Operations
Other Conflicts
Defense Policy / Programs
News Reports

Current Operations

• Transcript: Live Video Teleconference with General Abizaid 13 Nov 2003 -- "Clearly, it is not just the United States and its Western allies that fight this battle. This battle is being fought in Pakistan, it's being fought in Afghanistan, it's being fought in Iraq and Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It's being fought throughout the area. And as many Americans that get killed in this battle, you can also see that there are a number of Muslims that are killed in the battles as well. The terrorist enemy will inflict casualties just for the sake of inflicting casualties. Certainly, the battles in Iraq and Afghanistan are important to us. American forces are conducting stability operations there that are among the most important stability operations ever conducted by our armed forces."
• No Military Threat Will Drive U.S. From Iraq, Abizaid Says Washington File 13 Nov 2003 -- The U.S. commander of military forces deployed in the Middle East and Southwest Asia says that no military threat will drive U.S. troops out of Iraq and that coalition forces working together will be successful in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Iraqi Security Forces Assume Increasingly Important Role Washington File 13 Nov 2003 -- Total numbers of security forces are on the rise in Iraq as 118,000 Iraqi troops have assumed their duties alongside coalition forces, according to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. In a series of media interviews November 10, Rumsfeld stressed the importance of the Iraqi forces in bringing security to Iraq.
• Coalition Will Press Fight in Iraq, Vice Chairman Says AFPS 13 Nov 2003 -- The coalition will continue to press the fight in Iraq, Marine Gen. Peter Pace said during television interviews Nov. 12.
• U.S. Forces Wield 'Iron Hammer' to Nail Insurgents AFPS 13 Nov 2003 -- A series of coordinated strikes dubbed "Operation Iron Hammer" kicked off Nov. 12 with U.S. forces striking back at anti- coalition insurgents in Iraq.
• 101st raids lead to capture of criminals Army News Service 13 Nov 2003-- Twenty-four personnel suspected of violence against U.S. forces in northern Iraq were captured Nov. 12 in a series of raids by the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
• Abizaid: 'Despicable Thugs' Cannot Win in Iraq AFPS 13 Nov 2003 -- The terrorists trying to undermine coalition efforts in Iraq are a "despicable bunch of thugs," but no military threat exists in Iraq that can drive the United States out, the commander of U.S. Central Command said today.
• IRAQ / SECURITY VOA 13 Nov 2003 -- U-S military officials in Baghdad say offensive operations aimed at rooting out insurgents targeting coalition forces will continue as long as they are necessary. The U-S missions are part of a new get-tough policy to confront Saddam loyalists and foreign fighters operating in Iraq.

• UN asks Afghan Government to increase security following car bomb UN News Centre 13 Nov 2003 -- The United Nations has called on the Afghan Government to provide more security for its operations following Tuesday's car explosion outside UN offices the southern city of Kandahar "so that we continue to provide the services that we can give to the people of Afghanistan."
• AFGHAN CONSTITUTION VOA 13 Nov 2003 -- Afghanistan's foreign minister says he hopes his country will have its constitution ratified in the coming weeks. But he warns there are heightened security threats that could destabilize Afghanistan's moves toward democracy.
• Afghanistan: Karzai Warns Of Increased Taliban Activity RFE/RL 13 Nov 2003 -- Afghan leader Hamid Karzai has warned of an increase in attacks by the Taliban, as today marks the second anniversary of the day the Islamist militia fled the capital Kabul.
• AFGHANISTAN VOTING VOA 13 Nov 2003 -- Afghanistan is preparing to register voters for general elections that are slated for June, 2004. The registration drive comes as serious security problems continue in the eastern half of the country.
• RFE/RL Afghanistan Report, Vol 2, Number 40 13 Nov 2003 -- ASSESSING THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION (Part 2): THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND THE MONOPOLY ON THE USE OF FORCE / AFGHAN WOMEN'S RIGHTS ADVISORY GROUP RECOMMENDS AMENDMENTS TO DRAFT CONSTITUTION / LIST OF RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION FOR AFGHANISTAN / AFGHAN PAPER HAILS THE NEW DRAFT CONSTITUTION AS A VICTORY FOR WOMEN... / ...WHILE ULAMA IN PARWAN PROVINCE PREVENT WOMEN FROM PARTICIPATING IN LOYA JIRGA ELECTION PROCESS / CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION'S CHAIRMAN SAYS DRAFT STILL SUBJECT TO CHANGE / UN DELEGATION MEETS WITH RIVAL NORTHERN AFGHAN WARLORDS... / ...AND URGES THEM TO END RIVALRY... / ...WHO VOW TO WORK TOGETHER... / ...AS THEIR FORCES CONTINUE TO BATTLE / AUSTRIA REJECTS NATO REQUEST FOR TROOPS FOR AFGHANISTAN / DISARMAMENT IN EASTERN AFGHAN PROVINCE COULD FACE POWERFUL OPPOSITION / U.S. FORCES KILL ONE IN NORTHEASTERN AFGHANISTAN... / ...IN OPERATION CALLED THE 'MOST CHALLENGING' IN TWO YEARS / ROMANIAN SOLDIER KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN / COMMISSION ESTABLISHED TO INVESTIGATE EXPLOSIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN AFGHAN PROVINCE / CAR BOMB EXPLODES NEAR UN OFFICE IN KANDAHAR CITY / FORMER TALIBAN LEADER REPORTEDLY SENTENCES MUTTAWAKIL TO DEATH / AFGHAN OFFICIAL SAYS NO NEGOTIATING WITH TURKISH ENGINEER'S KIDNAPPERS / INDIAN NATIONAL KILLED IN KABUL / NEW AIRLINE BEGINS OPERATING IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN / THIS WEEK IN AFGHANISTAN'S HISTORY

