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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• "Old Ironsides" moves out USAREUR 16 Apr 2003 -- The 1st Armored Division, known as "Old Ironsides," began moving out to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Apr.16.
• Theater frequency management organizes airwaves AFPN 16 Apr 2003 -- Along with the thousands of planes filling the sky over Iraq are more than 5,000 different electronic frequencies used for critical communications between the systems and people who make those flights possible.
• C-130 crews keep the supplies coming AFPN 16 Apr 2003 -- When coalition air forces erupted in battle full force, it was business as usual for Master Sgt. John Spillane and fellow aircrew members of the 320th Air Expeditionary Squadron.
• Kirtland Guard, active duty work together in Bulgaria AFPN 16 Apr 2003 -- Supporting air-refueling operations for aircraft striking targets in Iraq has found Kirtland active-duty and Air National Guard airmen working together at Camp Sarafovo, Bulgaria.
• MAG-13 pilots test new revolution in close air support USMC News 16 Apr 2003 -- Pilots of Marine Aircraft Group 13, from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., have put the latest development in close air support to the test while flying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. greater security, political reconstruction and the drafting of a new constitution will be a "meaningless exercise."

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Briefing 16 Apr 2003 -- "As you know, the Congress did in terms of both dollars and time what we asked them to do. And we really are grateful to them for that. We got our part of the supplemental -- $62.6 billion, which I'm told is the largest ever supplemental in history for defense. And we thank the Congress for that. "

• DoD Getting $62.9 Billion to Help Pay for War AFPS 16 Apr 2003 -- The Defense Department is receiving $62.6 billion as a result of the emergency supplemental bill President Bush signed today.
• Bush Signs $79 Billion Wartime Supplemental Budget AFPS 16 Apr 2003 -- President Bush signed a $79 billion wartime supplemental at the White House this morning "to cover the needs directly arising from Operation Iraqi Freedom and the reconstruction of Iraq," he said in St. Louis this afternoon.

• White House Press Gaggle White House 16 Apr 2003
• Benfold Crew Starts Second Phase of Sea Swap Navy NewStand 16 Apr 2003 -- Crew members of the guided missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) kicked off their deployment yesterday (April 15) by flying to Singapore to relieve the crew of USS Higgins (DDG 76). This deployment kicks off the second phase of "Sea Swap."
• CNO Discusses Future of Navy, Sea Power 21 Navy NewStand 16 Apr 2003 -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark visited the U.S. Naval Academy recently as part of the Naval Institute's 129th annual meeting and 13th Annapolis Seminar.
• Bombers transform from broadswords to scalpels USAFENS 16 Apr 2003 -- Air Force bombers, with a history of delivering massive loads of ordnance on large targets, used a precision capability found on fighter aircraft for the first time in war transforming them from broadswords into scalpels.
• Pentagon Warns of Flea and Tick Collar Dangers AFPS 16 Apr 2003 -- The Pentagon is, once again, advising service members that flea and tick collars work great on pets, but not on humans.
• Blum takes helm of National Guard Bureau Army News 16 Apr 2003 -- The Army National Guard two-star general who helped form the United States Northern Command, the new military organization responsible for homeland security, has become the 25th chief of the National Guard Bureau.
• Space, an asymmetric advantage AFSPC 16 Apr 2003 -- General Lance W. Lord, commander, Air Force Space Command, recently discussed the important role space is playing in current operations-including Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Immigrant Soldiers VOA 16 Apr 2003 -- Los Angeles city officials are urging President Bush to grant citizenship to immigrants who are serving in the U-S military. A church official first issued the call at the funeral of an immigrant who was serving in the Marine Corps.
• Carl Vinson Battle Group returns to Guam Seventh Fleet 16 Apr 2003 -- USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) returned to Guam April 17, marking the aircraft carrier's second port call to the western most U.S. territory during the ship's current deployment to the Western Pacific.
• Media open house for VECTOR X-31 Apr. 23 NAVAIR 16 Apr 2003 -- The VECTOR X-31 flight test team will host a media open house Wednesday, Apr. 23, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. here. The X-31 is in the final test phase of the VECTOR program, with the world's first automated ESTOL landings expected to occur within the week. Subsequent landings will be made at increasing angles of attack and decreasing speed, up until the program conclusion on April 29.
• MTU keeps Marines on target USMC News 16 Apr 2003 -- Lance Cpl. Jacob P. Appenzeller, a primary marksman instructor for III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, may not possess much rank on his collar, but he is still leading Marines to their expected goals.
• One shot...one kill Snipers take aim to improve skills USMC News 16 Apr 2003 -- The legendary Marine scout sniper is known for his ability to hit his target from long range with one shot. He must also be able to perform operations in any environment.

