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Current Operations

• Coalition, Iraqi Forces Capture Suspect, Seize Weapons AFPS 23 Dec 2008 -- Iraqi and coalition forces in Baghdad yesterday captured a man suspected in a grenade attack against a “Sons of Iraq” civilian security group, military officials said.
• Arkansas welcomes 3,200 Soldiers home for holidays Army News 23 Dec 2008 -- A large and happy contingent of 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team families are celebrating the return of more than 3,200 Soldiers from a yearlong deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom
• Sather Airmen destroy weapons cache AFNS 23 Dec 2008 -- Sather Air Base Airmen destroyed one of the larger enemy weapons caches to be collected at one time in the Iraq theater of operations.
• Coalition, Afghans Kill, Capture Taliban Fighters AFPS 23 Dec 2008 -- Coalition and Afghan forces killed eight Taliban fighters in separate operations in Afghanistan yesterday, military officials reported.
• Communications system to connect Afghanistan with neighbors Army News 23 Dec 2008 -- U.S. Soldiers are working with Afghan locals to install an international ring of communications that will span the nation and connect it to neighboring countries
• Missouri Guard's agri-mission grows in Afghanistan Army News 23 Dec 2008 -- One of the biggest hurdles to self-sustainment in Afghanistan is slowly being overcome by Missouri National Guard members, said the state's Sen. Christopher Bond during a press conference in his office here Dec. 22
• Taliban Leader Denies Talks With Kabul VOA 23 Dec 2008 -- Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar is refuting reports that his group is planning talks with the Afghan government.
• Afghan president laments coalition use of 'thugs' IRNA 23 Dec 2008 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai wants a proper police force, not militias, Chicago Tribune said
• German defense minister calls 2009 key to stabilizing Afghan security IRNA 23 Dec 2008 -- The year 2009 will be key to stabilizing the security situation in Afghanistan amid the ongoing military escalations in the war-stricken country, German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung told Tuesday's edition of the daily Bild newspaper
• EC chief: US backs Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan IRNA 23 Dec 2008 -- Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Tuesday that the US along with some other countries in the region back Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan

Defense Policy / Programs

• Iraqi Parliament Votes to Extend Presence of Non-US Forces VOA 23 Dec 2008 -- The speaker of Iraq's parliament has resigned, paving the way for lawmakers to authorize British and other non-U.S. foreign troops to remain in the country into 2009.
• US Cites Progress on Resettling Guantanamo Detainees VOA 23 Dec 2008 -- The State Department on Tuesday reported progress in contacts with European countries on resettling detainees from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
• DoD Releases Unified Command Plan 2008 DoD 23 Dec 2008 -- The Department of Defense has updated the Unified Command Plan (UCP), a key strategic document that establishes the missions, responsibilities, and geographic areas of responsibility for commanders of combatant commands
• New Unified Command Plan Spells Out Responsibilities, Missions AFPS 23 Dec 2008 -- President George W. Bush has signed an updated unified command plan that codifies U.S. Africa Command, shifts responsibility for parts of the Caribbean Sea to U.S. Northern Command and assigns cyberspace and pandemic influenza missions to other combatant commanders.
• US Africa Command Will Not Handle Piracy Area VOA 23 Dec 2008 -- The Pentagon said the new U.S. military command for Africa will not have responsibility for security in the Gulf of Aden, where pirates have been menacing merchant ships.
• Eglin Airmen test readiness during weeklong exercise AFNS 23 Dec 2008 -- Airmen of the 33rd Fighter Wing here tested their ability to respond anytime and anywhere in support of the nation's defense during an Operation Noble Eagle exercise in mid-December.
• Yokota Airmen strengthen bonds with Japanese military AFNS 23 Dec 2008 -- Yokota Air Base Airmen participated in bilateral training events with Japan Air Self Defense Force members Dec. 17 at Iruma Air Base, Japan.
• Many Pentagon Political Appointees Asked to Serve Past Inaugural AFPS 23 Dec 2008 -- Many Bush administration-appointed employees posted at the Pentagon have been asked by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates if they’d remain in their jobs past the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, a senior Defense Department official said here today.
• Troops Escape Financial Trends, Enjoy Money Management Benefits AFPS 23 Dec 2008 -- Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are relatively insulated from the financial disasters affecting many Americans, and increasingly are taking advantage of programs designed to promote what military leaders call “financial readiness,” military financial counselors say.
• Engineers provide quarters USMC News 23 Dec 2008 -- The sun had barely crested the horizon when Marines with General Support Platoon, Company B, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 started work Dec 14
• Naval Undersea Warfare Center Scientist Honored for Significant Contributions, Breakthroughs Navy NewsStand 23 Dec 2008 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) presented a mathematician from Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport with the NAVSEA Scientist of the Year award Dec. 17.
• Bataan Hosts Marines During AMFEX Navy NewsStand 23 Dec 2008 -- Sailors and Marines of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) hosted 283 Marine Corps junior officers as part of the Amphibious Familiarization Exercise (AMFEX) Dec. 15-17.
• Chairman Cites Importance of U.S.-Pakistan Relationship AFPS 23 Dec 2008 -- After meeting with top military and intelligence officials yesterday in Islamabad, Pakistan, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff emphasized the importance of U.S.-Pakistan relations in the fight against terrorism.
• Chief of Naval Personnel Visits Lemoore, Reports Retention Improving Navy NewsStand 23 Dec 2008 -- Navy retention rates are up and the Chief of Naval Personnel told senior leaders at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore the current economy could continue to influence that trend.
• Bataan Successfully Finishes Supply Management Certification Navy NewsStand 23 Dec 2008 -- The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) completed the Supply Management Certification (SMC) Dec. 11.
• Russia plans to sign defense treaty with Abkhazia in 2009 RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2008 -- Russia plans to sign a military cooperation and border protection treaty with Georgia's rebel republic of Abkhazia in early 2009, the Russian foreign minister said on Tuesday.
• Russia to upgrade strategic bombers in 2009 RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2008 -- Russia's Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-95MS Bear strategic bombers and Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range bombers will undergo major modernization in 2009, a strategic aviation commander said on Tuesday.
• Russian warships leave Cuba after landmark visit RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2008 -- Three Russian warships left the Cuban capital of Havana on Tuesday after the first such visit to Moscow's longtime Latin American ally since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
• Russian Pacific Fleet ships near Indian Ocean for drills in 2009 RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2008 -- A group of Russian Pacific Fleet vessels will reach the Indian Ocean in two days, where joint Russian-Indian naval exercises are to be held next year, a fleet spokesman said Tuesday.
• Russia to test-launch at least 5 Bulava ICBMs in 2009 - Navy RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2008 -- The number of test launches for Russia's Bulava ICBM will be increased from three or four to at least five next year, a senior Navy official said on Tuesday.
• Test launch of Russian Bulava ICBM unsuccessful-defense official RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2008 -- The test launch of a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile, capable of breaching anti-missile defense systems, from a submarine was unsuccessful, a source at the Belomorsk naval base said on Tuesday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 23 Dec 2008
• Press Briefing by Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto The White House 23 Dec 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 23, 2008
• Fidelity Technologies Corp. Secures $5.5 Million Army Contract to Manufacture Training Simulators Fidelity Technologies Corp. 23 Dec 2008 -- Fidelity Technologies Corp. of Reading, PA today announced it has received a $5.5 million contract to build 50 Call For Fire Trainers (CFFT) simulators for the U.S. Army and Army National Guard to help train war fighters to achieve this goal.
• Weight-Optimized F-35 Test Fleet Adds Conventional Takeoff And Landing Variant Lockheed Martin 23 Dec 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] rolled out the first weight-optimized conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant of the F-35 Lightning II fighter on Dec. 19.
• Eurocopter and Helibras sign a historic contract with the Brazilian government EADS 23 Dec 2008 -- Following the EU-Brazil summit, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil officially announced the contract for 50 EC725 helicopters which has been signed by the Brazilian government and a consortium formed by Eurocopter and Helibras.
• Savi Wins Role on U.S. Department of Defense's RFID III Contract Vehicle Lockheed Martin 23 Dec 2008 -- Savi®, a Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] company and provider of RFID-based supply chain products and solutions, has been selected by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to compete for future task orders under the RFID III procurement contracting vehicle.
• Northrop Grumman Wins Contract to Upgrade Radar Systems for Iraqi Air Force Northrop Grumman 23 Dec 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a contract to upgrade weather and navigation radar systems on Iraqi Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft
• NLOS-LS team's Precision Attack Missile Completes Third Test Flight Raytheon 23 Dec 2008 -- NetFires LLC, a joint venture between Raytheon Company and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, completed the third guided test flight of the Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System's Precision Attack Missile.
• Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration Unmanned Aircraft Program Receives Prestigious U.S. Navy Test Team Award Northrop Grumman 23 Dec 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) RQ-4 Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration (GHMD) team was recently named Test Team of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2008 by the U.S. Navy's Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 20.

