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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• SOLDIERS CONTINUE TO FIND WEAPONS, BUILD RELATIONS CENTCOM Release 17 Nov 2003-- Soldiers from the 82d Airborne Division conducted missions in order to stop violence and violent intentions from insurgents who oppose the peace process Nov. 15.
• 82d ABN DIV SOLDIERS CAPTURE FORMER REGIME LOYALIST CENTCOM Release 17 Nov 2003-- Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division attached to the 82d Airborne Division captured Kathim Mohammad Faris, who is also known as Abu Ka'af, near Habbiniyah Nov. 15.
• 101st discovers weapons caches, detains Iraqis Army News Service 17 Nov 2003-- Two weapons caches were discovered Nov. 16 by the 101st Airborne Division and eight Iraqis were detained during "cordon and knock " searches in northern Iraq.
• Soldiers Foil Illegal Border Crossing, Kill Attackers AFPS 17 Nov 2003 -- U.S. soldiers prevented an illegal border crossing and killed or captured attackers in three weekend incidents, officials at Combined Joint Task Force 7 in Iraq reported today.
• Soldiers Capture Brothers Linked to Attacks on Coalition AFPS 17 Nov 2003 -- With Operation Iron Hammer in full swing around Baghdad and Operation Ivy Cyclone II under way around Tikrit, Baquba, Kirkuk and Balad, U.S. and coalition forces continue to crack down on insurgents in Iraq.
• Iraq: U.S. Military Changing Tactics To Offset Stepped-Up Attacks RFE/RL 17 Nov 2003 -- The United States has launched a new offensive against anticoalition guerrillas in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit as well as in Baghdad.
• Iraq: U.S. Troops Capture Suspected Resistance Leader RFE/RL 17 Nov 2003 -- U.S. soldiers say they have captured a former Iraqi Special Forces officer and militia leader suspected of staging attacks on U.S. troops.
• UN refugee agency grounds road missions in Afghanistan after murder of staffer UN News Centre 17 Nov 2003 -- The United Nations refugee agency today grounded road missions throughout Afghanistan, suspended activities in the eastern province of Ghazni and launched a review of its operations after the weekend murder of a staff member.
• U-N / AFGHAN SUSPENSION VOA 17 Nov 2003 -- The United Nations refugee agency has suspended operations in the southern half of Afghanistan. The move comes a day after a U-N-H-C-R staff member was shot dead. The suspension also affects some offices in neighboring Pakistan.
• Pakistan wants Afghanistan share intelligence on suspects IRNA 17 Nov 2003 -- Pakistan on Monday called for coordination and intelligence sharing with Afghanistan, saying the two countries are allies, friends and neighbors and engaged together in the war on terrorism.
• AFGHAN CASUALTIES VOA 17 Nov 2003 -- Authorities in Afghanistan say six civilians have died in an air strike by U-S-led coalition warplanes in the east of the country. There are conflicting reports whether the victims were in a house or a vehicle, and the U-S military has yet to comment.
• PAKISTAN: UNHCR to close repatriation centres for Afghans following Sunday's attack IRIN 17 Nov 2003 -- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is temporarily closing its voluntary repatriation centres (VRCs) in Pakistan. The announcement follows a deadly attack in the southeastern Afghan city of Ghazni this weekend, in which a UN international staff member was killed and a local staff member wounded.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: Secretary Rumsfeld Korean Joint Press Conference 17 Nov 2003 -- "We will now begin the joint press conference for the ROK-U.S. Defense ministers. The session will proceed with opening statements by both ministers, followed by Q &A."
• NAF Atsugi Welcomes First Super Hornets Navy Newsstand 17 Nov 2003-- The sound of jet engines returned to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, Nov. 13, when the first four F/A-18F Super Hornets to be permanently forward-deployed outside the United States arrived at approximately 4 p.m. JST.
• Marine Hornets halted in Thailand Marine Corps News 17 Nov 2003-- Marine Wing Support Squadron 171's expeditionary airfield operations section performed their first expeditionary aircraft arrestment Monday during the first phase of the Thailand Incremental Training Program here.
• U.S. to Move Military Forces From Seoul, DMZ AFPS 17 Nov 2003 -- The United States and South Korea have agreed in principle to move most American forces out of the capital city of Seoul and south from the demilitarized zone along the border with North Korea.
• RUMSFELD/ASIA VOA 17 Nov 2003 -- At security talks in Seoul, U-S Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and South Korea Defense Minister Cho Young-kil called on North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons programs. As V-O-A's Amy Bickers reports from Tokyo, Mr. Rumsfeld says U-S plans for a global military realignment would strengthen U-S capabilities in the region.
