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Military


29 October 2004 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

  • OIF/OEF Casualty Update 29 Oct 2004 [PDF]
  • DoD Identifies Army Casualty
  • DoD Identifies Army Casualty

  • Marines Round Up 16 More Insurgents in Northern Babil MNF-I/MNC-I 29 Oct 2004 -- Iraqi Security Forces and elements of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit captured 16 suspected insurgents in south-central Iraq on October 28, continuing to chip away at a loose network of hostile forces seeking to fuel violence south of Baghdad.
  • 1st Infantry Division Soldiers and Multi-National Forces capture IED cell members MNF-I/MNC-I 29 Oct 2004 -- Acting on information obtained, 1st Infantry Division Soldiers from Task Force 1-27 and Multi-National forces detained an IED cell leader and three others at two locations near Zab at about 9:30 p.m. Oct. 28.
  • 1st FSSG Marines brave western Iraq's roads to deliver the goods USMC News 29 Oct 2004 -- While some Marines are combating threats in the insurgent-ridden streets of Fallujah and Ramadi, Marines here are braving Iraq's roadways to provide essential supplies to forward operating bases in western Iraq.

  • Afghan Narcotics Trafficking to Be Targeted in Coming Months Washington File 01 Nov 2004 -- The international coalition in Afghanistan and the Afghan government are planning to increase efforts to interdict narcotics trafficking in Afghanistan during the coming months, according to a senior U.S. official.
  • UN still seeking release of abducted election workers in Afghanistan UN News Centre 29 Oct 2004 -- The United Nations continues to be in touch with authorities in Afghanistan as it seeks to obtain the immediate and unconditional release of three foreign election workers abducted yesterday, a UN spokesman said Friday.
  • Afghanistan: Despite Advances, Rights Expert Raises Alarm At Insecurity RFE/RL 29 Oct 2004 -- The UN's human rights expert for Afghanistan says lack of security continues to pose the most serious threat to the rights of Afghans and the reconstruction of their society. Cherif Bassiouni told a General Assembly rights committee that warlords, local commanders, and drug traffickers are committing the most violations and that international security forces are not doing enough to restrain them. But he also stressed there are numerous abuses of women and children that are solvable by local authorities.
  • AFGHANISTAN / KIDNAPPING VOA 29 Oct 2004 -- Afghan authorities say they have arrested three people in connection with the abduction Thursday of three foreign election workers in Kabul.
  • Afghan Officials Investigate Kidnappings RFE/RL 29 Oct 2004 -- Security officials in Afghanistan today are investigating the kidnapping of three foreigners who had helped oversee the country's first direct presidential election earlier this month.
  • RFE/RL Afghanistan Report, Vol 3, Number 39 29 Oct 2004 -- KARZAI SEEN WINNING OUTRIGHT FIRST-ROUND VICTORY / INABILITY TO DISRUPT ELECTIONS LEADS TO DISCORD AMONG TALIBAN LEADERS / SUICIDE BLAST IN KABUL CLAIMS TWO LIVES AS NEO-TALIBAN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY / NEO-TALIBAN ARRESTS MADE IN SOUTHERN AND SOUTHEASTERN AFGHANISTAN / U.S. AIRMAN KILLED IN HELICOPTER CRASH IN WESTERN AFGHANISTAN / THREE U.S. SOLDIERS AND ONE AFGHAN INJURED IN SOUTHEASTERN AFGHANISTAN / OSCE CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION ON UPCOMING AFGHAN ELECTIONS, AS AFGHAN CHIEF JUDGE CHIDES THE ORGANIZATION / AFGHAN ELECTION PANEL SUBMITS ITS RECOMMENDATIONS / QANUNI CONDITIONALLY CONCEDES... / ...BUT VOICES OF DISSENT REMAIN / DEFENSE MINISTER PLEDGES DDR COMPLETION BY JUNE / COALITION FORCES ACCUSED OF BURNING SHOPS TRADING OPIUM IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN / TURKEY SET TO ASSUME COMMAND OF ISAF IN 2005 / TWO FRENCH SOLDIERS KILLED IN ACCIDENT IN AFGHANISTAN / LOCAL MILITIA COMMANDER AMONG NINE KILLED IN NORTHEASTERN AFGHANISTAN / IRAN-HERAT CONTRACTS AWAIT ELECTION RESULTS / THIS WEEK IN AFGHANISTAN'S HISTORY

Defense Policy / Programs

  • New CMSAF insignia debuts Nov. 1 AFPN 29 Oct 2004 -- A new chief master sergeant of the Air Force insignia debuts Nov. 1, and stands out as a highly distinguished symbol representative of all Airmen, officials said.
  • AEF Center commander explains longer cycle AFPN 29 Oct 2004 -- The effect of the expanded air and space expeditionary force tour lengths on troop morale was addressed here by the general in charge of the deployment schedule.
  • Army working to build joint expeditionary capabilities Army News 29 Oct 2004 -- Developing a force with joint expeditionary capabilities has become more important than ever before, according to Army officials.
  • Installation managers: Excess assets drain on war effort Army News 29 Oct 2004 -- The Army has taken 165,000 acres off its inventory in the past year, and a senior official called this a "monumental achievement."
  • Arty Fire Direction center points out the enemy USMC News 29 Oct 2004 -- Fire support is a vital lifeline for Marines in combat zone. When a situation gets hairy, the Marines know they can call for a storm of steel rain on the enemy.
  • NORTHCOM Ready to Respond to Attacks, Other Emergencies AFPS 29 Oct 2004 -- Until the Oct. 1, 2002, activation of U.S. Northern Command, "there was no single officer the president could put his finger on" to assign the responsibility for homeland defense and supporting civil authorities in the event of an attack, a senior U.S. military officer said here today.
  • Northern Command Hitting Full Stride, Inge Says AFPS 29 Oct 2004 -- While U.S. Northern Command passed the October 2003 gate for full operational capability, "we must continue to grow and mature," said the command's deputy commander here Oct. 28.
  • Up-Armored Vehicle Effort Progressing Full Steam Ahead AFPS 29 Oct 2004 -- The assembly lines are moving 24/7 to keep up with the demand for up-armored vehicles in Iraq and for conversion kits to add extra protection to vehicles already there.
  • U.S. and Sweden to Conduct Anti-Submarine Warfare Training 29 Oct 2004 -- The U.S. Navy and the Swedish Navy will begin a bilateral training effort that provides a Swedish advanced diesel submarine and crew for U.S. Navy fleet anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training.

  • White House Daily Briefing, October 29 Washington File 29 Oct 2004 -- White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan briefed reporters October 29 on Air Force One as they accompanied President Bush on a campaign trip to Manchester, New Hampshire.
  • State Department Noon Briefing, October 29 Washington File 28 Oct 2004 -- Iran, Israel/Palestinians, Ukraine, European Union, Algeria, Liberia, Thailand, Cambodia, Pakistan

Defense Industry

  • General Dynamics Chosen to Upgrade Voice and Data Networks at the United States Military Academy General Dynamics 29 Oct 2004 -- General Dynamics Network Systems has been chosen by the U.S. Army to upgrade the voice, video, and data network infrastructure at the United States Military Academy – West Point. This project is valued at $12.5 million if all options are exercised. General Dynamics Network Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (GD).
  • Team US101 Announces 20 Additional Suppliers in Three Mid-Atlantic States to Support Next Marine One Helicopter Lockheed Martin 29 Oct 2004 -- Team US101 has announced that 20 additional companies in three Mid-Atlantic states -- Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania -- will supply components for the American-built US101 medium-lift helicopter. Team US101 is competing to provide the President of the United States with a fleet of next-generation helicopters better known by the call sign “Marine One.”
  • Thales awarded Netherlands Digitised Soldier System contract Thales 29 Oct 2004 -- As part of the Dutch Digitised Soldier System (D2S2) programme, the Netherlands' Ministry of Defence has awarded Thales a contract to develop and deliver prototype systems that will be the key components of the future Dutch digitised soldier system. These components will provide the Netherlands' infantry with a communications infrastructure to meet the exact operational needs of its forces.
  • Thales to supply key systems to Indonesian Navy worth '60m Thales 29 Oct 2004 -- The shipyard Royal Schelde and Thales recently signed several contracts for the delivery of a wide range of products that are to be installed on the two corvettes that Royal Schelde will build for the Indonesian Navy. Thales will supply the ship's above-water defence system, the communication equipment and the sonar system. The value of the contracts amounts to approximately 60 million euros. The first ship is expected to be commissioned mid 2007.

