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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 04 Oct 2006 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Task Force Lightning Soldier killed
• MND-B Soldier killed by small-arms fire
• Four Soldiers killed by indirect, small-arms fire
• CENTAF releases airpower summary for Oct. 4 AFPN 04 Oct 2006 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Oct. 4.
• Iraqi Soldiers Prevent Attack, Detain 27 Suspects AFPS 04 Oct 2006 -- Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, prevented a large-scale sectarian attack in Iraq’s Obiedi region, south of Baghdad Sept. 30 after receiving reports that local residents had been driven out of their homes.
• Military Alone Will Not Secure Afghanistan, Says NATO Commander Washington File 04 Oct 2006 -- NATO’s top general says that Afghanistan’s future will not be secured by military force alone.
• 12,000 U.S. Troops in Afghanistan to Serve Under NATO AFPS 04 Oct 2006 -- More than half of the U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan will become part of the NATO International Security Assistance Force during a transfer-of-authority ceremony tomorrow morning in the Afghan capital of Kabul.
• Analysis: Afghanistan, Five Years On cfr.org 04 Oct 2006 -- The purpose of invading Afghanistan five years ago, fresh after the Twin Towers fell, was to eliminate al-Qaeda’s safe haven
• AFGHANISTAN: More assistance needed for 80,000 displaced by southern conflict IRIN 04 Oct 2006 -- Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in southern Afghanistan who have left their homes due to fighting say they urgently need more assistance.
• NATO Commander Calls for More Reconstruction in Afghanistan VOA 04 Oct 2006 -- On the eve of the transfer of security responsibility throughout Afghanistan to NATO, the organization's military commander called Wednesday for more action on non-military aspects of the international effort in the country
• Negroponte Says Afghan Government Must Extend Authority VOA 04 Oct 2006 -- The top U.S. intelligence official says the government of Afghanistan must expand its authority over more of the country if the resurgence of the Taleban is to be checked

Defense Policy / Programs

• Navy to Christen Aircraft Carrier George H.W. Bush 04 Oct 2006 -- President George W. Bush will deliver the principal address at the christening ceremony of the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, named for his father, former President George H. W. Bush, at a 10 a.m. EDT on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard, Newport News, Va.
• Air Force meets 2006 enlisted, OTS recruiting goals AFPN 04 Oct 2006 -- The Air Force exceeded its fiscal 2006 enlisted recruiting goal of 30,750 by assessing 30,888 men and women into active duty from Oct. 1, 2005, through Sept. 30, 2006.
• Air Force proposes initial Joint Strike Fighter locations AFPN 04 Oct 2006 -- Plans for initiating environmental analyses for proposed locations of the Air Force's newest fighter, the F-35 Lightning II, were announced by Air Force officials Oct. 4.
• Air Force Reserve changes officer promotion system AFPN 04 Oct 2006 -- Air Force Reserve Command is changing its officer promotion system to meet future total force requirements.
• Essex Fire Controlmen on Target Navy NewsStand 04 Oct 2006 -- In an example of the strength of a ship’s self defense capabilities, USS Essex (LHD 2) fire controlmen (FC) successfully fired three Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) Oct. 1, and then fired two CIWS Oct. 2, to take down a towed drone unit (TDU).
• Essex Brings on Ammo for Fall Patrol Navy NewsStand 04 Oct 2006 -- The Sasebo, Japan-based amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) began the onload of ammunition via landing craft utility (LCU) Sept. 26 in preparation for the ship’s fall patrol.
• Essex Welcomes Marine Aviation Combat Element Navy NewsStand 04 Oct 2006 -- Preparing for their fall patrol with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), USS Essex (LHD 2) began onloading the MEU’s aviation combat element (ACE) aircraft and personnel during the transit to Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 26 and 27.
• Navy to Offer New Initiatives to Personnel Serving as IAs Navy NewsStand 04 Oct 2006 -- The Navy recently announced approval of several initiatives aimed at rewarding Sailors who serve in designated combat zones.
• NAS Kingsville Security Personnel Return From Iraq Navy NewsStand 04 Oct 2006 -- A contingent of Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville security personnel returned home to South Texas Sept. 27, from a nine-month tour in Iraq as part of the Navy’s individual augmentee (IA) program in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• USS Boxer Force Protection Prepares for 5th Fleet Navy NewsStand 04 Oct 2006 -- The USS Boxer (LHD 4) force protection team consisting of the ship’s master-at-arms (MA) and Ship Self Defense Force (SSDF) is currently going through an intensive set of training as the ship transits to 5th Fleet’s area of responsibility.
• Navy Cargo Handlers Depart for Middle East Navy NewsStand 04 Oct 2006 -- About 240 Navy cargo handlers departed for the Middle East from the air terminal at Naval Station Norfolk, Tuesday, Oct. 3.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 04 Oct 2006
• Press Gaggle by Dana Perino The White House 04 Oct 2006

