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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Iraq: U.S. Troops Raid Homes Of Alleged Rebel Financiers RFE/RL 25 Sep 2003 -- U.S. troops carried out a series of pre-dawn raids in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit.
• Iraq: U.S. Exonerates Soldiers In Shooting Of Iraqi Police RFE/RL 25 Sep 2003 -- The U.S. military today cleared its soldiers of any wrongdoing in an incident two weeks ago that left nine Iraqi security men and a Jordanian guard dead from U.S. fire.
• U.S. Central Command Unveils R & R Leave Program CENTCOM Release 25 Sept 2003-- In a continuing effort to improve the quality of life and readiness of U.S. service members currently supporting operations in Iraq, the United States Central Command has established a Rest and Recuperation Leave program beginning September 25, 2003. Those service members serving in the Iraqi theater of operations with 12-month orders will be eligible for this program.
• Winning the Peace in Iraq Vital to Winning War on Terror AFPS 25 Sept 2003-- Brave young Americans who liberated Iraq from the clutches of one of the bloodiest, most sadistic tyrants in modern history created the possibility of a major victory in the war on terrorism, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul D. Wolfowitz told the House Armed Services Committee here today.
• Troops get free trip home from Iraq Army News Service 25 Sept 2003-- Passengers at BWI Airport in Baltimore will get a bird's eye view of desert battle dress Sept. 25 when the first wave of service members lands for a two-week break from the stress of front-line duty in Iraq.
• MPs get Iraqi canine unit underway Army News Service 25 Sept 2003-- U.S. Army Military Police soldiers renovated an abandoned torture chamber, and the cells are now air conditioned, clean and filled with dogs.
• Afghanistan: Foreign Ministers Urge Intensified Support For Reconstruction RFE/RL 25 Sep 2003 -- In contrast to lingering divisions over Iraq, key Security Council members are showing a united front in support of reconstruction and stability efforts in Afghanistan. A high-level meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly has reaffirmed this support with a call for greater international backing for Afghanistan's political reform efforts, including increased security.
• New Zealand takes reins in Bamian reconstruction Army News Service 25 Sept 2003-- "Old Glory" came down to make room for the New Zealand flag, which will fly over the Bamian Provincial Reconstruction Team compound in Afghanistan.
• Powell Calls for Increased Aid to Afghanistan Washington File 25 Sept 2003-- Afghanistan has made great strides over the past two years, but it is crucial that international aid be accelerated to ensure that the "hard-won hope of the Afghan people is justified," Secretary of State Colin Powell said September 24.
• Foreign Ministers Discuss Increasing Aid to Afghanistan Washington File 25 Sept 2003-- Foreign ministers from some of the world's richest countries met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai September 24 to discuss intensifying aid to Afghanistan over the next year.
• CONGRESS AFGHANISTAN VOA 25 Sept 2003-- U-S lawmakers are considering President Bush's 87 billion dollar emergency funding request for Iraq and Afghanistan. On Thursday, Bush administration officials testified before a Senate panel about the part of the package dealing with Afghanistan
• RFE/RL Afghanistan Report, Vol 2, Number 33 25 Sep 2003 -- AFGHAN AID EN ROUTE TO MOSCOW? / AFGHAN LEADER RESHUFFLES DEFENSE MINISTRY... / ...BUT FAILS TO SATISFY EXPECTATIONS / KARZAI REDUCES THE POWER OF HIS DEPUTIES... / ...LEADING TO DEFENSE MINISTER REPORTEDLY RESCINDING PAST DECREES / KABUL POLICE CHIEF SACKED... / ...WHO SAYS HE WAS UNAWARE OF HIS REMOVAL, WHICH MAY BE TIED TO MORE THAN THE LAND-GRAB SCANDAL... / ...AS HE REJECTS ALLEGATIONS / HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP URGES U.S. TO STOP SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN WARLORDS, EXPAND ISAF... / ...AS NATO LOOKING TO EXPAND ISAF BEYOND KABUL / NEW ZEALAND TAKES COMMAND OF PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAM / 13 KILLED IN FIGHTING IN KAPISA PROVINCE / UP TO 10 CIVILIANS REPORTEDLY KILLED BY U.S. FORCES... / ...WHICH THE U.S. DENIES / BLAST IN LAGHMAN PROVINCE LEAVES MORE THAN 10 FAMILY MEMBERS DEAD / DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF IN KANDAHAR PROVINCE KILLED / NEO-TALIBAN CLAIM TO