TOP STORIES
U.S. Intelligence Shows Pessimism On Iraq's Future
[New York Times, September 16, 2004, Pg. 1]
A National Intelligence Estimate prepared for President Bush in July
sees a
dark assessment of prospect for Iraq.
Insurgents In Iraq Appear More Powerful Than Ever
White House warns of worse violence near Jan. election
[USA Today, September 16, 2004, Pg. 1]
U.S. officials had planned by now on being able to move ahead with
rebuilding Iraq. Terrorists have other plans, apparently bent on keeping
the
country occupied with chaos. The insurgents' activities have forced
the Bush
administration to shift more than $3 billion from Iraqi reconstruction
to
boost security.
Army Defends Baghdad Battle That Left 16 Dead
Helicopters targeted insurgents opening fire near a damaged military
vehicle, U.S. officials say.
[Los Angeles Times, September 16, 2004, Pg. 1]
U.S. commanders said their helicopters fired seven rockets and machine-gun
rounds in Baghdad during a battle that killed 16 Iraqis and prompted
a
heated debate about how civilians are often the victims of American
firepower. Iraqi insurgents were firing on U.S. soldiers from the vicinity
of a burning Bradley fighting vehicle, which had been set afire by a
suicide
car bomb.
Charges Urged In Deaths Of Detainees
Dozens of Army reservists blamed in Afghan abuses
[Baltimore Sun, September 16, 2004, Pg. 1]
Army investigators recommend that negligent homicide charges be filed
against at least three Army Reserve troops, including a captain, from
an
Ohio-based MP unit for their alleged role in the beating deaths of two
prisoners in Afghanistan.
Powell Aide Gave Papers To Taiwan, FBI Says
[Washington Post, September 16, 2004, Pg. 1]
Donald W. Keyser, a former high-ranking State Department official and
a
leading expert on China, passed documents to Taiwanese intelligence
agents
and is charged with concealing a trip to Taiwan, according to court
documents.
IRAQ
Senators Slam Administration On Iraq
[USA Today, September 16, 2004, Pg. 2]
Senators from both parties accused the Bush administration of incompetence
in the rebuilding of Iraq and said the U.S. could lose the war unless
it
improves security and gets more money into the Iraqi economy.
Fighting In Iraq's Sunni Area Kills 10]
[Washington Post, September 16, 2004, Pg. 20]
Ten people were killed in fighting between insurgents and U.S. force
in
Ramadi, the latest casualties in a string of violence this week that
has
left about 200 dead across Iraq.
3 Decapitated Bodies Found; 2 Men Are Killed In Bombing
[New York Times, September 16, 2004]
U.S. soldiers found the decapitated bodies of three Arab men on a highway
north of Baghdad. The bodies were not immediately identified, but are
thought to be Iraqis. At an Iraqi National Guard checkpoint south of
Baghdad, a suicide car bomb killed 2 men and wounded 10 others.
U.S. Warns Baghdad's Green Zone Is Unsafe
[London Financial Times, September 16, 2004]
American military officials warn that they cannot guarantee the security
of
the Green Zone, the Baghdad headquarters of the Iraqi government and
home to
U.S. and British embassies.
Civilian Dead, And Bitterness: No Way To Bridge The Rage?
[New York Times, September 16, 2004]
The deaths of 13 Iraqis, including a young girl and a television cameraman,
prompted Maj. Gen. Peter Chiarelli to try and explain how such a tragic
thing could happen at the hands of his men. The grim necessities of
combat,
with U.S. troops fired on by insurgents, forced the Americans to respond
in
order to save the lives of GIs---unfortunately, Iraqi civilians were
in the
mix.
The Grim Task Of Facing Iraq's Civilians: Counting The Lost
[London Financial Times, September 16, 2004]
No one knows how many Iraqi noncombatants have died during the past
year,
but since April of this year 3,186 Iraqi civilians---men, women and
children---have died as the result of terrorist incidents or in clashes
involving U.S.-led multinational forces.
Allawi To Address Hill, U.N. As White House Defends Policy
[Washington Post, September 16, 2004, Pg. 21]
Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi will address a joint session of Congress
and
make high-profile appearances in Washington next week. His debut visit
to
America will be the center-piece of an administration election-year
defense
of its policies in Iraq.
