Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 10 Mar 2006 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• CENTAF releases daily airpower summary AFPN 10 Mar 2006 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.
• Engineers support the fight AFPN 10 Mar 2006 -- Air Force engineers from the 557th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron are supporting Bastogne Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry near Hawijah, Iraq, by increasing the quality of living on forward operating base McHenry.
• U.S., Iraqi Troops Score Successes AFPS 10 Mar 2006 -- Iraqi and U.S. soldiers found and destroy 26 roadside bombs and 17 weapons caches and killed and captured suspected insurgents in several operations in Iraq in recent days.
• Iraqi Army takes over FOB Hope, Sadr City Army News 10 Mar 2006 -- The Iraqi Army assumed control Thursday of Forward Operating Base Hope, located in the northwest corner of the Al Thawra district of Baghdad, also known as Sadr City.
• Eastern Baghdad gets surprise visit Army News 10 Mar 2006 -- Residents of eastern Baghdad were given a first-hand opportunity to share their viewpoints with the commanding general and command sergeant major of Multinational Division - Baghdad March 1.
• Suicide Car Bombing in Fallujah Kills at Least 7 VOA 10 Mar 2006 -- Iraqi police say at least seven people were killed in a suicide truck bombing in Fallujah, a former insurgent stronghold west of Baghdad.
• Afghanistan: Kabul's Row With Islamabad Complicates Counterterrorism Efforts RFE/RL 10 Mar 2006 -- A diplomatic row between Pakistan and Afghanistan has intensified in the week since U.S. President George W. Bush toured South Asia
• US Lawmakers Concerned About Stability, Opium Cultivation in Afghanistan VOA 10 Mar 2006 -- U.S. lawmakers have expressed concerns about stability in Afghanistan, saying insurgent attacks and expanding opium production continue to threaten U.S. and allied efforts there.

Defense Policy / Programs

• 260 Doctors Call for End to Force-Feeding at Guantanamo VOA 10 Mar 2006 -- More than 260 doctors from around the world have called on the U.S. military to stop force-feeding detainees at the Guantanamo detention center who are on a hunger strike
• Squadron Homecoming Marks End of Era for Tomcats AFPS 10 Mar 2006 -- Two strike fighter squadrons arrived at Naval Air Station Oceana here today, ending a six-month deployment and closing the book on the Tomcat as an asset in the Navy's war fighting arsenal.
• Squadron Homecoming Marks End of Era for Tomcats Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2006 -- The “Tomcatters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VF) 31 and the “Black Lions” of VF-213 arrived at Naval Air Station Oceana March 10, ending their six-month deployment with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 embarked on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), and closing the book on the Tomcat as an asset in the Navy’s war fighting arsenal.
• Analysis of tanker fleet alternatives released AFPN 10 Mar 2006 -- The RAND Corp. released an executive summary March 7 detailing its findings from an analysis of alternatives study to replace the Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker fleet.
• DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for February 10 Mar 2006 -- The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of February.
• Nine-Month Trend in Recruiting, Retention Success Continues AFPS 10 Mar 2006 -- Recruiting and retention statistics released today reflect continued across-the-board success and continuation of a nine-month trend, officials said.
• Cape St. George Wraps up Mission in North Persian Gulf Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2006 -- The British staff of Combined Task Force (CTF) 58 debarked USS Cape St. George (CG 71) March 1 after commanding 72 days of successful maritime security operations (MSO) in the North Persian Gulf from aboard the Norfolk-based cruiser.
• USS Ardent Assists Stranded Iraqi-Owned Vessel Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2006 -- While conducting maritime security operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf March 6, USS Ardent (MCM 12) responded to a distress call by an Iraqi-owned commercial vessel.
• USS Bonhomme Richard Commences Sea Trials Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2006 -- The Multipurpose Amphibious Assault Ship USS Bonhomme Richard (BHR) (LHD 6) pulled its mooring lines away from Naval Station San Diego’s Pier 13 Feb. 22 and got underway for the first time in more than six months.
• Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26 Welcomes Home Detachment Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2006 -- Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 “Chargers," friends and family members gathered March 8 at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., to welcome home Sailors from HSC 26, Det. 4.
• Ike Team Scores Excellent During TSTA/FEP Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2006 -- USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) pulled into Pier 12 at Naval Station Norfolk March 10 after a 25-day underway period and a score of Excellent on her Tailored Ship’s Training Availability and Final Evaluation Period (TSTA/FEP).
• Virginia Class Submarine Program Team Wins 2005 DSPO Achievement Award Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2006 -- The Defense Standardization Program Office (DSPO) selected the Program Executive Office for Submarines' Virginia Class Submarine Program Team (VCSPT) as Navy recipients of the 2005 DSPO Achievement Award Feb 2.
• Navy-Coast Guard National Fleet Policy Updated Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2006 -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen and Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Thomas H. Collins jointly approved a new National Fleet policy statement in early March aimed at strengthening Navy-Coast Guard cooperation and tailored operational integration of each service’s multimission platforms, infrastructure and personnel.
• Vice Chiefs Report Status of Reserve-Forces Transformation AFPS 10 Mar 2006 -- The National Guard and reserves are being employed as an operational force in the global war against terrorism, necessitating change in how they are structured and funded, the chairman of a Congressionally-appointed commission looking into the services' reserve-component operations said here yesterday.
• State Department Briefing, March 10 Washington File 10 Mar 2006 -- Iran, Russia, Sudan, China/Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Armenia, Latin America, United Nations, North Korea

