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Military


17 March 2003 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

  • 8th ESB paves the way; engineers rebuild and protect logistics command USMC News 17 Mar 2003 -- U.S. Marines continue to repair the bumpy roads and wind-beaten berms beyond the gates here following the March 6 sandstorm that left many of the roads almost impassable.
  • IRAN-IRAN: Information campaign vital for Afghan returnees IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- With the number of Afghan returnees from Iran expected to approach half a million this year under the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) voluntary repatriation programme, aid workers and Afghans themselves say the need for accurate information about the situation in their homeland is vital.
  • PAKISTAN: New refugee agreement honours principle of voluntary repatriation IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- The governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Monday signed a tripartite agreement facilitating the return home of hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees from Pakistan in three years.

Defense Policy / Programs

  • Pilots safe after midair collision AFPN 17 Mar 2003 -- The pilots of two Air Force F-15 Eagles are safe following a midair collision of their aircraft March 17 about 65 miles northeast of here.
  • Fact Sheet: U.S. Military's Civil Affairs Units Aid Civilians Washington File 17 Mar 2003 -- The U.S. military's civil affairs units work with U.S. military commanders and local civil authorities to lessen the impact of military operations on civilians during peace and war, according to a U.S. Army fact sheet.
  • Sailors, Marines visit Iwo Jima for 58th anniversary Seventh Fleet 17 Mar 2003 -- The 58th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima commemoration ceremony was held March 12 on the island of Iwo Jima. The battle, which lasted from February 19 until March 26, 1945, was one of the most brutal ever, claiming nearly 6,000 Marine lives and wounding more than 17,000. Sailors and Marines of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC) participated in the emotional event.
  • Navy awards $80.8 million production contract for Joint Standoff Weapon NAVAIR 17 Mar 2003 -- The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) awarded an $80.8 million contract last week to Raytheon Company for the production of the Joint Standoff Weapon (AGM-154-A) for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force.
  • Wasp Sailors Learn to Save their Ship at Wet Trainer Navy NewStand 17 Mar 2003 -- "General quarters, general quarters. All hands man your battle stations." For some Sailors, hearing this yelled over a ship's loudspeaker usually means nothing more than a scheduled training exercise.
  • Old Ordnance a Problem for Coalition Forces Navy NewStand 17 Mar 2003 -- Even in this age of smart bombs, servicemembers from all four branches supporting Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) find out quickly that antique ordnance still causes a fair share of casualties at Bagram Air Base. Landmines are the biggest problem troops face.
  • Carl Vinson Battle Group Visits Republic of Korea Navy NewStand 17 Mar 2003 -- The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) arrived here March 14 for a port visit in conjunction with the commencement of Exercise Foal Eagle, an annually scheduled joint and combined training exercise that began March 4 and will continue through April 2.
  • SUSTAINING MILITARY RANGES PROTECTS MULTIPLE LIVES NAVAIR 17 Mar 2003 -- The ability to develop and test winning weapons systems, and to train our people under realistic, challenging conditions, is essential. Combat readiness is achieved with high-quality, realistic training and modernization of weapons and equipment which saves lives.
  • Northern Edge exercises homeland air defense operations PACAFNS 17 Mar 2003 -- Despite increased tensions and the threat of additional deployments around the globe, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region officials continue to focus on the need for heightened homeland defense operations.
  • Largest joint, combined exercise kicks off PACAFNS 17 Mar 2003 -- Forces from all United States services started to arrive here March 11 for the peninsula's largest joint and combined exercise, Foal Eagle and Reception Staging Onward Movement and Integration, RSO&I.
  • Bomber maintenance crews deploy to Guam PACAFNS 17 Mar 2003 -- Airmen in the 7th Air Expeditionary Wing here are starting to feel at home after being deployed to this tropical isle.
  • CSSD-79 is backbone at PTA USMC News 17 Mar 2003 -- Several infantrymen are on the front line, and a war is raging. Ammunition is running low and food is almost out. The troops need reinforcements or the enemy is going to break through the line of defense and overrun the perimeter.
  • 1/12 gets the fire going at PTA USMC News 17 Mar 2003 -- An unknown enemy force has been spotted near the perimeter. It appears to have a massive amount of troops and weapons. It's coordinates are known, and something must be done fast. They are approaching quickly.

