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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 15 Dec 2006 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• Two Marines killed in Al Anbar Province
• One Task Force Lightning Soldier killed, two wounded
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Col. Sutherland from Iraq 15 Dec 2006 -- Presenter: Commander, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division, Col. David Sutherland
• CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 15 AFPN 15 Dec 2006 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 15.
• Iraqi, Coalition Troops Detain 13, Find Three Weapons Caches AFPS 15 Dec 2006 -- Coalition forces and Iraqi police this week detained 13 suspected terrorists in Iraq and discovered three weapons caches.
• U.S. Army’s 3rd Corps takes on Multinational Corps Iraq Mission AFPS 15 Dec 2006 -- Nearly 300 people gathered outside Al Faw Palace here yesterday for a ceremony that marked the transfer of authority over Multinational Corps Iraq, which includes more than 160,000 U.S. and coalition troops, from the U.S. Army’s 5th Corps to 3rd Corps.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD Honors Rumsfeld, Bids Farewell AFPS 15 Dec 2006 -- The Defense Department bid farewell to the 21st secretary of defense, Donald H. Rumsfeld, in a full honors parade at the Pentagon today.
• US Defense Secretary Says Farewell at Pentagon VOA 15 Dec 2006 -- President Bush and other dignitaries gathered at the Pentagon Friday to say farewell to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who will leave office on Monday
• President Attends Armed Forces Full Honor Review for Secretary Rumsfeld The White House 15 Dec 2006
• Cheney, Pace Praise Rumsfeld at Farewell Ceremony AFPS 15 Dec 2006 -- Donald Rumsfeld is “the finest defense secretary the nation has ever had,” Vice President Richard B Cheney said at today’s Pentagon farewell to Rumsfeld.
• Bush Praises Rumsfeld’s Transformation Efforts AFPS 15 Dec 2006 -- Even while waging a global campaign against terrorism, outgoing Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld kept his focus on the future and transformed the Defense Department into a more agile organization better suited for the 21st century, President Bush said here today.
• Army, Marine Corps unveil counterinsurgency field manual Army News 18 Dec 2006 -- The Army and Marine Corps released a new field manual today to provide guidance to ground forces in order to achieve success in current and future counterinsurgency operations.
• B-52 flight uses synthetic fuel in all eight engines AFPN 15 Dec 2006 -- A B-52 Stratofortress took off Dec. 15 on a flight-test mission using a blend of synthetic fuel and JP-8 in all eight engines
• Westover named sole maintenance center for Reserve C-5s AFPN 15 Dec 2006 -- Air Force officials announced Dec. 13 that Westover ARB will become the new center for in-depth maintenance on all Air Force Reserve C-5 Galaxy aircraft.
• Rickover Deactivates From Service Navy NewsStand 15 Dec 2006 -- After 22 years of service, USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709) was inactivated in a ceremony Dec. 14 at Norfolk Naval Station Pier 3.
• USS La Jolla Returns From Deployment Navy NewsStand 15 Dec 2006 -- The nuclear-powered attack submarine USS La Jolla (SSN 701) returned home to Pearl Harbor Dec. 3 following a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific.
• GW Holds 7th Change of Command Navy NewsStand 15 Dec 2006 -- Capt. David C. Dykhoff relieved Rear Adm. Garry R. White as commanding officer of USS George Washington (CVN 73)(GW) Dec. 14 in a ceremony at Hangar LP-33 on Naval Station Norfolk.
• Kyrgyz PM orders review of U.S. airbase agreement RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2006 -- Kyrgyzstan's prime minister told the Foreign Ministry Friday to study possible changes to an agreement on a U.S. airbase, following a U.S. airman's fatal shooting of a Kyrgyz truck driver last week.
• Kyrgyz lawmakers consider closing U.S. airbase RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2006 -- Kyrgyzstan's parliament passed a resolution Friday instructing the government to consider closing a U.S. airbase in the Central Asian country's capital, Bishkek, following a fatal incident involving an American serviceman.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 15 Dec 2006
• Press Briefing by Tony Snow The White House 15 Dec 2006

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 15, 2006
• ATK's Pioneering Air Bursting Ammunition Technology Selected by U.S. Navy ATK 15 Dec 2006 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) recently received a contract from the U.S. Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, to provide 30mm air bursting ammunition for the U.S. Marine's Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle
• LOCKHEED MARTIN F-35 LIGHTNING II STEALTH FIGHTER COMPLETES FIRST FLIGHT Lockheed Martin 15 Dec 2006 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II lifted into the skies today for the first time, completing a successful inaugural flight and initiating the most comprehensive flight test program in military aviation history.
• Northrop Grumman Wins Contract to Upgrade Japanese E-767 AWACS Radar Northrop Grumman 15 Dec 2006 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a contract from The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) to upgrade Japan's four E-767 Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) aircraft.
• NetFires LLC Successfully Completes Joint Critical Design Review Raytheon 15 Dec 2006 -- NetFires LLC, a company composed of Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Missile Systems business and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) Missiles and Fire Control, successfully passed a joint critical design review (CDR) for the Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System Precision Attack Missile and Container Launch Unit.
• Boeing Australia to Provide Australia's First Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Capability Boeing 15 Dec 2006 -- Boeing Australia Limited has signed a contract to provide the Commonwealth of Australia its first Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) capability under Joint Project (JP) 129.
• ATK Composite and Propulsion Technologies Help Launch National Reconnaissance Office Satellite ATK 15 Dec 2006 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) propulsion and composite technologies supported yesterday's successful launch of a Boeing Delta II rocket carrying a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.

