Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• EU Joins U.S. in Strong Support for Afghanistan Washington File 25 Jun 2003 -- The State Department has issued the following fact sheet outlining support for Afghanistan from the United States and the European Union, in conjunction with the U.S.-EU Summit June 25 in Washington

Defense Policy / Programs

• VP-4 pilots take CARAT training to skies above Brunei COMLOG WESTPAC 25 Jun 2003 -- Pilots from Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 climbed out of the classroom and behind the controls of a Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAF) aircraft June 25, in a rare opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of their training partner's capabilities.
• Smallpox Vaccine Has "No Serious Side Effects," Military Study Concludes AFPS 25 Jun 2003 -- Mass smallpox vaccinations can be conducted safely with "very low" rates of serious adverse effects, the Defense Department's senior medical official said today.
• SMALLPOX VACCINATION STUDY VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- A U-S military study has found that a large smallpox vaccination campaign can be carried out safely with few adverse health consequences. The findings offer the first new data about the safety of smallpox vaccination in 35 years.

• CJCS Says Volunteer Military Going Strong After 30 Years AFPS 25 Jun 2003 -- Today's all-volunteer force is strong, vibrant and has successfully met myriad challenges in the global war on terrorism, the U.S. military's top officer said here June 25.
• Annual Military Training Exercise in Brunei Underway Navy Newsstand 25 Jun 2003-- A ceremony in Brunei Darussalam June 24 marked the formal opening of the ninth edition of an annual military training exercise between personnel of the Royal Brunei armed forces and U.S. Sailors and Marines.
• Tarawa Goes 'Down Under' for Liberty Port Navy Newsstand 25 Jun 2003-- After approximately a four-month tenure at the helm of the "Gator Navy" forces in the Arabian Gulf, USS Tarawa (LHA 1) and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) crossed the equator to go "down under" for their liberty.
• USS Cushing visits Kure 7th Fleet 25 Jun 2003-- The Spruance-class destroyer USS Cushing (DD 985), arrived in Kure, Japan, June 24.
• 10 NATO NAVIES IN EXERCISES OFF SCOTLAND Royal Navy News 25 Jun 2003-- 32 ships from ten NATO nations and one Partnership for Peace nation are exercising off Scotland in this summer's Joint maritime Course (JMC). The UK surface ships involved are the Type 42 Destroyer HMS Manchester, the Type 23 Frigates HMS Portland and HMS St Albans as well as Mine Countermeasures vessels HMS Inverness and HMS Penzance. The exercises will include naval gunfire support, boarding operations, electronic warfare and anti-submarine warfare. This latter involves planes, helicopters, surface ships and submarines including HMS Torbay.

• U.S., EU Leaders Pledge Renewed Efforts to Halt Spread of WMD Washington File 25 Jun 2003 -- President Bush, Greek Prime Minister Konstandinos Simitis, president of the European Council, and Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, issued a joint statement June 25 pledging "to use all means available to avert WMD [weapons of mass destruction] proliferation and the calamities that would follow."

• PAKISTAN / U-S VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- In just a few years, Pakistan has gone from international pariah to a close U-S ally in the global war against terrorism. Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf detailed Islamabad's willingness to cooperate with Washington during his fourth visit to the United States since September 11th,2001.

• Macedonia, Albania and Croatia Aim to Speed Entry to EU, NATO VOA News 25 Jun 2003 -- Representatives of Macedonia, Albania and Croatia say they will accelerate their efforts to become members of NATO and the European Union.

• Thirty-third Regular Session of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) US Dept. of State 25 Jun 2003 -- Ambassador Eric M. Javits, Head of the U.S. Delegation

Defense Industry

• Team Athena Wins Ground Based Air Defence System Contract Lockheed Martin 25 Jun 2003 -- Team Athena, a consortium of British and U.S. aerospace and defence companies, today announced that it has been awarded one of two £38M Assessment Phase contracts for the United Kingdom's Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) programme. or F-16 Upgrades Lockheed Martin 25 Jun 2003 -- The U.S. Air Force recently exercised a contract option associated with Phase III of the F-16 Common Configuration Implementation Program (CCIP) by awarding Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] $26.6 million for retrofit kits to modify 22 Block 40/42 aircraft. With follow-on options to provide kits for nearly 400 Block 40/42 F-16s in the Air Force fleet, Phase III has a potential total contract value of $396 million.
• BAE SYSTEMS Begins Worldwide Distribution Of SOCET SET BAE Systems 25 Jun 2003 -- BAE Systems has initiated worldwide distribution of SOCET SET, its premier photogrammetric software for digital mapping, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and three dimensional (3D) visualization or simulation applications.
• Boeing Dedicates GPS IIF Facility in El Segundo Boeing 25 Jun 2003 -- During a ribbon cutting ceremony today, Boeing [NYSE: BA] dedicated its new Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF assembly, integration and test facility here at Boeing Satellite Systems.

