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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 31 Aug 2004 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Air Force Casualty
• TASK FORCE OLYMPIA SOLDIER DIES, TWO INJURED IN IED ATTACK
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualties

• Thundering Third conducts 'Clean Sweep' near Fallujah USMC News 31 Aug 2004 -- The battalion known as the Thundering Third came down hard on enemy safehavens around Fallujah in their to-date largest operation alongside Iraqi forces recently.
• IRAQI POLICE AND MULTINATIONAL FORCES FOIL ROADSIDE BOMB ATTACKS CENTCOM 31 Aug 2004 -- Iraqi Police and Multinational Forces from the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) foiled four roadside bomb attacks Monday in northern Iraq.
• MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE IRAQ MEDIA UPDATE 31 AUGUST 2004 CENTCOM 31 Aug 2004 -- Throughout Iraq, Multi-National Forces are working to transfer responsibility to the Iraqi National Guard, border police and Iraqi police. Iraqi National Guard units are continuing to operate independently, providing additional security throughout Iraq.
• Iraq Militants Reportedly Execute 12 Nepalis RFE/RL 31 Aug 2004 -- An Iraqi militant group says it has executed 12 Nepali hostages in Iraq.
• U.S. Forces Kill Several Iraqi Insurgents In Al-Fallujah RFE/RL 31 Aug 2004 -- The U.S. military says its forces killed several Iraqi militants late yesterday in the Iraqi city of Al-Fallujah.
• 11th MEU Marines remember first dismounted attack USMC News 31 Aug 2004 -- The silence of the night was shattered as gunfire rang throughout the Old City district of Najaf.
• Securing Sadr City for Much Needed Civil Relief 1st Cavalry Division News 31 Aug 2004 -- As Operation Iron Fury moved into its second week, the 1st Cavalry Division's 2nd Battalion 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team reengaged Mahdi Militia Forces in an effort to secure locations within Sadr City for the resumption of Civil Military Operations, Aug. 27.
• Iron Horse Brigade Pushes Out Insurgents 1st Cavalry Division News 31 Aug 2004 -- Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT), spearheaded a task force which included elements of the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment and the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment-both from the Iron Horse Brigade- when they kicked-off Operation Iron Fury August 17.
• Iraqi Intervention Force Assumes Mission 1st Cavalry Division News 31 Aug 2004 -- The Iraqi Intervention Forces' 2nd Battalion, "Leopards," formally took responsibility for part of the 5th Brigade Combat Team's area of operations during a short ceremony July 31.
• Medical warriors deploy to Iraq AFPN 31 Aug 2004 -- About 100 Airmen from the 59th Medical Wing at Wilford Hall Medical Center here left Aug. 30 to staff a field hospital in Iraq.

• CFC-AFGHANISTAN PRESS RELEASE CENTCOM 31 Aug 2004 -- A Coalition facility in Kunar Province was attacked during the night of Aug. 30, 2004, with a large volume of direct and indirect fire by militants working against the government of Afghanistan.
• Coalition Beats Back Afghan Insurgent Attack AFPS 31 Aug 2004 -- Coalition forces in Afghanistan beat back an insurgent attack launched Aug. 30 in the Konar Province region.
• AFGHANISTAN / FIGHTING VOA 31 Aug 2004 -- In Afghanistan, at least eight civilians are reported dead in a clash between U.S. forces and suspected anti-government militants.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Officials release F-16 accident report AFPN 31 Aug 2004 -- A pilot's loss of situational awareness caused two F-16 Fighting Falcons to collide May 17, according to a report Air Force officials released Aug. 30.
• Norfolk Surface Strike Group Ships To Return From Deployment Navy NewsStand 31 Aug 2004 -- Nearly 700 Sailors will reunite with family and friends here at Naval Station Norfolk when the guided-missile destroyers USS Ross (DDG 71) and USS Ramage (DDG 61) return from their four-month deployment in support of the global war on terrorism (GWOT) Aug. 31.
• USS Wasp Heads Through Suez on Way Home Navy NewsStand 31 Aug 2004 -- USS Wasp (LHD 1), the flagship for Expeditionary Strike Group 2, transited the Suez Canal and entered the Mediterranean Sea Aug. 21 after more than six months deployed in support of the global war on terrorism.
• Stennis Visits Sasebo, Japan Navy NewsStand 31 Aug 2004 -- After successfully completing a Joint Air-Sea Exercise (JASEX) with the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), elements of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Marine Corps, Sailors aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) spent four days enjoying the sights and sounds of Sasebo, Japan. The last port visit for the San Diego-based aircraft carrier was in Pearl Harbor in late July.
• UK "refusing" to send more troops to Iraq IRNA 31 Aug 2004 -- The British Defense Ministry was reported Monday to have rejected repeated requests from commanders to send more troops to Iraq to cope with the upsurge in violence.

