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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Florida Guard's Red Horse unit deploys ACCNS 02 Apr 2003 -- Cheryl Beckman knew this day would come. In her heart and mind she knew it was inescapable. She and her family had been preparing for it months in advance. Yet, it didn't resonate until today.

Defense Policy / Programs

• White House Press Briefing White House 02 Apr 2003
• Wing prepares for CV-22 training AFPN 02 Apr 2003 -- With two CV-22 simulators on board here, 58th Special Operations Wing workers are making strides toward setting up training for the new aircraft.
• Advanced scopes give engine mechanics an edge AFPN 02 Apr 2003 -- New digital borescopes are allowing mechanics here to more efficiently and accurately inspect aircraft engines getting aircraft back in warfighters' hands quicker.
• NSWC Port Hueneme Welcomes New Self Defense Test Ship Navy NewStand 02 Apr 2003 -- In a wharf-side ceremony March 27, the decommissioned USS Paul F. Foster (DD 964) was turned over to Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division as the Navy's new Self Defense Test Ship (SDTS).
• After seven months of training... "Charlie" heads home USMC 02 Apr 2003 -- Marines from C Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division will complete their required training on Okinawa and head back to their home base at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii within the next two weeks.
• Camp Garcia Closes; AFWTF, VC-8 to Disestablish Navy NewStand 02 Apr 2003 -- With the cessation of exercises on the Vieques Naval Training Range, the primary facilities on Roosevelt Roads directly related to that training have been ordered to disestablish.
• Delta rocket takes GPS satellite into orbit AFSPC 02 Apr 2003 -- A Delta II, carrying a Global Positioning System satellite, launches from Cape Canaveral, Fla., March 31.
• Airmen keep base operational amidst blizzard AFSPC 02 Apr 2003 -- My story begins at Buckley March 18. The snow fell for three days and was 40 inches deep in spots.
• Court rules in favor of Air Force on training initiative ACCNS 02 Apr 2003 -- The Northern District Court of Texas published opinions in favor of the Air Force on the related cases of Davis Mountains Trans-Pecos Heritage Association and Buster Welch March 24.
• NAVAIR demonstrates successful airborne control of UAV NAVAIR 02 Apr 2003 -- Achieving an historic milestone for naval aviation, the "Hairy Buffalo," NAVAIR's flying Network Centric Warfare (NCW) laboratory, successfully demonstrated airborne control of an Aerolight unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) March 31, at Webster Field in St. Inigoes, MD.

