Operations
Other Conflicts
Defense Policy / Programs
News Reports

Current Operations

• LOCAL LEADERS SUPPORT COALITION CENTCOM 31 Jul 2003-- The Karbala city council members publicly expressed their support for Coalition forces actions during recent demonstrations in the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force area of operation on July 29. The Karbala city council said the Coalition is handling the security situation in Karbala properly.
• ONE SOLDIER KILLED, TWO WOUNDED IN SMALL ARMS ATTACK CENTCOM 31 Jul 2003-- One 4th Infantry Division soldier was killed and two were wounded in a small arms attack at a tactical operation center July 30 at approximately 11:45 p.m. about 40 km east of Ba'qubah.
• ONE SOLDIER KILLED, THREE WOUNDED IN LANDMINE ATTACK CENTCOM 31 Jul 2003-- One 1st Armored Division soldier was killed and three were wounded when their M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier hit a landmine on a road in Baghdad at approximately 12:20 p.m. on July 31.
• V CORPS FINANCE SPECIALISTS KEEP CASH FLOWING AT HOME OR IN SOUTHWEST ASIA V Corps Release 31 Jul 2003-- Behind every great combat unit there are support elements: supply clerks, mechanics, postal workers, and food service specialists. Take all of these services away, and you can't run an army. But if you REALLY want to stop an operation cold and get soldiers screaming in a hurry, take away the finance specialists.

• THREE INCIDENTS IN KABUL AREA THURSDAY CENTCOM 31 Jul 2003-- U.S. military police fired into an Afghan taxi today wounding three Afghan males about 1:15 p.m. A two-vehicle MP convoy attempted to enter Gate 1 at Task Force Phoenix but the gate was closed due to previously discovered unexploded ordnance in the area. The MP vehicles continued on Jalalabad Road toward Gate 3 when they were approached from behind by a taxi driving aggressively. The MPs attempted to wave off the taxi, but the taxi continued to aggressively approach the convoy. An MP in the rear vehicle fired into the grill of the taxi with an M-16 rifle. When the taxi did not back off, the MP fired into the taxi. The taxi struck the rear of the MP vehicle when the MP vehicle stopped. Two Afghans were taken to the ISAF hospital and the third victim was treated at the scene.
• The Alamo in Afghanistan AFPS 31 Jul 2003 -- It looks like the Alamo, complete with the Lone Star flag flying over it.
• Myers visits Bagram Air Base AFPS 31 Jul 2003 -- Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited Bagram Air Base July 30 as part of his tour of Middle Eastern and Asian coalition military operations.
• RFE/RL Afghanistan Report, Vol 2, Number 27 31 Jul 2003 -- EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION... / AFGHAN WARLORDS IMPLICATED IN NEW ABUSES / UN REPRESENTATIVE BACKS AWAY FROM CALLS FOR ISAF EXPANSION / JOINT ANA-COALITION OPERATIONS AIMED AT CAPTURING SENIOR FORMER TALIBAN OFFICIAL... / ...AS AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY EXPERIENCES DISSENTION IN THE RANKS... / ...AND ANA SOLDIER SAYS TROOPS NEED PAY TO STAY / ANA TRAINING IS PASSED TO AFGHANS / FORCES IN HERAT PROVINCE WILL CONTINUE 'RESISTANCE' ROLE IN AFGHANISTAN... / ...BUT AFGHAN DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS ALL MILITIAS MUST BE DISARMED... / ...AS HERAT AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE SO / AFGHANISTAN BEGINS DISARMAMENT, BUT NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT / U.S. CENTCOM COMMANDER MEETS AFGHAN LEADER AND DEFENSE MINISTER / U.S. ADMINISTRATION REPORTEDLY TO PROPOSE TRIPLING AID TO AFGHANISTAN / ZABUL PROVINCE APPEALS FOR HELP IN FACE OF THREATS... / ...AS FORMER TALIBAN LEADER APPOINTS NEW DEPUTY, PROVINCIAL 'GOVERNOR.' / POSTER SERVES DEATH NOTICE TO 'COLLABORATORS.' / TWO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES KILLED ON SOUTHERN ROAD / POLICEMEN KILLED IN HELMAND PROVINCE / PLANNED ASSASSINATION OF KANDAHAR SECURITY COMMANDER FOILED / ONE KILLED AS WARLORDS CLASH IN NORTH... / ...AS CLASHES BETWEEN RIVAL WINGS OF AFGHAN PARTY CLAIM VICTIMS / CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT ATTACKED / THIS WEEK IN AFGHANISTAN'S HISTORY

• Security Council mulls text on troops for Liberia; humanitarian crisis worsens UN News Centre 31 Jul 2003 -- As members of the United Nations Security Council consider a draft resolution that may soon send a multinational force to quell the violence in Liberia, UN relief workers inside the country's war-ravaged capital warned today that conditions are critical, with food and water supplies running dangerously low, and fuel and equipment shortages continuing to hamper aid distribution.
• LIBERIA / FIGHTING VOA 31 Jul 2003 -- African leaders have announced their peacekeeping force will arrive in Liberia on Monday. They say they are giving President Charles Taylor three days after the arrival of peacekeepers to get out of the country.
• LIBERIA / U-S ANALYSIS VOA 31 Jul 2003 -- The United States has sent a senior diplomat, Assistant Secretary of State Walter Kansteiner, to West Africa for talks on the Liberian crisis. And American naval ships are positioned off the coast of Liberia, ready to support peacekeeping efforts led by West African countries. U-S Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz says American forces will likely provide logistical and communications support for troops sent by the Economic Community of West African States.
• LIBERIA / FIGHTING VOA 31 Jul 2003 -- While fighting continues to rage in Liberia, in spite of ceasefire promises by the rebels, efforts to bring a resolution to the country's civil war are slowly gathering momentum.

