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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 15 Mar 2004 [PDF]

• Six Soldiers Killed in Weekend Roadside Bomb Attacks AFPS 15 Mar 2004 -- Deadly roadside bomb attacks in Iraq this weekend left six U.S. soldiers dead, Combined Joint Task Force 7 officials said in news releases.
• U.S. Troops May Have Clashed With Iranians at Border AFPS 15 Mar 2004 -- U.S. troops may have traded shots with Iranian guards during a March 14 incident near the Iraq border, a senior U.S. official said at a Baghdad news conference today.
• TASK FORCE ALL AMERICAN CONTINUES OPERATIONS CENTCOM Release 15 Mar 2004--Task Force All American conducted 184 patrols Friday and Saturday, including six joint patrols with Iraqi Civil Defense Corps forces.
• TASK FORCE OLYMPIA DETAINS 23, COLLECTS WEAPONS CENTCOM Release 15 Mar 2004-- Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained 23 people suspected of anticoalition activities and collected weapons during operations in northern Iraq.
• TASK FORCE OLYMPIA COLLECTS WEAPONS CENTCOM Release 15 Mar 2004-- Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) conducted weapons collection operations in northern Iraq Sunday.
• V CORPS 'ROCKETEERS' BLAST THROUGH LIVE-FIRE EXERCISE IN BAGHDAD V Corps Release 15 Mar 2004-- Butler Range here had several loud visitors last week as some of 1st Armored Division's field artillery Soldiers conducted a three-day live-fire exercise.
• MORE THAN 100 IRAQI NCOs GRADUATE FROM FIRST BAGHDAD PRIMARY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COURSE V Corps Release 15 Mar 2004-- The Iraqi Civil Defense Corps strengthened its "NCO backbone" March 11 when it graduated 116 noncommissioned officers from the first Primary Leadership Development Course conducted at Camp Muleskinner here.

• Afghanistan: U.S.-led Command Teams Fight Taliban With Unconventional Warfare RFE/RL 15 Mar 2004 -- The U.S.-led coalition's spring offensive in Afghanistan, codenamed Operation Mountain Storm, is using unconventional warfare to target Taliban and Al-Qaeda guerrilla fighters.
• Blizzard ends, Storm begins Marine Corps News 15 Mar 2004-- The United States Marines, along with other coalition forces here, have changed operations in the coalition's continuing efforts to destroy terrorist cells, provide humanitarian assistance, and bring stability to the country plagued by decades of war.

• PENTAGON/AFRICA TERROR VOA 15 Mar 2004 -- The U-S military has delivered food, medical supplies and other assistance to Chad, to support government troops there who last week battled suspected terrorists linked to al-Qaida.
• EUCOM Delivers Aid to Chadian Forces EUCOM Release 15 Mar 2004-- Answering a request for assistance, units from U.S. European Command responded with two C-130 Hercules delivering more than 19 tons of aid Saturday to Chad.

• Situation Report for Media: Multinational Interim Force-Haiti SOUTHCOM Release 15 Mar 2004 [PDF]--Following are significant events and activities of the Multinational Interim Force (MIF) and Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) -Haiti and associated agencies during the last 24 hours

