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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 18 Apr 2006 [PDF]
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Secretary Rumsfeld and Gen. Pace from the Pentagon 18 Apr 2006 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace
• Iraqi Troops, Insurgents Clash for Second Day in Baghdad VOA 18 APr 2006 -- Iraqi troops have clashed with insurgents for a second straight day in a mainly Sunni Arab district of Baghdad.
• CENTAF releases airpower summary AFPN 18 Apr 2006 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.
• Fierce Battle in Western Iraq Between US Troops, Insurgents VOA 18 Apr 2006 -- Reports from Iraq say a fierce fighting is raging between U.S. forces and insurgents in the city of Ramadi, west of Baghdad.
• Afghan-Led Forces Detain Insurgents, Thwart Terrorist Attacks AFPS 18 Apr 2006 -- Afghan and coalition forces detained eight insurgents in Afghanistan's Kandahar province today and thwarted two terrorist attacks yesterday in Kunar province, military officials reported.
• Afghanistan: Officials Launch Poppy Eradication Campaign In Herat Province RFE/RL 18 Apr 2006 -- Afghan authorities have launched a poppy-eradication campaign in the western province of Herat as part of the government's attempts to wipe out opium cultivation
• Pakistani Security Forces Arrest at Least Three Al-Qaida Suspects VOA 18 Apr 2006 -- Pakistani officials say security forces have arrested at least three al-Qaida suspects after a gunfight near the Afghan border.
• Afghanistan: Islamabad Anxious As Kabul Gets Chummy With New Delhi RFE/RL 18 Apr 2006 -- While Afghan President Hamid Karzai tries to maintain balance in his country's relations with India and Pakistan, Islamabad might be feeling squeezed and do its best to undermine the renewed Afghan-Indian partnership -- at great cost to Afghanistan.
• AFGHANISTAN: Former gunmen surrender arms, return to civilian life IRIN 18 Apr 2006 -- Three former militia commanders in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar have voluntarily surrendered around 90 light and heavy weapons to the Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups (DIAG) programme, officials from the UN-backed initiative said on Tuesday in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
• U.S. Supports Efforts of Afghan Government To Eradicate Opium Washington File 18 Apr 2006 -- The United States strongly supports efforts by Afghanistan’s elected government and its allies to curb drug trafficking, says Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Other Conflicts