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 25 Jun 2003
• U-S-Liberia VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- The United States has again appealed to the parties in Liberia's civil conflict to observe the terms of the cease-fire accord they signed June 17th in Ghana. Two Liberian employees of the U-S embassy were killed Wednesday as fighting spread into the capital, Monrovia.
• U-N / LIBERIA VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- A United Nations Security Council delegation begins a mission to West Africa Thursday, in an effort to end the violence in strife-torn Liberia. The mission, led by Britain's U-N Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock, intends to press Liberian President Charles Taylor to step down.
• Taylor Will Ultimately Have to Face Justice, says UN Prosecutor VOA News 25 Jun 2003 -- The chief prosecutor for Sierra Leone's war crimes tribunal is calling on the international community to help stop the fighting in Liberia, even as rebels threaten an all-out battle for the capital, Monrovia. David Crane is pursuing Liberian President Charles Taylor's indictment on war crimes charges, and warning the Liberian leader will ultimately have to face justice regardless of whether his government is able to face down rebels.
• Thousands Flee as Liberian Rebels Approach Monrovia VOA News 25 Jun 2003 -- Liberian rebels are approaching Monrovia's city center in an offensive that started Tuesday, while President Charles Taylor vows to fight on. Rebels firing rockets and mortars have crossed at least one bridge leading to the center of the capital, Monrovia.
• Liberian Foes Promise To Fight Until Victory VOA News 25 Jun 2003 -- Liberian rebels who have entered the capital, Monrovia, say they will not stop their offensive until they have won control of the city.
• Liberian Rebels Enter Monrovia; US Compound Hit VOA News 25 Jun 2003 -- Liberian rebels who have fought their way into the capital, Monrovia, say they will not stop their offensive until they have won control of the city.
• LIBERIA/TAYLOR VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- The chief prosecutor for Sierra Leone's war crimes tribunal is calling on the international community to help stop the fighting in Liberia, even as rebels threaten an all-out battle for the capital, Monrovia.
• LIBERIA FIGHTING VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- Liberian rebels are approaching Monrovia's city center in an offensive that started Tuesday, while President Charles Taylor vows to fight on. A ceasefire signed between the opposing sides has now completely collapsed.
• Liberia: Annan condemns fresh violence in Monrovia UN News Centre 25 Jun 2003 -- In the wake of renewed fighting in Liberia, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan condemned again any attempts to resolve political differences through armed violence and called on the parties to give splintered peace talks a chance to succeed.
• Liberian President Says He Will Resist Rebel Onslaught VOA News 25 Jun 2003 -- Liberian President Charles Taylor has vowed to fight against a renewed rebel offensive on the capital, Monrovia. The opposing forces signed a cease-fire last week.
• Liberian Rebels Shell Capital VOA News 25 Jun 2003 -- Liberian rebels are continuing to shell areas around Monrovia, the capital, as embattled President Charles Taylor said he and his forces will fight the rebel advance until the end.
• LIBERIA/FIGHTING VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- Liberian President Charles Taylor has vowed to fight against a renewed rebel offensive on the capital, Monrovia. The oposing forces signed a cease-fire last week.
• LIBERIA: Rebels fight their way into Monrovia city centre IRIN 25 Jun 2003 -- Liberian rebels fighting to topple President Charles Taylor bombarded the capital city, Monrovia, with heavy mortar and rocket fire throughout the night and punched their way into the city centre on Wednesday morning.
• Bush Says Mideast Terrorist Groups "Must Be Dismantled" Washington File 25 Jun 2003 -- Asked at a press availability with European Union leaders in the East Room about news reports that three Palestinian terrorist groups -- Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah -- have agreed to a cease-fire lasting three months, President Bush responded
• Palestinian Militants Deny Reaching Cease-Fire VOA News 25 Jun 2003 -- Palestinian militant groups are denying they have reached a cease-fire deal with Israel, and say Wednesday's Israeli strikes make any such deal less likely.
• Media Reports: 3 Militant Palestinian Groups Agree to Temporary Cease-Fire VOA News 25 Jun 2003 -- Reports from the Middle East say three main Palestinian groups, including the militant Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have agreed to a three-month halt in attacks on Israelis. But violence flared again with four Palestinians killed in two separate incidents.
• No Cease-Fire Signed, says Hamas VOA News 25 Jun 2003 -- Senior Palestinian militant leaders are denying reports that they have signed a cease-fire that would have stopped attacks on Israelis for three months.
• Truce in Jeopardy as 4 Palestinians Killed VOA News 25 Jun 2003 -- Palestinian militant groups have vowed revenge for attacks that killed four Palestinians Wednesday, casting doubt on chances for a cease-fire deal with Israel.
• PALESTINIAN CEASE-FIRE VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- Senior Palestinian militant leaders are denying reports that they have signed a cease-fire that would have stopped attacks on Israelis for three months.
• BUSH MIDEAST VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- President Bush says there cannot be peace in the Middle East until Palestinian militant groups like Hamas are put out of business. He spoke shortly after word surfaced of a possible three month cessation of hostilities by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah.
• PALESTINIAN CEASEFIRE (L 2nd UPDATE) VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- Reports from the Middle East say three main Palestinian groups, including the militant Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have agreed to a three-month halt in attacks on Israelis. But violence flared again with four Palestinians killed in two separate incidents.
• Two Palestinian Militants Killed in Gaza Gunbattle VOA News 25 Jun 2003 -- Israeli soldiers have killed two Hamas militants in Gaza, just hours before Israeli and Palestinian security officials are to discuss implementing the first phase of an internationally-backed peace plan.
• Israeli, Palestinian Security Officials to Meet Again Wednesday VOA News 25 Jun 2003 -- Israeli and Palestinian Authority security officials are to meet again Wednesday evening as efforts continue to reach an arrangement on the Israeli transfer of security responsibility to the Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip and the West Bank city of Bethlehem. There are also reports that a temporary ceasefire by Palestinian militants could come within the next few days.
• Powell Says Violent Resistance Has Achieved Nothing For Palestinians Washington File 25 Jun 2003 -- Following is a transcript of Secretary of State Colin Powell's June 23 interview with Al-Jazeera in which he discusses the road map for Middle East peace and reconstruction efforts in Iraq
• ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS (L-UPD) VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- Israeli soldiers have killed two Hamas militants in Gaza, just hours before Israeli and Palestinian officials are to discuss implementing the first phase of an internationally backed peace plan. The meeting is an effort to reach an arrangement on the Israeli transfer of security responsibility to the Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip and the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
• ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- Israeli and Palestinian Authority security officials are to meet again Wednesday evening as efforts continue to reach an arrangement on the Israeli transfer of security responsibility to the Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip and the West Bank city of Bethlehem. There are also reports that a temporary ceasefire by Palestinian militants could come within the next few days.

• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: CEMAC troops begin disarmament campaign in eastern town IRIN 25 Jun 2003 -- Government troops and the peacekeeping force of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central African States, known by its French acronym CEMAC, have begun disarming the bearers of illegal firearms in the town of Bambari, 385 km east of Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic (CAR).
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Bangui asks UN missions to help recover boat held by rebels IRIN 25 Jun 2003 -- The Central Africa Republic (CAR) has asked the UN Peace-building Office in the country, known by its French acronym BONUCA, and the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) to help it recover a vessel that a Congolese rebel group seized in early June.
• DR of Congo: emergency force continues deployment in Bunia - UN UN News Centre 25 Jun 2003 -- Pressing ahead with a "weapons-free Bunia" initiative and other efforts to maintain the recent calm in the war-torn northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) town, the Interim Emergency Multinational Force is stepping up deployment in outlying neighbourhoods, United Nations officials said today.
• DRC: ICRC supports civilians in Ankoro, scene of violent clashes IRIN 25 Jun 2003 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recently completed what it termed a "vast operation" to help civilians in Ankoro, a town in northern Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that was ravaged by fighting at the end of 2002.
• DRC: International force sets Bunia town boundaries IRIN 25 Jun 2003 -- The multinational force sent to secure the town of Bunia in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has set boundaries beyond which all armed militias must withdraw, the peace enforcement mission's spokesman told IRIN on Wednesday.
• PRESS BRIEFING ON SECURITY COUNCIL WEST AFRICA MISSION United Nations 25 Jun 2003
• WEST AFRICA: Security Council members to visit seven countries IRIN 25 Jun 2003 -- Members of the United Nations Security Council were due to begin a 12-day tour of West Africa on Wednesday to promote peace and stability in the region, where Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire are both divided by civil war.
• Security Council Mission Leaves for West Africa Washington File 25 Jun 2003 -- A Security Council mission to West Africa will focus on the hostilities and peace efforts in Guinea-Bissau, Cote d'Ivoire, and Liberia, the head of the mission said June 25.

