Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 16 Jun 2005 [PDF]
• FIVE MARINES KILLED BY IED IN AR RAMADI
• SAILOR WITH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE KILLED
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualties
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Navy Casualty

• Transcript: DoD News Briefing 16 Jun 2005 -- Presenter: Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and Director of Operations, J-3 Lieutenant General James T. Conway
• U.S., Iraqi Forces Capture al-Qaida Leader in Mosul Washington File 16 Jun 2005 -- Al-Qaida's top leader in the Mosul area of northern Iraq was taken without a fight by American and Iraqi military forces June 14, a senior U.S. general says.
• Citizens Providing More Help to Iraqi, Coalition Forces AFPS 16 Jun 2005 -- More and more, Iraqi citizens are helping suppress the insurgency in that country, a senior U.S. officer in Baghdad said today.
• Insurgency Unpopular; Iraqi Forces Growing More Capable AFPS 16 Jun 2005 -- The June 14 capture of Muhammad Khalaf Shakar reflects the growing intolerance of the Iraqi people for an "unpopular insurgency" and shows the increasing capability of Iraqi security forces, a U.S. military official in Iraq said today.
• In Iraq, Zarqawi Aide Arrested After Tip from Iraqi Civilians VOA 16 Jun 2005 -- Coalition forces in Iraq have arrested an individual whom they describe as one of militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's most trusted agents in Iraq. The arrest followed a tip from Iraqi civilians, which U.S. officials say proves the insurgency is growing increasingly unpopular.
• Operation Moon River Dragon MNF-I 17 Jun 2005 -- Members of the Iraqi Army and Soldiers from 1-15 Infantry encircled several objectives in the village of Al Julaam as Operation Moon River Dragon commenced May 29 in hopes of apprehending the battalion's second-most- wanted suspected terrorist.
• Mosul 's most-wanted captured MNF-I 17 Jun 2005 -- Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces captured the leader of Al-Qaida in the Mosul region June 14.

• U.S. Diplomat Doubts Bin Laden or Omar in Afghanistan VOA 16 Jun 2005 -- The U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan says Osama bin Laden and former Taleban leader Mullah Omar are no longer in the country, but did not say where they may be.
• Al-Qaeda, Taliban leader alive, claims veiled commander IRNA 16 Jun 2005 -- A veiled Taliban commander has claimed that Osama bin Laden and Taliban's leader Mullah Omar are alive and in good health.
• Afghanistan: WHO Officials Discuss Cholera Amid Fears Of Kabul Epidemic RFE/RL 16 Jun 2005 -- Afghan authorities are rushing to chlorinate hundreds of drinking water wells across Kabul amid fears that the city could be on the verge of a cholera epidemic. International health experts say at least eight Kabul residents have died recently from an apparent waterborne disease that causes acute diarrhea and severe dehydration.
• Senate Considers Nomination for U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Washington File 16 Jun 2005 -- The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations opened hearings on the nomination of Ronald Neumann to be the next U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan June 15.
• Bush Authorizes $161.5 Million in Defense Items for Afghanistan Washington File 16 Jun 2005 -- President Bush authorized the drawdown of $161.5 million in defense articles and services from the Department of Defense for Afghanistan in a June 15 memorandum to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Blue Ridge, Australian Ships Exchange Sailors Navy NewsStand 16 Jun 2005 -- Sailors from USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) swapped places with Royal Australian Navy sailors June 10 as the ship departed Sydney, Australia, with two Australian vessels to participate in exercise Talisman Saber 2005.
• Joint Staff Embarks Boxer for Talisman Saber Navy NewsStand 16 Jun 2005 -- A joint task force of nearly 50 Australian and U.S. service members, known as Combined Forces Maritime Component Command (CFMCC), embarked USS Boxer (LHD 4) in Townsville, Australia, June 10-11 to lead Exercise Talisman Saber 2005.
• Naval Facilities Engineering Command Successfully Tests Ship-to-Ship Cargo Handling System Navy NewsStand 16 Jun 2005 -- During the week of May 20, the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) completed successful at-sea testing of the quarter-scale Automated Logistics (AutoLog) cargo handling system, which is designed to move cargo from ship to ship during heavy seas.
• Task Force Liberty Soldier Charged in Deaths of Unit Officers AFPS 16 Jun 2005 -- A soldier in Iraq has been charged with two counts of premeditated murder in connection with the June 7 deaths of two other soldiers in his unit, military officials in Baghdad announced today.
• Bush Officials Ask Congress to Fund Post-Conflict Reconstruction VOA 16 Jun 2005 -- Bush administration officials are urging Congress to increase funding for a new office that would promote democracy and stabilization in regions prone to conflict around the world.
• Guardsmen familiarize Polish airmen with F-16 AFPN 16 Jun 2005 -- Once adversaries, American F-16 Fighting Falcons and Soviet-era MiG-29s sit side by side on the flightline here during exercise Sentry White Falcon 2005.
• Reservists required to register civilian employment info AFPN 16 Jun 2005 -- Time is running out for about 15,000 Air Force reservists in the Selected Reserve to comply with a Department of Defense directive.
• Technicians ensure safe, clean, serviceable fuel AFPN 16 Jun 2005 -- The availability of safe and reliable petroleum is vital in safeguarding the lives of military forces.
• DoD Issues Guidance for Medical Personnel Dealing With Detainees AFPS 16 Jun 2005 -- DoD officials this month issued new guidelines for military medical personnel dealing with detainees.
• Captains to be promoted sooner, serve longer as majors Army News 16 Jun 2005 -- The Army has increased its career developmental timeline for active-duty majors by one year, while shortening time spent as a captain.
• Hundreds Embark Boxer for Talisman Saber Navy NewsStand 16 Jun 2005 -- Australian army, navy and air force service members embarked USS Boxer (LHD 4) in Townsville, Australia, June 8 through 11 in preparation for Talisman Saber 2005, a joint exercise involving more than 16,000 service members from Australia and the United States.
• Guardian Conducts Multinational Joint, Combined Training Navy NewsStand 16 Jun 2005 -- USS Guardian (MCM 5) is currently in its sixth week of deployment, conducting joint and combined training exercises with armed forces throughout the Western Pacific.

• Bush Delays Transfer of Israel Embassy Another Six Months Washington File 16 Jun 2005 -- President Bush has suspended the transfer of the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem for an additional six months in order to protect "the national security interests of the United States," according to a June 15 memorandum to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

• White House Daily Briefing, June 16 Washington File 16 Jun 2005 -- Bush administration/priorities, Iraq/insurgency, Iraq/resolution, Middle East elections, Osama bin Laden, Guantanamo Bay/treatment of detainees, economy

Defense Industry

• Israel Aircraft Industries' Elta Systems Group Awarded $10 Million Contract for EL/L-8222 Electronic Warfare System Israel Aerospace Industries 16 Jun 2005 -- Israel Aircraft Industries' Elta Systems Group (IAI Elta) has been awarded a $10 million contract for its EL/L-8222 Electronic Warfare (EW) system for a leading Western country. The contract was signed with a prominent local defense contractor under a strategic partnership agreement with Elta.
• KAI, HAI AND LOCKHEED MARTIN AGREE TO STUDY T-50 TRAINER FOR HELLENIC AIR FORCE Lockheed Martin 16 Jun 2005 -- Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) and Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] will jointly study and evaluate the advanced jet training needs of the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) and the potential contribution each could make if the T-50 Training System should be selected. The agreement provides for a one-year study, but could be extended if all parties concur.
• Army Battalion Becomes First Unit Equipped With Lockheed Martin's Future Force HIMARS Launcher Lockheed Martin 16 Jun 2005 -- The U.S. Army today introduced its first unit equipped with the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), helping the service meet its goal of fielding a lighter, more mobile and more flexible fighting force.
• Northrop Grumman Mine-Detection Program Reaches Milestone C Northrop Grumman 16 Jun 2005 -- The U.S. Navy has announced that Northrop Grumman's (NYSE:NOC) airborne-laser mine-detection system has reached Milestone C - signifying the end of system development and demonstration - and is now poised to enter its production phase.
• Lockheed Martin Announces Los Alamos Bid Team Lockheed Martin 16 Jun 2005 -- Lockheed Martin Corporation [NYSE: LMT] and The University of Texas System have signed an agreement that officially teams the two in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) competition to manage the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Other members of the Lockheed Martin Los Alamos Alliance are CH2M Hill, headquartered in Denver, Colo., and Fluor Corporation, headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif.
• MBDA and Thales sign Aster 30 seeker production contract Thales 16 Jun 2005 -- Fabrizio Giulianini, Managing Director of MBDA Italia and Bruno Delacour, Director Missile Electronics of Thales' air systems activities, have signed today the production contract for the seekers and proximity fuzes (both of which are under the prime contractorship of MBDA Italia) for the Aster 30 missile. This vertically launched missile will be employed in the SAMP-T (ground) and PAAMS (naval) air defence systems. SAMP-T and PAAMS are elements of the major FSAF Phase 3 contract signed by OCCAR in 2003.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 16 Jun 2005
• Thousands Flee Clashes in Central African Republic VOA 16 Jun 2005 -- Thousands of refugees have fled to southern Chad to escape fighting between government and armed groups in the Central African Republic.
• SUDAN: Government must disarm Darfur militias, Annan says IRIN 16 Jun 2005 -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appealed to the Sudanese government to disarm militias involved in criminal and military activities in the troubled western region of Darfur.
• Kostunica: Serbia Not Negotiating Surrender With Mladic RFE/RL 16 Jun 2005 -- Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said today that Belgrade is not in contact with fugitive Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic.

News Reports

• Uzbek Government Raises Andijon Death Toll RFE/RL 16 Jun 2005 -- Uzbek officials said today the official death toll for last month's clashes in eastern Uzbekistan has climbed to 176 and now includes several dozen civilians.
• UN team investigating murder of Lebanese ex-Premier Hariri begins work UN News Centre 16 Jun 2005 -- The United Nations commission established to investigate the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri became fully operational today, marking the official start of its efforts to find out who was behind the murder which led ultimately to the withdrawal of Syrian troops from its smaller neighbour.
• Insecurity threatens DR of Congo electoral process - UN mission UN News Centre 16 Jun 2005 -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission has deplored "gangsterism" in the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as well as the presence of illicit arms supplies in the troubled eastern region of the Great Lakes country, both of which could have a negative impact on the electoral process.

• Israel Aircraft Industries and Rafael Established a Joint Company for Development and Production of Micro-Satellites Israel Aerospace Industries 16 Jun 2005 -- Joint Venture to develop project "Venus"dor the Israel Space Agency and France's Central National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES)
• LOCKHEED MARTIN SUCCESSFULLY TEST FIRES SECOND FALCON SMALL LAUNCH VEHICLE HYBRID MOTOR Lockheed Martin 16 Jun 2005 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) successfully test-fired a hybrid motor as part of the Falcon Small Launch Vehicle (SLV) program at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. on June 10. This was the second SLV hybrid motor firing that Lockheed Martin has conducted this year at Test Stand 2-A.
• RAFAEL, IAI cooperate on Microsatellites Rafael 16 Jun 2005 -- A joint agreement between Israel Aircraft Industries and Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd to establish a company for development and production of microsatellites was signed this morning at the Paris Air Show.
• Alphabus development contract signed Thales 16 Jun 2005 -- EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space, a subsidiary of Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) enter the full development of Alphabus, the new European platform for next generation communications satellites, following the signature of a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the French space agency CNES. Under this contract, the agencies will support the industry for the Alphabus development programme and the production of a first flight model.