Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Government Statements and Transcripts
US Domestic Responses
International Responses
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

December 5, 2001 Airstrikes

Operations

• AFGHAN / BOMB VOA 05 Dec. 2001-- An errant U-S bomb has killed three American soldiers, five Afghan anti-Taleban fighters and injured several others, including the man chosen to head Afghanistan's new interim government
• AFGHAN / FIGHTING VOA 05 Dec. 2001-- Opposition forces are reported to have advanced, unopposed, on suspected mountain hideouts of Osama bin Laden in eastern Afghanistan.
  

  Video footage of airstrikes, used during DoD news briefing
  Click on the small image to view a larger version
  The footage above shows a December 2, 2001 F/A-18 airstrike on Al Qaeda troops arrayed in a trench system south of Kandahar
  The two videos above are from F-16 aircraft and show December 2, 2001, airstrikes on buildings outside of Kandahar where Taliban troops had reportedly taken refuge. According to DoD, a US ground forward air controler, in coordination with opposition group forces, called the strike in. The facility was heavily damaged while sparing the civilian facilities around it

  
  

Defense Policy / Programs

Government Statements and Transcripts

• Transcript: Defense Department Briefing, December 5, 2001 05 Dec. 2001-- Stufflebeem: Yesterday we conducted airstrikes in four planned target areas, generally around Jalalabad and Kandahar. We used about 100 strike aircraft. That included about 80 tactical aircraft from sea-based platforms, 12 to 14 land-based tactical jets, and between eight and 10 long-range bombers.
• Transcript: Bonn Afghan Progress Hailed by Bush, Norway's Leader 05 Dec. 2001-- Bush: But we're under attack. Every morning I wake up and read the threat assessments. The evil ones still intend to harm America. And if it's in our national security interests to bring people to justice, I will use a military tribunal. And I may give you one example of why I would use one -- we haven't used one yet, it's simply an option.
• Text: U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan Welcomes Afghan Agreement 05 Dec. 2001-- The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the signing in Bonn today of the "Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan", which provide for the establishment of an Interim Authority. He congratulates all concerned -- and particularly the Afghan delegations -- on showing the necessary spirit of compromise to reach this accord, which is an important step towards the achievement of lasting peace and a return to legitimate authority in Afghanistan.
• Text: Afghan Agreement on Broad-Based, Multi-Ethnic Government 05 Dec. 2001-- Text of the agreement establishing a provisional government
• Text: Iraq's Refusal of Inspections Called "Act of Aggression" 05 Dec. 2001-- Representative Lindsey Graham (Republican of South Carolina) introduced a resolution December 4 that would call refusal by Iraq to admit United Nations weapons inspectors covered by Security Council Resolution 687 "an act of aggression against the United States and its allies."
• Text: OSCE Statement on Terrorism, Action Plan to Combat Terrorism 05 Dec. 2001-- The ministers adopted an anti-terrorism action plan listing the various United Nations conventions and resolutions that constitute "the global legal framework for the fight against terrorism" and pledging renewed efforts to have all OSCE participating states become parties to the 12 UN terrorism conventions and protocols by December 31, 2002.
• Text: Joint Statement of the U.S.-India Defense Policy Group 05 Dec. 2001-- U.S. and Indian defense officials conducted the third meeting of the Defense Policy Group (DPG) in New Delhi on December 3 and 4. The delegations reviewed ongoing defense cooperation between India and the U.S., and exchanged views on the global campaign against terrorism and pledged to expand mutual support in counter terrorism activities.
• BUSH INTERVIEW VOA 05 Dec. 2001-- Bush: We are closing down caves, we are getting more and more of the territories under control of our friends and allies, and therefore, we have a better chance of spotting him in person. We're tightening the noose on Osama bin Ladan.

US Domestic Responses

• CONGRESS ISRAEL VOA 05 Dec. 2001-- The U-S House of Representatives has passed a non-binding resolution urging President Bush to cut ties with the Palestinian Authority and its leader, Yasser Arafat, unless they halt violence by Islamic militants. A similar proposal is pending in the Senate. The action follows Israeli air strikes against Palestinian targets in retaliation for a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings in recent days that killed more than two dozen people in Haifa and Jerusalem.
• BUSH AFGHAN GOVERNMENT VOA 05 Dec. 2001-- President Bush is welcoming the deal creating a new interim government for Afghanistan
• Bush, Norway's Prime Minister Discuss Middle East, Afghanistan USIA 05 Dec. 2001-- Bush defends his decision to establish military tribunals
• U.S. Coast Guard Wants to Push Maritime Border Controls Off Shore USIA 05 Dec. 2001-- Sees stopping weapons of mass destruction as priority

International Responses

• AFGHAN / INTERIM GOVERNMENT VOA 05 Dec. 2001-- In the Afghan capital of Kabul, Northern Alliance Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah is hailing the historic agreement signed Wednesday in Germany as the first significant step toward peace in Afghanistan. But several issues still remain unresolved as the country prepares for a new interim government
• AFGHAN/KARZAI VOA 05 Dec. 2001-- Afghanistan's rival factions have chosen Hamid Karzai, a moderate Muslim, to head the interim administration to replace Taleban rule in the war-shattered country
• BRITAIN / DEFENSE VOA 05 Dec. 2001-- British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon says a major review is underway to improve Britain's military readiness against global terrorism. Mr. Hoon outlined his views today in a speech to academics in London
• GERMANY / AFGHAN DONORS VOA 05 Dec. 2001-- Delegates from the United States and other countries are attending a U-N-led conference in Berlin to consider humanitarian and reconstruction support for Afghanistan.
• GERMANY / AFGHAN DONORS VOA 05 Dec. 2001-- The Afghanistan Support Group of donor nations and international organizations opened Wednesday in Berlin with pleas for generous and urgent help to put the country back on its feet and bring millions of refugees back home

Defense Industry

• Gulfstream Awarded Contract Worth up to $206 Million by Israel’s Ministry of Defense General Dynamics 05 Dec 2001 -- Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a contract with a potential value of up to $206 million to supply and support three Gulfstream V business jet aircraft to the Israeli Ministry of Defense for use as Special Electronic Mission Aircraft.
• Lockheed Martin Delivers First New Production Lamps MKIII Helicopter For Spanish Navy Three Months Ahead Of Schedule Lockheed Martin 05 Dec 2001 -- Lockheed Martin met a production challenge three months ahead of schedule by completing the systems integration of the first of six new production LAMPS MK III SH-60B armed helicopters for the Spanish Navy on November 30.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 05 Dec 2001

News Reports

• ARAFAT'S CRISIS VOA 05 Dec. 2001-- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is facing perhaps the biggest crisis of his long career. He has received an ultimatum from Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to either crack down on Islamic militant groups responsible for a wave of suicide bombings or, analysts say, risk being driven out of office
• Terrorism, Drug Trafficking Inextricably Linked, U.S. Experts Say USIA 05 Dec. 2001-- Drug Enforcement Agency hosts symposium on topic
• Afghan Women Look for a Place in a New Afghanistan USAI 05 Dec. 2001-- Women for Afghan Women hold New York City conference

• SPACE SHUTTLE TO DELIVER EXPEDITION 4 CREW TO INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION Lockheed Martin 05 Dec 2001 -- Space Shuttle Endeavour is ready for launch from Kennedy Space Center to the International Space Station. Liftoff time is marked at 4:19 p.m. (Central Time) Wednesday, December 5.