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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Gauntlets Reach Milestone Navy NewStand 22 Apr 2003 -- Originally in the Arabian Gulf flying in support of Operation Southern Watch, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136 Sailors have met head-on the increased demands of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• CTF-57 Continuing the Mission to Support Operation Iraqi Freedom Navy NewStand 22 apr 2003 -- As forces have begun to see a reduced pace in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the missions have become less in volume and hours, but nonetheless intense.
• Golf 2/2 recaps successful stint in Iraq USMC News 22 Apr 2003 -- Its 0200 Zulu - just after dawn - and the Marines from Golf Co., Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Bn., 2nd Marines, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) crawl out from their sleeping bags and move their stiff and tired bodies into the heavy body armor they have been wearing for weeks.
• AFGHANISTAN: New national army coexists with local forces IRIN 22 Apr 2003 -- Following a two-day conference on the future of the Afghan army, during which local and regional commanders agreed to help the government set up a national army, the government has expressed concern that local forces remained empowered while the Afghan National Army itself was still in its infancy.
• PAKISTAN / KARZAI VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai says Pakistan is working closely with his government to address shared security problems.

Defense Policy / Programs

• New Act Seeks Flexibility in Military Personnel Decisions AFPS 22 Apr 2003 -- If there's a single word that describes the Defense Transformation for the 21st Century Act, it is "flexibility," said David Chu, defense undersecretary for personnel and readiness.
• Seabees Learn Medical Evacuation Procedures Navy NewStand 22 Apr 2003 -- Navy Seabee Carlos Gonzalez stood next to the Army UH-60 "Blackhawk" helicopter in the desert here on a recent Sunday afternoon. Wearing full battle gear with his M-16 weapon strapped over his shoulder, Gonzalez was totally engrossed in what Army Staff Sgt. James Neel was saying.
• Anti-war protests continue throughout Europe USAFE 22 Apr 2003 -- As U.S. and coalition forces continue ahead with Operation Iraqi Freedom, anti-war protests are occurring throughout Europe and the world.
• ONW troops redeploy USAFE 22 Apr 2003 -- David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear. He walked through the Great Wall of China. He made audience members vanish, only to reappear somewhere else. But, those were just magic tricks - grandiose illusions. Try making 3,000 soldiers, more than 200 aircraft and nearly 5,000 short tons of equipment and supplies disappear and then reappear somewhere else.
• Military Hybrids VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- For much of the three-week-long race to Baghdad, supply lines were a major cause of concern for military planners in Iraq. The lines, which stretched hundreds of kilometers all the way back to Kuwait, proved difficult to defend. But they were necessary to provide the millions of liters of fuel to the tanks and other heavy-duty vehicles involved in the operation. And it's the cost and logistics of moving so much fuel that has U-S military leaders interested in ways to improve their fuel economy and reduce their dependence on traditional fuels.
• Readiness center orchestrates contingency support AFPN 22 Apr 2003 -- David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear, walked through the Great Wall of China and made audience members vanish, only to reappear somewhere else. But, those were just magic tricks -- grandiose illusions.
• New ID cards are secure, ready AFPN 22 Apr 2003 -- The high-tech identification common access card currently replacing the familiar green ID card worldwide is secure and proven in combat, despite some rumors to the contrary.
• Eagle Drivers help JASDF reach new heights PACAFNS 22 Apr 2003 -- When your car runs low on gas during a long trip, it's easy to pull up to the pump, pop open the tank, and "fill 'er up" like you have done a hundred times before, however it involves a lot more planning if you're at 25,000 feet traveling several times faster than the speed limit while speaking a foreign language.
• 4th Marine Divison CG visits CJTF-HOA troops USMC News 22 Apr 2003 -- Commanding General Maj. Gen. (select) John J. McCarthy, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, New Orleans, La., visited the Marines from 4th MarDiv assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa here April 17-20.
• Exercise Cope North 03-2 announced PACAFNS 22 Apr 2003 -- Units from the U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self Defense Force will conduct Exercise Cope North 03-2 at Misawa Air Base, Japan from May 7-16, 2003.
• APG to begin neutralizing mustard agent stockpile Army News 22 Apr 2003 -- The process of destroying the bulk mustard agent stockpile at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., will begin April 23, under an accelerated program implemented by the Army following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
• NAVAIR Response Center Facilitates Joint Training Exercise with Army/National Guard NAVAIR 22 Apr 2003 -- Preparations were well underway for the USS Mount Vernon's (LSD 39) participation in a joint exercise with Navy, Marine, Army and National Guard forces when Andres Alcocer, Lt. j.g., 2nd Class U.S. Navy Reserve, began to have concerns over helicopter deck-landing qualifications scheduled for his ship.
• Aircraft Crash Kills Pilot Navy NewStand 22 Apr 2003 -- A single-seat F-5E Tiger II aircraft from Fighter Squardron Composite (VFC) 13 crashed nine miles south of the Fallon Naval Air Station at approximately 9 a.m. April 18. The pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Domino, was killed in the crash.
• 'Speed, Agility and Persistence' Mark Navy Contributions to Operation Iraqi Freedom Navy NewStand 22 Apr 2003 -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark said the Navy Marine Corps team capitalized on its ability to operate quickly, flexibly and persistently on the point in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• USNORTHCOM Emblem Illustrates New Commands Mission NORTHCOM 22 Apr 2003 -- March 31 marked the end of the first six months of operation for United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), the new unified military command born out of the September 11 attacks, with the mandate of providing homeland defense for North America.