Other Conflicts

• Rice Says Israeli Security Fence "Continues to Be a Problem" Washington File 13 Nov 2003 -- National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice said it was still premature to determine any amount of possible reductions in U.S. loan guarantees to Israel -- reductions that the United States is considering in response to Israel's construction of an extensive security fence in the occupied West Bank.
• Liberia: UN to increase patrol in troubled border area UN News Centre 13 Nov 2003 -- The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) is increasing its air and land patrols in areas bordering Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire, where fighting broke out last week in violation of the ceasefire between government and rebel forces, according to a senior UN official.
• Mine action a dynamic part of peacekeeping, Security Council told UN News Centre 13 Nov 2003 -- Mine action is a dynamic component of peacekeeping operations that contributes to the way the United Nations plans and conducts its operations, the UN's chief peacekeeping official said today.
• Security Council sees possible reinforcement of UN presence in Côte d'Ivoire UN News Centre 13 Nov 2003 -- Noting that the situation in Côte d'Ivoire "continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region," the Security Council today unanimously extended the United Nations mission in the West African country for three months and envisaged a possible boosting of the UN presence there.
• SRI LANKA PEACE TALKS VOA 13 Nov 2003 -- In Sri Lanka, Tamil rebels say political stability is needed before peace talks can continue, but say they remain committed to a peace process and will not return to war. A political crisis has raised concerns that the peace process begun last year might be endangered.
• LANKA/REBELS VOA 13 Nov 2003 -- In Sri Lanka, Tamil Tiger rebels have told Norwegian peace envoys they remain committed to the ceasefire and peace process to end the nation's ethnic conflict. The assurance comes amid worries that the country's political crisis may hurt the peace process.
• Russia: British Court Refuses Extradition Of Chechen Envoy RFE/RL 13 Nov 2003 -- A British court today rejected Russia's request for the extradition of top Chechen envoy Akhmed Zakaev (pictured), wanted by Moscow on terrorism charges.
• BRITAIN /CHECHNYA VOA 13 Nov 2003 -- A British judge has dismissed Russia's request for the extradition of Chechen envoy Akhmed Zakayev to face terrorism charges.
• ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS VOA 13 Nov 2003 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is preparing to meet his Palestinian counterpart, Ahmed Qureia, next week to discuss ways to end violence and re-start peace talks. Both sides are under strong pressure from the United States to resume the peace process now that the new Palestinian government is in place.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Bolton Confident Proliferation Security Initiative Is Legitimate Washington File 13 Nov 2003 -- The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) is, without question, legitimate and will be "extremely efficient in its efforts against weapons of mass destruction (WMD)," says John Bolton, under secretary of state for arms control and international security.