CONTROL DISTRICT IN PAKTIKA PROVINCE... / ...WHILE THREE NEO-TALIBAN KILLED, TWO COMMANDERS CAPTURED IN KANDAHAR PROVINCE... / ...AND AFGHAN LEADER VOICES CONCERN OVER NEO-TALIBAN IN PAKISTAN... / ...AS FORMER TALIBAN LEADER REPORTEDLY HOLDS MEETING WITH TOP COMMANDERS / OFFICE OF AFGHAN WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION ATTACKED / COUNCIL OF ULAMA TO 'FIGHT ENEMY PROPAGANDA' IN AFGHANISTAN / CABLE TV BANNED IN NANGARHAR PROVINCE / STAFF IN IRAN OF AFGHAN CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION SWEPT ASIDE / GOETHE INSTITUTE TO REOPEN IN KABUL / U.S. PRESIDENT TO NOMINATE NEW AMBASSADOR TO AFGHANISTAN / IMF SAYS AFGHANISTAN COULD BECOME A 'NARCO-STATE.' / THIS WEEK IN AFGHANISTAN'S HISTORY

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: Secretary Rumsfeld Remarks at the Eisenhower National Security Conference 25 Sep 2003 -- Remarks at the Eisenhower National Security Conference. Participating were Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld; Army Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, chief of staff, U.S. Army; and Dr. Janne E. Nolan, adjunct professor, Security Studies Program, Georgetown University.
• Myers Says Terrorism May Be Greatest Threat U.S. Has Faced AFPS 25 Sept 2003-- Terrorism may be the greatest threat the United States has ever faced, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers told the Defense Combating Terrorism Conference here recently.
• Rumsfeld: Americans Will Stay the Course in Terror War AFPS 25 Sept 2003-- The American people understand the war on terrorism will be long and expensive, but they will stay the course, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said at the Defense Worldwide Combating Terrorism Conference here recently.
• Defense Leaders Discuss Reserve Component Role in War on Terror AFPS 25 Sept 2003-- National Guard and Reserve forces "have been absolutely essential" to the war on terrorism, the commander of U.S. Central Command told the Senate Appropriations Committee during a Sept. 24 hearing about the fiscal 2004 supplemental funding request for Iraq and Afghanistan.
• ENGINEERS REINFORCE TRAFFIC CONTROL POINTS TO PROTECT COALITION FORCES AND FIND ILLEGAL ARMS V Corps Release 25 Sept 2003-- Combat engineers are responsible for protecting the force and shaping the battle.
• Texas-based EOD Team Rotates Home After Service in Iraq Navy Newsstand 25 Sept 2003-- Explosive ordnance disposal technicians are returning home to Ingleside, Texas, after completing a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
• HMH-772 hustles their way back to Pennsylvania Marine Corps News 25 Sept 2003-- Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-772 departs the Air Station to return home today
• MWSS-272 teams up with Air Force Marine Corps News 25 Sept 2003-- A detachment of forty-three Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 avoided Hurricane Isabel while conducting Exercise Silver Flag.
• 'Untouchables'at heart of expeditionary support Marine Corps News 25 Sept 2003-- The primary objective of the Marine Corps is to accomplish the mission. Whether the mission is to deploy or conduct training, there have always been Marines who execute those orders. Some of those Marines can be found at Marine Wing Support Squardon-272 aboard the Air Station.
• VMU-2 Night Owls welcomed home Marine Corps News 25 Sept 2003-- After seven long months of supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Marines of Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2 returned home Sept. 8.
• Naval Beach Group 1 trains USS Essex Sailors 7th Fleet News 25 Sept 2003-- A five-member team from Naval Beach Group (NBG) 1 recently provided two weeks of amphibious specialty training (AST) for select Sailors aboard USS Essex (LHD 2).
• UN: Analysts See Modest Boost In Trans-Atlantic Ties After Meetings RFE/RL 25 Sep 2003 -- If Washington hoped to use this week's opening of the United Nations General Assembly to repair its relations with Europe, it only partly succeeded, according to analysts. While Germany appears set to turn the page on its past disagreements with Washington, France shows few signs of making peace with American policy.

Defense Industry

• BAE SYSTEMS Agrees To Sell Acoustics Systems Facility BAE Systems 25 Sep 2003 -- ROCKVILLE, Md. -- BAE Systems North America and Ultra Electronics Holdings plc (Ultra) today announced they have reached a definitive agreement under which Ultra will acquire BAE Systems Ocean Systems business.
