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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 19 Sep 2008 [PDF]
• Coalition Forces in Iraq Kill Bomb-Attack Suspect AFPS 19 Sep 2008 -- Coalition forces killed a terrorist insurgent suspected of leading al-Qaida in Iraq bomb attacks throughout the Tigris River Valley.
• Iraqi Government Prepares to Take Control of ‘Sons of Iraq’ Program AFPS 19 Sep 2008
• US Raid Kills 7 Iraqis VOA 19 Sep 2008 -- The U.S. military says 7 Iraqis, including 3 women, were killed during a raid targeting a suspected al-Qaida operative north of Baghdad.
• Wingers, grunts, engineers given warm home greetings USMC News 19 Sep 2008 -- Marines and sailors of Marine Wing Support Squadron 374, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, have been returning to the Combat Center from Iraq all this week.
• U.S. Tells NATO Allies To Expect To Pay For Afghan Army RFE/RL 19 Sep 2008 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has warned NATO allies that they will be expected to share the cost of a planned expansion of the Afghan National Army.
• Australian Military: Troops Acted in Self-Defense in Afghan Gun Battle VOA 19 Sep 2008 -- The Australian military says its troops fired in self-defense in battle that left a friend of President Hamid Karzai dead.
• Afghan governor killed in shootout involving Australian troops RIA Novosti 19 Sep 2008 -- Australian troops from NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) may have shot dead an Afghan district governor.
• Pakistan says not informed by US about missile strike IRNA 19 Sep 2008 -- Pakistan not informed by the United States over missile strike in the country's tribal region, which killed at least 6 people.
• Pakistan PM says US told no compromise on sovereignty IRNA 19 Sep 2008 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani: US government has been clearly told no compromise on the sovereignty of Pakistan.
• Pakistan defence minister terms US forces incursion blatant violations IRNA 19 Sep 2008 -- Pakistan Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar: Incursions into Pakistani territory by the US forces against the agreements.
• Qureshi terms incursions unproductive IRNA 19 Sep 2008 -- Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi: US incursions into Pakistan `unproductive' and warned that these could destablise the situation.
• HSL-42, USS Kauffman Maritime Operations Enhance Regional Security Navy NewsStand 19 Sep 2008 -- The guided-missile frigate USS Kauffman, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 42, and the US Coast Guard completed operations focusing on narco-terrorist activities in Caribbean waters.
• USS Nassau delivers critical help to Galveston AFPS 19 Sep 2008 -- Military heavy equipment and teams began arriving onshore as part of a tremendous assistance effort for an area devastated by Hurricane Ike.
• Dragon Whales' Unique Capability Offers Disaster Relief, Rescue in Haiti Navy Newsstand 19 Sep 2008 -- Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 embarked aboard USS Kearsarge, is assisting relief efforts in Haiti.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Military Commissions Appointments Announced 19 Sep 2008 -- Today the Defense Department announced two appointments in the Office of Military Commissions. Air Force Brig. Gen. Tom Hartmann will assume the position of director of operations, planning and development for military commissions, reporting to the general counsel of the Defense Department
• Transcript: Remarks by Secretary Gates and Czech Republic Minister of Defense Parkanova 19 Sep 2008 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Minister of Defense Czech Republic Vlasta Parkanova
• MRAP simulator brings driving practice into new age USMC News 19 Sep 2008 -- One of the leading causes of death for service members in Operation Iraqi freedom has been vehicle roll-overs, and new simulators at the Combat Center are being put to work to give drivers more practice without putting them in harm’s way.
• New Submerged Vehicle Egress Trainer arrives on Okinawa USMC News 19 Sep 2008 -- The Submerged Vehicle Egress Trainer arrived on Okinawa recently to be used as a training aid by Survival Systems USA.
• Nepal Army, US Marines toss ideas around in Kathmandu USMC News 19 Sep 2008 -- During the SMEE, 40 Nepal Army military policemen engaged with four Marine Corps Base Camp Butler military police Marines and investigators with the Criminal Investigative Division
• Marine Wing Control Squadron 18 conducts Warrior Week on Okinawa USMC News 19 Sep 2008 -- Lt. Col. Roger Standfield’s order evolved into a training event that took MWCS-18 Marines and sailors out of their comfort zone and into the field for a scheduled five-day training regimen called Warrior Week.
