Operations
Defense Policy
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• HELICOPTER AIRCREW KILLED IN MOSUL

• Transcript: News Briefing with Lt. Gen. John Vines 13 Jan 2006 -- Presenter: Lt. Gen. John Vines, commander, Multinational Corps Iraq and Commanding General of the VXIII Airborne Corps
• Soldiers Detain Suspected Terrorists, Secure Enemy Weapons Caches AFPS 13 Jan 2006 -- Coalition forces in Iraq yesterday found and destroyed weapons caches, detained terrorist suspects, and recovered the remains of a terrorist bomber who inadvertently killed himself, U.S. military officials there reported.
• US General: Al-Qaida in 'Disarray' in Iraq VOA 13 Jan 2006 -- A senior U.S. general in Iraq says the al-Qaida terrorist network in the country is in "disarray," and that if the new government includes Sunni groups that have supported the insurgency it will go a long way toward reducing the violence that has plagued the country in recent years.
• Al Qaeda in Iraq 'in Disarray,' U.S. General Says AFPS 13 Jan 2006 -- Al Qaeda's influence in Iraq is unraveling, a senior U.S. general based in Baghdad told reporters today during a satellite news conference at the Pentagon.
• 'Falcon Sweep' nets huge weapons cache Army News 13 Jan 2006 -- While conducting an air-insertion mission into the village of Shakaria, Iraq, Task Force Ironhorse Soldiers killed several insurgents, detained one and discovered a significant weapons cache Jan. 11.
• First Fires Brigade now in theater Army News 13 Jan 2006 -- With the quiet uncasing of their colors Jan. 8, Soldiers in the Fires Brigade marked a new day in the role of division and corps-level fire support.

• AFGHAN, COALITION PATROLS ENGAGE ENEMY IN URUZGAN PROVINCE CENTCOM 13 Jan 2006 -- Afghan and Coalition forces engaged enemy fighters while conducting offensive patrols in Uruzgan Province today.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Guantanamo Proceedings Deal With Unique Legal Challenges AFPS 13 Jan 2006 -- U.S. officials writing the rules for military commissions to try accused war criminals here believe the need for a detainee to have competent legal representation trumps his right to self-representation.
• Added Guantanamo Hearing Deals With Pre-trial Publicity AFPS 13 Jan 2006 -- An extra hearing yesterday in the case of a Canadian teen accused of murdering a U.S. Army medic in Afghanistan dealt with acceptable levels of pre-trial publicity.
• Bush Rejects German Call to Close Guantanamo VOA 13 Jan 2006 -- President Bush has rejected a call from German Chancellor Angela Merkel to close the Guantanamo Bay prison.

• ESG-1 Departs 5th Fleet, Begins Voyage Home Navy NewsStand 13 Jan 2006 -- Four thousand Sailors and Marines of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 1 entered the 7th Fleet area of operations Jan. 12 en route to their homeport of San Diego after completing their assigned mission in the 5th Fleet region.
• ESG -3 Starts Final Work-up Before Deployment Navy NewsStand 13 Jan 2006 -- Six ships and about 3,500 Sailors and Marines of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 3 started their Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) Jan. 13 off the coast of Southern California.
• Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Stands Up Navy NewsStand 13 Jan 2006 -- Naval anti-terrorism and force protection (ATFP) took a step forward Jan. 13, as the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) was officially established in a ceremony conducted at their headquarters at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va.
• USS Bonhomme Richard Leaves Shipyard Navy NewsStand 13 Jan 2006 -- Following three months of extensive drydock maintenance, USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) (BHR) left the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) Jan. 5 and returned to Naval Station San Diego.
• Improved Armored Vests Reflect Changing Enemy Tactics AFPS 13 Jan 2006 -- U.S. military members serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other dangerous locales will soon receive revamped armored vests that provide more side protection, senior officials said here today.
• Krzysko Tabbed As Senior DoD Acquisition Adviser AFPS 13 Jan 2006 -- A senior Defense Department acquisition specialist is now DoD's senior acquisition sources adviser for business transformation initiatives.
• Netcentric Operations Provide DoD With Agility AFPS 13 Jan 2006 -- The United States has to confront uncertainty with agility, a top Defense Department official said here Jan. 11.
• Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Rates F-22A "Mission Capable" AFPN 13 Jan 2006 -- The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center recently completed the F-22A Raptor Follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation and has rated the Air Force's newest fighter as mission capable in the air-to-ground role.
• Langley celebrates Raptor's initial operational capability AFPN 13 Jan 2006 -- The 1st Fighter Wing held a ceremony here today to celebrate the F-22A Raptor's initial operational capability.