War On Iraq Wad Illegal, Says Annan
[London Daily Telegraph, September 16, 2004, Pg. 1]
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said the war in Iraq was "illegal"
and not
"in conformity" with the Security Council or the U.N. Charter.
IRAQ/ABU GHRAIB
Judge Orders U.S. Files On Abu Ghraib
[New York Times, September 16, 2004]
A New York federal judge, accusing the Bush administration of "indifference"
to the freedom of information laws, ordered the Pentagon and other agencies
to produce a list of all their documents on the detainees held at Abu
Ghraib
prison.
Transforming A Prison, With U.S. Image In Mind
[New York Times, September 16, 2004]
The U.S. military, in response to the Abu Ghraib scandal, has carried
out
dozens of changes in Iraqi detention centers. The changes include
streamlining the processing of prisoners to ease overcrowding and
formalizing the interrogation of prisoners.
Colonel Urges Court-Martial For England
[Washington Post, September 16, 2004, Pg. 17]
Army Col. Denise J. Arn, who presided over Pfc. Lynndie R. England's
pretrial hearings at Fort Bragg, recommends that England face a general
court-martial on 17 counts of abuse and indecent acts. Arn cited England's
youth and impressionability as possible explanations for her role in
the
alleged crimes.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Study: Gays In Uniform Effective In Conflicts
[Defense Today, September 16, 2004, Pg. 2]
A study conducted by a fellow at the University of California, Santa
Barbara, concludes that U.S. gays and lesbians in uniform posted in
the
Middle East serve openly without undermining unit cohesion and their
missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
'I'm Not Anti-Islam,' General Who Broke Speech Rule Says
[Philadelphia Inquirer, September 16, 2004]
Lt. Gen. William Boykin, who made church speeches casting the fight
against
terrorism in religious terms, said he did not mean to denigrate Islam.
GUANTANAMO
Presiding Officer At Guantanamo Faces Questions
[Washington Post, September 16, 2004, Pg. 3]
The chief Pentagon prosecutor in the military trials of suspects held
at
Guantanamo Bay has requested that the presiding officer in the cases
"closely evaluate" his impartiality and consider resigning.
Translator's Spy Trial Delayed Again
[USA Today, September 16, 2004, Pg. 3]
Senior Airman Ahmad Al Halabi, accused of being part of a spy ring at
Guantanamo, goes on trial next Monday. His trial was to have begun
yesterday.
Colonel's Charges Dropped
The U.S. military has dropped charges against a high-ranking Army officer
caught up in controversy over the handling of secret materials at the
Guantanamo detention center in Cuba.
[Miami Herald, September 16, 2004]
The Army dropped charges against Army Col. Jackie Farr, who had become
ensnared in the Guantanamo spy case.
Muslim Chaplain To Get Honorable Discharge
[Seattle Times, September 16, 2004]
Capt. James Yee, who has been cleared in an espionage probe focused
on
activities at Guantanamo Bay, will get an honorable discharge.
Two More Detainees Get Military Hearings
[Baltimore Sun, September 16, 2004]
A U.S. military review panel at Guantanamo heard the cases of two more
suspects held at the prison.
ARMY
GIs Claim Threat By Army
Soldiers say they were told to re-enlist or face deployment to Iraq
[Denver Rocky Mountain News, September 16, 2004]
Soldiers from a Fort Carson combat unit claim they got an
ultimatum---re-enlist for three more years or be transferred to units
likely
headed for Iraq. Fort Carson officials acknowledge a re-enlistment drive
is
going on, but denied that soldiers who didn't re-up were threatened.
Recovery Double Hard For Wounded Reservists
Many hospitalized far from families
[Boston Globe, September 15, 2004]
National Guardsmen and reservists who are recuperating from injuries
received in combat find themselves not demobilized and unable to return
home
to loved ones as their wounds heal.
NAVY
2 Nuclear Subs Set To Leave Georgia
Navy Base Expected To Remain In Place
[Atlanta Journal-Constitution, September 16, 2004, Pg. 5C]
The Navy is moving two ballistic missile submarines out of Georgia's
Kings
Bay Naval Submarine Base, but state officials said the shift does not
mean
the base is among those targeted for closing next year.