• Conclusion of Operation Display Deterrence and Article 4 security consultations NATO Press Release 16 Apr 2003 -- This morning, the North Atlantic Council (NAC) agreed to conclude its formal consultations on Turkey's security under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

Defense Industry

• General Dynamics Awarded $15.4 Million Contract Modification for Submarine Work General Dynamics 16 Apr 2003 -- The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $15.4 million contract modification for nuclear-submarine work. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• Lockheed Martin Strengthens Team WIN-T with Addition of QUALCOMM Lockheed Martin 16 Apr 2003 -- Lockheed Martin has added QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a pioneer in commercial wireless and mobile communications technology, to its industry team competing for the Army's $7 billion Warfighter Information Network - Tactical (WIN-T) program.
• Northrop Grumman-Built Fire Scout UAV Flies First Flight Operated by U.S. Marine Ground Control Station Northrop Grumman 16 Apr 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Integrated Systems sector continued its successful flight testing of the U.S. Navy's RQ-8A Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle in March with the first flight fully operated from the U.S. Marine Corps' (USMC) S-788, a HMMWV-mounted ground control station (GCS).

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 16 Apr 2003
• SOUTHERN AFRICA: UN welcomes diamond certification plan IRIN 16 Apr 2003 -- A UN General Assembly resolution on Tuesday welcomed a decision to implement a global certification scheme for rough diamonds, supporting international efforts to break the link between the illegal trade in diamonds and armed conflict.
• Road Map's success depends on Israelis, Palestinians staying the course - UN official UN News Centre 16 Apr 2003 -- The Israelis and Palestinians, along with the international community, must be prepared to stay the course on a plan to settle the Middle East crisis, however strewn with obstacles that course may be, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today.
• U.S. Opposes Human Rights Commission Resolutions Criticizing Israel Washington File 16 Apr 2003 -- The United States, at the 59th session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, said it would vote against four proposed resolutions that criticize Israeli practices and polll be a "meaningless exercise."
• ABU ABBAS REACT VOA 16 Apr 2003 -- The Palestinian Authority has called for the United States to free fugitive P-L-O guerrilla leader Abu Abbas, who was captured by U-S Special Forces in Baghdad late Monday. But the Israeli government says Abu Abbas is a terrorist wanted by Italy and should be put on trial.
• ISRAEL/HOLIDAY ALERT VOA 16 Apr 2003 -- Fearing terror attacks during the week-long Jewish Passover holiday, Israel has imposed a complete closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The announcement came shortly before the start of Passover, which begins (began) at sunset Wednesday.

