Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• AFGHAN AUTHORITIES ARREST SUSPECTED TERRORIST IN KABUL NATO/ISAF 07 Oct 2003 -- At 0654 hrs on October 7, 2003 the Afghan Authorities with the assistance of ISAF troops carried out a security operation to arrest a suspected terrorist and criminal in the Central Kabul area.
• Afghanistan: NATO Praised For Willingness To Expand ISAF RFE/RL 07 Oct 2003 -- An agreement, in principle, by NATO countries to expand the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan beyond Kabul has been welcomed today by the Afghan government as well as aid workers and analysts. But important steps remain before NATO troops can be deployed to the country's provincial regions -- including approval of a new ISAF mandate by the UN Security Council and final approval by NATO of specific military plans.
• AFGHANISTAN U-S TALEBAN VOA 07 Oct 2003-- Two years after the start of the U-S war against Afghanistan's former Taleban regime, U-S special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad says attacks by resurgent Taleban fighters are expected to worsen in the weeks ahead
• AFGHANISTAN ECONOMY VOA 07 Oct 2003-- Starting Tuesday, Afghanistan is no longer accepting the U-S dollar and other foreign currencies as legal tender
• U.N. Security Council Expects to Expand Afghan Security Force Washington File 07 Oct 2003-- U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said October 7 that he expected the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF) to be expanded by the end of the month.
• U.S. Says No Final Decision Yet on Serbian Troops for Afghanistan Washington File 07 Oct 2003-- Following is a statement in response to a question about Serbia sending troops to Afghanistan taken at the State Department's October 6, 2003 Daily Press Briefing; an answer was posted later in the day:
• AFGHAN-RECONSTRUCTION VOA 07 Oct 2003-- On October 7, 2001, the United States launched an aerial bombing campaign in Afghanistan that led to the collapse of the ruling Taliban regime. Now, two years later, the Bush Administration is reorganizing its reconstruction efforts in both Afghanistan and Iraq
• U-N/Afghanistan VOA 07 Oct 2003-- The U-N Security Council is planning prompt action to authorize an expanded international peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan. U-S Ambassador John Negroponte says the authorization should be approved before he and other Security Council ambassadors visit Afghanistan late this month

Defense Policy / Programs

• U-S / GUANTANAMO PROBE VOA 07 Oct 2003-- Investigators examining possible security breaches at the U-S Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba are now considering the possibility that interrogations of hundreds of suspected Taleban and al-Qaida detainees have been sabotaged by interpreters

• Multilateral Arms Control: Time to Opt for Effectiveness US Dept. of State 07 Oct 2003 -- Stephen G. Rademaker, Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Statement to the First Committee of the 58th Session of the UN General Assembly

• DoD Must Tighten Controls on Excess Equipment Sales AFPS 07 Oct 2003-- The United States needs to tighten controls on Internet sales of excess Defense Department laboratory equipment that could be used to make chemical and biological agents, a General Accounting Office official said here today.
• U.S. Working to Shore up Allies, Take on 'Narcoterror' AFPS 07 Oct 2003-- The United States is working diligently with neighbors to the south to shore up democratic states and take on terrorist organizations, said Army Gen. James E. Hill at the Association of the U.S. Army meeting here.
• U.S. Will 'Reposition' Overseas Footprint Before BRAC Cuts at Home AFPS 07 Oct 2003-- Although many in the standing-room-only audience expected to hear the Army's plans for the next Base Realignment and Closure round scheduled for 2005, Raymond DuBois, deputy undersecretary of defense for installations and environment, said that for now, the major issue concerning the Pentagon is the military's global footprint overseas.
• Air Force Academy Introduces Sweeping Changes, Looks to Future AFPS 07 Oct 2003-- When the Class of 2007 cadets reported for in-processing at the U.S. Air Force Academy in late June, they found many new changes that are putting academy policies more directly in line with those of the active Air Force.
• New shotgun to be fielded in Afghanistan Army News Service 07 Oct 2003-- Dismounted Battlespace Battle Lab's lightweight shotgun system is undergoing operational inspection and test firing for 200 shotguns to be fielded to the 10th Mountain Division for future use in Afghanistan.
• The mail runners of Iraq Army News Service 07 Oct 2003-- Leaving the secure confines of the coalition-controlled Baghdad International Airport each morning and heading out onto the dusty sun-drenched highways of Iraq is a daily adventure for the crew of mail runners.
• Navy's First Expeditionary Medical Unit Deploys to Djibouti Navy Newsstand 07 Oct 2003-- The Navy's first Expeditionary Medical Unit (EMU) deployed here Sept. 14 to provide expanded medical care to personnel supporting Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa.
• The eyes and ears of the battlefield... Arty support elements work ahead of the scene Marine Corps News 07 Oct 2003-- The big guns of artillery get the attention and the glory during training exercises, but it's the Marines behind the scenes, or more appropriately, in front of the scenes, that are the key to accurate firing and protection of the artillery batteries.
• Recon offers immediate action Marine Corps News 07 Oct 2003-- The mission of a reconnaissance Marine is to shape the battlefield by gathering intelligence behind enemy lines, undetected. But in combat, enemy contact may be unavoidable. If they are to prevail and continue with the mission, then they must prepare for any possibility that may arise throughout a patrol.

