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Operations
Other Conflicts
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 19 Jan 2006 [PDF]
• DoD Identifes Army Casualties

• CENTAF releases daily airpower summary AFPN 19 Jan 2006 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released its daily airpower summary.
• 23 Iraqis Die in Bomb Explosions VOA 19 Jan 2006 -- Two bombs exploded moments apart killing 23 people in downtown Baghdad, and 35 kidnapped police recruits are also feared dead.
• Defense Department Report, January 19: Terrorists' Demands Washington File 19 Jan 2006 -- The United States will not release any women detainees currently held in Iraq in response to recent terrorist demands, a U.S. general says.
• Twin Bombings in Baghdad Kill 22 VOA 19 Jan 2006 -- Iraqi officials say simultaneous blasts in Baghdad have killed at least 22 people and wounded 25 others in central Baghdad.
• 35 Iraqi Police Volunteers Reportedly Kidnapped RFE/RL 19 Jan 2006 -- Reports say U.S. and Iraqi forces were searching north of Baghdad today for 35 Iraqi police volunteers kidnapped by insurgents.
• Iraqi Officials Ask US to Release 6 Female Prisoners VOA 19 Jan 2006 -- Iraqi officials say they have asked U.S. forces to release six of eight Iraqi female prisoners, but they say the move is not related to the demand of a militant group that kidnapped an American journalist.
• IRAQ: New offensive in Anbar leads to more displacement IRIN 19 Jan 2006 -- Nearly 200 families have been displaced in the western governorate of Anbar as a result of a military offensive launched by US troops backed by the Iraqi Army on 15 December.

• Rice To Lead U.S. Delegation to London Conference on Afghanistan Washington File 19 Jan 2006 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will head the U.S. delegation to the London Conference on Afghanistan January 31 to February 1, according to a January 19 State Department press notice.

• NATO closes military hospital in Kashmir, team leaves Pakistan IRNA 19 Jan 2006 -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has closed its medical hospital in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and its medical team has left the country, the NATO said on Wednesday.

Other Conflicts

• New report calling for more cooperation on peacekeeping echoes UN’s thinking – Annan UN News Centre 19 Jan 2006 -- Welcoming a new multinational report on peacekeeping operations, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said its recommendations for more cooperation and coordination by Member States mirror the world body’s own efforts to strengthen its security capacit

• NEPAL: Government detains activists to foil rally IRIN 19 Jan 2006 -- Prominent human rights activists and political leaders were arrested on Thursday by security personnel in an effort to upset a large political rally planned for Friday in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, aimed at mobilising a nationwide protest municipal elections scheduled on 8 February.
• EGYPT: 250 Sudanese detainees released IRIN 19 Jan 2006 -- Late on Wednesday afternoon 250 Sudanese detainees were released in Cairo, following intensive negotiations between the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the Egyptian government.
• ETHIOPIA-ERITREA: US mediation team arrives in Addis Ababa IRIN 19 Jan 2006 -- A high-level mediation team from the United States has arrived in Ethiopia to try and break the border dispute with neighbouring Eritrea, the US embassy in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, said on Thursday.
• COTE D IVOIRE: Anti-UN protesters refuse to budge despite president’s plea for calm IRIN 19 Jan 2006 -- Barricades continued to cripple Cote d’Ivoire’s economic capital, Abidjan, and many people stayed home from work for the fourth day running on Thursday as anti-UN protesters ignored a plea from President Laurent Gbagbo to remove the roadblocks and end street protests.
• COTE D IVOIRE: Tensions ease as Young Patriots call end to anti-UN protests IRIN 19 Jan 2006 -- The leader of Cote d’Ivoire’s Young Patriots, a youth group supporting President Laurent Gbagbo, late Thursday called on its members who have led four days of violent anti-UN demonstrations to pack up their roadblocks and go home.
• Secretary-General calls on all sides in Nepal to resume dialogue and halt violence UN News Centre 19 Jan 2006 -- Responding to the Government of Nepal’s arrest of more than one hundred politicians and other critics, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called on all sides in the strife-torn Himalayan kingdom to return to the negotiating table and halt the violence.
• Côte d’Ivoire: Annan appeals for calm as Security Council threatens sanctions UN News Centre 19 Jan 2006 -- Saying that the United Nations is not a protagonist in Côte d'Ivoire, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today appealed to the leaders in the West African country to work together to restore calm after protesters opposing the possible dissolution of parliament demonstrated outside UN offices for a fourth day, prompting the Security Council to threaten sanctions.
• ‘War on terror,’ African conflicts threaten minorities: UN-assisted report UN News Centre 19 Jan 2006 -- The so-called “war on terror” as well as African civil conflicts have heightened the threat to minorities around the world, placing groups in Iraq and Sudan most at risk, according to a study released at United Nations Headquarters today. y.
• Russia: Relatives, Lawyers Concerned About Kabardino-Balkaria Detainees RFE/RL 19 Jan 2006 -- Russian officials say more than 60 people have been arrested on suspicion of participating, directly or not, in the 13 October deadly militant raids on Nalchik, the capital of the southern republic of Kabardino-Balkaria
• Suicide Bomber in Israel Wounds at Least 15 VOA 19 Jan 2006 -- A suicide bomber in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv blew himself up Thursday, wounding at least 16 people and killing himself
• Ivory Coast Protests Continue Despite Call for Calm VOA 19 Jan 2006 -- Violent protests by supporters of Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo have entered their fourth day in the government-controlled south.
• Leading Chechen Rebel Reportedly Killed RFE/RL 19 Jan 2006 -- The pro-Moscow Chechen administration today said that security forces have killed a senior separatist field commander, Supian Abdulaev.
• Russian Peacekeepers Boost Security In Abkhazia RFE/RL 19 Jan 2006 -- Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia have reinforced security measures near the demarcation line that separates the breakaway Black Sea province from Georgia.
• Nepalese Authorities Arrest Scores of Opposition Members, Cut Off Phones VOA 19 Jan 2006 -- Nepalese authorities have rounded up more than 70 activists and cut off cell phone communications in the country before a planned anti-government demonstration Friday

Defense Policy / Programs

• Air Force takes delivery of first production Global Hawks AFPN 19 Jan 2006 -- The first of two production Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles began flying missions in support of the global war on terrorism within hours of arriving in theater earlier this month.
• 5+1+1 equals U.S. air superiority AFPN 19 Jan 2006 -- Five + one + one = the ability to direct the command and control of U.S. and coalition air power across the globe.
• ROBE upgrade sets KC-135 on forefront of battle communications AFPN 19 Jan 2006 -- A KC-135 Stratotanker here was fitted with upgraded communications equipment recently which will revolutionize battle space and the way the United States and its allies fight wars.
• JSTARS adds blue force tracking capability AFPN 19 Jan 2006 -- The ability to distinguish between friend and foe, a concept known as blue force tracking, is critical to conducting effective network-focused military operations.
• Army Secretary: 2005 Brought Solid Accomplishment AFPS 19 Jan 2006 -- Army re-enlistments in 2005 were the highest they've been in five years, with more than 69,500 soldiers choosing to continue their service, the Secretary of the Army said here yesterday.

• NATO trains 1,500 Iraqi security officials IRNA 19 Jan 2006 -- In 2005, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's (NATO) training mission in Iraq trained 1,000 mid-and senior-level officers in the country, and nearly 500 in NATO facilities in Europe.

• U.S.: Secretary Of State Outlines Overhaul Of Diplomatic Corps RFE/RL 19 Jan 2006 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on 18 January for a dramatic overhaul of the stationing of diplomatic corps overseas and the creation of what she called "American presence posts."

• CHINA DEVELOPING AIRCRAFT CARRIER BATTLE GROUP: MND CNA 19 Jan 2006 -- China is developing an aircraft carrier battle group, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Thursday.

• White House Briefing, January 19 Washington File 19 Jan 2006 -- Osama bin Laden audiotape, status of Osama bin Laden, Iraq/global war on terrorism, raid in Pakistan, Iranian protest, aid to Pakistan, Musharraf/ally, Palestinian elections, Israel/Tel Aviv bombing, Iraq/possible release of prisoners, Abramoff investigation, immigration reform, Patriot Act
• State Department Briefing, January 19 Washington File 19 Jan 2006 -- Secretary Rice's Trip to the UK for London Conference on Afghanistan/International Partnership with Afghanistan/Political and Financial Support, Confirmation of Authenticity of bin Laden Tape by CIA/Bureau of Intelligence and Research Involvement, Use of Force Against Terrorists, Iran, Syria and Iran, Russia, South Korea, North Korea, Israel, Italy

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts 19 Jan 2006

News Reports

• LEBANON: Year in Brief 2005 – A chronology of democratic developments IRIN 19 Jan 2006
• New head of UN independent probe into Hariri assassination arrives in Lebanon UN News Centre 19 Jan 2006 -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed the arrival in Lebanon of the new head of the United Nations investigation into last year’s assassination of its former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, and repeated his call for an end to outside interference in the country.