Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Pentagon Leaders Describe Offensive Operations in Iraq AFPS 29 Jul 2003-- U.S. and other coalition forces in Iraq can't defend themselves everywhere all the time, so they've been going on the offensive, a top Defense Department spokesman said today.
• Iraqis Offering More Cooperation, But Still Fear Hussein AFPS 29 Jul 2003-- Iraqis are providing more tips to U.S. and coalition forces searching for Saddam loyalists in Iraq, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz told a U.S. Senate committee here today.
• Myers Speaks on Terror War, U.S.-India Contacts AFPS 29 Jul 2003-- Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers discussed the continuing war on terrorism with his Indian counterpart here today and quashed rumors that his visit was related to U.S. pressure for India to provide troops for operations in Iraq.
• Myers Says Portions of Iraq Still a War Zone, But Progress Being Made AFPS 29 Jul 2003-- The area within Tikrit, Baghdad and Ar Ramadi "is still a war zone," said Joint Chiefs chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers during a press conference here today.
• WEAPONS SIEZED IN MULTIPLE RAIDS CENTCOM 29 Jul 2003-- Possible attacks were prevented through the removal of enemy weapons during multiple raids throughout Iraq on July 28 by Coalition forces in support of the effort to create a secure environment.
• Marine Corps CH-46's vital to casevac missions in Iraq Marine Corps News 29 Jul 2003-- During peacetime in their home country, sick and injured service members can typically rely on emergency medical services and an ambulance to transport them quickly to a nearby hospital.
• Battalion troops save Iraqis from canal Marine Corps News 29 Jul 2003-- A Navy corpsman and Marine helped save the lives of 17 Iraqi workers after a truck they were riding in crashed into an irrigation canal.
• 1st Combat Communications Squadron up and running in Sierra Leone USAFE 29 Jul 2003-- Faster than a 1,500-kilobit data transfer. More powerful than a military electric power 806 generator. Able to leap 20-foot antennas at a single bound. It's 1st Combat Communications Squadron!
• IRAQ / ARREST VOA 29 July 2003--The U-S military says it has captured one of Saddam Hussein's bodyguards in a pre-dawn raid Tuesday in the former dictator's hometown of Tikrit
• U.S. Has Given At Least $1.85 Billion To Afghanistan Since October 2001 Washington File 29 July 2003--Following is the official answer to a question taken at the July 28, regular State Department press briefing; the answer was posted later in the day.
• IRAQ / STREET KIDS VOA 29 July 2003--The United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, says the number of homeless children in Baghdad has risen dramatically since the war. It says it is working with other humanitarian organizations to try to get Iraqi children off the capital's streets and into safe homes.
• IRAQ / GOVERNING COUNCIL VOA 29 July 2003--Iraq's Governing Council, set up by the U-S-led coalition to run Iraq as an interim administration, elected a nine-member rotating presidency on Tuesday.
• IRAQ / ARREST VOA 29 July 2003--The U-S military says it has captured one of Saddam Hussein's bodyguards in a pre-dawn raid Tuesday in the former dictator's hometown of Tikrit
• IRAQ / ARREST VOA 29 July 2003--The U-S military says it has captured one of Saddam Hussein's bodyguards in a pre-dawn raid Tuesday in the former dictator's hometown of Tikrit.
• AFGHANISTAN: New HRW report stresses danger of warlord threat IRIN 29 Jul 2003 -- The Afghan government has called for continued support from the international community towards ensuring respect for human rights in the country, following a report released on Tuesday by Human Rights Watch (HRW) asserting that a climate of fear, particularly in the south, is threatening efforts to adopt a new constitution, and capable of derailing national elections scheduled for mid-2004.
• LIBERIA / VIOLENCE VOA 29 July 2003--President Bush called for the release of Burma's Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as he signed into law the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 at the White House July 28.
• LIBERIA: Monrovia starves in sodden chaos IRIN 29 Jul 2003 -- There is no escape from the fighting in the Liberian capital Monrovia, where a million people are starving to death, lashed by torrential rains, harassed by wild-eyed gunmen and afraid to venture out for fear of being hit by stray bullets or blown up by the mortar shells that land randomly in the city centre.
