Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• V CORPS UNIT SOLVING IRAQI COMMUNITY'S PROBLEMS 'ONE BITE AT A TIME' V Corps News 14 Jul 2003-- Soldiers from V Corps's 1st Armored Division met with community representatives here to discuss important community issues.
• V CORPS SOLDIERS HELP MAKE SKIES OVER BAGHDAD SAFER V Corps News 14 Jul 2003-- The skies here are safer now that soldiers of V Corps' 1st Armored Division gathered up anti-aircraft weapons left over from the former Iraqi army last week.

• U-S / Afghanistan VOA 14 Jul 2003 -- Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah met Secretary of State Colin Powell Monday and said he had gotten new assurances on the U-S commitment to rebuilding his country and promoting democracy.
• Afghanistan: Rights Groups Criticize Torture, Abuse In Prisons RFE/L 14 Jul 2003 -- Human rights activists are speaking out about Afghanistan's appalling prisons, saying detainees are routinely tortured and held in filthy, overcrowded cells with little food. Prison officials reject those charges. But they are also hoping to improve conditions by offering human rights training to prison workers across Afghanistan.
• Afghanistan: Future Of Governor Of Herat Hangs In Balance RFE/L 14 Jul 2003 -- Afghanistan's interior minister, Ali Ahmad Jalali, has spoken out strongly against Mohammad Ismail Khan, the governor of the western province of Herat. Following a recent visit to Herat, Jalali said an atmosphere of repression and fear hangs over the province. He called for Ismail Khan to give up his army command and hand over customs revenues to Kabul.
• PAKISTAN: Afghan refugees continue returning despite border IRIN 14 Jul 2003 -- The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced at the weekend that it has facilitated the return of more than 200,000 Afghan refugees from Pakistan to Afghanistan so far this year. Despite this, agency officials believe that only about half of the estimated 600,000 returns planned for this year will actually take place.

