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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• FIRST TEAM RECEIVES DEPLOYMENT ORDERS 03 Mar 2003 -- The First Cavalry Division, stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas has received deployment orders to reposition forces as required to support the President's global war against terrorism.
• MPs in Kuwait train for guarding EPWs Army News 03 Mar 2003 -- To prepare for what may come, soldiers in Kuwait are learning how to deal with enemy prisoners of war. Internment and resettlement training was conducted by the 3rd Military Police Battalion (Provisional) Feb. 17 and 18 in preparation for possible future operations.
• Four killed, two injured in Kuwait Army News 03 Mar 2003 -- Four soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash and two others injured in separate training accidents in Kuwait last week.
• VMAQ-1 deploys to support Southern Watch USMC 03 Mar 2003 -- Several hundred Marines from Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 1 and a Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14 detachment deployed to support Operation Southern Watch Feb. 15.

• Sporadic Violence Still Possible in Afghanistan AFPS 03 Mar 2003 -- Even though Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said the war on terror is "largely over," it doesn't mean his country is suddenly a safe place.

Defense Policy / Programs

• White House Daily Briefing White House 03 Feb 2003
• Briefing on Chemical and Biological Defense Readiness 03 Mar 2003 -- "Today we're going to host a -- what's called -- we call a roundtable, but it's an opportunity for some very trained and professional individuals to talk to you about Army training and readiness in nuclear, biological and chemical defense."
• U-S TROOPS / CHEM BIO DETECTION VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- U-S military analysts say the biggest risk American troops would face in a war against Saddam Hussein is the possibility that the Iraqi leader could use chemical and biological weapons. Chemical and biological detection teams are standing by in northern Kuwait for possible deployment to the battlefield.
• U.S. Forces Said Prepared to Defend Against Chem-Bio Weapons Washington File 03 Mar 2003 -- A U.S. Army official says Iraqi President Saddam Hussein may have "some grave reservations" about ordering his troops to use chemical and biological weapons against U.S. forces in the case of an Iraq war because the capability of his troops to defend against their use "is extremely limited."
• Defending Against Iraqi Chemical Biological Threats AFPS 03 Mar 2003 -- If Saddam Hussein decides to use chemical or biological weapons against U.S. forces, he may well kill or injure more of his own forces than Americans.

• USEUCOM Defense Information Group Press Briefing 03 Mar 2003 -- As you know, the European Command is supporting the Central Command in these issues so General Franks is the overall military commander for whatever happens with regards to the situation with Iraq. I wouldn't want to speculate on what his recommendation might be in what we might do and not do in that event and I think we'll just wait and see what happens.
• BIDEN / FOREIGN POLICY VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- The top ranking Democrat on the U-S Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Joseph Biden of Delaware, says the Bush administration is alienating allies needed to help fight the war on terrorism. Mr. Biden says the United States will remain vulnerable to terrorist threats until the president defines long-term foreign policy and national security strategies that include international cooperation.
• Army and Air Force share watch AFPSC 03 Mar 2003 -- The Air Force separated from the Army more than 50 years ago, but recently they have reunited. Nationwide, almost 9,000 Army National Guard members from around the country have been deployed to 163 Air Force bases to provide force protection.
• Army changes policy for AGR extensions Army News 03 Mar 2003 -- The Army has changed the process for extending Active Guard and Reserve officers beyond 20 years of active federal service. As of Feb. 11, eligible AGR officers and warrant officers will go before extension boards to determine whether or not they can stay on active duty.
• Leaders address sexual assault at academy AFPN 03 Mar 2003 -- The Air Force's senior leaders vowed March 3 to work closely with Congress to uncover the facts behind recent sexual assault cases and to address the broader climate at the U.S. Air Force Academy in a comprehensive manner.
• Robins C-130 team reaching accelerated goals AFPN 03 Mar 2003 -- Air Force Special Operations Command warfighters are getting back to work quicker thanks to aircraft maintainers shaving 30 days off programmed depot maintenance on four AFSOC aircraft.
• MOBI Safety Device Approved for Fleet Implementation Navy NewStand 03 Mar 2003 -- A lifesaving device that will revolutionize the way the Navy handles man overboard situations is coming to a ship near you.
• PHILIPPINES / U-S TROOPS VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- The Philippines defense secretary says plans for a large scale U-S military deployment in the southern Philippines may have to be altered.

