Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 09 Mar 2006 [PDF]
• MARINE DIES DUE TO ENEMY ACTION
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualties
• IRAQ OPERATIONAL UPDATE BRIEFING MNF-I 09 Mar 2006
• CENTAF releases daily airpower summary AFPN 09 Mar 2006 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.
• Insurgent Attacks in Baghdad Kill 10 VOA 09 Mar 2006 -- Insurgents in Iraq carried out a string of attacks in Baghdad Thursday, killing at least 10 people and wounding 15 others.
• Additional $91 Billion Sought To Fight Terror in Iraq, Afghanistan Washington File 09 Mar 2006 -- A $91 billion supplemental budget request would be used to advance U.S. security and economic goals in Iraq and Afghanistan, among other places, Condoleezza Rice says.
• Rice, Rumsfeld Make Their Cases for Supplemental Request AFPS 09 Mar 2006 -- In a rare joint appearance before Congress, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today urged the Senate Appropriations Committee to quickly pass a $91 billion supplemental spending bill.
• Pace Details DoD's Supplemental Funding Needs AFPS 09 Mar 2006 -- Reconstructing and replacing equipment, force protection, defeating improvised explosive devices, and "resetting" the Army are among necessities that DoD's emergency supplemental budget request would fund, Marine Gen. Peter Pace said today.
• Abizaid Stresses Need for Supplemental Funds AFPS 09 Mar 2006 -- The Defense Department's emergency supplemental budget request provides funds necessary to fight the war on terror, Army Gen. John Abizaid told the Senate Appropriations Committee today.
• U.S. Officials See Progress, Challenges in Afghanistan Washington File 09 Mar 2006 -- Conditions in Afghanistan remain extremely challenging more than four years after the fall of the Taliban but, according to senior U.S. government officials, the Afghans are making steady progress towards establishing the foundations of security and prosperity.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Top US Officials Urge Passage of Supplemental Spending Bill VOA 09 Mar 2006 -- Several top U.S. officials, in a rare joint appearance, have urged Congress to pass a $91 billion spending bill for efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
• More National Guard Troops Heading to Arizona-Mexico Border VOA 09 Mar 2006 -- Arizona's governor has signed an executive order to expand the state National Guard's presence at the border with Mexico to combat illegal immigration and related crime.
• US Military Fights Drugs, Terrorism in Latin America VOA 09 Mar 2006 -- The U.S. military command responsible for operations in Latin America puts a lot of its effort into fighting the illegal drug trade and building the capabilities of local militaries in nearly all the region's countries
• USS Scranton Completes Successful UUV Test Navy NewsStand 09 Mar 2006 -- The fast-attack submarine USS Scranton (SSN 756) successfully demonstrated homing and docking of an Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) system during at-sea testing in January 2006.
• RSAC Officially Opens in Pentagon Navy NewsStand 09 Mar 2006 -- A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Pentagon officially opening The Resource, Situation Awareness Center (RSAC) for business, March 8.
• Services Unite to Frame Joint Tactics, Integrate Joint Fires Navy NewsStand 09 Mar 2006 -- Fire support experts from all military services gathered at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City’s (NSWC PC) Expeditionary Warfare Integration Facility (EWIF) Feb. 13-17 to implement joint tactics, techniques, and procedures (JTTP) that will improve combat efficiency and effectiveness in today’s global war on terrorism.
• NCWG 1 Reservists Return From Deployment Navy NewsStand 09 Mar 2006 -- Approximately 200 Sailors from Inshore Boat Unit (IBU) 14 and Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit (MIUWU) 101 returned March 4 from an eight-month deployment in the Persian Gulf region.
• EODTEU 2 Trains for Field Operations Navy NewsStand 09 Mar 2006 -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit (EODTEU) 2 conducted tactical combat causalty care (TCCC) training March 6 for Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Group 2, at Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Va.
• Conventional Missile System to Provide Diverse, Rapid Capabilities AFPS 09 Mar 2006 -- The conventional "Trident" missile program the Pentagon will ask Congress to fund is part of a larger strategy to better address diverse threats facing the United States and will further the country's defense goals, a Defense Department spokesman said here today.
• Japan Emerges as America's Largest Missile Defense Partner Washington File 09 Mar 2006 -- As the United States pursues a layered defense against ballistic missiles attacks, Japan has emerged as its most significant international partner, says Air Force Lieutenant General Henry "Trey" Obering, director of the Missile Defense Agency.