Defense Industry

• GE's T700 Helicopter Engine Ordered For Japan's Apache Attack Helicopters GE Aviation 02 Apr 2003 -- GE Aircraft Engines' (GEAE) T700 helicopter engine will power Japan's new fleet of Apache attack helicopters in an engine order valued at $50 million.
• Lockheed Martin Receives $96 Million Contract to Enter Low-Rate Production of Transformational HIMARS Lockheed Martin 02 Apr 2003 -- Lockheed Martin has received a $96.4 million contract to commence Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.
• Lockheed Martin Joint Venture Delivers Over-the-Horizon Radar to Australian Government Lockheed Martin 02 Apr 2003 -- The Australian government will be able to conduct wide-area surveillance of the sea and air on its Northern coast following operational launch today of a network of over-the-horizon (OTH) high-frequency radars.
• Lockheed Martin to Provide Long-Range Attack Projectile for U.S. Navy Advanced Gun System Lockheed Martin 02 Apr 2003 -- Lockheed Martin has been selected to provide the Long-Range Land Attack Projectile (LRLAP) for the Advanced Gun System (AGS) on board U. S. Navy DD(X) next-generation destroyers.
• Pratt & Whitney to Provide Complete Fleet Management for Italian Air Force F100 Engines Pratt & Whitney 02 Apr 2003 -- Pratt & Whitney (P&W) has received a U.S. $45 million contract to perform fleet management tasks for F100-PW-220E engines that power F-16 fighters operated by the Italian Air Force (ItAF). The contract, released from the U.S. Air Force (USAF), represents P&W’s most comprehensive fleet management agreement in support of an international F100 engine customer.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 02 Apr 2003
• PRESS BRIEFING BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT United Nations 02 Apr 2003
• Annan proposes new UN mission to guide peace process in Côte d'Ivoire UN News Centre 02 Apr 2003 -- As the various factions in Côte d'Ivoire grapple with the challenges of rebuilding their nation in the aftermath of sixth months of conflict, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has proposed the creation of a new United Nations mission in the country to help smooth progress towards implementation of a crucial power-sharing peace accord.
• IVORY COAST / GOVERNMENT VOA 02 Apr 2003 -- Rebels in Ivory Coast have agreed to accept the nine cabinet posts they were offered in a deal to end a six-month civil war in the West African country.
• COTE D'IVOIRE: UNSG releases first report on Cote d'Ivoire IRIN 02 Apr 2003 -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has highlighted the role the United Nations could play in consolidating peace efforts in Cote d'Ivoire in his first report on the crisis in the West African country.
• Accord offers Congolese people best chance for peace and reconciliation - Annan UN News Centre 02 Apr 2003 -- In an agreement hailed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan as offering the best chance for the Congolese people to restore peace after nearly five years of civil war, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and representatives of rebel factions today gave final approval to the creation of a comprehensive power-sharing administration and new constitution.
• D-R-C / PEACE VOA 02 Apr 2003 -- An agreement to end years of fighting and bring democratic elections to the Democratic Republic of Congo has been signed in South Africa. But the signing ceremony was marred by the absence of the president of Congo.
• DRC: "Business as usual" for child soldiers IRIN 02 Apr 2003 -- The NGO Refugees International (RI) has called for leaders of groups that employ child soldiers to be declared war criminals and prosecuted as such by the International Criminal Court.
• SUDAN / TALKS VOA 02 Apr 2003 -- Sudanese President Umar al Bashir today (Wednesday) held a rare meeting with rebel leader John Garang in the Kenyan capital.The two men expressed hope that they will find a solution to their 20-year-old conflict by June.
• KENYA-SUDAN: President for talks with rebel leader IRIN 02 Apr 2003 -- President Umar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir of Sudan is due to hold talks with the leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), John Garang, during a one-day state visit to Kenya on Wednesday, a Kenyan foreign ministry official told IRIN.
• C-A-R-GOVERNMENT VOA 02 Apr 2003 -- The Central African Republic's new government, named this week following last month's military coup, pledges to return the country to democratic rule. Despite international condemnation of the March 15th coup, many Central Africans say they supported the use of force to bring about a change of government.
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN Peace-building Office to work with new administration IRIN 02 Apr 2003 -- The representative of the UN secretary-general in the Central African Republic (CAR), Lamine Cisse, has said the activities of the UN Peace-building Office (BONUCA) in CAR will be revised and adapted to the new situation in the country.
• UN refugee agency reports more Liberians fleeing fighting cross into Guinea UN News Centre 02 Apr 2003 -- With refugees still trickling in to Guinea from a weekend of violence in north-eastern Liberia, the United Nations refugee agency has begun to transfer more than 7,000 newly arrived Liberians from the border region to safer inland camps.
• SRI LANKA / WORLD BANK VOA 02 Apr 2003 -- The World Bank has announced an 800-million-dollar aid package for Sri Lanka. The money will be used to rebuild areas of the country devastated by two decades of civil war.
• SOUTHERN AFRICA: Focus on rural civilian protection IRIN 02 Apr 2003 -- Controversy over rural security has deepened in South Africa with a government decision to phase out a paramilitary force that was part of the apartheid state's security apparatus.
• NIGER: Former conflict zone chooses between arms and development IRIN 02 Apr 2003 -- Five years after the end of rebel wars in Niger, the presence of small arms in that country and over the border in Nigeria and Chad, continues to threaten the well-being of millions of people. Freeing a former conflict zone of such weapons is the aim of a pilot project under way in southeastern Niger. However, to ensure long-term success, similar initiatives with a more regional focus may be needed.
• ANGOLA: Govt steps up efforts to disarm civilians IRIN 02 Apr 2003 -- Angola has set up a commission to explore ways of disarming the civilian population, a senior police official said on Wednesday.
• UGANDA: Civilians targeted by their own people IRIN 02 Apr 2003 -- Civilians in marginalised northern Uganda have been bearing the brunt of the insurrection by the Acholi rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) for over 16 years.
• Great Lakes: Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Africa to send 3,500 peacekeeping troops IRIN 02 Apr 2003 -- Defence ministers of Ethiopia, Mozambique and South Africa announced on Tuesday that their countries would send 3,500 peacekeeping troops to Burundi, under the aegis of the African Union (AU), Ethiopian Television reported.
• BURUNDI-TANZANIA: Refugees, agencies braced for political transition IRIN 02 Apr 2003 -- In Burundi the first period of a three-year transitional government is drawing to an end. Under the terms of the peace agreement to end the civil war, presidential powers are to be transfered from a Tutsi to a Hutu on 1 May. But speculation among analysts and commentators over what the future holds for Burundi is rife.
• COTE D IVOIRE-LIBERIA-SIERRA LEONE: Global Witness accuses Liberia of destabilising neighbours IRIN 02 Apr 2003 -- An international non-governmental organisation (NGO) has accused Liberia’s government of destabilising West Africa by supporting and arming rebels in Cote d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone. In a report issued on Monday, Global Witness also accused the government of Liberian President Charles Taylor of regularly importing weapons in violation of UN sanctions.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 02 Apr 2003
• SHAPE News Summary Analysis SHAPE 02 Apr 2003
• $25 Million Fund Supports Democracy in Southeastern Europe Washington File 02 Apr 2003 -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation have announced a $25 million initiative to support good governance in Southeastern Europe.
• UN fund for torture victims appeals for more donations UN News Centre 02 Apr 2003 -- Having reached less than one-tenth of its annual target for funding in the first quarter of the year, a United Nations trust fund for victims of torture appealed today for donations to help it reach its minimum goal of $13 million for 2003.
• CUBA/DISSIDENTS VOA 02 Apr 2003 -- Political dissident leaders in Havana say Cuba's communist government will begin summary trials on Thursday for more than 70 dissidents and independent journalists who were arrested in a government crackdown in March. Prosecutors may seek life sentences for some of the dissidents who are accused of plotting with the United States to undermine the government of Cuban President Fidel Castro.
• U-S-TURKMENISTAN RIGHTS VOA 02 Apr 2003 -- The United States has welcomed the release of an environmental activist in Turkmenistan who had been sentenced to three years' imprisonment last month for illegally leaving the central Asian country and concealing a plot against its authoritarian president, Saparmurat Niyazov.
• TURKMENISTAN / ACTIVIST VOA 02 Apr 2003 -- The president of Turkmenistan has pardoned an environmental activist whose jailing last month sparked an outcry from human rights groups. The activist was sentenced to three years in prison for concealing a criminal act -- prosecutors charged he knew in advance of an alleged assassination attempt against President Saparmurad Niyazov.

