Operations
Other Conflicts
Defense Policy / Programs
News Reports

Current Operations

• Bush Looks Forward to Signing Spending Bill for Iraq, Afghanistan Washington File 04 Nov 2003 -- President Bush emphasized progress toward stabilizing and rebuilding Iraq in a brief exchange November 4 with reporters in Harbison Canyon, California after touring fire-ravaged areas of the state.

• IRAQ / ATTACKS VOA 04 Nov 2003 -- Four explosions rocked the center of Baghdad Tuesday night, where the main U-S headquarters is located, causing injuries but no deaths.It was the second attack in Baghdad in as many nights.
• Explosive Device Awareness Top Priority for Troops in Iraq AFPS 04 Nov 2003 -- With hundreds wounded and scores killed by improvised explosive devices, coalition forces are doing everything possible to prepare their troops with needed awareness training.
• US general calls Iraq crisis `homemade` IRNA 04 Nov 2003 -- NATO`s Commander-in-Chief and Commander of the US troops in Europe General James L Jones here Tuesday said Iraq`s worsening crisis situation was largely caused by internal factors rather than external interference.
• Iraq: Deadly Attacks Continue, As Bush Promises To Stay Put RFE/RL 04 Nov 2003 -- Deadly attacks continued overnight in Iraq, hours after U.S. President George W. Bush vowed that the United States will not run from its "vital" mission in Iraq.

• Officials Encouraged by Afghan Progress AFPS 04 Nov 2003 -- While Iraq is the central front of the war on terrorism, Afghanistan is a crucial theater also, DoD officials said today.
• Security Council mission to Afghanistan holds lengthy talks in capital UN News Centre 04 Nov 2003 -- The Security Council delegation touring Afghanistan spent almost nine hours holding meetings with officials in the capital Kabul today, on the third day of its mission to the country.

Other Conflicts

• Annan names high-level panel to study global security threats UN News Centre 04 Nov 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today appointed a 16-person blue-ribbon panel to look into new global security threats and reform of the international system, which he first announced in his speech to the General Assembly in September.

• U.S. Concerned Over Sri Lankan President's Actions Washington File 04 Nov 2003 -- State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli expressed concern over Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga's decision to sack three government ministers, suspend parliament and deploy troops around the capital.
• Bush Administration Does Not Believe Israel Needs Security Fence Washington File 04 Nov 2003 -- State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli said President Bush does not believe that Israel needs to construct a security fence and that such a fence should not infringe upon the lives of Palestinians or prejudge the outcome of a final status agreement.
• Thousands of women assaulted; new fighting in eastern DR of Congo, UN says UN News Centre 04 Nov 2003 -- Thousands of women and girls between the ages of 5 and 80 in the eastern area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been tortured and raped and many are nursing bullet wounds, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said today.
• Annan hopes moves by Sri Lanka leader will not harm peace process UN News Centre 04 Nov 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today that he hoped the peace process in Sri Lanka would not be harmed by the President's decision to sack three cabinet ministers, temporarily suspend Parliament and order troops to guard key sites.
• U-S-SRI LANKA VOA 04 Nov 2003 -- The United States is urging Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinge to work together to advance the peace process with Tamil rebels. A long-running dispute between the two political leaders flared anew Tuesday while Mr. Wickremesinge was visiting Washington.
• 3,000 tribal separatists to lay down arms in Assam IRNA 04 Nov 2003 -- At least 3,000 tribal separatists are expected to lay down arms in India`s northeastern state of Assam later this month following a peace accord signed between a rebel outfit and the federal government.
• Armed Kashmiri group deplores UN `indifference` IRNA 04 Nov 2003 -- Deploring the UN`s "indifferent attitude", Kashmir`s armed organization Hizbul Mujahideen has sought global community`s role in resolving long-standing Kashmir issue.
• PALESTINIANS / POLITICS VOA 04 Nov 2003 -- Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has extended the life of his emergency Cabinet after failing to reach agreement on the formation of a new government. The one-month term of the emergency Cabinet is due to expire at midnight.
• ERITREA-ETHIOPIA/BORDER VOA 04 Nov 2003 -- The U-N mission responsible for keeping peace along the contested border between Ethiopia and Eritrea is investigating a weekend firefight in which one Eritrean soldier was killed.
• SRI LANKA POL VOA 04 Nov 2003 -- The president of Sri Lanka has suspended parliament and deployed troops at key installations in the capital, after sacking three government ministers involved in the peace process with Tamil rebels. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has accused the president of trying to plunge the country into chaos.
• MAURITANIA / POLITICS VOA 04 Nov 2003 -- Police in Mauritania have seized weapons and ammunition allegedly linked to the main opposition candidate in this Friday's presidential election, a former president who came to power through a coup d'etat.