• SIERRA LEONE: Public hearings start at truth commission IRIN 16 Apr 2003 -- Public hearings began on Monday at Sierra Leone's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). About 700 people, including victims, perpetrators and witnesses of the country's 10-year civil war are expected to appear before the Commission, which will hold sessions in the capital, Freetown, and district headquarters.
• SIERRA LEONE: Refugees in Guinea urged to return home IRIN 16 Apr 2003 -- Officials of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Sierra Leone government are conducting a joint information campaign in refugee camps to encourage Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea to go back home.
• ERITREA: Chapter with Ethiopia closed, Isayas says IRIN 16 Apr 2003 -- Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki has said that as far as his country is concerned, the chapter of war with Ethiopia is closed.
• ETHIOPIA: Border commission accused of "belittling" calls for change IRIN 16 Apr 2003 -- Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin has accused the independent Boundary Commission of “belittling” Ethiopia's calls for changes to the new border with Eritrea.
• RWANDA-TANZANIA: Rwanda is safe for returning refugees, says UNHCR head IRIN 16 Apr 2003 -- Rwanda is safe for refugees in Tanzania and Uganda to return home, the head of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ruud Lubbers, told IRIN on Tuesday. However, he added that any repatriation must be voluntary.
• DRC-UGANDA: Kinshasa wants timetable for Ugandan pull-out IRIN 16 Apr 2003 -- The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) asked Uganda on Thursday to provide a detailed timetable for the withdrawal of its troops in the country, the UN Mission in the DRC, MONUC, reported.
• UGANDA: UNHCR says no rift with government IRIN 16 Apr 2003 -- The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has said the abrupt expulsion of its Ugandan representative, Saihou Saidy, by the Ugandan authorities does not reflect any significant rift between UNHCR and government. Saidy was expelled following a disagreement over the relocation of Sudanese refugees.
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Congolese refugees leave UNHCR compound IRIN 16 Apr 2003 -- Some 284 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who had camped on the premises of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) after the 15 March coup in the Central African Republic (CAR) have left, an official of the agency told IRIN on Tuesday.
• BURUNDI: Parliament passes genocide law IRIN 16 Apr 2003 -- Legislators in Burundi voted 99-3 on Tuesday in favour of a bill repressing genocide and other crimes of war. There were 26 abstentions.
• DRC: Team investigating massacre travels to Bunia IRIN 16 Apr 2003 -- A UN team charged with investigating the massacre of Hema people in Ituri District, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), travelled on Wednesday from Kinshasa to Bunia, the principal town in Ituri, Patricia Tome, reports and information officer for the UN Mission to the DRC, MONUC, said.
• LIBERIA: IDPs complain of harassment, forced conscription IRIN 16 Apr 2003 -- Internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been the targets of constant harrassment, intimidation and forced conscription by armed government militias at IDP camps in the western suburbs of the Liberian capital, Monrovia, displaced persons have said.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 16 Apr 2003
• SHAPE News Summary Analysis SHAPE 16 Apr 2003
• CONGRESS / CUBA VOA 16 Apr 2003 -- Members of Congress have renewed criticism of the Cuban government in the wake of a recent crackdown on dissidents in that country. Lawmakers on the House (of Representatives) International Relations committee gathered in an unusual hearing during a congressional recess (break) to examine recent developments.
• E-U / SUMMIT VOA 16 Apr 2003 -- Ten countries have signed a treaty in Athens Wednesday paving the way for their entry into the European Union.
• INDIA/TRUCKERS STRIKE VOA 16 Apr 2003 -- Truck drivers across India are striking to protest higher fuel prices and a proposed new tax. The strike is pushing up prices of essential items in many parts of the country.
• ZIMBABWE / FUEL VOA 16 Apr 2003 -- In Zimbabwe, a massive hike in the price of fuel Wednesday has brought calls from the political opposition for an immediate and indefinite general strike.
• OAS Commission Condemns Cuban Government's Executions of Three Persons Washington File 16 Apr 2003 -- The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has condemned the Cuban government's execution of three men charged with the hijacking of a passenger ferry boat in Havana and taking its passengers hostage.
• U.S. Official Criticizes Cuba's Repression of Dissidents Washington File 16 Apr 2003 -- The Cuban government's recent crackdown on dissidents is indicative of its failure, and the United States must continue to support Cuban citizens in their efforts toward democracy and a better life, says Lorne Craner, assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor.
• U.S. Applauds Latin American Resolution Condemning Cuba on Human Rights Washington File 16 Apr 2003 -- The United States strongly backs a resolution introduced by three Latin American nations before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights condemning the violations of human rights in Cuba by the regime of Cuban President Fidel Castro, says Kim Holmes, the State Department's assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs.
• U.S. to Continue Working Toward Peaceful Change in Cuba, Says Official Washington File 16 Apr 2003 -- The Bush Administration's work with "truly independent Cuban civil society" is helping the United States move toward the goal of encouraging rapid, peaceful transition to democracy in the island nation, says Curtis Struble, the State Department's acting assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.
• USAID Official Says Agency Will Continue to Assist Cuba's People Washington File 16 Apr 2003 -- Although "many millions of people in another part of the world" have now been released from the grip of a brutal dictatorship, "the Cuban people are not yet free," says Karen Harbert, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) deputy assistant administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean.
• U.S. Joins Call for End of Human Rights Violations in Chechnya Washington File 16 Apr 2003 -- The United States said it would vote in favor of a U.N. Commission on Human Rights draft resolution that calls on Russia to stop and prevent violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Chechnya.
• Secretary of State Powell Condemns Repression in Cuba Washington File 16 Apr 2003 -- The Cuban government's arrest, summary trial and subsequent harsh sentencing of 75 dissidents are "condemnable" actions and should spark outrage, particularly among regional leaders and representatives of those nations participating in the United Nations Human Rights Commission currently convened in Geneva, says Secretary of State Colin Powell.
• NIGERIA: Opposition parties reject results IRIN 16 Apr 2003 -- Nigerian opposition parties rejected the results of the 12 April parliamentary elections in statements issued on Tuesday as the ruling party appeared headed for a comfortable victory.
• WHO announces discovery of virus that causes SARS UN News Centre 16 Apr 2003 -- In a crucial discovery towards finding diagnostic tools and treatment for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that a new pathogen, a member of the coronavirus family never before seen in humans, is the cause of the newly emergent infectious disease.
• ASIA SARS VOA 16 Apr 2003 -- As the death toll from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome mounts in Hong Kong, doctors are trying more aggressive treatments on patients in hope of preventing their condition from deteriorating. Researchers say the SARS virus may have become more dangerous in Hong Kong.
• W-H-O/SARS VOA 16 Apr 2003 -- Scientists say they have identified the virus which causes the mysterious, flu-like illness Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. The confirmation came at a meeting of top researchers from 13 laboratories around the world at World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva.
• CHINA SARS VOA 16 Apr 2003 -- World Health Organization experts say China is reporting only a fraction of the cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in Beijing. The finding follows Chinese pledges to be more open about SARS in the country.