Other Conflicts

• UN expert urges Sri Lanka to better protect civilians displaced by conflict UN News Centre 23 Dec 2008 -- An independent United Nations human rights expert has called on Sri Lanka to significantly improve access for more humanitarian relief and personnel to reach hundreds of thousands of people displaced in the northern Vanni region by the ongoing conflict between the Government and Tamil separatists.
• UN peacekeepers in DR Congo on alert amid signs of new rebel build-up UN News Centre 23 Dec 2008 -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has put bases in war-ravaged North Kivu province on high alert and is conducting additional patrols amid increasing concern at “clear evidence” of a build-up by mainly Tutsi rebels in key areas.
• Darfur: military component of UN-African Union force reaches over 60 per cent UN News Centre 23 Dec 2008 -- The joint African Union-United Nations mission in the strife-torn Darfur region of Sudan received an additional 45 troops today, bringing the number of military staff to 12,242 – just over 60 per cent of the total military component of the force.
• UGANDA: IDPs head back to safety of the camps IRIN 23 Dec 2008 -- An ongoing military offensive against Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels by Ugandan, Congolese and Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) forces, has caused panic among war-weary civilians in northern Uganda, with some returning to camps for the displaced in fear of retaliatory attacks by the LRA.
• Thaci Says Kosovo Backs EU Mission, Not Six-Point Plan RFE/RL 23 Dec 2008 -- The deployment of the European Union's rule-of-law mission in Kosovo, known as EULEX, has run into difficulties
• New UN mandate on Georgia, Abkhazia due mid-Feb - Russian envoy RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2008 -- A new Security Council resolution giving a new UN mandate in the Georgian-Abhkazian conflict must be completed by February 15, 2009, Russia's ambassador to the UN said on Tuesday.
• Georgia ready for talks with Russia on certain condition RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2008 -- Georgia is ready for any kind of talks with Russia, but only if Moscow recognizes Georgia's territorial integrity, the Georgian president said on Tuesday.
• Hamas Offers to Renew Truce with Israel VOA 23 Dec 2008 -- With tension running high on the Israel-Gaza border, the sides could be stepping back from the brink of a major confrontation.
• UNHCR to Distribute Aid to Thousands in DRC VOA 23 Dec 2008 -- The United Nations refugee agency says it plans to deliver emergency relief supplies this week to thousands of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Rebel Training Camp Discovered in Niger Delta VOA 23 Dec 2008 -- The Nigerian army says militant groups are preparing to launch fresh hostilities in the oil-rich Niger Delta by training 1,000 new recruits at a camp in South-west Ondo state.
• Philippine Conflict Subdues Christmas Joy VOA 23 Dec 2008 -- The Christmas spirit in the southern Philippines is being sorely tested by an escalation in the fighting between government troops and Muslim rebels.

News Reports

• Guinea: Ban calls for peaceful, democratic power transfer after President’s death UN News Centre 23 Dec 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today extended his condolences on the passing of General Lansana Conté of Guinea, and stressed the need for a peaceful, democratic and constitutional transfer of power, following a reported coup attempt in the West African nation just hours after the President’s death.
• Interview: Europeans Await 'President' Obama With Some Nervousness cfr.org 23 Dec 2008 -- Interviewee: William Drozdiak, President, American Council on Germany
• GUINEA: Uncertainty in wake of 24-year president’s death IRIN 23 Dec 2008 -- Guinea was in a state of suspension the afternoon of 23 December as both the standing government and a group of soldiers claimed power following the death of 24-year president Lansana Conté.
• Russian PM: Era of Cheap Natural Gas is Ending VOA 23 Dec 2008 -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warns that the era of cheap natural gas is ending because of multi-billion dollar investments needed to develop the industry.
• Financial Crisis In Russia Holds Threat Of Social Unrest RFE/RL 23 Dec 2008
• Russia Says Gas Forum Will Not Be OPEC-Like Cartel RFE/RL 23 Dec 2008 -- Ministers from gas-exporting countries have met in Moscow to finalize the rules of an emerging organization, the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF)
• Military Leaders in Guinea Claim They Have Taken Power VOA 23 Dec 2008 -- Military leaders in Guinea say they have taken power, following the death of long-time President Lansana Conte. The civilian government in Conakry says it is still in charge.
• 3 Chinese Ships to Head to Somali Coast VOA 23 Dec 2008 -- China is sending three ships to the waters off Somalia this week, to help with international efforts to combat pirates. Officials with China's military say this unprecedented deployment of the Chinese navy shows the country's commitment to its international obligations.
• China to send three warships on Somali anti-piracy mission RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2008 -- China is to deploy three warships in the Gulf of Aden to join an international anti-piracy group off the Somali coast, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
• Five Convicted of Plotting to Kill Soldiers at Fort Dix AFPS 23 Dec 2008 -- A federal jury yesterday found five men guilty of conspiracy to kill U.S. soldiers at Fort Dix, N.J., but acquitted them of attempted murder.