Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• VMU-1 breaks flight hour record Marine Corps News 16 July 2003-- Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 surpassed the old standard of annual flight hours by a country mile while supporting Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Well drillers bring water to Dikhil Marine Corps News 16 July 2003-- Soldiers from the U.S. Army's 916th engineer detachment, in conjunction with the Djiboutian Ministry of Agriculture, are in the process of constructing a well here to supply the district of Dikhil region with a much-needed water supply.

• AFGHANISTAN: Key humanitarian route closes for upgrading IRIN 16 Jul 2003 -- The principal humanitarian route linking the capital Kabul and northern Afghanistan will be closed for three months for badly-needed reconstruction work ahead of the winter, a government official has told IRIN.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Guard Chief Committed to State Partnership Program AFPS 16 Jul 2003 -- States affiliated with foreign countries should strengthen those bonds. States that have not forged similar international alliances might want to think about doing so.
• Navy Christens Amphibious Ship 16 Jul 2003 -- The U.S. Navy will christen the lead ship of the latest class of amphibious ships, San Antonio, Saturday, July 19, 2003, during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Avondale Operations in New Orleans.
• SnowGoose: UAVs Enter the Airlift Business AFPS 16 Jul 2003 -- The popular idea of unmanned aerial vehicles is that they are like aggrandized radio-controlled planes, good only for reconnaissance and scouting.
• Helicopter Crashes in Sicily Navy Newsstand 16 Jul 2003-- A helicopter from Helicopter Support Squadron (HC) 4 crashed approximately 10 miles on land, west southwest of Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella near Palagonia, Sicily, July 16 at 5 p.m. local time (11 a.m. EST). Four crew members were aboard at the time of the accident.
• NMCB-7 Makes Schools Operational in An Nasiriyah Navy Newsstand 16 Jul 2003-- While the headmasters from schools around Nasiriyah were attending a meeting in the auditorium of the Al-Goumhoria secondary school, members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 from Gulfport, Miss., were quietly working down the hall. The Seabees were here restoring utilities for the school.
• UNITAS Pacific Phase Begins Navy Newsstand 16 Jul 2003-- UNITAS 44-03 Pacific Phase commenced July 10 when more than 2,400 Sailors and Coast Guard personnel, assigned to ships, aviation squadrons and Coast Guard vessels from five countries, rendezvoused in Manta and Salinas, Ecuador. The two-week annual exercise is designed to foster multinational coalition operations by building mutual capabilities and cooperative relationships among naval forces in the Americas.
• Marines, Sailors return from Russia Marine Corps News 16 Jul 2003-- Nearly 200 Marines from 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force returned to Okinawa July 11, after a two-week deployment aboard the USS Fort McHenry to Vladivostok, Russia.
• Sharing skills... U.S., ROK Marine snipers stay on target Marine Corps News 16 Jul 2003-- The scout sniper platoon, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division trained the 33rd Battalion, Republic of Korea Marine snipers during their deployment to Korea in support of the Korean Integrated Training Program (KITP).

• Lugar Says Patience Needed to Win War Against Terrorism Washington File 16 Jul 2003 -- This column by U.S. Senator Dick Lugar, Republican of Indiana and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was published in the Chicago Tribune July 15 and is in the public domain.

• EU: Military Arm Developing More Quickly Than Expected RFE/L 16 Jul 2003 -- The European Union appears to be developing its new military arm rapidly. Its first-ever deployment of peacekeeping troops came earlier this year in Macedonia, and since then it has also sent forces to the Congo. Now the Netherlands, an EU member, has suggested that union troops be sent to Moldova to back a peace settlement there.

