• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Deployed chaplains: Faith on the front lines AMCNS 08 Apr 2003 -- Since the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom, AMC chaplains have deployed alongside thousands of Air Force people, offering spiritual and religious services and helping increase the morale of these deployed warfighters, according to Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Gerald McManus, AMC Chaplain Service chief of readiness and evaluations.
• SECAF: Mobility key to war effort AMCNS 08 Apr 2003 -- The Secretary of the Air Force praised Air Mobility Command for quietly building up resources in the Middle East prior to the opening days of the war in Iraq and for the continued "spectacular" air support during the campaign to remove the Iraqi regime from power.
• AFGHANISTAN: First-ever human development report IRIN 08 Apr 2003 -- After a decade of lack of reliable information, Afghanistan is taking the first steps to prepare its first-ever National Human Development Report (NHDR). Currently, very little relevant and reliable information exists for policy makers and stakeholders. "Consultation will be meaningless unless stakeholders are equipped with information," Hanif Atmar, the Afghan minister of rural rehabilitation and development, told IRIN in the capital, Kabul, on Tuesday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• NETC up and Running; CNET Disestablished Navy NewStand 08 Apr 2003 -- The Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) was established in mid-March 2003 in Pensacola, Fla., to oversee Naval education and training. Concurrently, "CNET," or the Chief of Naval Education and Training, was disestablished.
• SBCT vehicles bring new dimension to NTC battlefield Army News 08 Apr 2003 -- Soldiers from Fort Lewis, Wash., are at the National Training Center getting a taste of how Army life will be in the 21st Century.
• First Joint Application Software Package Certified to Operate on NMCI Desktop Navy NewStand 08 Apr 2003 -- The Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) Director's office announced April 7 that the first joint forces application has been certified to operate on NMCI desktops.
• 7th Fleet Command Ship Finishes 'Lion City' Port Visit Navy NewStand 08 Apr 2003 -- During a visit which saw USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) receive a new commanding officer and members of the Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet staff meet with Singaporean military and civilian leaders to discuss issues of common interest and naval cooperation, Sailors aboard the 7th Fleet command ship made the most of what many describe as the best liberty in the Western Pacific -- Singapore. Sailors visited the Southeast Asian port city March 27-April 1.
• Navy Implements Targeted Stop-Loss for Some Hospital Corpsmen Navy NewStand 08 Apr 2003 -- In a move to bolster combat readiness and preserve unit integrity, the Navy implemented a targeted stop-loss for some Hospital Corpsmen (HM) this week, but will hold off implementation for 16 other skill sets also authorized under the plan.
• P-3C finishes upgrade program at VX-1 NAVAIR 08 Apr 2003 -- In an effort to quickly develop and introduce quality aviation systems and platforms to the warfighter, DoD has advocated forward thinking in the test community.
• Prowler hones future weapon system NAVAIR 08 Apr 2003 -- The EA-6B Prowler will soon get its largest weapons system upgrade in approximately 15 years thanks to a team of pilots and engineers here and at NAVAIR China Lake.
• VX-1 basking in latest Iraq achievements NAVAIR 08 Apr 2003 -- For the first time in its history, the executive officer of VX-1 - Mehringer - "fleeted up" to assume command of the unit, though this practice is common in some programs and squadrons but not others.

• Grossman: NATO Enlargement Will Revitalize Alliance Washington File 08 Apr 2003 -- NATO's latest round of enlargement with seven new members will not only strengthen democracy and stability in Europe but also revitalize the alliance, a State Department official told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee April 8.

Defense Industry

• Lockheed Martin Sets Sights on Next Phase of Missile Defense Agency's High Altitude Airship Program Lockheed Martin 08 Apr 2003 -- The Missile Defense Agency has awarded Lockheed Martin a $2 million concept definition contract to advance the company's already well-defined High Altitude Airship (HAA) configuration. This is the initial phase of MDA's Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) program that will lead to production of a prototype airship for demonstration flights in 2006.
• U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin Team up to Successfully Launch Final Milstar II Satellite on a Titan IV B Rocket Lockheed Martin 08 Apr 2003 -- Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force joined forces to successfully place the Milstar II military communications satellite into orbit today. Titan IV B, the nation's most powerful launch vehicle, roared off the launch pad at 9:43 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Six and one-half hours later the Milstar II satellite separated from the Centaur upper stage, joining the four other Milstar satellites already on orbit to complete the constellation.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 08 Apr 2003
• U-N /N-G-O/CONGO VOA 08 Apr 2003 -- The United Nations Security Council has called for an immediate investigation into the massacre in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo last week. At the same time, the New York-based International Rescue Committee (I-R-C)is calling the four-and-one-half year old Congo civil war the deadliest conflict in African history.
• Condemning rebel violence, Security Council asks for probe into DR of Congo massacre UN News Centre 08 Apr 2003 -- Amid reports of persistent violence and human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), members of the United Nations Security Council today strongly condemned the recent activities of rebel groups in the volatile northeast of the country and called for the immediate withdrawal of foreign troops from the territory.
• DRC: Conflict deadliest since World War II - aid agency IRIN 08 Apr 2003 -- The conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has cost more lives than any other since World War II, the New York-based aid agency, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) said in a report released on Tuesday.
• DRC Must Remain High on U.S. Agenda, Human Rights Director Says Washington File 08 Apr 2003 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) must be given high priority on America's foreign policy agenda. If America turns a blind eye to the DRC, the country could easily slip back into endless chaos and fragmentation," says Dr. François Grignon, director of the Central Africa Project at the International Crisis Group (ICG).
• DRC: Protect civilians in Ituri, Human Rights Watch urges Uganda IRIN 08 Apr 2003 -- Following reports of a massacre of about 1,000 civilians on Thursday in Ituri district, north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the New York-based NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Ugandan forces to prevent further civilian deaths in the region.
• DRC-Rwanda: Kagame denies troop presence in DRC IRIN 08 Apr 2003 -- Rwandan President Paul Kagame denied on Monday that Rwandan troops had gone back into the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). But he warned that his troops could re-enter the DRC if Rwanda's security were threatened, the government-owned Radio Rwanda reported.
• DRC: 15 die in Bukavu clashes IRIN 08 Apr 2003 -- Fifteen people died on Sunday when shooting broke out between a rebel military group and a local militia in Bukavu, the principal town of South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), rebel leaders and local journalists said.
• LIBERIA: ECOWAS verification team in Monrovia IRIN 08 Apr 2003 -- A six-member team from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has arrived in Liberia's capital, Monrovia, for a week-long mission to verify Liberia's compliance with UN Security Council demands.
• LIBERIA: A country at a crossroads - SG's Representative IRIN 08 Apr 2003 -- Liberia is at crossroads and warrants concerted action by the international community to stave off a looming catastrophe, Abou Moussa, Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Liberia, said on Monday.
• LIBERIA: Humanitarian agencies access refugee, IDP camps IRIN 08 Apr 2003 -- Humanitarian agencies have been allowed access to refugee and IDP camps close to the Liberian capital, Monrovia, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its weekly situation report of 1-7 April.
• Bush, Blair Meet Press on Post-war Iraq, Mideast, Northern Ireland Washington File 08 Apr 2003 -- President Bush says that as the war in Iraq has progressed, the world has witnessed "the brutal desperation, the true character" of Saddam Hussein's regime and is also witnessing "the liberation and humanitarian aid our coalition is bringing to that country as a new day begins in Iraq."
• Bush, Blair, Ahern Affirm Commitment to Northern Ireland Peace Accord Washington File 08 Apr 2003 -- The United States, Britain and Ireland have affirmed their individual and collective commitment to implementing the Good Friday Agreement to bring
• BUSH/BLAIR/NORTHERN IRELAND VOA 08 Apr 2003 -- President Bush is urging Northern Ireland's political leaders to bury their differences and seize the opportunity for peace. Mr. Bush spoke about the issue during his summit meeting outside Belfast with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

• BUSH / BLAIR / MIDDLE EAST VOA 08 Apr 2003 -- In addition to holding hours of talks on the situation in Iraq, President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair also used their meeting in Northern Ireland to discuss plans for peace in the Middle East.
• ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS ROADMAP VOA 08 Apr 2003 -- When President Bush met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Northern Ireland, the two allies focused on the war in Iraq and its aftermath. But the so-called roadmap to bring an end to the Israeli Palestinian conflict was also on the agenda. There is widespread skepticism about the roadmap from both the Israeli and the Palestinian side.