• Buyoya Says Burundi Headed in Right Direction on Power Sharing Washington File 25 Jun 2003 -- Even without "a complete ceasefire," the peace process in Burundi is on track and making progress toward real power sharing between rival Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, says former President Pierre Buyoya.
• SOMALIA: Peace talks falter over proposals for parliament IRIN 25 Jun 2003 -- The Somali peace talks, currently underway in Kenya, are in danger of collapse if a compromise solution is not found to the selection and number of future parliamentarians, a faction leader warned on Wednesday.
• UGANDA: Army revises number of schoolgirls abducted by rebels IRIN 25 Jun 2003 -- The Ugandan army has denied that 100 schoolgirls were abducted by Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in the Kaberamaido district of northern Uganda.
• Great Lakes: Calendar set for regional peace and development conference IRIN 25 Jun 2003 -- A calendar of activities has been established leading to two summits on peace and development in the Great Lakes region - the first one scheduled for June 2004 - a UN official announced on Tuesday in Nairobi.
• ERITREA: Restart of refugee returns "very positive" - UNHCR IRIN 25 Jun 2003 -- The repatriation of Eritrean refugees from Sudan resumed this week after the operation was suspended for 11 months due to bad weather and heightened tension between the two governments.
• SUDAN: Nuba Mountains ceasefire extended until January IRIN 25 Jun 2003 -- The ceasefire in the Nuba mountains, which was signed by Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in January 2002, has been extended for the third time until 19 January 2004.
• KENYA: Thousands of refugees displaced by unrest at camp IRIN 25 Jun 2003 -- About 30,000 Sudanese refugees have been displaced from their homes within the Kakuma refugee camp in northwestern Kenya, due to fighting with the local Turkana people which has claimed 11 lives.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 25 Jun 2003 -- Germany should back Afghan force outside Kabul / Taliban names anti-U.S. leadership council / Representatives to UN reconstruction meeting agree on October donors conference to finance reconstruction / Six British troops killed as Iraq attacks mount / Turkey ups logistic support for U.S. force in Iraq / EU candidates express support for international criminal court
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 25 Jun 2003 -- German, Canadian to head NATO mission in Afghanistan / Slovak army to specialize in four types of units to offer NATO / Daily: Lord Robertson in favor of NATO operation in Iraq / Britain considers Iraq reinforcements

• President Bush Holds Summit With EU Leaders VOA News 25 Jun 2003 -- President Bush and European Union leaders have called on Iran to keep its promise not to produce nuclear weapons.
• In London, Annan holds talks with Blair and other UK senior officials UN News Centre 25 Jun 2003 -- Continuing his travels abroad, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan met in London today with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whom he briefed on his visit to Amman, Jordan, and the Quartet discussions on the Middle East, according to a UN spokesperson in New York.
• ZIMBABWE / DEATHS VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- A diarrhea outbreak in the Zimbabwean town of Chinhoyi has claimed 16 lives since last week. Health officials are blaming the outbreak on contaminated water.
• BALKAN COOPERATION VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- Representatives of Macedonia, Albania, and Croatia say they will accelerate their efforts to become members of NATO and the European Union.
• SARS RECOVERY VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- Beijing is celebrating its removal from the World Health Organization list of places with new infections of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Taiwan is hoping to be dropped from the W-H-O SARS list on Thursday. But while East Asia's SARS crisis appears to be near an end, the region's economies remain in bad health.
• BURMA-JAPAN VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- Japan is threatening to cut off aid to Burma unless democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi is released.
• AFGHANISTAN JOURNALISTS VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- Authorities in Afghanistan have released two journalists detained for allegedly defaming Islam.
• BRITAIN / RUSSIA VOA 25 Jun 2003 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin is continuing his state visit to Britain Wednesday, with a day of sightseeing. Mr. Putin is the first Russian leader to visit Britain as a guest of the British Royal Family since 1874.
• SOUTHERN AFRICA: Powell calls on regional leaders to exert pressure IRIN 25 Jun 2003 -- Ahead of a visit to Africa by US President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell has called on regional leaders to push for political change in Zimbabwe.