• Boeing Demonstrates Latest in Network Centric Operations with F/A-18F Boeing 25 Sep 2003 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has taken another successful step in demonstrating the network-centric capabilities of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
• Royal Thai Air Force Orders an Airbus Corporate Jetliner EADS 25 Sep 2003 -- The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has ordered an Airbus Corporate Jetliner, (ACJ) for the transport of senior government officials, becoming a new customer for the type — as well as the first client for it in the Asia-Pacific region.
• U.S. Marine Corps Selects Northrop Grumman for CBRN Warning and Reporting System Northrop Grumman 25 Sep 2003 -- The U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a contract to design, implement, and field the next generation chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defense warning and reporting system.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICES OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 25 Sep 2003
• ETHIOPIA: Don't link aid to border issue, says minister IRIN 25 Sep 2003 -- The Ethiopian government has urged international donors not to link desperately needed development aid to the outcome of the contested border ruling with Eritrea.
• ERITREA-ETHIOPIA: UN concerned over peace process IRIN 25 Sep 2003 -- The United Nations on Thursday said the Eritrea-Ethiopia peace process had entered its "most critical" stage following calls by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi for a new body to rule on the border.
• ERITREA-ETHIOPIA: Asmara rules out any border changes IRIN 25 Sep 2003 -- The Eritrean government has reiterated there can be no renegotiation of the ruling on the border with Ethiopia and said latest moves by Addis Ababa to have the decision changed shows its primary motive is to see the "disintegration" of Eritrea.
• IVORY COAST/CRISIS VOA 25 Sept 2003-- International mediators who brokered Ivory Coast's peace deal, are calling on rebels to resume their activities within the government of reconciliation
• COTE D'IVOIRE: Rebels refuse to meet UN envoy IRIN 25 Sep 2003 -- Rebels in Cote d'Ivoire refused to meet a UN special envoy on Thursday to discuss their withdrawal from a broad-based government of national reconciliation in protest at the refusal of President Laurent Gbagbo to give it adequate powers.
• SUDAN / PEACE TALKS VOA 25 Sept 2003-- The main rebel group in Sudan and the Sudanese government signed a critical security deal Thursday, taking a major step toward ending Africa's longest war
• SUDAN: Refugees continue to flee from Darfur into Chad IRIN 25 Sep 2003 -- Sudanese refugees are continuing to flee from Darfur in western Sudan into Chad to escape militia attacks, according to the NGO, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).
• SUDAN: Breakthrough security agreement signed IRIN 25 Sep 2003 -- A key stumbling block in Sudanese peace negotiations was overcome on Thursday with the signing of a security agreement between the government of Sudan and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in Naivasha, Kenya.
• ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS VOA 25 Sept 2003-- Israeli security forces killed at least four suspected Palestinian militants Thursday in separate operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

• PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS United Nations 25 Sep 2003
• ANGOLA: Feature - Training helps ex-combatants reintegrate into civilian life IRIN 25 Sep 2003 -- Angola's former rebel soldiers and their families continue to return in large numbers to their areas of origin - but lacking the necessary skills, few of them have found work and thousands complain about the lack of food security.
• BURUNDI: Rebel fighting displaces 47,500 civilians IRIN 25 Sep 2003 -- Two weeks of fighting between two rival rebel groups has led to the displacement of an estimated 47,500 civilians in the east and northwest of the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, local officials told IRIN on Thursday.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 25 Sep 2003 -- Hungary announces far-ranging military reform NATO head Lord Robertson pledges help in modernizing Tajikistan's armed forces / U.S. asks for 5,000 more South Korea troops in Iraq / Bush, Schroeder make up, but Iraq troops elusive / Annan calls on donors to help Afghanistan
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 25 Sep 2003 -- U.S., Germany put differences aside on Iraq / EU, OSCE, NATO spokesmen discuss new EU mission in FYROM, Aracinovo arson / Uzbekistan Foreign Ministry welcomes NATO Chief's upcoming visit
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA United Nations 25 Sep 2003
• BURMA/THAILAND VOA 25 Sept 2003-- Thailand's foreign minister has traveled to Rangoon as part of concerted regional efforts to have Burma's pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi released before a summit of Southeast Asian leaders next month
• U.S.-Albania Sign Open-Skies Agreement Washington File 25 Sept 2003-- U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and Albanian Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Luan Hajdaraga signed an Open-Skies aviation agreement September 24 in Washington, the first formal air transport agreement ever between the two countries.
• U-N / PUTIN SPEECH VOA 25 Sept 2003-- Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for the United Nations to play a larger part in rebuilding post-war Iraq