• U.S.-North Korea Conclude POW/MIA Talks 17 Nov 2003 -- The Department of Defense announced today that U.S. and North Korea representatives concluded talks about arrangements to conduct five joint operations to recover the remains of American servicemen still missing from the Korean War.
• Pakistan conveyed US concern over Indian army purchases: Spokesman IRNA 17 Nov 2003 -- Pakistan said on Monday it has raised its concern with the United States about "deteriorating strategic and conventional weapons balance" in South Asian region as a result of "Indian arms buying spree".
• Rumsfeld Says U.S. Troop Adjustments Will Benefit South Korea Washington File 17 Nov 2003 -- U.S. troop adjustments in Asia will reflect new technologies and capabilities and "will strengthen our ability to deter and if necessary defeat any aggressions against allies such as South Korea," says U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
• Rumsfeld Sees Proliferation, Cyber Attack Risks in Coming Years Washington File 17 Nov 2003 -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the security threats in the 21st century will come from the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, from ballistic missile technologies "that have been spreading across the globe," and from cyber attacks.
• U.S. Welcomes Progress Made at Biological Weapons Treaty Meeting Washington File 17 Nov 2003 -- State Department spokesman Richard Boucher November 17 welcomed progress made during the annual meeting of the parties to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in Geneva.

Defense Industry

• Boeing Shows Network-Centric Future As Near-Term Possibility Boeing 17 Nov 2003 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] successfully linked an airborne Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, three simulation labs, and multiple virtual war-fighting platforms, demonstrating the ability to provide a high level of network-centric capability to the U.S. military with existing, fielded systems over the next two to three years.
• X-45A To Demonstrate Multi-Vehicle Capabilities At Dryden Boeing 17 Nov 2003 -- Two Boeing [NYSE: BA] X-45A technology demonstrators began a new series of flight tests at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on Nov. 4 that, when complete, will demonstrate how both vehicles can fly together in coordinated operations.
• Boeing Delivers New Mission Planning System for Tomahawk to Navy Boeing 17 Nov 2003 -- The U.S. Navy has received new, sophisticated mission planning software from Boeing [NYSE:BA] for the Tactical Tomahawk Weapon System, which is currently undergoing operational testing in Norfolk, Va.
• General Dynamics Canada Introduces a Portable, Real-Time Biological Agent Point-Detector System General Dynamics 17 Nov 2003 -- General Dynamics Canada today introduced the 4WARN Sentry, an advanced, portable, real-time biological agent detection system, at the 2003 Emergency Management Homeland Security Expo, 17-19 November 2003, in Orlando, Fla. General Dynamics Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• General Dynamics Integrated Marine Solutions Business Achieves Capability Maturity Model Integration Level 5 General Dynamics 17 Nov 2003 -- The Integrated Marine Solutions business of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems has achieved a Capability Maturity Model® Integration (CMMI®) Level 5 rating – the highest possible – in the areas of systems engineering, software engineering, integrated product and process development, and supplier sourcing.
• DURO 3 from Rheinmetall Landsysteme Rheinmetall Defence 17 Nov 2003 -- In response to an immediate operational requirement of the German Bundeswehr, Rheinmetall Landsysteme is supplying the German military with additional DURO 3 multipurpose vehicles, earmarked for deployment in foreign trouble spots.
• Northrop Grumman Receives Defense Support Program Contract Extension Northrop Grumman 17 Nov 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE: NOC) Electronic Systems sector has been awarded a $39.4 million contract extension by the U.S. Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center to continue work on the Defense Support Program (DSP), with an option for an additional $40.5 million.

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 17 Nov 2003
• BURUNDI/ PEACE TALKS VOA 17 Nov 2003 -- A warring Burundi rebel group has ignored warnings from regional leaders to join the peace process. As Cathy Majtenyi reports from Nairobi, the Hutu rebels say they will negotiate only with Tutsis.
• BURUNDI: Government, rebel group sign final peace pact IRIN 17 Nov 2003 -- The transitional national government of Burundi and the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD) rebel group led by Pierre Nkurunziza finalised peace negotiations on Sunday and signed an agreement endorsing political, defence and security power sharing in the war-torn country.
• Liberia: UN mission kicks off information campaign on disarmament UN News Centre 17 Nov 2003 -- The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has begun an intensive public information campaign about the upcoming disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration (DDRR) process in the West African country.
• Security Council backs continuing work of UN Somalia office UN News Centre 17 Nov 2003 -- The United Nations Security Council has agreed, at the request of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, to maintain the current budget of the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) through until 2005 as it works to restore peace to the African country.
• Annan welcomes repatriation of more than 100 Rwanda rebels from DR of Congo UN News Centre 17 Nov 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed the voluntary repatriation of more than 100 high-level members of the rebel Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR) and called on other armed Rwandans in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to seize the opportunity to return home.
