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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 21 Jul 2004 [PDF]
• ONE FIRST ID SOLDIER KILLED, SIX WOUNDED IN IED ATTACK
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

• USS John F. Kennedy Aircraft Destroy Two Anti-Iraqi Positions Navy Newsstand 21 Jul 2004 -- Strike Fighter Squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, currently embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) operating in the Middle East region in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, destroyed two anti-Iraqi positions July 20, after dropping bombs on identified targets.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing - Secretary Rumsfeld and Gen. Myers 21 Jul 2004 -- Participating were Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and Air Force Gen. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Six More Hostages Taken in Iraq VOA News 21 Jul 2004 -- A militant group in Iraq has taken six foreign truck drivers hostage and has threatened to behead one every 72 hours if their countries do not withdraw all their nationals from Iraq.
• 1st ID Soldier Killed, Six Wounded in IED Attack AFPS 21 Jul 2004 -- A 1st Infantry Division soldier was killed and six others were wounded today when an improvised explosive device struck their vehicle during a patrol near Duluiyah, Iraq.
• Rumsfeld Says More US Troops in Iraq Possible VOA News 21 Jul 2004 -- With violence continuing across Iraq, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is refusing to rule out the possibility of sending even more American troops to the country, beyond the 140,000 currently deployed there. But U.S military officials continue to believe more troops are not necessarily the solution to Iraq's on-going security problem.
• DoD Doesn't Plan on Extending Reserve Soldiers AFPS 21 Jul 2004 -- The Defense Department does not plan on extending any reserve component service member beyond the 24-month limit, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said at a Pentagon news conference today.
• Iraqis, Americans Battle Near Samarra RFE/RL 21 Jul 2004 -- American soldiers battled militants in late night fighting near Samarra in northern Iraq
• U.S. Soldier Killed In Iraq RFE/RL 21 Jul 2004 -- Another U.S. soldier has been killed in Iraq, bringing to 900 the number of U.S. military dead since the beginning of military operations in March 2003.

• Afghanistan: Karzai Removes Militia Leaders From Military Posts RFE/RL 21 Jul 2004 -- Afghan Transitional Administration Chairman Hamid Karzai took further steps on 20 July to try to expand the central government's control over districts largely ruled by independent and combative militia leaders. Karzai's spokesman said the decision is designed to increase stability as the country prepares for nationwide presidential elections in October.
• 3 Americans on Trial for Running Private Jail in Afghanistan VOA News 21 Jul 2004 -- Three Americans are on trial in Afghanistan for allegedly imprisoning and torturing Afghans they accused of being terrorists.

