Operations
Other Conflicts
Defense Policy / Programs
News Reports

Current Operations

• Iraq: New Suicide Bomb Attack On UN In Baghdad RFE/RL 22 Sep 2003 -- The U.S. military says a suicide car bomber blew himself up outside the UN headquarters in Baghdad today, killing an Iraqi security guard and wounding several people.
• Iraq: Suicide Car Bomb Underscores Continuing Violence RFE/RL 22 Sep 2003 -- The violence in Iraq continues. Today a bomb exploded near the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. A member of the Iraqi Governing Council was seriously injured in a shooting attack on 20 September; several more U.S. soldiers were killed during the weekend.

• Security forces complete tour in 'area of operations' National Guard Bureau 22 Sept 2003-- "You can travel for hours," said Master Sgt. Robert Johnson, leader of a 13-member team from the 149th Security Forces Squadron. "After a while, it all begins to look the same."
• U.S. to Increase Financing for Security Needs in Afghanistan, Iraq Washington File 22 Sept 2003-- The United States is preparing to boost its financing for reconstruction efforts in both Afghanistan and Iraq with the aim of ensuring greater security in the two countries, according to Alan Larson, under secretary of State for economic, global, and agricultural affairs. Larson acknowledges that "improvements in the security situation in both Afghanistan and Iraq will be necessary before we achieve the goals of reconstruction."
• MILITARY POLICE SOLDIERS ATTACHED TO V CORPS HELP BRING IRAQI POLICE DOG UNIT 'UP TO SNIFF' V Corps 22 Sept 2003-- In an old jailhouse behind a Baghdad police station, something howls from behind the charred walls, where the windows are shattered and the remnants of the former regime are spray-painted on the doors. Here, Saddam Hussein's police officers tortured and harassed their captives, keeping them behind steel doors in rooms about the size of walk-in closets.

• Pakistan steps up anti-terror operation in Afghan border IRNA 22 Sep 2003 -- Pakistan`s forces have stepped up operation against Taliban elements on Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
• EU aid to Afghanistan to promote security IRNA 22 Sep 2003 -- At the Afghanistan donors meeting in Dubai on Sunday, the European Commission announced its intention to make a further 50 million euro available, in particular, to promote security in Afghanistan.
• Bush To Nominate Zalmay Khalilzad As Next Ambassador to Afghanistan Washington File 22 Sept 2003-- The President intends to nominate Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad, of Maryland, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to his envoy Afghanistan and also nominated him as his Ambassador to that country.

Other Conflicts

• Violence rages Jammu and Kashmir: report IRNA 22 Sep 2003 -- A bid by four militants to intrude across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir was on Monday foiled by Indian Army, said an Indian military source.
• ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS VOA 22 Sept 2003-- Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has offered to reach a cease-fire with Israel, on condition that international monitors supervise peacemaking efforts
• BURMA / ENVOY VOA 22 Sept 2003-- Indonesian special envoy Ali Alatas has met with Burma's prime minister as part of regional efforts to press for the release of pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
• ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS VOA 22 Sept 2003-- Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has offered to reach a cease-fire with Israel on condition that international monitors supervise peace-making efforts
• CONGO/AGREEMENT VOA 22 Sept 2003-- Leaders of ethnic Hema and Lendu militias in Congo's northeastern town of Bunia have come to an agreement to encourage freedom of movement between their communities in the town. The United Nations force that has responsibility for the town's security is expected to supervise and enforce the deal

Defense Policy / Programs

• Serve Your Community and the Nation: Become a Selective Service System Local Board Member DefendAmerica.mil 22 Sep 2003 -- The Selective Service System wants to hear from men and women in the community who might be willing to serve as members of a local draft board.

• Iraqis and Coalition Forces Provide Legal Due Process to Oil Smugglers at Sea Navy Newsstand 22 Sept 2003-- The chaos of war sometimes creates openings for opportunists in search of quick riches. In the case of Iraq, the opportunists are smugglers who are trying to illegally smuggle oil - oil that belongs to the Iraqi people. Coalition efforts since the end of major combat operations have been directed at intercepting the smugglers, then detaining them and the oil until Iraqi authorities can pass down judgement.
• Ramage Tests IROS3 Defense System Navy Newsstand 22 Sept 2003-- USS Ramage (DDG 61) demonstrated the Integrated Radar Optical Surveillance Sighting System, also known as IROS3, in September for a number of Congressional and military dignitaries
• Congress Mulls President's Supplemental Funding Request AFPS 22 Sept 2003-- Forced out of session by Hurricane Isabel, lawmakers got extra time to study the $87 billion supplemental spending request President Bush submitted to them Sept. 17 on the eve of the storm, which shut down the federal government here Sept. 18 and 19.
• C-12 Detachment Marines Return from OIF Marine Corps News 22 Sept 2003-- The Miramar Flight Division C-12 Detachment arrived at Hangar 3 Sept. 12 after being deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• VMFA(AW)-242 and MALS-11 return from year long UDP Marine Corps News 22 Sept 2003-- Marines and Sailors of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 "Bats" and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 returned here Sept. 15, to a long-over-due welcome home.
• 2/3 Island Warriors deploy 'down under' Marine Corps News 22 Sept 2003-- Marines from different companies within the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment aboard MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, left the island of Oahu with their sights sets on Exercise Crocodile '03 in Australia Sept. 5.
• Operation Striking Hawk wraps up Marine Corps News 22 Sept 2003-- A detachment of 1,100 Marines attached to Marine Aircraft Group-14 visited the station recently to take part in Exercise Striking Hawk '03.
• New Patriot unveiled at Suwon Air Base 8th Army Release [MS DOC] 22 Sept 2003-- The 1st Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery (Patriot) displayed its new Patriot missile at Suwon Air Base Sept. 18.
• ROK, U.S. signs munitions agreement 8th Army Release [MS DOC] 22 Sept 2003-- A signing ceremony for the establishment of a combined ammunition demilitarization facility took place Sept. 4 in the White House on Yongsan between the Republic of Korea and the United States.

