Operations
Other Conflicts
Defense Policy / Programs
News Reports

Current Operations

• U.S. Customs agents help guards along Iraqi border Army News Service 12 Nov 2003-- The tactics to combat narcotic movement along the American borders are now being taught in Iraq to thwart illegal crossings.
• American Soldiers help increase ranks in Iraqi police corps Army News Service 12 Nov 2003-- The Iraqi police corps recently increased after the graduation of 45 officers from the Al Anbar Security College at Camp Junction City.
• Stryker Brigade lands in Kuwait Army News Service 12 Nov 2003-- For the first time since World War I, the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division has deployed overseas.
• V CORPS' TASK FORCE 1-37 ARMOR RETURNS JAMILLA POWER STATION TO IRAQI CONTROL V Corps Release 12 Nov 2003-- V Corps forces placed more of Iraq's destiny back into the hands of its people when the corps' Task Force 1-37 Armor returned control of the Jamilla Power Station to Iraq's Ministry of Electricity.
• PENTAGON/IRAQ VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- U-S forces in Iraq have killed at least two insurgents suspected of involvement in attacks on coalition forces in Baghdad.
• Terrorists Strike Italian Headquarters in Iraq; More Weapons Seized AFPS 12 Nov 2003 -- At least 22 people were killed today when two vehicles crashed the gate of the Italian military headquarters in Nasiriyah, Iraq, and one exploded.
• PENTAGON/IRAQ-IZATION VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- U-S forces have been in Iraq for less than a year. But already some critics are warning the military's involvement could become another dangerous trap, like Vietnam. Such comparisons are rejected by top defense officials.
• Iraq: At Least 22 Dead In Italian Police Station Blast RFE/RL 12 Nov 2003 -- Italy's Carabinieri (police) say at least 14 Italians and eight Iraqis died in a blast today at an Italian military police base in the southern Iraqi city of Al-Nasiriyah.
• ITALY/IRAQ/BLAST VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- At least 16 Italian soldiers and eight Iraqis are dead in a suicide truck bombing in southern Iraq. Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome the attack caused some members of Italy's parliament to question the country's role in Iraq, but senior officials say Italy will not be deterred.

• AFGHANISTAN VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- Afghanistan's Foreign Minister says the top threat still facing his country is terrorism. But in an interview with VOA during his current visit to Washington, the Afghan official also highlighted the progress made since the fall of of the Taleban, two years ago.
• UN: Terror, Factional Fighting, Drugs Threaten Afghan Political Process RFE/RL 12 Nov 2003 -- A UN Security Council mission says Afghanistan's political process faces continuing threats from terrorism, factional fighting, and the revived opium trade in the country. The mission's leader, German Ambassador Gunter Pleuger, says security issues dominated its discussions with a wide range of officials in Afghanistan last week. The United States has signaled it will expand security to southern and eastern regions, but no widespread expansion of the NATO-led force in Kabul has yet been confirmed.
• Afghanistan: Two Years Later, Taliban's Sudden Withdrawal From Kabul Still Affecting Transition RFE/RL 12 Nov 2003 -- Two years ago, the Taliban regime fled Kabul in the face of U.S. air strikes and military advances on the ground by the anti-Taliban militia fighters of the Northern Alliance. Since then, slow but steady progress has been made on the political transition outlined by the Bonn Agreement. But experts say both politics and security in Afghanistan are still being affected by the events of 13 November 2001.
• AFGHANISTAN VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- Afghanistan's Foreign Minister says the top threat still facing his country is terrorism. Bu the visiting Afghan official also highlighted the progress made since the fall of of the Taleban, two years ago.
• AFGHANISTAN ROMANIA VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- A Romanian soldier serving in Afghanistan is dead and another wounded in an attack on their convoy in Kandahar Province.

