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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 07 Dec 2004 [PDF]
• MARINE DIES IN MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifes Army Casualty
• SOLDIER KILLED IN INSURGENT ATTACK

• FIRST ID SOLDIERS CAPTURE SEVEN IN BAYJI AREA RAID CENTCOM 07 Dec 2004 -- 1st Infantry Division Soldiers captured seven individuals in a raid conducted near Bayji at about 7 p.m., Dec. 6.
• TASK FORCE DANGER SOLDIERS DETAIN 4 AIF SUSPECTS CENTCOM 07 Dec 2004 -- Task Force Danger Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 252nd Armor Regiment detained four individuals Dec. 6, at about 4 a.m., who are suspected of being members of an anti-Iraqi forces cell in the village of Quiya.
• 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION SOLDIERS DISCOVER TRUCK LOADS OF MUNITIONS CENTCOM 07 Dec 2004 -- First Infantry Division Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment discovered several weapons caches hidden in palm groves near Baqubah on Dec. 6 at about 7:00 a.m.
• IRAQI POLICE OFFICERS JOIN WITH FIRST TEAM FOR OPERATION CENTCOM 07 Dec 2004 -- A joint U.S.-Iraqi cordon-and-search operation in three Al Rashid District neighborhoods netted several weapons and 20 suspected insurgents Dec. 5.
• Behind the scenes, surgical unit treats Fallujah's casualties USMC News 07 Dec 2004 -- As Marines are stamping out remaining pockets of insurgents in Fallujah, a different battle is being fought here - the battle to save lives.
• RAID PUTS 'SERIOUS DENT' IN TERRORIST EFFORTS IN BAGHDAD CENTCOM 07 Dec 2004 -- Task Force Baghdad Soldiers conducted a raid on a sports complex at 4 p.m., Dec. 6 in eastern Baghdad, capturing several suspected senior level transnational terrorists, including key leaders, operatives, and financiers.
• First ID Soldiers Detain 7, Discover 3 IEDs In Raid MNF-I/MNC-I 07 Dec 2004 -- 1st Infantry Division Soldiers detained seven individuals in a raid conducted just after 10 p.m. Dec. 6.
• Mobile Security Detachment Returns from Persian Gulf Navy NewsStand 07 Dec 2004 -- Mobile Security Det. (MSD) 21 returned home Dec. 7, completing a six-month deployment in the Persian Gulf.

• VP AND SECDEF VISIT COALITION TROOPS IN AFGHANSTAN CENTCOM 07 Dec 2004 -- ---Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld visited coalition forces deployed to Bagram Airfield before attending the Afghanistan Presidential Inauguration in Kabul today.
• Afghanistan Takes Huge Step Toward Democracy Washington File 07 Dec 2004 -- Afghanistan took a huge step toward democracy December 7 when Hamid Karzai was sworn in as the country's first popularly elected president. He had been formally elected October 9.
• Afghanistan's First Elected President Takes Oath in Triumph AFPS 07 Dec 2004 -- The first freely elected president in Afghanistan's 5,000-year history took the oath of office here today.
• Annan congratulates Karzai as first democratically elected Afghan president UN News Centre 07 Dec 2004 -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan today congratulated Afghan President Hamid Karzai on his inauguration as the country's first democratically elected leader and pledged full support to the completion of the Bonn agenda, which three years ago this month set Afghanistan on the transition to full democracy.
• Afghanistan: Karzai Sworn In As Afghan President RFE/RL 07 Dec 2004 -- Hamid Karzai was sworn in as Afghanistan's first directly elected president today at an inauguration ceremony in Kabul's presidential palace. U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld were among the scores of foreign dignitaries in attendance as Karzai took an oath of allegiance to both Islam and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The ceremony follows Karzai's outright first-round election victory on 9 October -- a ballot that Karzai praised in his inauguration speech as a sign of great progress and hope. But Karzai also warned that there is still cause for concern about terrorism, religious extremism, warlords, illegal drug production, and drug smuggling.
• AFGHANISTAN/KARZAI VOA 07 Dec 2004 -- Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai has taken his oath of office, becoming the country's first popularly-elected president. In his inaugural address, Mr. Karzai warned of the continuing dangers of terrorism and the illicit drug trade, issues he says he will tackle during his five-year term.
• CHENEY/AFGHANISTAN VOA 07 Dec 2004 -- Vice President Dick Cheney says Washington will not reduce its military and financial support for Afghanistan, despite Afghan fears of such a cut-back.
• Karzai Sworn In As Afghan President RFE/RL 07 Dec 2004 -- Hamid Karzai was sworn in today as Afghanistan's first popularly elected president.
• Coalition provides response to Afghan mullahs' demands Army News 07 Dec 2004 -- Coalition representatives provided responses to a list of 15 "Responsibilities of government and foreign relatives" during a mullah conference Dec. 6 at Khost University.
• Cheney and Rumsfeld visit troops, attend inauguration Army News 07 Dec 2004 -- Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld visited troops here Dec. 7 before attending the Afghanistan Presidential inauguration in the capital of Kabul.
• ARMY ACKNOWLEDGES ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS OF TILLMAN DEATH Amy News Release 07 Dec 2004 -- The Army is investigating additional details into the death of Cpl. Patrick D. Tillman, who died April 22, 2004, in Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: DoD Briefing on DoD and AF IG Reports 07 Dec 2004 -- Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness David S.C. Chu. Also participating; Vice Chief of Staff USAF Gen. Michael Moseley, Spokesman Office of the inspector General Gary Comerford, Inspector General USAF Lt. Gen. Steven Polk
• Officials release academy sexual-assault IG reports AFPN 07 Dec 2004 -- Defense Department and Air Force officials released findings of two inspector general investigation reports on sexual assault at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

