• Forum
• Images

• Military Menu                       

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space
• Public Eye

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 05 Nov 2008 [PDF]
• CF Soldier dies of non-combat related causes
• Afghan President Says Air Strikes Kill 40 Civilians at Wedding Party VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai says international air strikes in southern Afghanistan have killed around 40 civilians attending a wedding party.
• Team Takes Reconstruction to New Level in Afghan Province AFPS 05 Nov 2008 -- After overseeing and funding about $8 million in construction in the previous two years in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, the U.S. military had almost $40 million in projects ongoing in the province as fiscal 2008 came to a close Sept. 30.
• Afghans Say US-Taliban Battle Near Wedding Party Kills 37 People VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- Afghan villagers say at least 37 people were killed, including members of a wedding party, when U.S. warplanes bombed a village in southern Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Armed Forces Inaugural Committee Prepares to Welcome New President AFPS 05 Nov 2008 -- Members of the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee are preparing to welcome President-elect Barack Obama when the nation’s 44th chief executive takes the oath of office Jan. 20.
• November is Warrior Care Month US Dept. of Defense 05 Nov 2008 -- The Secretary of Defense Robert F. Gates announced that November is Warrior Care Month today
• Newest mobile air shelter set up for training AFNS 05 Nov 2008 -- The newest model of deployable, mobile command posts is set up at the Air Force Expeditionary Center's main building here to give Airmen a view of what that may work on when they deploy in suppot of the war on terrorism.
• U.S., Australian team conducts evacuation in Antarctica AFNS 05 Nov 2008 -- A combined U.S. and Australian team successfully evacuated an Australian civilian in Antarctica to a hospital in Hobart, Australia, Nov. 5.
• CNO Releases 2009 Guidance Navy NewsStand 05 Nov 2008 -- The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm. Gary Roughead, released his Guidance for 2009 on Nov. 5, 2008.
• 2009 aviator continuation pay details released AFNS 05 Nov 2008 -- Air Force officials here released Nov. 4 the details for aviator continuation pay for this fiscal year.
• Navy Commissions First Littoral Combat Ship Freedom US Dept. of Defense 05 Nov 2008 -- The Navy’s first littoral combat ship (LCS) Freedom will be commissioned Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, during a 10 a.m. EST ceremony at Veterans Park, Milwaukee, Wis
• SUPSALV Continues Support to Air Force During B-52 Salvage Ops Navy NewsStand 05 Nov 2008 -- The U.S. Navy's Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) directorate, provided salvage and fleet
  support during B-52H recovery operations near Guam.
• Defense Department Authorizes Adult Family Members to Return to Bahrain Navy NewsStand 05 Nov 2008 -- Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), in cooperation with the American Embassy in Bahrain, announced Nov. 5 that adult family members for all Department of Defense personnel permanently assigned in Bahrain will be allowed to return effective immediately.
• Warrior Care: Defense Department Highlights Efforts in November AFPS 05 Nov 2008 -- Citing Warrior Care as both a top priority and a solemn obligation, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates designated November as “Warrior Care Month” to communicate the Defense Department’s commitment to quality care to the nation’s servicemembers and their families.
• Warrior Care: DoD, VA Share Records to Benefit Wounded Warriors, Veterans AFPS 05 Nov 2008 -- The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are making good progress in sharing information to the benefit of wounded warriors and veterans, a senior DoD official said.
• USS Chancellorsville Engages in Maritime Exchange with Thai Navy Navy NewsStand 05 Nov 2008 -- Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 7 ships USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and USS Decatur (DDG 73) participated in a bilateral exercise with a Royal Thai Navy ship off the coast of Phuket, Thailand Nov. 1.
• Naval Base San Diego Welcomes Canadian Warships Navy NewsStand 05 Nov 2008 -- Two Royal Canadian Navy coastal defense vessels made a routine port visit at Naval Base San Diego Nov. 1-2.
• Peleliu, Dubuque and Pearl Harbor Return Following Six-Month Deployment Navy NewsStand 05 Nov 2008 -- USS Peleliu (LHA 5), the flagship of the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group (PELESG), along with USS Dubuque (LPD 8) and USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) returned to San Diego Nov. 4 following a six-month deployment.
• Essex Arrives in Korea for Interoperability Training Program Navy NewsStand 05 Nov 2008 -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) arrived off the coast of Pohang, Republic of Korea (ROK), for this year's Korean Interoperability Training Program (KITP) Nov. 4.
