Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 20 Mar 2006 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• U.S., Iraqi Troops Detain 66 Suspects, Seize Weapons AFPS 20 Mar 2006 -- In the past week, U.S. and Iraqi forces detained more than five dozen suspected insurgents in Iraq, U.S. military officials reported.
• Coalition Forces Net Suspects, Weapons; Detainees Released AFPS 20 Mar 2006 -- Iraqi and coalition troops detained suspects and seized weapons caches throughout Iraq, and an Iraqi review board recommended the release of a number of male detainees being held in the country, Multinational Force Iraq officials reported.
• Fuels Airmen train members of Iraqi Air Force AFPN 20 Mar 2006 -- Fuels Airmen take pride in knowing they provide fuel to the fight by supplying aircraft with the juice that keeps them flying. One more thing they can be proud of is their role in getting the Iraqi Air Force off the ground.
• Caches found in Operation Swarmer near Samarra Army News 20 Mar 2006 -- At least 11 caches were discovered and more than 60 suspected insurgents detained last week during Operation Swarmer, the airborne insertion into southern Salah Ad Din province, near Samarra.
• Soldiers stop IED suspects near Kirkuk Army News 20 Mar 2006 -- Iraqi Police and Bastogne Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division captured two terrorists Saturday after an improvised explosive device detonated on a combined patrol near Kirkuk, damaging one of the patrol vehicles.
• Afghan Foreign Minister Says Taleban Training Camps Inside Pakistan VOA 20 Mar 2006 -- Afghanistan's foreign minister says there are Taleban training camps across the border in Pakistan that are sources of terrorism and instability inside his country
• Single C-17 breaks airdrop record AFPN 20 Mar 2006 -- A single Air Force C-17 Globemaster III airdropped 32,400 pounds of humanitarian aid within 40 minutes to four locations in central and eastern Afghanistan March 16.
• C-17s deliver relief to Kauai AFPN 20 Mar 2006 -- "The Spirit of Hawaii - Ke Aloha," Hickam's first C-17 Globemaster III, delivered 27,000 pounds of recovery equipment to Kauai, Hawaii, after a dam burst, isolating thousands of residents and tourist along the island's north shore.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Peleliu Awarded First Battle “E” Navy NewsStand 20 Mar 2006 -- Commander, Naval Surface Forces awarded the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) her first Battle “E” March 10.
• Nassau Wins Prestigious Battle “E” Navy NewsStand 20 Mar 2006 -- Sailors aboard the Navy’s "top gator" received welcome news March 11 when Capt. Michael W. Brannon, their commanding officer, shared over the ship’s general announcing system that USS Nassau (LHA 4) had won the Battle “E” award for the second time in the ship’s history.
• Reagan Back at Sea Following Port Visit to United Arab Emirates Navy NewsStand 20 Mar 2006 -- Sailors from the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 and Carrier Strike Group (CCSG) 7 staff are back at sea after visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) March 15-19.
• USS Austin Wins Battle 'E' Navy NewsStand 20 Mar 2006 -- Crew members of the amphibious transport dock ship USS Austin (LPD 4) received the news that they were the winners of the 2005 Battle Efficiency award, March 12.
• Carrier Strike Group 9 Enters 7th Fleet AOR Navy NewsStand 20 Mar 2006 -- Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, led by Rear Adm. J. W. Goodwin embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), arrived in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility in late March as part of a routine scheduled deployment.
• GW Returns to Norfolk Following CQ, TSTA Navy NewsStand 20 Mar 2006 -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) returned to Norfolk March 17 after successfully completing the first phase of its Tailored Ship’s Training Availability (TSTA).
• Kitty Hawk Works Hard to Play By the Book Navy NewsStand 20 Mar 2006 -- USS Kitty Hawk’s (CV 63) leadership is taking proactive steps to review all procedures performed aboard ship as a way to enforce high safety standards and minimize the hazards found in inherently dangerous shipboard environments.
• “Battle Cats” Host Canadian Cadets Navy NewsStand 20 Mar 2006 -- Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 43, the “Battle Cats,” hosted Royal Canadian Sea Cadets from Ontario, Canada, March 14.
• Navy Takes New Approach to SpecWar, SpecOps Recruiting Navy NewsStand 20 Mar 2006 -- The Navy is taking a new approach to recruiting potential candidates for Naval Special Warfare/Naval Special Operations (NSW/NSO) programs with the introduction of NSW/NSO program managers at each Navy Recruiting District (NRD).
• Fort Suse Welcomes MCPON Navy NewsStand 20 Mar 2006 -- Arriving by a UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) (SS/AW) Terry Scott touched down at Fort Suse, Iraq, March 15, where he visited with Soldiers and Sailors of Fort Suse’s Theater Internment Facility (TIF) and Forward Operating Base (FOB).
• Osprey simulator up, running AFPN 20 Mar 2006 -- The CV-22 Osprey simulator was officially welcomed at the 19th Special Operations Squadron with a ceremony earlier this month.
• Bush: NATO Key U.S. Ally in Anti-terror War AFPS 20 Mar 2006 -- President Bush today praised NATO for its help in Iraq and Afghanistan and made suggestions for dealing with the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan.
