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Military


07 July 2003 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

  • 205th EIS opens deployed communication lines AMCNS 07 Jul 2003 -- Seven members of the 205th Engineering Installation Squadron returned home in June after serving more than three months in Kuwait and Iraq.
  • US Military Assessment Team Arrives in Liberia VOA News 07 Jul 2003 -- A team of American military experts has arrived in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, to assess the situation in the war-torn country ahead of a possible deployment of U.S. peacekeepers.
  • LIBERIA: US military team arrives in Monrovia IRIN 07 Jul 2003 -- A 32-member United States government military assessment team arrived in Liberia on Monday morning to be greeted by hundreds of cheering Liberians outside the US embassy compound in the capital, Monrovia.
  • U.S. Military Team in Liberia to Assess Needs Washington File 07 Jul 2003 -- A team of U.S. military experts is in Liberia determining whether U.S. troops are necessary as part of an intervention force that would establish stability in the nation that has suffered from years of civil war, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters at an early morning briefing July 7.
  • US Military Experts Arrive in Liberia to Assess Deployment VOA News 07 Jul 2003 -- A team of U.S. military experts is in Liberia to assess the possible deployment of American troops as part of an international peacekeeping force. A dozen heavily armed Marines and what U.S. officials are calling a humanitarian assistance survey team are in the Liberian capital, Monrovia.
  • Liberian Government, rebel groups restart peace talks in Accra, Ghana-UN UN News Centre 07 Jul 2003 -- The Liberian peace talks resumed in Accra, Ghana, today as government officials met with rebel groups after a week-long adjournment to pick up discussions on ways to reach a comprehensive settlement, according to a United Nations spokesperson.
  • Liberia: Annan welcomes Taylor's decision to step down in the name of peace UN News Centre 07 Jul 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has welcomed President Charles Taylor's decision to resign from office and leave Liberia in the interest of peace, and has called on the Liberian people to build on this momentum and work together in the spirit of national reconciliation to help restore a lasting democracy to their country.
  • POWELL / LIBERIA VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke again by telephone with U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan Monday as the Bush administration continued to assess whether to commit troops to a Liberian peacekeeping force. In the meantime the United States continues pressing for the early departure of Liberian President Charles Taylor.
  • LIBERIA VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- A team of American military experts has arrived in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, to assess the situation in the war-torn country, ahead of a possible deployment of U.S. peacekeepers. This comes one day after Liberian President Charles Taylor said he would resign.
  • LIBERIA - SIERRA LEONE VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- A U-N backed court says Liberian President Charles Taylor should still be tried for his alleged involvement in atrocities committed during the civil war in neighboring Sierra Leone, regardless of whether he accepts asylum in another country. The court was reacting to Mr. Taylor's announcement Sunday that he has accepted an offer of sanctuary from Nigeria as part of efforts to end Liberia's devastating four-year civil war.
  • LIBERIA / U-S VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- A team of U-S military experts is in Liberia to assess the possible deployment of U-S troops as part of an international peacekeeping force. Their arrival follows a decision by Liberian President Charles Taylor to seek safe haven in Nigeria.

  • Afghanistan: Journalists Say Climate Of Fear Discourages Critical Reporting RFE/L 07 Jul 2003 -- Two editors of Afghanistan's "Aftab" newspaper -- who were arrested, then freed, on charges of insulting Islam -- have gone into hiding after protesters in Kabul demanded the government punish them under Shari'a law. The case has prompted criticism of the Afghan government for failing to protect press freedom. Meanwhile, many Afghan journalists say politicians and warlords in the country are creating a climate of fear. They say there are dozens of unreported cases of correspondents who have been intimidated or assaulted for publishing critical articles.