  • U.S. Delegation in Brussels to Reaffirm its Commitment to Afghanistan Washington File 17 Mar 2003 -- State Department spokesman Richard Boucher released a statement March 17 announcing that a U.S. delegation is in Brussels to meet with Afghan officials and representatives from other donor countries, in a follow-up meeting to the Afghanistan Development Forum held in Kabul March 13-14.
  • U.S. Expects to Give Afghanistan $820 Million in Fiscal 2003 Washington File 17 Mar 2003 -- The United States expects to provide Afghanistan with a total of $820 million during fiscal year 2003 for developmental, reconstruction and humanitarian needs. The aid package was announced by the State Department March 17, the same day a high-level forum was held in Brussels for international donors to hear Afghan officials present a budget request to cover their country's developmental expenses in the coming year.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

  • DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 17 Mar 2003

  • ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- Eleven Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Nine, including a four-year old girl, died during two Israeli raids into Gaza. Two others died in a mysterious explosion in the West Bank.
  • US / ISRAEL / PROTESTER VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- The United States says it has raised concern with Israel "at the highest level" over Sunday's death of an American protester crushed by an Israeli bulldozer while trying to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian home in Gaza.
  • ISRAEL PALESTINIANS VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- At least nine Palestinians were reported killed and around 20 injured during Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip Monday. The violence comes just a day after an American peace activist was crushed by an Israeli bulldozer while it was demolishing a Palestinian house near the Gaza-Egypt border.

  • CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Rebel leader seizes power, suspends constitution IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- Rebel leader Francois Bozize - whose forces seized power on Saturday in the Central African Republic - has declared himself head of state, suspended the constitution and announced plans for a National Transitional Council to run the country.
  • C-A-R / COUP VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- The African Union has strongly condemned Saturday's coup in the Central African Republic. France is evacuating its citizens from the country. The coup leader says he has suspended the constitution and the parliament, but is planning a transition back to democracy.
  • Annan strongly condemns coup in Central African Republic UN News Centre 17 Mar 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today forcefully condemned the military coup and accompanying violence and pillaging that took place in the Central African Republic (CAR) over the weekend.

  • SUDAN CEASE-FIRE VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- The Sudanese government and southern rebels have extended a cease-fire until the end of June. But analysts say residual fighting is still continuing.
  • SUDAN: Ceasefire extended IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- The ceasefire between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) rebel group has been extended until 30 June, rebel spokesman Samson Kwaje told IRIN on Monday.
  • SUDAN: Feature - Ecological aspects of the conflict IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- The long running conflict in Sudan, Africa's largest country, and the historical marginalisation of the mostly Christian south by the Arabised Islamic north, has largely been explained from political, religious and ethnic perspectives.

  • PUTIN-CHECHNYA VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin is urging Chechens to vote in this weekend's constitutional referendum, saying it could help end years of bloodshed in the break-away republic.
  • UGANDA: Truce extended by five days IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- The Ugandan government on Sunday extended its cessation of hostilities for a further five days, to allow contact between the government peace team and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group.
  • ERITREA-ETHIOPIA: Security Council urges cooperation with border commission IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- The UN Security Council has called on Ethiopia and Eritrea to accept an independent ruling on demarcation of their common boundary.
  • SOMALIA: Somaliland reiterates it will not join peace talks IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- The authorities in the self-declared republic of Somaliland have reiterated they will not take part in the ongoing Somali reconciliation talks in Kenya.
  • KENYA: Government starts destroying illicit weapons IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- A decision by Kenya to destroy illegal small arms and light weapons has been described as a positive move towards restoring peace and security in the eastern African region.
  • RWANDA: France agrees to receive genocide convicts IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- France became on Friday the first European country to sign an agreement with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) to implement sentences imposed by the UN court, the tribunal reported.
  • BURUNDI: 13 killed in Ruyigi fighting IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- An army officer, his bodyguard and 13 rebels died on Thursday during heavy fighting between government forces and rebels of the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD)faction led by Pierre Nkurunziza, a Burundi Defence Ministry official told IRIN.
  • LIBERIA: Civilians flee key central town IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- An exodus of civilians from the central Liberian town of Gbarnga, 150 km north of the capital, Monrovia, began on Sunday as clashes intensified in nearby Gbalatua between government forces and Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) rebels.
  • NIGERIA: Five killed as troops, militants clash in Niger Delta IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- Clashes between navy troops and ethnic Ijaw militants near Nigeria's southern oil town of Warri resulted in the death of five civilians, heightening tension in the town and other parts of the Niger Delta, community activists said on Sunday.
  • ANGOLA-NAMIBIA: Plans for return of refugees finalised IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Monday said details for the voluntary repatriation of up to 200,000 Angolans living in Zambia had been finalised following a meeting involving UNHCR and the two governments last week.
  • SIERRA LEONE: Liberian fighting could lead to food shortage in border areas IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- The recent upsurge of fighting in Liberia has had a tremendous impact in Sierra Leone, especially in border areas where an already overburdened host population could face food shortages due to a large refugee presence, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported.
  • COTE D'IVOIRE: UN special representative presents report to Security Council IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- The UN Special Repressentative for the Crisis in Cote d'Ivoire, Albert Tevoedjre, on Friday presented his first report on the situation in Cote d'Ivoire to the UN Security Council, the Council reported.