• H&HS hits 80,000 mishap-free flight hours milestone USMC News 19 Sep 2008 -- It appeared like an ordinary ending to an ordinary mission Sept. 11 as the commanding officer and executive officer of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, brought their UC-35D Cessna Citation Encore to a stop on the Futenma flight line here.
• Army chief gets glimpse of vehicle reset work at Anniston Army News 19 Sep 2008 -- Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. said the last time he visited Anniston Army Depot was in the 1980s and "It was like the Stone Age compared to now."
• New Army game applications look to boost tech interests Army News 19 Sep 2008 -- Army commands are teaming up with the Ohio Department of Education and "Project Lead The Way" to use America's Army PC game to promote student interest in the engineering and technical fields.
• Base officials to save $800,000 by changing light bulbs AFPN 19 Sep 2008 -- Dover officials expect to save more than $800,000 a year with a new energy-saving initiative called Operation Change Out.
• Policy changes benefit Airmen deploying for 365 days AFPN 19 Sep 2008 -- Effective Oct. 1, Air Force officials here will implement policy changes to improve sourcing efficiency of 365-day deployments and ensure Airmen receive adequate notification prior to deployment.
• Newest U.S. Navy Logistics Ship Launched Navy NewsStand 19 Sep 2008 -- USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7), which will be the newest ship in the U.S. Navy's Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships, was christened and launched during a morning ceremony Sept. 18 at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego.
• USNS Carl Brashear Christened Navy NewsStand 19 Sep 2008 -- USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7), which will be the newest ship in the U.S. Navy's Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships owned and operated by Military Sealift Command when delivered, was christened and launched Sept. 18 at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego.
• Military Medicine Teams With VA To Open Joint Out-Patient Facility Navy NewsStand 19 Sep 2008 -- Representatives from the Department of Defense and Navy medicine joined Sept. 15 with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs(VA) to officially open Northwest Florida's version of an ongoing national venture of joint healthcare between the cabinet-level organizations.
• Navy Donates Research Sub to San Diego Maritime Museum Navy NewsStand 19 Sep 2008 -- The U.S. Navy officially transferred the decommissioned research submarine ex-Dolphin (AGSS 555) to the Maritime Museum of San Diego (MMSD) during a donation contract signing ceremony Sept. 18 in Washington.
• U.S., Czechs Sign Ballistic Defense Treaties AFPS 19 Sep 2008 -- The United States and the Czech Republic signed agreements to build a limited ballistic missile defense system.
• Gates Urges Restraint, Resolve for NATO AFPS 19 Sep 2008 -- SecDef Gates: Problems with Russia highlight problems with NATO as the alliance attempts to take steps to shape the international environment.
• Eurasian Grouping Plans Regional Army Near Afghanistan RFE/RL 19 Sep 2008 -- The Collective Security Treaty Organization, (CSTO), which brings together Russia and a number of other ex-Soviet countries, has announced an ambitious plan to set up an 11,000-strong regional army in Central Asia that will have troops deployed in the vicinity of NATO forces in Afghanistan.
• US Defense Chief Urges Strong Europe to Deter Russia VOA 19 Sep 2008 -- US Defense Secretary Robert Gates: "Russia's recent behavior raises questions about...trying to pursue a constructive relationship."
• Russian strategic bombers return home from Venezuela RIA Novosti 19 Sep 2008 -- Two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers returned to their base in central Russia from Venezuela.
• Russian Navy to adopt new Bulava ballistic missile in 2009 RIA Novosti 19 Sep 2008 -- Russia will adopt new Bulava-M submarine-based ballistic missiles for service with the Navy in 2009.
• NATO says no radical shift in policy toward Russia RIA Novosti 19 Sep 2008 -- NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer: NATO will not consider adopting a new policy toward Russia despite 'aggressive stance'.
• Russia says does not want to be behind Iron Curtain again RIA Novosti 19 Sep 2008 -- President Dmitry Medvedev: Tensions with the West over the Georgia conflict do not mean Russia wants to isolate itself.
