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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 31 Mar 2008 [PDF]
• DoD Announces Change in Status of Army Soldier
• MND-B Soldier attacked by IED
• MND-C Soldier attacked by IED (Baghdad)
• PRESS CONFERENCE: Security Operations: Iraqi Maj. Gen. Abdul-Aziz, Dr. al-Dabbagh, March 31, 2008 MNF-I 31 Mar 2008 -- Maj. Gen. Abdul-Aziz, commander of operations for Ministry of Defense, and Dr. al-Dabbagh, Government of Iraq spokesman, provide a security operations update
• March 30 airpower summary: A-10s support ground forces AFPN 31 Mar 2008
• U.S., Iraqi Soldiers in Baghdad Kill 48 Insurgents, Capture 11 AFPS 31 Mar 2008 -- U.S. and Iraqi security forces killed 48 insurgents and captured 11 others during a series of operations conducted across Baghdad yesterday, military officials reported.
• Remains Found in Iraq Identified as MIA Maupin Army News 31 Mar 2008 -- The Army has confirmed positive identification of remains found last week in Iraq as belonging to Army Staff Sgt. Keith 'Matt' Maupin.
• Explosions Hit US-Protected Green Zone in Baghdad VOA 31 Mar 2008 -- Rockets have smashed into Baghdad's heavily-fortified Green Zone, a day after radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called a ceasefire with Iraqi and coalition troops.
• Some 10,000 Afghans returned home from Pakistan in March, reports UN agency UN News Centre 31 Mar 2008 -- Since the start of a new repatriation season almost one month ago, some 10,000 Afghans have returned to their homeland from neighbouring Pakistan, the United Nation refugee agency reported today.
• AFGHANISTAN: Over 10,000 Afghans return from Pakistan in March 2008 IRIN 31 Mar 2008 -- Since the resumption of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)-assisted voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan at the beginning of March, over 10,000 refugees have returned to their home country, UNHCR said on 31 March.
• NATO: Overtaxed Allies Assess Role In Afghanistan RFE/RL 31 Mar 2008 -- As NATO leaders meet in Bucharest on April 2-4, they will take stock of the situation in Afghanistan and the toll the conflict has taken on the alliance.
• Two British troops killed by blast in south Afghanistan RIA Novosti 31 Mar 2008 -- Two British troops from the NATO-led force in south Afghanistan were killed by a bomb explosion while on a routine patrol on Sunday, the British Defense Ministry said on Monday.
• New, Refurbished Facilities Open in Afghanistan Province AFPS 31 Mar 2008 -- Afghan government officials held opening ceremonies for a new medical clinic, district center and refurbished school March 26 in the Khakrez district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Brig. Gen Hartmann From the Pentagon 31 Mar 2008 -- Presenter: Legal Advisor to the Convening Authority in the DoD Office Of Military Commissions Brig. Gen. Thomas Hartmann
• Charges Sworn Against Detainee Ghailani 31 Mar 2008 -- The Defense Department announced today that charges have been sworn against Guantanamo Bay detainee Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani of Zanzibar, Tanzania.
• U.S. Charges Suspect in African Embassy Bombing AFPS 31 Mar 2008 -- Charges have been sworn against a Guantanamo Bay detainee, alleging he was involved in the preparation and planning of the 1998 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania, Defense Department officials announced today.
• Pentagon Files Charges in 1998 US Embassy Bombing VOA 31 Mar 2008 -- The U.S. Defense Department has charged an alleged member of the al-Qaida terrorist organization with helping to plan and carryout the deadly 1998 bombing of the American embassy in Tanzania
• MILCON with Twist: 'Iraqi Village' on Irwin Army News 31 Mar 2008 -- In the middle of the Mojave Desert at Fort Irwin, Calif., sits a simulated Iraqi village built by the Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District.
• Transcript: Media Availability with Secretary Gates, Enroute To Cophenhagen, Denmark, Prior To Bucharest Nato Summit 31 Mar 2008 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• Transcript: Media Availability with Secretary Gates, Enroute To Cophenhagen, Denmark, Prior To Bucharest Nato Summit 31 Mar 2008 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• Coalition maintainers keep C-130 in the fight AFPN 31 Mar 2008 -- Aircraft maintainers from the U.S. Air Force, Japanese Air Self-Defense Force and South Korean air forces teamed up during the Coalition Maintenance Exchange Program to keep deployed C-130 Hercules aircraft ready for combat recently at a Southwest Asian air base.
• Permanent Global Logistics Support Centers stands up AFPN 31 Mar 2008 -- A new, permanent headquarters overseeing Air Force global logistics support is now in operation at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
• Tinker maintainers aid Saudi air force with E-3 repair AFPN 31 Mar 2008 -- Representatives from the Royal Saudi air force arrived to collect their newly repaired E-3 March 24 from Tinker Air Force Base officials.
• Upgraded B-52 still on cutting edge AFPN 31 Mar 2008 -- The B-52 Stratofortress is continually modified with new technology making the 50-year-old airframe one of the Air Force's most effective long-range heavy bombers.
