Operations
Other Conflicts
Defense Policy / Programs
News Reports

Current Operations

• IRAQ / PRISON VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- Coalition forces have re-opened a once much-feared prison on the outskirts of Baghdad to house both criminals and security detainees in Iraq. Military officials say they hope the newly renovated facility and better treatment of prisoners will help to dispel past horrors.
• Iraq: New Attacks Against U.S. Soldiers Reported RFE/L 04 Aug 2003 -- Reports say U.S. troops in Iraq sustained new attacks today, with casualties reported in Baghdad.
• V CORPS MILITARY POLICE GIVE IRAQI COUNTERPARTS STATE-OF-THE-ART RADIO SYSTEMS V Corps 04 Aug 2003-- V Corps's 18th Military Police Brigade achieved another milestone in advancing the Iraqi Police Service when the brigade issued state-of-the-art communication radios to Iraqi officers at the Al-Mamun Police Station in western Baghdad last week.
• 1-Year Rotation Plan for Operation Iraqi Freedom V Corps MS DOC 04 Aug 2003-- In the announcement, the Army did not specify the rotation plan for the V Corps Headquarters, or numerous other Corps and USAREUR units that deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom

• U.S. helps Afghan National Army recruitment Army News Service 04 Aug 2003-- The U.S. Army is helping the new Afghan National army spread the message of the "importance of one army" to the 33 separate militias around the country.
• Khatami: Iran will spare no efforts to ensure Afghan peace IRNA 04 Aug 2003 -- President Mohammad Khatami said here Monday that Iran will leave no stone unturned for establishing peace in Afghanistan with UN assistance.

• U-S / LIBERIA VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- The United States Monday welcomed the first deployment of Nigerian peacekeeping troops in Liberia while again urging warring factions in the country to cease hostilities. It also renewed its call on Liberian President Charles Taylor to leave the country.
• Liberia: UN airlifts first of two Nigerian battalions to war-torn capital UN News Centre 04 Aug 2003 -- The United Nations today transported the first of two battalions from Nigeria to Liberia's main airport to set up a forward headquarters for West African troops that will help restore order in the war-torn country.
• LIBERIA / PEACEKEEPERS VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- The first contingent of Nigerian peacekeepers arrived near the embattled city of Monrovia, Liberia on Monday, boosting hopes for an end to weeks of bitter fighting.
• LIBERIA/PEACEKEEPERS VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- Peacekeeping troops from Nigeria have begun arriving in the Liberian capital, Monrovia. The first helicopter loads of soldiers took up positions to secure Robertsfield International Airport for the arrival of an initial group of about 300 peacekeepers.
• LIBERIA / REBELS VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- As peacekeeping troops began arriving in Liberia Monday, the leader of the main rebel group promised his forces would withdraw as soon as the peacekeepers are deployed in the capital, Monrovia.
• LIBERIA / AID VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- The British-based charity Save the Children has flown 30 tons of relief supplies to Liberia.

Other Conflicts

• Kosovo: officer killed in first fatal attack on UN police force UN News Centre 04 Aug 2003 -- The United Nations police force in Kosovo suffered its first fatal attack last night when an officer was shot and killed in a sniper ambush while driving towards the former flashpoint town of Mitrovica in what the top UN envoy in the area called a "despicable" and "repugnant" act of murder.
• Security Council renews authorization of multinational force for Côte d'Ivoire UN News Centre 04 Aug 2003 -- The United Nations Security Council today renewed for six months authorization given to States participating in the West African and French forces policing a peace agreement in Côte d'Ivoire.
• ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- Israel has announced it will release some prisoners from Palestinian militant groups this week, along with about 400 other Palestinian prisoners. The move is one of a series of confidence-building measures by Israel to promote peace with the Palestinians. But some of the releases may be blocked by legal action.
• ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- An Israeli woman and her three children have been shot and wounded by Palestinian gunmen near the Israeli West Bank settlement, Har Gilo.
• RUSSIA/ BLAST VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- People in the Southern Russian city of Mozdok, near the Chechnya border, observed a day of mourning Monday for the 50 people killed in the bombing of a military hospital on Friday. Rescue workers have called off the search for both survivors and victims in the rubble.
• BURUNDI/CEASE-FIRE VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- The United Nations' childrens agency, UNICEF, is launching a week-long health campaign for women and children in Burundi, and is calling on warring groups in the country to declare a cease-fire so the effort can proceed. The move comes as peace talks are set to resume on Tuesday.
• LAOS / BOMB VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- A bomb has exploded in the capital city of Laos, injuring at least eight people.
• HONG KONG/POLITICS VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- Beijing has approved new financial and security secretaries for Hong Kong. Their predecessors resigned last month amid the territory's biggest political crisis since it returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Signal soldiers ramp-up for UFL with Warrior Storm Exercise 8th Army Release MS DOC 04 Aug 2003-- Soldiers of the 1st Signal Brigade don't fly helicopters or shoot artillery rounds down range. However, they are responsible for accomplishing one of the most important and real-time missions during any nationwide exercise on the Korean peninsula.

