03 May 2008 Military News

Afghanistan: Gates Says U.S. Could Eye Expanded Role RFE/RL 03 May 2008 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said the United States could consider taking over NATO's command in southern Afghanistan, where some NATO allies have been reluctant to provide combat forces.

Air Force pilot breaks own world aviation record AFPN 03 May 2008 -- An Air Force Reserve pilot deployed here broke his own world record for hours spent flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon when he surpassed the 6,000-hour milestone May 2.
UNITAS 49-08 Comes To A Close Navy NewsStand 03 May 2008 -- The Atlantic phase of UNITAS 49-08, a multinational exercise designed to increase the interoperability of navies in North and South America, ended May 2 with the closing ceremonies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
USS Stephen W. Groves Returns Home from Counter-Drug Deployment Navy NewsStand 03 May 2008 -- USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) and embarked Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 44 Detachment 5 returned to homeport in Mayport May 2 from a six-month Counter-Illicit Trafficking deployment to the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean.
Norton Relieves Kraft as Ronald Reagan Commanding Officer Navy NewsStand 03 May 2008 -- Captain Kenneth J. Norton became the fourth commanding officer of the Nimitz-class nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) May 2, relieving Captain Terry B. Kraft in a ceremony aboard the ship, moored pier side at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, Calif.

UN-AU peacekeepers aid Darfur villagers attacked by Sudanese forces UN News Centre 03 May 2008 -- The United Nations-African Union hybrid peacekeeping operation has evacuated North Darfur villagers wounded in recent attacks by Sudanese forces that have left three dead and at least eight injured.
Kurdish Rebels Dispute Turkish Report of Heavy Rebel Casualties VOA 03 May 2008 -- Kurdish rebels are disputing a Turkish military report that the rebels suffered heavy casualties in Turkey's most recent air strikes on northern Iraq.
EU: Dealing With Both Russia And Georgia RFE/RL 03 May 2008
Russian peacekeepers heading for deployment site in Abkhazia RIA Novosti 03 May 2008 -- Russian peacekeepers who recently arrived in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone are heading for areas where they will be stationed, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday.
Palestinian Police Deploy in West Bank Town VOA 03 May 2008 -- The Palestinian Authority has launched a new security initiative in the West Bank
Rice Beginning New Round of Middle East Talks VOA 03 May 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice flies from London to Jerusalem Saturday for a new round of talks aimed at getting an Israel-Palestinian peace accord by year's end

Zimbabwe Opposition Meets to Decide on Runoff VOA 03 May 2008 -- Zimbabwe's main opposition party is meeting Saturday to decide whether party leader Morgan Tsvangirai will participate in a presidential runoff vote.
Dalai Lama's Envoys to Hold Talks Sunday with Chinese Officials VOA 03 May 2008 -- Representatives of the Dalai Lama are to meet with Chinese officials this weekend for the first talks on Tibet since violent unrest broke out in March