• Gates Visits Denmark to Thank ‘Steadfast Ally’ AFPS 31 Mar 2008 -- On his second stopover en route to the NATO summit conference in Bucharest, Romania, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited here today to thank a country he called a steadfast ally.
• Boxer Working to Certify Damage Control for Deployment Navy NewsStand 31 Mar 2008 -- USS Boxer (LHD 4) Sailors conducted a mass conflagration drill March 28 to give Sailors an opportunity to practice damage control in a combat scenario.
• Naval Forces Europe, 6th Fleet Strengthen Croatia Ties Navy NewsStand 31 Mar 2008 -- In support of a cooperative strategy to strengthen ties with Croatia, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. 6th Fleet recently completed a major engagement with this Adriatic Sea coastal country.
• SWE Leadership to Meet in Millington Navy NewsStand 31 Mar 2008 -- The Surface Warfare Enterprise (SWE) board of directors (BOD) will have its quarterly meeting in Millington, April 3-4.
• Navy Region Europe Changes Command Navy NewsStand 31 Mar 2008 -- Commander, Navy Region Europe (CNRE) and Commander, Maritime Air Naples held a change of command ceremony at Naples Support Activity (NSA) Naples at Capodichino on March 31.
• Commander Naval Air Forces Visits NAS Whidbey Island Navy NewsStand 31 Mar 2008 -- Commander, Naval Air Forces visited Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island for a familiarization tour, March 24-25.
• APS, Swift Returns to Ghana in Support of NOAA, Fisheries Navy NewsStand 31 Mar 2008 -- High Speed Vessel 2 Swift arrived in Tema, March 30 for its second visit here, as well as its seventh engagement visit as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS).
• U.S. to Push European Missile Defense Plans AFPS 31 Mar 2008 -- The United States will continue to push for a missile defense system in Europe despite resistance from Russia, a top Pentagon official said ahead of President Bush’s visit with Russia’s top leader this week.
• Gates Stops in Belgium En Route to NATO Summit AFPS 31 Mar 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates stopped here briefly today for a fact-finding visit on his way to the NATO Summit in Bucharest, Romania.
• Africa Command Makes Progress With African Allies AFPS 31 Mar 2008 -- Africa Command is making progress in gaining acceptance in Africa, the command’s deputy for civil-military affairs said in an interview here.
• Mount Whitney Makes First Visit to Split, Croatia Navy NewsStand 31 Mar 2008 -- USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) made its first port visit to Split, March 24-29 in order to strengthen the growing partnership between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and this Adriatic Sea coastal country.
• Russia: NATO Divided On Expanding Alliance, But Moscow's Stance Is Clear RFE/RL 31 Mar 2008 -- In the run-up to this week's NATO summit in Bucharest, Moscow has made explicit its opposition to the alliance's further expansion -- especially as regards Georgia and Ukraine.
• Bush in Kyiv to Encourage NATO Membership for Ukraine, Georgia VOA 31 Mar 2008 -- U.S. President George Bush has arrived in Ukraine - the first stop on a European tour that will also take him to Croatia, Russia and the NATO summit in Romania
• Bush to discuss Ukraine's NATO bid in Kiev RIA Novosti 31 Mar 2008 -- U.S. President George Bush is due to arrive in Kiev late on Monday evening for a two-day state visit which is expected to see him discuss Ukraine's bid for NATO membership with President Viktor Yushchenko.
• Greece rebuffs Macedonia's NATO membership over name change RIA Novosti 31 Mar 2008 -- The Greek Foreign Minister said Monday that Greece would veto Macedonia's NATO membership until the former Yugoslav republic changes its name.
• U.S. backs plan for new Kosovo army - paper RIA Novosti 31 Mar 2008 -- The United States backs the creation of a new army in Kosovo with NATO's assistance and on the basis of the Kosovo Protection Corps, a Polish daily reported on Monday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 31 Mar 2008
• Press Gaggle by Dana Perino and National Security Advisor Steve Hadley The White House 31 Mar 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 31, 2008
• General Dynamics Awarded $159 Million for Abrams Tank-Related Work General Dynamics 31 Mar 2008 -- General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), was awarded two contracts totaling $159 million for work associated with the Abrams main battle tank.
• TYPE 45 DESTROYER, DARING, SETS SAIL FOR SECOND STAGE OF SEA TRIALS BAE Systems 31 Mar 2008 -- Daring, the first of class Type 45 Destroyer for the Royal Navy, has set sail to start the second stage of sea trials.
• Successful Work Share Contract Established With Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics for An LPD 17-Class Ship Northrop Grumman 31 Mar 2008 -- In an agreement established to further stabilize the shipbuilding industrial base and meet shipbuilding schedule commitments, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has awarded a contract to General Dynamics' (NYSE:GD) Bath Iron Works for the construction of units for a San Antonio (LPD 17) class amphibious transport dock ship
• SAIC Awarded $10 M Contract to Support Army Ammunition Systems Management SAIC 31 Mar 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a prime contract by the Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command Acquisition Center
• Raytheon's JLENS Completes Critical Milestone Raytheon 31 Mar 2008 -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS) has successfully completed Orbit preliminary design review (PDR), a key milestone in the U.S. Army program that will provide a critical cruise missile defense capability for our nation's protectors.