• NATO SHIPS VISIT MALTA NATO AFSOUTH 07 Oct 2003 -- NATO ships will visit Malta, 10-12 October 2003, when 7 units from NATO's Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED) will be berthed at the port of La Valetta.
• Transcript: Secretary Rumsfeld Press Conference on Informal NATO Ministerial 07 Oct 2003 -- "This is a big event, needless to say, not just for Colorado Springs but for our country and for NATO. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the last two, two and a half years has done some things it's never done before in history. We proposed a NATO Response Force last year, the Prague Summit endorsed it, and it's happening. It is a significant event."

• CONGO: France provides US $1.1 million worth of military support IRIN 07 Oct 2003 -- France has provided the Republic of Congo with 600 million francs CFA (US $1.1 million) in military support, the Congolese government announced on Friday from its capital, Brazzaville.
• White House Daily Briefing, October 7, 2003 Washington File 07 Oct 2003-- Economy, leak allegation, Middle East/violence, Iraq/stabilization group, Turkey/contributing troops to Iraq, Mideast/road map, California recall election
• State Department Noon Briefing, October 7, 2003 Washington File 07 Oct 2003-- Syria, Iraq, Turkey, China/Taiwan, North Korea, Kuwait, Department/leak investigation, Iran

Defense Industry

• BAE SYSTEMS Awarded $7.2 Million Contract To Manufacture Explosives For U.S. Army BAE Systems 07 Oct 2003 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a $7.2 million contract by the U.S. Army to manufacture Composition C-4 Class 3 explosives. This is in addition to an existing contract valued at $5.7 million.
• Defence Logistics Solutions Team Selected For MOD Logistics Programme BAE Systems 07 Oct 2003 -- The Defence Logistic Solutions team welcomes news that they have been down-selected to participate in the next phase of the Future Defence Supply Chain initiative (FDSCi). The team, which includes BAE Systems, Rolls- Royce, Westland Helicopters and Alvis Vickers, has now been invited to submit a proposal that meets the MoDs Future Defence Supply Chain requirement.
• EADS SHOWCASES NEXT PHASE IN ITS DEFENSE BUSINESS STRATEGY EADS 07 Oct 2003 -- Speaking at the first EADS North America Investor Forum in New York City, CEO Philippe Camus today elaborated on EADS' defense business strategy. Following the successful launch of the A400M military transport aircraft, EADS is looking to further exploit synergies across the EADS commercial and defense portfolio to create new break-through products for the defense market.
• Northrop Grumman Selects Gulfstream as Key Partner for U.S. Army's Aerial Common Sensor Competition General Dynamics 07 Oct 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced today that Gulfstream Aerospace, a unit of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD), has joined its team as airframe provider in the competition to develop the Aerial Common Sensor (ACS), the next-generation intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) system. Gulfstream will provide its newest aircraft, the G450, as the ACS RC-20 platform.
• Lockheed Martin Signs $59 Million Contract with Mitsubishi Corporation for Antisubmarine Weapon Lockheed Martin 07 Oct 2003 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today that Japan has purchased a seventh lot of Vertical Launch Antisubmarine rockets (VLA) valued at $59.8 million. Lockheed Martin will deliver the VLAs to Mitsubishi Corporation, Tokyo, in 2005 for transfer to Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force for use on Kongo- and Murasame-class ships.
• Lockheed Martin Opens LCS Concept and Development Center in Washington, DC Lockheed Martin 07 Oct 2003 -- Lockheed Martin is opening a multi-media Concept and Development Center in Washington, DC, to showcase its Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project and team attributes for this transformational U.S. Navy program. The Center will be used to visualize the warship's features, mission capabilities, and later this year, as a hub for LCS demonstrations and evaluations.
• Lockheed Martin LCS Team Completes First Phase of Hull Test Series Lockheed Martin 07 Oct 2003 -- The Lockheed Martin-led Littoral Combat Ship team is continuing the development of its semi-planing seaframe design through a new series of tank tests that will prove the efficacy of several significant design improvements.
• Northrop Grumman Adds Sikorsky to Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft Team Northrop Grumman 07 Oct 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Integrated Systems sector today announced that Sikorsky Aircraft, a world leader in the design, development, production and support of advanced technology military rotorcraft systems, has joined the Northrop Grumman-led Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft (UCAR) team.
• Northrop Grumman Selects Gulfstream as Key Partner for U.S. Army's Aerial Common Sensor Competition Northrop Grumman 07 Oct 2003 -- Oct. 7, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced today that Gulfstream Aerospace, a unit of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD), has joined its team as airframe provider in the competition to develop the Aerial Common Sensor (ACS), the next-generation intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) system. Gulfstream will provide its newest aircraft, the G450, as the ACS RC-20 platform.

