Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 15 Jul 2005 [PDF]

• Transcript: Defense Department Special Briefing on Security Operations in Baghdad 15 Jul 2005 -- Presenter: Major General Joseph J. Taluto, Commander, Multinational Division North-Central Iraq, Commander, Task Force Liberty
• General Says Jihadist Groups in North-Central Iraq Are Merging VOA 15 Jul 2005 -- The Army general in charge of U.S. military operations in north-central Iraq said Friday that while the number of insurgents is declining, the number of attacks remains at the same level as it did before the January election.
• Car Bombs Target U.S., Iraqi Forces RFE/RL 15 Jul 2005 -- A series of car bombs exploded in separate areas of Baghdad today.
• Phase Two of Oil Terminal Security Turnover Begins Navy NewsStand 15 Jul 2005 -- The Iraqi military has begun the next phase in the security turnover process to assume responsibility for the Khawr Al Amaya and Al Basrah oil terminals.
• F-16 pilots provide support for troops on the battlefield AFPN 15 Jul 2005 -- In an instant they are gone, but the 510th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron's F-16 Fighting Falcons can be found in the Iraqi sky providing air support for servicemembers fighting against insurgents on the ground.
• Baghdad Car Bombs Kill 20; Two U.S. Marines Killed AFPS 15 Jul 2005 -- Three suicide-car-bomb attacks today in Baghdad, Iraq, claimed the lives of 15 Iraqi civilians and five Iraqi soldiers. Six Iraqi soldiers and 17 civilians were wounded.

• Red Horse Airmen keep Afghan supply lanes open AFPN 15 Jul 2005 -- The sight of a C-17 Globemaster III coming in for a landing here can be awe-inspiring.
• Pakistan says coalition forces kill 24 Taliban on its border IRNA 15 Jul 2005 -- Pakistan Army said on Friday that US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan have killed 24 suspected Taliban fighters in Pakistani territory close to the Afghan border.
• Afghanistan launches regional air control center AFPN 15 Jul 2005 -- The Kabul Air Control Center officially opened July 12 with a ceremony presided by the second vice president of Afghanistan.
• US Forces In Afghanistan Kill Insurgents on Pakistan Side of Border VOA 15 Jul 2005 -- Pakistan military says U.S-led coalition forces operating in Afghanistan have killed 24 suspected Islamic militants on the Pakistani side of the two countries' border
• U.S. Seeks More Afghan, Pakistan Pressure On Militants RFE/RL 15 Jul 2005 -- A senior U.S. official says Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United States need to improve their cooperation to put more pressure on militants operating along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Defense Policy / Programs

• New Report Details Strains on the US Military from Iraq, Afghanistan VOA 15 Jul 2005 -- A new report says the U.S. military has been stretched thin because of demands in Iraq and Afghanistan. It predicts this pressure is likely to continue amid the war on terrorism, with no quick fix in sight.
• Guard Chief Vows to Minimize Personal Impact of BRAC on Air Guardsmen AFPS 15 Jul 2005 -- The National Guard Bureau chief vowed to work closely with Air Force leadership to ensure that proposed base closures and realignments don't adversely affect the Air National Guard or its members.
• Boxer Hosts CARAT Malaysia Reception Navy NewsStand 15 Jul 2005 -- The U.S. and Royal Malaysian navies demonstrated their abilities to work as a unified force during the at-sea phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2005 July 12-15.
• U.S., Malaysia Navies Build Confidence Navy NewsStand 15 Jul 2005 -- USS Boxer (LHD 4) hosted a reception for more than 75 Malaysian service members here July 10.
• Flying force-multiplier provides eyes forward AFPN 15 Jul 2005 -- A small, lightweight airborne surveillance system is paying big dividends in helping the 379th Security Forces Squadron accomplish its mission while safeguarding the Air Force's most valuable asset -- Airmen.
• Army UAV Center of Excellence to be at Rucker Army News 15 Jul 2005 -- The U.S. Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Ala., has been designated as the new Army Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Center of Excellence.
• U.S., Bulgarian troops train in Immediate Response Army News 15 Jul 2005 -- Exercise Immediate Response 2005 was put together to build relationships among the U.S. and Bulgarian Army.
• Soldier aids Army to develop weapon stations Army News 15 Jul 2005 -- More than 24 Common Remotely Operated Weapon Stations have been installed on vehicles in Iraq and an additional five will be fielded in the next few weeks.
• New civilian personnel system launches in 2006 Army News 15 Jul 2005 -- The first phase of the National Security Personnel System, the new human resources system for the Department of Defense, is scheduled for implementation in early fiscal year 2006.
• New Lab Added to BECC Curriculum at Center for Naval Engineering Navy NewsStand 15 Jul 2005 -- The Basic Engineering Common Core (BECC) curriculum for the Center for Naval Engineering (CNE) Learning Site at Great Lakes recently got a makeover, when it was augmented with the Master Light-off Checklist (MLOC).
• Boxer Visits Kemaman, Malaysia Navy NewsStand 15 Jul 2005 -- USS Boxer (LHD 4), commanded by Capt. Thomas J. Culora, departed Kemaman, Malaysia, July 12 after a four-day visit for the in-port phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT). While here, Sailors took time to experience the local culture.
• Malaysian Troops Embark Boxer For CARAT Navy NewsStand 15 Jul 2005 -- More than 150 Malaysian service members embarked USS Boxer (LHD 4) July 11 in support of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia.
• Harpers Ferry Sailors Train Like they Fight Navy NewsStand 15 Jul 2005 -- USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) completed its Amphibious Specialty Training (AST) July 10.
• Coast Guard, Boxer Team Up for CARAT Success Navy NewsStand 15 Jul 2005 -- The U.S. Coast Guard's Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team (PACTACLET) embarked aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4) July 8 during the in-port phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT).
• Boxer Returns to Kemaman Following At-sea Success Navy NewsStand 15 Jul 2005 -- Malaysian Armed Forces and U.S. service members returned here July 15 following the three-day underway phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia.

• White House Daily Briefing, July 15 Washington File 15 Jul 2005 -- President's schedule, Justice O'Connor/replacement, President Saca of El Salvador, Iraq, Stowe Mills plant, week ahead, Prime Minister of India, CAFTA, China, London bombing/suspects, Justice Rehnquist/announcement, John Bolton/nomination
• State Department Briefing, July 15 Washington File 15 Jul 2005 -- Secretary's Travel to Senegal, Sudan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Secretary's Participation in Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum Under the Auspices of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Israel/Palestinians, India, United Nations, United Kingdom, Korea, China, Cyprus, Venezuela

Defense Industry

• BAE SYSTEMS Nimrod MRA4 Continues To Impress BAE Systems 15 Jul 2005 -- The BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 continues to progress well in its flight trials programme, turning in some impressive results from a confident airborne performance, less than one year after its inaugural flight last autumn.
• Second Phase Of Operational Flight Programme Is Released For Hawk MK128 BAE Systems 15 Jul 2005 -- The development of the RAF's new Hawk advanced jet trainer (AJT), the Mk128, has taken a significant step forward with the release of a major new software package.
• BAE SYSTEMS Celebrates Delivery Of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Vertical Tails BAE Systems 15 Jul 2005 -- BAE Systems employees are celebrating delivery of the first production standard F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) vertical tails, representing another major milestone for the companys involvement in the F-35 Program.
• New Typhoon Project Pilot At BAE SYSTEMS BAE Systems 15 Jul 2005 -- New BAE Systems Typhoon project pilot Will Jonas was not only one of the first RAF pilots to fly the new-generation, multi-role fighter, he was also honoured in the Queens Birthday Honours List last month, for his role in development of the aircraft which will provide a cornerstone of the UKs defence capabilities for the next 30+ years.
• Northrop Grumman Upgrades Vessel Traffic System for Plymouth Harbor and Devonport Royal Naval Dockyard Northrop Grumman 15 Jul 2005 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has completed a major upgrade of the Vessel Traffic System for Plymouth Harbor and the Royal Naval Dockyard at Devonport, U.K., that will enhance the ability of traffic controllers to observe and manage the movement of ships throughout the harbor and control access of unauthorized traffic into the restricted zones of the naval station.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN AWARDED $124 MILLION CONTRACT FOR JAPANESE SEA-BASED MISSILE DEFENSE CAPABILITY Lockheed Martin 15 Jul 2005 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today that it has been awarded a $124 million, three year contract for Japanese Foreign Military Sales Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System engineering development. The contract provides the Aegis BMD Weapon System upgrades for the first of a planned group of four Japanese Kongo-class destroyers, DDG 173.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 15 Jul 2005
• Chechnya: Vice President Denounces Terrorism, Basaev RFE/RL 15 Jul 2005 -- Senior Chechen field commander Doku Umarov, whom Chechen opposition President Abdul-Khalim Sadullaev named as his deputy last month, has condemned the terrorist attacks perpetrated by his fellow field commander, Shamil Basaev
• Chechnya: Senior Commander Tells RFE/RL, 'No Alternative To Armed Struggle' RFE/RL 15 Jul 2005 -- Senior Chechen field commander Doku Umarov told RFE/RL that he can see no alternative to armed struggle with Russia

• Ivory Coast President Passes Key Peace Reforms VOA 15 Jul 2005 -- Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo has used special executive powers to pass key peace reforms, more than two-and-half years after they were initially agreed to in France following negotiations with northern rebels and the opposition. Mr. Gbagbo says disarmament and scheduled October elections must now take place.
• SOMALIA: IGAD to seek new ways to safeguard interim gov't IRIN 15 Jul 2005 -- The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is to find other ways to safeguard Somalia's transitional government after the UN Security Council on Thursday upheld a 1992 arms embargo despite a request for an exemption that would allow peacekeepers into the country, a source said.
• SUDAN: Local militias causing havoc in the south - CPMT IRIN 15 Jul 2005 -- Armed Lou Nuer militias left their established routes and water points from January to June to carry out aggressive acts against communities in the Upper Nile region of southeastern Sudan, a report by the US-sponsored Civilian Protection Monitoring Team (CPMT) said.
• Serbian President to War Crimes Suspect Mladic: Surrender VOA 15 Jul 2005 -- Serbia's president is urging former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic to surrender to the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague for his role in the Bosnian war and the massacre of more than seven-thousand men and boys in Srebrenica 10 years ago.
• Israel Resumes Targeted Assassinations; Kills Hamas Militants in Gaza and the West Bank VOA 15 Jul 2005 -- Israeli missile attacks have killed at least five Hamas militants in the West Bank and Gaza.
• Sri Lankan Supreme Court Blocks Plan To Share Control of Tsunami Aid with Tamil Rebels VOA 15 Jul 2005 -- Sri Lanka's supreme court has struck down as illegal a negotiated deal between the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels to share some of the billions of dollars in aid money for survivors of December's tsunami. The decision, which is likely to anger the rebels, comes as violence between the two sides is already on the increase, threatening a fragile truce

News Reports

• Influence of Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino Seen to be Waning VOA 15 Jul 2005 -- Former president Corazon Aquino is revered in the Philippines as the symbol of the ouster of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. But Mrs. Aquino's repeated calls for the resignation of incumbent President Gloria Arroyo, over allegations of election fraud, have so far gone unheeded.
• Nepal's King Appoints More Loyalists to an Expanded Cabinet VOA 15 Jul 2005 -- Nepal's King Gyanendra has strengthened his royalist administration by appointing more new ministers to his cabinet. The move is seen as yet another setback for Nepal's return to democracy more than five months after the king assumed absolute power.