• MNB(East) paying Kosovo property owners Army News Service 15 Mar 2004-- Multi-national Brigade (East) officials are compensating Kosovo citizens for property used by U.S. forces under a real-estate claims program that began in December.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transfer of Afghani and Pakistani Detainees Complete 15 Mar 2004 -- The Department of Defense announced today it transferred 23 Afghan and three Pakistani detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for release.
• US to reduce nuclear arsenal in Europe: German weekly PLA Daily 15 Mar 2004 -- The United States is planning to reduce its existing nuclear arsenal in Europe, according to the latest issue of the German weekly Der Spiegel.
• USS Kitty Hawk Visits Busan South Korea 7th Fleet Release 15 Mar 2004-- The USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) Five pull into port here today, returning to Busan, South Korea more than three years after their last visit of November 2000. More than 5,000 Sailors will enjoy liberty and hospitality in Busan and the surrounding areas during this port visit.
• LAV-25 crew epitomizes teamwork and camaraderie Marine Corps News 15 Mar 2004-- Sgt. Logan P. Ballew and his five man crew call their light armored vehicle 'Curahee.'
• Exercise Balikatan 2004 A Success Marine Corps News 15 Mar 2004-- Now that Exercise Balikatan 2004 has ended, the Marines and Sailors of the 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade reflects upon another successful deployment.
• Marines hone skills with space-age laser transmitter weaponry Marine Corps News 15 Mar 2004-- When reading science fiction stories about the future, many envision the adventures of characters like Flash Gordon, Judge Dredd and Ziggy Stardust shooting their hi-tech weapons at alien villains. Although these stories do not seem to be an omen of things to come, the weapons they describe are slowly becoming a part of our modern military.
• New Embark Gear Saves Time Marine Corps News 15 Mar 2004-- The operations section of II Marine Expeditionary Force and computer information section of Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group, here, streamlined the embark process for deploying units flying to their destination.
• Marines hustle to toughen Iraq-bound vehicles Marine Corps News 15 Mar 2004-- As Marines continue rolling into Iraq, leaders in Kuwait bustle to outfit as many military convoys as possible with extra protection for passengers from ambushes and improvised explosives commonly used by insurgents.
• GW, Fleet Hospital Participate in Integration Exercise Navy Newsstand 15 Mar 2004-- Eight Sailors from Fleet Hospital, Great Lakes, Ill., arrived aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) to take part in Exercise-04. The exercise, held March 3, involves the integration of active-duty and Reserve forces.
• Breaking the Barriers: Performances Shake Wasp Hangar Bay Navy Newsstand 15 Mar 2004-- Twenty-five talented crew members entertained and educated their fellow shipmates about their past during a recent African American Heritage show Feb. 29 aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1).
• Teamwork a Key Element in Truman's Successful Availability NAVSEA News Wire 15 Mar 2004-- President Harry S. Truman would have been proud of the way Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) completed an availability on the aircraft carrier bearing his name: NNSY did this work safely, ahead of schedule, within budget and with close attention to quality.
• Schwarzenegger 'pumps up' deploying Guard Army News Service 15 Mar 2004-- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visited the National Training Center and Fort Irwin March 12 to speak to Soldiers of the California National Guard deploying to Iraq.
• ARMY APPROVES COMBAT PATCH FOR SOLDIERS WHO DEPLOYED TO ISRAEL AND TURKEY IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM V Corps Release 15 Mar 2004-- The Secretary of the Army has approved the wear of the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia-Former Wartime Service, or combat patch, for Soldiers who deployed to Israel and Turkey from March 19, 2003 to May 9, 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Task Force 1 AD finance Soldiers train Iraqi counterparts ARCENT News 15 Mar 2004-- Soldiers from 1st Armored Division's 8th Finance Battalion, and the 1st Cavalry Division's 15th Finance Bn., conducted a three-day course to give Iraqi Civil Defense Corps members a lesson in "paying for freedom."

• India to sign contract to buy jet trainer aircraft from Britain PLA Daily 15 Mar 2004 -- Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes indicated on Sunday that the final agreement to buy 66 Hawk advanced jet trainer aircraft from British Aerospace is likely to be signed on Monday.

• State Department Noon Briefing, March 15, 2004 Washington File 15 Mar 2004 -- Israel/Palestinians, Tunisia, Georgia, Spain, Iraq, Pakistan, Haiti, China, Greece
• Powell Says Spain Will Bring Madrid Terrorists to Justice Washington File 15 Mar 2004 -- Spanish authorities will determine who is responsible for the March 11 terrorist attack in Madrid, Secretary of State Colin Powell said March 14, because "this is not the first time Spain has dealt with terrorist incidents."