• LIBERIA: Rebels vow to fight until peacekeepers arrive IRIN 29 Jul 2003 -- Both rebel movements in Liberia advanced further into the rapidly shrinking fiefdom of President Charles Taylor on Tuesday and vowed to continue their offensive until foreign peacekeepers arrived in the country.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD News Briefing - Mr. Di Rita and Lt. Gen. Schwartz 29 Jul 2003-- The coalition is working with Iraqis to improve internal security in the country as well. Four thousand Iraqi militiamen will be trained by our forces in next several weeks and will work under United States command in regions around the country as part of the civil defense force.

• US Quick-Strike Brigade to Visit Korea ROK Ministry of Defence 29 Jul 2003 -- A newly created U.S. quick-strike brigade will conduct its first overseas exercise in the Republic of Korea.
• 13TH COSCOM SOLDIERS RETURN FROM OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM III Corps 29 Jul 2003-- Approximately 160 soldiers from two 13th Corps Support Command units -- the 546th Area Support Medical Company and the 68th Engineer Company -- are scheduled to return to family and friends on Fort Hood tonight (July 29).
• USS Mustin Commissioned Navy Newsstand 29 Jul 2003-- The Navy commissioned the 39th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Mustin (DDG 89), during a twilight ceremony July 26 at Naval Air Station North Island, and gave command of the ship to Cmdr. Ann Phillips.
• INDIA / U-S MILITARY VOA 29 July 2003--The chairman of the U-S Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Meyers, is completing (has completed) two days of talks in India, before moving on to discussions in neighboring Pakistan. The war on terrorism and the situations in Afghanistan and Iraq are all on the agenda.
• San Antonio a 'Ship of Firsts' Navy Newsstand 29 Jul 2003-- The christening of the amphibious transport dock ship San Antonio (LPD 17) July 19 marked a significant milestone for this cutting-edge and groundbreaking naval warship.
• Ramstein C-9s to retire USAFE 29 Jul 2003-- The aeromedical evacuation mission of the 86th Airlift Wing is transitioning from C-9s to other airframes including the C-17, C-21, C-130 and other opportune aircraft, said Brig. Gen. Erwin F. Lessel, 86th Airlift Wing commander.
• Marines take to Korean sky Marine Corps News 29 Jul 2003-- A Hawaiian Marine unit took to the skies over the Korean peninsula to expand it's training and gain experience with new terrain while deployed to Osan, South Korea.
• JULY 30: SOLDIERS RETURNING FROM OIF XVIII Airborne Corps 29 Jul 2003-- Approximately 70 soldiers from the 18th Soldier Support Group are scheduled to return at 10 p.m. tomorrow (July 30) from Operation Iraqi Freedom. The welcome home ceremony will take place at the 18th SSG located off Normandy Drive here on post.
• MORE SOLDIERS RETURN TO FORT BRAGG FROM IRAQ FRIDAY AND SUNDAY XVIII Airborne Corps 24 Jul 2003-- Approximately 210 soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment (Multiple Launch Rocket System), including the headquarters element, will be returning to Fort Bragg at 5:30 p.m. Friday from Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• 410th MILITARY POLICE COMPANY RETURNS HOME FROM IRAQ III Corps 29 Jul 2003-- Approximately 130 soldiers from the 410th Military Police Company will return home to Fort Hood on Saturday (July 26) after serving almost eight months in Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• VAQ-133 arrives to support mission Marine Corps News 29 Jul 2003-- The 210 Sailors of Electronic Attack Squadron 133 arrived aboard the Station July 14 to replace the outgoing Marines of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 who departed from the Station Monday to return home to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C.
• MWSS-171, CSSD-36 train at Fuji Marine Corps News 29 Jul 2003-- Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Combat Service Support Detachment 36 and other supporting units who participated in Cloud Warrior 2003 at Camp Fuji, Japan returned to the Station July 12 with dirt on their face and motivation coursing through their veins.
• Osprey squadron builds nests for humans Marine Corps News 29 Jul 2003-- Words like hard-charging, tenacious, motivating or faithful are commonly used to describe a Marine, but who would have thought generous, kind and compassionate were also part of a Marine's personality.
• Nominees for Army Chief, Special Ops Command Face Senate Hearing AFPS 29 Jul 2003-- Nominees to lead two important leadership positions faced tough questions concerning present troops strength in Iraq, lengths of deployments and the stress those deployments are having on service members and their families today.
• Myers Meets With Pakistani Counterpart AFPS 29 Jul 2003-- Joint Chiefs chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers continued consultations in South Asia with meetings with his Pakistani counterparts here today.