Defense Policy / Programs

• 2ID soldiers participate in ROK Ranger training US 8th Army Release MS WORD DOC 14 Jul 2003-- Republic of Korea army ranger instructors watched as two Warriors from the 2nd Forward Support Battalion shimmied up rope obstacles as the rest of their platoon conducted leg-strengthening exercises nearby.
• 2ID Warriors certified in sling loading US 8th Army Release MS WORD DOC 14 Jul 2003-- Sling loading is one of the Army's premier methods of transporting equipment and supplies. Because of that, the skill of inspecting a sling load once it's rigged is an important source of knowledge when millions of dollars of everything from humvees to MREs are hanging hundreds of feet in the air.
• Airspeed Aims to Reduce Turnaround Time Navy Newsstand 14 Jul 2003-- The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has embarked on a new initiative to bring proven cycle-time reduction tools and methodologies to the NAVAIR depots.
• Amphibious Ship San Antonio to be Christened Navy Newsstand 14 Jul 2003-- The lead ship of the Navy's newest class of amphibious warship, San Antonio (LPD 17), will be christened during ceremonies July 19 at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Avondale Operations in New Orleans.
• Eisenhower's Light Industrial Facility Saves Navy $2 Million Navy Newsstand 14 Jul 2003-- A thousand dollars here, a thousand dollars there. Who cares? The crew of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) cares.
• VFA-115 Honors New York City Firefighters Navy Newsstand 14 Jul 2003-- Fighter-Attack Squadron (VFA-115) from Naval Air Station, Lemoore, Calif., visited New York City to commemorate its unique relationship with New York City Fire Company (FDNY) Engine 54 Ladder 4.
• Nimitz Makes Second UAE Port Call Navy Newsstand 14 Jul 2003-- USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 Sailors again experienced fun, relaxation and cultural exchange in the United Arab Emirates during a port call in Jebel Ali and nearby Dubai July 3-9.
• Nimitz Sailors Experience Australian Navy Navy Newsstand 14 Jul 2003-- Three USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Sailors recently had the opportunity to visit the Australian frigate HMAS Sydney (FFG 03) and experience another nation's navy during a three-day crew swap.
• Carl Vinson Strike Group Visits Australia Navy Newsstand 14 Jul 2003-- USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) anchored off the coast of Perth, Australia July 14 for a port call, marking the aircraft carrier's first visit to the "land down under" since March 1999.
• Tarawa Team Acts Fast to Save Marine Navy Newsstand 14 Jul 2003-- A week away from home and in the middle of the night, the crew of USS Tarawa (LHA 1) was faced with a man overboard. At approximately 12:15 a.m. (local standard time), a wide spectrum of Sailors and Marines aboard the San Diego-based amphibious assault ship successfully rescued an embarked Marine who had gone overboard approximately 560 miles northeast of the Hawaiian Islands.
• Fort McHenry Makes Goodwill Port Visit to Russia Navy Newsstand 14 Jul 2003-- USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) and USS Lassen (DDG 82), along with Marines assigned to the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, visited the Russian port of Vladivostok July 3-7 to continue building friendship and cooperation between the United States and Russia.
• Base receives new rapid response vehicle Marine Corps News 14 Jul 2003-- Communication Support Division personnel are working with a new rapid response system to increase emergency response capabilities both on and off the base.
• 22d MEU Sensor Platoon Keeps an Eye to the Ground Marine Corps News 14 Jul 2003-- In the dead of night and a half mile away into enemy territory, a lightly-equipped fire team wearing with night vision goggles and toting shovels approach a highly-trafficked road. While one member of the team carefully digs up a small section of turf, the rest of the team provides security with a wary eye.
• AWACS techs get paperless link AFPN 14 Jul 2003-- The E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System became the first weapon system to provide technicians with a paperless link between an aircraft parts manual and the base supply system.
• AF sends tanker report to Congress AFPN 14 Jul 2003-- Air Force officials July 14 took the next step in replacing its 43-year-old KC-135 Stratotanker fleet by sending Congress a report outlining the proposed lease of Boeing KC-767A tankers.
• U.S. Air Force - Boeing 767 Tanker Lease Explained On July 11, the United States Air Force gave the U.S. Congress a proposal to lease 100 Boeing 767 air refueling tankers, to address a critical national security need and to get an essential military asset quickly into the hands of U.S. warfighters. The Air Force, the Office of Management and Budget, and The Boeing Company worked together to develop a fair and equitable proposal for the taxpayer and for the nation.
• 39th Wing commander reflects on past, future of Incirlik USAFE 14 Jul 2003-- After almost two years and a multitude of world-changing events, the last of the 39th Wing commanders is bidding Incirlik a fond farewell.
• Marines take to Korean sky PACAF 14 Jul 2003-- A Hawaiian Marine unit takes to the skies over the Korean peninsula to expand its training and gain experience with new terrain.
• UAVs Demonstrate the Future at Pax River Event AFPS 14 Jul 2003 -- The "Jumbotron" video screen had "Welcome to UAV Town, USA" emblazoned across at site of the unmanned aerial vehicle flight demonstration today.
• Possible American Troops in Liberia Not to Be Under U.N. Control AFPS 14 Jul 2003 -- Any large-scale deployment of American troops to Liberia would not be under U.N. control, President George W. Bush said at the White House today.
• Next BRAC Will Reflect Changing Times AFPS 14 Jul 2003 -- There were 97 major base closures and 55 major realignments during previous base realignment and closure actions in 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1995, according to DoD documents.
• U.S., North Korea Conclude Remains Recovery Talks 14 Jul 2003 -- The Department of Defense announced today that U.S. and North Korea representatives concluded talks in Bangkok about arrangements to conduct joint operations aimed at recovering the remains of American servicemen still missing from the Korean War.

Defense Industry

• BAE SYSTEMS Supplies Artisan To UK Forces BAE Systems 14 Jul 2003 -- BAE Systems C4ISR has supplied ARTISAN, an innovative multiplexer (Mux) configuration tool, for use by the British Armys Royal School of Signals.
• Boeing and X-31A Team To Receive Prestigious International Award Boeing 14 Jul 2003 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and the X-31A team -- past and present -- will receive the von Karman award from the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS) at a ceremony Tuesday evening in Dayton, Ohio.
• Air Force Sends Tanker Recommendation to Hill Boeing 14 Jul 2003 -- As Congress initiates review of the U.S. Air Force's report on the 767 Tanker lease, Boeing [NYSE:BA] issued the following statement:
• U.S. Air Force - Boeing 767 Tanker Lease Explained Boeing 14 Jul 2003 -- As the United States is called upon to protect its national interests around the globe, in-flight refueling capabilities have become critical to America's battlefield success. In the past decade, military operations in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq have reinforced the importance of air refueling tankers -- the US military's "airborne gas stations" -- to our sustained military operations.
• Flight-Type Scramjet Completes Historic Test Series Pratt & Whitney 14 Jul 2003 -- As the first century of aviation is celebrated at the International Air and Space Symposium, technology now being developed is writing the future for the second 100 years of aviation.
• U.S. Navy Selects Northrop Grumman to Provide Next Generation C4ISR Systems Development Northrop Grumman 14 Jul 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) will continue supporting exploratory development of current and future advanced technologies for the U.S. Navy's command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems. These systems provide warfighters with information vital to the success of operations during network-centric warfare.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 14 Jul 2003
• First review of global efforts to curb small arms trade hails progress in just two years - UN UN News Centre 14 Jul 2003 -- Barely two years after the adoption of a United Nations action plan to eradicate the illicit small arms trade, worldwide progress had been made in public disclosures about the origins, destinations, modus operandi and profiling of groups engaged in the global scourge, according to the chairperson of a key UN meeting.