Defense Industry

• CACI Acquires Applied Technology Solutions of Northern VA, Inc. CACI 03 Mar 2003 -- CACI International Inc (NYSE:CAI) announced today that it has completed the purchase of the outstanding stock of Applied Technology Solutions of Northern VA, Inc. (ATS), an information technology (IT) company serving clients in the national intelligence community. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but the transaction is anticipated to be accretive to CACI earnings. The acquisition supports the company's strategic goal of expanding its services within the United States intelligence community.
• General Dynamics Completes Acquisition of GM Defense General Dynamics 03 Mar 2003 -- General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) has completed its acquisition of General Motors Defense for $1.1 billion in cash. General Motors Defense of London, Ontario, is a business unit of General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM, GMH) of Detroit, Michigan. The transaction, which had been announced on December 19, 2002, is immediately accretive to General Dynamics’ earnings.
• Northrop Grumman Awarded LITENING ER Contract Worth $32.6 Million for U.S. Air Force F-15E Aircraft Northrop Grumman 03 Mar 2003 -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Electronic Systems sector a $32.6 million contract to provide 24 LITENING ER precision targeting systems for use aboard its F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft.
• Northrop Grumman Delivers First Hawkeye 2000 Upgrade for Egypt Northrop Grumman 03 Mar 2003 -- The Egyptian air force has accepted delivery of the first of six E-2C Hawkeye 2000 export configuration aircraft upgraded by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC).
• Thales selected for Watchkeeper final phase Thales 03 Mar 2003 -- Thales has been selected for the final phase (4 to 2 downselect) of the UK MOD's Watchkeeper Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) assessment. Watchkeeper will provide the UK's Armed Forces with a globally deployable capability to deliver imagery and intelligence to battlefield commanders and is a core element of the MOD's Network-Enabled Capability Strategy.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 03 Mar 2003
• DRC: 30,000 displaced by attacks in Lomami river valley, Kasai Oriental IRIN 03 Mar 2003 -- Slightly over 30,000 people have been displaced since late 2002 by attacks and counterattacks by Mayi-Mayi militias and the Rwandan-backed Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie-Goma (RCD-Goma) rebel movement along the western bank of the River Lomami, between Katako Kombe and Lubefu, in Kasai Oriental Province, central Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official relief and development agency of the US Catholic community.
• DRC: Rebel group signs accord with Ugandan army IRIN 03 Mar 2003 -- In an effort to defuse rising tensions between them, the Union des patriotes congolais (UPC) rebel movement based in the northeastern city of Bunia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) signed an accord on Sunday with the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), following negotiations between the UPC leader, Thomas Lubanga, and Brig Kale Kayihura, the chief political commissar of the UPDF.
• UN dismayed by indiscriminate shooting of schoolgirl by Israeli forces UN News Centre 03 Mar 2003 -- After a 12-year-old girl was shot in the head while sitting at her desk in a United Nations school in the Palestinian territory, a top UN relief official in the region has expressed dismay at the Israeli military's indiscriminate use of force in civilian areas.
• US / ISRAEL / DEMOLITIONS VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- The United States again expressed concern Monday over Israel's use of house demolitions in military operations against Palestinian extremists in Gaza. The comments follow weekend raids in Gaza in which a number of Palestinian civilians died. In one incident a pregnant woman was killed by falling debris as Israeli troops demolished houses said to have been used by suicide bombers.
• ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have fired rockets at a nearby Israeli town, following an Israeli army operation in the territory during which eight Palestinians were killed.
• ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- Palestinians say at least eight people have been killed and nearly 40 wounded during an overnight raid by Israeli forces on two refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip. A 13-year-old boy and a woman were among the dead.