• Combat Engineers Demonstrate Skills to European Counterparts Marine Corps News 29 Jul 2003-- Marines from a Virginia-based reserve unit took their engineering skills to Romania recently for demolitions cross-training for soldiers from the six European nations participating in Cornerstone 03. Also on the agenda was an urban breaching and Military Operations on Urban Terrain demonstration by the Marines.
• Mortars 'rain down from heaven' in Georgia Marine Corps News 29 Jul 2003-- KRTSANISI, Georgia - The commander's 'hip-pocket artillery' holds an important role to the Georgian soldiers of the 113th Light Infantry Battalion.
• Security forces members return home after Iraqi deployment USAFE News 29 Jul 2003-- Just inside the base's front gate dozens of airmen, family members and well wishers waved flags and lined the sidewalks which lead to the drop off site for a busload of returning security forces troops.

• EU and NATO agree concerted approach for the Western Balkans NATO Press Release 29 Jul 2003 -- The EU and NATO have agreed on a concerted approach on security and stability in the Western Balkans.

Defense Industry

• General Dynamics’ Bid to Acquire Veridian Clears Hart-Scott-Rodino Waiting Period General Dynamics 29 Jul 2003 -- General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) announced today that its planned acquisition of Veridian Corporation (NYSE: VNX) has cleared the mandatory waiting period required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. Since there was no objection from the Department of Defense or the Federal Trade Commission, General Dynamics and Veridian are free to close the transaction, following an affirmative vote by Veridian shareholders; that vote is scheduled for August 7, 2003.
• ROKAF Begins Initial Operational Assessment of T-50 Fast Jet Trainer Lockheed Martin 29 Jul 2003 -- The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) began Initial Operational Assessment (IOA) of the T-50, with the first flights on July 28. The T-50 is being developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), with the assistance of Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT].
• Northrop Grumman F-5E Modified for Sonic Boom Demonstration Completes First Flight Northrop Grumman 29 Jul 2003 -- An F-5E fighter jet with a modified fuselage has completed its initial flight in preparation for a joint government-industry test program to demonstrate the relationship between the shape of a supersonic aircraft and the strength of the sonic boom it creates.
• Thales and Zeiss sign a cooperation agreement in the UAV optronic sub-systems Thales 29 Jul 2003 -- Capitalising on the current co-operation within airborne reconnaissance activities, Thales Optronics and ZEISS Optronik have agreed to expand their co-operation in the UAV optronic sub-systems. The two companies signed a mutual agreement on the 19th of June during the "Paris Air Show" at Le Bourget in order to meet surveillance mission requirements in the future European market.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 29 Jul 2003
• Bush Tells Sharon U.S. Work for Mideast Peace Will Continue Washington File 29 Jul 2003 -- President Bush assured Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that the United States would continue its efforts to bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
• ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS VOA 29 July 2003--The head of Israel's Defense Forces says he fears that a truce announced by Palestinian militant groups will not last much longer. His warning came Tuesday as Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, prepared to hold (held) talks with President Bush at the White House
• ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS VOA 29 July 2003--The head of Israel's Defense Forces says he fears that a truce announced by Palestinian militant groups will not last much longer. His warning came Tuesday as Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, prepared to hold (held) talks with President Bush at the White House.
• U.S. Committed to Security of Israel, Bush Tells Sharon Washington File 29 July 2003-- America is firmly committed to the security of Israel as a Jewish state and we are firmly committed to the safety of the Israeli people," said President Bush in a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on July 29 in the Rose Garden of the White House.

• SOMALIA: Think tank favours recognition of Somaliland IRIN 29 Jul 2003 -- The demand of the self-declared republic of Somaliland for recognition presents the international community with stark choices, says a report released this week by the Brussels-based think-tank, the International Crisis Group (ICG).
• SOMALIA: Envoy urges less haste in finalising peace accord IRIN 29 Jul 2003 -- The ambassador of Somalia to the UN has stressed that peace in Somalia will depend on whether Somalis really want a deal and whether the international community will be able to support the outcome of the peace talks currently underway in Kenya.
• Russia: Kremlin Hands Control Of Chechnya Campaign To Police Force RFE/L 29 Jul 2003 -- Russia has removed control of the Chechen military campaign from the security services and handed it to the police.