Defense Industry

• ATK'S Quick Bolt Strikes Again ATK 16 Jul 2003 -- Yesterday, ATK (Alliant Techsystems) (NYSE:ATK) successfully tested a "Quick Bolt" version of the Navy Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM). The Quick Bolt capability brings joint force and air component commanders one step closer to gaining a revolutionary precision strike capability.
• U.S. NAVY Awards LRIP Contract To BAE SYSTEMS For JSOW Unitary Broach Program BAE Systems 16 Jul 2003 -- The U.S. Navy has awarded a $4.2 million low rate initial production (LRIP) contract to BAE Systems to provide 42 BROACH Lethal Packages (and associated support and test equipment) for the Navys Joint Standoff Weapon Unitary variant (JSOW-C). Initial delivery of the planned 3,000 unit production program will begin in early 2004.
• Boeing Awarded Contract for E-10A Multi-Sensor Command and Control Aircraft Testbed Boeing 16 Jul 2003 -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing [NYSE: BA] a contract to purchase a 767-400 ER that will be used as a testbed for the new E-10A program, also known as the Multi-sensor Command and Control Aircraft program.
• Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet completes AESA first flight Boeing 16 Jul 2003 -- The Boeing [NYSE: BA] F/A-18E/F Super Hornet program moved closer to equipping the fleet with the latest in radar technology on July 30 at Naval Air Systems Command China Lake, Calif., when a test aircraft carrying the APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar system completed several test flights with the radar operating.
• Taxpayer Will See Best Value in Leasing Boeing 767 Tanker Aircraft Boeing 16 Jul 2003 -- (Note to Editors: On July 10, 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. The following is the third in a series of five background papers designed to assist you in coverage of this issue.)
• Northrop Grumman, Israel Aircraft Industries' Tamam Division Establish Teaming Agreement Involving Electro-Optical Systems Israel Aerospace Industries 16 Jul 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE: NOC) Defensive Systems Division and Israel Aircraft Industries'IAI/Tamam's POPTAMAM Division (TAMAM) have signed a teaming agreement that will combine their expertise in the design and production of electro-optical (EO) payloads for intelligence, surveillance, targeting and reconnaissance for specified business opportunities.
• Lockheed Martin F-16 Tests Mid-Air Collision Prevention System Lockheed Martin 16 Jul 2003 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has successfully demonstrated an Automatic Air Collision Avoidance System (Auto ACAS) on a U.S. Air Force F-16, marking the first time this safety-enhancing technology was employed on a production F-16.
• Royal Thai Air Force Receives Final Delivery of Lockheed Martin F-16s Lockheed Martin 16 Jul 2003 -- Thailand's Korat Air Base received the final three of 16 refurbished Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-16s on July 11 as part of the country's ongoing efforts to modernize its air force. The delivery completes the third F-16 squadron for the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). The U.S. Air Force refurbished and delivered the aircraft.
• U.S. Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin $100 Million Contract to Modify C-130s for Search and Rescue Lockheed Martin 16 Jul 2003 -- The U.S. Air Force has selected Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] to modify up to 10 existing C-130 Hercules airlifters to the HC-130P combat search and rescue (CSAR) aircraft configuration. The contract is valued at approximately $100 million.
• Northrop Grumman Adds Lockheed Martin to Joint Unmanned Combat Air System Team Northrop Grumman 16 Jul 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Integrated Systems sector today announced the addition of Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) to its joint unmanned combat air system (J-UCAS) team.
• Northrop Grumman to Christen Navy's Newest Amphibious Ship Northrop Grumman 16 Jul 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Ship Systems sector will christen San Antonio (LPD 17), the first in a new class of 12 amphibious transport dock ships being built for the U.S. Navy, during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony on Saturday, July 19, 2003.
• MEADS INTERNATIONAL SUBMITS PROPOSAL; READIES FOR DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI-NATIONAL AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM Lockheed Martin 16 Jul 2003 -- MEADS International (MI) has submitted its business management proposal to begin the Design and Development (D&D) phase of the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS).