• E-U/ISRAEL/IRAN VOA 17 Nov 2003 -- Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, in Brussels for talks with his counterparts from the European Union, says the 15-nation bloc must take what he calls a more balanced attitude in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict if it wants to play a bigger role in Middle East peacemaking. V-O-A's Roger Wilkison reports from Brussels that, for its part, the E-U is asking Israel to stop snubbing its envoy to the region and other E-U officials who have met with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
• IRALY/ISRAEL VOA 17 Nov 2003 -- Israel's prime minister, Ariel Sharon, has begun a three-day visit to Italy for talks that are expected to focus on the Middle East situation and the European Union's relationship with the Jewish state. Rome currently holds the rotating presidency of the E-U.
• INDONESIA UNREST VOA 17 Nov 2003 -- Indonesia has sent extra security personnel to the island of Sulawesi. As Tim Johnston reports from Jakarta, fears are growing that religious conflict between Muslims and Christians may flare again.
• IVORY COAST/TALKS VOA 17 Nov 2003 -- Diplomatic efforts are being pursued in several west African countries to try to help revive the stalled peace process in divided Ivory Coast. But rebels are seeking guarantees before they take part in negotiations with the Ivorian government.
• SOMALIA: Over 50 killed in fighting in central region IRIN 17 Nov 2003 -- Three days of heavy fighting in the northwest of Galgadud Region have left at least 50 people dead and over 150 wounded, local sources in the regional capital, Dusa-Mareb, told IRIN on Monday.
• ANGOLA: 100th convoy of returnees arrives home IRIN 17 Nov 2003 -- The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that its 100th convoy of trucks carrying returning Angolan refugees reached the eastern fringes of the country's Moxico province last week.
• DRC-RWANDA: MONUC hails return of FDLR members to Kigali IRIN 17 Nov 2003 -- The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) has hailed the voluntary return to neighbouring Rwanda of 103 members of the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR - Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda) on 15 November 2003 as a "major event".
• WEST AFRICA: UN missions tighten cooperation in West Africa IRIN 17 Nov 2003 -- United Nations peacekeeping and political missions in West Africa have agreed to improve the exchange of information and tighten operational activities in the region.
• NIGERIA: Customs intercepts 170,000 live bullets IRIN 17 Nov 2003 -- Operatives of the the Nigerian Customs Service have seized 170,000 live bullets from smugglers, in perhaps the biggest ever haul made in decades, officials said on Monday.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 17 Nov 2003 -- Al Qaeda says it behind Turkey bombings Al Qaeda seeks dangerous arms but lacks technology / French foreign minister says June is too late for provisional government / Serb Radical would stop "merciless" reformsext / President Bush says would wage war again to make world safe
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 17 Nov 2003 -- German daily highlights Gen. Jones' views on Iraq, Afghanistan, NATO's transformation / Hungary army chief: Participation in NRF will benefit Hungarian army / Daily on exercise "Allied Response 03" / France insists EU defense plans not against NATO / U.S. reportedly agrees to international control of its troops in Iraq
• State Department Daily Briefing, November 17, 2003 Washington File 17 Nov 2003 -- Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Israel/Palestinians, China, Terrorism, Serbia, Afghanistan/Pakistan, Syria, Germany, European Union
• Powell, Germany's Fischer Discuss Iraq, Iran in Meeting Washington File 17 Nov 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell and German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer briefed journalists after their meeting at the State Department November 17 and fielded questions concerning primarily Iraq and Iran.
• U-S / SERBIA ELECTIONS VOA 17 Nov 2003 -- The United States says democracy is still "up and running" in Serbia despite the fact that it has failed for the third time in the last 14 months to elect a president. Sunday's election once again failed to attract the required 50 per cent turnout of registered voters needed to validate the vote.
• MAURITANIA: Another Ould Haidallah associate arrested IRIN 17 Nov 2003 -- Mauritanian security agents arrested on Sunday another opposition politician and close associate of jailed former presidential candidate Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidallah, sources said.
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Patasse's ex-security chief breached state security, prosecutor says IRIN 17 Nov 2003 -- A former commander of ousted President Ange-Felix Patasse's protection forces, Gen Ferdinand Bombayeke, was arrested on Wednesday because he had breached the internal and external security of the Central African Republic, Bangui state prosecutor Firming Feindiro said on Saturday.
• Lockheed Martin to Provide Cargo Mission Services for International Space Station Lockheed Martin 17 Nov 2003 -- Lockheed Martin Space Operations (LMSO) has won a NASA contract to support cargo mission services for the International Space Station (ISS). The potential value of this contract to Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) is about $165 million.