by the U.S. Congress of legislation that would tighten sanctions on the military government in Burma.
• Senate Passes Burma Sanctions Bill Washington File 16 Jul 2003 -- The Senate passed the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 overwhelmingly, according to one of the strongest backers of that legislation in Congress.
• ZIMBABWE / A-U VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- Zimbabwe's opposition says President Robert Mugabe's success at last week's African Union summit came as a surprise. He was named to a one-year term as the organization's ambassador to southern Africa. The opposition, Movement for Democratic Change says President Mugabe is the wrong man for the job because he violates the principles of the pan-African organization. Nevertheless, some analysts disagree.
• AFGHANISTAN VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- It's been about 18 months since the Taliban was driven from power in Afghanistan and one year before elections there.
• CQ CONGRESS / BURMA VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- The U-S Senate has given final approval (by a 94 to one vote) to legislation that would tighten sanctions on the military government in Burma. The bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, now goes to President Bush for his signature.
• CUBA / HIJACK VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- A surveying boat stolen from Cuba with 15 people on board appears headed for U-S territorial waters. U-S Coast Guard officials will not say where the boat is, but they say U-S laws protecting the nation's borders will be enforced.
• U-N / ANNAN / BURMA VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan says he is exploring ways to pressure Burma's military to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
• US Congress Passes Legislation to Tighten Sanctions on Burma VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- The U.S. Senate has given final approval by a 94-1 vote to legislation that would tighten sanctions on the military government in Burma. The bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, now goes to President Bush for his signature.
• Annan meets with envoy from Myanmar, calls for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's release UN News Centre 16 Jul 2003 -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan met today with a senior envoy from Myanmar, voicing his concern about the safety and well being of democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and calling on the government to meet with her.
• BLAIR / TRAVEL VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair embarks on a week-long around-the-world trip Thursday that will take him to the United States and then East Asia.
• Hong Kong's Financial, Security Ministers Resign to Defuse Controversy VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- Two of Hong Kong's most unpopular government officials have resigned suddenly.
• Floods Devastate Northern India, Kill More than 100 VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- More than 100 people are feared killed in a flash flood caused by torrential rainfall in Northern India. It was the latest disaster triggered by the monsoon season in South Asia, where annual rains have caused severe flooding in several regions and killed nearly 300 people.
• CONGRESS / BURMA VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- The U-S Senate has given final approval (by a 94 to one vote) to legislation that would tighten sanctions on the military government in Burma. The bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, now goes to President Bush for his signature.
• HONG KONG/POLITICS VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- Two of Hong Kong's most unpopular government officials have resigned suddenly. The resignations come as Hong Kong's chief executive attempts to rebuild his battered credibility.
• Ukraine: Kuchma To Withdraw Controversial Changes To Constitution RFE/L 16 Jul 2003 -- Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma says he has decided to withdraw controversial proposals to alter the constitution.
• Thailand Won't Increase Pressure on Burma VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- Thailand says it will not ratchet up pressure on Burma for democratic change, despite new calls from the United States that it do so. The U.S. House of Representatives passed tough economic sanctions against Burma Tuesday. But Thailand is balking at taking a tough approach to its neighbor.
• BURMA SANCTIONS REAX VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- Thailand says it will not ratchet up pressure on Burma for democratic change, despite new calls from the United States that it do so. The U-S House of Representatives passed tough economic sanctions against Burma Tuesday. But Thailand is balking at taking a tough approach to its neighbor.