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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 09 Dec 2008 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• Dec. 8 airpower summary: F-16s alert and ready AFNS 09 Dec 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 8, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• U.S. troops transitioning 'Sons of Iraq' to local control Army News 09 Dec 2008 -- In early November, as U.S. Soldiers looked on, Baghdad-based members of the Sons of Iraq got their monthly paychecks from a new boss: the Iraqi government.
• Coalition, Iraqi Forces Seize Suspects, Weapons AFPS 09 Dec 2008 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 21 suspected terrorists during operations targeting terrorist networks throughout Iraq.
• Pentagon Welcomes Pakistani Raids, Calls for Sustained Effort Against Terror Networks VOA 09 Dec 2008 -- The Pentagon has welcomed Pakistan's raid on alleged terrorist bases in its northwestern region, but says counter-terrorism efforts need to be made on a sustained basis.
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Two Militants, Detain Others AFPS 09 Dec 2008 -- Afghan and coalition forces killed two militants yesterday in the Nar Surkh district of Afghanistan's Helmand province.
• Department Focuses on Afghanistan, Building Dwell Time, Chairman Says AFPS 09 Dec 2008 -- Afghanistan is the top priority for U.S. military leaders in re-allocating forces as they become available.
• Army unit augments Air Force to boost troop support AFNS 09 Dec 2008 -- As US forces prepare to ramp up the operations tempo in Operation Enduring Freedom, new unit helping prepare cargo to airdrop.
• Three Dead, One Missing in San Diego Crash AFPS 09 Dec 2008 -- The crash of a Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter jet in San Diego yesterday killed three people on the ground, and one person is missing.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Families of 9/11 Victims Watch Defendants Confess at Guantanamo Bay AFPS 09 Dec 2008 -- Relatives of 9/11 victims got their first chance yesterday to observe legal proceedings for detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, charged in the attacks, as three of the alleged co-conspirators announced they are prepared to enter a guilty plea.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Press Secretary Geoff Morrell from the Pentagon DoD 09 Dec 2008 -- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell
• Gates Meets With Biden, Works for Smooth Transition AFPS 09 Dec 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met yesterday with Vice President-elect Joe Biden as he continues to work to ensure the department’s transition between the two administrations is as seamless as possible, the Pentagon press secretary said today.
• Bush Says US Military Stronger Than Eight Years Ago VOA 09 Dec 2008 -- President George W. Bush addresses cadets in Eisenhower Hall at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, 09 Dec 2008
  President George W. Bush addresses cadets in Eisenhower Hall at the US Military Academy in West Point, New York, 09 Dec 2008
• Foley Takes Command of Strike Fighter Wing Pacific Navy NewsStand 09 Dec 2008 -- Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (CSFWP) hosted a change-of-command ceremony Dec. 5 at Naval Air Sation Lemoore, Calif.
• AMC unveils new mission statement and focus areas AFNS 09 Dec 2008 -- This past June, I issued a call for all AMC personnel to "return to basics," and I thank you for the renewed attention you've given to our core values and our mobility mission while restoring the Air Force's good name with your daily, outstanding mission accomplishment.
• ARFF Marines' training put to test USMC News 09 Dec 2008
• Corpsmen from Okinawa execute mass casualty exercise during Yausubetsu USMC News 09 Dec 2008 -- Hospital corpsmen with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, conducted a mass-casualty drill here Nov. 22
• SAMMC construction project breaks ground AFNS 09 Dec 2008 -- Military leaders, construction officials and wounded warriors joined up Dec. 8 to break ground on the start of construction on the San Antonio Military Medical Center, a $724 million construction and renovation project at Wilford Hall Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical Center.
• Air Force officials announce OTS selection results AFNS 09 Dec 2008 -- A total of 223 men and women from across America have earned an opportunity to become Air Force leaders following their selection for an officer's commission, officials here announced Dec. 9.
• Air Force Center Serves Soldiers With Brain Injuries AFPS 09 Dec 2008 -- The Air Force’s only traumatic brain injury center, at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, is diagnosing and treating predominantly Army patients with a focus on improving their chances of a full recovery.
• Africa Command Welcomes Army Component AFPS 09 Dec 2008 -- Southern European Task Force cased its old colors, ending the airborne chapter of its history, and uncased its new colors signifying acceptance of its new mission as the Army component in support of U.S. Africa Command in a ceremony here today.
• Today’s More Capable Military Must Continue Worldwide Offensive, Bush Says AFPS 09 Dec 2008 -- In his last scheduled visit to a service academy while in office, President George W. Bush told Army cadets today that the U.S. military has transformed to face threats it faces now and in the future.