• Strykers make first overseas deployment Army News Service 04 Aug 2003-- After "grinding" through two years of training, a unit from the Army's first Stryker Brigade Combat Team flew to Korea for it's first international training mission July 30.
• Peleliu, ESG 1 Support Mock Terrorist Camp Assault Navy Newsstand 04 Aug 2003-- When U.S. Marines recently staged an attack on a mock terrorist camp in the quiet beach community of Seal Beach, Calif., they were supported offshore by a large contingent of Navy ships and Sailors.
• E-2's Advanced Hawkeye Enters SD&D NAVAIR Release 04 Aug 2003-- The NAVAIR E-2 program today announced the official commencement of the Systems Development and Demonstration (SD&D) phase of the Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) program with a contract award to the Northrop Grumman Corporation. The contract is valued at approximately $1.9 billion and includes SD&D efforts to begin in fiscal year 2003 and conclude in fiscal year 2013. The Defense Acquisition Board granted approval for the program to enter this phase on June 6, 2003.
• VMFA-232 gets a new look Marine Corps News 04 Aug 2003-- When one thinks of high-tech fighter aircraft technology-jet engines, avionics, computers and mechanical systems-exterior painting and the effects of corrosion rarely come to mind.
• 'Warhorses' ride home Marine Corps News 04 Aug 2003-- Fifteen CH-53E Sea Stallions flew in three groups of five in clear-blue skies over San Diego, bringing more Marines home from Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• AFRICA / TROOPS VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- The Nigerian peacekeeping troops who began arriving in Liberia Monday represent the latest effort by African nations to resolve crises on their own continent. Some experts point out, their record is mixed.

• Latvia: Medics A Small But Strong Contingent In Afghan Assistance Force RFE/L 04 Aug 2003 -- With just days remaining until NATO assumes control of the 29-nation International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, Latvian Defense Minister Girts Valdis Kristovskis last week paid a visit to Kabul to assess how his country's eight-person medical team is faring.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 04 Aug 2003 -- NATO peacekeepers to police Kabul, but not beyond / Troubled Afghan alliance meets to discuss new party / UK envoy says new UN resolution on Iraq considered / Arab League chief willing to meet with new Iraqi council / Senate gives final approval to new, less-ambitious war crimes law / Senator Warner wary of sending U.S. troops to Liberia / Syria seeks bigger EU role in Middle East peace efforts
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 04 Aug 2003 -- NATO commander calls for action before consensus / NATO commander due in Romania to check membership readiness / Peace force set to land in Liberia

• POWELL / TERM VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- The State Department and the White House are denying a published report Monday that Secretary of State Colin Powell and his deputy Richard Armitage have told the White House they will not serve a second term if President Bush is re-elected.
• Italy Donates to U.S.-OAS Anti-Landmine Program in Central America Washington File 04 Aug 2003 -- Italy has made its third donation since 2001 to a program supported by the United States through the Organization of American States (OAS) to eliminate landmines in Central America.
• U-S / AZERBAIJAN POL VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- The United States has declined to criticize the installation of the son of Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev as the country's new Prime Minister and, potentially, the next president in the event of his father's incapacitation. But the State Department says it hopes Ilham Aliyev will help reform the Central Asian country's electoral system.
• Azerbaijan: Ilham Aliev's Confirmation As Premier Will Keep Presidency In The Family RFE/L 04 Aug 2003 -- Ilham Aliev, the son of ailing Azerbaijani President Heidar Aliev, was today confirmed as the country's new prime minister in a move designed to ensure he succeeds his father as the country's leader.
• SUDAN/FLOODS VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says at least 12 people have been killed and more than 325-thousand displaced by floods in eastern Sudan. Relief officials are calling it the worst flooding in 70 years.
• Azerbaijan: Parliament Confirms Aliev's Son As Prime Minister RFE/L 04 Aug 2003 -- Azerbaijan's parliament today confirmed ailing President Heidar Aliev's son, Ilham (pictured), as prime minister in an emergency session.
• PHILIPPINES/CHARGES VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- The Philippine government has filed criminal charges against a senator and six others for their alleged involvement in a failed military rebellion last week.
• INDONESIA COMMUNISM VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly today rejected a proposal to lift the ban on the Communist Party. The ban was put in place in the 1960's after Indonesian Communists allegedly tried to overthrow the government.
• AZERBAIJAN POL VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- Azerbaijan's parliament has voted to appoint the son of ailing President Heidar Aliyev as the former Soviet Republic's new prime minister. The move could pave the way for the younger Aliyev to assume the presidency against strong objections from the opposition.
• BANGLADESH/CHARGES VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- Bangladesh's former prime minister has been charged with corruption.
• CAMBODIA/POLITICAL ANALYSIS VOA 04 Aug 2003 -- The ruling Cambodian Peoples' Party has claimed victory in the recently completed general elections, although final official results will not be announced until Friday. That was not unexpected. There were some surprises, however, in the all-important contest for second place.