Other Conflicts

• Security Council extends the mandate of UN force monitoring Israeli-Syrian ceasefire KCNA 16 Dec 2006 -- The Security Council today extended for another six months the mandate of the United Nations force that for the past 32 years has monitored the ceasefire between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights.
• Rebel groups’ activities in eastern Chad spark concern from Security Council UN News Centre 16 Dec 2006 -- Voicing grave concern at the increased military activities of armed groups in eastern Chad, the Security Council said today it was particularly alarmed at the threat this posed for both the civilian population and the humanitarian workers trying to alleviate the suffering in the strife-torn region.
• Lebanon: UN peacekeeping force tops 11,000 UN News Centre 16 Dec 2006 -- The enhanced United Nations peacekeeping force sent to Lebanon this summer to monitor the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hizbollah now totals surpasses 11,000 troops from 23 countries, less than 4,000 below its mandated maximum strength.
• Côte d’Ivoire: Security Council extends UN mission, renews diamond and arms sanctions UN News Centre 16 Dec 2006 -- The Security Council today extended by three weeks the mandate of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) while also renewing the ban on arms and diamond trade with the country, which is divided between a rebel-held north and Government-controlled south.
• Israeli-Palestinian mistrust must be overcome, Annan says UN News Centre 16 Dec 2006 -- The United Nations devoted twin meetings to the Israeli-Palestinian issue today with Secretary-General Kofi Annan warning that the situation is “more dangerous than it has been for a very long time” and admonishing the international community to shoulder its responsibility to help promote a negotiated two-State solution.
• Mandate of UN peacebuilding office in Guinea-Bissau extended by a year UN News Centre 16 Dec 2006 -- The mandate of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) has been extended by a year and streamlined to strengthen efforts to promote dialogue and reconciliation in the West African nation and avoid lapsing back into bloodshed.
• Security Council hails outgoing UN leader’s efforts on Cyprus, extends mission there UN News Centre 16 Dec 2006 -- The Security Council today extended for an additional six months the mandate of the 40-year old United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and praised the efforts of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who leaves office at the end of this month after 10 years at the world body’s helm, for his efforts to achieve a comprehensive solution.
• At UN meeting, 11 African countries from Great Lakes region sign new stability pact UN News Centre 16 Dec 2006 -- Culminating a two-day summit meeting at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, African leaders from eleven countries today signed a Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes region which Secretary-General Kofi Annan has praised for its potential to consolidate peace in a region that has seen some of the world’s deadliest conflicts.
• General Assembly adopts resolutions criticizing Israeli actions against Palestinians UN News Centre 16 Dec 2006 -- The General Assembly has adopted several resolutions criticizing Israeli actions in the occupied Palestinian territory, in particular by reiterating its call for a complete halt to all settlement activity and calling on the Government to ensure the safety of United Nations staff providing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians.
• U.S. Does Not Plan To Send Troops Against al-Qaida in Somalia Washington File 15 Dec 2006 -- The United States has no intention of sending military forces to Somalia to remove al-Qaida-backed militants from power, a senior U.S. diplomat told reporters December 14.
• Hamas, Fatah Gunmen Clash in West Bank, Gaza VOA 15 Dec 2006 -- Rival Palestinian factions have clashed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip for the fifth straight day.
• Former Ugandan Mediator Optimistic about Agreement with LRA VOA 15 Dec 2006 -- A former Ugandan minister who has mediated peace efforts between the government and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army says she is optimistic that a peace deal can be reached
• GREAT LAKES: Regional pact highlights humanitarian issues IRIN 15 Dec 2006 -- Presidents from several Great Lakes countries signed a pact at the end of a two-day summit in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on Friday to address security, stability and development across the region.
• Hamas, Fatah Forces Clash Following Assassination Allegations VOA 15 Dec 2006 -- Rival Palestinian gunmen have clashed in Gaza and the West Bank City of Ramallah, a day after an attack against the Palestinian prime minister's entourage.

News Reports

• White House Denounces Visits to Syria by US Legislators VOA 15 Dec 2006 -- The White House says it is inappropriate for members of Congress to meet privately with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad