Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• First R&R Soldiers Gather for Return to Iraq AFPS 12 Oct 2003 -- The first soldiers to return home from Iraq for rest and recuperation leave checked in at Baltimore-Washington International Airport here today to return to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• IRAQ/BLAST VOA 12 Oct 2003 -- At least six people are dead and 10 others seriously wounded in what U-S officials are calling a suicide car bombing in front of a downtown Baghdad hotel. Two cars were used in the attack, but it is not known if both were packed with explosives.
• IRAQ/BLAST VOA 12 Oct 2003 -- A suicide bomber has attacked a hotel in downtown Baghdad, causing scores of casualties.
• Iraq: Explosion Rocks Baghdad RFE/RL 12 Oct 2003 -- An explosion believed to have been caused by two car bombs rocked the center of the Iraqi capital Baghdad today, causing casualties.
• Iran, Afghanistan stress expansion of ties IRNA 12 Oct 2003 -- Iranian Ambassador in Kabul Mohammad Reza Bahrami conferred here Saturday with Head of Afghan Interim Government Hamed Karzai on issues of mutual interest, Afghan developments, Tehran-Kabul ties as well as the upcoming drafting of the Afghan constitution.
• Afghan generals in north sign new accord while ceasefire largely holds, UN reports UN News Centre 12 Oct 2003 -- The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) today reported that the ceasefire signed late last week in Balkh has largely held in recent days, while Mazar-e-Sharif is reported to be calm.
• AFGHAN ESCAPEES VOA 12 Oct 2003 -- The governor of Afghanistan's Kandahar province says local security officers helped in the weekend jail-break of prisoners connected with the country's former Taleban regime.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Commander of U.S. Forces in Europe Discusses NATO Washington File 11 Oct 2003 -- As the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) prepares to expand to 26 nations in 2004, the U.S. European Command is also looking at "ways in which we can posture ourselves so as to be more strategically effective and to better support our bilateral roles in the European Command and ... the fundamental support that we bring to this very important alliance," according to James L. Jones, the commander of the United States European Command.
• Rumsfeld "Delighted" NATO To Send Forces to Afghanistan Washington File 11 Oct 2003 -- Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said in an October 10 interview with Tony Snow that he is "delighted" the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has decided to send forces to Afghanistan and has taken over responsibility for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) there.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Kashmiri leader for 15-year transitional independent status IRNA 12 Oct 2003 -- Leader of a major Kashmiri organization on Sunday proposed independent status of his homeland for 15 years to decide about its political future.

• PALESTINIANS/POLITICS VOA 12 Oct 2003 -- New Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Queira, who took office last week, has announced he is going ahead with his intention to step down from the post. The announcement followed days of bitter fighting with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
• ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS VOA 12 Oct 2003 -- Israeli forces have foiled an attempted bombing of a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip, shooting and killing one of the attackers. Meanwhile, Israel troops are scaling down their operation in southern Gaza to uncover and destroy what they say were tunnels used to smuggle weapons from Egypt.
• D-R-C/MASSACRE PROBE VOA 12 Oct 2003 -- A government delegation in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been sent to the war-ravaged northeastern Ituri Province to show its commitment to bringing an end to the conflict. The mission follows months of violence and a recent massacre of at least 65 civilians.

News Reports

• Iran: Nobel Prize Winner Calls For End To Islamic Punishment RFE/RL 12 Oct 2003 -- Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi wants Iran to stop applying Islamic punishments for crimes, including stoning and amputation of limbs, and says the country needs radical reforms.