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 16 Jul 2003
• Military Coup Ousts Government Of Sao Tome and Principe VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- Military forces in the tiny island nation of Sao Tome and Principe have toppled the government in a bloodless coup.
• Annan strongly condemns coup in São Tomé and Príncipe UN News Centre 16 Jul 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today strongly condemned the coup d'état in São Tomé and Príncipe and called for the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order.
• Sao Tome Coup Leaders Move to Establish New Government VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- Leaders of the military coup in the tiny west African nation of Sao Tome and Principe say they are dissolving all state bodies and setting up a military government. The coup comes as the island state is about to reap its first revenues from offshore oil fields.
• SAO TOME / REVOLT VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- Leaders of the military coup in the tiny west African nation of Sao Tome and Principe say they are dissolving all state bodies and setting up a military government. The coup comes as the island state is about to reap its first revenues from offshore oil fields.
• SAO TOME / REVOLT VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- Military troops in the tiny west African island state of Sao Tome and Principe have launched a coup. Sao Tome is one of the world's poorest countries, but it also has potential oil wealth.
• African Island State of Sao Tome and Principe Besieged by Coup VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- Military troops in the tiny west African island state of Sao Tome and Principe have launched a coup. Sao Tome is one of the world's poorest countries, but it also has potential oil wealth.
• Soldiers Seize Power in Sao Tome and Principe VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- Soldiers in the tiny West African island nation of Sao Tome and Principe have staged a coup, detaining government officials and the country's first female prime minister.
• SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE: Coup in island state with big oil reserves IRIN 16 Jul 2003 -- An army major backed by a small opposition party seized power in a pre-dawn coup in the African island state of Sao Tome and Principe on Wednesday while President Fradique de Menezes was visiting Nigeria.
• Military Operations in Chechnya Spreading to Neighboring Ingushetia VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- A senior official of the group Human Rights Watch said Russia's military operations in Chechnya are spreading to neighboring Ingushetia. The official is urging Russia to rein in its forces, or risk further undermining security in the region.
• RUSSIA / CHECHNYA VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- A senior official of the group Human Rights Watch says Russia's military operations in Chechnya are spreading to neighboring Ingushetia. The official is urging Russia to rein in its forces, or risk further undermining security in the region.

• Plans for Liberian Force are Progressing, Annan Says Washington File 16 Jul 2003 -- Plans by the international community to help calm the situation in Liberia are progressing, but the deployment of a peacekeeping force may not take place before the end of July, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said July 16.
• Annan Disappointed in Slow Deployment of Liberia Peacekeepers VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has expressed disappointment at the slow pace of deployment of peacekeepers to Liberia.
• Warning of 'danger' in delaying troop deployment, Annan outlines UN plans for Liberia UN News Centre 16 Jul 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today outlined the world body's likely strategy to help restore order in war-torn Liberia, beginning with the arrival of a promised West African force meant to ensure calm as President Charles Taylor steps down, and possibly paving the way for troops from the United States and elsewhere.
• U-N / ANNAN / LIBERIA VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan has expressed disappointment at the slow pace of deployment of peacekeepers to Liberia.
• Powell to Discuss Liberia with US Lawmakers VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell meets with members of the U.S. Senate at the Capitol on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of sending U.S. troops to Liberia. Many lawmakers would like the United States to play a role in securing peace in Liberia, a country founded by freed American slaves in the 19th century.
• LIBERIA: Poor security hinders efforts to help displaced people in Monrovia IRIN 16 Jul 2003 -- Displaced people in the Liberian capital Monrovia continue to be plagued by frequent incidents of rape, abduction, armed robbery and looting, World Vision said on Wednesday.
• LIBERIA: Two ministers killed over June coup attempt against Taylor IRIN 16 Jul 2003 -- The families of two deputy ministers who were apparently killed by government fighters in June for their alleged involvement in a failed coup to depose President Charles Taylor, have demanded that the government release the bodies and conduct a full inquiry.
• UN welcomes 'historic' arrival of opposition leaders in DR of Congo capital UN News Centre 16 Jul 2003 -- Two of the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) main rebel leaders have arrived in the capital of Kinshasa ahead of tomorrow's swearing-in ceremony that will ultimately name four Vice-Presidents to a new power-sharing government, the United Nations reported today.
• New International Criminal Court Could Hear Congo Slaughter Case VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- The prosecutor at the new International Criminal Court says he is closely following the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and that mass killings in the northeast of the country could be the basis for the court's first case.
• WAR CRIMES / CONGO VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- The prosecutor at the new International Criminal Court says he is closely following the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and that mass killings in the northeast of the country could be the basis for the court's first case.
• CONGO / GOVERNMENT VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- The leader of the largest rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo has arrived in the country's capital, Kinshasa, after several days of uncertainty. He will take his place as one of four vice presidents in a new transitional government that is to be put in place on Thursday to end Congo's four-year war and plan elections.
• DRC: Bemba arrives in Kinshasa, Ruberwa en route IRIN 16 Jul 2003 -- The leader of the Mouvement de liberation du Congo (MLC), Jean-Pierre Bemba, who is also one of four vice-presidents designate of the transitional government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), arrived on Tuesday in the capital, Kinshasa, in order to take his oath of office.
• DRC: First elements of Ituri "task force" arrive in Bunia IRIN 16 Jul 2003 -- The first elements of a planned 3,800-strong UN peacekeeping task force for the troubled Ituri District of northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have arrived in Bunia, the main city of the region, the UN Mission in the country, known as MONUC, reported on Wednesday.
• SOMALIA: Faction leader rejects "flawed" agreement IRIN 16 Jul 2003 -- Mogadishu-based faction leader Muse Sudi Yalahow rejected a peace agreement signed earlier this month by delegates to the peace talks in Nairobi, saying it was "flawed".
• UN Security Council urges Somalis to pursue lasting peace UN News Centre 16 Jul 2003 -- Reiterating their commitment to a lasting settlement of the conflict in Somalia, members of the United Nations Security Council today encouraged all concerned parties to "pursue sincerely" their efforts aimed at achieving sustainable peace and reconciliation.

