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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 17 Dec 2008 [PDF]
• Dec. 16 airpower summary: A-10s conduct shows of force AFNS 17 Dec 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 16, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Mullen Takes Pulse of U.S., NATO Commands in Afghanistan AFPS 17 Dec 2008 -- Fighting in Afghanistan probably will increase in the coming year, but it will be on U.S. and NATO terms, not on the enemy’s, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today.
• Afghanistan: UN envoy urges revision of detention, search and air attack tactics UN News Centre 17 Dec 2008 -- The top United Nations official in Afghanistan today called for a revision of the agreement between the Government and international military forces on detention, house searches and the use of air power, which has led to the deaths of many civilians.
• Security Transition Commander Reflects on Afghan Tour AFPS 17 Dec 2008 -- "The best people to defend Afghanistan are the Afghans," the coalition’s top officer in the effort to train Afghan security forces said as his tour came to an end.
• AFGHANISTAN: “Local integration” key to internal displacement - report IRIN 17 Dec 2008 -- Aid agencies and the government must focus on “local integration” to help bring to an end long-term displacement, says a new report by an internally displaced persons (IDP) task force comprising government bodies, NGOs and the UN.
• US Forces Deny Civilians Killed in Afghan Raid VOA 17 Dec 2008 -- The U.S. military said Afghan police and U.S. troops have killed three insurgents with links to al-Qaida, denying local claims that the victims were civilians.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Defense Officials to Review Congressional Report on Detainee Treatment AFPS 17 Dec 2008 -- Defense officials will take action if an upcoming congressional report on the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody yields new information, a Pentagon spokesman said.
• Bush Highlights National Security Progress VOA 17 Dec 2008 -- President Bush says the United States is safer now than before the attacks of September 11, 2001, but that the battle against terrorism will continue long after leaves office.
• Engineers develop cost-saving repair for damaged helmets AFNS 17 Dec 2008 -- Air Force and University of Dayton Research Institute engineers together have identified Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, or JHMCS, display unit materials and processing issues and developed a repair capability for damaged systems.
• Army Expands Military Funeral Honors for Soldiers AFPS 17 Dec 2008 -- Starting early next year, the Army will allow full military funeral honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia for all soldiers killed in action.
• Overseas U.S. Military Operations Make America Safer, Bush Says AFPS 17 Dec 2008 -- Military operations launched in Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11 brought the fight to terrorists and, with other initiatives, are helping to safeguard America against another attack, President George W. Bush told military and civilian students at the Army War College today.
• Suggestion saves money, increases production Army News 17 Dec 2008 -- The necessity of readying radios for the warfighter sparked a suggestion that increased production and will save the taxpayer more than $235,000 per year
• AMSC extends deadlines for civilian courses Army News 17 Dec 2008 -- Application deadlines have been extended for 30 days for civilian employees wanting to attend the Basic or Intermediate courses at the Army Management Staff College.
• Service Academy Gender Relations Survey Released DoD 17 Dec 2008 -- The Department of Defense (DoD) released results of the Academic Program Year 2007-2008 Service Academy Gender Relations Survey today
• SWCC Undergo Intensive Coxswain Training Navy NewsStand 17 Dec 2008 -- Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) from Special Boat Team 22 (SBT-22) completed Dec. 15 a two-week coxswain training on Mississippi's Pearl River.
• Closer Collaboration Will Ensure Disaster Preparedness, General Says AFPS 17 Dec 2008 -- The commander of U.S. Northern Command yesterday urged closer collaboration between local and state agencies and groups that would be the first to respond to a disaster and the federal entities that stand ready to step in and assist when needed.
• New terminology recognizes contributions of Airmen AFNS 17 Dec 2008 -- The Air Force is adopting new terminology to better reflect participation in today's joint fight, the Air Force chief of staff advised in a letter to the field.
• Appreciation of Limits, Humility Important in Facing Challenges, Gates Says AFPS 17 Dec 2008 -- In his 42 years of service in the national security arena, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said, the most important insights he’s gained have been an appreciation of limits and a sense of humility.
• Defense Department Welcomes U.N. Resolution Aimed at Pirates AFPS 17 Dec 2008 -- A resolution passed yesterday by the United Nations Security Council authorizes foreign forces to pursue pirates inside Somalia.
• Navy Announces Sponsor and Indoctrination Instruction Navy NewsStand 17 Dec 2008 -- The Navy announced Dec. 16 the release of a new command sponsor and indoctrination instruction, OPNAVINST 1740.3C, which provides direction to command leadership.
• Argentine Director of Military Intelligence, Naval Attaché Visit 4th Fleet Navy NewsStand 17 Dec 2008 -- Two distinguished Argentinian military leaders visited U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO) and U.S. 4th Fleet headquarters in Mayport Dec. 15.
• NMCSD Medical and Surgical Simulation Center Grand Opening Ceremony Navy NewsStand 17 Dec 2008 -- Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) opened its new Medical and Surgical Simulation Center (MSSC) Dec.12. The MSSC was a 2008 initiative and is the newest addition to the medical center's training and education arsenal.
• Operational Focus Critical to Missile Defense Tests, General Says AFPS 17 Dec 2008 -- Anticipated budget constraints and the growing threat posed by rogue nations make it more important than ever that future U.S. missile defense tests be operationally focused, the commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command said today.
• US Says Russia Hardening Stance Against European Missile Defense Plan VOA 17 Dec 2008 -- The Bush administration's top arms control official says Moscow is hardening its stance against a proposed U.S. missile defense system in Europe - apparently intending to "test the mettle" of incoming President Obama on the issue.
• Russian military confirms 13 strategic missile launches for 2009 RIA Novosti 17 Dec 2008 -- Russia's Strategic Missile Forces plan 13 training missile launches for next year, the forces commander Col.-Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov said Wednesday.
• Russia to donate 10 MiG-29 fighters to Lebanon RIA Novosti 17 Dec 2008 -- Russia will supply Lebanon with 10 used MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter planes free of charge, the head of the federal military cooperation service said on Wednesday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 17 Dec 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 17, 2008
• Boeing Begins Final Assembly of Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornets Boeing 17 Dec 2008 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] began final assembly operations Dec. 9 in St. Louis on the first of 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
• Boeing Submits Proposal to Support US Air Force T-1A Training Aircraft Fleet Boeing 17 Dec 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has submitted a proposal to the U.S. Air Force to provide contractor logistics support services for the T-1A Jayhawk training aircraft fleet.
• Lockheed Martin Receives $147 Million Contract to Provide U.S. Coast Guard with Additional Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Mission System Pallets Lockheed Martin 17 Dec 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] received a $147.5 million contract to provide the U.S. Coast Guard three HC-144A Ocean Sentry aircraft and five Mission System Pallets (MSPs).
• Northrop Grumman Rolls Out First E-8C Joint STARS With New Engines Northrop Grumman 17 Dec 2008 -- The U.S. Air Force E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) testbed aircraft was unveiled today by the U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) with its new engines prior to beginning military certification flight tests.
• EADS Defence & Security and Integcomm win a key TETRA contract with Airport Company South Africa EADS 17 Dec 2008 -- EADS Secure Networks, an integrated activity of EADS Defence & Security, has been awarded through its South African partner Integcomm a contract for the delivery of a TETRA network to the Cape Town International Airport managed by Airport Company South Africa (ACSA).
• Russia delays delivery of 38 military planes to China till 2010 RIA Novosti 17 Dec 2008 -- Russia will deliver 38 military planes to China, when a new aircraft production line is up and running, but not before 2010, the head of the federal military cooperation service said on Wednesday.