• Language program gives Soldiers head start on deployment Army News 09 Dec 2008 -- The Defense Language Institute has developed a "Headstart" program to help deploying troops gain skills in Arabic, Pashto and Dari -- languages spoken in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• USS Rodney M. Davis Intercepts 4.5 Metric Tons of Cocaine Navy NewsStand 09 Dec 2008 -- While on patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, units assigned to the U.S. Navy's 4th Fleet and the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a fishing vessel carrying more than 4 metric tons of cocaine Dec 5.
• Sailors Benefit as Navy Upgrades Detailing Program Navy NewsStand 09 Dec 2008 -- The Navy announced the latest upgrade to Career Management System Interactive Detailing (CMS/ID) in a message released Dec. 9.
• Boxer Employs ORM, Successfully Loads Ammo Navy NewsStand 09 Dec 2008 -- USS Boxer (LHD 4) and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 Detachment (Det) 3 completed a low-visibility ammunition on-load of approximately 700 pallets Dec. 2.
• Nations Gather to Prep for Black Sea Interoperability Exercise Navy NewsStand 09 Dec 2008 -- Commander, Carrier Strike Group 12, hosted representatives of 11 nations Dec. 2-4 for the initial planning conference for the 37th annual Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercise at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel..
• Essex Completes Anti-Terrorism Cert Navy NewsStand 09 Dec 2008 -- The security reaction force (SRF) aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) completed unit level training assessment anti-terrorism/force protection (ULTRA-ATFP) certification Dec. 5.
• Marines Evaluate Amphibious Capabilities Aboard Boxer Navy NewsStand 09 Dec 2008 -- The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is conducting its certification exercise (CERTEX) aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4) off the coast of Southern California, Dec. 5-12.
• Chesapeake Bay Commanders Committed to Conservation Navy NewsStand 09 Dec 2008 -- Leaders from Department of Defense facilities throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed gathered in Annapolis, Md., Nov. 18-19 for the biannual Chesapeake Bay Commanders Conference.
• Russian naval task force heads for Indian Ocean on tour of duty RIA Novosti 09 Dec 2008 -- A task force from Russia's Pacific Fleet left its main base in Vladivostok on Tuesday for a tour of duty in the Indian Ocean.
• Russian frigate escorts another convoy along Somali coast RIA Novosti 09 Dec 2008 -- A Russian frigate currently near the Horn of Africa is escorting another convoy of four vessels in the area.
• Ukraine seeks role in EU anti-piracy patrols off Somalia RIA Novosti 09 Dec 2008 -- Ukraine expressed desire to join the European Union's naval task force protecting ships in the Gulf of Aden against pirates.
• Japan Urged to Stop Its Moves to Turn Itself into Military Power KCNA 09 Dec 2008 -- Rodong Sinmun: Signed commentary blasting the very dangerous moves under way in Japan these days.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 09 Dec 2008
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Dana Perino The White House 09 Dec 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 09, 2008
• BAE SYSTEMS AWARDED $6.26 MILLION TO MANUFACTURE IMPROVED CREW PROTECTION CABS FOR ARTILLERY ROCKET SYSTEM BAE Systems 09 Dec 2008 -- BBAE Systems has been awarded a $6.26 million contract by Lockheed Martin to manufacture 26 Increased Crew Protection (ICP) cabs for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
• EADS’ Military Transport Aircraft Division Receives Milestone Process Certification for its Military Aircraft, Systems and Software EADS 09 Dec 2008 -- EADS’ Military Transport Aircraft Division (MTAD) has been certified to Capability Maturity Model Integration Level 3 (CMMI 3) specifications, further validating the company’s commitment to and success in applying rigorous process improvement standards in its aircraft, systems and software for U.S. military and homeland defense requirements.
• General Dynamics Awarded $10 Million Training Support Contract by the U.S. Army General Dynamics 09 Dec 2008 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), was awarded a $9.9 million, 18 month contract from U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) to support the Ordnance Mechanical Maintenance School at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.
• Lockheed Martin And USAF Test Pilot School Conduct First Ever Successful Autoland Of The F-16 Fighting Falcon Lockheed Martin 09 Dec 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., have successfully demonstrated an autonomous landing of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, marking the first time an F-16 has landed entirely under computer control.
• Lockheed Martin TOPSCENE Upgrade for Navy Delivers Mission Rehearsal Simulations 20 Times Faster Lockheed Martin 09 Dec 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] has delivered faster mission rehearsal preparation to the U.S. Navy as a result of a recent upgrade to its TOPSCENE® mission rehearsal system.
