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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• U.S. Organizing Multinational Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan Washington File 27 Apr 2003 -- The U.S. is expanding the number of civil-military teams, with personnel from different U.S. agencies and from other coalition nations, to assist with reconstruction projects throughout secure areas of Afghanistan, says Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
• UN welcomes inauguration of Afghanistan's constitutional commission UN News Centre 27 Apr 2003 -- Hailing the achievement of another political milestone in Afghanistan's transition to democracy, the United Nations today renewed its pledge of full support for the process.

Defense Policy / Programs

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• Study Needed Before Force 'Footprint' Changes in Gulf AFPS 27 Apr 2003 -- The footprint of U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf region will change in the coming months, but it is too soon to say how, defense leaders said following meetings with leaders of the United Arab Emirates today.
• RUMSFELD/MIDEAST VOA 27 Apr 2003 -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is on a tour of the Gulf region. He also plans to travel to Afghanistan. The defense secretary's trip is, in part, to discuss the future of U-S military presence in the region.
• Reservist connects TFT Marines to 21st Century battlefield USMC News 27 Apr 2003 -- Every day computer technology evolves, and as the Marine Corps learns to harness and use these emerging technologies, they provide unique opportunities to retain the upper hand over the enemy.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• PALESTINIANS/BAN VOA 27 Apr 2003 -- Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Mahmoud Abbas says he will not meet foreign leaders abroad until Israel lifts its travel ban on President Yasser Arafat.
• RUSSIA / TAJIKISTAN VOA 27 Apr 2003 -- President Vladimir Putin says Russia will increase its troop presence in Tajikistan to counter what he claims are re-emerging threats from Taliban and Al-Qaida terrorist networks in neighboring Afghanistan. Mr. Putin announced the plans while addressing military commanders in Tajikistan, Moscow's key ally in the region.
• NEPAL/PEACE TALKS VOA 27 Apr 2003 -- In Nepal, the government and Maoist rebels have begun peace talks to end a seven-year insurgency that has devastated the mountain kingdom.

News Reports

• SARS UPDATE VOA 27 Apr 2003 -- There is no known cure or effective treatment for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, a pneumonia-like illness that the World Health Organization says has infected nearly five-thousand people in 26 countries, mostly in Asia. Public health officials are hoping to keep SARS from becoming a full-blown epidemic.
• SARS/TREATMENTS VOA 27 Apr 2003 -- While public health officials work to prevent further spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, researchers are looking for a treatment for the potentially deadly disease. But health experts say it could take time to find drugs that successfully combat SARS, and possibly longer to develop a vaccine.
• W-H-O/SARS VOA 27 Apr 2003 -- With countries around the world struggling to contain Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, the head of the World Health Organization says efforts aimed at stopping the spread of the disease right now are the most crucial. The infection is blamed for more than 300 deaths and 46-hundred probable cases in 26 countries.
• CHINA / SARS VOA 27 Apr 2003 -- Taiwan is reporting its first death from the SARS virus and officials say they plan to quarantine people arriving from China. Meanwhile, Chinese officials are closing down hundreds of businesses in Beijing as they struggle to curb the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Officials have also sealed off at least one university.

• ARGENTINE ELECTION VOA 27 Apr 2003 -- Most of the votes in from Sunday's presidential elections and Argentines have decided to send two longtime politicians to a second-round runoff -- the first in the country's history.
• CUBA / U-S VOA 27 Apr 2003 -- Tensions between the United States and Cuba are at their highest level in nearly a decade. The Bush Administration has blasted Cuba's recent crackdown on internal dissent, while Cuba has accused the United States of meddling in its internal affairs and provoking conflict that could lead to war between the two nations. Some observers are wondering whether Cuba may be preparing to unleash a mass-exodus of asylum-seekers into the Florida Straits.
• ARGENTINA ELECTION VOA 27 Apr 2003 -- The polls are open in Argentina as the country votes for a new president.
• INDONESIA EXPLOSION VOA 27 Apr 2003 -- A small bomb has exploded at the airport in Indonesia's capital, injuring at least 11 people. So far authorities have not said who they think is responsible for the attack.
• W-F-P/ETHIOPIA VOA 27 Apr 2003 -- The U-N World Food Program says the problems of drought and hunger in Ethiopia have significantly worsened. A recent W-F-P survey in Ethiopia finds the number of people at risk from famine has increased from 11-million to 12-point-six-million since the start of this year.
• YEMEN / ELECTION VOA 27 Apr 2003 -- Parliamentary elections are underway in Yemen where security is very tight and citizens are being warned the (Sunday) elections will be shut down if there are any acts of violence. 70-percent of Yemen's voters are expected to take part in elections that the government hopes will show there is a democratic process in the country, which has been a haven for Islamist militants.