Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• IG Agents Break 100 Billion Dinar Counterfeit Ring in Iraq 01 Oct 2003 -- Agents from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and the 812th Military Police Company assisted by Iraqi police and the Ministry of Finance have broken a counterfeit printing operation in Baghdad and seized counterfeit currency worth 100 billion dinars.
• Iraq: Security Forces Open Fire At Two Separate Protests RFE/RL 01 Oct 2003 -- Iraqi security forces today opened fire during two separate protests by jobless Iraqis, in Baghdad and in Mosul.

• BRITAIN / KARZAI VOA 01 Oct 2003-- Afghan President Hamid Karzai says that building a civil society in his country and in Iraq will take years to complete. He spoke as a guest at Britain's ruling Labor party conference in Bournemouth, England
• AFGHAN POLICE REFORM VOA 01 Oct 2003-- Afghanistan's interior minister says reform of his country's corrupt police force is his number-one priority
• AFGHAN/U-N/DISARMAMENT VOA 01 Oct 2003-- A group of United Nations-assisted teams is beginning a long-awaited program to disarm Afghanistan's hundreds of militiamen
• DJIBOUTI/REFUGEES VOA 01 Oct 2003-- The International Committee of the Red Cross is calling for aid agencies and others to help nine-thousand internally displaced people stranded in Djibouti, following a recent immigration crackdown in that country
• Don't Overlook Needs of Afghanistan, Senator Biden Urges Washington File 01 Oct 2003-- With our attention focused on Iraq, we run the risk of overlooking the alarming deterioration of security in Afghanistan. In both countries, the projection of American military power was decisive, but we have fallen short in demonstrating the staying power necessary to achieve stability.
• AFGHANISTAN: United Nations to start pilot disarmament programme IRIN 01 Oct 2003 -- The United Nations announced on Wednesday that the initial pilot project of the country’s over 100,000 ex-combatant disarmament effort would begin later this month. “The first pilot project will start the third week of October in Kunduz province when 1,000 people will be disarmed,” Sultan Aziz, a United Nations senior advisor and programme director of the Afghanistan New Beginning Programme (ANBP), told IRIN in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
• Severe Pneumonia Cases Cease Among Service Members in Southwest Asia AFPS 01 Oct 2003-- A spate of cases of a particularly virulent type of pneumonia that had killed two U.S. service members deployed to Southwest Asia seems to have ended, a senior Defense Department health official said here Sept. 29.

Defense Policy / Programs

• SOUTHCOM / GUANTANAMO VOA 01 Oct 2003-- The Defense Department's Miami-based Southern Command is sending an investigative team to its prison facility at Guantanamo Bay to look into suspected security lapses

• Gordon England Sworn in as 73rd Navy Secretary 01 Oct 2003 -- Gordon R. England was sworn in today as the 73rd secretary of the Navy. England becomes only the second person in history to serve twice as the leader of the Navy-Marine Corps Team and the first to serve in back-to-back terms.
• Joint Forces Command, Navy to Test Operational Concepts AFPS 01 Oct 2003-- The Navy and U.S. Joint Forces Command will conduct a seminar wargame at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I., Oct. 6-9.
• Rumsfeld, Myers Urge House to Support $87B Supplemental Bill AFPS 01 Oct 2003-- Rebuilding Iraq is as important to long-term security in the region as providing a secure environment, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said during testimony to the House Appropriations Defense subcommittee today.
• USS Nicholas Departs Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina Navy Newsstand 01 Oct 2003-- The guided-missile frigate USS Nicholas (FFG 47) left the port city here Sept. 29, following three days of hosting tours and receptions, and its Sailors participating in ceremonies, concerts and sports matches. Adm. Gregory Johnson, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, also visited Neum during the ship's stay to meet with a number of political and military leaders.
• Wasp Sailors Provide Disaster Relief From Hurricane Isabel Navy Newsstand 01 Oct 2003-- In the aftermath of hurricane Isabel in September, Sailors aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) volunteered their time to help their shipmates recover from the damage.
• Cowpens, Vandegrift depart Zhanjiang 7th Fleet 01 Oct 2003-- USS Cowpens (CG 63) and USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) departed Zhanjiang, China after a five-day port visit Sept. 26, completing the first U.S. Navy ship visit here to the People's Republic of China navy's South Sea Fleet (SSF) headquarters.
• LAR pounds ground in the Outback Marine Corps News 01 Oct 2003-- After being activated for more than six months, the reservists with the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion out of Salt Lake City, Utah, deployed from Okinawa, Japan to the "land down under" as part of the Ground Combat Element, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, for Crocodile 2003.
• The 'Ready Battalion' lands on Okinawa Marine Corps News 01 Oct 2003-- More than 800 Marines from 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment arrived Okinawa the first two weeks of September from Camp Lejeune, N.C. to serve as the newest infantry battalion assigned to the 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.
• 1st FSSG goes home Marine Corps News 01 Oct 2003-- Combat Service Support Group-11, the last remaining element of 1st Force Service Support Group that participated in the liberation of the Iraqi people, is scheduled to return to the United States soon.

