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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 03 Oct 2005 [PDF]

• Airmen control, contain, communicate at Ali Base AFPN 03 Oct 2005 -- Around-the-clock missions supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom are spearheaded here thanks to the multiple layers of protection provided by the 407th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron.
• NAVELSF Mobile Air Cargo Handlers Return from Middle East Navy NewsStand 03 Oct 2005 -- Twenty-four Navy Reservists from the Springfield, Mo., Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center returned from the Middle East Sept. 28 after fulfilling a combat service support mission in Iraq and Kuwait.
• Reports of kidnapped Marines false MNF-I 03 Oct 2005 -- Al Qaeda in Iraq claims that two U.S. Marines were kidnapped in western Iraq Oct. 2 are patently false.
• U.S. Says 36 Killed In Fighting Near Syrian Border RFE/RL 03 Oct 2005 -- The United States military in Iraq says it has counted 36 insurgents who were killed on 1 and 2 October during a U.S.-led anti-militant offensive under way in towns near the Syrian border.
• Task Force Baghdad nabs terror suspects, weapons MNF-I 03 Oct 2005 -- Coalition forces detained 14 suspected terrorists, found six weapons caches, and seized terrorist propaganda materials during a series of combat operations conducted throughout the capitol city Oct. 1.
• Task Force Baghdad patrol nets terrorists MNF-I 03 Oct 2005 -- Task Force Baghdad Soldiers apprehended two men who violated curfew and possessed a loaded rifle northwest of Baghdad Sept. 29.
• Seven terror suspects detained in morning raid MNF-I 03 Oct 2005 -- Coalition soldiers and Iraqi security forces detained seven suspected terrorists, including a physics professor allegedly working as a terror cell leader in west Baghdad, during an early-morning raid Oct. 2.
• Iraqi, Coalition raids net eight bombing suspects, weapons MNF-I 03 Oct 2005 -- Iraqi Army and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers seized six suspected improvised explosive device emplacers, detained two car bombing suspects, and unearthed three weapons caches during combined and independent combat operations Oct. 2.
• Terrorist encampment and large cache found in Diyala Province MNF-I 03 Oct 2005 -- Task Force Liberty and Iraqi Army Soldiers uncovered information leading to a possible anti-Iraqi force encampment during the discovery of a large weapons cache near Ghalibiyah at 12:30 a.m. Oct 3.

• Afghan Protests Spread To Kabul RFE/RL 03 Oct 2005 -- Protests against the killing of Mohammad Ashraf Ramazan -- one of northern Afghanistan's key ethnic Hazara parliamentary candidates -- spread to the capital Kabul today.
• 60,000-square meter Bagram upgrade taken on by Red Horse engineers AFPN 03 Oct 2005 -- Aircraft parking space is getting a boost from the ground up here as a team of Red Horse engineers remove and replace 60,000-square meters of ramp space.
• Afghan Forces Said to Kill 31 Taleban Insurgents VOA 03 Oct 2005 -- Afghan defense forces have reportedly killed 31 suspected insurgents in intense fighting near the Pakistani border.
• Afghan Forces Battle Militants Near Pakistan Border RFE/RL 03 Oct 2005 -- The Afghan Defense Ministry said today that government forces killed at least 28 suspected Taliban militants near the eastern border with Pakistan.
• Afghans Continue To Protest Candidate's Slaying RFE/RL 03 Oct 2005 -- Hundreds of Afghans blocked a highway in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif today in a second day of protests to demand the arrest of the killer of a candidate in last month's parliamentary polls.
• Afghan President Seeks Support From France RFE/RL 03 Oct 2005 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai, on his first official visit to France, met today with French President Jacques Chirac.
• Pak-Afghan border remains in profile IRNA 03 Oct 2005 -- The Pakistan-Afghanistan border continues to be the focus of international attention ever since the fall of the Taliban regime.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Letter by Retired Military Leaders to Senator John McCain 03 Oct 2005 -- "We strongly support your proposed amendments to the Defense Department Authorization bill concerning detainee policy, including requiring all interrogations of detainees in DOD custody to conform to the U.S. Army's Field Manual on Intelligence Interrogation (FM 34-52), and prohibiting the use of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by any U.S. government agency."