• Troops reduction number remains open to discussion: Ma CNA 19 Sep 2008 -- President Ma Ying-jeou: Number of troops to be cut open to discuss as the main goal of trimming to establish an elite deterrent force.
• Taiwan awaits U.S. decision on arms procurement requests CNA 18 Sep 2008 -- Taiwan submitted its military procurement plans and it is now up to the Bush administration to decide what it will do about Taiwan's requests.
• Indonesia in talks to buy Russian amphibious tanks RIA Novosti 19 Sep 2008 -- Indonesia is negotiating a deal to buy Russian amphibious tanks, the country's ambassador to Moscow said Friday.
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino, and Keith Hennessey, Director of the National Economic Council The White House 19 Sep 2008
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 19 Sep 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for September 19, 2008
• Setting the Record Straight on F-35 Lockheed Martin 19 Sep 2008 -- U.S. Air Force analyses show the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II is at least 400 percent more effective in air-to-air combat capability than the best fighters currently available in the international market.

Other Conflicts

• Russia's Medvedev pledges to restore ties with Georgia RIA Novosti 19 Sep 2008 -- President Dmitry Medvedev: Russia will do everything possible to restore regular relations with Georgia.
• Kosovo: UN envoy provides details on scaled-down peacekeeping mission UN News 19 Sep 2008 -- UNMIK unveiled details of the its reconfigured role, noting that the mission must evolve in line with realities on the ground.
• Fighting severely restricts humanitarian access in Sudan’s North Darfur – UN UN News 19 Sep 2008 -- Fresh fighting between Government and rebel forces in Sudan severely restricted the delivery of critical aid amid unconfirmed reports more people driven from homes
• NIGERIA: Bloody week in the Niger Delta IRIN 19 Sep 2008 -- Even by the usual violent standards of Nigeria’s conflict-ridden, oil-rich southern Niger Delta region, it has been a bloody seven days, with dozens of civilian casualties and many more wounded or displaced, according to local observers, in clashes in Rivers state between the military and rebel fighters.
• Nigeria's Militants Claim New Attack on Oil Field VOA 19 Sep 2008 -- Nigeria's main militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, attacked a fifth oil facility in the strife-torn Niger southern Niger Delta.
• Nigerian Defense Chief Accuses Soldiers of Collaborating with Militants VOA 19 Sep 2008 -- Nigeria's defense chief accusing members of the security forces of collaborating with militants in the Niger Delta.
• Clash at Mogadishu Airport Kills at Least Seven VOA 19 Sep 2008 -- Witnesses say Somali insurgents fired mortar shells at the Mogadishu airport during a clash that killed at least 7 people.
• SOMALIA: Violence taking heavy toll as peace talks resume IRIN 19 Sep 2008 -- Talks to end the conflict in Somalia have resumed in Djibouti, but activists warned that continuing violence has taken a heavy toll.
• No real progress on accord between Chadian Government and rebels, UN reports UN News 19 Sep 2008 -- Chad remains fragile with no notable progress towards implementing a year-old agreement between the Government and the main rebel groups.
• In troubled eastern DR Congo, UN helicopters open fire to halt rebel advance UN News 19 Sep 2008 -- United Nations peacekeepers backed by combat helicopters opened fire today on rebel forces in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

News Reports

• The Challenges Ahead for Livni cfr.org 19 Sep 2008 -- Interviewee: Martin S. Indyk, Director of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution
• Analysis: Turkey's Near Abroad cfr.org 19 Sep 2008 -- In the waning days of the conflict between Russia and Georgia last month, politicians in Turkey focused elsewhere—on Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, Central Asian players in regional energy markets. Turkey's energy minister visited the two former Soviet states to discuss longterm energy strategies (Today'sZaman), just three weeks after a tentative ceasefire was inked between Moscow and Tbilisi
• Ghana’s Ban on Former Army Generals Generates Controversy VOA 19 Sep 2008 -- A ban placed on 7 former Ghanaian army generals from entering any military installations in the country is generating intense debate.