• US / SARS VOA 02 Apr 2003 -- U-S health officials say evidence is growing that a previously unknown coronavirus is causing the new form of pneumonia, called SARS, spreading globally from China. The officials would like tissue samples from Chinese SARS patients to help confirm the virus.
• ASIA PNEUMONIA FEARS VOA 02 Apr 2003 -- Hong Kong is gripped by fear as the number of people affected by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, continues to rise. People move around the territory wearing surgical face masks, and the slightest rumor sends residents into panic.
• W-H-O-SARS WARNING VOA 02 Apr 2003 -- The World Health Organization, in a rare move, has issued a warning against traveling to Hong Kong and the southern Chinese province of Guangdong because of a deadly outbreak of a mysterious flu-like illness called SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome.
• CDC Provides Answers on Newly Emerging Respiratory Illness Washington File 02 Apr 2003 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) April 2 recommended that persons traveling to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Guangdong Province, China consider postponing all but essential travel. A WHO press release says the newly revised caution on travel is intended to help in the prevention of further spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS, beyond these two areas of China where it has proven the most virulent.
• ASIA PNEUMONIA CHINA VOA 02 Apr 2003 -- China's government has revealed a dozen more deaths from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, mostly in the southern Chinese province thought to have spawned the flu-like illness. The deaths boost the global toll for the fast-spreading disease to more than 60.
• ASIA PNEUMONIA/REGION VOA 02 Apr 2003 -- Preventative measures against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, were stepped up throughout Asia Wednesday, on the fringes of the disease's epicenter in Hong Kong and Southern China.
• ASIA PNEUMONIA VOA 02 Apr 2003 -- The World Health Organization has issued its sternest travel advisory since the start of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak. It cautioned travelers to avoid Hong Kong and southern China, which together account for more than two-thirds of the world's 18-hundred SARS cases.

• ATK Propulsion and Composite Technology Supports Launch of Japan's H-IIA Rocket ATK 02 Apr 2003 -- ATK (Alliant Techsystems) (NYSE:ATK) said four Solid Strap-on Boosters (SSB) developed and produced by ATK Thiokol Propulsion, Promontory, Utah, supported the launch on March 28 of a National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) H-IIA rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan.