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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 24 Jul 2008 [PDF]
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Col. James and Gen. Amir from Iraq 24 Jul 2008 -- Presenter: Commander, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Col Tom James and Commander, 31st Iraqi Army Brigade Gen. Abdul Amir
• Coalition, Iraqi Forces Detain Five, Find Weapons AFPS 24 Jul 2008 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces detained five suspected terrorists and found weapons caches during recent operations in Iraq, military officials said.
• Al-Qaida ‘Severely Disrupted’ in Iraq’s Babil Province AFPS 24 Jul 2008 -- Al-Qaida terrorists have been largely marginalized in Iraq’s Babil province, thanks to the joint efforts of Iraqi and U.S. security forces, as well as local “Sons of Iraq” citizen security groups, a senior U.S. military officer posted in Iraq said today.
• July 23 airpower summary: Predator strikes enemy combatants AFPN 24 Jul 2008
• NATO Chief: Foreign Troops Will Not Seek Militants in Pakistan VOA 24 Jul 2008 -- NATO's chief says alliance forces in Afghanistan will not enter neighboring Pakistan to hunt militants there.
• Afghanistan: more illegal armed groups disbanded with UN help UN News Centre 24 Jul 2008 -- A campaign to disband illegal armed groups – that has already seen more than 40,000 weapons handed in – is to be extended to 12 more districts in Afghanistan, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• Nato in for long haul in Afghanistan IRNA 24 Jul 2008 -- Nato troops are in Afghanistan for a long haul and the number is more likely to increase than decrease in the short-term, according to Captain Mark Heffron, former UK chief of information coordination at ISAF HQ in Kabul.
• Ex-US Official Charges Afghan Leader Protecting Drug Trade VOA 24 Jul 2008 -- A former U.S. State Department official charges Afghanistan's drug trade is being protected by the country's top officials.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US to Shift Pakistan Counter-Terrorism Aid for Fighter Jet Upgrade VOA 24 Jul 2008 -- The Bush administration confirmed Thursday it plans to reallocate counter-terrorism aid money for Pakistan to allow that country to upgrade U.S.-supplied F-16 fighter planes
• Nelson Ford becomes 29th Under Secretary of the Army Army News Release 24 Jul 2008 -- Mr. Nelson M. Ford became the 29th Under Secretary of the Army July 24, following being appointed by President George W. Bush and his confirmation by the U.S. Senate
• JTF-East training rotating from Romania to Bulgaria Army News 24 Jul 2008 -- About 900 U.S. Soldiers are now beginning their final week of training with Romanian troops at ranges in the eastern half of this former Warsaw Pact nation.
• Army commemorates 60th anniversary of Armed Forces Integration Army News 24 Jul 2008 -- On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, establishing the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services.
• SECDEF visits Airmen, tours training facilities AFPN 24 Jul 2008 -- Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates visited Basic Military Training here July 24 and spoke to the Air Force's newest crop of Airmen before they received their Airman's coin in a ceremony.
• NORAD officials keep constant vigil for threats to homeland AFPN 24 Jul 2008 -- Defending North America's borders is no easy task. The threats are continuous and can come from anywhere -- by land, in the air, on the sea or even through information systems.
• Exercise in Pacific builds trust between nations AFPN 24 Jul 2008 -- Representatives from nine nations are participating in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2008 throughout July in Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean.
• Eielson possible home for alternative fuels facility AFPN 24 Jul 2008 -- Federal, state and local government leaders met July 18 in Fairbanks, Alaska, to plan Alaska's energy future.
• F-22s deploy to Guam AFPN 24 Jul 2008 -- Approximately 130 Airmen and five F-22 Raptors from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, are deployed to Guam for two weeks to fulfill security requirements in the Asia Pacific region.
• Army Gains Valuable Insight From Network AFPS 24 Jul 2008 -- An integration network called L2I, now in its second year of operation, is giving officials at the Center for Army Lessons Learned valuable insight from their forward-deployed theater observers.
• Gates Praises Air Force Trainees, Assesses Training Initiatives AFPS 24 Jul 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates got a glimpse today into major changes ahead in the Air Force’s basic training program during a visit to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where he thanked trainees for their service and the contributions they soon will be making.
• Dunwoody confirmed as first female four-star Army News 24 Jul 2008 -- The U.S. Senate confirmed Wednesday the appointment of Lt. Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody to the grade of four-star general.
• TR Sets Sail with French Navy Navy NewsStand 24 Jul 2008 -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) departed Naval Station Norfolk July 18 for a historic collaboration between the U.S. and French navies.
• Cole Returns from Unique Deployment Navy NewsStand 24 Jul 2008 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) returned to Naval Station Norfolk July 18 after a six-month deployment with the British Royal Navy's HMS Illustrious Carrier Strike Group, as part of Operation Orion 2008.
• Pacific Partnership Reaches Remote Region in Timor-Leste Navy NewsStand 24 Jul 2008 -- A team of health care providers from the U.S. military, the non-governmental organization Project Hope and tje U.S. Public Health Service flew to the remote, isolated village of Viqueque in Timor-Leste July 15.
• U.S., Indonesian Maritime Security Teams Work Together Navy NewsStand 24 Jul 2008 -- U.S. Coast Guard's maritime safety and security teams (MSST) instructors and their Indonesian counterparts began a joint training exercise in Surabaya July 22 as part of an annual naval engagement activity (NEA) between the two countries.
• NAS Kingsville Gives "All Clear" for Hurricane Dolly Navy NewsStand 24 Jul 2008 -- The year's second named hurricane made landfall around noon July 23 north of Brownsville, Texas, about 125 miles southeast of Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville.
• Port Royal Shoots Missiles, Hunts Submarines, Fires Guns During RIMPAC Navy NewsStand 24 Jul 2008 -- During Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008, which runs from June 29 through July 31, USS Port Royal (CG 73) fired nearly every weapon system aboard and tested every sensor in operations with ships, submarines and aircraft from the U.S. and seven other countries.
• Navy, Army Medics Prepare for Mass Casualties During RIMPAC Navy NewsStand 24 Jul 2008 -- A joint team of medical professionals at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu trained ship and shore-based medics July 21 on how to respond to large-scale joint and combined emergency situations as part of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008 exercise.
• USMC Commandant Breaks Ground for Renewable Energy Project Navy NewsStand 24 Jul 2008 -- Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) Gen. James T. Conway led the groundbreaking ceremony July 10 for the Marine Corps' first large scale wind turbine project at Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Barstow in the Mojave Desert in Southern California.
• Current and Future Trends in Special Operations Warfare cfr.org 24 Jul 2008
• Ukraine urges start to preparations for Russian fleet pullout RIA Novosti 24 Jul 2008 -- Ukraine's president said Thursday that preparations for the withdrawal by 2017 of Russia's Black Sea Fleet from Ukrainian territory should begin now.
• Venezuela to buy more weaponry from Russia RIA Novosti 24 Jul 2008 -- Venezuela may purchase man-portable air defense systems, Il-76 transport planes and T-90 tanks from Russian in the near future, a Russian political analyst said Thursday.
• Russian S-300 missiles 'would ensure Venezuela's oil security' RIA Novosti 24 Jul 2008 -- Russian S-300 air-defense missile systems would enable Venezuela to fully ensure the security of its hydrocarbon resources, a Russian military expert said Thursday.
• Russia 'could answer U.S. shield with orbital ballistic missiles' RIA Novosti 24 Jul 2008 -- Russia could put in place an orbital ballistic missile system in response to U.S. missile defense plans for Central Europe, a senior Russian military expert said on Thursday.
• Russian expert warns against nuclear bombers in Cuba RIA Novosti 24 Jul 2008 -- The deployment of Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers in Cuba to counter U.S. missile defense plans in Europe would be a destructive move, a Russian military expert said Thursday.
