Operations
Other Conflicts
Defense Policy / Programs
News Reports

Current Operations

• Poland assumes command of multi-national division in Iraq with NATO support NATO 03 Sep 2003 -- Today, Poland assumes command of the Multinational Division (MND) Central South in Iraq as part of the international stabilisation force. Poland is doing so with support from NATO, as well as with contributions from individual NATO countries and Partner nations.
• Iraq: U.S. Forces Hand Over South-Central Sector To Polish Command RFE/RL 03 Sept 2003-- A Polish-led force took over much of south-central Iraq from U.S. forces in a ceremony today.
• Poland Assumes Command of Multinational Division in Iraq Washington File 03 Sept 2003-- Poland assumed command of the Multinational Division (MND) Central South in Iraq on September 3, widening international participation in Iraq's security and reconstruction.
• Objectives of U.S. Draft Resolution on Iraq Detailed USIA 03 Sept 2003-- Washington -- The objectives of the new U.S.-sponsored draft resolution on Iraq circulating at the United Nations Security Council were spelled out in press briefings September 3 at the White House, the State Department and the United Nations.
• U-S / IRAQ VOA 03 Sept 2003-- The United States has begun discussions at the United Nations on a draft resolution that would authorize an expanded multi-national force for Iraq. The proposal would also continue to keep peace keepers under American command.
• CONGRESS / IRAQ VOA 03 Sept 2003-- U-S lawmakers are welcoming President Bush's decision to seek U-N assistance in stabilizing and rebuilding Iraq. Opposition Democrats say the move is long overdue
• PENTAGON/WARPLAN VOA 03 Sept 2003-- U-S defense officials acknowledge that a draft Pentagon report says military planners had less time to prepare for postwar operations in Iraq because the actual combat phase went so quickly accomplished.
• Iraq: Powell Says U.S. Seeking International Participation RFE/RL 03 Sept 2003-- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said today the United States is seeking a wider international participation for stabilizing Iraq.
• U.S. Seeks U.N. Peacekeeping Force in Iraq, Powell Says Washington File 03 Sept 2003-- The United States will ask the U.N. Security Council for a two-part resolution creating a multinational peacekeeping force for Iraq, under a unified U.S. command, and inviting the Iraqi Governing Council to submit "a plan, a program and a timetable" for its political evolution, Secretary of State Colin Powell said September 3.
• COME ON IN -- THE WATER'S TERRIFIC, SAY V CORPS TROOPS AT LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA V Corps Release 03 Sept 2003-- Soldiers in Iraq have been living in oppressive conditions many have never experienced before. Temperatures in recent weeks have regularly exceeded 130 degrees, leaving troops with few options to beat the heat.
• BEAT FEET IN THE IRAQI HEAT? NOT TROOPS AT LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA V Corps Release 03 Sept 2003-- American public transportation has a long history, from the Boston ferries of the early 1600s to ox carts of New York in the mid-1700s, right up to today's rapid subways and complex bus systems. Even here, half a world away, Americans are now finding public transportation with the advent of a bus system.
• COLD AIR, HOT VIDEO GAMES, REAL CHOW -- RESERVISTS FINDING DEPLOYED LIFE GETTING BETTER BY THE DAY V Corps Release 03 Sept 2003-- With active combat over here, soldiers here are settling into their role as nation-builders and life is getting a little better.
• V CORPS ENGINEERS HELP IRAQIS BUILD LONG-AWAITED SEWAGE PUMPING STATION V Corps Release 03 Sept 2003-- A new sewage pumping station in Baghdad will soon be operational, thanks to the joint efforts of V Corps's B Company, 70th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Division, and Iraqi contractors and workers.
• First Team Troopers Deploy III Corps Release 03 Sept 2003-- Two company-sized elements from the 1st Cavalry Division are deploying Thursday (Sept. 4) in support of Central Command Operations.
• Security forces, rescue squadron train together for future operations USAFE 03 Sept 2003-- The 786th Security Forces Squadron, Sembach Annex, Germany, and the 56th Rescue Squadron, Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, trained here recently, sling-loading helicopters to prepare themselves for future contingencies together.