• Warfare center creates mobility warriors AFPN 09 Mar 2006 -- Every day more than 550 Airmen pick up a proverbial sword and shield and step onto the battlefield.
• European Command Transforming to Accommodate New Challenges AFPS 09 Mar 2006 -- U.S. European Command is actively engaged in a diverse and expansive area of responsibility while transforming to better meet the challenges of a changing security landscape, the command's leader said yesterday.
• EUCOM Needs Funding to Operate in Changing Security Environment AFPS 09 Mar 2006 -- U.S. European Command's ability to transform and achieve U.S. national security objectives depends on investment in critically important areas, the command's leader said yesterday.
• European Command Chief Touts Collaborative Strategy on Threats Washington File 09 Mar 2006 -- The United States is trimming troop levels in Europe but will keep a significant presence to maintain NATO leadership while teaming with allies to solve long-term threats, the U.S. commander in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa says.
• Weather info delivered to warfighter faster with integration AFPN 09 Mar 2006 -- Net-centric weather integration is one of the many important initiatives being tested during the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
• Air Force introduces next generation cruise missile AFPN 09 Mar 2006 -- Since the late 1970s the Department of Defense has tried and failed numerous times to give the warfighter an affordable standoff cruise missile capable of taking out the enemy's air defenses early on in a conflict.
• Electronic initiative gets critical information to commanders AFPN 09 Mar 2006 -- An initiative designed to electronically transmit intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information to commanders is currently being tested here at Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006.
• Marine Air Station Key Issue in US-Japan Forces Realignment Plan VOA 09 Mar 2006 -- The United States pledges to move eight thousand of its Marines off the southern Japanese island of Okinawa.
• White House Briefing, March 9 Washington File 09 Mar 2006 -- Dubai/ports deal, Medicare prescription drug benefit, Republican dissatisfaction, Iran, budget, North Korea counterfeit issue

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 9, 2006
• ATK Receives $134 Million Order for Small-caliber Ammunition ATK 09 Mar 2006 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK), the largest supplier of small-caliber ammunition to the United States military, has received additional small-caliber orders from the U.S. Army Field Service Command, Rock Island, Ill., worth more than $134 million.
• Lift-off for Harrier manufacturing area at BAE Systems' site at Warton BAE Systems 09 Mar 2006 -- The manufacture of a key component for the Harrier jump-jet aircraft has commenced at BAE Systems site at Warton.
• Boeing and ESW-EXTEL SYSTEMS WEDEL Sign AWACS Rotodome Refurbishment Agreement Boeing 09 Mar 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and ESW-EXTEL SYSTEMS WEDEL of Wedel, Germany, have signed a licensing agreement allowing ESW-EXTEL SYSTEMS WEDEL to refurbish international airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft rotodomes using Boeing's proprietary refurbishment process.
• Boeing Wedgetail Team Completes Major Radar Testing Milestone Boeing 09 Mar 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems have completed ground testing of the Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar aboard a 737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for Australia's Project Wedgetail, clearing it for flight testing at full power.
• Raytheon's Virtual Battlefield Software Provides Advanced Simulation Capability Raytheon 09 Mar 2006 -- Raytheon Company has developed virtual-battlefield software -- building on imagery supplied by sensors and algorithms -- that automatically recognizes and tracks targets for a variety of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems operated by military and government customers.
• CACI Awarded $156 Million Contract to Support U.S. Army Intelligence Center CACI 09 Mar 2006 -- CACI International Inc (NYSE:CAI) announced today the award of a $156 million contract to provide information technology (IT) systems support to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center's University of Military Intelligence (UMI) in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. The contract was awarded for an eight-month base period with four option years, and was won under the General Services Administration ANSWER (Applications'n Support for Widely-diverse EndUser Requirements) contract vehicle. The award brings a new client to CACI and was awarded to Information Support Systems, Inc. (ISS) shortly before the completion of CACI's acquisition of ISS, which was announced on March 1, 2006.
• Raytheon Achieves Two Satellite Communications Milestones Raytheon 09 Mar 2006 -- Raytheon Company's Secure Mobile Anti-jam Reliable Tactical -- Terminal (SMART-T) Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF), a mobile ground satellite communications terminal developed for the U.S. Army, is the world's first AEHF system to achieve in-orbit acquisition and data transfer with the U.S. Milstar satellite constellation.
