Operations
Other Conflicts
Defense Policy / Programs
News Reports

Current Operations

• Transcript: Secretary Rumsfeld on Special Defense Department Operational Update 26 Nov 2003 -- "Consider what they've accomplished in just the week ending November 23rd. In that very short period, coalition forces conducted nearly 12,000 patrols and more than 230 targeted raids; they captured some 1,200 enemy forces and killed 40 to 50 enemy fighters, and wounded some 25 to 30. That's a one-week snapshot, but it provides a sense of the determined offensive pressure which the coalition is applying against the enemy."
• Rumsfeld, Myers Cite Coalition Accomplishments in Iraq AFPS 25 Nov 2003 -- Americans everywhere should be thankful for service members serving in Iraq, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said today.
• Arab TV Stations Filmed Attacks in Iraq, Rumsfeld Says Washington File 25 Nov 2003 -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Richard Myers said November 25 during a Pentagon news briefing that there is evidence two Arab cable news television stations have cooperated with terrorists in Iraq by filming attacks on U.S.-led coalition forces and Iraqi civilians.
• U.S.-Coalition Goal Remains for Iraqis to Run Country, Feith Says AFPS 25 Nov 2003 -- The U.S. and coalition goal in Iraq is "to give the Iraqi people the opportunity to create a new and thriving Iraq" for themselves, a senior Defense Department official said here Nov. 24.
• Insurgents Focusing on 'Despicable' Attacks Against Iraqis AFPS 25 Nov 2003 -- The coalition's intensified offensive operations in Iraq have reduced attacks on American forces by about 50 percent during the past two weeks, but as a result, desperate Saddam Hussein loyalists have turned their aggression toward innocent Iraqis, officials told reporters in Baghdad today.
• Iraq: U.S. Headquarters In Baghdad Comes Under Attack RFE/RL 25 Nov 2003 -- The Baghdad headquarters of the U.S.-led administration in Iraq came again under attack today after dark. Reports say at least two rockets landed near the compound and a large crater was blown in the middle of one road. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
• IRAQ / SECURITY VOA 25 Nov 2003 -- The top civilian administrator in Iraq says coalition opponents are attacking more Iraqis than coalition troops in response to stepped up U-S military action against insurgents. U-S officials are expecting more anti-coalition violence before implementing Iraqi self rule.
• Iraq: Bremer Says Militants Shifting Focus To Attacks On Civilians RFE/RL 25 Nov 2003 -- The chief U.S. administrator for Iraq, L. Paul Bremer (pictured), says Iraqi insurgents have shifted the focus of their attacks from foreign troops to Iraqis working with the U.S.-led coalition.
• 4 ID PATROLS NET MORE WEAPONS, EXPLOSIVES CENTCOM Release 25 Nov 2003-- 4th Infantry Division also known as "Task Force Ironhorse" has over the past 24 hours, conducted 199 patrols, seven raids and captured 18 individuals.
• VAW-123 Rewrites Tactics Textbook Navy Newsstand 25 Nov 2003-- Nov. 2, the crew of USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 steamed through the Strait of Hormuz to the Northern Arabian Sea to conduct flight operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Other Conflicts

• POWELL-LIBERIA VOA 25 Nov 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed the situation in Liberia and the Ivory Coast Tuesday with a delegation of foreign ministers from the West African economic grouping ECOWAS. Mr. Powell reaffirmed the U-S determination to see former Liberian President Charles Taylor face war crimes charges in Sierra Leone.
• LIBERIA / IRISH TROOPS VOA 25 Nov 2003 -- A contingent of 140 Irish troops has arrived in Liberia to join peacekeeping operations. The United Nations force is preparing to deploy to more remote parts of the Liberian countryside.
• Pakistan, India to observe ceasefire on Tuesday midnight - agency IRNA 25 Nov 2003 -- Pakistan and India will observe ceasefire along the working boundary, Line of Control and the Line of Actual Contact in Siachin Sector from the midnight November 25-26, official media reported here.
• INDIA PAKISTAN KASHMIR VOA 25 Nov 2003 -- India has matched Pakistan's offer of a ceasefire in the disputed region of Kashmir, beginning Wednesday. That coincides with the Eid al-Fitr holiday, marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
• ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS VOA 25 Nov 2003 -- Preparations for a summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his Palestinian counterpart, Ahmed Qureia, are being stymied by demands and reticence from both sides. The Palestinians insist Israel must take steps to show it is committed to peace before any meeting can take place, but Israel says there should be no pre-conditions.
• SRI LANKA E-U VOA 25 Nov 2003 -- In Sri Lanka, European Union External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten faced protesters as he arrived for a two-day visit to help restore momentum to stalled peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: Defense Department Background Briefing on Global Defense Posture 26 Nov 2003 -- Participating were Senior Defense Department and Senior State Department Official.
• U.S. to Consult Allies on American Military Posture AFPS 25 Nov 2003 -- The Defense Department is ready to start consulting with allies on what the worldwide American military posture should be, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said at the Pentagon press conference today.

• U.S. and Australia Announce Agreements on Guantanamo Detainees 25 Nov 2003 -- The United States and Australian governments announced today that they agree the military commission process provides for a full and fair trial for any charged Australian detainees held at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station.

• PENTAGON/POSTURE VOA 25 Nov 2003 -- The Bush administration has announced it is now ready to open negotiations with allied countries on the future global posture of U-S military forces.

• Kennedy's Flight Deck Hosts Historic Landing Navy Newsstand 25 Nov 2003-- The Navy's recently upgraded E-2C Hawkeye made history Nov. 22 by becoming the first of its kind to land on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.
• STANDARD Missile improves Maneuverability NAVSEA News Wire 25 Nov 2003-- White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) successfully launched a STANDARD Missile Flight Test Round 24 (FTR-24) from the Desert Ship facility Vertical Launcher on November 15. The FTR-24 flight test successfully demonstrated the increased flight performance capabilities of the STANDARD Missile 2 Block IIIB equipped with the Maneuverability Upgrade package.
• Chu Calls Authorization Act 'Transformational' AFPS 25 Nov 2003 -- The Defense Department's top personnel and readiness official called the fiscal 2004 National Defense Authorization Act "transformational" for its support of the department's aim to change to confront the threats of the future.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 25 Nov 2003 -- Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac strive for united front on EU defence / NATO to slash Bosnia force, open way for EU mission / Iraqis submit timetable to end U.S. occupation / President Bush signs record $401 billion defence bill / Colin Powell to visit Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia in December / Russian-backed deal may be signed to end Dnestr row
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 25 Nov 2003 -- Daily: Draft EU security doctrine discards preemptive clause

• RUSSIA / GEORGIA VOA 25 Nov 2003 -- The peaceful change of government in Georgia has been an occasion for U-S/Russian cooperation. But analysts in Moscow say the former Soviet republic will continue to also be an arena for U-S/Russian competition.