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S. Undisguised Moves to Provoke War against DPRK under Fire KCNA 14 Nov 2003 -- Two warships belonging to the U.S. forces for prior naval deployment was reported to enter a south Korean port for the first time on Oct. 29 and stay there for 15 days to stage an exercise under the simulated conditions of an actual war.

• Bush to Provide $2.22 Billion for Israeli Military Aid in FY 05 Washington File 04 Nov 2003 -- The Bush administration is seeking to provide Israel with $2.22 billion in military assistance in fiscal year 2005, according to a media note released November 3 by the State Department.

• Bolton Says International Criminal Court Contrary to U.S. Principles Washington File 04 Nov 2003 -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an organization "that runs contrary to fundamental American precepts and basic constitutional principles of sovereignty, checks and balances, and national independence," says Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton.

• Croatia Conference Focuses on Harmony in Southeast Europe AFPS 04 Nov 2003 -- Today begins a four-day meeting in Dubrovnik, Croatia, to refine cooperative efforts toward NATO membership.
• Navy Road-Ahead for EA-6B Readiness and Operations Navy Newsstand 04 Nov 2003-- Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) removed 19 EA-6B "Prowlers" from service Sept. 23, for repairs and maintenance due to structural fatigue damage, with 24 additional aircraft to follow within two months.
• PLA Navy Ships Bring Friendship to Guam Navy Newsstand 04 Nov 2003-- Two People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy ships visited Apra Harbor, Guam, Oct. 22, for a historic three-day port visit.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 04 Nov 2003 -- NATO chief urges Europe to speed up decision-making / Greece and Armenia sign a cooperation agreement / Three Serb officials probed by UN tribunal / Germany reopens sensitive Iraq questions with U.S. / Undersecretary of State Bolton accuses EU of pressuring aspirants not to sign agreements with U.S. / Top Russian general: Russia cannot exclude possibility of war with a NATO country
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 04 Nov 2003 -- Gen. Jones sees growing terror risk from Africa, dismisses Vietnam analogy in Iraq troubles / In interview, Lt. Gen. Gliemeroth views security situation in Afghanistan / NGOs urge ISAF to establish peace and security

• State Department Noon Briefing, November 4, 2003 Washington File 04 Nov 2003 -- Russia, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Israel/Palestinians, North Korea, Syria, China, Georgia, International Atomic Energy Agency, Nicaragua

• UN REFORM PANEL VOA 04 Nov 2003 -- U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan has named a committee to recommend ways to reform the world body. A former prime minister of Thailand will chair the panel.

• U.S. Criticizes U.N. Call for End to Cuba Trade Embargo Washington File 04 Nov 2003 -- The United States voiced strong exception to what it calls a "misguided" resolution passed November 4 by the United Nations General Assembly calling for the end to the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba.
• CONGRESS RUSSIA VOA 04 Nov 2003 -- An influential U-S Senator has denounced the recent arrest of the head of Russia's largest oil company as evidence of what he says is growing authoritarianism in that country. Senator John McCain says the United States should respond with political and economic measures.
• UN/CUBA RESOLUTION VOA 04 Nov 2003 -- The U-N General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a non-binding resolution condemning the U-S economic embargo of Cuba. All but Washington's staunchest allies joined the chorus of critics.
• ZIMBABWE / POLITICS VOA 04 Nov 2003 -- Arguments have been presented to a court in Zimbabwe on the opposition's petition to have the 2002 presidential election result annulled.
• CHINA-INTERNET DISSIDENT VOA 04 Nov 2003 -- Human-rights advocates say a prominent Chinese Internet activist is being put on trial in Beijing.