Defense Policy / Programs

  • Abizaid Takes U.S. Central Command Reins AFPS 07 Jul 2003 -- Army Gen. John P. Abizaid assumed command of U.S. Central Command from Army Gen. Tommy R. Franks today during a ceremony at the St. Pete Times Forum.
  • Abizaid Says Success in Iraq, Afghanistan Requires Allied Effort Washington File 07 Jul 2003 -- The new commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) says achieving success in Afghanistan and Iraq will require not only military muscle but also the economic, political, intelligence and diplomatic efforts of the United States and its friends and allies throughout the region and the world.
  • Navy personnel keep watchfrom Travis AFB flight line AMCNS 07 Jul 2003 -- Little known to many personnel and residents here, the U.S. Navy has had a presence on the other side of the Travis runway since April 1988. More than 100 sailors man a tightly secured area known as "TACAMO," or "Take Charge and Move Out."
  • Comanche project -- still in the air? Army News 07 Jul 2003 -- As the Comanche helicopter enters its 20th year of development, improvements continue as a tentative fielding date approaches.
  • AIRSPEED aims to reduce turnaround time NAVAIR 07 Jul 2003 -- NAVAIR has embarked on a new initiative to bring proven cycle time reduction tools and methodologies to the depots. This effort is called AIRSPEED and was chartered by the Assistant Commander for NAVAIR Depots (AIR 6.0) Rear Adm. Wally Massenburg in April shortly after assuming his new position.
  • Spanish air force FA-18 program ends at NAVAIR North Island NAVAIR 07 Jul 2003 -- A tailboom from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 out of March Air Force Base, Riverside, Calif., refuels a Spanish air force F/A-18 over Oklahoma enroute to Oceana, Va. Cmdr. Dan Turner is flying the aircraft back to the Spanish-owned Canary Islands. Photo by Master Sgt. Bruce Garcia, USAF
  • Lancer drops joint standoff weapons AFPN 07 Jul 2003 -- A B-1B Lancer test crew here recently by dropped the Joint Standoff Weapon for the first time from the long-range bomber, according to Air Force Flight Test Center officials here.
  • AEF rotations begin at Tallil AFPN 07 Jul 2003 -- Five airmen stepped off a C-130 Hercules aircraft June 30 to become the first Air and Space Expeditionary Force Blue arrivals here.
  • Combat training goes rangeless AFPN 07 Jul 2003 -- The P5 Combat Training System introduced recently promises to revolutionize training by allowing warfighting pilots to test their skills anywhere, versus in limited air space, according to Air Armament Center officials here.
  • Team Ensures Vaccines Keep Their Cool, Arrive on Time AFPS 07 Jul 2003 -- When top DoD officials mandate anthrax or smallpox vaccinations for service members, a small group of dedicated logisticians at the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency spring into action. Their job? Make sure the vaccine gets where it needs to go and arrives in pristine condition.
  • HC-5 Detachment Returns to Guam After Supporting War Against Terrorism Navy NewStand 07 Jul 2003 -- Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class (AW) Rodrigo Cunha could not hold back the tears as he held his three-month-old son for the very first time.

  • U.S. Says Alliance with Turkey "Alive and Strong" Washington File 07 Jul 2003 -- The U.S. alliance with Turkey is "alive and strong," State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said in response to a journalist's question concerning the detaining by U.S. forces of 11 Turkish military personnel in Iraq.
  • U.S./Turkey: Ties Hit New Low After Raid On Turkish Forces RFE/L 07 Jul 2003 -- Once a model of stability in a chaotic region, Turkish-American relations are going from bad to worse. Over the weekend, ties between the NATO allies hit a new low after U.S. forces in northern Iraq arrested 11 Turkish military officials reportedly suspected of plotting to kill an Iraqi Kurdish leader. Ankara and Washington have since been trying to control the damage, but the wounds could be lasting.

  • Implementation of the United Nations Program of Action for Small Arms and Light Weapons US Dept. of State 07 Jul 2003 -- Lincoln P. Bloomfield, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs

  • Text: NATO Commander Praises Russian Military's Service in Balkans Washington File 07 Jul 2003 -- NATO Commander General James Jones praised the peacekeeping service of the Russian Military Contingent in Kosovo, saying their withdrawal July 2 only signifies "the end of the first chapter of this new NATO-Russian military relationship."
  • FORT HOOD SOLDIERS SCHEDULED TO RETURN FROM IRAQ MONDAY (July 7) III Corps Release 07 Jul 2003-- Approximately 200 soldiers from the 62nd Engineer Battalion are scheduled to return to Fort Hood Monday afternoon (July 7) after serving almost six months in Iraq.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

  • DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 07 Jul 2003

  • Key UN meeting opens to review efforts on curbing small arms trafficking UN News Centre 07 Jul 2003 -- The first-ever international meeting to consider implementation of the United Nations Action Plan for eradicating the illicit small arms trade opened in New York today with a call from Secretary-General Kofi Annan for redoubled efforts to curb a "global scourge" that kills about 60 people every hour.

  • Senior UN officials stress need to end culture of impunity in DR of Congo UN News Centre 07 Jul 2003 -- Two senior United Nations officials stressed today that while installation of a transitional government in Kinshasa may help return law and order to war-ravaged northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), real progress - and lasting peace - would take hold only when perpetrators committing crimes in the region were brought to justice.
  • U-N / CONGO VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- Acting U-N High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bertrand Ramcharan, is urging the international community to help stop atrociites in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • Azerbaijan: Armenian, Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Officials Deny Report Of Attack RFE/L 07 Jul 2003 -- Armenian and Nagorno-Karabakh defense officials today denied a statement made by Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry that ethnic Armenian forces attacked an Azerbaijani military outpost over the weekend.
  • CONGO/U-N SWING VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- The new head of the United Nations Mission in Congo, William Lacy Swing, has arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has visited the town of Bunia, where an international emergency reaction force has finished the deployment that it began last month.
  • DRC: Fighting stops but situation remains "tense" in Butembo IRIN 07 Jul 2003 -- Fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) town of Butembo had stopped on Monday, but the situation remained "tense", according to Hamadoun Toure, spokesman of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, known as MONUC.
  • DRC: New MONUC head announces 3,800-strong force for Ituri IRIN 07 Jul 2003 -- A 3,800-strong force will soon be deployed in the embattled Ituri District of northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as well as in other locations, the new Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to the UN, William Lacy Swing, announced on Sunday.