Other Conflicts

• White House Dismisses UN Ruling on West Bank Barrier VOA News 21 Jul 2004 -- The Bush administration is dismissing a United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning Israel's West Bank barrier. The resolution supports a ruling by the International Court of Justice, which declares the construction of that barrier illegal and says it should be dismantled.
• Western Ivory Coast Militia On Guard for Renewed War VOA News 21 Jul 2004 -- An ethnic-based militia in western Ivory Coast has threatened to attack rebel positions if the rebels are not quickly disarmed. The militia has acted with total impunity since helping defend the region against rebel attacks. The militia also wears the same uniforms as the regular army, creating confusion among the local population.
• Middle East: Senators Urge Greater U.S. Involvement In Mideast Peace Process RFE/RL 21 Jul 2004 -- A senior U.S. diplomat told Congress on 20 July that he doubts the Palestinians will achieve statehood unless Yasser Arafat is replaced as their president. However, some members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said they believe Arafat can be a positive force, but only if the administration of President George W. Bush works hard to persuade him to change his tactics.
• Extension for UN Lebanon mission urged as tension mounts at withdrawal line UN News Centre 21 Jul 2004 -- Amid mounting tensions at the withdrawal line between Israel and Lebanon, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has recommended extending the UN force in the area for an additional six months
• UN experts find broad Rwandan involvement in eastern DR of Congo conflict UN News Centre 21 Jul 2004 -- A United Nations Group of Experts investigating the weapons embargo against militias in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has found that Rwanda supported dissident military leaders in the area and violated the ban directly and indirectly.
• LIBERIA: UN probes cross-border arms smuggling IRIN 21 JUl 2004 -- UN peacekeepers are investigating reports of smuggling arms and the movement of combatants across Liberia's international borders, General Joseph Owonibi, the deputy force commander of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) disclosed on Wednesday.
• GREAT LAKES: Rwanda backed dissident troops in DRC - UN panel IRIN 21 JUl 2004 -- A UN panel has accused Rwanda's government of supporting dissidents in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who seized the eastern town of Bukavu in June, and thus breaking an arms embargo instituted a year ago by the UN Security Council.
• UN General Assembly Condemns Israeli Barrier VOA News 21 Jul 2004 -- The U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved an Arab-drafted resolution that urges Israel to obey an advisory court ruling to take down a controversial West Bank separation wall.
• Violence Continues in Indonesia's Aceh Province VOA News 21 Jul 2004 -- Reports from Indonesia's northern province of Aceh say that more than 200 people have been killed by the army and police in the past two months. The continuing battle between security forces and separatists shows no sign of abating.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Defense Department Briefing: July 21 Washington File 21 Jul 2004 -- Iraq/extremists/Saddamists, new Iraqi government, insurgents attacks/on the coalition/on Iraqi forces/civilians, Afghanistan, prewar intelligence, Summer Olympic Games/Greece/NATO
• MSC Participates in RIMPAC Exercise Navy Newsstand 21 Jul 2004 -- Five Military Sealift Command (MSC) ships are participating in the 19th biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise June 29 through July 27 off the waters of Hawaii.
• Four Carrier Strike Groups To Return From Summer Pulse '04 Navy Newsstand 21 Jul 2004 -- After successfully demonstrating responsive, credible combat power across the globe by operating in five theaters with other U.S., allied and coalition military forces, four carrier strike groups (CSGs), including their associated ships, submarines, aircraft and more than 20,000 Sailors, are returning July 22 through July 26.
• GW Passes Through Strait of Gibraltar Navy Newsstand 21 Jul 2004 -- In the early morning hours of July 20, USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) transited the Strait of Gibraltar, the last of the choke points along the route home.
• 8th tanks trains for 4th MEB (AT) mission Marine Corps News 21 Jul 2004 -- Marine Reserves from 8th Tank Battalion are temporarily joining the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism) to conduct perimeter security and sentry duty at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti, Africa.
• Army launches 'Operation Blue to Green' Army News Service 21 Jul 2004 -- Separating Sailors and Airmen may soon be able to "go Army" with a new recruitment program. Under "Operation Blue to Green," officially approved July 19, the Army will provide the opportunity for members of the Navy and Air Force to transfer into the Army and retain their rank.

• Senate Committee Hears Nominees for Unified Command Posts AFPS 21 Jul 2004 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee held hearings today on nominations for two critical leadership positions within the Defense Department.

• Britain Unveils Major Defense Cuts VOA News 21 Jul 2004 -- Britain has announced the biggest restructuring of its armed forces in a generation, with steep personnel cuts, base closures and the retirement of many ships, planes and tanks.

• State Dept. Answers Question about U.S. Weapons in North Cyprus Washington File 21 Jul 2004 -- Following is the State Department's response to a question taken during the regular July 21 briefing about the presence of U.S.-origin weapons during a military parade in Northern Cyprus
• White House Daily Briefing, July 21 Washington File 21 Jul 2004 -- Israel, 9/11 Commission report, Sandy Berger investigation, Tax cuts, Iran, Oil for Food program, Guest worker program

News Reports

• United States Details $230 Million Pledge to Help Haiti Rebuild Washington File 21 Jul 2004 -- A $230 million aid package that the United States has pledged to Haiti will be used for job creation and economic growth, budget support to Haitian government ministries, security improvements and judicial reform, support for conducting free and fair elections in the country, and for improved health care, nutrition, and education activities.