• Cote d'Ivoire: Fighting reported on both sides of border IRIN 03 Mar 2003 -- Defence authorities in Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia have reported attacks by groups from each others' territory on locations on either side of their border. However, the claims could not be immediately confirmed by third parties.
• COTE D'IVOIRE: Gbagbo lashes out at critics IRIN 03 Mar 2003 -- Cote d'Ivoire's president, Laurent Gbagbo, denied on Saturday that his regime was responsible for death squads reported to have killed opposition personalities and other victims, and refuted other accusations levelled against him by national and international critics.
• US-LIBERIA RELATIONS VOA 04 Mar 2003 -- A top U-S diplomat is calling for additional sanctions against Liberia if President Charles Taylor fails to comply with existing U-N resolutions.
• UN rights chief appeals to parties in Burundi to implement peace agreements UN News Centre 03 Mar 2003 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello, wrapped up a three-day trip to Burundi with a strong appeal to all parties to press ahead with the regional peace process and to exert every effort to protect civilians and end the recruitment of child soldiers.
• INDONESIA / ACEH VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- A mob attacked an office belonging to international peace monitors in Indonesia's restive northern province of Aceh - slightly injuring two people. Thousands of Achnese were protesting Monday that not enough was being done to reign in separatist rebels when the event turned violent.
• LIBERIA / IVORY COAST VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- At least 20 deaths have been reported in the latest fighting along the tense border between Ivory Coast and Liberia.
• NIGERIA / CLASHES VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- Nigerian police say at least 40 people have been killed in fighting between herdsmen and farmers in the northeastern part of the country.
• SOMALIA: New committee to arbitrate on representation at peace conference IRIN 03 Mar 2003 -- An arbitration committee to comprise representatives of Somali clans is being set up to resolve ongoing disputes over seats for delegates to the Somali peace conference, the Kenyan mediator, Bethwel Kiplagat, told a press conference in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on Monday. Kiplagat also said that an international monitoring commission on the shaky Somali ceasefire may start sending fact-finding missions to Somalia shortly.
• RWANDA: Former army lieutenant pleads not guilty to genocide IRIN 03 Mar 2003 -- Former Rwandan army Lieutenant Ildephonse Hategekimana, who was arrested in the Republic of Congo capital, pleaded not guilty to five counts of genocide, incitement to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity (rape and other inhuman acts) when he appeared on Friday before a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
• BURUNDI: Government, rebels in talks again IRIN 03 Mar 2003 -- Burundi's transitional government and the country's main rebel movement, Pierre Nkurunziza's faction of the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD), recommitted themselves on Sunday to implementing past agreements to end nearly 10 years of civil war.
• UGANDA: Kony declares unilateral ceasefire IRIN 03 Mar 2003 -- Uganda's rebel leader, Joseph Kony, has declared a ceasefire in northern Uganda to pave the way for talks to end the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency in the region, but his gesture has been greeted with a mixture of hope and scepticism.
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UNICEF to supply drugs to eastern provinces IRIN 03 Mar 2003 -- In response to a health crisis caused by months of fighting in the Central African Republic the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) will this begin distributing drugs to hospitals and health centres in three eastern provinces, an official said on Thursday.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 03 Mar 2003
• SHAPE News Summary Analysis SHAPE 03 Mar 2003
• ZIMBABWE / LAND VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- In the last week, the Zimbabwe government has dramatically increased the compulsory acquisition of the few hundred remaining white-owned commercial farms. The farmers are being given seven to 90 days to leave their properties, and many of those affected in this latest wave of seizures have crops in the ground.
• ESTONIA / ELECTION VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- Politicians in Estonia are facing weeks of maneuvering. They are attempting to form a coalition government following general elections on Sunday that ended in a virtual tie.
• INDONESIA TIMOR VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- East Timor's foreign minister is defending his government's stance on bringing human rights violators to justice. Jose Ramos-Horta says East Timor's highest priority is eradicating poverty, not jailing people.