Other Conflicts

• West African insecurity problems need regional solutions, UN says UN News Centre 12 Nov 2003 -- Movement of combatants and weapons across borders makes insecurity a major problem that needs a regional solution in West Africa, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's envoy for the region said today.
• UN rights experts deeply concerned by secret detentions in Nepal UN News Centre 12 Nov 2003 -- Three United Nations human rights experts said today they were deeply concerned by reports that dozens of people are being secretly detained in Nepal.
• U-N/COLOMBIA TORTURE VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- The Colombian Commission of Jurists and other human rights organizations says widespread and systematic torture is being committed by both government and rebel forces in Colombia.
• ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his Palestinian counterpart, Ahmed Qureia, are exploring new ways to reach a cease-fire and re-start peace talks. The moves come as the Palestinian legislature approved Mr. Qureia's new Cabinet.
• BORDERS: ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS BARRIER VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- Over the past year, a new dimension has been added to the decades-long Middle East conflict -- an Israeli attempt to physically separate itself from the Palestinians. Israel began building a barrier -- part barbed wire fence, part concrete wall and much of it is located on Palestinian land. Israel says it is needed for security. The Palestinians call it a land grab. (In this report in our series on boundary disputes around the world,)
• SRI LANKA TALKS VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- Talks between Sri Lanka's feuding prime minister and president have ended without solving the country's political crisis, which is threatening peace talks with Tamil rebels. But as V-O-A's Patricia Nunan reports, the two sides are agreeing meet again next week.

Defense Policy / Programs

• CONGRESS DEFENSE VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- The U-S Senate is nearing final approval of a 400 billion dollar budget for the Defense Department. President Bush is expected to sign the measure into law.

• BUSH / NATO VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- President Bush has awarded America's highest civilian honor to outgoing NATO Secretary General George Robertson. The Medal of Freedom was presented at a ceremony at the White House.
• First joint EU-NATO crisis management exercise IRNA 12 Nov 20003 -- The European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) will conduct their first ever joint crisis management exercise, called CME/CMX 03, from 19 to 25 November 2003.
• Samuel B. Roberts Claims Another Victory in the War Against Drugs Navy Newsstand 12 Nov 2003-- The guided-missile frigate USS Samuel B Roberts (FFG 58), commanded by Cmdr. Michael A Hall, recently got her second drug bust in as many weeks, seizing nearly 2 metric tons of cocaine while patrolling in the Eastern Pacific.
• USS Ronald Reagan Makes Maiden Port Visit in Honor of Veterans' Day Navy Newsstand 12 Nov 2003-- USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) celebrated its maiden port visit in honor of Veterans' Day, making its first port of call in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The Navy's newest, most modern-Nimitz class aircraft carrier will be in port for a four-day visit from Nov. 11-14.
• Squadron brings fuel to the fight through seamless operations USAFE News 12 Nov 2003-- When something is moved, stored, distributed, deployed or received on base, the 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron is involved.

• The Continuing Threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction by John R. Bolton, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security US Dept. of State 12 Nov 2003 -- "It is a real pleasure to have the opportunity to be here at the American Spectator dinner to discuss the steps the Bush Administration is taking to keep our country and our friends and allies safe from the threat of weapons of mass destruction. Without question, today's greatest threat to international peace and stability comes from rogue states and terrorist groups that are unrestrained in their choice of weapon and undeterred by conventional means."

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 12 Nov 2003 -- EU and NATO to hold first joint exercise / Sweden and Finland oppose EU vanguard defence group / Europe seen at risk if NATO fails in Afghanistan / Afghanistan beset by warlords, terrorism, and massive drug trafficking, Security Council says / Let Saddam's foes fight insurgents says Iraq minister / NATO to destroy large weapons quantity in Bosnia
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 12 Nov 2003 -- Gen. Jones: U.S. seeking to change its global basing as part of larger transformation efforts / Defense Minister Struck, Bundeswehr Chief of Staff highlight NRF's significance / NATO's Parliamentary Assembly agrees to boost Alliance's role in Iraq / Italians killed in Iraq bombing

• U-N/BURMA ROADMAP VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- The U-N's human rights envoy to Burma says the country's proposed road map to democracy can't move forward because the government has no plans to release political prisoners or lift restrictions on freedom of expression.
• RUSSIA - INDIA VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee are calling for a rapid return of Iraq's sovereignty, as well as continued efforts in the fight against global terrorism. The statements are in a joint declaration the two leaders issued after meeting in Moscow. mil-031112-35e6b541.htm">BURMA / REGIONAL SUMMIT VOA 12 Nov 2003 --The leaders of Burma, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia are holding a summit in Burma during which they will adopt a new economic strategy for their region.