• Germany: Berlin Approves More Troops For Afghanistan But Awaits UN Mandate RFE/RL 03 Sept 2003-- Germany says it will deploy troops in the Afghan city of Kunduz to help improve stability outside of Kabul and to protect aid workers. But it will not deploy the soldiers until the United Nations approves a new mandate for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) allowing it to operate outside Kabul. Germany also says it may withdraw troops from the Balkans to strengthen its forces in Afghanistan
• U.S. : Afghan Policy Coordinator Discusses New Plan To Stabilize, Rebuild Country RFE/RL 03 Sept 2003-- The United States looks set to unveil a new plan aimed at stabilizing and rebuilding Afghanistan, which is undergoing a resurgence of violence from Taliban fighters nearly two years after the regime fell from power. RFE/RL spoke about the plan with William B. Taylor Junior, who is the coordinator of Afghan policy at the U.S. State Department.

Other Conflicts

• U.S., Colombia Inaugurate Program to Combat Kidnapping for Ransom Washington File 03 Sept 2003-- The United States and Colombia have inaugurated a new program designed to defeat the terrorist tactic of kidnapping for ransom.
• ISRAEL / ARAFAT VOA 03 Sept 2003-- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat says the internationally-backed "road map" to peace is dead and that Israel is to blame. Mr. Arafat made the comments during an off-camera interview with the Cable News Network from his headquarters in the West Bank city, Ramallah.
• PALESTINIANS / POWER STRUGGLE VOA 03 Sept 2003-- Palestinian Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas, is threatening to quit if the Palestinian legislature does not endorse his government at a session scheduled for Thursday

• RUSSIA / BOMBS VOA 03 Sept 2003-- At least five people were killed Wednesday and more than 20 others injured when two explosive devices blew up under a commuter train in a southern Russian town, near the war-torn Muslim Republic of Chechnya
• RWANDA/ELECTION VOA 03 Sept 2003-- The leading opposition candidate in Rwanda's presidential election says he accepts a high court dismissal of his petition claiming that the election was not free and fair.
• UGANDA/REFUGEES VOA 03 Sept 2003-- The U-N refugee agency says the Ugandan government is using force to transfer refugees from a camp in central Uganda to one in the northwest, a charge the government denies

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S. Chemical Weapons Destruction Extension Requested 03 Sept 2003-- The Department of Defense announced today that the United States will not meet the 45 percent chemical weapons stockpile destruction deadline of April 29, 2004, as set down by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The United States is therefore requesting the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) grant an extension of the 45 percent destruction deadline. The revised destruction date is December 2007. The request will be made in accordance with the provisions of the CWC and is based on the status of destruction operations at U.S. chemical weapons demilitarization facilities and projection of future operations.
• Roche testifies to committee on tanker lease AFPN 03 Sept 2003-- Air Force Secretary Dr. James G. Roche testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Sept. 3 to answer questions about the 2004 Air Force Tanker Lease Proposal.
• DoD Approves use of Ceremonial Bugle 03 Sep 2003 -- The Department of Defense announced today it has approved the use of the ceremonial bugle as an alternative to the recorded version of Taps played on stereo at military funerals. The decision was made by the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Charles S. Abell based on positive survey results from a six-month test of the bugle.
• Airmen patrol enemy's side of wire AFPN 03 Sept 2003-- In a hot and dusty Afghani valley, there is land scarred with land mines and tied down with concertina wire fences separating American heroes from terrorists.
• Malfunction caused F-15E accident AFPN 03 Sept 2003-- A major flight-control malfunction caused the pilot to lose control of an F-15E Strike Eagle, forcing the crew to eject during a training mission June 4, according to officials. The accident occurred about 25 miles west of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
• PENTAGON/IRAQ VOA 03 Sept 2003-- A new report by the Congressional Budget Office is warning the U-S military may have difficulties sustaining its current troop levels in Iraq beyond early next year
• Mine warfare: key component in crucial exercise 7th Fleet 03 Sept 2003-- Commander, Mine Warfare Command personnel from Corpus Christi, Texas, embarked aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) Aug. 16 to take part in the joint training exercise Ulchi Focus Lens (UFL) 2003.
• 24th Marines embark Blue Ridge during exercise UFL '03 7th Fleet 03 Sept 2003-- Marines from the 24th Marines, a Marine Corps Reserve unit out of Kansas City, Mo., embarked USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) for two weeks in August to participate in exercise Ulchi Focus Lens (UFL) 2003.

