Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• USS Peleliu Sailors Stay the Course Navy Newsstand 27 Oct 2003-- Since Amphibious Assault Ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) left its homeport of San Diego Aug. 22, it has traveled more than 9,400 miles to reach the Northern Arabian Gulf. The men and women of Peleliu's Navigation Department ensured the ship reached her destination safely during the transit.
• USS Enterprise, CVW-1 On Station in 5th Fleet Navy Newsstand 27 Oct 2003-- The crew of USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 was officially welcomed to 5th Fleet Command Oct. 26 with a visit from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet, Vice Adm. David C. Nichols Jr.
• Five Soldiers Killed In Attacks AFPS 27 Oct 2003 -- Five U.S. soldiers were killed and 10 were wounded as the result of insurgent attacks in Iraq, according to U.S. Central Command reports.
• U.S. Soldiers, Iraqis Celebrate Hospital's Reopening AFPS 27 Oct 2003 -- U.S. soldiers and Iraqi citizens joined in celebrating the reopening of the Badush Hospital here Oct. 22.
• Soldiers in Northern Iraq Re-Check Security Procedures AFPS 27 Oct 2003 -- Noting there has not been an increase in incidents in his area of operations in the last couple of days, the commanding general of the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division in northern Iraq said he has re-checked procedures and re-briefed soldiers to help ensure their safety and security.
• Bush Calls Iraq Attacks a Response to U.S. Successes AFPS 27 Oct 2003 -- The more successful the United States is in Iraq, the more the terrorists will attempt to undermine that success, President Bush said today from the White House.
• Transcript: Commander, 4th Infantry Division, Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno, via Teleconference from Tikrit, Iraq 27 Oct 2003 -- "Since the 10th of September, we've been conducting Operation Ivy Focus, an ongoing effort consisting of aggressive offensive raids and continuous counter-mortar and IED ambushes to maintain pressure on enemy forces. These operations have resulted in the capture of 123 midlevel former regime members which we targeted, 43 IED makers, and six financiers. Task Force Iron Horse soldiers seized 1.5 million U.S. dollars suspected of being used to finance attacks on coalition forces, 340 AK-47s, over a thousand grenades, 680 RPG rounds, 1,340 mortar rounds, and numerous explosives, to include one pallet that was 4-by-4-by-4 foot in size, almost 1,200 blasting caps, and over 5,000 rounds of various munitions."
• IRAQ WRAP VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- Baghdad has been rocked by several bombings, including one at the headquarters of the Red Cross, that have killed at least 30 people in the deadliest day in the Iraqi capital in two months.
• PENTAGON / IRAQ VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- A top U-S military official in Iraq says recent deadly attacks in Baghdad show that anti-coalition fighters are resorting to terrorist attacks against easy targets. Major General Raymond Odierno (oh-dee-EHR-noh) told reporters those opposing the U-S-led coalition are resorting to desperate measures to stop efforts to bring security and prosperity to Iraq.
• IRAQ / BLASTS VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- Sirens blared throughout Baghdad as four suicide bombers attacked three police stations and a Red Cross building, leaving three-dozen people dead and more than 200 wounded in less than two hours. A fifth would-be suicide bomber was shot and taken into custody.
• Iraq: Four Suicide Bombers Kill At Least 34 In Baghdad RFE/RL 27 Oct 2003 -- Four suicide bombers struck Baghdad today, killing 34 and sparking fear and chaos in the Iraqi capital as residents began the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
• Iraq: 34 Reported Killed In Baghdad Bombings RFE/RL 27 Oct 2003 -- Five suicide bombings rocked Baghdad today, killing at least 34 people and wounding at least 200 more, international media reported.
• Iraq: New Explosions Rock Baghdad RFE/RL 27 Oct 2003 -- A series of explosions rocked Baghdad today, killing at least 18 people.
• IRAQ / BLASTS VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- A series of suicide car bombings in Baghdad Monday killed at least 18 people and wounded dozens of others.
• IRAQ / EXPLOSIONS VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- At least 10 people have been killed in a powerful early-morning car bombing near the Red Cross headquarters building in Baghdad. A series of secondary explosions have also been heard throughout the Iraqi capital.
• American Troops Supporting Ramadan Activities in Iraq Washington File 27 Oct 2003 -- U.S. Army Major General Raymond Odierno says American troops are supporting the celebration of Ramadan in Iraq by facilitating religious observances and honoring local customs.