• Missile Defense Elements Participate in Air Force Test MDA 05 Nov 2008 -- Air Force Lieutenant General Henry “Trey” Obering, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) director, announced today the successful completion of an exercise involving Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) elements and emerging technologies which gathered data during a routine operational test of a U.S. Air Force strategic missile from Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
• Nearly 4,000 new cases of mental illness among UK troops last year IRNA 05 Nov 2008 -- Almost 4,000 new cases of mental illness were diagnosed among the UK's armed forces last year, with those returning from Iraq or Afghanistan the most likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Address to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation President of Russia 05 Nov 2008
• US Disappointed Over Russian Missile Pledge VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- The United States on Wednesday expressed disappointment over an announced Russian plan to deploy short-range ballistic missiles in the Kaliningrad enclave next to Poland.
• Russian nuclear missile cruiser visits French base RIA Novosti 05 Nov 2008 -- Germany expressed concern on Wednesday over the possible deployment of Iskander missile systems near Poland and will discuss the issue with Russia as soon as possible, a German diplomat said
• Russian support ship to join fight against Somali pirates RIA Novosti 05 Nov 2008 -- A Russian Baltic Fleet's supply-tanker Yelnya is due on Wednesday to join up with a missile frigate involved in protecting Russian merchant ships from pirates in African waters, a naval source said.
• Germany concerned over Russian missiles near Polish border RIA Novosti 05 Nov 2008 -- Germany expressed concern on Wednesday over the possible deployment of Iskander missile systems near Poland and will discuss the issue with Russia as soon as possible, a German diplomat said.
• Russian missiles near Poland to 'offset' U.S. shield - NATO envoy RIA Novosti 05 Nov 2008 -- The deployment of precision-guided tactical missiles in Russia's westernmost region would render ineffective a U.S. missile shield in Central Europe, Russia's NATO envoy said on Wednesday.
• Russia to deploy Iskander missiles near Polish border - Medvedev RIA Novosti 05 Nov 2008 -- Russia will deploy short-range Iskander missiles in its exclave of Kaliningrad next to Poland in response to U.S. missile plans for Europe, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday.
• Russian Threats Miss Point of Proposed Missile Defenses, Official Says AFPS 05 Nov 2008 -- Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev’s threat today to deploy missiles targeting proposed U.S. missile defenses in Eastern Europe misses the point that the system will be purely defensive and will pose no threat to Russia, a Pentagon spokesman said today.
• Obama may freeze Europe missile shield deals - Russian analyst RIA Novosti 05 Nov 2008 -- As economic pressures mount, the U.S. may freeze its plans to set up a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic when president-elect Barack Obama takes office, a Russian analyst said on Wednesday.
• European security to be focus of Russian-Italian talks RIA Novosti 05 Nov 2008 -- Urgent global issues, including the development of a new European security system, will top the agenda of intergovernmental talks between Russia and Italy in Moscow on Thursday, a Kremlin source has said.
• Iran Warns US Against Airspace Violation VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- Iran has warned U.S. forces in Iraq that it will "forcefully" respond to any violation of Iranian airspace.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 05 Nov 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 05, 2008
• EADS Defence & Security supports German Armed Forces’ helicopters also in international missions EADS 05 Nov 2008 -- As part of a product improvement programme, EADS Defence & Security (DS) will equip the German Armed Forces’ CH-53 G transport helicopters with the new operations support system EUA (Einsatzunterstützungsanlage) for mission preparation and planning.
• Lockheed Martin Demonstrates Cutting-Edge Sensor for U.S. Army Apache Helicopters Lockheed Martin 05 Nov 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] recently conducted a series of test flights demonstrating a new cutting-edge, low-light-level sensor system for U.S. Army Arrowhead®-equipped AH-64D Apache helicopters.
• Raytheon to Modernize F-15E Radar Raytheon 05 Nov 2008 -- A system design and development award from Boeing will allow Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) to launch its latest active electronically scanned array radar program for the U. S. Air Force.
• SAIC Awarded $56 Million Task Order from the Department of Veterans Affairs SAIC 05 Nov 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation [NYSE: SAI] today announced it has been awarded a task order by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Information & Technology, Office of Enterprise Development to provide support to Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) Health Data Systems (HDS) Repositories.