• Kosovo: Court Jails Ethnic Albanian Former UCK Commander RFE/L 16 Jul 2003 -- A Kosovo court today jailed an ethnic Albanian former Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) commander and three others for war crimes committed during the 1998-99 conflict.
• ERITREA-ETHIOPIA: Addis dismisses possibility of renewed hostilities IRIN 16 Jul 2003 -- Ethiopia is launching a strategy of peaceful containment of Eritrea, according to a national foreign policy document being drawn up by the prime minister’s office.
• COTE D'IVOIRE: Peacekeepers say 2,000 gunmen still roam the Wild West IRIN 16 Jul 2003 -- About 2,000 gunmen who formerly fought for both government and rebel forces in the west of Cote d'Ivoire are still at large, preying off the civilian population and preventing relief agencies from operating freely in the lawless region close to the Liberian border, according to a source in the French peacekeeping force.
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Security Council praises transitional process IRIN 16 Jul 2003 -- The UN Security Council praised on Tuesday the establishment of a consensual management of the transitional period in the Central African Republic (CAR), which involves all political factions and civil society.
• SUDAN: Amnesty urges human rights component in peace process IRIN 16 Jul 2003 -- The human rights group Amnesty International has called for a human rights component in the ongoing Sudanese peace process if lasting and sustainable peace is to be achieved throughout the country.
• BURUNDI: Zuma says he is willing to talk to Rwasa's FNL IRIN 16 Jul 2003 -- South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday that he was willing "to engage further" the Parti pour la liberation du peuple hutu-Forces nationales de liberation (Palipehutu-FNL) of Agathon Rwasa, a Burundi splinter rebel group that is not a signatory of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement of 2000.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 16 Jul 2003 -- NATO commander sees progress in Hungary's military integration / Turkish-U.S. statement expresses regret at Iraq row / President Chirac sees no prospect of French troops in Iraq / Greek and Italian presidents back stronger defense, political ties in EU / House panel cuts President Bush's nuclear weapons research funds
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 16 Jul 2003 -- U.S.: Iraq will rule on coalition forces / Georgia defends plan to deploy NATO AWACS plane / EU pledges support for an African peacekeeping force in Burundi / Czechs won't choose sides in U.S.-EU rift