• U.S., Poland finalize deal on F-16s AFPN 22 Apr 2003 -- This month's signing of a military hardware deal with Poland is expected to kick off a long-term relationship between the United States and the former Warsaw Pact nation, according to Air Force officials.

Defense Industry

• BAE SYSTEMS Acquires Shares In Piper Group BAE Systems 22 Apr 2003 -- BAE Systems has acquired the shares of Piper Group, a provider of technology services.
• EPA Awards Lockheed Martin for F-35 Program Lockheed Martin 22 Apr 2003 -- Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Palmdale has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for dramatically reducing the use of hazardous materials in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. is a business area of Lockheed Martin Corp. [NYSE: LMT]

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 22 Apr 2003
• PRESS BRIEFING ON INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT United Nations 22 Apr 2003
• Bush Updates Congress on Situation in Cyprus Washington File 22 Apr 2003 -- President Bush sent to Congress April 22 a periodic progress report on efforts toward a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus question, covering the period of December 1, 2002, through January 31, 2003.

• Prospect of New Palestinian Government Presents A Significant Opportunity Washington File 22 Apr 2003 -- State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher repeated U.S. support for the Palestinian cabinet proposed by Abu Mazen, saying the formation of a new Palestinian government is a "significant opportunity" that "shouldn't be missed."
• U-S-PALESTINIANS VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- The United States pressed Tuesday for an end to the political stalemate blocking confirmation of a new Palestinian cabinet headed by prime minister-designate Mahmoud Abbas. Mr. Abbas has until the end of Wednesday to either complete a government or step aside.
• PALESTINIANS/REFORM VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair has thrown himself into efforts to resolve a Palestinian power struggle that is threatening a new Middle East peace plan. According to a close associate of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, Mr. Blair telephoned the Palestinian leader urging him to ensure the formation of a new government under prime minister-designate Mahmoud Abbas.
• PALESTINIANS/REFORM VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- The political crisis between Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and his prime minister-designate, Mahmoud Abbas, appears to be deepening. The two have failed to agree on a new Palestinian government, leading to a prediction from at least one Palestinian mediator that Mr. Abbas will be forced to step down.

• DRC: Kabila nominates first of four vice presidents IRIN 22 Apr 2003 -- President Joseph Kabila has nominated Aboulaye Yerodia Ndombasi as one of the four vice presidents of the transitional government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• DRC: Rebel group to attend national follow-up committee meeting IRIN 22 Apr 2003 -- The rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) said on Monday it would attend the next meeting of the national follow-up committee in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), following assurances that the UN mission to the country, MONUC, would provide security for its delegates.
• US / SUDAN VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- President Bush has certified to Congress that the Sudanese government is negotiating in good faith with southern rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, the S-P-L-M, for an end to the country's 20-year civil war. The certification is required under the Sudan Peace Act passed by Congress last October, and spares the Khartoum government the prospect of U-S-led sanctions.
• KASHMIR BOMBING VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- Indian Kashmir, 22 people, including civilians and Islamic militants, have been killed in several incidents. Violence is continuing a week after the Indian prime minister visited the disputed region.
• LAOS / ATTACKS VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- Armed attacks against civilians in northern Laos are raising international concern and may affect tourism, an important source of revenue for the small communist nation.
• SRI LANKA/SECURITY VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- In Sri Lanka, security has been stepped up after the Tamil rebels suspended peace talks with the government. The rebels have urged the government to restore confidence in the peace process, which began last year in an effort to end the nation's ethnic conflict.
• INDONESIA / ACEH TALKS VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- The Indonesian government and separatist rebels in Aceh Province have agreed to hold emergency peace talks in Geneva, Switzerland. The talks are aimed at saving the five-month old peace plan from collapse.
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: OCHA delivers 11 mt of humanitarian aid IRIN 22 Apr 2003 -- The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has contributed 11 mt of relief aid to the UN effort for thousands of war-affected people in the Central African Republic (CAR), the UN system coordination analyst in the country, Silvia Chiarucci told IRIN on Friday.
• UGANDA: Army operations resume in north IRIN 22 Apr 2003 -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has officially torn up a limited ceasefire agreement that was offered to the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) insurgents at the beginning of March.
• SOMALIA: Opposition to protest against Somaliland poll result IRIN 22 Apr 2003 -- The main opposition party in the self-declared republic of Somaliland says it will protest against the results of last week's presidential elections by peaceful means.
• UGANDA: Feature - Peace process crumbling in north IRIN 22 Apr 2003 -- Northern Uganda’s peace process looks to be on its last legs. Talks have all but collapsed between Uganda’s government and the troublesome rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), as both sides take to the bush to resume full hostilities. But have they really blown their last chance for peace?
• SUDAN: Opposition groups meet in Asmara IRIN 22 Apr 2003 -- Sudanese opposition groups, under the umbrella National Democratic Alliance (NDA), are meeting in the Eritrean capital Asmara this week to discuss Sudan's peace process.
• LIBERIA: UNICEF calls for end to atrocities against children IRIN 22 Apr 2003 -- UNICEF's representative to Liberia, Dr. Cyrille Niameogo, has called for an end to impunity for the perpetrators of war crimes against children saying that this could enhance children's survival in the West African nation.
• COTE D'IVOIRE: Humanitarian envoy returns to Abidjan IRIN 22 Apr 2003 -- The UN Humanitarian Envoy for the Crisis in Cote d'Ivoire, Carolyn McAskie, returned to Abidjan on Monday for a one-week mission during which she plans to re-evaluate the impact of the crisis and launch an appeal to donors for financial assistance for efforts to mitigate its effects.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 22 Apr 2003
• SHAPE News Summary Analysis SHAPE 22 Apr 2003
• Meeting at UN, International Criminal Court assembly elects budget committee UN News Centre 21 Apr 2003 -- Countries meeting at United Nations Headquarters in New York to finalize the formation of the world's first permanent war crimes court have elected 10 members to a committee that will oversee the financial, budgetary and administrative operations of the newly established International Criminal Court (ICC).
• CANADA-SARS VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- Toronto is now in its second month of coping with the worst SARS crisis outside of Asia. Some officials are suggesting the city could be on the verge of a health "emergency" following the death of one more patient today (Tuesday).
• NIGERIA / ELECTION RESULT VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has been re-elected by a landslide. But most of the country's opposition parties are angrily rejecting the election results.
• MEXICO/ARRESTS VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- In the border city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico (just across from El Paso, Texas), police have detained two men whom they accuse of involvement in at least three murders of young women. Police say the men were harvesting organs from the women for use in medical transplants. However, citizens groups remain skeptical about what they regard as a bizarre theory.
• NIGERIA/ELECTION VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has won re-election by a landslide. Election officials say the results are not quite complete yet, but close enough to be able to declare a winner.
• MEXICO / TORTURE VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- A survey of Mexican government doctors reveals that torture is still common in the country's jails, although probably less frequent than five years ago. A U-S human rights group conducted the survey at the request of the Mexican government.
• U.S. Disease Center Issues Alert on Travel to Toronto Washington File 22 Apr 2003 -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) April 22 issued an alert for anyone traveling to Toronto, Canada, because of the occurrence there of numerous cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
• ASIA SARS VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- The number of SARS cases in Asia continues to climb as new cases arise in both China and Hong Kong.
• SARS / U-S VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- U-S public health officials are warning Americans not to be complacent about SARS, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, despite the small number of cases in the country. U-S government laboratories are going through the arduous process of testing anti-viral compounds for effectiveness against the new respiratory disease.
• UNICEF/ANGOLA VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- Angola has launched the biggest health campaign in the country's history. During the next three to four weeks, several U-N agencies, working with Angola's Ministry of Health, intend to immunize seven-million Angolan children against measles.
• RUSSIA/OIL VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- Two leading Russian oil producers have announced a merger that they say will create the largest oil and gas group in Russia, as well as the fourth-largest private oil producer in the world.
• BANGLADESH / FERRY VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- Rescue workers have recovered a hundred bodies from ferry accidents in stormy weather in Bangladesh. They say another 200 people are still missing and feared dead. Kurt
• NIGERIA/ELECTION VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- Two international observer teams have issued their statements on the Nigerian elections. The Commonwealth group of nations gave the poll generally positive marks, while European Union observers condemned it in harsh language.
• INDONESIA / BASHIR TRIAL CURTAINRAISER VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- Indonesian Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir -- the alleged leader of a Southeast Asia terrorist organization -- goes on trial Wednesday for treason.
• MALARIA PROTEIN VOA 22 Apr 2003 -- Researchers in Scotland and Thailand have made a breakthrough in the battle against malaria, a mosquito-borne, parasitic illness that kills between one- and three-million people each year around the world. They have isolated a protein that has made the disease resistant to current treatments.
• Pratt & Whitney's RL60 Moves Closer to Completion Pratt & Whitney 22 Apr 2003 -- Pratt & Whitney Space Propulsion this month received a main fuel (hydrogen) turbopump from Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. for the development of its new RL60 engine. The RL60 has 90 percent of its components complete and is expected to begin full testing in September.