• Leaders Meet with African Nations to Discuss Security, Safety AFPS 20 Mar 2006 -- The Africa Center for Strategic Studies, U.S. European Command and U.S. Naval Forces Europe jointly are hosting a workshop titled "Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea" in Accra, Ghana, March 19-22.
• Nuclear Weapons Center set to open at Kirtland AFPN 20 Mar 2006 -- Kirtland will become the home of Air Force Materiel Command's newest organization, the Nuclear Weapons Center, on March 31.
• White House Briefing, March 20 Washington File 20 Mar 2006 -- President's day, Iraq, Belarus/elections, Bush speech in Cleveland/war on terrorism
• State Department Briefing, March 20 Washington File 20 Mar 2006 -- Fraudulent Presidential Elections in Belarus, US Welcomes Bosnian Constitutional Reform, Nowruz Message, Belarus, Colombia, Iran, Japan, Iraq, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Prospects for Secretary Rice to Seek NFL Commissioner Position, NATO/Sudan

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 20, 2006
• Boeing C-17 Globemaster III Reaches Million Flight Hour Milestone Boeing 20 Mar 2006 -- The fleet of C-17 Globemaster III airlifters built by The Boeing Company [NYSE:BA] has reached one million flying hours -- the equivalent of one of the advanced cargo jets flying every minute of every day continuously for more than 114 years.
• General Dynamics Awarded $42 Million for Abrams Integrated Management Work General Dynamics 20 Mar 2006 -- The U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), two contract modifications associated with the Abrams Integrated Management (AIM) tank program. The combined potential value of both contracts is $41.8 million if all options are exercised.
• Lockheed Martin Receives $45.6 Million for Production of Unitary Army Tactical Missiles Lockheed Martin 20 Mar 2006 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received $45.6 million from the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command for Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) Quick Reaction Unitary missiles.
• Northrop Grumman Awarded $248 Million Contract for Submarine Work Northrop Grumman 20 Mar 2006 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) was awarded a contract from the U.S. Navy for work to support the Los Angeles, Ohio, Seawolf, and Virginia-class submarines. The total estimated value of the contract is approximately $248 million for work performed through 2008. Approximately $59 million is designated for work to be performed in 2006.
• Lockheed Martin Completes First Pathfinder Seeker For Missile Defense Agency's Multiple Kill Vehicle System Lockheed Martin 20 Mar 2006 -- Lockheed Martin (NSE: LMT) announced today that it has completed the first kill vehicle pathfinder seeker for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s Multiple Kill Vehicle System. Lockheed Martin is testing the pathfinder seeker in its hardware-in-the-loop facility, creating a vibration environment similar to the one the kill vehicle will experience while performing its mission. Under sophisticated optical and electrical testing, the pathfinder seeker and associated kill vehicle electronics have been demonstrating full functionality
• Raytheon Awarded $15.5 Million Air Force Contract to Repair Air Traffic Control Radar System Components Raytheon 20 Mar 2006 -- Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), has been awarded a U.S. Air Force (Air Force Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.) contract to repair air traffic control radar system components worldwide. The contract is valued at $15.5 million for the base-year and four option years.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 20 Mar 2006
• NEPAL: UN welcomes lifting of Maoist blockade IRIN 20 Mar 2006 -- The United Nations on Monday welcomed a decision by the Communist Party of Nepal/Maoists (CPN/M) to lift a nationwide blockade, noting the impact it was having on local communities.
• Traffic Resumes Along Nepal's Highways As Rebels Call Off Blockade VOA 20 Mar 2006 -- In Nepal, traffic has resumed along the country's highways after Maoist rebels ended a crippling blockade.
• Europe Approves Emergency Aid for Palestinians VOA 20 Mar 2006 -- The European Union has approved emergency aid for the Palestinians, while warning the Islamic party Hamas that it must recognize Israel and renounce violence if its government is to receive further aid.
• Hamas Names Cabinet VOA 20 Mar 2006 -- The Islamic militant group Hamas has taken control of the Palestinian government, naming a 24-member Cabinet that does not include any other political parties
• Israel's Olmert Says he Will Change Borders, Keep Lands in West Bank VOA 20 Mar 2006 -- Israel's acting prime minister, Ehud Olmert says he wants to dramatically change Israel's borders in coming years
• Two peacekeepers wounded in attack on UN post in southern Sudan UN News Centre 20 Mar 2006 -- In the second attack on a United Nations post in southern Sudan in less than a week, two peacekeepers from Bangladesh were wounded yesterday when 100 armed men tried to confine the blue helmets to their base in order to loot other compounds in Yambio near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
• Bush, NATO Leader Discuss Darfur VOA 20 Mar 2006 -- The situation in the troubled Darfur region of Sudan was on the agenda when President Bush met Monday with NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer.
• GUINEA-BISSAU-SENEGAL: Some 4,500 displaced by clashes IRIN 20 Mar 2006 -- Fighting between Guinea Bissau troops and Senegalese separatists has forced more than 4,500 people to flee their homes in the past several days, humanitarian officials said on Monday.

News Reports