• Officials announce F-16 accident investigation findings AFPN 07 Dec 2004 -- Air Force officials announced investigation findings of a May 19 F-16 Fighting Falcon crash on the Tohono O'odham Nation in Arizona.
• Training prepares security forces Airmen for deployment AFPN 07 Dec 2004 -- Airmen of the 482nd Security Forces Squadron held a tactical training exercise here Dec. 5. The purpose of the exercise was to prepare them for a variety of possible scenarios if and when they deploy.
• Controllers use "giant voice" to keep Airmen informed AFPN 07 Dec 2004 -- Packed into a small, windowless container like sardines in a can, the Airmen who run the command post at Camp Sather here are always in the know, and they do not mind letting everyone know it in a very loud voice.
• Emerging technologies form futuristic uniform Army News 07 Dec 2004 -- Dressed in black from head to toe and wearing a helmet that allows barely a glimpse of his face, Staff Sgt. Raul Lopez looked like something out of a science fiction thriller.
• Osprey Completes Final Shipboard Developmental Testing Navy NewsStand 07 Dec 2004 -- The V-22 Integrated Test Team (ITT) conducted Shipboard Suitability Phase IVc for 10 days aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1) beginning Nov. 12.
• Enterprise Controllers Undergo Refresher Training Navy NewsStand 07 Dec 2004 -- Members of the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) air traffic controller team underwent Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) refresher training during the first two weeks in November at the Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) in Pensacola, Fla.
• MSSG-22 sustains RCAX warriors, Allows units to focus on training UMSC News 07 Dec 2004 -- Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group-22 is currently located at Camp Wilson here serving as the backbone of the Revised Combined Arms Exercise, a training evolution that prepares Marines and sailors for upcoming deployments.
• Navy's Newest Aegis Destroyer To Be Commissioned Navy NewsStand 07 Dec 2004 -- Naval Weapons Station's Wharf Alpha will be the site of the commissioning of the U.S. Navy's newest Aegis guided-missile destroyer, James E. Williams, honoring one of the country's most decorated Sailors, Dec. 11.
• Expeditionary Strike Group 5 Deploys Navy NewsStand 07 Dec 2004 -- More than 6,000 Sailors and Marines of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 5 left San Diego on a routine Western Pacific deployment Dec. 6.
• II MEF Marines try out Osprey USMC News 07 Dec 2004 -- "It's amazing!" were the first words spoken by Lance Cpl. Junior M. Bazile, a Marine Air-Ground Task Force planner for II Marine Expeditionary Force, after he took his initial flight in the V-22 Osprey Tilt Rotor Aircraft.
• Marines Deploy to Aid Philippine Storm Victims AFPS 07 Dec 2004 -- Hundreds of American Marines may deploy to the Philippines to help that country following two killer typhoons.

• Russia to export warplanes to India IRNA 07 Dec 2004 -- Russia will meet its obligations to deliver to India multi-mission planes Su-30 MKI by the end of this year, the president of Irkut corporation, Alexei Fyodorov, said.

• U.S. Official Warns EU About Lifting Arms Embargo Against China Washington File 07 Dec 2004 -- Any decision by the European Union (EU) to lift its arms embargo against China would have significant consequences for U.S. military exports to the EU, a State Department official says.

