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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 01 Aug 2007 [PDF]
• MND-B patrol struck by explosively formed penetrator
• Small arms fire targets MND-B Soldier
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• July 31 airpower summary: F-16s provide effective overwatch AFPN 01 Aug 2007 -- Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 31, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Coalition Continues to Target al Qaeda Leaders in Iraq AFPS 01 Aug 2007 -- Coalition forces detained six alleged terrorists this morning south of Tikrit while targeting an al Qaeda key leader responsible for coordinating attacks on coalition and Iraqi forces.
• Enterprise Strike Group Arrives in 5th Fleet Navy NewsStand 01 Aug 2007 -- The Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG) entered the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations Aug. 1 to conduct Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in regional waters and provide air support to ground forces operating in Afghanistan and Iraq.
• Kearsarge Deploys in Support of MSO Navy NewsStand 01 Aug 2007 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), departed Naval Station Norfolk July 30, as the flagship of the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group (KSGESG) for a regularly scheduled six-month deployment.
• DoD Announces Unit For Next Afghanistan Rotation 01 Aug 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today that the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New York Army National Guard, will deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to train the Afghan National Security Forces.
• Airmen support historic change of command in Afghanistan AFPN 01 Aug 2007 -- Airmen provided support for a historic change-of-command ceremony that brought the International Security and Assistance Force's largest operating base here under NATO control July 31.
• New York Guard Brigade Prepares to Deploy to Afghanistan AFPS 01 Aug 2007 -- New York National Guardsmen will start deploying to Afghanistan late this year, Defense Department officials said today.
• AFGHANISTAN: Taliban propaganda effective among Pashtoons IRIN 01 Aug 2007 -- In late March, while leaving Pol-e-Charkhi prison on the outskirts of Kabul, Mansoor Dadullah vowed he would fight against the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai with two Kalashnikovs and unreserved hatred.
• Kabul Denies Report Of Operation To Free Korean Hostages RFE/RL 01 Aug 2007 -- The Afghan government says security forces have been deployed in Ghazni Province for an operation against Taliban militants, but authorities deny reports that the operation has begun and say there are no plans for operations aimed at freeing 21 South Korean hostages held by militants there.
• S. Koreans Asks for US 'Flexibility' in Afghanistan Hostage Ordeal VOA 01 Aug 2007 -- South Koreans have begun appealing for U.S. help in freeing 21 Korean hostages facing death threats in Afghanistan

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army Announces Results of Further Review of Reports Related to Death of Cpl. Patrick Tillman Army News Release 01 Aug 2007 -- The U.S. Army announced July 31, 2007, steps taken by Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, and the results of a review by the commanding general of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command of the March 26, 2007, DoD Inspector General's report into matters related to the 2004 friendly fire death of Army Ranger Cpl. Patrick Tillman.
• No Cover-up in Tillman Fratricide, Former Pentagon Officials Say AFPS 01 Aug 2007 -- Former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and other former top Pentagon officials today said facts about Army Cpl. Patrick D. Tillman’s friendly-fire death were mishandled, but not covered up to make it seem he died from enemy fire.
• Rumsfeld: Tillman Family Deserved Truth About 'Friendly Fire' Death VOA 01 Aug 2007 -- Former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the family of Army Ranger and football star Pat Tillman deserved the truth about his death by friendly fire in Afghanistan, but did not initially get it.
• US Officials Brief Congress on New Military Command for Africa VOA 01 Aug 2007 -- U.S. officials sought to reassure members of Congress Wednesday that the State Department would have a key role in a planned U.S. military command for Africa (AfriCom).
• Unique US Military Operation Supports Science Efforts in Polar Regions VOA 01 Aug 2007 -- During the Cold War, Greenland was a strategic location for the United States military to track and detect Soviet aircraft and ballistic missiles
• Gates Meets With Kuwaiti Leaders, U.S. Troops During Middle East Swing AFPS 01 Aug 2007 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived here today for his first visit as defense secretary to thank Kuwaiti leaders for their support in the war on terror and to encourage greater cooperation in helping neighboring Iraq stand up its government.
• Analysis: And Now a Diplomatic Surge cfr.org 01 Aug 2007 -- With U.S. forces in Iraq having recently reached “surge” levels, President Bush has intensified a diplomatic offensive, dispatching Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to visit U.S. allies (LAT) in the region.
• PTSD, Mild TBI Chain Teaching Begins at Pentagon Army News 01 Aug 2007 -- The Army launched its Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and mild Traumatic Brain Injury chain-teaching program at the Pentagon last week by training flag officers and Army senior executive service civilians how to recognize and help distressed Soldiers who may or may not recognize their unseen injuries.
• “Top Cats” Approach Pacific Sundown Navy NewsStand 01 Aug 2007 -- The “Top Cats” of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 31 are nearing the end of the S-3 Viking community’s final deployment to the Western Pacific aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).
• JTFEX 07-02 'Operation Bold Step' Proves Interoperability Navy NewsStand 01 Aug 2007 -- Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 07-2 "Operation Bold Step" is underway and demonstrating the ability of the U.S. Navy to operate jointly with partner navies around the globe.
• French Navy Hands Command of CTF 150 to Pakistan Navy NewsStand 01 Aug 2007 -- Pakistani Commodore Khan Hasham Bin Siddique relieved French Rear Adm. Alain Hinden as Commander, Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 during a change of command ceremony at Naval Support Activity Bahrain on Aug. 1.
• U.S. Navy Ships Arrive at Seattle for Seafair Navy NewsStand 01 Aug 2007 -- USS Cleveland (LPD 7), USS Rentz (FFG 46) and USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) arrived in the Port of Seattle for Seafair 2007 on July 31.
• Beaufort Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Squadron Goes Green Navy NewsStand 01 Aug 2007 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast Resident Officer In Charge of Construction (ROICC) Beaufort held a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 26 to formally turn over the newly completed Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) facility at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.
• USS Nassau Celebrates 28th Birthday Navy NewsStand 01 Aug 2007 -- USS Nassau (LHA 4) commemorated its 28th birthday July 27 during an all hands celebration while pierside at Weapons Station Earle in Leonardo.
• HSC-28 Receives New Helicopter in Support of Comfort Mission Navy NewsStand 01 Aug 2007 -- Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 Det. 2 welcomed its newest team member July 30, a new MH-60S helicopter from its Norfolk-based squadron.
• Military Sales Package Aims to Boost Long-Term Stability in Middle East AFPS 01 Aug 2007 -- The recently announced military sales package to several Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, represents an investment in the region’s long-term stability, U.S. and Saudi leaders said here today.
• Analysis: Cold War-Era Nuclear Debate Returns cfr.org 01 Aug 2007 -- Underneath the Iraq war debate and other more celebrated issues, a showdown looms between the Bush administration and Congress over a plan to modernize the nation’s arsenal of strategic nuclear warheads
• Iran unfazed by U.S. plans to aid Mideast allies RIA Novosti 01 Aug 2007 -- Iran is undaunted by Washington's intention to provide substantial military aid to its allies in the Middle East, the Iranian defense minister said Wednesday.
• China's President Promises Increased Military Spending VOA 01 Aug 2007 -- Chinese President Hu Jintao has promised increased defense spending to build China's military into a modern, high-tech fighting force
• Russia, India may sign military transport plane deal in August RIA Novosti 01 Aug 2007 -- Russia and India may sign an intergovernmental agreement on the joint development of a multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) as early as August, a Russian aircraft manufacturer said Wednesday.
• Admiral Gorshkov contract in jeopardy over lack of funds - paper RIA Novosti 01 Aug 2007 -- The overhaul of a Russian-made aircraft carrier sold to India under a 2004 contract will be delayed indefinitely due to insufficient financing and poor management of the project, a Russian daily said Wednesday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 01 Aug 2007
• Press Briefing by Tony Snow The White House 01 Aug 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 01, 2007
• Pratt & Whitney F135 Engine Achieves 8,000 SDD Ground Test Hours Pratt & Whitney 01 Aug 2007 -- The Pratt & Whitney F135 engine exceeded 8,000 system design and development (SDD) ground test hours this week.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN COMPLETES KEY END-TO-END TEST OF SPACE BASED INFRARED SYSTEM Lockheed Martin 01 Aug 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced today that it has successfully completed a critical end-to-end test between the space and ground elements of the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS), a key milestone in preparation for launch and on-orbit operations of the program's first geosynchronous orbit (GEO) spacecraft.