News Reports

  • SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 17 Mar 2003
  • SHAPE News Summary Analysis SHAPE 17 Mar 2003
  • W-H-O / PNEUMONIA VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- The World Health Organization says it still does not know the cause of a mysterious respiratory illness that is being blamed for the deaths of nine people. The disease, known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, began in Asia and has now spread to other regions of the world.
  • SERBIA / ARREST VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- Serbian police have arrested a pop signer for her alleged involvement in the killing of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic last week. The young woman, Svetlana "Ceca" Raznatovic, is also the widow of a feared warlord, who was killed in a gangland style attack in 2000.
  • U.N. Health Agency Mobilizes International Response to Mystery Illness Washington File 17 Mar 2003 -- The World Health Organization is stepping up its response to the sudden appearance of a pneumonia-like respiratory illness that can kill. In a March 17 statement, WHO reported that it is coordinating an international multicenter effort to identify the illness that authorities have dubbed Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
  • U.S. Supporting Search for Cause of Fast-spreading Pneumonia in Asia Washington File 17 Mar 2003 -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have joined international health officials in the search for the cause and treatment of a pneumonia-like illness that is spreading rapidly through Asian nations. In a hastily called teleconference briefing March 15, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson said, "We are doing everything humanly possible to learn what is causing this outbreak, how to treat patients, and how to prevent the spread to others."
  • ASIA PNEUMONIA VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- The World Health Organization has declared that a mysterious strain of atypical pneumonia thought to have sickened hundreds of people in Asia is a new disease. In Hong Kong the number of people suffering from the illness has almost doubled overnight.

  • AFGHAN / DONORS VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- International donors meeting in Brussels have pledged more than one-point-seven billion dollars in aid to help rebuild Afghanistan, which has been devastated by decades of war.
  • U-N / HUMAN RIGHTS VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- The annual meeting of the U-N Human Rights Commission has opened in Geneva, overshadowed by concerns of war breaking out in Iraq. Human-rights groups are also expressing concern over Libya's controversial chairmanship of the U-N's top human-rights forum.
  • SERBIA / POLITICS VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- Serbia's parliament is scheduled to meet Tuesday to name a successor to Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, who was assassinated last week. On Sunday Mr. Djindjic's Democratic Party nominated Zoran Zivkovic, vice president of the Democratic Party, to serve as Serbia's next prime minister.
  • CAMBODIA U-N TRIBUNAL VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- Cambodian and U-N negotiators have reached a draft agreement on trying senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge government for human rights violations.
  • SERBIA / REFORM VOA 16 Mar 2003 -- Despite the political uncertainty resulting from the assassination (last week) of Serbia's reformist Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, some analysts in Belgrade are optimistic that the pace of reform will continue and could even be stepped up.
  • THAILAND - CAMBODIA VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- Six weeks after anti-Thai riots in Cambodia destroyed Thailand's embassy, the two countries will begin talks to repair relations. Cambodia has paid Thailand six-million dollars in compensation for the destruction of the embassy.
  • ZIMBABWE PROTEST VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- Many Zimbabweans, mostly in urban areas, are bracing for the possible start of mass action Tuesday to protest the government's economic and human-rights policies. One person died and several were injured and arrested Sunday in a clash with Zimbabwe police at an opposition rally.
  • CHINA CABINET VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- China is announcing more high-level appointments in its leadership transition. Some new ministerial positions have also been created to better manage the country's economic reforms.
  • CHINA FOREIGN MINISTER VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- China has appointed a new foreign minister, but says its policy on the Iraq crisis will stay the same.
  • Jarhead: A Marine Sniper's Story VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- Amid all the policy debate and the rhetoric surrounding a possible war in Iraq, it's likely that few civilians really know what it feels like to train for and fight in a war. A critically acclaimed new book, "Jarhead: A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles," shines a timely light on the grim realities of war.
  • Jarhead: A Marine Sniper's Story (Part 2 of 2) VOA 17 Mar 2003 -- In diplomatic and political circles throughout the world, there is anxious debate about whether to wage war against Iraq, and exactly when an American-led invasion might begin. But one thing is certain. The soldiers who are preparing to fight that war will have their own hard won perspective on the confrontation.
  • ZIMBABWE: Commonwealth suspension continues until December IRIN 17 Mar 2003 -- Zimbabwe will remain suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth until December when the Commonwealth Heads of Government meet in Nigeria to decide on a way forward, Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, said on Sunday.



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