• Slovakia/Bulgaria: Scandals Show That Building Trust Between NATO, New Members Will Pose Challenges RFE/RL 01 Oct 2003 -- Scandals in two NATO candidate countries are making headlines. In Slovakia, the prime minister is drawing criticism for trying to sack the head of the national security screening agency. In Bulgaria, the U.S. ambassador said the prime minister should abandon plans to appoint a communist-era spy as his security adviser. The incidents are throwing a spotlight on the difficulties of building trust between NATO and the new members set to join next year.

Defense Industry

• General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Awarded $40 Million Navy Contract General Dynamics 01 Oct 2003 -- The U.S. Navy has awarded Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), a $40 million modification to a previously awarded contract for DDG 51 and FFG 7 Class planning yard services.
• Northrop Grumman, Air Force Demonstrate B-2 Bomber's Enhanced Ability to Deliver 'Smart' Weapons Northrop Grumman 01 Oct 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Integrated Systems sector and the U.S. Air Force have successfully demonstrated the operation of a new smart bomb rack assembly (SBRA) that increases the B-2 stealth bomber's capacity to deliver smart (GPS-guided) weapons by a factor of five.
• Northrop Grumman Selects Stork Aerospace to Produce Flight-Moveable Doors for Joint Strike Fighter Northrop Grumman 01 Oct 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Integrated Systems sector has selected Dutch firm Stork Aerospace to design, develop and produce more than 20 exterior doors on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that open and close during the course of a mission. The anticipated contract is expected to be worth approximately $55 million.
• ThalesRaytheonSystems selected by French Government to Develop New Air Defense Radar Thales 01 Oct 2003 -- ThalesRaytheonSystems has signed a 70 M' contract with the French defense procurement agency, Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (DGA), to develop a demonstrator for a new generation of air defense radar. The contract will be conducted in partnership with the Thales Group.

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 01 Oct 2003
• ISRAEL/ISLAMIC JIHAD VOA 01 Oct 2003-- Israeli forces report they have captured the top leader of the Islamic Jihad in the West Bank. The group, which organizes terrorist operations, has vowed to retaliate with more attacks
• ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS VOA 01 Oct 2003-- The Israeli cabinet is meeting (Wednesday) to approve an extension to its controversial security barrier in the West Bank

• U.N. Takes Over Liberia Peacekeeping Operation Washington File 01 Oct 2003-- The United Nations officially took over peacekeeping operations in Liberia October 1.
• LIBERIA/U-N VOA 01 Oct 2003-- A Kenyan general is taking command of the new U-N peacekeeping force in Liberia. But many Liberians are dismayed that U-S troops have withdrawn
• LIBERIA VOA 01 Oct 2003-- Ambassador Herman Cohen, adjunct professor at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, discusses the arrival of UN peacekeepers in Liberia.
• LIBERIA: Three killed in Monrovia shootout as UNMIL takes over IRIN 01 Oct 2003 -- Three people were killed in a shootout between government troops and rebel fighters in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, on Wednesday as the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) commenced its peacekeeping mandate in the war-ravaged country.
• LIBERIA: Army commander leaves the country IRIN 01 Oct 2003 -- Former Liberian president Charles Taylor's army commander, General Benjamin Yeaten sneaked out of Liberia on Sunday amidst mounting calls for his trial in connection with the murder of two deputy ministers in June.
• SUDAN: Shuttle diplomacy before peace talks restart IRIN 01 Oct 2003 -- Both the government and rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) group are engaging in shuttle diplomacy this week to brief their constituents and supporters about breakthroughs in the peace process.
• SUDAN: Gov't hopes US sanctions will be lifted IRIN 01 Oct 2003 -- The Sudanese government has said it hopes US sanctions will soon be lifted after top-level talks in New York last week.
• PRESS BRIEFING BY SECRETARY-GENERAL'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO United Nations 01 Oct 2003
• CONGO/U-N MISSION VOA 01 Oct 2003-- Government officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are stepping up their plans to bring peace and justice to the northeastern Ituri Province, which has been fought for by ethnic-Hema and Lendu militia since 1999