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 04, 2006
• ATK Awarded $12.5M Contract for Former Peacekeeper Rocket Motor Aging Surveillance Program Alliant Techsystems 04 Oct 2006 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) has received a $12.5 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide aging surveillance support for the Stage I, II and III rocket motors of the former Peacekeeper (PK) intercontinental ballistic missile system.
• ATK Awarded $41 Million Contract to Supply Anti-Tank Barrier System to United Kingdom Ministry of Defence Alliant Techsystems 04 Oct 2006 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) has received a $41 million follow-on contract from the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (Defence General Munitions IPT) to supply replenishment canisters for the U.K.'s enhanced anti-tank barrier system, Shielder
• General Dynamics Awarded $155 Million for 109 Strykers General Dynamics 04 Oct 2006 -- The U.S. Army has awarded delivery orders for a total of 109 Stryker wheeled combat vehicles from General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• Raytheon Awarded Navy Contract to Increase SHARP System Capability Raytheon 04 Oct 2006 -- Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), has been awarded a $5.6 million contract by the U.S. Navy to conduct the Shared Reconnaissance Pod (SHARP) Target Cuing System (TCS) program

Other Conflicts

• Saudi Arabia Calls for More US Involvement in Middle East Peace Process VOA 04 Oct 2006 -- Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, Prince Turki al-Faisal, is urging the Bush administration to get more involved in the Middle East peace process and to persuade Israel to resume negotiations with the Palestinians.
• Rice Praises Palestinian President's Efforts To Form Government Washington File 04 Oct 2006 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice assured Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas October 4 that the international community continues to support his efforts to forge a moderate government that respects the agreements and obligations to which the Palestinian Authority has committed itself.
• Rice Promises Redoubled Efforts to Help Palestinians VOA 04 Oct 2006 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the United States is very concerned about the humanitarian plight of the Palestinian people and will redouble efforts to help them
• UN Accuses Hezbollah, Israel of Violating Humanitarian Law VOA 04 Oct 2006 -- Four U.N. human rights experts say both sides in the recent war in Lebanon, Israel and the Hezbollah guerrillas, committed serious human rights violations during the month-long conflict
• Rice Urges Resumption of Peace Efforts Amid Rising Inter-Palestinian Violence VOA 04 Oct 2006 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is due to meet Wednesday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and also holds talks with Israeli leaders
• COTE D IVOIRE: Protests ahead of regional peace meeting IRIN 04 Oct 2006 -- Hundreds of people protested in the main rebel-held northern town of Bouake on Wednesday to demand the departure of President Laurent Gbagbo ahead of a regional meeting on Cote d’Ivoire aimed at unblocking an impasse on the divided country’s future.
• Somalia: UN envoy on second leg of seven-nation tour to promote peace UN News Centre 04 Oct 2006 -- The top United Nations envoy for Somalia today visited Eritrea on the second leg of his seven-nation mission to promote peace and reconciliation ahead of the next round of peace talks between the rival factions in the war-torn east African country.
• SOMALIA: UN envoy on tour to ease tensions IRIN 04 Oct 2006 -- The United Nations special envoy to Somalia, François Lonseny Fall, has embarked on a seven-nation tour "to ease tensions" in the Horn of Africa due to the crisis in Somalia.
• Norway 'cautiously optimistic' of refreshed Lanka-LTTE talks IRNA 04 Oct 2006 -- Visiting Norwegian peace envoy, Jon Hanssen -Bauer, who held discussions with both the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tiger rebels during the past couple of days, on Wednesday expressed 'cautious optimism' on the early resumption of direct talks between the two warring parties in the island nation.
• Sri Lankan government proposes 2 dates for peace talks IRNA 04 Oct 2006 -- Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has proposed October 30 or November 10 as dates for holding peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
• Ugandan Army Resumes Patrols in North as Talks With Rebels Continue VOA 04 Oct 2006 -- The Ugandan army has resumed patrolling areas of war-torn northern Uganda that were exempt from patrols under a truce signed between the government and a rebel group
• UGANDA: Government troops resume operations in the north IRIN 04 Oct 2006 -- The Ugandan military has resumed operations in areas of war-affected northern Uganda, despite ongoing talks with the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Juba, southern Sudan, an army spokesman said on Wednesday.
• Russian military construction workers setting up camp in Lebanon RIA Novosti 04 Oct 2006 -- Russian combat engineers, in Lebanon to repair infrastructure devastated during a month of fighting this summer between Hizbollah fighters and the Israeli military, are building a tent camp, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported Wednesday.
• Top UN peacekeeping official warns of ‘overstretch’ as mission staff numbers surge UN News Centre 04 Oct 2006 -- An “unprecedented” surge is taking place in the number and size of United Nations peacekeeping missions, with as many as 140,000 staff members likely to be in the field next year, a senior UN official said today, warning of the dangers of political overstretch when there are so many operations competing for attention.

News Reports

• Russia's Duma speaker says new Georgia sanctions possible RIA Novosti 04 Oct 2006 -- The speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament refused to rule out new sanctions against Georgia Wednesday, and said amendments affecting postal and banking operations will be made to the national security law.
• Moscow will stay firm in face of Tbilisi provocation - FM Lavrov RIA Novosti 04 Oct 2006 -- Russia's foreign minister said Wednesday the country will not let itself be provoked by Georgia's leadership.
• Russian officers in Georgia spy row tell paper of arrests RIA Novosti 04 Oct 2006 -- Two of the four Russian army officers at the center of an espionage scandal with Georgia said Wednesday in an interview with Russian daily Izvestia that they were unconcerned by the unfounded accusations brought against them.
• Russia may accelerate pullout of bases from Georgia - Ivanov RIA Novosti 04 Oct 2006 -- Russia's defense minister said Wednesday the withdrawal of two Soviet-era military bases from Georgia could be accelerated in the wake of an espionage scandal involving Russian officers last week.