• Powell Thanks Romania for Help in Afghanistan, Iraq Washington File 27 Oct 2003 -- Speaking to journalists after his meeting with Romanian President Ion Iliescu at the State Department October 27, Secretary of State Colin Powell thanked the president "and the people of Romania through him, for the support they have provided to the United States, through some challenges in Afghanistan and Iraq, Romanians standing side by side alongside Coalition forces, Americans especially, in both of those places."
• AFGHANISTAN/FIGHTING VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- Officials in Afghanistan say U-S-led coalition forces and local allies have killed at least 20 suspected militants of the al-Qaida terrorist network.
• Afghanistan: German Troops Arrive In Northern Afghan City RFE/RL 27 Oct 2003 -- Despite concentration on the situation in Iraq, the effort to rebuild and stabilize Afghanistan continues in the Middle East. German troops, soon to be in cooperation with NATO are replacing U.S. coalition forces in the northern Afghan town of Konduz.
• AFGHANISTAN: First international peacekeeping forces deployed outside Kabul IRIN 27 Oct 2003 -- Following continual calls by aid workers and Afghans alike for the expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) outside the confines of the Afghan capital, Kabul, the first ISAF forces were deployed to the northeastern city of Konduz on Saturday. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has long demanded that the 5,000-strong force's mandate be expanded to help him reassert his control beyond Kabul.
• AFGHANISTAN: Interview with disarmed combatant IRIN 27 Oct 2003 -- The disarmament of the country’s over 100,000 ex-combatants is considered crucial to its future stabilisation. Observers remain concerned over how successful the UN-backed disarmament demobilisation and reintegration programme (DDR) effort will be, and whether the ex-combatants are genuinely ready to give up their weapons and join civilian life.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD Responds to Request for Firefighting Equipment AFPS 27 Oct 2003 -- Firefighting equipment California officials requested from the Defense Department soon will be battling the wildfires in the southern part of the state, Pentagon officials said.
• PENTAGON/CHINA VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- Chinese Minister of Defense Cao Gangchuan will meet this week at the Pentagon with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the first such high-level military contact in years.
• "Agreement" on Transfer of U.S. Military Base Concluded under Coercion KCNA 27 Oct 2003 -- It was brought to light that the United States illegally concluded the "Agreement on the Transfer of the U.S. Army Base in Ryongsan" in 1990 and, after that, deliberately put pressure on the south Korean "government" to "legalize" it.
• Maritime Interdiction Exercise Successful in Med Navy Newsstand 27 Oct 2003-- Warships from four North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations completed maritime interdiction exercises Oct. 17, to train in one of the world's hotbeds of maritime activity.
• State Department Noon Briefing, October 27, 2003 Washington File 27 Oct 2003 -- Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Azerbaijan

Defense Industry

• BAE SYSTEMS Receives $18.3 Million Contract To Provide Sensor Systems For U.S. Navy Helicopters BAE Systems 27 Oct 2003 -- BAE Systems Integrated Solutions has been awarded an $18.3 million contract to build Replacement Attitude Heading Reference System (R-AHRS) units for U.S. Navy HH-60 and SH-60 helicopters.
• GE Aircraft Engines Completes Qualification Testing on F110-GE-132 GE Aviation 27 Oct 2003 -- GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) has formally completed all qualification testing of its higher-thrust F110 fighter engine, the F110-GE-132, for the Lockheed Martin Block 60 F-16E/F aircraft.
• Navy Awards General Dynamics $6.6 Million Contract to Operate Navy Drydock General Dynamics 27 Oct 2003 -- The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $6.6 million contract modification to continue operating the Shippingport drydock (ARDM-4) at the naval submarine base here. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• Pratt & Whitney's First F135 Development Engine for JSF Achieves Military Power In Production Configuration Pratt & Whitney 27 Oct 2003 -- Pratt & Whitney (P&W) has successfully tested its first F135 development engine in the production configuration for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to military power, ahead of schedule.

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 27 Oct 2003
• POWELL / SYRIA / ISRAEL VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell appealed Monday for a lowering of tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border. The call follows more skirmishing between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas and an implied Syrian threat to attack Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights.
• Israeli destruction of buildings in Gaza is illegal, Annan and UN envoy say UN News Centre 27 Oct 2003 -- The United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and his senior envoy for the Middle East today strongly deplored Israel's continuing demolition of Palestinian-owned buildings as illegal, especially the destruction of three 13-story buildings in the Gaza Strip last night.