• Indian troops on alert along Jammu border IRNA 01 Oct 2003 -- Indian troops along the Indo-Pak border hav been put on high alert in the wake of surprise raids by Pakistan army`s sabotage Border Action Teams (BATs) that attack Indian posts to push heavily armed militants in Jammu and Kashmir, top Indian defense sources said on Wednesday.
• Kosovo: UN Peacekeeper Seriously Injured After Attack RFE/RL 01 Oct 2003 -- A UN policemen suffered serious head injuries today when a man attacked him with a metal bar outside a police station in Kosovo.
• U-S-Sudan Peace VOA 01 Oct 2003-- The Bush administration is expressing optimism that a final peace accord ending Sudan's two-decade-long civil war could be in reach by late this month or early November. A U-S military expert is heading to the region Thursday to try to help the Khartoum government and southern rebels conclude a deal merging their armed forces
• RWANDA/ELECTION VOA 01 Oct 2003-- The Rwandan Patriotic Front is poised to win an overwhelming majority in the country's first legislative elections in almost a decade
• SOMALIA: UN sanctions committee to tour the region IRIN 01 Oct 2003 -- Members of the UN Security Council committee overseeing sanctions against Somalia will visit the region later this month in a bid to boost enforcement of the arms embargo.
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Defence Commission wants troops on the borders IRIN 01 Oct 2003 -- The Defence and Security Commission of the ongoing national reconciliation conference in the Central African Republic urged the government on Tuesday to deploy troops along all the nation’s borders in a bid to stem attacks.
• DRC-UGANDA: Funding shortfalls hamper aid to Ituri refugees, says Red Cross IRIN 01 Oct 2003 -- Funding shortfalls in support of some 15,000 refugees from Ituri District of northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) residing in Nebbi District of northwestern Uganda have impacted negatively on efforts to provide adequate aid, the International Federation of the Red Cross reported on Monday.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 01 Oct 2003 -- NATO ministers face crisis exercises, rodeo display in Colorado meeting / Ex-footballer convicted of al Qaeda anti-NATO plot / Expanded NATO force in Afghanistan could start search for thousands more troops / U.S. says flexible on Iraqi constitution
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 01 Oct 2003 -- U.S. holds out strongly against EU military HQ / NATO Secretary General to visit Ukraine 20 October / Germany urges NATO to expedite further troop deployment in Afghanistan / UN Secretary General Annan outlines plan for UN role in Iraq / Historic Serbia-Kosovo talks in Vienna set for October 14

• U.K.: Battered Blair Fights Off Opposition Within His Labour Party RFE/RL 01 Oct 2003 -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair resolutely defended his policies, including on Iraq, at an annual conference of his Labour Party. In spite of obvious opposition to his policies, Blair was rewarded by a seven-minute standing ovation.
• Turkey: Court Ruling Raises Prospect Of Early Polls, Political Instability RFE/RL 01 Oct 2003 -- Prospects of political instability are surfacing once again in Turkey after a court ruled on 29 September to uphold sentences against leaders of the country's largest pro-Kurdish party convicted of election fraud. Political parties now await the decision of Turkey's higher election body, which is faced with an unprecedented choice.
• EU: Sparks Will Fly At Rome Conference To Finalize Constitution RFE/RL 01 Oct 2003 -- The European Union and the 10 accession countries on 4 October open a crucial conference in Rome to finalize a new draft constitution for the expanded union. The meeting shows signs of being one of the most difficult in the 50-year history of the bloc. Failure in Rome could create unforeseen consequences which could even threaten the expansion process.
• BURMA U-N ENVOY VOA 01 Oct 2003-- U-N Razali Ismail, on a three-day mission to Burma, is telling the country's ethnic leaders to back the military government's plan for national elections
• AMERICA'S IMAGE VOA 01 Oct 2003-- A new report by a private foreign policy group urges the United States to act swiftly to counter its declining image abroad
• U-S / PUBLIC DIPLOMACY VOA 01 Oct 2003-- A high-level advisory commission says the United States should dramatically overhaul its public relations efforts to deal with what it describes as "shocking levels" of anti-American hostility in the Arab and Muslim world. The panel recommends, among other things, that U-S public diplomacy activities be coordinated by a cabinet-level presidential adviser
• White House Daily Briefing, October 1, 2003 Washington File 01 Oct 2003-- McClellan: Terry, there is a process in place that was followed. The CIA has a process to look at classified information if it is leaked, and they followed a process and that process has moved forward. And the Department of Justice is looking into it. I don't know the specific time period, but the process was followed, and the President expects the process to be followed, and that process was followed, and that what the President expects, because leaking classified information is a very serious matter.
• State Department Noon Briefing, October 1, 2003 Washington File 01 Oct 2003-- Liberia, Iraq, North Korea, Greece, Israel/Palestinians, Burma, Turkey, Pakistan, status of Religious Freedom Report
• Armitage Details State's Requests in Supplemental Funding Bill Washington File 01 Oct 2003-- In a September 30 appearance before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage detailed the projects for which the State Department is requesting funding as part of President Bush's $87 billion supplemental package.
• Successful Launch for Boeing-Built Galaxy XIII/Horizons-1 Satellite Boeing 01 Oct 2003 -- Last night, a successful launch orbited Galaxy XIII/Horizons-1, a Boeing 601HP satellite built by Boeing [NYSE:BA] for PanAmSat Corporation, Wilton, Conn., and JSAT Corporation of Japan. The satellite will provide coverage over North America, Central America, Alaska and Hawaii from an orbital slot between the Hawaiian Islands and the U.S. west coast.