• ARMY G-4 TRANSFORMS TO BETTER SUPPORT WARFIGHTERS Army News Release 03 Oct 2005 -- The Army G-4 announced today the completion of its strategic realignment, which was the first step in the organization's transformation to improve the delivery of its core function--enhancing Soldier logistics readiness.
• Disaster Drill Measures 'Medical Megaplex' Response Navy NewsStand 03 Oct 2005 -- National Naval Medical Center (NNMC), in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health's Clinical Center and Suburban Hospital, hosted its largest mass casualty exercise Sept. 29 to test the hospitals' emergency response capabilities and interoperability.
• Academy chemistry department leads UAV research AFPN 03 Oct 2005 -- Future Air Force leaders here are working to produce a stealthier unmanned aerial vehicle powered by an alternative energy source.
• USAFE returns African Union troops to Rwanda AFPN 03 Oct 2005 -- Two U.S. Air Forces in Europe C-130 Hercules returned about 80 African Union peacekeepers from the Darfur region of the Sudan on Oct. 2.
• Pace Issues Guidance to Help Military 'Shape the Future' AFPS 03 Oct 2005 -- The war on terror underlies every word in the Chairman's Guidance to the Joint Staff.
• USS Iwo Jima Returns Home Navy NewsStand 03 Oct 2005 -- After more than a month of conducting relief operations in the wake of two hurricanes that devastated the Gulf Coast, USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) returned home to Norfolk, Va., Oct. 2.
• USS Duluth Decommissioned After 39 Years Of Service Navy NewsStand 03 Oct 2005 -- The Austin-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Duluth (LPD 6) was decommissioned at Naval Station San Diego Sept. 28 after serving the Navy and the nation for 39 years.

• NATO To Increase Use Of Kyrgyz Air Base RFE/RL 03 Oct 2005 -- A NATO official said today in Bishkek that the alliance will increase its use of the Ganci air base in Kyrgyzstan for conducting operations in Afghanistan.

• State Department Briefing, October 3 Washington File 03 Oct 2005 -- Turkey, Secretary Rice's phone calls/Discussions, U.S. position on the relationship between NATO and EU processes, Zoellick's Western Hemisphere travel, Tom Shannon nomination as Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere, Austria, Greece, Israel/Palestinians, Syria, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Indonesia
• White House Briefing, October 3 Washington File 03 Oct 2005 -- Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, Bill Bennett statement, hurricanes

Defense Industry

• BAE SYSTEMS Awarded $11 Million Contract To Reset Bradley Vehicles BAE Systems 03 Oct 2005 -- BAE Systems has been awarded an $11 million contract by U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command for reset and modification for 15 M7 Bradley Fire Support Team (BFIST) Vehicles and one M2A3 Bradley Vehicle, and to add 131 Vehicle Intercom System (VIS) Kits for the Bradley 3rd CAV Operation Desert Storm vehicles.
• BAE SYSTEMS Close-In Countermeasure Defeats Rocket Propelled Grenades In Live On-The-Move Tests BAE Systems 03 Oct 2005 -- SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- BAE Systems has successfully completed the first on-the-move test of its Close-In Countermeasure (CICM) active protection system against incoming Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) at a government test range.
• BAE SYSTEMS Displays Armed Robotic Demonstrator At AUSA BAE Systems 03 Oct 2005 -- ARLINGTON, Va. -- BAE Systems is displaying an Armed Robotic Demonstrator at the Association of the U.S. Armys 2005 Annual Meeting and Exposition this week in Washington to illustrate the synergy between current and future forces.
• Production Begins on New Boeing CH-47F Chinook for the U.S. Army Boeing 03 Oct 2005 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has started production for the new CH-47F Chinook heavy-transport helicopter as part of the U.S. Army Cargo Helicopter modernization program.
• EADS North America Expands UH-145 Industrial Team EADS 03 Oct 2005 -- EADS North America has expanded the industrial team for its UH-145 advanced helicopter with the addition of Sikorsky Aircraft, which will provide its expertise in contractor logistics support (CLS) for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) mission.
• U.S. Navy Awards General Dynamics $107 Million for Virginia-class Submarine Development Work General Dynamics 03 Oct 2005 -- The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $107.3 million contract to provide lead-yard services and research and development studies for Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• Lockheed Martin Awarded $75 Million Contract For Arrowhead Production Lockheed Martin 03 Oct 2005 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] was awarded a contract valued at approximately $75 million for the purchase of 13 Arrowhead Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) systems that will serve as the day/night vision system for the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN TO UPGRADE RADAR SETS Lockheed Martin 03 Oct 2005 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has been selected by the United States Army to upgrade the Airborne Reconnaissance Low-Multifunction (ARL-M) radar that provides high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images in all weather, day or night in support of missions in the Republic of Korea. The $10.9 million contract involves replacing four SAR systems with Lockheed Martin’s advanced Phoenix Eye radar, which is a high resolution image and moving target indicator (MTI) system of similar design to the system developed for the Army’s objective intelligence and electronic warfare systems.
• Northrop Grumman Successfully Demonstrates JTRS Power Amplifier for Army Northrop Grumman 03 Oct 2005 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has successfully demonstrated the capabilities of an advanced high-power amplifier for the U.S. Army that is capable of enabling critical communications for the network-centric Future Force.
• Raytheon to Increase Army Sensor Commonality via $180 Million Upgrade of 872 Vehicles Raytheon 03 Oct 2005 -- As 572 new Abrams and Bradley fighting vehicles, 300 LRAS3 (Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance Systems) and other Army ground platforms roll out, all will be equipped with upgraded "night vision" sights produced by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN).
• AEGIS WEAPON SYSTEM SUCCESSFUL IN BALLISTIC MISSILE TRACKING EXERCISE Lockheed Martin 03 Oct 2005 -- The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System successfully detected and tracked an unarmed U.S. Air Force Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Aegis detected the missile when it rose above the horizon and immediately began BMD tracking operations. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) develops the Aegis BMD Weapon System for the U.S. Navy and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and also serves as the Combat System Engineering Agent.
• Northrop Grumman Completes First Hardware and Software Integration of Payload for New Missile Warning Satellite Northrop Grumman 03 Oct 2005 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has announced the completion of mechanical and electrical integration work for a key element of the nation's next-generation missile warning system, the payload for the first Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous-orbit satellite. Northrop Grumman will provide the payload to Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), the prime contractor and systems integrator for SBIRS.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 03 Oct 2005
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL’S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SIERRA LEONE United Nations 03 Oct 2005
• SIERRA LEONE: Donors pledge less than half funds needed for war crimes court IRIN 03 Oct 2005 -- International donors have pledged nearly US $10 million for the final stretch of Sierra Leone's Special Court - far short of the $25 million the court says is needed to complete its work of trying those suspected of atrocities in the country's decade-long brutal war.
• As peacekeepers depart Sierra Leone, numerous challenges remain - UN official UN News Centre 03 Oct 2005 -- Sierra Leone faces a spectrum of challenges, from explosive youth unemployment to taking legitimate control of its rich mineral resources, as the United Nations peacekeeping mission winds down and the next phase of the West African country's development begins, the mission chief said today.