AIR FORCE
Jumper Outlines Priorities In AFA Speech
[AirForceTimes.com, September 15, 2004]
USAF Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper told the Air Force Association
conference in Washington, D.C. that he wants to trim the manning in
air
operation centers and research what capabilities lighter-than-air ships
can
bring to the fight.
Sambur Seeks New Tankers As 30 Old Tankers Grounded
[Defense Daily, September 16, 2004, Pg. 1]
Marvin Sambur, the Air Force's acquisitions chief, said new aerial refuelers
are needed in short order. He noted that 30 aging tankers were grounded
recently for flight safety concerns.
Air Mobility Command Takes 29 KC-135Es Off The Flight Line
[Defense Daily, September 16, 2004, Pg. 8]
Air Mobility Command has grounded 29 KC-135E tankers, pending a review
of
how to address engine strut problems.
WHITE HOUSE
Bush Nominates Executive With Columbia Firm For Army Secretary Post
[Baltimore Sun, September 16, 2004]
President Bush nominated Francis J. Harvey, vice chairman of Duratek,
Inc.,
to become the next secretary of the Army.
CONGRESS
Votes Set On 9/11 Recommendations
Senate, House Appear Headed in Different Directions on Intelligence
Overhaul
[Washington Post, September 16, 2004, Pg. 29]
Congress plans to vote in a few weeks on recommendations presented by
the
Sept. 11 commission, although it appears the House and Senate are at
odds on
some key issues, and some recommendations seem to be in jeopardy.
Intelligence Proposals Gain In Congress
[New York Times, September 16, 2004]
Creation of a new, powerful job of national intelligence director got
a
boost with the introduction of a bipartisan Senate bill to grant sweeping
budget authority to such an official and a simultaneous promise by House
leaders to pass a related bill before going home to campaign for November's
elections.
AFGHANISTAN
Mercenaries In Afghan Case Get 8 To 10 Years In Prison
[New York Times, September 16, 2004]
Three Americans got 8 to 10 years in prison for running a private jail
and
torturing prisoners. Three Afghan judges rejected claims by the men
that
they were working for a Pentagon counterterrorist group.
U.S. Plans To Send Troops For Afghan Vote
[Los Angeles Times, September 16, 2004]
The U.S. will send hundreds of new troops to Afghanistan to bolster
security
before the scheduled Oct. 9 election.
AFRICA
U.S. Forces Support African Cease-Fire
[New York Times on the Web, September 15, 2004]
A small number of U.S. troops have been working with the African Union
military observation mission in Sudan's beleaguered Darfur region.
MIDEAST
What's Next In Iranian Saga?
U.S. and European officials couldn't agree on how to deal with Iran
Wednesday at an IAEA meeting in Vienna.
[Christian Science Monitor, September 16, 2004]
U.S. and European officials can't quite agree on how best to handle
the Iran
nuclear problem. The U.S. wants tougher measures to force Iran's
capitulation on the issue and there has been some European acceptance
of
that approach, especially since it appears Tehran has reneged on a deal
to
stop its uranium enrichment programs.
Evacuated U.S. Military Families Not To Return To Bahrain
[Wall Street Journal, wsj.com, September 15, 2004]
U.S. military dependents who were temporarily removed from Bahrain in
July
because of fear of attacks won't be returning. Some 420 families were
ordered out of Bahrain.
Death Penalty Sought In USS Cole Trial
[USA Today, September 16, 2004, Pg. 9]
Yemeni prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for six men charged
with
the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000---17 Navy crewmen were killed in
the
attack on the Cole.
ASIA/PACIFIC
Koizumi Set To Dub China A Military Threat
DEFENSIVE MOVE: A newspaper said a soon-to-be completed official report
will
highlight Beijing's military spending and 'expansionist' policies
[Taipei Times, September 16, 2004, Pg. 1]
A Japanese defense review describes China as a military threat. That
conclusion will be mentioned by a private advisory panel to Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi.