• State Department Chronology on Humanitarian Landmine Action Washington File 14 Jul 2003 -- A State Department chronology, released July 14, lists important historical developments related to the problem of proliferating anti-personnel landmines and measures taken to protect innocent civilians from them.

• Bush Open to a "Limited" Role for U.S. Troops to Stabilize Liberia Washington File 14 Jul 2003 -- President Bush said July 14 that he is open to deploying U.S. troops for a "limited" role in stabilizing Liberia, but again made clear that Liberia's President Charles Taylor must leave.
• Bush: US Troops May Be Necessary in Liberia; Taylor Must First Go VOA News 14 Jul 2003 -- President Bush said it may be necessary to deploy U.S. troops to Liberia on a limited mission. But he emphasizes Liberian President Charles Taylor must leave before American forces go in as part of a multinational peacekeeping operation.
• Annan and Bush discuss US role in UN peacekeeping force for Liberia UN News Centre 14 Jul 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and United States President George W. Bush today discussed a stabilization plan for war-torn Liberia under which the United States would assist a UN peacekeeping force composed of West African nations.
• Liberia: top UN envoys return to Monrovia UN News Centre 14 Jul 2003 -- Two top United Nations envoys have returned to the besieged Liberian capital of Monrovia to begin paving the way for the return of UN agencies and personnel providing humanitarian assistance to the people of the war-torn West African nation.
• BUSH / ANNAN / LIBERIA VOA 14 Jul 2003 -- President Bush says it may be necessary to deploy U-S troops to Liberia on a limited mission. But he emphasizes Liberian President Charles Taylor must leave before American forces go in as part of a multinational peacekeeping operation.
• LIBERIA/CEASE-FIRE VOA 14 Jul 2003 -- Liberian authorities have put pro-government forces around the capital Monrovia on high alert, after accusing rebels of violating a cease-fire elsewhere in the country. Tensions are mounting, as Liberians await the deployment of international peacekeepers.
• Bush, Annan Expected to Discuss Liberia VOA News 14 Jul 2003 -- U.S. President George W. Bush meets with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the White House today for talks expected to focus on the situation in war-torn Liberia.
• LIBERIA: Monrovia braces for fresh rebel attack as Bush meets Annan IRIN 14 Jul 2003 -- The Liberian capital Monrovia braced for a fresh rebel attack on Monday as US President George Bush was due to meet UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York to discuss the sending of an international peacekeeping force to the troubled West African country.
• Britain Will Not Cut Ties With Arafat, Israeli PM Told in London VOA News 14 Jul 2003 -- Britain has told Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that it will not cut off contact with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
• BRITAIN / ISRAEL VOA 14 Jul 2003 -- Britain has told Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that it will not cut off contact with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
• ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS VOA 14 Jul 2003 -- Israeli security officials are questioning a suspected member of an Irish guerrilla group for possible links to Palestinian militants. At the same time, two major Palestinian militant groups warn their self-imposed freeze on attacks against Israel could end. The latest news comes as Israel's Prime Minister holds talks in London about Middle East peace prospects.
• Sharon in London to Urge Britain to End PLO Ties VOA News 14 Jul 2003 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is in London for talks aimed at persuading British leaders to cut ties with Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat.
• Survey: Many Palestinians Not Anxious to Return to Israel VOA News 14 Jul 2003 -- A survey finds the majority of Palestinian refugees would not wish to return to Israel after a peace deal is negotiated. It says most would prefer to remain where they are now or move to live under Palestinian control in the West Bank or Gaza strip. But the Palestinian organization which conducted the survey could not release its findings because hundreds of Palestinians trashed its offices.
• Israel Questions Member of Irish Guerrilla Group VOA News 14 Jul 2003 -- Israeli security officials are questioning a suspected member of an Irish guerrilla group for possible links to Palestinian militants. At the same time, two major Palestinian militant groups warn their self-imposed freeze on attacks against Israel could end. The latest news comes as Israel's Prime Minister holds talks in London about peace prospects.