Other Conflicts

• Rebels resume attacks on civilians in eastern DR Congo – UN UN News Centre 17 Dec 2008 -- Elements from a mainly Tutsi rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are continuing to commit abuses, beating and detaining civilians and pillaging businesses and private homes, the United Nations reported today, calling for an end to the violence.
• UN Chief Says Time Not Ripe for Somalia Peacekeeping Operation VOA 17 Dec 2008 -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday that he disagrees with the United States that it is time to send U.N. peacekeepers to Somalia
• Russian, Georgian Envoys Meet in Geneva VOA 17 Dec 2008 -- Diplomats from Georgia and Russia are meeting in Geneva for talks on security and refugee issues linked to their military conflict over the Georgian breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
• UN Preparing for Influx of Congolese Refugees VOA 17 Dec 2008 -- The U.N. refugee agency says it is preparing for a possible new influx of refugees heading to Southern Sudan because of the joint military action recently taken against the Lord's Resistance Army by Congolese, Ugandan, and Southern Sudanese forces.

News Reports

• The Perils And Pitfalls Of Oil Price Forecasting RFE/RL 17 Dec 2008 -- A decade ago, many oil analysts thought $10 a barrel was the new normal. Just six months ago, when prices were just below $150, forecasters said $200 oil was not out of the question
• Ban welcomes lifting of Bangladesh’s state of emergency ahead of polls UN News Centre 17 Dec 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the lifting today of the state of emergency in Bangladesh as “a positive step” towards ensuring the right of all of its citizens to free, fair and credible parliamentary elections, which are slated for 29 December.
• Zimbabwean Parties Dismiss Pretoria Call To Form Unity Government VOA 17 Dec 2008 -- South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, currently chairman of the Southern African Development Community, said Wednesday that SADC has created a special purpose entity called the Zimbabwe Humanitarian and Development Assistance Framework to relieve misery in the member country, now sorely afflicted by a cholera and widespread hunger.
• COMOROS: The rewards of cooperation IRIN 17 Dec 2008 -- Choked by a history of political conflict and the global food and fuel crisis, the Union of the Comoros might gain some valuable breathing space from a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) rescue package
• ZIMBABWE: All you need to know about Amendment 19 IRIN 17 Dec 2008 -- The future of Zimbabwe hangs on the thread of a power-sharing deal that the opposition parties claim waters down their recent electoral successes and the government interprets as an agreement that allows the opposition - seen as fifth columnists for renewed colonisation - to have a major stake in government and reverse the gains of its revolution.
• UN Security Council approves land, air operations in Somalia RIA Novosti 17 Dec 2008 -- The UN Security Council unanimously voted in favor of a resolution sanctioning anti-piracy operations on Somalia's territory and in its airspace.
• OPEC Agrees To Cut Oil Production, As Do Russia, Azerbaijan RFE/RL 17 Dec 2008 -- The Organization Of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has announced a significant cut in oil production in a bid to lift falling crude prices
• Russia says UN-backed efforts on piracy will be good for Somalia RIA Novosti 17 Dec 2008 -- Russia will continue to take part in international efforts to crack down on piracy off the Horn of Africa, which will improve stability in Somalia, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
• China Set to Help Fight Pirates Off Somali Coast VOA 17 Dec 2008 -- Official Chinese media are reporting that China will send ships to help combat piracy off the coast of Somalia. This comes one day after a senior Chinese official told the United Nations Security Council China is more than ready to help.
• OPEC Approves Production Cut VOA 17 Dec 2008 -- Saudi Arabia says the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will cut oil production by a record two million barrels a day after a meeting in Algeria
• Bangladesh Lifts 23-Month State of Emergency VOA 17 Dec 2008 -- The interim government of Bangladesh has lifted the state of emergencye
• Bosnian Detainees Return Home After Seven Years In Guantanamo RFE/RL 17 Dec 2008