  • Israel's Release of Prisoners Fuels Frustration Among Palestinians VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- An Israeli General says Palestinian security forces are beginning to deal with militants planning attacks against Israel. The comment came Monday, after Palestinian officials said they had arrested an 18-year-old woman who they say was planning a suicide bombing in Israel.
  • EDITORIAL: ISRAELI TROOP PULLOUT VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- Israeli troops have withdrawn from some Palestinian areas in Gaza and from the West Bank city of Bethlehem. And Israel says it will withdraw from additional areas as soon as it is confident that the Palestinian Authority can maintain security there. The decision to withdraw came after three Palestinian groups -- Hamas, Palestine Islamic Jihad, and Yasser Arafat's Al Fatah -- promised to halt terrorist attacks on Israelis.
  • ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- Palestinian security forces say they have arrested a would-be suicide bomber in the Gaza Strip, but details remain sketchy. And while a senior Israeli official praised Palestinian efforts to handle security, the two sides remain far apart on the issue of prisoner releases.

  • MOSCOW BLAST VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed Monday that he will show no mercy, and "make no concessions", to separatist rebels whom he blames for a double suicide bombing in Russia's capital Saturday. The blasts killed more than a dozen people and injured many more.
  • Putin Vows Not to Give Up Fight Against Terrorists VOA News 07 Jul 2003 -- President Vladimir Putin says Russia will not yield to terrorism, two days after twin suicide bombings at a Moscow rock concert left 15 people dead, including the two female bombers. Mr. Putin addressed government security ministers in special session, and said that if Russia fails to stand up to terrorists the nation will face certain collapse.
  • PUTIN BLAST VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- President Vladimir Putin says Russia will not yield to terrorism, two days after twin suicide bombings at a Moscow rock concert left 15 people dead, including the two female bombers. Mr. Putin addressed government security ministers in special session, and said that if Russia fails to stand up to terrorists the nation will face certain collapse.
  • Russia: Suicide Bombers Kill 13 In Moscow; Russia Blames Chechen Separatists RFE/L 07 Jul 2003 -- Nine months after the Moscow hostage crisis that left dozens of civilians dead, two female suicide bombers brought violence back to the Russian capital over the weekend when they blew themselves up at an open-air rock concert. No one has claimed responsibility, but the Russian authorities blame Chechen separatists for the attack.

  • BURUNDI: Civilians, rebels killed in morning attack IRIN 07 Jul 2003 -- Up to 20 civilians and seven rebel fighters were killed in an attack early Monday by the Forces nationales de liberation (FNL) on southern suburbs of the capital, Bujumbura, army spokesman Col Augustin Nzabampema told IRIN.
  • BURUNDI: More rebels report at cantonment site IRIN 07 Jul 2003 -- The first group of 150 fighters loyal to rebel leader Jean-Bosco Ndayikengurukiye arrived on Friday at a cantonment site near the Burundian capital, Bujumbura.

  • COTE D'IVOIRE: Evacuations of third country nationals picks up IRIN 07 Jul 2003 -- The evacuation of some 776 third country nationals from western Cote d'Ivoire picked up at the weekend with road convoys leaving the southwestern town of Tabou on Saturday and the western towns of Duekoue/Guiglo on Sunday.
  • UGANDA: LRA attacks aimed at dismantling camps - Red Cross report IRIN 07 Jul 2003 -- The rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has intensified its attacks in northern Uganda in recent weeks with the main objective of forcing internally displaced persons (IDPs) out of camps protected by the Ugandan army, the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) has said.
  • SOMALIA: Confusion at peace talks IRIN 07 Jul 2003 -- Delegates to the Somali peace talks, taking place in Kenya, signed what was termed an "historic" agreement on 5 July to set up a federal government, but confusion was created when some political groups denounced the agreement the following day.
  • WEST AFRICA: Security Council team ends mission IRIN 07 Jul 2003 -- United Nations Security Council members who visited six West African countries from 25 June-5 July, said the mission gave "greater momentum" to try and resolve some of the problems on the region.

