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News

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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 21 Dec 2004 [PDF]

• IRAQ WRAP VOA 21 Dec 2004 -- An explosion ripped through a tent at a military base near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, killing at least 24 people and wounding more than 60 others. At least 19 American military personnel are among the dead. The attack came as British Prime Minister Tony Blair made a surprise visit to Baghdad.
• Experts Investigating Source of Mosul Explosion AFPS 21 Dec 2004 -- Explosives experts are investigating the source of a single, large explosion on a U.S. base in southwest Mosul, Iraq, Task Force Olympia Commander Army Brig. Gen. Carter Ham said in a televised statement.
• 11TH MEU ASSUMES CONTROL OF KARBALA PROVINCE CENTCOM 21 Dec 2004 -- The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit assumed operational control of Karbala province from the Polish-led Multi-National Division Central South (MND-CS) during a ceremony here on Dec 21.
• IRAQ/MOSUL VOA 21 Dec 2004 -- An explosion in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul has killed at least 22 people and wounded at least 60 more. Although it was initially reported to be a rocket or mortar attack, military officials now say the cause of the blast is unknown.
• U.S. General Says Over 20 Killed In Iraq Attack RFE/RL 21 Dec 2004 -- U.S. Brigadier General Carter Ham has said more than 20 people were killed and at least 60 wounded in an explosion today at a U.S. military base in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
• EXPLOSION AT MULTI-NATIONAL BASE CAUSES CASUALTIES CENTCOM 21 Dec 2004 -- An explosion occurred at a U.S. Military installation in Mosul at noon on Dec. 21, causing multiple casualties.
• IRAQI SECURITY FORCES FOIL INSURGENT ATTACK, MULTI-NATIONAL FORCES DETAIN FIVE CENTCOM 21 Dec 2004 -- Iraqi Security Forces decisively defeated another attack by anti-Iraqi forces as they attempted to seize a police station. In a separate incident, Multi-National Forces from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), detained five people suspected of anti-Iraqi activities during other operations on Dec. 17 in northern Iraq.
• Refuelers keep Marine aviation ready for anti-terrorism missions on Iraqi border USMC News 21 Dec 2004 -- The remote gravel flight line here can be a quiet place, but it can suddenly transform into a bustling center of gravity for Marines on the job in Iraq's bleak western desert.
• Marines Seize Weapons Caches MNF-I/MNC-I 21 Dec 2004 -- Marines from the 1st Marine Division of the I Marine Expeditionary Force seized several weapons caches in and near the city of Al Amirya during clearing operations yesterday.
• First Infantry Division Soldiers Detain One Anti-Iraqi Force Member Near Samarra MNF-I/MNC-I 21 Dec 2004 -- First Infantry Division Soldiers detained one anti-Iraqi force member after he was observed emplacing an improvised explosive device near Samarra at about 8:45 p.m., December 20.
• Five Task Force Danger Soldiers and One Iraqi Civilian Wounded in IED Attack MNF-I/MNC-I 21 Dec 2004 -- Five Task Force Danger Soldiers and one Iraqi civilian were wounded when anti-Iraqi forces detonated an improvised explosive device concealed in a vehicle near Hawija on December 20 at about 11:15 a.m.
• First Infantry Division Soldiers Detain Four in Raid Near Tikrit MNF-I/MNC-I 21 Dec 2004 -- First Infantry Division Soldiers detained four individuals in a raid in Owja, near Tikrit at about 6:16 p.m., December 20.
• Iraqi Security Forces Foil Insurgent Attack, Multi-National Forces Detain Five MNF-I/MNC-I 21 Dec 2004 -- Iraqi Security Forces decisively defeated another attack by anti-Iraqi forces as they attempted to seize a police station.
• Tip leads Soldiers to Two Car Bombs MNF-I/MNC-I 21 Dec 2004 -- Task Force Baghdad Soldiers found two car bombs and other weapons yesterday at about 4 p.m. in western Baghdad.
• Raids Deal Insurgents a Bad Hand MNF-I/MNC-I 21 Dec 2004 -- In a continuing effort to disrupt insurgent activities in Al Anbar Province, elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted limited-scale raids over the past 48 hours that detained numerous individuals who have terrorist ties.
• Gulfport Aids in Mobilization of Reserve Fleet Hospital Navy NewsStand 21 Dec 2004 -- Navy Branch Health Clinic Gulfport, Miss. is in the process of mobilizing 400 personnel from across 48 states for Reserve Fleet Hospital (FH) Dallas to replace FH Portsmouth, Va., as the Navy's expeditionary medical facility on the ground in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Marine engineers encounter danger while rebuilding Fallujah USMC News 21 Dec 2004 -- What was supposed to be a routine mission for the combat engineers of 1st Platoon soon became an ominous reminder that danger still resides in the narrow, uncertain streets of Fallujah.

• VAW-126 Helps Defend Democracy in Afghanistan Navy NewsStand 21 Dec 2004 -- Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 126 provided two aircraft and approximately 30 crew members in support of the weeklong operation for the inauguration of Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kandahar Dec. 7.
• US / AFGHAN SECURITY VOA 21 Dec 2004 -- The U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan says that country's government is making considerable progress in building up its security forces. However, the U.S. envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, says some foreign troops may be needed there indefinitely.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Officials close unit in France AFPN 21 Dec 2004 -- The 774th Expeditionary Air Base Group officially closed its doors here during a ceremony Dec. 17, ending more than a decade of U.S. and French cooperation.

• State Department Awards $5 Million for Mine Removal Projects Washington File 21 Dec 2004 -- The Department of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement has awarded over $5 million in grants to nongovernmental and international organizations, educational institutions, and civic associations for humanitarian mine action projects.
• Interview at the Christian Science Monitor's Newsmaker Press Briefing Luncheon US Dept. of State 21 Dec 2004

Defense Industry

• Germany Orders 75 Bv206S From Land Systems Hgglunds BAE Systems 21 Dec 2004 -- The German procurement agency, Bundesamt fr Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung (BWB), has today signed an order with BAE Systems' Land Systems Hgglunds organisation for 75 Bv206S all-terrain vehicles valued at approximately 300 m SEK (approximately 23 million).
• Boeing X-45A Unmanned Vehicle Controlled Via Satellite from 900 Miles Away Boeing 21 Dec 2004 -- A Boeing [NYSE: BA] X-45A unmanned aircraft was controlled by a pilot-operator in Seattle, Wash., after launching from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on Dec. 9.
• Oshkosh Truck Teams With Rockwell Collins To Develop Second-Generation Self-Navigating Robotic Truck Oshkosh 21 Dec 2004 -- Oshkosh Truck Corporation [NYSE: OSK], a leading manufacturer of specialty trucks and truck bodies, announced today that it has teamed with Rockwell Collins [NYSE: COL] to develop Oshkosh’s second-generation, self-navigating robotic TerraMax™ vehicle to compete in the Pentagon-sponsored $2-million 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge.
• Raytheon Awarded U.S. Navy Engineering Services Contract Option Potentially Valued at $98.8 Million Raytheon 21 Dec 2004 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a one-year option with a ceiling of $98.8 million on an existing indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract with the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).
• Boeing ScanEagle UAV Demonstrates Communications Relay Utilizing Harris' Secure Wireless Technology Boeing 21 Dec 2004 -- ScanEagle, a long-endurance fully autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Boeing [NYSE:BA] and The Insitu Group, successfully demonstrated high-speed wireless communications relay during a recent flight at the Boeing Boardman test range.
• General Dynamics Awarded $5.8 Million Contract to Develop NSA Acquisition Wide Area Network General Dynamics 21 Dec 2004 -- General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems has been awarded a $5.8 million contract to provide analysis, design and implementation support for the Acquisition Wide Area Network (AWAN) procurement system for the National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) and their industry participant base.
• Northrop Grumman, Air Force Use Joint STARS Surveillance Aircraft to Demonstrate Secure, Airborne Internet Capability Northrop Grumman 21 Dec 2004 -- The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) successfully demonstrated an airborne capability to collaborate real time via Internet 'chat rooms', e-mail, and the Web, all within a secure, classified environment.
• Boeing Delta IV Heavy Achieves Major Test Objectives in First Flight Boeing 21 Dec 2004 -- The Boeing [NYSE: BA] Delta IV Heavy made its first flight today achieving the major test objectives despite placing its demonstration satellite in a lower than expected orbit.
• EADS Astrium Awarded Contract to Commence the Build of the First Four Galileo Satellites EADS 21 Dec 2004 -- The European satellite navigation project Galileo is beginning to take shape. On Tuesday, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Galileo Industries signed a preliminary contract in Paris for the In-Orbit-Verfication-Phase (IOV).
• Raytheon Delivers Five STANDARD Missile-3 Rounds for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System Raytheon 21 Dec 2004 -- Raytheon Company has delivered five STANDARD Missile-3 rounds to the Missile Defense Agency for deployment as a key element of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.
• Northrop Grumman Receives $153 Million ICBM Award for Guidance Systems Modernization Northrop Grumman 21 Dec 2004 -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a $153 million contract to continue full-rate production of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Guidance Replacement Program (GRP). This program is a key modernization effort that will upgrade the guidance-system electronics in the Minuteman III ICBM to extend the missile's service life through 2020.

Other Conflicts

• UN/DARFUR VOA 22 Dec 2004 -- The United States has urged U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to visit Sudan's Darfur region, after Mr. Annan criticized the Security Council's approach to ending the violence there. Frustrations are bubbling to the surface as diplomatic efforts to stop violence in Sudan remain mired in controversy.
• NIGERIA-SUDAN: Darfur talks suspended, both sides vow to stop fighting IRIN 21 Dec 2004 -- African Union mediators said on Tuesday that faltering peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebels in the country's western Darfur region had been suspended until January.
• UN Security Council welcomes new moves towards peace on Eritrean-Ethiopian border UN News Centre 21 Dec 2004 -- Stressing the importance of demarcating a final acceptable border between two Horn of Africa countries, the United Nations Security Council today said it was encouraged by Ethiopia's announcement that it has a new peace plan and by Eritrea's continued acceptance of an independent Boundary Commission's decision on the frontier as binding.
• Security Council renews sanctions against Liberia; refugees return home UN News Centre 21 Dec 2004 -- Having received an expert report citing failures in Liberia's management of its major natural resources and saying it still feared that proceeds from those resources might fuel conflicts, the United Nations Security Council today renewed sanctions against the West African country's diamond and timber industries and re-imposed bans on weapons importing and travel by certain former officials.
• UN moves on two fronts in face of worsening crisis in Sudan's Darfur region UN News Centre 21 Dec 2004 -- Facing a serious degradation in security and relief operations in Sudan's Darfur region which it has already called the world's worst humanitarian crisis, the United Nations today moved on both the political and aid fronts to halt the resurgence of violence and prepare for a possible new flood of refugees.
• DARFUR / TALKS VOA 21 Dec 2004 -- Peace talks in Nigeria between the Sudanese government and Darfur's two main rebel groups have ended without any progress, amid ongoing fighting.
• DRC: After gaining ground, insurgents agree to ceasefire IRIN 21 Dec 2004 -- The leaders of dissident soldiers in North Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have agreed to a ceasefire following more than a week of fighting that has displaced tens of thousands of civilians.
• SUDAN: Relief agency pulls out of Darfur region IRIN 21 Dec 2004 -- The British charity, Save the Children (SC UK), has discontinued its humanitarian operations in the western Sudanese region of Darfur following the deaths of four staff members in two separate incidents over the past two months.

News Reports

• Ukraine: 'Orange Revolution' -- Break With The Past Or Historical Blip? RFE/RL 21 Dec 2004 -- For the participants in Ukraine's "Orange Revolution," it is still too early to celebrate victory. Their leader, opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko, must still triumph on 26 December in a presidential election that must be accepted as legitimate by a majority of Ukrainians. Nonetheless, it's hard to dismiss the feeling that something truly extraordinary has happened in the country. After weeks of opposition protests that led to the annulment of the original election for fraud and the scheduling of new polls, it would seem that a new, democratic Ukraine is being born. Yet many remain cautious, saying a rollback to the post-Soviet status quo is still possible.
• UKRAINE / DEBATE REACT VOA 21 Dec 2004 -- Ukraine's two contenders to replace outgoing President Leonid Kuchma traded attacks on everything from vote fraud to fostering separatism during a live two-hour nationally-televised debate (late Monday in Kiev).
• Yushchenko, Yanukovych Face Off In Debate RFE/RL 21 Dec 2004 -- The two candidates contesting Ukraine's upcoming repeat presidential runoff traded barbs in a nationally televised debate last night.