• TAIWAN WAR GAMES VOA 31 Aug 2004 -- Taiwan's president has called off a live-fire military exercise next week, hoping to ease tensions with China.

• US rules out major reduction of European-based nuclear warheads IRNA 31 Aug 2004 -- The United States has no plans to substantially reduce its nuclear weapons arsenal in Europe, the American military daily Stars and Stripes reported Tuesday.

• State Department Noon Briefing, August 31 Washington File 31 Aug 2004 -- Powell travels to Panama, Israel, Russia, Lebanon, Middle East, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan/China, South Korea, Sudan
• White House Daily Briefing, August 31 Washington File 31 Aug 2004 -- President's schedule, Israel, terrorism, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia

Defense Industry

• Global Arms Sales Fell 12 Percent in 2003 Washington File 31 Aug 2004 -- U.S., Russia, Germany led worldwide arms sales
• The Australian Ministry for Defence Approves the Acquisition of 12 MRH 90 Helicopters under the AIR 9000 Programme EADS 31 Aug 2004 -- Eurocopter welcomes the Australian Ministry for Defence decision to acquire 12 NH 90 helicopters under the Air 9000 Programme in a configuration suited to the needs of the Australian Army. This Australian version of the NH90 is called MRH 90. The MRH 90 helicopters will be added to the helicopter troop-lift units of the Australian Army.
• Another EADS breakthrough in Asia Pacific: Australia chooses the NH90 Transport Helicopter EADS 31 Aug 2004 -- EADS, a leader in global aerospace and defence, welcomes the decision of the Australian Department of Defence to acquire 12 NH90 transport helicopters.
• General Dynamics Awarded $24 Million For Maintenance and Operation of Military Sealift Ships General Dynamics 31 Aug 2004 -- The U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command has awarded General Dynamics American Overseas Marine a $24 million contract for the maintenance and operation of nine Large Medium-Speed Roll On/Roll Off (LMSR) vessels. American Overseas Marine is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• Orbital's Supersonic Sea-Skimming Target Missile Successfully Launched For U.S. Navy Orbital Sciences Corp. 31 Aug 2004 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that it carried out another successful flight test of the GQM-163A Supersonic Sea-Skimming Target (SSST) system for the United States Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on August 27, 2004. The flight test, conducted at the Navy's missile test range in southern California, is part of a series of flights Orbital will conduct under the company's SSST Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract from NAVAIR.
• Raytheon Receives $43 Million U.S. Navy Award for F/A-18 Threat Protection Systems Raytheon 31 Aug 2004 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $43.3 million contract for production of its ALR-67(V)3 radar warning receiver system for the U.S. Navy.
• Sikorsky Secures Funding For VXX Proposal Sikorsky 31 Aug 2004 -- Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. announced today it has been awarded $56.5 million from the United States Navy to fund engineering, program planning and other services associated with the Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program (VXX) competition.
• ILS And Atlas Successfully Launch Payload For NRO Lockheed Martin 31 Aug 2004 -- An Atlas IIAS rocket lifted off tonight, successfully carrying a national security payload into orbit.
• Lockheed Martin Completes Land-based Testing of Initial Deployment Aegis BMD Capability Lockheed Martin 31 Aug 2004 -- Marking a significant milestone toward an initial capability to defend the nation from a long-range ballistic missile attack, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) successfully completed land-based testing of the first deployable Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Long Range Surveillance and Tracking capability. Aegis BMD is part of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) being developed by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), in cooperation with the U.S. Navy.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 31 Aug 2004
• RUSSIA / BLAST VOA 31 Aug 2004 -- suicide bombing in Moscow Tuesday killed at least 10 people and wounded many more. The incident comes amid heightened tension in Russia after two crashes of Russian airliners last week that officials say were acts of terrorism.
• EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Judge halts mercenary trial to investigate evidence from abroad IRIN 31 Aug 2004 -- A court in Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday suspended the trial of 14 suspected foreign mercenaries who are accused of trying to topple the president, because more time was needed to weigh evidence from abroad, witnesses said.