• Lawmakers Condemn Rangoon Junta in Burma Sanctions Debate Washington File 16 Jul 2003 -- During the debate July 14 over the Burma sanctions bill, HR 2330, lawmakers from both major parties in the U.S. House of Representatives joined in condemning the military regime ruling Burma, and said sanctions were called for as a response to the harsh rule of Burma's State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).
• House Passes Burma Sanctions Bill Washington File 16 Jul 2003 -- The House of Representatives passed its version of the Burma Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 in a 418-2 vote in the early hours of July 15.
• Bush Applauds Congress for Passing Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act Washington File 16 Jul 2003 -- President Bush in a statement July 16 praised the passage by the U.S. Congress of legislation that would tighten sanctions on the military government in Burma.
• Senate Passes Burma Sanctions Bill Washington File 16 Jul 2003 -- The Senate passed the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 overwhelmingly, according to one of the strongest backers of that legislation in Congress.
• ZIMBABWE / A-U VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- Zimbabwe's opposition says President Robert Mugabe's success at last week's African Union summit came as a surprise. He was named to a one-year term as the organization's ambassador to southern Africa. The opposition, Movement for Democratic Change says President Mugabe is the wrong man for the job because he violates the principles of the pan-African organization. Nevertheless, some analysts disagree.
• AFGHANISTAN VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- It's been about 18 months since the Taliban was driven from power in Afghanistan and one year before elections there.
• CQ CONGRESS / BURMA VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- The U-S Senate has given final approval (by a 94 to one vote) to legislation that would tighten sanctions on the military government in Burma. The bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, now goes to President Bush for his signature.
• CUBA / HIJACK VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- A surveying boat stolen from Cuba with 15 people on board appears headed for U-S territorial waters. U-S Coast Guard officials will not say where the boat is, but they say U-S laws protecting the nation's borders will be enforced.
• U-N / ANNAN / BURMA VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan says he is exploring ways to pressure Burma's military to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
• US Congress Passes Legislation to Tighten Sanctions on Burma VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- The U.S. Senate has given final approval by a 94-1 vote to legislation that would tighten sanctions on the military government in Burma. The bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, now goes to President Bush for his signature.
• Annan meets with envoy from Myanmar, calls for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's release UN News Centre 16 Jul 2003 -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan met today with a senior envoy from Myanmar, voicing his concern about the safety and well being of democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and calling on the government to meet with her.
• BLAIR / TRAVEL VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair embarks on a week-long around-the-world trip Thursday that will take him to the United States and then East Asia.
• Hong Kong's Financial, Security Ministers Resign to Defuse Controversy VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- Two of Hong Kong's most unpopular government officials have resigned suddenly.
• Floods Devastate Northern India, Kill More than 100 VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- More than 100 people are feared killed in a flash flood caused by torrential rainfall in Northern India. It was the latest disaster triggered by the monsoon season in South Asia, where annual rains have caused severe flooding in several regions and killed nearly 300 people.
• CONGRESS / BURMA VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- The U-S Senate has given final approval (by a 94 to one vote) to legislation that would tighten sanctions on the military government in Burma. The bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, now goes to President Bush for his signature.
• HONG KONG/POLITICS VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- Two of Hong Kong's most unpopular government officials have resigned suddenly. The resignations come as Hong Kong's chief executive attempts to rebuild his battered credibility.
• Ukraine: Kuchma To Withdraw Controversial Changes To Constitution RFE/L 16 Jul 2003 -- Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma says he has decided to withdraw controversial proposals to alter the constitution.
• Thailand Won't Increase Pressure on Burma VOA News 16 Jul 2003 -- Thailand says it will not ratchet up pressure on Burma for democratic change, despite new calls from the United States that it do so. The U.S. House of Representatives passed tough economic sanctions against Burma Tuesday. But Thailand is balking at taking a tough approach to its neighbor.
• BURMA SANCTIONS REAX VOA 16 Jul 2003 -- Thailand says it will not ratchet up pressure on Burma for democratic change, despite new calls from the United States that it do so. The U-S House of Representatives passed tough economic sanctions against Burma Tuesday. But Thailand is balking at taking a tough approach to its neighbor.
• MAURITANIA: Islamists group masterminded coup, says President IRIN 16 Jul 2003 -- President Maaouiya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya has accused Mauritania's Islamic fundamentalist leaders of masterminding last month's attempted coup, since when about 150 serving and former soldiers have been detained.
• COMOROS: AU delegation hopes to smooth troubled waters IRIN 16 Jul 2003 -- Officials in the Comores were optimistic on Wednesday that a meeting between a delegation from the African Union (AU) and the authorities would provide a resolution to the archipelago's ongoing constitutional crisis.
• BOTSWANA: Govt defends agreement with US on war criminals IRIN 16 Jul 2003 -- The Botswana government has defended its decision to conclude an agreement with the United States exempting US citizens in Botswana from being indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC).