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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 15 Feb 2005 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties

• Baghdad Raids Grab 13 suspects AFPS 15 Feb 2005 -- A series of recent raids conducted by Task Force Baghdad soldiers netted 13 suspected terrorists in western Baghdad.
• American Unit Rotations Continue in Iraq AFPS 15 Feb 2005 -- With the Army's 18th Airborne Corps taking over as the Multinational Corps Iraq headquarters, the 2004-2006 rotation of troops is well under way.
• Marines' KC-130J joins mission in Iraq USMC News 15 Feb 2005 -- Establishing another milestone in Iraq, the Marine Corps deployed its newest refueling tanker aircraft, the KC-130J Hercules, for the first time Feb. 13.

• IRAQ/WAR SPENDING VOA 15 Feb 2005 -- President Bush's request to Congress for 82-billion dollars in additional funding for military and reconstruction needs in Iraq and Afghanistan is receiving scrutiny on Capitol Hill. This comes amid growing concern among lawmakers about examples of waste, fraud and abuse in how funds were spent in Iraq
• Bush Sends Supplemental Budget Request to Congress AFPS 15 Feb 2005 -- President Bush requested almost $90 billion from Congress to pay for the on-going war on terrorism and other emergency measures.
• Bush Asks Congress for $82 Billion for Iraq, Afghanistan Washington File 15 Feb 2005 -- President Bush has asked Congress for an additional $82 billion in funding, much of it for military and intelligence operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for restructuring and equipping forces to fight terrorism.
• Bush Seeks Further $82 Billion For Iraqi, Afghan, Other Operations RFE/RL 15 Feb 2005 -- President George W. Bush has urged Congress to approve quickly his request for nearly $82 billion in supplemental funding to cover the costs of U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

• Pacific Fleet Seabees Wrap Up Tsunami Relief Effort Navy NewsStand 15 Feb 2005 -- Seabees from three U.S. Pacific Fleet commands packed up and headed home Feb. 10, after nearly a month of supporting tsunami relief operations in Southeast Asia and Africa.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Navy to Commission Attack Submarine Jimmy Carter 15 Feb 2005 -- The Navy will commission the newest nuclear-powered attack submarine Jimmy Carter on Saturday, Feb. 19, during an 11 a.m. EST ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Conn.
• Navy Modeling and Simulation Streamlining Execution in MBGIE Exercise Navy NewsStand 14 Feb 2005 -- The U.S. Navy made its largest ever use of simulated training with the successful completion of its second Multiple Battle Group Inport Exercise (MBGIE), Feb. 7-11.
• Maritime Forces Play Crucial Role in War on Terror AFPS 15 Feb 2005 -- They may be far away from the streets where ground troops are engaging insurgents and terrorists in direct combat, but Army Gen. John Abizaid told sailors and Marines aboard the carrier USS Harry S. Truman that they are playing a crucial role in the global war on terrorism.
• Officials release F-16 accident report AFPN 15 Feb 2005 -- A left brake anti-skid malfunction during landing and the pilot's failure to follow an emergency checklist caused an F-16 Fighting Falcon to leave the runway while deployed July 10, according to an accident investigation board report released Feb. 15.
• Inspector General investigates eight Air Force contracts AFPN 15 Feb 2005 -- Eight Air Force defense contracts not previously identified for in-depth review have been referred to the Department of Defense inspector general for investigation.
• DOD IG finds fault with former SECAF AFPN 15 Feb 2005 -- The former secretary of the Air Force was found recently to have committed two technical violations of the Joint Ethics Regulation.
• Expeditionary logistics team carries the load AFPN 15 Feb 2005 -- They "move the mission," keeping the busiest airfield in Afghanistan operational. They are the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Airmen, and their job is to support all aircraft coming in and out of here, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Air Force moves radios to narrowband AFPN 15 Feb 2005 -- As the demand for radio frequencies continues to grow, so does the need to increase efficiency. Air Force Communications Agency officials here helped create more capabilities by providing the roadmap for moving the Air Force away from wideband to narrowband radios.
• Commentary: Armor upgrade efforts on track Army News 15 Feb 2005 -- It's been more than two months since the controversy started. At a town-hall style meeting in December, Spc. Charles Wilson asked Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld why Soldiers from his unit had to scrounge for spare parts to armor vehicles before making the trip into Iraq.
• Posture statement sets out Army's needs, goals Army News 15 Feb 2005 -- The U.S. Army's Posture statement, which informs the Congress about the status of the U.S. Army, was released Feb. 9 and is available at the Army's Web page.
• NAVSEA Commander's Guidance Continues the Transformation Navy NewsStand 15 Feb 2005 -- Vice Adm. Phillip M. Balisle, commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), released his 2005 guidance Feb. 7.

• White House Daily Briefing, February 15 Washington File 15 Feb 2005 -- Syria, North Korea, Pakistan, Lebanon, Kyoto treaty, visit of the King and Queen of Norway
• State Department Briefing, February 15 Washington File 15 Feb 2005 -- Visas/extension of Mantis clearances, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Israel/Palestinians, Iran, China/Taiwan, Cyprus, Albania, Iraq, Rewards for Justice Program, Pakistan

Defense Industry

• General Dynamics Awarded $44.6M Modification for Submarine Multi-Purpose Processor General Dynamics 15 Feb 2005 -- The U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), a $44.6 million contract modification to provide engineering and technical services and production in support of the Multi-Purpose Processor (MPP) program for submarines.
• Northrop Grumman Outfits U.S. Army with Weather Products Northrop Grumman 15 Feb 2005 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is working with the U.S. Army to integrate hardware and software for the Integrated Meteorological System (IMETS). IMETS provides commanders and staffs with an automated tactical weather system that receives weather data from multiple sources, then processes and disseminates weather observations, forecasts, battlefield visualization and weather-effects decision aids.
• EADS Astrium imagery applications for Global Monitoring for Environment and Security EADS 15 Feb 2005 -- EADS Astrium has invested in space imagery applications, both within the company and through its subsidiaries and various partnerships.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 15 Feb 2005
• LIBERIA: US hires private company to train 4,000-man army IRIN 15 Feb 2005 -- The United States has hired DynCorp International, a privately-owned security company to train a new 4,000-man Liberian army, a US government official in Liberia said on Tuesday.

• SHARM EL-SHEIKH SUMMIT: OPPORTUNITY FOR PEACE US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 15 Feb 2005
• Annan urges West Africa to make regional arms moratorium permanent UN News Centre 15 Feb 2005 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has recommended that the Security Council take action to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) by naming violators of the regional body's arms moratorium and embargoes and by prosecuting those responsible for trafficking in human beings and natural resources.

News Reports

• PRESS BRIEFING BY CHAIRMAN OF SECURITY COUNCIL AL-QAIDA SANCTIONS COMMITTEE United Nations 15 Feb 2005
• Annan hopes to see start of Syrian troop withdrawal from Lebanon by April UN News Centre 15 Feb 2005 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today he hoped that there would be clear signs of a withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon within the next two months.
• After ex-premier's murder, Security Council underscores Lebanon's sovereignty UN News Centre 15 Feb 2005 -- The United Nations Security Council today called on all parties to cooperate fully in the restoration of the territorial integrity, full sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon and in the fight against terrorism following the assassination yesterday of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
• U.N. Security Council Condemns Murder of Hariri Washington File 15 Feb 2005 -- The U.N. Security Council February 15 condemned the bombing that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and said it is concerned by the potential for further destabilization of the country as a result of the terrorist incident.
• UN / HARIRI VOA 15 Feb 2005 -- The U.N. Security Council has asked Secretary-General Kofi Annan for urgent reports on the assassination Monday of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The Council pledged to follow closely the investigation into Mr. Hariri's death.
• US / EGYPT VOA 15 Feb 2005 -- Egypt's foreign minister says he hopes the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri will not lead to chaos and a return to civil war in that country. Ahmed Aboul Gheit made the remarks during a visit to Washington.
• BEIRUT/MOURNING VOA 15 Feb 2005 -- Shops are closed and the Lebanese Army is patrolling the streets of Beirut, as ordinary citizens and political figures mourn the death of the former prime minister, Rafik al Hariri, known to many as Mr. Lebanon.
• Middle East: Lebanon Mourns Hariri As Speculation Mounts Over Who Is Behind Assassination RFE/RL 15 Feb 2005 -- Lebanon began three days of mourning and its military went on high alert after the assassination yesterday of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and at least 11 others in a car bombing in Beirut. Some observers believe that the blast may have shattered the relative quiet that descended on Lebanon with the end of its bloody civil war in 1990. The United States is suggesting Syria had a role in the bombing and may seek a toughening of UN sanctions against Damascus.
• Middle East: Hariri's Killing Preceded By Steady Rise In Political Tensions RFE/RL 15 Feb 2005 -- The role of Syria in Lebanese politics is coming under intense scrutiny following the assassination yesterday of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Opposition leaders have said that Syria, which has had a large troop presence in Lebanon since the end of the country's civil war in 1990, bears responsibility for Hariri's death, but stopped short of accusing Damascus or Lebanon's Syrian-backed government of outright involvement in the killing.

• TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL LOUISE FRECHETTE United Nations 15 Feb 2005
• TOGO VOA 15 Feb 2005 -- A West African diplomatic mission is in Togo to convince the military-installed government of Faure Gnassingbe, the son of the country's late leader, to step down. The regional grouping ECOWAS has made a non-negotiable demand for quick elections.