• Security Council re-establishes panel to investigate embargo violations in Somalia UN News Centre 08 Apr 2003 -- Recognizing the important need to improve the implementation and monitoring of the arms embargo against Somalia, the United Nations Security Council today re-established for six months a panel of experts to investigate any violations of the ban.peace to Northern Ireland, and will support effective monitoring arrangements and will explore ways to encourage the flow of investment to the area.
• SOMALIA: No elections in disputed regions, Puntland says IRIN 08 Apr 2003 -- There will be no elections in the disputed regions of Sool and Sanaag when Somaliland holds its presidential polls next week, according to the neighbouring self-declared autonomous region of Puntland.
• S-A-F/GREAT LAKES VOA 08 Apr 2003 -- The presidents of five African countries are meeting Wednesday in Cape Town to discuss recent threats to the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Last week, nearly a thousand people were massacred in eastern Congo just a day after the signing of a peace accord.
• CHECHNYA/HUMAN RIGHTS VOA 08 Apr 2003 -- European nations have formally submitted a resolution to the top U-N human-rights forum criticizing Russia's actions in Chechnya.
• PHILIPPINES BLAST VOA 08 Apr 2003-- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo says police have two suspects in custody for a series of deadly bombings in the southern Philippines
• INDONESIA ACEH VOA 08 Apr 2003-- In Indonesia's Aceh province, officials from the Swiss group Henri Dunant Center say they are withdrawing staff from field offices because of violent threats.
• SUDAN: Plea to include disputed regions in peace talks IRIN 08 Apr 2003 -- Mediators in the ongoing peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebels have been urged to include three disputed regions if any lasting solution to the country's long-running conflict is to be reached.
• ETHIOPIA: Feature - Peacekeepers winning hearts and minds IRIN 08 Apr 2003 -- They gather before daylight, the sick and infirm - desperate for medical treatment. Some have waited overnight, many for at least five hours, to see Major Upansna Thakur - a doctor who devotes much of her time to helping the sick.
• SUDAN: Government accused of Darfur attacks IRIN 08 Apr 2003 -- The Sudanese government has been accused of stepping up attacks against indigenous communities in Darfur, western Sudan, as part of its response to the recent formation of a new armed movement.
• RWANDA: Tribunals for Rwanda and former Yugoslavia increase cooperation IRIN 08 Apr 2003 -- The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in Arusha, Tanzania, and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, are planning to establish a joint telecommunications network, the ICTR said in a statement on 4 April.
• COTE D'IVOIRE: ECOWAS approves beefed-up ECOMICI contingent IRIN 08 Apr 2003 -- The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has approved an increase from 1,200 to 3,200 in the number of West African peacekeepers deployed in Cote d'Ivoire.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 08 Apr 2003
• SHAPE News Summary Analysis SHAPE 08 Apr 2003
• Strugglers Against Oppression Deserve Help, Kirkpatrick Says Washington File 08 Apr 2003 -- Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, head of the U.S. delegation to the 59th session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, told delegates April 8 that "all peoples struggling against oppression, no matter where, deserve our help."
• CONGRESS / CUBA VOA 08 Apr 2003 -- Members of Congress have condemned Cuban President Fidel Castro in the wake of a crackdown on dissidents in that country. The U-S House of Representatives Tuesday debated a resolution calling for the immediate release of Cuban political prisoners.
• EDITORIAL: REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS VOA 08 Apr 2003 -- In the midst of the war to oust the brutal Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq, the U.S. has released its annual report on human rights practices around the world. Secretary of State Colin Powell said the stakes in the war could not be higher
• INDIA WHO POLIO VOA 08 Apr 2003 -- The World Health Organization has intensified efforts to eliminate the crippling disease, polio, in India following a dramatic increase in cases during the past year. Health officials fear India's new polio cases could set back a global campaign to eradicate the disease.
• ZIMBABWE/REPRESSION VOA 08 Apr 2003 -- The Zimbabwe government says it has arrested 23 alleged army deserters who, it charges, had established links with the political opposition's underground military wing. The government says the deserters had stolen explosives from the army for planned attacks during Zimbabwe's national strike last month.
• ASIA PNEUMONIA VOA 08 Apr 2003 -- Hong Kong continues to be the center of a global health emergency as the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome shows no sign of subsiding. As new suspected SARS cases also are being discovered in Vietnam and Singapore, governments around Asia are preparing for outbreaks and updating quarantine laws.
• Northrop Grumman, Orbital Sciences Join Forces To Refine Requirements For Orbital Space Plane Northrop Grumman 08 Apr 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE: NOC) Integrated Systems sector and Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), Dulles, Va., have been awarded separate, 16-month study contracts by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center to help refine requirements and operational concepts for NASA's proposed Orbital Space Plane (OSP). Totaling approximately $45 million, the coordinated contracts will allow the companies to address NASA requirements that the OSP provide a crew rescue capability for the International Space Station (ISS) by 2010 and a two-way crew transport capability by 2012.
• NORTHROP GRUMMAN, ORBITAL SCIENCES JOIN FORCES TO REFINE REQUIREMENTS FOR ORBITAL SPACE PLANE Orbital Sciences Corp. 08 Apr 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE: NOC) Integrated Systems sector and Dulles, Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) have been awarded separate, 16-month study contracts by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center to help refine requirements and operational concepts for NASA's proposed Orbital Space Plane (OSP).