Defense Industry

• Boeing ATM Demonstrates Technology Leading to More Precise In-Flight Aircraft Surveillance, Identification Boeing 15 Mar 2004 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] Air Traffic Management has demonstrated flight surveillance technology that could lead to more precise aircraft monitoring and identification with the potential to increase both air traffic control efficiency and airspace security.
• EADS Defence Electronics’ systems protect Tiger and NH90 helicopters – €200m contracts signed EADS 15 Mar 2004 -- EADS Defence Electronics will deliver advanced self-protection systems to the Eurocopter Tiger and NH90 helicopter programmes in Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Portugal and Finland.
• KAI'S T-50 Trainer Begins Engine Air Start Flight Testing Lockheed Martin 15 Mar 2004 -- The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has begun engine air start flight testing of the F404-GE-102 jet engine that powers the T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer.
• Short but Successful Ride for Oshkosh’s TerraMax Truck in Pentagon’s Robotic Race Oshkosh 15 Mar 2004 -- Oshkosh Truck Corporation’s TerraMax truck traveled 1.2 miles into the desert on Saturday morning, March 13, before being confounded by obstacles that it “thought” were in its way. This may have been the result of a sensor glitch that provided too much input to the vehicle’s six high-powered computers.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 15 Mar 2004
• ISRAEL / SHARON VOA 15 Mar 2004 -- Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, narrowly won the backing of the parliament on Monday to unilaterally separate his country from the Palestinians if peace talks fail. He also ruled out negotiations with the Palestinians in the immediate future, saying they are doing nothing to stop attacks against Israelis.
• NIGERIA: Army denies alleged massacre in Niger Delta IRIN 15 Mar 2004 -- Nigerian troops have denied a claim by an activist group that they opened fire last week on unarmed villagers near the southern oil town of Warri, killing at least 51 people, hours after a soldier was killed in a clash with an armed gang.
• Eritrean road remains closed to UN peacekeepers UN News Centre 15 Mar 2004 -- Eritrea has retained restrictions on the movements of United Nations peacekeepers north of the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) in the border area with Ethiopia, but Ethiopia lifted its interdictions in the south of the zone, the UN mission to the two countries (UNMEE) said today.
• UN arranging for analysis of Rwanda 'black box' at US transportation safety board UN News Centre 15 Mar 2004 -- Arrangements are being made to transport a "black box" which originated in Rwanda to the United States National Transportation Safety Board in Washington, D.C., for analysis in the presence of an official from the United Nations civil aviation agency, a UN spokeswoman said today.
• DRC: UN sets up team to monitor arms embargo in the east IRIN 15 Mar 2004 -- Concerned over continued insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN Security Council set up a committee on Friday to monitor the implementation of an eight-month-old arms embargo in the region.
• SOMALIA: Process moving to phase three, say IGAD ministers IRIN 15 Mar 2004 -- Foreign ministers from member states of the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), who met in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on 12 March to discuss the Somali peace talks, have supported moving the talks into their third and final phase, a communiqué said.
• LIBERIA / WAR CRIMES VOA 15 Mar 2004 -- Human rights activists in Liberia are pushing for the prosecution of war criminals after 14 years of brutal conflict. But they are meeting opposition from authorities in the transitional power-sharing government set up to end the fighting.
• ISRAEL / ATTACKS VOA 15 Mar 2004 -- Israeli security officials say they plan to intensify their targeted attacks on Palestinian militants. News of the stepped up pace in such operations follows a suicide attack in the Israeli port of Ashdod on Sunday, in which 10 people died.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 15 Mar 2004 -- EU may call security talks as Qaeda fears grow / No indication of "specific" terrorist threat to EU and NATO / IOC says Madrid bombings set off Olympic review / Bosnian Serb police say search for Karadzic / U.S. has no plans for bases in Azerbaijan, but plans close cooperation in anti-terror fight / China and France to hold joint naval exercises
• SHAPE News Summary & Analysis SHAPE 15 Mar 2004 -- Weekly ponders future of nuclear weapons in Germany / Official request for NATO help in Olympic security likely in coming weeks / Spanish PM-elect makes good on pledge to withdraw Iraq troops / Madrid bombings seen as decisive factor in Spanish poll results / Group calls for "transatlantic plan" for democracy

• ETHIOPIA / FOOD VOA 15 Mar 2004 -- The United Nations food agency is appealing for 100 million dollars to buy surplus grain in Ethiopia to feed some seven million people there facing a food shortage.
• EQUATORIAL GUINEA / EXPULSIONS VOA 15 Mar 2004 -- The government of Equatorial Guinea is clamping down on foreigners following the arrest last week of 15 foreigners who allegedly are mercenaries who were involved in a plot to overthrow the government.
• Boeing Establishes Space Exploration Systems and Earth Science Boeing 15 Mar 2004 -- To better support the President's new space exploration policy, Boeing [NYSE: BA] has established the Space Exploration Systems (SES) office and the Earth Science Applications office.