• Appointment of Secretary General designate NATO 22 Sep 2003 -- This afternoon, the North Atlantic Council appointed Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, currently Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, as Secretary General of NATO and Chairman of the North Atlantic Council, in succession to Lord Robertson of Port Ellen.
• Statement by the Secretary General of NATO, Lord Robertson on the appointment of Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to become the next Secretary General of NATO NATO 22 Sep 2003 -- "I warmly welcome the decision of the Allies to appoint Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, as the next Secretary General of NATO."
• NATO: Dutch Foreign Minister Named As Next Secretary-General RFE/RL 22 Sep 2003 -- NATO officials have chosen Dutch Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer as the alliance's next secretary general.
• NATO/ LEADER VOA 22 Sept 2003-- NATO has chosen Dutch Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to be its new Secretary General. He will succeed Britain's George Robertson who is stepping down in December after a four-year term

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 22 Sep 2003 -- Romania to host "dirty bomb" response exercise / U.S. army to shut two Dutch facilities in 2004 / Afghan president announces long-awaited Defense Ministry reshuffle / President Chirac pushes plan for Iraqi sovereignty / Berlin summit disagreement casts shadow on UN talks / U.S. asks Turkey, Pakistan and South Korea to send troops to Iraq / Saddam's defence chief gives up / Solana sets terms for EU help in Iraq
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 22 Sep 2003 -- Daily: Prime Minister Blair backs EU plans for joint defense project / Eurofighter project partners trying to renegotiate aircraft price / Turkish General Staff steps up work on troop deployment in Iraq

• LIBYA/U-S VOA 22 Sept 2003-- Libya says it hopes to begin a dialogue with Washington with a goal of resuming political relations and the flow of Libyan oil to the United States
• PAKISTAN/TERROR/ARRESTS VOA 22 Sept 2003-- Authorities in Pakistan are still questioning 15 Southeast Asian Islamic students, who were detained in the southern city of Karachi. Pakistani officials suspect the men have links with terrorist groups
• JAPAN POLITICS VOA 22 Sept 2003-- In a much-anticipated reshuffle, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has installed several new Cabinet ministers in a bid to bolster his economic reform policies
• The United States Promotes UN Reform Washington File 22 Sept 2003-- The United Nations has many success stories, but it also has had failures and has sometimes wasted valuable resources. In keeping with the President's September 2002 call to the UN to live up to its ideals and core purposes, the United States is encouraging the UN and its specialized agencies to operate more efficiently. By doing so, the UN will be able to contribute more effectively to peace, stability, development, and health in the world, and be ready to meet the challenges that lie ahead.
• U.S. Participation in the United Nations Washington File 22 Sept 2003-- The United States, together with other like-minded nations, seeks to uphold the United Nation s founding principles. We share a commitment to maintain international peace and security, to fight poverty through development, to eradicate pandemic diseases, and to advance freedom, human rights, and democracy. The United States works within the UN system to help advance these objectives as well as to advance its national security and protect its foreign policy interests. The following examples highlight how U.S. leadership has helped bring about progress on many fronts through collaboration with the UN.
• The United States Rejoins UNESCO Washington File 22 Sept 2003-- The State Department released the following fact sheet on September 22 describing why the United States has decided to rejoin the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• The Millennium Challenge Account Washington File 22 Sept 2003-- In February 2003, President Bush submitted to Congress his plan for the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), a historic new vision for development based on the shared interests of developed and developing nations alike. The goal of the MCA is to reduce poverty by significantly increasing economic growth in recipient countries through a variety of targeted investments.
• Bush to Ask International Community to Act to Make World Safer Washington File 22 Sept 2003-- President Bush, in his September 23 speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, will discuss many of the challenges the world faces today, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice said in a September 22 briefing at the White House.
• U-N/WAR CRIMES VOA 22 Sept 2003-- A former Bosnian-Serb army officer has told judges at the U-N war crimes tribunal for former Yugoslavia that the 1995 mass murders of more than 75-hundred Muslim men and boys after the fall of Srebrenica was planned
• TURKEY/ECONOMY VOA 22 Sept 2003-- Turkey's economy is growing, and the government is working to bring the economy up to European Union standards, analysts say. But experts attending a conference in Washington on Turkey's economic performance say much remains to be done, including curbing corruption, which one analyst says is deterring foreign investment