• U.S. Forces Gearing for Modern Threats, Rumsfeld Says Washington File 13 Nov 2003 -- The United States is adjusting its worldwide military presence to meet modern threats, says Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
• Special Operations: Force Multiplier in Anti-Terror War AFPS 13 Nov 2003 -- Multitalented special operations troops provide senior U.S. military commanders with an array of options in addressing the multifaceted challenges presented by the war on global terrorism, said DoD's top special operations official.
• Bolton: Fielding new equipment top priority Army News Service 13 Nov 2003-- Changing the way the Army acquires new technology will drive the future force, said Claude M. Bolton Jr., assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology.
• Enterprise Strike Group Projects Naval Power Across 5th Fleet Navy Newsstand 13 Nov 2003-- The USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Carrier Strike Group (CSG), the Navy's only deployed CSG, is currently taking charge of a range of military operations covering a geographical region larger than the United States from its station in the North Arabian Sea.
• First C-5 Galaxy aircraft retires AFPN 13 Nov 2003-- The first C-5 Galaxy to be retired from the Air Force inventory was delivered Nov. 11 to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
• Goodbye Blue, hello Silver ACC News 13 Nov 2003-- It's dark outside. Even artificial lights are forbidden here at night. In a single file line, about 20 Davis-Monthan airmen make their way from the belly of a C-130 Hercules on the flightline. They follow the only visible mark; a blue glow stick held by their leading guide.
• Exercise Cope North takes Guam by storm PACAF News 13 Nov 2003-- Team Andersen welcomed over 650 U.S. airmen, sailors, Marines and nearly 250 Japan Air Self-Defense Force members as Exercise Cope North 04-1 began here Monday. The exercise runs until Nov. 21.
• Rumsfeld Visits Troops, Officials in Pacific Rim Countries AFPS 13 Nov 2003 -- The United States needs to shed its Cold War-era force posture and position itself to fight modern threats, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said today.
• U.S. Sailors, Marines Arrive for Training Exercise in West Africa Navy Newsstand 13 Nov 2003-- U.S. Sailors and Marines aboard the High Speed Vessel SWIFT (HSV 2) arrived here Nov. 13 to participate with local military units in West African Training Cruise 2004 (WATC 04), a biannual exercise aimed at enhancing security cooperation between U.S. and participating West African nations. SWIFT recently concluded training in South Africa.

• State's Grossman on Expanding, Refocusing NATO's Mission Washington File 13 Nov 2003 -- Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman addressed the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Orlando, Florida, November 11, reviewing NATO's past successes and urging a new discussion of the future work of the Alliance, "especially our relations and operations with the rest of the world."

• BALKAN COOPERATION VOA 13 nov 2003 -- Top foreign policy officials of Albania, Croatia and Macedonia are in Washington for discussions with U-S officials on NATO membership and regional cooperation. The three officials say they will work together to win membership in both NATO and the European Union.
• NATO ships to visit CIVITAVECCHIA, ITALY 14-16 November 2003 NATO AFSOUTH 13 Nov 2003 -- Six units from NATO's Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED) will visit Civitavecchia, Italy, 14-16 November 2003.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 13 Nov 2003 -- NATO commander says alliance can learn from Iraq war / Government approves reform of Czech military / UN sanctions against al-Qaida and the Taliban need "more teeth" / Insurgency in Iraq appears planned / Belgrade accuses Hague tribunal of "disrespect" / After Iraq, U.S. less quick to use force
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 13 Nov 2003 -- EU's Solana advocates EU command staff for military operations / Britain, France, Germany reportedly near deal on security / Solana applauds result of EU's crisis prevention strategy over Iran / Attack on Italian military headquarters viewed / France urges U.S. to change approach on Iraq

• CONGRESS / CUBA VOA 13 Nov 2003 -- U-S congressional negotiators, bowing to White House pressure, have scrapped an effort aimed at lifting the four-decades-old ban on travel to Cuba.
• ISRAEL / UKRAINE VOA 13 Nov 2003 -- The government of Ukraine has agreed to pay compensation for the accidental shooting of a passenger plane carrying mainly Israelis on route to Russia. The plane was hit by a missile during Ukrainian military exercises two years ago.