Other Conflicts

• Ban to attend high-level summit aimed at ending DR Congo crisis UN News Centre 05 Nov 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is leaving today for Nairobi to attend a United Nations-backed summit aimed at ending the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where fighting continues for a second straight day despite a recent ceasefire and aid agencies are trying to assist hundreds of thousands of displaced people.
• Secretary-General urges immediate release of captured aid workers in Somalia UN News Centre 05 Nov 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned today’s abduction of four aid workers and two pilots from an airstrip in the central Somali town of Dusamareb and demanded that they be released immediately.
• UN peacebuilding delegation visits Central African Republic UN News Centre 05 Nov 2008 -- A delegation from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund is conducting a week-long mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), which remains beset by unrest and widespread displacement in the north and entrenched poverty across the country.
• Rice Starts New Middle East Mission With Lowered Expectations VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is heading to the Middle East late Wednesday for more talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials on regional peace-making. U.S. officials acknowledge that the goal set at Annapolis last year for a peace agreement by the end of 2008 is out of reach.
• DRC Rebels, Pro-Government Militia's Clash for Second Day VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- U.N. officials report a second day of fighting between rebels and a pro-government militia in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Israeli Incursions, Hamas Rockets Disrupt Gaza Truce VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- Violence along the Gaza Strip during the past two days has raised questions about how long a ceasefire between Israel and the Islamic militant group Hamas may hold up in the Gaza Strip.
• DRC: Aid workers evacuated as militia fighting continues IRIN 05 Nov 2008 -- Fifteen aid workers have been evacuated from the eastern province of North Kivu after fighting resumed between a rebel group and local militias - despite the declaration of a ceasefire by one of the groups last week.
• SRI LANKA: Fourth WFP convoy travels to Tiger-held areas IRIN 05 Nov 2008 -- The fourth food convoy since the relocation of UN and other international agencies in mid-September travelled to areas under the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the north on 3 November, officials said.
• NEPAL: IDPs call for urgent government action IRIN 05 Nov 2008 -- Thousands of families displaced by the armed conflict between the Maoists and the government from 1996 to 2006 have called for immediate humanitarian intervention to relieve their plight.
• 6 Palestinians Killed, Gaza Militants Fire Rocket Barrage into Israel VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- Israeli officials say suspected Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have fired 20 rockets Wednesday into southern Israel.
• Russia, EU sign deal on Chad peacekeeping operation RIA Novosti 05 Nov 2008 -- Russia signed on Wednesday an agreement with the EU which will see Russia troops participate in peacekeeping operations in Chad and the Central African Republic, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.
• Medvedev criticizes U.S. for South Ossetia conflict RIA Novosti 05 Nov 2008 -- Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday that Georgia's military offensive on South Ossetia was a consequence of policies unilaterally followed by the U.S. administration.
• Bangladesh, Burma to Hold Talks Over Territorial Dispute VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- Bangladesh's foreign secretary, Toheid Hossain, is scheduled to travel to Burma Wednesday in a bid to defuse a dispute over oil- and gas-rich waters in the Bay of Bengal.

News Reports

• Obama Wins Historic Election VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- Barack Obama has been elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African-American elected to the office.
• President Bush Discusses Presidential Election The White House 05 Nov 2008
• Obama Victory Welcomed From Mideast To Afghanistan RFE/RL 05 Nov 2008 -- From the former Soviet republics to the Middle East and Afghanistan, Obama's election victory is seen as a major milestone in U.S. history and a chance to restore the United States' reputation around the world
• EU Hopes For Greater Equality With U.S. RFE/RL 05 Nov 2008 -- Politicians and observers in the European Union are united in hoping that with Obama, the United States will turn away from the unilateralist policies pursued by outgoing President George W. Bush
• Europe Welcomes Obama Victory VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- There has been a warm welcome from around the globe for the election victory of Barack Obama - words of congratulations from European leaders and expressions of hope for a new era of cooperation.
• South Asia Leaders Congratulate Obama, Point to Challenges VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- Leaders from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan praised Barack Obama's presidential election win, calling it an inspiration to people within the United States and around the world.
• Palestinians Welcome Obama Election, Israelis Skeptical VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- Many Palestinians in the West Bank are praising Barack Obama's election as the next U.S. president, saying he brings new hope for the stalled peace process.
• Much Of Arab World Rejoices Over Obama Election VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- Much of the Arab press, as well as ordinary people in the street, are rejoicing over the election of Democrat Barak Obama as the next president of the United States.
• Southern Africans Embrace Obama Election VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- Barack Obama's victory in U.S. elections is being widely hailed in Southern Africa.
• President Bush Congratulates Obama, Promises Smooth Transition VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- President Bush has paid tribute to the historic nature of President-elect Barack Obama's victory at the polls, and promised to stay in close contact with him in the final months of his administration to ensure a smooth transition of power.
• After Obama Victory, Work Begins on Presidential Transition VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- Americans are marking the election of Barack Obama as the country's 44th president, and the first African-American to reach the summit of U.S. politics.
• Obama Becomes First African-American Elected President VOA 05 Nov 2008 -- The United States has elected its first African-American president with the victory of Barack Obama in Tuesday's balloting.
• EU Fights For Nabucco's Future RFE/RL 05 Nov 2008 -- The fate of the Nabucco pipeline project appears to be hanging by a thread. No EU official would publicly admit this, but the signs tell their own story