• INDONESIA/ACEH VOA 29 July 2003--Authorities in Indonesia have started treason proceedings against five negotiators from the Free Aceh Movement. Tim Johnston reports from Jakarta, observers say the move makes prospects for a peaceful end to the separatist conflict in Indonesia's northernmost province even more distant
• SOLOMONS/INTERVENTION VOA 29 July 2003--Members of one of the Solomon Islands' most powerful militia groups, the Malaita Eagle Force, or M-E-F, promised to hand in their weapons to Australian-led peacekeepers. The offer, however, is not unconditional. The M-E-F has warned it would only turn over its weapons, if rival ethnic factions are also forced to disarm
• INDIA/BLAST VOA 29 July 2003--Security has been stepped-up in India's financial capital Bombay, a day after a bomb explosion on a bus killed two people and injured more than 40 others. Authorities are blaming an Islamic militant group for the attack.
• TAJIKISTAN: Mine action centre launched IRIN 29 Jul 2003 -- A centre for mine action opened in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, last week with the ultimate goal of clearing the estimated 16,000 mines thought to remain scattered throughout the republic.
• SUDAN: Government sets out priorities for peace process IRIN 29 Jul 2003 -- The government of Sudan has said that a new draft framework agreement is a precondition to the resumption of peace talks in Kenya on 10 August, the latest date put forward by the mediators.
• DRC: MONUC gets a stronger mandate, troops increased to 10,800 IRIN 29 Jul 2003 -- The UN Security Council unanimously adopted on Monday a resolution giving the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) a stronger mandate and increasing its authorised strength from 8,700 to 10,800 troops. The council also extended the mission's mandate for another year, until 30 July 2004.
• ETHIOPIA: UN urges early mediation between rival pastoralists IRIN 29 Jul 2003 -- Clashes between rival pastoralists competing over scarce resources must be prevented through early mediation efforts, the UN’s Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia (EUE) has said.
• NIGERIA: 25 die in renewed Delta violence, women seize oil facility IRIN 29 Jul 2003 -- Renewed fighting between militias from the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups in Nigeria's volatile Niger Delta have killed at least 25 people in the past week and displaced hundreds, residents said on Tuesday.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 29 July 2003-- NATO may mediate in Iceland-U.S. jets row says Lord Robertson / Turkey should put Iraq mission to parliament / Greek lawyers seek international court action against Britain for 'war crimes' in Iraq / Rights report criticises U.S. and allies on Afghanistan / UN adds troops in Congo to combat massacres / EU ready to support international force in Liberia
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 23 July 2003-- France and Germany consider possible roles in postwar Iraq / Liberia rebels in second front capture Port City of Buchanan / Russia: Abkhazia requests missile to counter Georgian AWACS planes

• Bush Signs Law Imposing Economic Sanctions on Burma Washington File 29 July 2003--President Bush July 28 signed the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act, which imposes economic sanctions on the government of Burma
• Bush Says Burma's Junta Must Release Aung San Suu Kyi Washington File 29 Jul 2003 -- President Bush called for the release of Burma's Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as he signed into law the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 at the White House July 28.
• U.S. Imposes Financial Services Freeze on Burmese Regime Washington File 29 Jul 2003 -- The United States has begun to implement the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, which immediately prohibits financial transactions with entities of the ruling military junta in Burma and will bar the importation of Burmese products into the United States after 30 days, according to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
• Afghanistan: Human Rights Watch Documents Afghan Police, Military Abuses RFE/L 29 Jul 2003 -- Human Rights Watch has issued a report documenting what it says are widespread abuses being committed by Afghanistan's police, military, and intelligence officials. The alleged perpetrators are backed by factional leaders who came to power following the United Stated-led overthrow of the Taliban in 2001. The report blames Washington for encouraging the leaders' rise to power and doing little to curb their abuses.
• BRAZIL / UNREST VOA 29 July 2003--Brazil's new president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, faces new challenges as thousands of poor Brazilian squatters invade urban and rural property in an effort to pressure the federal government to provide land and social aid. The former radical union leader, who has had close ties to several leftist groups over the years, faces a delicate balancing act as he tries to stabilize the country's economy with conservative policies.
• Boeing-Led Team to Study Nuclear-Powered Space Systems Boeing 29 Jul 2003 -- NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has awarded a contract to a Boeing-led [NYSE: BA] team to study deep space propulsion systems for the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) mission, scheduled to launch no earlier than 2011.