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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 15 Mar 2006 [PDF]
• MND-B SOLDIER KILLED BY MORTAR ATTACK
• US Military in Iraq Reports Civilian Casualties in Clash North of Baghdad VOA 15 Mar 2006 -- The U.S. military in Iraq says an insurgent, two women and a child have been killed in a clash between U.S. forces and militants north of Baghdad.
• CENTAF releases daily airpower summary AFPN 15 Mar 2006 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's air power summary.
• US Adds 700 Troops to Iraq Force VOA 15 Mar 2006 -- The U.S. military has temporarily sent about 700 additional troops into Iraq to help provide security for observances of a Muslim holiday that falls next Monday, and for the first meeting of Iraq's new parliament, which is scheduled for Sunday.
• Standby Troops Deploy from Kuwait to Support 'Scales of Justice' AFPS 15 Mar 2006 -- A battalion task force from the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division -- part of U.S. Central Command's "call forward force" in Kuwait -- has deployed to the Baghdad area, Multinational Force Iraq officials announced today.
• US General Says Iraqi Police Kidnap Ring Broken VOA 15 Mar 2006 -- A U.S. general says Iraqi investigators have broken up a ring of police officers who were kidnapping people, extorting ransoms and sometimes killing their victims.
• Civil engineers keep Sather Air Base utilities operational AFPN 15 Mar 2006 -- When the power is on and the toilets are flowing, no one bothers the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Operations Flight Airmen here. But they don’t mind anonymity; when no one complains, they know their customers are happy.
• Taliban Still a Threat to Afghanistan, United Nations Says Washington File 15 Mar 2006 -- A major challenge facing Afghanistan is how to prevent the return of the Taliban to the country, a senior U.N. official said March 14.
• AFGHANISTAN: UN assistance mission to continue for a further year IRIN 15 Mar 2006 -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has recommended a one-year extension of the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) - set to expire on 24 March - given the enormous challenges that remain in rebuilding the country.
• Pakistani Security Forces Blow Up Suspected Militant Hideout VOA 15 Mar 2006 -- Pakistani officials say security forces have blown up an Islamic school suspected to be a militant base in the conflict-ridden North Waziristan region
• Pakistani forces blow up pro-Taliban seminary in tribal region IRNA 15 Mar 2006 -- Pakistani security forces on Wednesday blew up a religious seminary in the North Waziristan tribal region, suspecting the seminary was being used as Taliban base, correspondents said.