• Russia could place bombers in Latin America, N.Africa - paper RIA Novosti 24 Jul 2008 -- Russian strategic bombers may soon be deployed at airbases in Cuba, Venezuela and Algeria as a response to the U.S. missile shield in Europe and NATO's expansion, Russian daily Izvestia said on Thursday.
• Fidel Castro Praises Brother for Silence on Russian Bombers VOA 24 Jul 2008 -- Former Cuban President Fidel Castro says his brother was right to adopt a "dignified silence" about a newspaper report that Russia may soon station nuclear-capable bombers on the island.
• U.S. congresswoman seeks support for Taiwan arms sales CNA 24 Jul 2008 -- A senior member of the U.S. House of Representatives launched a drive Wednesday in support of arms sales to Taiwan, amid concerns over a freeze by the administration of President George W. Bush on the sales.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 24 Jul 2008
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 24 Jul 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 15, 2008
• Boeing to Team With Raytheon on EP-X Aircraft Program Boeing 24 Jul 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that Raytheon has joined its EP-X industry team. EP-X is a manned airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting aircraft that will replace the U.S. Navy's EP-3 signals intelligence (SIGINT) platform.
• Boeing Selected by U.S. Air Force for Flexible Acquisition and Sustainment Program Boeing 24 Jul 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that it is one of several companies selected by the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command to compete as prime contractors for future aircraft sustainment work.
• General Dynamics NASSCO Begins Construction of Third Product Carrier Ship General Dynamics 24 Jul 2008 -- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today began construction of the third ship in its series of nine product carriers
• BAE SYSTEMS WINS $94 MILLION U.S. MARINE CORPS TEST AND EVALUATION SUPPORT CONTRACT BAE Systems 24 Jul 2008 -- BAE Systems has won the five-year, $94 million Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Activity (MCOTEA) Omnibus Support contract.
• BAE SYSTEMS RECEIVES U.S. ARMY CONTRACTS WORTH $71 MILLION FOR FAMILY OF MEDIUM TACTICAL VEHICLE ARMOR AND ARMORED CABS BAE Systems 24 Jul 2008 -- BAE Systems has been awarded two U.S. Army contracts totaling $71 million for armored cabs and armor protection for Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV).
• Boeing Laser JDAM Achieves 1st International Sale Boeing 24 Jul 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has signed a commercial contract with the government of Germany for the production of Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions (LJDAM) and integration support on Tornado aircraft, marking the first international sale of the LJDAM weapon system.
• New Military Communications System Progressing At Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin 24 Jul 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] is progressing steadily on the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications system, most recently delivering the core propulsion module for the third space vehicle (SV-3) six months ahead of the planned schedule

Other Conflicts

• Next In Line? RFE/RL 24 Jul 2008 -- In the end, the fugitive Karadzic wasn't hiding out in any mountain cave in Montenegro or in a remote monastery accessible only by mule track.
• Bosnia Far From Ready To Host Karadzic Trial RFE/RL 24 Jul 2008 -- Following the recent arrest of notorious alleged war criminal Radovan Karadzic in Belgrade, there have been many calls for him to face justice in Bosnia-Herzegovina -- the country where his alleged crimes were committed
• Karadzic used living man's identity - Serb officials RIA Novosti 24 Jul 2008 -- Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic, arrested on genocide charges, was using the identity of a living man, Serbia's Interior Ministry said Thursday.
• Rice Applauds Karadzic Arrest VOA 24 Jul 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has praised the arrest of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and says she hopes his former military chief Ratko Mladic is captured next.
• Karadzic's Lawyer Predicts His Client Will Prevail at War Crimes Tribunal VOA 24 Jul 2008 -- A lawyer for jailed war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic says the former Bosnian Serb leader believes he will be cleared of genocide charges.
• Egyptian military engineers join UN-AU mission in Darfur UN News Centre 24 Jul 2008 -- A contingent of 126 Egyptian engineers today arrived in El Fasher, Darfur, according to the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission (UNAMID).