• CONGO POLITICS VOA 14 Jul 2003 -- Doubts persist about whether a government of reconciliation ending nearly five years of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, will actually be sworn in. The installation of the government was supposed to begin this week, but has fallen behind schedule, due to renewed tensions between the government and the main rebel group R-C-D-Goma.
• DRC: Inauguration of transitional government again risks delay IRIN 14 Jul 2003 -- The inauguration of a transitional national government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) could again face delay in light of a controversy surrounding one rebel movement's unilateral creation of military zones and demands for security.
• DRC-UGANDA: Uganda to probe ICRC deaths in Ituri IRIN 14 Jul 2003 -- The government of Uganda has said it would reopen investigations into the murder of six employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that took place in April 2001 in Ituri District of northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the government-owned daily newspaper, The New Vision, reported on Saturday.
• U-S / BURUNDI / FIGHTING VOA 14 Jul 2003 -- The United States Monday urged National Liberation Forces rebels in Burundi to halt attacks and negotiate with the transitional government in Bujumbura. The appeal follows a major assault on the capital by rebel forces, some of them reportedly child-soldiers.
• BURUNDI: Rebels release hostages as fighting displaces 15,000 IRIN 14 Jul 2003 -- As the UN reported that fighting in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, had displaced thousands of people, the rebels who had been shelling the city for about a week released on Sunday 39 hostages they had held captive.
• Security Council backs new plan for UN troops in Sierra Leone - President UN News Centre 14 Jul 2003 -- Members of the Security Council today agreed to "respond quickly" to Secretary-General Kofi Annan's recent proposal for a modified, four-stage reduction in the military strength of the United Nations mission in Sierra Leone, the President of the 15-nation body said today.
• US Warns Americans To Avoid Burundi VOA News 14 Jul 2003 -- The United States has ordered non-essential diplomats to leave Burundi, following an upsurge in fighting between the government and rebel forces.
• SUDAN: Peace conference resolves to stop cattle rustling IRIN 14 Jul 2003 -- A peace conference held earlier this month between the Nuer and Dinka communities in south Sudan has resolved to stop ongoing cattle rustling in Western Upper Nile and eastern Bahr el Ghazal.
• ZAMBIA: Focus on repatriation of Angolan refugees from Zambia IRIN 14 Jul 2003 -- On Friday last week, some 387 Angolan refugees left Zambia for their country of origin in what has been described as a "historic" repatriation exercise.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 14 Jul 2003 -- New Belgian government agrees to replace war crime law / Former U.S. envoy to Balkans says Kosovo must become independent / Security Council extends NATO-led force in Bosnia for one year / U.S. likely to ride out calls for NATO role in Iraq / "Allies of al Qaeda" claim Iraq attacks says Arab TV / Armed forces chief says French troops to Iraq not on agenda / Dutch propose EU peacekeeping force for Moldova
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 14 Jul 2003 -- GENERAL JONES Sueddeutsche Zeitung interview / New council puts Iraq on path to self-rule / Defense Secretary Rumsfeld says Iraq may need a larger force / NATO troops arrive in Kabul ahead of ISAF takeover

• CONGRESS / BURMA VOA 14 Jul 2003 -- The House of Representatives is moving toward final approval of legislation that would ban all imports from military-ruled Burma. Expected House passage of the Burma Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 would virtually clear the way for President Bush's signature, and a series of new sanctions on the military government in Rangoon.
• ZIMBABWE / TRIAL VOA 14 Jul 2003 -- Zimbabwe's opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, and his two co-defendants have asked the high court in Harare to dismiss the treason charges against them. Tendai Maphosa reports from Harare the men say the prosecution has failed to meet one of the basic legal requirements for conviction.
• RWANDA/CANDIDATES VOA 14 Jul 2003 -- Candidates for Rwanda's upcoming presidential election began registering with the country's electoral commission Monday.
• HONG KONG CHINA VOA 14 Jul 2003 -- A Chinese state-owned newspaper has accused pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong of trying to subvert the city's government. The editorial comes as Hong Kong's administration faces a political crisis in the wake of mass rallies against security legislation and the territory's leader.
• MOZAMBIQUE: AU summit makes some far-reaching decisions IRIN 14 Jul 2003 -- Mozambique's capital, Maputo, had never seen anything like it. Endless motorcades transported over 50 African heads of state to a new conference centre to attend the second summit of the Africa Union (AU), from 10 to 12 July, while over 1,000 journalists arrived from all over the continent and Europe to report on the proceedings.
• Northrop Grumman Moves Composite Fuel Tanks Closer to Launch Pad with New Award Northrop Grumman 14 Jul 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Integrated Systems sector will continue developing and refining manufacturing processes required to construct large cryogenic fuel tanks under a new Next Generation Launch Technology (NGLT) contract option from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.