Taiwan Said Set To Buy $15 Billion Of U.S. Arms
[Washingtonpost.com, September 15, 2004]
Taiwan's lawmakers will likely give their long-delayed approval next
month
to a special budget for U.S. weapons purchases worth as much as $15
billion.
IAEA Plans To Return To S. Korea
[Washington Post, September 16, 2004, Pg. 26]
The International Atomic Energy Agency will conduct a second round of
inspections at South Korea's nuclear facilities next week.
Washington In Talks With Pakistan On Resume Sale Of F-16s
[London Financial Times, September 16, 2004]
Pakistan is negotiating with Washington the purchase of 40 to 50 F-16s,
whose original delivery was suspended in 1990 after the U.S. imposed
sanctions on Islamabad because of its nuclear weapons program.
RUSSIA
In Rare Rebuke, Bush Faults Putin's Moves To Centralize Power
[Washington Post, September 16, 2004, Pg. 28]
President Bush, delivering a rare rebuke for an ally, said he is concerned
about Vladimir Putin's moves to centralize power and possibly undermine
democracy.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Nuclear Testing Triggers Calls For More Control
South Korean Case Bolsters View That Civil Programs Can Hide Weapons
Work
[Wall Street Journal, September 16, 2004, Pg. 15]
South Korea has become Exhibit A in the case made by nonproliferation
experts who warn that it is simply too easy to use civilian atomic-energy
programs as fronts to cover research into developing nuclear weapons.
BUSINESS
Company Hired For Overseas Ballots Faced Lawsuit Over A Bill
[New York Times, September 16, 2004]
Omega Technologies Inc., the company hired by the Pentagon to handle
the
unsealed ballots of military and civilian voters abroad, was sued two
years
ago by a Tennessee business that accused it of fabricating information
and
other fraudulent behavior concerning an unpaid bill.
Northrop's Submarine Work Draws Criticism From Navy
Letter says company's performance deteriorating on newest nuclear vessels
[Baltimore Sun, September 16, 2004]
Navy acquisition chief John J. Young has informed Northrop Grumman Corp.
that there has been "rapid deterioration" in the company's
performance since
January. He noted "significant cost growth" and schedule delays
in
Northrop's role for building the nation's newest nuclear subs.
Airbus Does Hard Sell For Tanker Under Boeing's Nose
[Seattle Times, September 15, 2004]
The parent company of Airbus, EADS, has been especially aggressive at
the
Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition going on in Washington.
Airbus is actively pursuing potential deals with the U.S. Air Force
for air
refuelers, and has even developed its own version of a refueling boom
to
counter technology produced by Boeing Co.
OPINION
The First Draft Of Freedom
Paul Wolfowitz
[New York Times, September 16, 2004]
The trial of a journalist in Indonesia has far-reaching implications.
The
case should never have gone to court, and the fact that it has threatens
the
democracy that Indonesia has enjoyed since the Suharto government collapsed
six years ago makes it more urgent that journalistic freedom not be
suppressed.
Time To Squeeze Syria
Jim Hoagland
[Washington Post, September 16, 2004, Pg. 31]
It is time to press Syria to end its strangle-hold on Lebanon. Helping
that
small part-Muslim, part-Christian Arab state escape Syria's hegemony
and
establish an independent democracy would put punch behind President
Bush's
visionary commitment to transform the Middle East over the next generation.
EDITORIAL
Prisoner Abuse: An Independent Inquiry
[St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 16, 2004]
The Pentagon has conducted 11 investigations into the Abu Ghraib scandal.
What's needed, however, is a truly independent probe that is warranted
by
the allegations of high-level complicity in prisoner abuse.
Testing Our 'Ally,' Pakistan
[Los Angeles Times, September 16, 2004]
Pakistani President Musharraf should force "rogue scientist"
Abdul Qadeer
Khan to tell Washington and other interested parties how much he contributed
to North Korea's nuclear weapons development.
Failing The Senate Intelligence Test
[New York Times, September 16, 2004]
The Senate is engaged in approving Porter Goss's nomination as the next
CIA
director. There is ample reason not to approve Goss, not including the
thought that he could become the first national intelligence czar if
recommendations by the Sept. 11 commission are put in place.
Source: Defense News
