Operations
Other Conflicts
Defense Policy / Programs
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 09 Dec 2003 [PDF]

• Transcript: Defense Department Operational Update Briefing 09 Dec 2003

• Troop Rotations Won't Affect Readiness, Defense Leaders Say AFPS 09 Dec 2003 -- Troop rotations in Iraq during the next several months will create a temporary transition time in Iraq-but will in no way affect U.S. readiness in Iraq or anywhere else in the world, Defense leaders told Pentagon reporters today.
• U.S. Developing Iraqi Task Force to Use Against Terrorists Washington File 09 Dec 2003 -- The United States is developing a task force of Iraqis drawn from existing militias to fight terrorists in Iraq, according to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
• HELICOPTER MAKES AN EMERGENCY LANDING NEAR FALLUJAH CENTCOM Release 09 Dec 2003-- At approximately 1430 today, an OH-58D, Kiowa Helicopter of the 1/82d Aviation Brigade (Attack), took fire south of Fallujah. The helicopter was conducting a reconnaissance/security mission when it was forced to make an emergency landing.
• 250 MORE IRAQI POLICE OFFICERS GRADUATE FROM V CORPS-RUN INTEGRATION PROGRAM V Corps Release 09 Dec 2003-- The city of Baghdad has 250 newly trained Iraqi Police thanks to the to soldiers of the 18th Military Police Brigade. December 8, 2003 marked the 7th graduation from Iraqi Police Integration Program. Bringing the total of graduates to 1,395 since the program started back on June 28, 2003.
• PENTAGON / IRAQ VOA 08 Dec 2003 -- America's top military officer says U-S-led coalition forces in Iraq are "clearly" winning the war against loyalists of Saddam Hussein's ousted regime.
• Blast Wounds 31 U.S. Soldiers in Iraq; Stryker Accident Kills 3 AFPS 09 Dec 2003 -- A car bomb exploded early today outside a U.S. military compound west of Mosul, Iraq, wounding 31 American soldiers, according to U.S. Central Command.
• U.S. Army Helicopter Forced Down in Iraq; Crew OK AFPS 09 Dec 2003 -- U.S. Army helicopter made a hard landing near Fallujah, Iraq, today, according to U.S. Central Command.
• Defense Leaders Outline Conditions for Success in Iraq, Coalition Progress AFPS 09 Dec 2003 -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld today outlined the conditions to be met for the coalition to achieve its goals in Iraq: Iraqi self- governance, responsibility for its own internal security and a growing economy that encourages people "to come back to the country rather than leave."
• IRAQ / ROADSIDE BOMBS VOA 09 Dec 2003 -- In Iraq, roadside bombs targeting U-S troops and their Iraqi allies have proven to be the most lethal weapon in the hands of attackers.
• IRAQ / EXPLOSIONS VOA 09 Dec 2003 -- U-S military officials in Baghdad say an apparent suicide bomber has wounded more than 30 American soldiers near the tense northern city of Mosul. Meanwhile, an explosion at a mosque in Baghdad is reported to have killed three Iraqi civilians.

• PENTAGON/AFGHANISTAN VOA 09 Dec 2003 -- The U-S military now says it is not sure that it killed a Taleban militant targeted in an airstrike that left nine children dead in Afghanistan.
• UN: Annan Says World Must Support Afghanistan More Or Risk Failure RFE/RL 09 Dec 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has warned that the international community must increase its support for Afghanistan -- or risk failure.
• Afghanistan: Deaths Of Afghan Children Raise Questions About U.S. Strategy, Intelligence RFE/RL 09 Dec 2003 -- American forces in Afghanistan said they are now using a major ground offensive to pursue Afghan insurgents and members of the outlawed Taliban militia. The statement comes after an American bombing mission went awry this weekend, killing nine children and an adult instead of the Taliban member it was meant to be targeting. Military analysts say ground operations are a far slower strategy than air strikes, but are much less likely to cause unwanted casualties like those this weekend.
• Afghanistan: Annan Warns World Must Increase Involvement Or Risk 'Failure' RFE/RL 09 Dec 2003 -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan says the international community must decide whether to increase its level of involvement in Afghanistan or risk failure.
• AFGHANISTAN / U-S SECURITY VOA 09 Dec 2003 -- Another aid worker has been killed in Afghanistan where the worsening security situation is sparking renewed international action. U-S forces this week launched one of the largest offensives to date against insurgents, while the head of the United Nations is calling for increased international involvement to avoid failure in trying to rebuild the war-torn country.

