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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 15 Oct 2004 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty

• IRAQ/U-S TROOPS VOA 15 Oct 2004 -- The U.S. military in Iraq is investigating whether American soldiers disobeyed orders to conduct a re-supply mission north of Baghdad because they thought they lacked adequate protection.
• IRAQ / RAMADAN VOA 15 Oct 2004 -- A powerful car bomb exploded Friday in Baghdad near an Iraqi police station. Five civilians and five policemen were wounded in the attack that occurred on the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. And many Iraqis say Ramadan has become their month of fear.
• Iraq: Al-Fallujah Fighting Intensifies As Ground Troops Enter Fray RFE/RL 15 Oct 2004 -- The U.S. military is on high alert in Iraq at the start of Ramadan. The Muslim holy month was marked last year by an increase in insurgent violence. At least five people were killed yesterday after two explosions were set off inside the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad. An insurgent group headed by Jordanian militant Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi has claimed responsibility for the blasts. Meanwhile, the U.S. military is now using ground troops, as well as air strikes, against insurgents in the rebel stronghold of Al-Fallujah, where al-Zarqawi is believed to be located. The offensive comes after interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi warned Al-Fallujah that it must hand over al-Zarqawi and his followers or face a major operation to root them out.
• MNF-I strikes Abu Musab al-Zaraqwi sites in Fallujah MNF-I/MNC-I 15 Oct 2004 -- Multi-National Force-Iraq conducted two more strikes early this morning against known Abu Musab al-Zarqawi command and control sites.
• MNF-I targets Zarqawi network in multiple operations MNF-I/MNC-I 15 Oct 2004 -- Since October 14, Combined Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Force-Iraq elements conducted several operations in and near Fallujah in order to disrupt preparations for terrorist attacks by Anti-Iraqi Forces.
• U.S. Ground Troops Move On Al-Fallujah RFE/RL 15 Oct 2004 -- U.S. ground troops moved towards the Iraqi rebel bastion of Al-Fallujah today after a night of air assaults.
• U.S. Continues Assault On Al-Fallujah RFE/RL 15 Oct 2004 -- The U.S. military is continuing its offensive against insurgents in the Iraqi city of Al-Fallujah.
• U.S. Troops On High Alert In Iraq RFE/RL 15 Oct 2004 -- The U.S. military is on high alert in Iraq today at the start of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan, which started last year with an increase in insurgent-backed violence.
• MWSS-271 readies for possible Iraq deployment USMC News 15 Oct 2004 -- The sounds of the M-16 service rifle and squad automatic weapon fire echoing off of buildings, dummy grenades and smoke grenades filling the air, are all part of the Stability and Support Operations training at Camp Lejeune for Marine Wing Support Squadron 271.
• Grunts, Battery battle insurgents in Haswa USMC News 15 Oct 2004 -- Combined arms tactics have been a part of Marine Corps warfighting doctrine for years. It allows Marines to dial up their intensity to overcome their enemies. In Iraq, the practice is working well.
• Company B, 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion, heads home USMC News 15 Oct 2004 -- The Marines of Company B, 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 7, are heading back to the United States after their deployment to the western Al Anbar Province. The Marines completed their duty and now hand over the reigns to Company C, 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion.
• Reserve division to help train Iraqi Army Army News 15 Oct 2004 -- In the first mobilization of an Army Reserve training division for overseas duty, the 98th Division (Institutional Training) is heading to Iraq to help train that nation's new Army.

• Transcript: Special Defense Department Briefing on Afghan Election 15 Oct 2004 -- Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan
• U-S/AFGHANISTAN VOA 15 Oct 2004 -- The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan says it could take as long as ten years before that country becomes a successful democratic state. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad made the comments Friday after meeting with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
• Afghanistan: Vote Count, Finally Under Way, Is Paused For Start Of Ramadan RFE/RL 15 Oct 2004 -- After a delay of nearly a week, vote counting in Afghanistan's presidential election finally got under way yesterday -- only to be put on hold again today for celebrations marking the start of Ramadan. So far, with only about 26,000 valid ballots counted, transitional leader Hamid Karzai has garnered about 59 percent of the vote. But an estimated 8 million ballots remain to be tabulated before final official results can be announced.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Kitty Hawk Moves into SRA to Maintain Readiness Navy NewsStand 15 Oct 2004 -- USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) began a Ship's Restricted Availability (SRA) maintenance period Sept. 16 that will result in many changes for the ship and its crew, and enable the fleet to maintain high levels of readiness under the Navy's Fleet Response Plan.
• USNS Arctic Deploys with Harry S. Truman CSG Navy NewsStand 15 Oct 2004 -- Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8) deployed with the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Carrier Strike Group Oct. 13 for a six-month deployment in support of the global war on terrorism.

• Reserve unit begins deactivating AFPN 15 Oct 2004 -- Already hard-pressed aircrews at this active airlift hub will be even busier starting in December when two Reserve squadrons begin deactivating after two years on active duty.
• LOEs now mandatory for some deployed commanders AFPN 15 Oct 2004 -- With the continuing emergence of increased expeditionary mission requirements, Air Force officials are implementing a policy that will complement officer evaluations by ensuring performance in key leadership positions at deployed locations is documented.
• AEF Battlelab becomes Air Warfare Battlelab AFPN 15 Oct 2004 -- The Air Expeditionary Force Battlelab, which stood up here in July 1997, recently became the Air Warfare Battlelab. The change reflects the 2003 realignment under the Air Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and better matches operational and testing functions.
• C-141 schoolhouse closes at Wright-Pat AFPN 15 Oct 2004 -- Air Force Reserve Command officials shut down the C-141 Starlifter schoolhouse here Oct. 14.
• Battle Force Tactical Trainer Operator Course Reaches Fleet Navy NewsStand 15 Oct 2004 -- The Center for Surface Combat Systems' (CSCS) Battle Force Tactical Trainer (BFTT) Operator course was delivered to all CSCS learning sites in September.