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 07 Oct 2003
• PRESS BRIEFING BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT United Nations 07 Oct 2003
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 07 Oct 2003
• Use of unilateral and pre-emptive force is dangerous - Annan UN News Centre 07 Oct 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today told a group of African-American civil society groups that he is "convinced that it is in America's interest today to work through the United Nations."

• The Return of the Child Soldiers of Sierra Leone Washington File 07 Oct 2003-- Actor Michael Douglas, starring in the role of United Nations Messenger of Peace in the U.N. film "Child Soldiers," discovered in the making of the documentary that "unlocking the child" in a boy who did unspeakable things as a combatant in Sierra Leone's decade-long civil conflict could come from something as simple as sharing a favorite song.

• LIBERIA: Deploy peacekeepers in our territories, rebels tell UNMIL IRIN 07 Oct 2003 -- The main Liberian rebel group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), on Tuesday asked the United Nations to deploy peacekeepers in territories under its control after the country's transitional government takes office on 14 October.
• LIBERIA: WFP seeks $3.5 million for operations IRIN 07 Oct 2003 -- The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has asked donors for US $3.5 million for a humanitarian air service in Liberia and to replace vehicles and other equipment looted or destroyed during recent fighting between Liberian government troops and rebels.
• PALESTINIANS/POLITICS VOA 07 Oct 2003-- Palestinian President Yasser Arafat formally installed his emergency cabinet Tuesday. The cabinet, which is to serve for a maximum of two months, is headed by new Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, who is facing calls by Israel and the United States to halt Palestinian terrorism.
• ISRAEL / MIDEAST VOA 07 Oct 2003-- Israel's prime minister, Ariel Sharon, says his country is ready at any time to strike its enemies, even across national boundaries. His comments come two days after Israeli warplanes targeted a suspected Palestinian terrorist base inside Syria
• ISRAEL'S SYRIA RAID VOA 07 Oct 2003-- Much of the American press is viewing the Israeli air raid into Syria as a significant escalation of the Middle East conflict. While describing the Palestinian suicide bombing that killed 19 people on the eve of Yom Kippur [the Jewish Day of Atonement] as "horrific," many papers are editorializing that the Israeli response may broaden hostilities.
• UN envoy condemns attack from Lebanese territory that killed Israeli soldier UN News Centre 07 Oct 2003 -- The senior United Nations envoy for the Middle East, Terje Roed-Larsen, today condemned an attack from Lebanese territory that killed an Israeli soldier across the southern withdrawal line last night and urged Beirut to control the use of force everywhere in its jurisdiction.
• U.S. Urges All in Middle East to Avoid Heightened Tensions Washington File 07 Oct 2003-- President Bush repeated October 7 that Israel has a right to defend itself against terrorism but at the same time said it is important that Israeli actions not escalate the violence in the Middle East.

• U.S. Calls On Serbia, Kosovo To Talk RFE/RL 07 Oct 2003 -- The U.S. State Department is urging officials from Serbia and Kosovo to enter into serious talks next week in Austria when they meet for their first formal discussions since the end of the 1999 war.
• Kosovo: UN mission chief invites leaders from Pristina, Belgrade for direct talks UN News Centre 07 Oct 2003 -- The head of the United Nations mission in Kosovo today sent out formal invitations to the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia and Montenegro to participate in direct talks next week in Vienna.