• Palestinian Police Storm Parliament, Demand Crackdown on Hamas VOA 03 Oct 2005 -- Several dozen Palestinian police stormed the Palestinian parliament building Monday to press demands for a security crackdown on Hamas militants.
• Israeli Security Alert Ahead of Jewish New Year VOA 03 Oct 2005 -- Israeli security forces have gone on alert ahead of the Jewish New Year's celebrations, which begin Monday evening
• MIDDLE EAST: A "PROCESS OF CENTERING" FOR PARTICIPANTS US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign Media Reaction 03 Oct 2005

• Del Ponte Clears Way For Croatia-EU Talks RFE/RL 03 Oct 2005 -- The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Carla Del Ponte, told an EU task force today that Croatia is cooperating fully with the Hague-based court.
• Kosovo: RFE/RL Interviews U.S. Official On Status Talks RFE/RL 03 Oct 2005 -- On 30 September, RFE/RL's Washington correspondent discussed progress in Kosovo with Rosemary DiCarlo, U.S. deputy assistant secretary for Europe and Eurasian affairs.
• COTE D IVOIRE: West African leaders want more UN peacekeepers IRIN 03 Oct 2005 -- West African leaders want the United Nations to significantly strengthen its peacekeeping force in Cote d'Ivoire to ensure new efforts to end the three-year war there finally pay off, Senegal's Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio said on Monday.
• DRC: Council extends MONUC's mandate by one month IRIN 03 Oct 2005 -- The UN Security Council extended on Friday the mandate of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), known as MONUC, until the end of October.

News Reports

• Turkey, EU Agree to Start Historic Membership Talks VOA 03 Oct 2005 -- Turkey said it had reached agreement with the European Union to open membership talks.

• SOMALIA: Hijacked ship released IRIN 03 Oct 2005 -- The hijackers of a ship transporting food aid for survivors of the December tsunami in northeastern Somalia released the vessel on Sunday, leaving it to proceed to El Maan port, north of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, sources said.

• JSAT CORPORATION AWARDS LOCKHEED MARTIN CONTRACT FOR THIRD A2100 SATELLITE Lockheed Martin 03 Oct 2005 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has been awarded a contract by JSAT Corporation (JSAT) of Japan to build its next geostationary telecommunications satellite, designated JCSAT-11. JCSAT-11 will be reserved entirely in orbit as a back up satellite for other JCSAT satellites following its scheduled launch in 2007. Financial terms were not disclosed.