• State Department Daily Briefing, October 15 Washington File 15 Oct 2004 -- Iraq, Ukraine, Russia, Spain, Haiti, Israel/Palestinians, Pakistan, Macedonia, Taiwan, Cambodia
• White House Daily Briefing, October 15 Washington File 15 Oct 2004 -- White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan briefed reporters on Air Force One October 15 as they accompanied President Bush on a campaign trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 15 Oct 2004
• Important Role Seen for Private Firms in African Peacekeeping Washington File 15 Oct 2004 -- House Africa Subcommittee Chairman Ed Royce (Republican of California) says there is "a role for private military contractors (PMCs) in attempting to bring stability to Africa," where traditional peacekeeping can no longer protect innocent civilians.

• Africa needs Europe's help with peacekeeping, senior UN official says UN News Centre 15 Oct 2004 -- Efforts by industrialized countries to train troops from Africa in peacekeeping are welcome but cannot substitute for those nations deploying their own forces to the continent, the senior United Nations peacekeeping official said today.

• UN peacekeeping level in Haiti to increase by hundreds by end October UN News Centre 15 Oct 2004 -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti, which has been operating at less than half its authorized strength, will receive several hundred new members by the end of October, a UN spokesman said today.
• NIGERIA: Work resumes countrywide as four-day strike ends IRIN 15 Oct 2004 -- Normal life resumed throughout Nigeria on Friday after trade unions ended a four-day general strike to protest at a 25 percent increase in fuel prices. But union leaders warned of another stoppage soon if President Olusegun Obasanjo's government failed to reverse the price rise within two weeks.
• DRC: Militiamen capture town in Katanga Province IRIN 15 Oct 2004 -- An armed group that seized control of the town of Kilwa on Thursday, in the mineral-rich southeastern Congolese province of Katanga, is widening its control of the area, its leader has said.
• LIBERIA: Government freezes assets of Charles Taylor relatives and cronies IRIN 15 Oct 2004 -- Liberia's transitional government has finally frozen the assets of former president Charles Taylor and several of his relatives and associates, seven months after such sanctions were ordered by the UN Security Council.
• CONGO/VIOLENCE VOA 15 Oct 2004 -- An unknown number of heavily armed gunmen has seized a southeastern Congolese town and a nearby copper mine. The Congolese government says it has sent troops to the area and the situation is under control, but miners, aid workers and civilians are fleeing the town of Kilwa, near the border with Zambia.
• SOMALIA/POLITICS VOA 15 Oct 2004 -- A prominent Somali factional leader Friday warned that, unless all clans are represented in the new Somali government, the country could return to civil war. At least one group is expected to give the new government a rough time.
• IVORY COAST / DISARMAMENT VOA 15 Oct 2004 -- The disarmament of militias and rebel forces is due to begin Friday in Ivory Coast but the rebels have already said they will not participate in the program until the president makes key political reforms.
• ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS VOA 15 Oct 2004 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has ordered a redeployment of Israeli troops, away from densely populated areas of the northern Gaza Strip. The army is, however, maintaining a military presence in the area.
• INDIA/REBEL TALKS VOA 15 Oct 2004 -- The government of India's Andhra Pradesh state has begun the first-ever talks with the Maoist rebel group that has been active in the state for decades. Governments in other states, where Maoist insurgents are also active, will be watching the talks with interest.

News Reports

• PRESS BRIEFING BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT JEAN PING (GABON) United Nations 15 Oct 2004
• UN/SECURITY COUNCIL VOA 15 Oct 2004 -- Japan, Greece, Denmark, Argentina and Tanzania have been elected to two-year terms on the U.N. Security Council. Japan plans to use its election as a springboard to campaign for a permanent council seat.
• U.S./BELARUS ELECTION VOA 15 Oct 2004 -- The United States said Friday it has "serious doubts" that elections being held in Belarus on Sunday will meet international democratic standards. The eastern European country will elect a parliament and vote on a referendum that could indefinitely extend the ten-year rule of President Alexander Lukashenko.
• INDIA/WAR SCRAP VOA 15 Oct 2004 -- The Indian government says it will tighten laws on importing metal scrap after hundreds of shells and rockets have been found in recent shipments. The material is coming from war zones such as Iraq.
• Lockheed Martin-Built AMC-15 Satellite Launched Successfully From Baikonur Lockheed Martin 15 Oct 2004 -- The AMC-15 telecommunications satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] for SES AMERICOM, was successfully launched today from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Liftoff occurred Oct. 14 at 5:23 p.m. EDT aboard a Proton rocket provided by International Launch Services (ILS).
• ILS Proton Launches AMC-15 Satellite; 9th Mission In 9 Months Lockheed Martin 15 Oct 2004 -- A Russian Proton launch vehicle placed the AMC-15 satellite into orbit this morning, marking the ninth mission of the year for International Launch Services (ILS).