• State Department Noon Briefing, December 7 Washington File 07 Dec 2004 -- Russia, Iraq, Mexico/El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Israel/Palestinians, North Korea/China/South Korea/Japan, Iran, Sudan
• White House Daily Briefing, December 7 Washington File 07 Dec 2004 -- White House Deputy Press Secretary Trent Duffy briefed reporters on Air Force One December 7 as they accompanied President Bush on a visit to Camp Pendleton, California.

• Powell Says West Not Interfering in Ukraine, Georgia Washington File 07 Dec 2004 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell denied December 7 that the United States has been playing "sphere of interest politics" with the former Soviet Union in the name of democracy.

Defense Industry

• SAAB Takes Increased Marketing Responsibility For Gripen Fighter Aircraft And BAE SYSTEMS Intends To Reduce Its Shareholding In SAAB BAE Systems 07 Dec 2004 -- In 1995 SAAB and BAE Systems created a 50/50 Joint Venture to develop and explore the Gripen Export business. In order to adapt to both external and internal dynamics, this Joint Venture has evolved including the creation of Gripen International as the export marketing organization for Gripen. SAAB and BAE Systems have jointly decided to develop further the cooperation regarding the Gripen export business.
• General Dynamics Awarded $5.6 Million Contract Modification for Submarine Work General Dynamics 07 Dec 2004 -- The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $5.6 million contract modification for nuclear-submarine work. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• Lockheed Martin Receives $112.2 Million Production Contract for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Lockheed Martin 07 Dec 2004 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] received a U.S. Air Force contract totaling more than $112 million for continued production of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), the world's first stealthy cruise missile.
• Northrop Grumman Unveils New Capability for Harbor Surveillance Northrop Grumman 07 Dec 2004 -- Enhanced maritime security in major ports across the nation may soon become a reality, thanks to a new harbor defense system being developed and tested by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) to identify and track potential underwater and surface ship threats.
• Northrop Grumman Announces New San Bernardino Site Northrop Grumman 07 Dec 2004 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has announced that it plans to relocate its Missile Engineering Center to a new site located on Hospitality Lane inside the Tri-City Corporate Centre by January 2006.
• Pratt & Whitney Celebrates the 30th Anniversary of delivery of the first production F100 engine at Edwards Air Force Base Pratt & Whitney 07 Dec 2004 -- In a brief ceremony today at Edwards Air Force Base in California, Pratt & Whitney celebrated the 30th anniversary of the delivery of the first production F100 engine.
• Thales welcomes order for 59 Rafale combat aircraft Thales 07 Dec 2004 -- The Rafale programme represents contracts worth 1 billion euros for Thales in 2004

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 07 Dec 2004
• UN/Sudan VOA 07 Dec 2004 -- The United Nations is warning of impending chaos in Sudan's western Darfur region, with increasing violence and a breakdown of order. The United States responded to the warning with a call for tougher action to end Sudan's two civil wars.
• SUDAN: Violence still reported in Darfur despite accords IRIN 07 Dec 2004 -- Reports of sexual violence, including rape, have persisted in Sudan's strife-torn western region of Darfur, despite agreements between Khartoum and rebel groups, aimed at improving the security situation in the area, the UN human rights agency said.
• Security Council voices 'deep concern' at deteriorating situation in Darfur UN News Centre 07 Dec 2004 -- Alarmed that the deteriorating security situation in Sudan's western Darfur region risks degenerating into chaos, the United Nations Security Council today called on the Government and rebels to abide by their pledges to end what the UN has termed the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
• Security in Sudan Deteriorating, U.N. Says Washington File 07 Dec 2004 -- Throughout November violence in Sudan increased and there has been "a marked deterioration" in Darfur, a senior U.N. official told the Security Council December 7.
• SUDAN: Gov't, SPLM/A resume talks on southern conflict IRIN 07 Dec 2004 -- The Sudanese Vice President Ali Uthman Taha and the leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), John Garang, resumed high-level talks on Monday in their latest attempt to end two decades of war in the south, officials said.

• PRESS CONFERENCE BY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF CÔTE D’IVOIRE United Nations 07 Dec 2004
• COTE D IVOIRE: All sides pledge commitment to peace process again, but will anything change? IRIN 07 Dec 2004 -- South African President Thabo Mbeki ended his mediation in Cote d'Ivoire having wrangled promises from all sides to revive the flagging peace process.

• UGANDA: Government extends unilateral ceasefire once more IRIN 07 Dec 2004 -- The Ugandan government has extended the limited ceasefire it announced last month in some areas of the northern region, where it is fighting the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), an army spokesman told IRIN on Tuesday.
• Security Council demands Rwanda pull out military forces in DR of Congo UN News Centre 07 Dec 2004 -- The United Nations Security Council today demanded Rwanda withdraw any military forces it may have in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and warned of potential instability brought about by the presence of Rwandan rebels in the DRC.
• Security Council mission calls for extra push for peace in DR of Congo, Burundi UN News Centre 07 Dec 2004 -- With both the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi "at a crucial turning point" in their peace processes, the United Nations Security Council should take financial and technical steps to help ensure success of the transition from years of war, according to the report of a Council mission released today.
• INDIA/NAGA REBELS VOA 07 Dec 2004 -- Separatist leaders from the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland and senior Indian officials have expressed their commitment to ending the country's oldest rebellion.
• ISRAEL PALESTINIANS VOA 07 Dec 2004 -- A period of relative calm in the Gaza Strip was broken by a nearly hour-long battle between Palestinian militants and Israeli troops that left at least one Israeli soldier and one militant dead.
• RWANDA-DRC/AFRICAN UNION VOA 07 Dec 2004 -- Foreign ministers gathered for the African Union's Peace and Security Council meeting in Addis Ababa are examining the deteriorating relations between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• YEMEN: Special report on support for mine victims IRIN 07 Dec 2004 -- Teenager Sabah was in the forest collecting wood one day in the western Yemeni governorate of Hodaida when her life was completely destroyed.

News Reports

• UN/ANNAN/RESIGNATION VOA 07 Dec 2004 -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is planning to carry on in his job, despite calls by some U.S. lawmakers and news organizations for his resignation. Several world leaders are rallying to the Secretary-General's defense, amid allegations of corruption in the Iraq oil-for-food program.

• U.S. / UKRAINE VOA 07 Dec 2004 -- A U.S. official is warning that there will be consequences for Ukraine if the December 26th presidential runoff election is marred by fraud.
• UKRAINE / POWELL VOA 07 Dec 2004 -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has rejected Russian charges that the West is trying to win influence in Ukraine and other former Soviet republics by pushing its own interests in the name of democracy. U.S.-Russian disagreements have dominated the meeting in Bulgaria of the 55-member Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE.
• UKRAINE POL TUES VOA 07 Dec 2004 -- Ukraine's parliament, the Rada, has failed to pass a controversial package of legislative reforms that would clear the way for new presidential run-off elections to be held by month's end. VOA's Lisa McAdams in Kiev has the latest on Ukraine's ongoing political impasse, now in its third week.
• Ukraine: Election Crisis Highlights Difference In Attitudes Between East, West RFE/RL 07 Dec 2004 -- Recent developments have once again thrown Ukraine's territorial integrity into question. The country's eastern regions had threatened to secede as a possible response to pro-democracy demonstrations in Kyiv. Many of those who live in the industrial east wanted Viktor Yanukovych -- who was born in Donetsk -- to be declared the winner of the second round of the presidential election. But those results have now been annulled by the Supreme Court and a repeat vote is tentatively slated for 26 December. After negative reactions from Kyiv, the rebellious region toned down its demands and announced that it wanted only limited autonomy.
• Ukrainian Parliament Adjourns Without Decision RFE/RL 07 Dec 2004 -- Rival factions in Ukraine's parliament today failed to agree on passing electoral changes aimed at ensuring a fair vote in the nation's 26 December repeat presidential runoff.
• UKRAINE / UNCERTAINTY VOA 07 Dec 2004 -- Ukraine's ongoing political crisis took another unexpected turn, when late-night talks involving international mediators broke up without an expected compromise deal. Parliament is to convene, later today, amid continuing uncertainty about what comes next.
• Election Repeat In Ukraine Remains In Doubt RFE/RL 07 Dec 2004 -- Following six hours of overnight talks in Kyiv, outgoing Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has announced he is prepared to make two key concessions demanded by opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko.
• Powell Rejects Putin Accusations On Ukraine RFE/RL 07 Dec 2004 -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has rejected Russian criticism of the West's role in Ukraine's election crisis, saying the United States and its allies are interested only in freedom for the Ukrainian people.
• Ukrainian Parliament Due To Meet RFE/RL 07 Dec 2004 -- Ukraine's parliament is due to meet today amid the country's continuing political crisis.