• INDIA/MILITARY VOA 03 Sept 2003-- India has approved several defense deals that include buying trainer jets from Britain and equipment that will help the army to fight terrorism more effectively

• Myanmar seeks Indian help to build up its Air Force IRNA 03 Sep 2003 -- Myanmar sought India`s cooperation in building up its Air Force on Monday as Commander in Chief of Myanmar, Major General Myat Hein held wide ranging discussions with Indian Air Chief Marshal S.Krishnaswamy, local press reported here on Tuesday.

• ElBaradei urges a nuclear weapons-free Middle East IRNA 03 Sep 2003 -- The head of the UN nuclear watchdog agency called on Tuesday for the creation of a Middle East region, free of nuclear weapons.
• Conference on NPT to be held in Moscow IRNA 03 Sep 2003 -- A Conference on Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT will be held in Moscow from September 18-20.

• Exercise Cooperative Key 2003NATO/Partnership for Peace exercise in Bulgaria NATO 03 Sep 2003 -- Military personnel from nine NATO nations, six Invitee Partner nations and six Partner nations will join forces in Exercise Cooperative Key 2003 (CK-03) which takes place from 01 to 13 September in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
• Exercise Northern Light 2003 NATO 03 Sep 2003 -- NORTHERN LIGHT 03 (NL 03), a NATO live, joint and combined exercise will take place between 15 and 26 September 2003 in the Irish Sea, on the West Coast of Scotland and in Brittany.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 03 Sep 2003 -- German cabinet agrees to extend Afghan peacekeeping / Turkish prime minister tries to reassure wary Turks over sending peacekeepers to Iraq / Pentagon may have to reduce U.S. forces in Iraq / Belgium to mend ties with Washington / Albania and the U.S. hold joint military exercises
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 03 Sep 2003 -- Gen. Jones: U.S. would welcome Turkey's help in Iraq / Turkey mulls sending troops to Iraq / U.S. Marines formally handover control of south-central Iraq to Poles / U.S. wants larger UN role in Iraq / French Defense Minister hails EU's Operation Artemis mission in Congo

• Russia: Putin's Signal Of Support For U.S.-Led Multinational Iraq Force An 'Important Favor' For Bush RFE/RL 03 Sept 2003-- Washington has signaled it is ready to begin negotiations in the United Nations Security Council to authorize a multinational force under U.S. command. But the U.S. may have to mend fences with some fellow council members who opposed the war in Iraq. Ironically, it is one of the staunchest critics of the U.S. invasion, Russia, that is bolstering Washington's hope for success. In an unexpected policy turnaround during the weekend, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he supported the idea of a U.S.-led international force in Iraq. RFE/RL speaks to a leading Russian analyst about the Kremlin's new stance.
• EARTH/CLIMATE CHANGE VOA 03 Sept 2003-- The head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says countries need to adopt new strategies to cope with the extreme climate conditions that the world has been experiencing in recent years.
• State Department Noon Briefing, September 3, 2003 Washington File 03 Sept 2003-- Powell's press briefing on draft UNSC resolution, Iraq, Middle East, South Korea, Department/employment lawsuit, Israel/Palestinians, North Korea, Burma, Cuba, Libya