• ISRAEL / SETTLEMENTS VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- The Israeli government has agreed to provide basic services to eight settlement outposts in the West Bank, despite earlier promises to remove illegal outposts as part of the Roadmap peace plan.

• IVORY COAST / REBELS VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- French troops have been sent to the city of Man in the rebel held northwest of Ivory Coast after an attack on a bank.
• IVORY COAST / RAMADAN VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- Muslims in Ivory Coast are hoping for a peaceful holy month of Ramadan, after a turbulent year of civil war and controversial peacemaking that put them under increased pressure.
• COTE D'IVOIRE: French peacekeepers deployed to Man after bank raid IRIN 27 Oct 2003 -- More than 100 French peacekeeping troops have been sent to restore order in the unruly rebel-held city of Man in western Cote d'Ivoire, following a bank raid there at the weekend, lieutenant colonel Georges Peillon, a spokesman for the French peacekeepers, said on Monday.
• LIBERIA: WFP resumes full operations in the interior IRIN 27 Oct 2003 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has resumed full operations in Liberia after a two-week suspension of food distribution outside the capital, Monrovia, prompted by fears for the safety of its staff and equipment.
• LIBERIA: Bryant backs down over rejected LURD nominees IRIN 27 Oct 2003 -- Liberia's transitional leader, Gyude Bryant, has agreed to review some of the nominees for senior government appointments that he rejected last week, the speaker of Parliament, George Dweh, said.
• SOMALIA: TNG accuses peace mediators of vested interests IRIN 27 Oct 2003 -- The disarmaKAMPALA, 27 October 2003 (IRIN) - The president of the Transitional National Government (TNG), Dr Abdiqassim Salat Hassan, on Friday accused Kenya and Ethiopia of derailing the Somali peace process.
• DRC-RWANDA: Kigali dismisses Amnesty report on its presence in Congo IRIN 27 Oct 2003 -- The recent report by human rights advocacy group Amnesty International that Rwanda still has troops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was "based on unfounded allegations, speculation and innuendo", the Rwandan Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Monday.
• DRC: NGOs ask UN to address corporate dimension of country's conflict IRIN 27 Oct 2003 -- A coalition of NGOs called on the UN Security Council on Monday to insist that member states launch immediate investigations into the involvement of multinational corporations accused of profiteering from war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
• BURUNDI: Opposition leader Charles Mukasi released IRIN 27 Oct 2003 -- Burundian politician Charles Mukasi, leader of an extremist faction of the main pro-Tutsi Union pour le progres national (UPRONA) political party, has been released, Radio Burundi reported on Friday.
• NIGERIA: Vigilante force helps police curb piracy in Niger delta IRIN 27 Oct 2003 -- Bayelsa State in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger delta region has set up an armed vigilante force to help curb growing piracy in its waterways that has claimed dozens of lives this year and disrupted river transport.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 27 Oct 2003 -- Lord Robertson does not exclude Russia in NATO / Germany's Struck sees EU defence planning at NATO / Serbia's justice minister denounces UN war crimes prosecutor
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 27 Oct 2003 -- In interview, Lord Robertson views NATO's future, ESDP / "Bomspotters" demonstration viewed
• CONGRESS / MALAYSIA VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- The U-S Senate Monday approved restrictions on some U-S aid to Malaysia in response to comments made by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad that are seen as anti-Semitic.
• SERBIA/POLITICS VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- Ten months after the assassination of reformist Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, Serbia is facing fresh political turmoil. The coalition government is under increasing pressure from an unruly parliament, and voter apathy could again undermine a presidential election next month if turnout does not surpass 50 percent, as required by law.
• SAF/POLITICS VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- A leading pro-democracy group in South Africa is suing five political parties, including the ruling party, to force them to reveal their funding sources. The Institute is hoping to make South African politics more transparent.
• PHILIPPINES/JUSTICE VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- Philippine President Gloria Arroyo is seeking to avert a political crisis triggered by the impeachment of the country's chief Supreme Court judge.
• NAMIBIA: Treason trial finally begins IRIN 27 Oct 2003 -- Namibia's long-awaited treason trial finally started on Monday, but the first day was taken up with a challenge by 13 of the detainees to the court's jurisdiction over them.