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 10, 2006
• Boeing Awarded $240 Million JDAM Contract Boeing 10 Mar 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE:BA] received a $240 million contract March 6 from the U.S. Air Force to produce 10,000 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits for existing 500-, 1,000- and 2,000-pound bombs purchased by the U.S. Air Force and Navy.
• Raytheon Awarded U.S. Air Force Contract for Tactical Meteorological Observing System Raytheon 10 Mar 2006 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) have successfully completed the first hot-fire test of a Standard Missile-3 Block IA third stage rocket motor (TSRM), employing new nozzle design enhancements to improve performance and reliability.
• EADS chosen for the command & control and weapons deployment system for the F125 frigate EADS 10 Mar 2006 -- EADS has been chosen by the "Workgroup for the F125 Frigate" to supply the command & control and weapons deployment system (Führungs- und Waffeneinsatzsystem - FüWES) for the next generation of the German Navy surface ship. The "Workgroup for the F125 Frigate" is made up of the shipyards ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and Friedrich Lürssen Werft.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN PLANS VENDOR INDUSTRY DAYS TO SUPPORT SECURE BORDER INITIATIVE BID Lockheed Martin 10 Mar 2006 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] will hold local Vendor Industry Days to meet with potential suppliers for SBInet, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) comprehensive multi-year plan to secure America’s borders and reduce illegal immigration.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 10 Mar 2006
• Olmert: Israel Will Draw Final Borders Unilaterally VOA 10 Mar 2006 -- Israel is working on a sweeping plan to reshape its borders. But, future West Bank pullouts would not be coordinated with the Palestinians.
• African Union Extends Darfur Mission Through September VOA 10 Mar 2006 -- The African Union has extended its peacekeeping mission in Darfur, giving it more time to break an impasse over whether the United Nations should take over the job.
• Annan urges aid to African mission in Darfur while transition to UN force is planned UN News Centre 10 Mar 2006 -- Welcoming the decision of the African Union (AU) to extend its peacekeeping force in the troubled Darfur region of Sudan, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged all States to support the operation while planning for a handover of responsibilities to the United Nations.
• Some Progress Made in Sudan, but Darfur Remains in Crisis Washington File 10 Mar 2006 -- Although progress has been achieved on Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), "huge challenges" remain and results are "mixed," while conditions in Darfur remain "in crisis," U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick told reporters March 9.
• US Pushes AU To Accept UN Peacekeepers In Darfur VOA 10 Mar 2006 -- The United States is pushing the African Union to honor its decision to hand over Darfur peacekeeping duties to the United Nations
• SUDAN: AU discusses proposed transfer of peacekeepers to UN IRIN 10 Mar 2006 -- A meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) opened in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Friday to discuss the proposed transfer of the pan-African body's peacekeeping force in Sudan's western Darfur region to the United Nations, officials said.
• DR of Congo: UN officials welcome election date, call for stability in the east UN News Centre 10 Mar 2006 -- As the United Nation's envoy to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today welcomed the setting of a date for the first-ever general election there, the top UN peacekeeping official met with leaders in the eastern part of the country on establishing stability in the region.
• DRC: Registration of presidential, legislative candidates begins IRIN 10 Mar 2006 -- Registration offices for candidates in the Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential and legislative elections opened on Friday in the capital, Kinshasa.
• Military accuses Tamil rebels of truce breach in northern Lanka IRNA 10 Mar 2006 -- Sri Lanka's military accused the Tamil Tiger rebels of violating their fragile four-year-old cease-fire after soldiers uncovered hauls of ammunition and weapons in the country's north.
• Nepal rebels detonate bombs killing four security men IRNA 10 Mar 2006 -- Four security men were killed and six others injured when Maoists detonated three powerful bombs at a security checkpost in western Nepal.
• Thousands In Manhunt For Basayev In Chechnya RFE/RL 10 Mar 2006 -- The Moscow-backed prime minister of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, says some 3,000 security forces are engaged in a manhunt for Shamil Basayev, a top Chechen separatist military commander and one of Russia's most wanted men.

News Reports

• MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER SUCCESSFULLY PLACED IN ORBIT AROUND MARS Lockheed Martin 10 Mar 2006 -- The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft, designed and built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), was successfully placed in orbit around Mars this afternoon. The spacecraft’s flight and operations in space are controlled by teams at JPL in Pasadena, Calif., and Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company operations near Denver, Colo. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter joins the 2001 Mars Odyssey and the Mars Global Surveyor – both designed and built for NASA by Lockheed Martin – in orbit around the red planet.