Other Conflicts

• Liberia: banditry, looting, shooting mar UN demobilization campaign UN News Centre 09 Dec 2003 -- More than 2,000 former soldiers in war-torn Liberia have turned in their weapons since Sunday's start of a disarmament campaign, but a spate of banditry, looting of humanitarian supplies and random shooting by ex-combatants seeking immediate payment of a stipend have marred the process, UN agencies reported today.
• Annan alarmed at reports of widespread abuses of civilians in Darfur, Sudan UN News Centre 09 Dec 2003 -- As humanitarian workers said nearly 10,000 new Sudanese refugees had fled into Chad from the strife-torn Darfur region of the Sudan, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed alarm today at reports of widespread abuses against Darfur civilians and the obstructing of humanitarian efforts there.
• ISRAEL /U-N REACT VOA 09 Dec 2003 -- Israel says it will cooperate with the International Court of Justice, despite its opposition to the court's expected investigation into the construction of Israel's security barrier. The reaction follows a vote in the U-N General Assembly yesterday (Monday) asking the International Court to look into the legality of the security barrier.
• DRC / ARMY VOA 09 Dec 2003 -- The formal training of a new army in the Democratic Republic of Congo began on Monday, with the integration of ex-rebels and former government soldiers into the first units of what will be a 37-hundred-troop brigade based in the eastern town of Kisangani. The brigade will be the first unified military unit in the country, after almost five years of war, and will be deployed into Congo's still lawless east in the coming months.

• MOSCOW / BLAST VOA 09 Dec 2003 -- At least five people are dead after an explosion in Central Moscow (today/Tuesday). President Putin addressed a legislative council meeting shortly after the blast and said that terrorists must not be allowed to disrupt Russia's democratic and economic development.
• Russia: Bomb Explodes Near Kremlin, Killing Several People RFE/RL 09 Dec 2003 -- An explosion in central Moscow today killed at least five people and injured at least 13, Russian and international media reported.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Missile Defense Agency Chooses Missile Target Contractor 09 Dec 2003 -- The Department of Defense announced today that the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has awarded a combination cost-plus-award-fee and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Denver, Colo., for the MDA Targets and Countermeasures Program. The amount awarded today is $210 million to perform target system engineering, design and management with a period of performance from December 2003 to December 2007. The contract has a potential period of performance of 10 years and contract value of $4.6 billion if all options are exercised.