Other Conflicts

  • DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND SPOKESMAN FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 29 Oct 2004

  • Powell Urges Palestinians to Prepare for Gaza Disengagement Washington File 29 Oct 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell is urging Palestinians to set aside speculation about Israel's motivations for withdrawing from 21 Gaza settlements and four West Bank settlements and to focus, instead, on preparing to assume political and security control over those areas.
  • U.S. Pressing Sudan to Rein in Militias, Powell Says Washington File 29 Oct 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell says the security situation in the Darfur region of Sudan has yet to be stabilized, but the United States has been working with the African Union to put its troops in the region to help provide security.
  • ANGOLA: More needs to done for reintegration of former soldiers IRIN 29 Oct 2004 -- A programme by the government and the World Bank to reintegrate soldiers demobilised after the end of Angola's devastating civil war is slowly but surely getting off the ground, but much remains to be done.
  • SUDAN: UN envoy blames rebels for continuing insecurity in Darfur IRIN 29 Oct 2004 -- The situation in the strife-ridden, western Sudanese region of Darfur has not improved during the past month, according to the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sudan, Jan Pronk.
  • LIBERIA: Religious riots erupt in Monrovia, curfew imposed IRIN 29 Oct 2004 -- Religious riots between Christians and Muslims erupted in the Liberian capital Monrovia on Thursday night and continued on Friday morning until UN peacekeeping troops restored order and the government imposed an indefinite curfew.
  • NIGERIA: Niger Delta militia surrendering weapons for cash IRIN 29 Oct 2004 -- An ethnic militia group which threatened to kill foreign oil workers in southeastern Nigeria last month has started handing in its weapons under a guns-for-cash peace deal agreed with the government.
  • UN forces deploy across Liberian capital after rioters spark violence UN News Centre 29 Oct 2004 -- United Nations forces have deployed across the capital of Liberia to restore calm after sectarian violence sparked widespread looting and destruction.
  • Middle East: Arafat Arrives In France As His Illness Raises Questions About Succession RFE/RL 29 Oct 2004 -- Ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has arrived in France, where he is seeking medical treatment for a serious illness. His plane touched down at a military airport near Paris a short time ago. Arafat had been confined to his compound in Ramallah by Israeli forces since 2002. Yesterday, Israeli officials said Arafat will be free to return to the West Bank after receiving treatment. Arafat's poor health is raising questions about what might happen in the Palestinian territories if he dies or is forced to leave the political scene.
  • THAILAND / VIOLENCE UPDATE VOA 29 Oct 2004 -- Thailand's prime minister apologized to the families of at least 84 people killed when troops put down a demonstration in the country's mainly Muslim south, but blamed the riot on troublemakers. Thaksin Shinawatra, in a televised speech to the nation, pledged to set up an independent commission to investigate the incident and punish those who acted improperly.
  • ARAFAT/ FRANCE UPDATE VOA 29 Oct 2004 -- The Palestinian Authority's representative in France says a diagnosis of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's illness will not be available until he undergoes a series of tests that could take several days. Mr. Arafat was admitted Friday to a French military hospital after being airlifted from his headquarters in the West Bank.
  • SUDAN: AU boosts troop levels in Darfur IRIN 29 Oct 2004 -- The African Union (AU) began boosting its peacekeeping force in Sudan's Darfur region on Friday with the arrival of 50 Nigerian troops. A further 237 soldiers from Rwanda are expected to arrive on Saturday to help try and end violence that has driven more than 1.5 million people from their homes, the AU said.
  • ETHIOPIA-ERITREA/BORDER DISPUTE VOA 29 Oct 2004 -- Eritrea has accused neighboring Ethiopia of violating an earlier ruling on the exact location of their disputed border.
  • THAILAND / VIOLENCE VOA 29 Oct 2004 -- Two more bombs went off in Thailand's Muslim-dominated south Friday morning injuring at least 20 people during a week of continuing violence. The blasts come as Thailand's prime minister prepares to address the nation on his government's deadly handling of a Muslim protest Monday.
  • IVORY COAST / POLITICS VOA 29 Oct 2004 -- Ivory Coast's president has rescheduled until next week a meeting of cabinet ministers scheduled for Friday to discuss political reforms. The delay followed a decision by the leader of the rebel movement New Forces to recall his ministers from the commercial capital for consultations in the rebel-held north.

News Reports



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