• Medevac flight keeps warfighters in the fight AFPN 13 Jan 2006 -- Moving the wounded, sick or injured to where they can receive the right level of care is the focus of a group of medical specialists deployed here supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
• F-16 pylons receive upgrade AFPN 13 Jan 2006 -- Wiring for pylons on F-16 Fighting Falcons are being upgraded by the 309th Commodities Maintenance Squadron at Ogden Air Logistics Center here, enabling the jets to handle 21st century smart munitions.
• B-1B Lancers rotate into Andersen AFPN 13 Jan 2006 -- B-1B Lancers from the 34th Bomb Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D, have deployed here.
• New C-17 Globemaster III honors President Reagan AFPN 13 Jan 2006 -- Former first lady Nancy Reagan today helped dedicate the Air Force's newest C-17 Globemaster III to honor her late husband, former President Ronald Reagan.
• Soldiers may be reimbursed for protective gear Army News 13 Jan 2006 -- Soldiers may now file claims and receive reimbursement for protective equipment privately purchased between Sept. 11, 2001, and July 31, 2004.

• State Department Briefing, January 13 Washington File 13 Jan 2006 -- Turkey, Iran, India, Venezuela/Spain, Sudan
• White House Briefing, January 13 Washington File 13 Jan 2006 -- Germany, Iran, Judge Alito, Kosovo, Guantanamo Bay, Immigration

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts 13 Jan 2006
• BAE Systems awarded contract for new Royal Navy Warfare Operator Training programme BAE Systems 13 Jan 2006 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a contract by the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) for the Maritime Composite Training System (MCTS) Phase 1 programme, valued at approximately £100M.
• Countdown begins to launch of world's most advanced warship BAE Systems 13 Jan 2006 -- The worlds most advanced warship, HMS Daring, will be launched from BAE Systems Scotstoun yard on February 1st.
• Northrop Grumman Team Receives Contract to Design Lighter, Quieter Power Generators for U.S. Navy Ships Northrop Grumman 13 Jan 2006 -- A Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)-led team has been selected by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to begin a design of a 40-megawatt (MW) high-temperature superconductor (HTS) generator intended to provide a smaller, lighter and quieter main power source for future surface combatants.
• US Says Spain-Venezuela Arms Deal Threatens Stability VOA 13 Jan 2006 -- The Bush administration said Friday it blocked a planned sale of Spanish military aircraft to Venezuela because of possible harm to regional stability.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 13 Jan 2006
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SUDAN United Nations 13 Jan 2006
• SUDAN: African Union extends peacekeeping mandate IRIN 13 Jan 2006 -- The African Union has extended the mandate of its peacekeeping force in Sudan's troubled Darfur region for two months, but will evaluate the option of handing the operation over to the United Nations.
• Darfur Aid "Too Little Too Late," U.N. Envoy to Sudan Says Washington File 13 Jan 2006 -- Describing the three-year-old international peace strategy for Darfur as "too little too late," the U.N. special envoy for Sudan said that much more must be done to stop the atrocities and bring peace to the troubled region.

• UGANDA: Year in Review 2005 - Rebel activity and political upheaval IRIN 13 Jan 2006 -- The continued war between the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government, coupled with political turbulence over upcoming general elections, made 2005 a difficult year for Uganda.
• UGANDA: Year in Brief 2005 - A chronology of key events IRIN 13 Jan 2006

• COTE D IVOIRE: Burkina Faso nationals arrested, shot dead after attack on barracks IRIN 13 Jan 2006 -- In a sign of continued ethnic tension in Cote d'Ivoire, a number of nationals from Burkina Faso were arrested and several shot dead following a mysterious attack against two military camps in Abidjan early this month, diplomats and other sources told IRIN on Friday.
• NIGERIA: Explosion, abductions force cut in oil production IRIN 13 Jan 2006 -- New unrest in the oil-rich Niger Delta region - the abduction of four foreign oil workers and a pipeline explosion hours later - have led to a 10-percent cut in daily oil production in Nigeria.
• WEST AFRICA: Tandja wins new ECOWAS mandate IRIN 13 Jan 2006 -- President Mamadou Tandja of Niger has been re-elected chairman of the West African regional group ECOWAS at a summit where leaders pledged strides in bolstering peace across the world's poorest region.
• LIBERIA: Ex-rebel official, Taylor's former son-in-law to head new parliament IRIN 13 Jan 2006 -- Liberia's new bi-cameral legislature on Friday elected key figures from the country's violent past to head the two chambers in the country's first post-war parliament.
• RWANDA: Year in Brief 2005 - A chronology of key events IRIN 13 Jan 2006
• Lankan gov't assures it will not return to war with LTTE IRNA 13 Jan 2006 -- Sri Lankan government Thursday gave an assurance it would not return to war with the Tamil Tiger rebels despite the acts of provocation, urging them to break the prolonged deadlock and return to the negotiating table.
• Russian Forces Clash With Armed Group In Daghestan RFE/RL 13 Jan 2006 -- Security forces are reported to be fighting a group of armed militants in Russia's restive southern republic of Daghestan.
• Serbs, Kosovars Go into Status Talks with Little in Common VOA 13 Jan 2006 -- A Kosovar politician and a Serbian affairs specialist squared off at a forum on the future of Kosovo sponsored by the U.S. government funded Institute of Peace.

News Reports

• Sharon Remains in Coma as Election Heats Up VOA 13 Jan 2006 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon remains in critical but stable condition at a Jerusalem hospital.
• KAZAKHSTAN: Year in Brief 2005 - Chronology of key events IRIN 13 Jan 2006