• Russia continues deliveries of Su-30 fighters to Algeria RIA Novosti 31 Mar 2008 -- The Irkutsk aircraft-manufacturing plant, a subsidiary of the Irkut corporation [RTS:IRKT], said on Monday it had delivered two multi-role Su-30MKA Flanker fighters to Algeria.

Other Conflicts

• DR Congo: Security Council extends arms embargo and monitoring group UN News Centre 31 Mar 2008 -- The United Nations Security Council today extended until the end of the year its arms embargo and other sanctions meant to keep weapons out of the hands of militias in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which it said continue to threaten stability in the eastern part of the vast country.
• Lasting Mideast peace ‘hinges’ on resolving Arab-Israeli conflict – Ban Ki-moon UN News Centre 31 Mar 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stressed that peace and progress in the Middle East “hinges on a just and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict,” pledging the support of the United Nations to help achieve this goal.
• Violence has no place in Nepali election process – UN envoy UN News Centre 31 Mar 2008 -- The top United Nations envoy in Nepal today started a regional tour of the South Asian nation, which is on the verge of historic elections, to check on preparations and stress the responsibility of all parties to shun violence and abide by all agreements for the poll.
• Rice Says Peace Talks on Track for Deal by Yearend VOA 31 Mar 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wrapped up a three-day trip to the Middle East saying peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians are moving forward, but Israel needs to stop its settlement activities
• UN Urged to Pressure Sudan on Darfur War Crimes Suspects VOA 31 Mar 2008 -- Senior international legal experts and human rights activists say the U.N. Security Council should pressure Sudan to hand over two suspected war criminals to the International Criminal Court in The Hague
• JORDAN: Eligible Palestinian refugees sign up for new housing initiativeIRIN 31 Mar 2008 -- Palestinians living in refugee camps in the three largest cities of Amman, Zarqa and Irbid were among thousands of low income people who flocked to post offices last week to take advantage of a US$7 billion housing initiative that aims to provide affordable homes.
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Open season for banditsIRIN 31 Mar 2008 -- Known variously as coupeurs de routes (highwaymen), Zaraguina or simply bandits, criminal gangs who kill, kidnap for ransom, loot and set fire to homes now pose the greatest threat to civilians in the north of the Central African Republic (CAR).
• KENYA: Tracing roots of conflict in Laikipia IRIN 31 Mar 2008 -- Many parts of Kenya experienced violence for the first time after the disputed December 2007 presidential elections, but Rift Valley's Laikipia region has been embroiled in conflict for generations.
• Sri Lankan air force destroys LTTE's airstrip IRNA 31 Mar 2008 -- Sri Lankan rebels, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)'s second airstrip in Mullaithivu district was 'substantially damaged' in two aerial bombings carried out by Sri Lankan air force Monday morning.
• Israel ignores 'roadmap' to peace, continues to build houses RIA Novosti 31 Mar 2008 -- Israel is continuing to build settlements despite agreeing to freeze construction at a U.S.-hosted peace conference last November, an Israeli paper said Monday citing a report by an Israeli peace movement.
• Rice Calls on Israel to Halt Settlement Expansion VOA 31 Mar 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called on Israel to stop expanding its settlements, following an announcement that Israel is planning to build at least 600 new homes in a contested area in the West Bank.
• African Union Peacekeepers Say More Troops Needed to Stabilize War-Ravaged Somalia VOA 31 Mar 2008 -- African Union peacekeepers in Somalia say the year-old mission needs at least 20,000 troops to stabilized the war-ravaged country, 12,000 more than the mission's original mandate

News Reports

• Analysis: Zimbabwe Waits cfr.org 31 Mar 2008 -- An uneasy quiet has followed Zimbabwe’s March 29 elections
• Official Results Show Dead Heat in Zimbabwe Elections; Opposition Claims Big Lead VOA 31 Mar 2008 -- Zimbabwe's main opposition party is claiming victory in the country's general elections, but the country's electoral commission says the main opposition and the ruling party are tied.
• Zimbabwe Election Commission Begins Announcing Poll Results VOA 31 Mar 2008 -- Zimbabwe's electoral commission has begun releasing official results from the nation's presidential and legislative elections
• Pakistan's 24-member central cabinet sworn in IRNA 31 Mar 2008 -- A 24-member Pakistani cabinet was sworn-in on Monday, which marks the completion of the transfer of power to the new government after the February 18 parliamentary elections.
• Pakistan names Shaha Mehmood Qureshi as new Foreign Minister IRNA 31 Mar 2008 -- Pakistan on Monday named Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi as the country's new foreign minister.