• Israel Looking at Limited Response to Suicide Bombing VOA 18 Apr 2006 -- Israeli Prime Minister-designate Ehud Olmert met with his Cabinet and security chiefs to weigh how Israel should further respond to the deadly suicide bombing that killed nine people and injured dozens more Monday in Tel Aviv.
• Israel Weighs Response to Monday's Suicide Bombing VOA 18 Apr 2006 -- Israeli Prime Minister-designate Ehud Olmert met with his Cabinet and security chiefs Tuesday to discuss how Israel should respond to Monday's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv
• Tel Aviv Attack Overshadows UN Debate on Israeli Military Actions VOA 18 Apr 2006 -- The U.N. Security Council opened a debate on Israeli military operations in the occupied territories, hours after Monday's suicide attack in Tel Aviv.
• Israel Fires Missiles Into Gaza Strip Hours After Palestinian Suicide Attack VOA 18 Apr 2006 -- Palestinian witnesses say the Israeli military has fired missiles at a metal factory in the Gaza Strip, hours after a Palestinian suicide attack that killed nine people.
• US Tells Sudan Support for Chad Rebels 'Unacceptable' VOA 18 Apr 2006 -- The United States has warned Sudan that any support it may be giving to rebels in Chad is "unacceptable."
• CHAD-SUDAN: President demands more international attention on Darfur IRIN 18 Apr 2006 -- Chadian President Idriss Deby on Tuesday denounced what he called the international community’s “failure to respond” to the escalation of violence in the Darfur region of Sudan which he reiterated is to blame for recent rebel attacks in Chad.
• US Sending Envoy to Chad to Discuss Political Turmoil, Oil Dispute VOA 18 Apr 2006 -- The United States is sending a senior envoy to Chad to try to help resolve political unrest there, as well as a commercial dispute that could halt the north African state's oil production
• South Ossetia Accuses OSCE Of Bias RFE/RL 18 Apr 2006 -- Authorities in the Georgian separatist republic of South Ossetia today accused the Organization for Security of Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) of pro-Georgian bias.
• COTE D IVOIRE: President and Prime Minister in disarmament stand-off IRIN 18 Apr 2006 -- Cote d'Ivoire's President Laurent Gbagbo and Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny appear to be locked in disagreement over the thorny issue of disarmament, the main stumbling block to holding presidential elections, according to statements made over the weekend and on Tuesday.
• India expresses "great concern" over situation in Nepal IRNA 18 Apr 2006 -- As the situation in Nepal acquires a dynamic character of its own, India expressed "great concern" over developments in the country and has asked King Gyanendra to immediately initiate dialogue with political parties aimed at reconciliation and evolving a national consensus.
• KENYA: Thousands flee violent attacks by cattle raiders IRIN 18 Apr 2006 -- More than 10,000 people have fled their villages in two districts in northern Kenya following a spate of violent raids by cattle rustlers in which several people were killed and thousands of livestock stolen, the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) and the police said on Tuesday.
• BURUNDI: Civilians must hand over weapons, says president IRIN 18 Apr 2006 -- The Burundian government has given civilians in possession of weapons three weeks to register the arms or risk being arrested for illegal ownership.
• Ugandan Army Says Displaced People Can Start Going Home VOA 18 Apr 2006 -- Uganda's military says people can start returning to their homes Tuesday from camps in parts of the country's war-ravaged north.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Bush Backs Rumsfeld Anew, Rejects Critics VOA 18 Apr 2006 -- President Bush is rejecting critics of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
• Rumsfeld Defends Record at Pentagon VOA 18 Apr 2006 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Tuesday he is not considering submitting his resignation, following demands that he do so from several retired U.S. military generals for alleged failures in planning and carrying out the war in Iraq.
• Japan Citizens' Coalition Vows to Fight US Forces Realignment VOA 18 Apr 2006 -- A coalition of Japanese groups say it opposes a plan to realign U.S. forces in Japan.
• HSL-47, USS Russell Assist Vessel in Distress Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2006 -- A crew from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 47 assisted a vessel in distress in the South China Sea April 15.
• Surface Strike Group Makes “Surge” Deployment Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2006 -- More than 700 Sailors on two surface ships “surged” April 18 as part of the Global War on Terrorism Surface Strike Group (GWOT SSG) 06-2 from their homeports in Norfolk, Va. and Mayport, Fla.
• Community Says Farewell to Namesake City Submarine USS Honolulu Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2006 -- Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye, Lt. Gov. James Aiona, and Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Gary Roughead joined past and current crew members of USS Honolulu (SSN 718) to bid farewell to the nuclear-powered attack submarine at a ceremony April 15, at Naval Station Pearl Harbor.
• U.S., Canada Strive for ASW Excellence Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2006 -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) returned to San Diego April 10 after a two-week underway period to conduct shipboard qualifications at sea and also strengthen anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission effectiveness between U.S. and Canadian naval forces.
• Monterey, HSL-46 Wrap Up Work-ups Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2006 -- USS Monterey (CG 61) and Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 46 "Grandmasters” Det. 1 completed “Week one work-ups” (WOWU) April 11 while operating in the U.S. Southern Command.
• U.S. Ambassador Visits USS Stout Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2006 -- U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Hans H. Hertell visited USS Stout (DDG 55) while in port in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, April 17, as part of the ship’s “Partnership of the Americas” deployment.
• USS Monterey Celebrates Easter at Sea Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2006 -- USS Monterey (CG 61) held Easter Sunday at sunrise on the ship's flight deck April 16 while underway in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.
• GW, CVW-17 Conduct COMREL in St. Maarten Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2006 -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, completed 1,246 hours of community service at various locations in St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, April 15.
• Atlas V Astra launch planned AFPN 18 Apr 2006 -- The Air Force’s 45th Space Wing will support the launch of an ASTRA European telecommunications satellite on an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., April 20.
• Unified Quest to test future concepts, capabilities Army News 18 Apr 2006 -- Unified Quest 2006 (UQ06), the premier “wargame” and capstone event in the Army’s FY 06 Future Warfare Study Plan, is set for April 23-28 at Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
• Commentary: Army Reserve at 98 is still ready, responsive Army News 18 Apr 2006 -- On April 23, the Army Reserve turns 98 years old.
• White House Briefing, April 18 Washington File 18 Apr 2006 -- White House personnel changes, gas prices/price gouging, Secretary Rumsfeld/president's comments, Secretary Snow, Iran, Susan Schwab nomination
• State Department Briefing, April 18 Washington File 18 Apr 2006 -- OAS, Iran, Israel/Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Sudan, Somalia, Lebanon

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 18, 2006

News Reports

• Japan, China Defuse Flare-Up in Maritime Territorial Tiff VOA 18 Apr 2006 -- Another flare-up in a maritime boundary dispute between China and Japan appears to have quickly subsided.