Other Conflicts

• Advisers to Palestinians Request Flexibility in Dealing with Hamas Washington File 15 Mar 2006 -- The international community's top civilian and military advisers working with the Palestinians have urged the U.S. Congress to allow them flexibility in dealing with the Hamas-led Palestinian government.
• COTE D IVOIRE: Rebel leader attends first cabinet meeting in over a year IRIN 15 Mar 2006 -- Guillaume Soro, leader of the New Forces rebels that occupy the north of war-divided Cote d’Ivoire attended his first cabinet meeting in over a year on Wednesday.
• UN reports deadly attacks in West Darfur, Sudan UN News Centre 15 Mar 2006 -- The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) today reported that it has received various reports about a series of deadly attacks in West Darfur over the past week.
• Security Council hails first convening of Somalia’s transitional legislature UN News Centre 15 Mar 2006 -- The United Nations Security Council today welcomed the convening of the first session of the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP) in Somalia, while condemning the increased inflow of weapons there and calling on all parties to cease the fighting that continues to claim innocent life and hamper critical humanitarian aid.
• HRW: Tamil Tigers Extorting Funds From Expatriates VOA 15 Mar 2006 -- Human Rights Watch says Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers rebel group uses intimidation and violence to extort money from ethnic Tamils who live abroad, including those living in Canada the United Kingdom and other western countries.
• Maoist Rebels' Blockade Affects Food Prices in Nepal VOA 15 Mar 2006 -- Residents of Nepal say the price of food is rising because of a Maoist rebel blockade that has kept vehicles off all major roads.
• Palestinians Protest Israeli Jail Siege VOA 15 Mar 2006 -- Palestinians staged a general strike and Israelis issued a security alert Wednesday, one day after Israeli troops laid siege to a prison in the West Bank city of Jericho and captured a Palestinian militant
• SUDAN: Focus must remain on civilian protection in Darfur - UN IRIN 15 Mar 2006 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged the international community to remain focused on the protection of civilians in Sudan's strife-torn region of Darfur, saying that rising insecurity there had made it dangerous and volatile.
• Israel on High Alert After Jail Siege VOA 15 Mar 2006 -- Israeli police and defense forces are on high alert, after Israeli forces captured a leading Palestinian militant after storming a jail in the West Bank city, Jericho, Tuesday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Three U.S. Ships Complete Neptune Warrior Coalition Course Navy NewsStand 15 Mar 2006 -- Three ships led by Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 24 departed Faslane, Scotland, March 11, having completed Neptune Warrior, a coalition course off the coast of Scotland with ships from the United Kingdom and Germany and aircraft from France.
• Navy Team Surveys Port of Djibouti Navy NewsStand 15 Mar 2006 -- A team of Navy hydrographers came to the Horn of Africa in February and has spent two months surveying and mapping the seabed of the Port of Djibouti.
• U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Gains DESRON Navy NewsStand 15 Mar 2006 -- U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO) has increased its flexibility and operational strength with the addition of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 40 to its assigned units.
• USS Ronald Reagan Makes Port Visit to UAE Navy NewsStand 15 Mar 2006 -- Sailors assigned to Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 7, including USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 arrived in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates (UAE), March 15 for a scheduled port visit.
• USS Ross Leaves Neptune Warrior Ready For Deployment Navy NewsStand 15 Mar 2006 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) left Faslane, Scotland, March 10 after completing Neptune Warrior, an intense coalition course with British and German warships.
• Forward Deployed ARG Returns to Sasebo at Spring Patrol Midpoint Navy NewsStand 15 Mar 2006 -- The Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) returned to its forward-deployed home of Sasebo, Japan, March 14, completing bilateral training in the Republic of Philippines and Guam, while also delivering relief to mudslide victims in the Philippines’ southern Leyte Island.
• Seabees in Korea Celebrate 64 Years of ‘Can Do’ Attitude Navy NewsStand 15 Mar 2006 -- Seabees from around the Korean peninsula gathered to celebrate the Seabees' 64th Birthday March 4 at Commander, Fleet Activities Chinhae (CFAC), Republic of Korea.
• HSL-43 Det. 2 ‘Hunters’ Return from WESTPAC Navy NewsStand 15 Mar 2006 -- The “Hunters” of Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 43 Detachment 2 returned Feb. 24 from a five-month Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment aboard the destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91).
• San Diego Squadrons Participate in Mandatory Stand Down Navy NewsStand 15 Mar 2006 -- Squadrons at Naval Air Station North Island participated in a safety stand down as part of a Navywide aviation safety stand down ordered by Commander, Naval Air Forces, Vice Adm. Jim Zortman in March.
• "Tridents" of VP-65 Disestablished Navy NewsStand 15 Mar 2006 -- Naval Reserve Patrol Squadron (VP) 65, stationed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Point Mugu, was formally disestablished during a ceremony at the VP-65 hangar March 4.
• Sault Turns USS Key West Over to Ishee Navy NewsStand 15 Mar 2006 -- Capt. Kenneth R. Sault turned over command of the Pearl Harbor-based USS Key West (SSN 722) to Cmdr. Thomas E. Ishee in a ceremony March 14.
• HSC-26 Holds Change of Command Navy NewsStand 15 Mar 2006 -- Cmdr. Grady Banister relieved Cmdr. Kenneth Inglesby as the commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 during a change of command ceremony March 10.
• F-15s, MiGs are allies in the sky AFPN 15 Mar 2006 -- Multinational pilots from the United States and Malaysia have joined forces in the Pacific skies for Cope Taufan ‘06, a three-week air-to-air training exercise designed to sharpen air combat tactic skills and promote closer relations between allies.
• QDR Allows Options, Capabilities Against Asymmetric Threat AFPS 15 Mar 2006 -- The first Quadrennial Defense Review undertaken during a time of war provides the military more options and more capabilities, a senior defense official said here today.
• Threats Abound, QDR Will Help U.S. Meet Them, England Says AFPS 15 Mar 2006 -- As the 21st century progresses, the United States must be prepared to deal with threats posed by terrorists, corrupt regimes and emerging state powers, a top Pentagon leader said here yesterday.
• Rice in Sydney For US-Japan-Australia Security Talks VOA 15 Mar 2006 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Sydney at the start of a three-day Australia visit highlighted by security talks with her Australian and Japanese counterparts
• China Increasing Military Ties in Latin America as Law Restricts US Military VOA 15 Mar 2006 -- The commander of U.S. forces in Latin America says countries in the region are increasingly turning to China for military training because of a U.S. law that has forced a reduction in a previously robust American training program.
• State Department Briefing, March 15 Washington File 15 Mar 2006 -- Palestinian Authority, India, Belarus, Lebanon, Kosovo
• White House Briefing, March 15 Washington File 15 Mar 2006 -- President's schedule, Medicare/prescription drug benefits, White House staffing, port security/foreign investments, voting in Louisiana, language on sexual discrimination in rules, Middle East/road map, immigration

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 15, 2006

News Reports

• U.S. Agency Increases Estimates of Afghan Petroleum Resources Washington File 15 Mar 2006 -- Afghanistan's petroleum resource base is much larger than previously thought, according to the first assessment completed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Afghanistan Ministry of Mines and Industry.
• CHAD: Coup attempt foiled, government says IRNN 15 Mar 2006 -- The Chadian government on Wednesday said it had thwarted an attempt by army defectors to shoot down President Idriss Deby’s plane on his return from a trip abroad.
• Chad Security Alleges Coup Plot VOA 15 Mar 2006 -- Chad's security forces are reporting they foiled an overnight coup plot against President Idriss Deby Itno.