• Lockheed Martin Delivers First C-5M Super Galaxy Lockheed Martin 09 Dec 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today delivered the first fully modernized C-5M Super Galaxy to the U.S. Air Force at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins AFB, Ga.
• NLOS-LS Team Completes Second Guided Test Flight of Precision Attack Missile Raytheon 09 Dec 2008 -- NetFires LLC, a joint venture between Raytheon Company's Missile Systems and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, completed the second guided test flight of the Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System's Precision Attack Missile
• Zumwalt Undersea Warfare Combat System Receives Official Navy Nomenclature Raytheon 09 Dec 2008 -- Raytheon Company's integrated undersea warfare combat system for the Zumwalt-class destroyer recently received its official U.S. Navy nomenclature, AN/SQQ-90.

Other Conflicts

• Pakistan President says India Peace Talks Must Move Forward VOA 09 Dec 2008 -- Pakistani President Zardari: Peace talks with India must move forward in order to thwart attempts to destroy both countries.
• EU Launches Rule-Of-Law Mission In Kosovo RFE/RL 09 Dec 2008 -- The European Union has launched EULEX, its rule-of-law mission in the fledgling Balkan state of Kosovo
• Azerbaijan Floats Principles For Karabakh Peace Settlement RFE/RL 09 Dec 2008 -- It is just over a month now since the presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia signed in Moscow a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to resolving the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict exclusively by diplomatic means
• Appalling acts still persist 60 years on from pledge to prevent genocide, Ban warns UN News Centre 09 Dec 2008 -- Sixty years ago to the day after the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that the world has continued to witness appalling acts that violate human dignity.
• Urgent action needed to alleviate desperate plight of Gaza’s civilians – UN rights expert UN News Centre 09 Dec 2008 -- Steps to alleviate the “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza must be taken immediately, an independent United Nations human rights expert said today, calling on the world body to turn its words into action.
• Kosovo: European police phase in as UN phases out UN News Centre 09 Dec 2008 -- After nine and a half years of policing Kosovo, the United Nations mission has started phasing out its police component, handing over to European Union’s Rule of Law Mission known as EULEX.
• DR Congo: Government, rebels enter into UN-backed talks to end fighting UN News Centre 09 Dec 2008 -- United Nations-backed talks between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a main rebel militia kicked off today, in a bid to end the upsurge in the fighting which has uprooted an additional 250,000 people in country’s far east.
• DRC Talks Resume in Nairobi VOA 09 Dec 2008 -- Delegations from the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the rebel National Congress for Defense of the People, or CNDP, gathered for a second day of talks at the U.N. compound in Nairobi.
• Israel opens Gaza checkpoints for humanitarian traffic RIA Novosti 09 Dec 2008 -- Israel opened at least two border crossings to allow trucks with humanitarian cargo to enter Gaza.
• Israel Reopens Gaza Border for Supplies VOA 09 Dec 2008 -- Israel has reopened its border crossings with the Gaza Strip to allow trucks transporting humanitarian aid into the territory.

News Reports

• EU Cements Arms-Length Partnership In South Caucasus RFE/RL 09 Dec 2008 -- A regular meeting of the three South Caucasus ministers with EU foreign-policy chiefs in Brussels brought no breakthroughs, and instead served to strengthen the impression, gaining ground in Brussels recently, that the EU has reached a high-water mark in its relations with the region.
• As Calls For Mugabe Departure Multiply, African Union Rules Out Use Of Force VOA 09 Dec 2008 -- Amid a chorus of voices calling for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to step down or be removed - among them that of U.S. President George Bush - a spokesman for the African Union on Tuesday dismissed the notion the organization might intervene militarily.
• New information may link more people to killing of Lebanese ex-premier, UN reports UN News Centre 09 Dec 2008 -- The independent inquiry into the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri has acquired new information potentially implicating additional individuals to the network that carried out the suicide car bomb attack, according to a new report to the Security Council released today.
• Bush Wants Mugabe Out, But AU Rejects Tougher Measures VOA 09 Dec 2008 -- U.S. President George Bush has joined calls for Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to step down, but the African Union is rejecting tougher action against the long-time leader.
• China Considers Humanitarian Aid for Zimbabwe VOA 09 Dec 2008 -- China is considering sending humanitarian assistance to hard-hit Zimbabwe, which is suffering from a major cholera epidemic that has already killed at least 600 people.