News Reports

  • SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 07 Jul 2003 -- U.S. soldier killed in Iraq, U.S. signals Saddam is alive / Pakistan leader not yet committed to Iraq force / First NATO troops due in Afghan capital / Macedonian (sic) president calls for extension of EU military mission / Justice minister announces war crimes trial of former Kosovo rebel leader Hashim Thaci / Serbia and Montenegro's president hints country will use issue of international court to win more U.S. aid / Central Asian leaders pledge to improve cooperation in fighting terrorism and drugs / U.S. military team due in war-wrecked Liberia
  • SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 07 Jul 2003 -- Georgia offers NATO use of territory to transit military cargo to Afghanistan / New call for internationalization of Iraq's occupation / Pentagon reportedly seeking new access pacts for Africa bases / German daily reviews U.S. basing issue

  • Text: U.N. Health Agency Says SARS is Contained Worldwide Washington File 07 Jul 2003 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the chain of transmission for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is broken. The finding came July 5, when the agency removed Taiwan from its list of places where recent transmission had occurred. Taiwan had been the last locale on that list, giving rise to the conclusion that the five-month old disease outbreak is over.
  • MEXICO/CONGRESS VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- Official, partial results from Sunday's midterm election in Mexico indicate a clear setback for President Vicente Fox and his National Action Party, known as the PAN. In order to get anything through the new Congress, Mr. Fox will now have to bargain with the party he removed from power three years ago, The Institutional Revolutionary Party, known as the PRI (pree).
  • BUSH / SENEGAL OVERNIGHT VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- President Bush arrives in Senegal Tuesday where he will meet with West African leaders at the start of his five-nation tour of Africa.
  • U-S / HONG KONG VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- The United States has welcomed the decision by Hong Kong's government to delay action on a controversial internal security bill that generated a huge public protest last week.
  • CIA: Saddam's Audio Tape 'Appears to be Authentic' VOA News 07 Jul 2003 -- The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency says an audio tape aired last week claiming to be deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein appears to be authentic.
  • ZIMBABWE/U-S VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe, says that if President Bush attempts to interfere in Zimbabwe's domestic affairs, he will be unwelcome in Africa. But other Africans see signs of hope in the U-S president's first visit to Africa.
  • NIGERIA STRIKE VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- Clashes have escalated in Nigeria as a strike over a fuel price increase enters its second week. Union leaders say at least 10 protesters were shot dead by police. The strike is continuing, even though some unions are pulling out.
  • KENYA/SOMALIA/FLIGHTS VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- Air travel between Somalia and Kenya is to resume Tuesday, after the Kenyan government lifted its flight ban.
  • HONG KONG REACT VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- Opponents of Hong Kong's Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa say they are pleased by his delay of controversial anti-subversion laws. But many people are still not happy with Mr. Tung's leadership and have called for his resignation.
  • NIGERIA STRIKE VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- Clashes have broken out in Nigeria as a strike over a fuel price increase enters its second week.The strike is continuing even though some unions are pulling out.
  • FRANCE/CORSICA VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- Voters in a referendum in Corsica have rejected a plan aimed at giving the Mediterranean island greater autonomy from France. The result is a defeat for both the French government and Corsican nationalists. The island's future, and whether Corsica can overcome its history of violence, is now far from clear.
  • BUSH/AFRICA VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- President Bush is making a trip to Africa (leaving late Monday), where he is promising to reward good governance and economic reforms with more U-S aid. It is part of a campaign to improve America's image, following its controversial invasion of Iraq.
  • HONG KONG / SECURITY LAWS VOA 07 Jul 2003 -- Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, facing widespread popular discontent, has bowed to opponents of proposed anti-subversion laws and delayed a vote on their final passage. The decision follows the sudden resignation of a key ally Sunday.
  • SENEGAL: Bush due in Dakar on Tuesday IRIN 07 Jul 2003 -- United States President George Bush is expected in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, at 7:00 am GMT on Tuesday, at the start of a five-nation African tour. He will be accompanied by his family, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor, Condoleeza Rice, officials said.
  • CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Bangui keen on attending AU summit IRIN 07 Jul 2003 -- The Central African Republic (CAR) has expressed its hope that its officials would be summoned by African heads of state who will attend on Thursday the African Union summit in Maputo, capital of Mozambique, to explain political change that took place in the country on 15 March, a government official told IRIN on Monday.
  • Boeing Delta II Launches "Opportunity", Sending Second NASA Rover to Mars Boeing 07 Jul 2003 -- "Opportunity," the second of two NASA rovers that will land on Mars, was launched today by a Boeing Delta II launch vehicle from Space Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
  • RWANDA: Twagiramungu wants presidential poll postponed IRIN 07 Jul 2003 -- As the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) confirmed on Saturday President Paul Kagame as the party's candidate for the presidency, former Prime Minister Faustin Twagiramungu, who has declared his candidature for the position, called for the election to be postponed "to give enough time for the candidates to campaign".



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