• US / ISRAEL TERROR VOA 31 Aug 2004 -- The United States is condemning suicide bus bombings in southern Israel, saying a Palestinian crackdown against terrorist factions is long overdue. The twin attacks, for which the Islamic group Hamas claimed responsibility, killed at least 15 people and wounded about 100 others.
• US / LEBANON / SYRIA VOA 31 Aug 2004 -- The United States is pressing, along with France and other U.N. Security Council members, for a resolution upholding Lebanon's sovereignty in the face of Syrian pressure to keep a political ally, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, in office. A senior U.S. envoy is also expected to visit Damascus soon to discuss the issue.
• UN / DARFUR SANCTIONS VOA 31 Aug 2004 -- Russia has ruled out U.N. Security Council sanctions against Sudan for its failure to control Arab militias in the Darfur region. The senior U.N. envoy to Sudan will brief the Council Thursday on his just-completed trip to investigate reports of continuing atrocities in Darfur. But Russia's opposition effectively makes sanctions a dead issue.
• ISRAEL/EXPLOSIONS VOA 31 Aug 2004 -- The southern Israeli city of Beersheva has been hit by suicide bombings on two city buses. Emergency services report there are 12 dead and more than 80 injured in the blasts.
• Yugoslavia: Milosevic Launches Long-Delayed Defense At War Crimes Trial RFE/RL 31 Aug 2004 -- Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic opened his long-delayed defense case today at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague by calling the accusations against him "unscrupulous lies." Milosevic -- who faces life in jail if found guilty -- is charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes in connection with the 1990s conflicts in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kosovo. Milosevic has also been charged with genocide and complicity in genocide for the war in Bosnia that left some 200,000 people dead. In his opening statement, Milosevic also accused the international community of being "the main force for the destruction of Yugoslavia."
• UGANDA: Group says rebels ready to talk IRIN 31 Aug 2004 -- Representatives of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) have said that the Ugandan rebel group is "keen to talk" with Uganda's government, according to a team that met a rebel delegation in the northern district of Gulu on Monday evening.
• ISRAEL/EXPLOSIONS VOA 31 Aug 2004 -- The southern Israeli city of Beersheva has been hit by explosions on two city buses. VOA's Larry James reports from Jerusalem that emergency services say there are 12 dead and more than 50 injured in the blasts.
• RUSSIA / BLAST VOA 31 Aug 2004 -- A car bomb exploded in Moscow Tuesday night, killing at least eight people and wounding many more. The incident comes amid heightened tension in Russia after the two crashes of Russian airliners last week that officials say were acts of terrorism.
• IVORY COAST/NORTHERN REBEL AREAS VOA 31 Aug 2004 -- The government of national reconciliation in Ivory Coast and United Nations officials are slowly helping northern populations cope with life under rebel control. But officials say they lack a firm peace agreement to make a difference.
• NEPAL / AMNESTY VOA 31 Aug 2004 -- Human-rights groups warn of a rising number of political disappearances in Nepal as the government battles communist rebels throughout the country.
• WAR CRIMES/MILOSEVIC VOA 31 Aug 2004 -- The trial of Slobodan Milosevic on war crimes charges has resumed in The Hague with the former Yugoslav president launching a spirited defense. His testimony more than two years after the trial began has been delayed, in part, because of his health.
• ISRAEL/GAZA WITHDRAWAL VOA 31 Aug 2004 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has proposed a detailed, accelerated timetable to withdraw all Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip at the beginning of next year - months earlier than originally planned.

News Reports

• SHAPE News Morning Update SHAPE 31 Aug 2004 -- NATO troops detain suspect at airport, U.S. citizens warned off streets after deadly Kabul bombing / Taliban warns of more attacks as Kabul toll rises / Albania, Croatia, Macedonia to send a military medical team to Afghanistan / UN police in Kosovo briefly detain 25 at protest marking Day of the Disappeared / UN Kosovo chief urges Serbs to take part in vote

• BAE SYSTEMS Processors Travel Aboard Messenger To Mercury BAE Systems 31 Aug 2004 -- MANASSAS, Virginia, USA. -- BAE Systems radiation-hardened RAD6000 computers and solid state recorder assemblies headed for the planet Mercury August 3.