• CONGO/VIOLENCE VOA 07 Oct 2003-- The United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has now confirmed 55 killed in the latest massacre in the country's northeastern province of Ituri. U-N troops have been dispatched to conduct reconnaissance missions in the area and hunt down the attackers
• UN team finds 65 bodies in eastern DR of Congo UN News Centre 07 Oct 2003 -- The United Nations peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has discovered 65 bodies, mostly children, apparently massacred Monday, a UN spokesman said today.
• DRC: At least 55 killed in Kashele, Ituri District IRIN 07 Oct 2003 -- At least 55 people, most of them women and children, were killed in the Kashele area of Ituri District, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN peacekeeping mission in the country, known as MONUC, reported on Monday.
• IVORY COAST/POLITICS VOA 07 Oct 2003-- Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo has called on all his political rivals to take part in a national dialogue so that Ivory Coast can be reunited. He made the comment amid growing fears that a power-sharing peace deal signed with rebels in January is collapsing
• Rebel armies` running on narcotics trade along border with Myanmar IRNA 07 Oct 2003 -- A flourishing narcotics trade along India`s border with Myanmar was helping scores of rebel armies getting finances for running their violent military campaigns, officials Tuesday said.
• Three soldiers killed, two injured blast in Jammu and Kashmir IRNA 07 Oct 2003 -- Three Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed and two others injured when militants set off an improvised explosive device (IED), targeting the road opening party of the force, on Srinagar-Pahalgam road in south Kashmir on Tuesday.
• ERITREA-ETHIOPIA: President urges UN to intervene over border issue IRIN 07 Oct 2003 -- Ethiopian President Girma Woldegiorgis has reiterated calls to the UN Security Council to "rectify the mistakes" over the ruling on the border with Eritrea.
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Former leader Andre Kolingba apologises to nation IRIN 07 Oct 2003 -- Former Central African Republic (CAR) leader Andre Kolingba apologised to the nation on Monday for the errors of his government during his 12-year rule and for his role in the May 2001 failed coup attempt against the then president, Ange-Felix Patasse.
• UGANDA: WFP chief appeals for regional peace IRIN 07 Oct 2003 -- The head of the World Food Programme (WFP) James Morris has called for peace and stability in east and central Africa to prevent the loss of life and suffering in the region.
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: France begins military aid IRIN 07 Oct 2003 -- The French government has posted an army general to the Central African Republic's (CAR) presidency to oversee Paris's military aid and the training of the army of its former colony, state-owned Television Centrafricaine reported on Monday.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 07 Oct 2003 -- No EU military "HQ" in Tervuren / EU plans 65 million euro spend on defence research / Turkey's Cabinet agrees to contribute troops to Iraq, seeks authorization from Parliament / Security Council mission to visit Afghanistan this month / Pentagon deficient in monitoring surplus biological, chemical lab equipment / Germany and Saudi Arabia to intensify anti-terrorism cooperation
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 07 Oct 2003 -- NATO-led peacekeepers arrest terror suspect in Kabul / Informal Alliance defense ministers' meeting under media scrutiny
• PHILIPPINES / SECURITY VOA 07 Oct 2003-- In the Philippines, three policeman and one Muslim guerilla are dead after a hostage stand-off at the National Police headquarters. The guerrilla, a suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf extremist group and a prisoner at the police station, was apparently attempting to escape
• Promotion of Human Rights Vital for Security, Amb. Smith Says Washington File 07 Oct 2003-- "We cannot attempt to address the threat to the stability of our region if we do not deal with ensuring the fundamental human and democratic rights of our populations," Ambassador Pamela Hyde Smith told the opening plenary of the annual OSCE Human Dimension Implementation meeting, which this year is taking place in Warsaw.
• OAS Calls for Coordinated Global Approach to Combat Terrorism Washington File 07 Oct 2003-- Addressing an anti-terrorism meeting at the Organization of American States (OAS) headquarters in Washington, El Salvador's Foreign Affairs Minister Maria Eugenia Brizuela has called for a coordinated global approach to combating international terrorism, according to an OAS press release.
• DRC: UN elections advisors arrive in Kinshasa IRIN 07 Oct 2003 -- Two representatives from the UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA) arrived on Saturday in Kinshasa at the beginning of a mission to determine how the UN could best support nationwide elections due to be held around July 2005, at the end of the mandate of a two-year transitional government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
• BURKINA FASO: Suspected coup plotters arrested IRIN 07 Oct 2003 -- Twelve people, most of them soldiers, have been arrested in Burkina Faso since last week allegedly for planning with a foreign country to overthrow the government of President Blaise Campaore, State Prosecutor Abdoulaye Barry told reporters on Tuesday.