Other Conflicts

• Russian Foreign Ministry pledges support for Darfur peace effort RIA Novosti 01 Aug 2007 -- Russia is determined to make an effective contribution to stabilizing the situation in the Sudanese province of Darfur, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
• SUDAN: Darfur force 'should boost humanitarian access' IRIN 01 Aug 2007 -- The new hybrid UN-African Union force for Darfur, established by the UN Security Council and accepted by the Sudan government on 1 August, will improve security and humanitarian access, aid officials and analysts say.
• U.N.-A.U. Hybrid Force in Darfur Must Deploy “Without Delay” Washington File 01 Aug 2007 -- U.N. Security Council Resolution 1769, which authorizes the deployment of a U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force to Sudan’s Darfur region, is a “new and unique form of cooperation” between the two international organizations, U.S. officials said.
• Hybrid Darfur force will help protect lives of women, says UN institute chief UN News Centre 01 Aug 2007 -- The newly authorized hybrid United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur can serve as a major step towards saving the lives of vulnerable women and girls in the violence-wracked Sudanese region, the head of a UN women’s institute said today.
• Sudan Accepts Darfur Resolution, Rebels Have Their Doubts VOA 01 Aug 2007 -- Sudan's government says it will abide by a Security Council resolution that paves the way for the United Nations and the African Union to deploy 26,000 peacekeepers to the region
• Tajikistan: UN closes peacebuilding office at end of mission UN News Centre 01 Aug 2007 -- The flag was lowered for the last time yesterday over the United Nations Tajikistan Office of Peace Building (UNTOP), ending the world body’s 15-year political presence in the Central Asian country, first to help halt a civil war that killed over 50,000 people and then to further the consolidation of peace.
• Ban Ki-moon endorses new initiative on determining Kosovo’s future status UN News Centre 01 Aug 2007 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed an agreement to have a troika comprised of the European Union, Russian Federation and United States lead further negotiations on the future status of Kosovo, the Serbian province administered by the United Nations since 1999.
• Rice Seeks Momentum in Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking VOA 01 Aug 2007 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held talks with senior Israeli officials Wednesday to try to restore momentum to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process
• DRC: 'Pendulum displacement' in the Kivus IRIN 01 Aug 2007 -- Janet Furaha fled the violence in her home area of Kaniola in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) South Kivu province in May to live with relatives in Walungu, but she has often returned to tend her farm.
• Ingushetia: Militant Attacks Increase As Cracks Emerge Within Leadership RFE/RL 01 Aug 2007 -- Devotees of John le Carre's novels will recall how with uncanny foresight he chronicled in "Our Game," published in 1994 just months before the war in Chechnya erupted, the aftermath of a major uprising against Russia in Ingushetia.

News Reports

• Russian vessels approach N. Pole for dive to claim territory RIA Novosti 01 Aug 2007 -- Russia's expedition aimed at symbolically claiming a vast section of the Arctic is approaching the point where the first-ever dive below the North Pole is to be made.