• The role of space for Europe's security operations Thales 09 Mar 2006 -- On March 10, EADS Astrium and Alcatel Alenia Space are jointly organizing a presentation at the Cité de l'Espace in Toulouse, France, on "The role of space for Europe's security operations" around the ASTRO+ project (Advanced Space Technologies to suppoRt security Operations). Speakers will include eminent figures from European, national and local politics and industry.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 09 Mar 2006
• U.S.: Minsk Group Fails To Produce Results On Nagorno-Karabakh RFE/RL 09 Mar 2006 -- The co-chairs of the OSCE's Minsk Group -- France, Russia, and the United States - have issued a statement after two days of meetings in Washington D.C. on March 7 and 8 expressing their regret that the Minsk process "has not moved forward in recent weeks" despite "ample opportunity to do so."
• Senior UN official urges Europe to help provide election security for DR of Congo UN News Centre 09 Mar 2006 -- As the United Nations helps the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to hold national elections in June as part of a peace plan after the most lethal fighting in the world since World War II, the world body's top peacekeeping official is calling on the European Union (EU) to reinforce UN forces in providing security.
• COTE D IVOIRE: UN blue helmets preparing to return to west after January riots IRIN 09 Mar 2006 -- The commander of the UN mission in Cote d'Ivoire said Thursday that peacekeeping troops were preparing to return to the volatile government-run western region.
• CHAD: Government accuses Sudan of more attacks against civilians near border IRIN 09 Mar 2006 -- The Chadian government has accused neighbouring Sudan of backing an incursion into eastern Chad, just weeks after leaders of the two countries agreed to calm longstanding hostilities.
• Abkhazia Blames Georgia For Deadly AttackRFE/RL 09 Mar 2006 -- The foreign minister of Georgia's separatist republic of Abkhazia today renewed charges that Tbilisi is behind a recent deadly attack in the southern Gali district.
• NEPAL: Red Cross resumes monitoring of army detainees IRIN 09 Mar 2006 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has resumed visits to detainees held inside Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) barracks after nearly nine months. In May 2005, the ICRC halted monitoring missions to RNA premises after the army allegedly failed to comply fully with agreements governing the visits.
• SUDAN: Rural populations at risk as Darfur violence escalates IRIN 09 Mar 2006 -- As the security situation throughout Darfur deteriorates, the civilian population - especially in rural areas - continues to suffer the brunt of the violence.
• ETHIOPIA-ERITREA: Annan urges cooperation to resolve border dispute IRIN 09 Mar 2006 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged both Ethiopia and Eritrea to cooperate with a commission created to resolve their border dispute during its forthcoming meeting to overcome the longstanding stalemate over the frontier.
• Israel Reopens Critical Gaza Border Crossing VOA 09 Mar 2006 -- Israel has reopened the main commercial border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Israeli officials say the crossing was reopened for humanitarian reasons after warnings that a food crisis could develop in Gaza.

News Reports

• PRESS CONFERENCE ON CENTRAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND United Nations 09 Mar 2006
• ZIMBABWE: Govt vows to "eliminate" plotters IRIN 09 Mar 2006 -- Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party may use the discovery of an arms cache, and an alleged opposition plot to overthrow the government, as pretexts for cracking down on its detractors, say analysts.
• ATK Conducts Successful Static-fire of Full-scale Space Shuttle Motor ATK 09 Mar 2006 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) successfully tested a full-scale Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM) today in support of NASA’s Space Shuttle program. The RSRM burned for approximately 123 seconds, the same duration each RSRM burns during an actual Space Shuttle Launch. The static-fire test included 26 specific objectives and employed 89 instrumentation channels to collect and evaluate the motor’s performance.
• Moon-based radiotelescope planned EADS 09 Mar 2006 -- The Moon offers scientists a unique platform to detect the earliest period of our universe. Not having an ionosphere, the Moon is ideal for radio astronomy of the universe on frequencies below 10 megahertz. In addition, the far side of the Moon allows permanent protection against terrestrial radiation interference and periodic protection against solar radiation.
• MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER SET FOR ARRIVAL AT THE RED PLANET AFTER SEVEN MONTH JOURNEY Lockheed Martin 09 Mar 2006 -- As the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) nears its final destination -- the planet Mars -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory are preparing to place the spacecraft into orbit around the red planet. MRO was launched aboard an Atlas V on Aug. 12, 2005, and on March 10, at 1:25 pm PT, the spacecraft will fire its main thrusters to slow it down so it can be captured by Mars’ gravity and pulled into orbit around the planet.