Other Conflicts

• TEMPLE MOUNT BAN VOA 31 Jul 2003 -- Israel has re-imposed a ban on non-Muslims visiting the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, one of the most sensitive religious shrines in the Middle East. The move followed fears that the site could become a flashpoint for renewed violence in the region.
• ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS / PRISON RIOT VOA 31 Jul 2003 -- Eighteen Palestinian prisoners and two Israeli prison guards have been reported lightly wounded during a riot on Thursday at an Israeli prison.
• ISRAEL PALESTINIANS VOA 31 Jul 2003 -- Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have failed to reach agreement on which West Bank towns are the next to be returned to Palestinian control.
• Backing envoy's plan, Security Council extends UN mission in Western Sahara UN News Centre 31 Jul 2003 -- Stressing the critical need for a political solution to settle the dispute over Western Sahara, the Security Council today extended by three months the mandate of the United Nations mission there, and called on all the parties to work with the UN and each other towards acceptance and implementation of a new peace plan.

• U-N / WAR CRIMES VOA 31 Jul 2003 -- Judges at the Yugoslav war crimes Tribunal handed down their first life sentence to a Bosnian Serb convicted of extermination, murder, persecution and deportation for the 1992 ethnic cleansing of Prijedor. Former doctor Milomir Stakic was found not guilty of genocide, but judges found his crimes serious enough to send him to prison for life.

Defense Policy / Programs

• PENTAGON / AFRICA BASES VOA 31 Jul 2003 -- A senior Pentagon official says the United States has received more offers for access to military facilities in sub-Saharan Africa than it can take up. But the senior official insists the Bush administration has no plans to station military personnel on the continent permanently.

• Stump Intercepts Large Cocaine Shipment Navy Newsstand 31 Jul 2003-- The Norfolk-based destroyer USS Stump (DD 978) recently confiscated more than $50 million of illegal cocaine while conducting counter-drug operations in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
• OIF veterans discuss lessons AFPN 31 Jul 2003-- Even though the air campaign for Operation Iraqi Freedom was successful in bringing down the Iraqi regime in 21 days, leaders met here recently to discuss ways to improve upon that effort.
• Fuels flight reps visit Slovakia USAFE News 31 Jul 2003-- Two members of the 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron here helped strengthen military relations with Slovakia last week.
• PACAF celebrates 59 years PACAF 31 Jul 2003-- On Aug 3, Pacific Air Forces will celebrate 59 years of continued service as America's provider of air and space power in the Pacific theater.
• Defense Department Fully Supporting 9-11 Commission Requests AFPS 31 Jul 2003 -- Defense officials are committed to fulfilling requests from the federal 9-11 Commission, a senior official said in the Pentagon today.
• PENTAGON'S TERRORISM "FUTURES" VOA 31 Jul 2003 -- The United States Department of Defense has come under unusually sharp criticism in the press for a plan to gain information against terrorism. The quickly-canceled plan would have used "futures contracts," a market method normally applied to sales of maize, soybeans and other agricultural goods.
• PENTAGON/RESIGN VOA 31 Jul 2003 -- A retired Navy admiral who once worked for President Ronald Reagan will resign his current Pentagon research position following criticism of two controversial counter-terrorism projects he was involved with.

• Beijing Leaders Believe U.S. "Poses a Challenge," Pentagon Report Says AFPS 31 Jul 2003 -- While China seeks to benefit from trade and technology "interactions" with the United States, Beijing leaders still believe the U.S. poses a "significant," long-term challenge, according to a DoD report released to Congress July 30.

• Turkey: Ankara Moves To Curb Military's Influence, While EU Awaits Implementation RFE/L 31 Jul 2003 -- Eager to start membership talks with the European Union as soon as possible, Turkey yesterday adopted a series of reforms meant to bring its legislation further in line with democratic and human rights standards. A key part of the legal package are provisions pertaining to the role of the military in the country's political life.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 31 Jul 2003 -- Spanish FM says she sees no problem with NATO role in Iraq / Governing council names first president / UN chief says many nations want UN authority on U.S.-led operation / Key defence ministry reform close says Afghan ruler / Turkey passes EU reform curbing military's power / Top defense committee replaces head of military intelligence / Commander of U.S. Central Command arrives in Jordan / U.S. wants UN mandate for Liberian peacekeepers
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 31 Jul 2003 -- America's new face at NATO / UN Secretary General Annan: nations want UN umbrella in Iraq / U.S. submits UN plan to send peacekeepers

• McConnell Urges Singapore To Freeze Burmese Junta's Assets Washington File 31 Jul 2003 -- On the day the United States put a freeze on the Burmese junta's assets in the United States, Senator Mitch McConnell (Republican of Kentucky) called on the government of Singapore to follow suit with the junta's assets in its country.
• ZIMBABWE / TALKS VOA 31 Jul 2003 -- Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu P-F has dashed hopes of early talks with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change to ease the deepening political and economic crisis. The government denounced church mediators trying to start the talks as opposition activists.
• Conducive environment for Afghan elections still does not exist - Annan UN News Centre 31 Jul 2003 -- While the peace accord leading to elections in Afghanistan next year is largely on track despite considerable obstacles, a conducive environment still does not exist and the international community must address the threat of insecurity in the country for several years to come, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's says in his latest report.
• JAPAN / FUJIMORI VOA 31 Jul 2003 -- Japan has confirmed that Peru has formally requested the extradition of former Peruvian president, Alberto Fujimori, to face charges of murder and corruption. Japan has strongly indicated it will reject the request.