Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Camp Lejeune Marines teach Yemeni troops counter-terrorism tactics Marine Corps News 21 Jun 2003-- Marines from 2d Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division recently returned to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., after more than a month in Yemen sharing their maritime-based counter-terrorism knowledge with members of the Yemeni Special Operations Forces (YSOF).

Defense Policy / Programs

• Remarks by the Secretary General at the EU-Western Balkans Summit NATO Release 21 Jun 2003 -- "The deliberations here today will help the Western Balkan countries move beyond stabilisation and reconstruction, to sustainable security, prosperity and integration into European structures. That goal, which even a few years ago seemed unattainable, is becoming a closer reality."
• Roadmap outlines recapitalization of tanker fleet TRANSCOM 21 Jun 2003 -- The Air Force released a plan today outlining the retirement of the remaining 133 E-model KC-135 Stratotankers and the proposed integration of the 100 KC-767A tankers it is leasing from Boeing.

Defense Industry

• Boeing Opens Elmendorf AFB F-15 Distributed Mission Training Facility Boeing 21 Jun 2003 -- The U.S. Air Force has taken the next step toward its vision of a Distributed Mission Training (DMT) capability with the opening of its newest Boeing F-15C Mission Training Center at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.

Other Conflicts

• Transcript: Powell, Abbas Discuss Security Aspects of Gaza Transfer Washington File 21 Jun 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell says he and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas discussed practical security aspects of transferring responsibility for Gaza from Israel to the Palestinian Authority during their meeting in Jericho June 20.
• Hopes Rise For Deal on Gaza Strip Security VOA News 21 Jun 2003 -- Reports say Israeli and Palestinian officials are making progress toward a deal that would give Palestinians control of security in the entire Gaza Strip.
• RED CROSS/WEST BANK VOA 21 Jun 2003 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross says it is extending an emergency relief program for Palestinians in the West Bank. The I-C-R-C program, which was supposed to end this month, will continue until the end of the year.

• UN Security Council to meet Monday on situation in DR of Congo UN News Centre 21 Jun 2003 -- The Security Council plans to meet Monday on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a United Nations spokesman announced today.

News Reports

• Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai Determined to Continue Pressuring Mugabe VOA News 21 Jun 2003 -- A day after his release on bail from two weeks in prison, Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said his party will continue to pressure President Robert Mugabe's government to solve the country's political and economic crisis.
• Refugees Continue to be Unwelcome, Says UNHCR VOA News 21 Jun 2003 -- The United Nations refugee agency, unhcr, says refugees continue to be unwelcome in countries around the world, despite a drop in the number of people seeking asylum. A new report by the UNHCR shows the global number of refugees has dropped from around 12 million last year to just over 10 million this year.
• UNHCR/REFUGEES VOA 21 Jun 2003 -- The United Nations refugee agency, U-N-H-C-R, says refugees continue to be unwelcome in countries around the world, despite a drop in the number of people seeking asylum. A new report by the U-N-H-C-R shows the global number of refugees has dropped from around 12-million last year to just over 10-million this year.

• WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM VOA 21 Jun 2003 -- Hundreds of leaders from the world of business and politics are trying to forge a strategy for rebuilding Iraq, reinvigorating the economy of the Middle East and bringing peace to the region.
• NIGERIA/BLAST VOA 21 Jun 2003 -- southeastern Nigeria, the explosion of a vandalized oil pipeline has killed more than 100 people and injured dozens more while they were scavenging leaked fuel. The explosion occurred on Thursday in a remote area, but news was slow to emerge, because many victims feared prosecution.
• ITALY/IMMIGRATION VOA 21 Jun 2003 -- About 100 North Africans landed Saturday on Italy's southern island of Lampedusa fueling a bitter dispute over illegal immigration within the country's ruling right-wing coalition. The surge in arrivals of illegal immigrants this week has highlighted that the problem is far from resolved.
• ICRC Delegation to Meet with Senior Burmese Opposition Members VOA News 21 Jun 2003 -- A team from the International Committee of the Red Cross was preparing to leave Rangoon to meet with senior members of Burma's opposition, who have been held in detention for the past three weeks, but they won't be allowed to meet with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is among those in government custody.
• At Least 100 Nigerians Killed in Pipeline Explosion VOA News 21 Jun 2003 -- Relief officials and witnesses in Nigeria say more than 100 villagers were killed when an oil pipeline exploded in the southeast of the country.
• MALAYSIA/POLITCS VOA 21 Jun 2003 -- Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad bid an emotional farewell to his ruling party Saturday, but not before more of the type of controversial actions for which he has become famous.
• EGYPT/W-T-O VOA 21 Jun 2003 -- Trade ministers from 29 countries are meeting in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheik for informal talks aimed at resolving problems facing the World Trade Organization ahead of a W-T-O meeting in Mexico in September.
• E-U/BALKANS VOA 21 Jun 2003 -- European Union leaders have assured their counterparts from five Balkan countries at a summit in northern Greece that they will one day be able to join the expanding bloc. They also pledged new aid to the region, to push economic and political reforms that will allow the Balkan states to meet E-U membership criteria. But the E-U says it is urgent for Balkan countries to crack down on rampant corruption and organized crime.
• ZIMBABWE/POLITICS VOA 21 Jun 2003 -- A day after his release on bail from two weeks in prison, Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said his party will continue to pressure President Robert Mugabe's government to solve the country's political and economic crisis.
• TUNISIA/SHIP VOA 21 Jun 2003 -- Tunisian rescue workers are searching the Mediterranean for survivors, after a boat carrying about 250 would-be immigrants from Africa to Europe capsized and sank. 41 people have been rescued, 12 have been confirmed dead and nearly 200 are missing.
• BURMA/RED CROSS VOA 21 Jun 2003 -- A team from the International Committee of the Red Cross was preparing to leave Rangoon to meet with senior members of Burma's opposition, who have been held in detention for the past three weeks, but they won't be allowed to meet with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is among those in government custody.
• EU: Leaders Tell Balkan Countries Future Is EU Membership RFE/L 21 Jun 2003 -- EU leaders today ended a summit with five Western Balkan countries, saying the future of the region is in membership in the European Union.