• Kosovo journalist found guilty of contempt at UN war crimes tribunal UN News Centre 24 Jul 2008 -- The United Nations tribunal set up to try those responsible for atrocities committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s today convicted a Kosovo journalist of contempt of court for publishing details about a protected witness who testified at the trial of Kosovo’s former prime minister.
• Cameroon Says 11 Dead After Army Clashes With Militants VOA 24 Jul 2008 -- Authorities in Cameroon say at least 11 people are dead after clashes between the Cameroonian army and a group of armed attackers.
• US Backs Rwanda in Dispute Over Darfur Commander VOA 24 Jul 2008 -- The United States Thursday sided with Rwanda in an international controversy over the status of a Rwandan commander in the U.N.-backed force in Darfur, UNAMID.
• Colombian Rebels Turn Over Eight Hostages to Red Cross VOA 24 Jul 2008 -- The International Red Cross says Colombian FARC rebels have released eight people who were kidnapped last week while traveling on the country's northwestern jungle rivers.
• ISRAEL-OPT: Nearly half of Gazans unemployed - UNRWA report IRIN 24 Jul 2008 -- In the Gaza Strip at the end of 2007, over half the population was living below the official poverty line, and unemployment, in real adjusted terms, stood at an "unprecedented high" of about 45 percent, a new UN study released on 24 July said.
• YEMEN: The conflict in Saada Governorate – analysis IRIN 24 Jul 2008 -- Since 2004 hundreds of people have been killed and thousands displaced as a result of fighting between Shia rebels and government forces in the northern governorate of Saada.
• Russian troops conclude rail repairs in Georgian rebel region RIA Novosti 24 Jul 2008 -- Russian railroad troops have almost completed work to repair a rail line in Georgia's breakaway republic of Abkhazia, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
• N. Ugandans Make New Start Despite Absence of Final Peace Deal VOA 24 Jul 2008 -- The climate for resettlement is changing in northern Uganda. With peace talks between the government and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) inching closer toward a final settlement, improved security is encouraging many internally displaced people (IDP’s) to return home to resume farming their lands and rebuilding their communities

News Reports

• Transcript: Remarks of Senator Obama in Berlin, Germany Barack Obama 24 Jul 2008
• Berlin Address Offers Glimpse Into Continent's 'Obamamania' RFE/RL 24 Jul 2008 -- After days of breathless anticipation in this normally laid-back capital, Germans finally got their chance to meet "The Superstar," as "Der Spiegel" weekly termed U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
• Obama Tells Berlin That U.S., Europe Must Stand Together RFE/RL 24 Jul 2008 -- Presumptive U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama capped a daylong visit to Germany with an address before an estimated 150,000 people in Berlin, where he promoted international cooperation to meet a host of global challenges.
• Obama Speaks in Berlin, McCain Focuses on Economic Issues at Home VOA 24 Jul 2008 -- Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama spoke before tens of thousands of people in the German capital of Berlin Thursday, the most dramatic moment yet in his tour of the Middle East and Europe
• Obama Appeals for Joint Fight Against Terror in Berlin Speech VOA 24 Jul 2008 -- U.S. Democratic Party presidential hopeful Barack Obama delivered a much awaited speech in Berlin Thursday, urging Europe to stand by the United States in bringing stability to Afghanistan and tackling other threats to global peace
• Russians Watch U.S. Presidential Race With Interest RFE/RL 24 Jul 2008 -- Russians are following the U.S. presidential campaign with rapt interest, despite the constant drumbeat of anti-Americanism coming from the country's main television channels -- or, maybe, because of it
• US Lawmakers Vote to Extend Sanctions Against Burma VOA 24 Jul 2008 -- U.S. lawmakers have been commenting on the situation in Burma as the U.S. Congress advanced legislation to strengthen and renew unilateral U.S. economic sanctions against the Burmese military government
• Zimbabwe Power-Sharing Talks Underway in South Africa VOA 24 Jul 2008 -- Power-sharing talks between Zimbabwe's opposition and ruling parties are underway Thursday in Pretoria, South Africa.