• Military Pay Increases, Concurrent Receipt Changes Highlights of 2004 Act AFPS 09 Dec 2003 -- Military personnel will see their basic pay more in line with that of civilian counterparts in the private sector in 2004 thanks to an increased pay and benefits compensation package included in the 2004 Defense Authorization Act approved by Congress this year. The act also includes changes to the controversial "concurrent receipt" issue.
• VLA -- Ensuring Kitty Hawk Planes Return Safely Navy Newsstand 09 Dec 2003-- When the aircraft of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) return to the ship after completing a mission, their pilots can't land them all alone. That's where air department's visual landing aids (VLA) office comes in.
• 'Big Bad John' Set to Sail Again Navy Newsstand 09 Dec 2003-- USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) floated out of dry dock a day after workers from the Ship Repair Facility flooded Dry Dock 4 and set the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer back afloat.
• USS Stephen W. Groves Continues Blocking Drug Trafficking Navy Newsstand 09 Dec 2003-- After a short chase starting in the pre-dawn hours, USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) captured another high-speed boat specifically built for smuggling drugs.
• Virginia Submarine Program Reaches Another Milestone Navy Newsstand 09 Dec 2003-- Nov. 7, Northrop Grumman Newport News (NGNN) celebrated a key milestone on USS Texas (SSN 775), with a ceremony marking the pressure hull being welded completely closed. This event, referred to as Pressure Hull Complete, is a significant step toward the completion and commissioning of the ship.
• USS Germantown Contributes to Coalition MIO Effort Navy Newsstand 09 Dec 2003-- Historically, amphibious ships like USS Germantown (LSD 42) have been responsible for putting Marines on beaches around the world, demonstrating the capability of the Amphibious Ready Group and Marine Expeditionary Unit. Now, the San Diego-based ship is deployed with a first-of-its-kind Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), and it has a new mission - to support Operation Iraqi Freedom by joining coalition vessels in their search for smugglers in the Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.
• NSWC Crane Recommended for Lead for Infrared Countermeasures Qual Navy Newsstand 09 Dec 2003-- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane was recommended in November to be the lead test agency for the qualification of Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Infrared Countermeasures.
• C-130J squadron created AFPN 09 Dec 2003-- The Air Force reactivated the 48th Airlift Squadron here Dec. 5, to establish the first active-duty C-130J Hercules training squadron in the Air Force

• BRITAIN / NATO VOA 09 Dec 2003 -- The secretary general of NATO, George Robertson, says the alliance is not likely to expand its role in Iraq while it concentrates on a bigger peacekeeping deployment in Afghanistan.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 09 Dec 2003 -- U.S. launches talks on European troop realignment, allies wary of base closures / Hungarian parliament says government may decide on operations /EU to allay neutrals' objections to defence pact / Turkey says to give up EU drive if no talks date / Kofi Annan calls for expanded international force in Afghanistan to reverse deteriorating security situation / Serbia rejects UN plan for Kosovo's future / Security pact members call for closer policy coordination, greater attention to Afghanistan
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 09 Dec 2003 -- In interview with Dutch daily, Gen. Jones views NATO's transformation / Polish weekly sees NATO reform / Poland to consult public on possible U.S. military deployment / Operation "Concordia" makes way for Operation "Proxima" / German navy ends anti-terror mission off Gibraltar

• State Department Noon Briefing, December 9, 2003 Washington File 09 Dec 2003 -- North Korea, Japan/Iraq, Iraq, China/Taiwan, Russia, Israel/Palestinians, Moldova, Sudan

• UN General Assembly passes resolutions on security, disarmament issues UN News Centre 09 Dec 2003 -- The United Nations General Assembly yesterday passed 52 resolutions on security and disarmament issues, mostly nuclear, ranging from an attempt to outlaw non-strategic nuclear weapons to a call for a review conference next year on the international convention banning landmines.
• UGANDA / CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT VOA 09 Dec 2003 -- The commission reviewing Uganda's constitution is expected to release its report by the end of the month. Observers are watching particularly to see whether the commission will recommend removing the two-term limit for the office of the president.
• FRANCE / GERMANY VOA 09 Dec 2003 -- France and Germany are urging other European Union members to reach agreement this weekend on a draft constitution for the bloc and are raising pressure on Poland and Spain to back away from their opposition to new E-U voting rules enshrined in the document.
• SAF / ZIMBABWE VOA 09 Dec 2003 -- South Africa's small but influential Communist Party has sent a delegation to Zimbabwe to meet political, social and economic leaders. The South African Communist Party has been a vocal critic of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, particularly those against labor leaders.
• CHILUBA TRIAL VOA 09 Dec 2003 -- The first of two corruption trials against former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba began today in the Zambian capital city of Lusaka.