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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 31 Jul 2006 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualties
• CENTAF releases airpower summary AFPN 31 Jul 2006 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released the airpower summary for July 31.
• Iraqi Forces Capture Gang Members, Free Hostage, Detain Police Colonel AFPS 31 Jul 2006 -- In separate operations over the last three days, Iraqi forces captured gang members suspected of involvement in kidnappings, freed an Iraqi man being held by terrorists, and detained a police colonel believed to be involved with terrorism, U.S. military officials in Iraq reported.
• NATO Takes Command of Security in Southern Afghanistan VOA 31 Jul 2006 -- NATO forces officially took command of security operations in southern Afghanistan from the U.S.-led coalition force, as the country faces its worst violence since the Taleban regime was ousted in 2001
• NATO Assumes Command in Southern Afghanistan AFPS 31 Jul 2006 -- NATO's International Security Assistance Force assumed command from coalition forces in southern Afghanistan today, continuing a process that began with the establishment of ISAF in Kabul in August 2003.
• Taliban Extremists Attack Governor; Afghan Soldiers Kill Terrorists AFPS 31 Jul 2006 -- Taliban extremists attacked the governor of Nagarhar, Afghanistan, today, killing eight civilians, and Afghan National Army soldiers killed at least four terrorists and detained six during a morning operation yesterday, U.S. military officials reported.
• NATO Force Good For Future of Afghanistan, U.S. General Says AFPS 31 Jul 2006 -- In taking over responsibility for southern Afghanistan, the NATO International Security Assistance Force is bringing thousands more troops and greater capability to the area and investing in the country's future, the U.S. general in charge of coalition forces in Afghanistan said today.
• AFGHANISTAN: NATO assumes command in volatile south IRIN 31 Jul 2006 -- NATO assumed control of military operations in southern Afghanistan from US-led coalition forces on Monday, boosting the number of foreign troops to fight the Taliban insurgency.
• Military Focus in Lebanon Shifts to Delivering Humanitarian Relief AFPS 31 Jul 2006 -- With almost 15,000 U.S. citizens now departed from Beirut, Lebanon, the U.S. military focus there has shifted to providing humanitarian relief supplies to the population there, Army Lt. Col Mark Ballesteros, a Pentagon spokesman, told American Forces Press Service.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army Announces Maj. Gen. Miller's Retirement Army News Release 01 Aug 2006 -- Today at a ceremony in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller, special assistant to the Director of the Army Staff, retired from the United States Army following 34 years of selfless service to the Nation - including overseas assignments in Germany, Korea, Cuba and Iraq.
• Commander, Naval Surface Forces Visits Sasebo Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2006 -- Vice Adm. Terrance T. Etnyre, commander, Naval Surface Forces (COMNAVSURFOR) made a visit July 27-28 to thank Sailors based on ships here for their service and to convey a vision for the way ahead for the Navy's surface forces.
• Guardian Arrives in Niigata, Japan, for Port Visit Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2006 -- USS Guardian (MCM 5) pulled into Niigata, Japan, July 27 for a scheduled port visit as part of a training underway period, just after the ship completed a ship's restricted availability (SRA) period.
• U.S., Australian Navies Conduct IED Training During RIMPAC Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2006 -- U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Group 1 and Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diving Team 1 trained together here July 21 in a skill-sharing evolution at Schofield Barracks, as a part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2006.
• New First Wave Deployment Sees NHB Staff Heading to Kuwait Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2006 -- Twenty-three staff members left Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) July 27 on a six-month deployment to help staff the Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) in Kuwait.
• JTFEX 06 Prepares COMPHIBGRU 2 for Deployment Overseas Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2006 -- As Commander, Amphibious Group (PHIBGRU) 2 prepares to deploy to the Middle East next year, it received valuable training with joint and coalition forces during Joint Task Force Exercise 2006 (JTFEX 06) "Operation Bold Step," July 21-28.
• Malaysian, U.S. Navies Practice Maritime Interdiction Skills During CARAT Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2006 -- Four combined U.S. and Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) teams climbed aboard a simulated rogue vessel to look for drugs and weapons during an exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) maritime interdiction July 31.
• Border Patrol credits Guard with drop in apprehensions Army News 31 Jul 2006 -- The number of illegal immigrants crossing from Mexico into the U.S. Border Patrol's busy Tucson, Ariz., sector have dropped from about 600 a day in March to 200 this month, according to Border Patrol officials.
• Handbook helps weapon systems get to warfighter quicker AFPN 31 Jul 2006 -- The Department of Defense is constantly looking for ways to reduce the time it takes to get new weapon systems in the hands of the warfighter.
• NORAD, NORTHCOM Personnel to Move AFPS 31 Jul 2006 -- Some military and civilian personnel will be moving from Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center, near Colorado Springs, Colo., to nearby Peterson Air Force Base.
• Coast Guard's Protection of Ports Vital to U.S. Security, Bush Says AFPS 31 Jul 2006 -- President Bush praised the Coast Guard's efforts to protect the country's ports in a speech today at the U.S. Coast Guard Integrated Support Command in Miami.
• Daily Press Briefing US Department of State 31 Jul 2006

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 31, 2006
• CACI Awarded Prime Contract on $20 Billion, Multiple-Award Information Technology Program With U.S. Army CACI 31 Jul 2006 -- CACI International Inc (NYSE:CAI) announced today that it has been awarded a prime contract to support the multiple-award Information Technology Enterprise Solutions 2 Services (ITES-2S) program for the U.S. Army's Program Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems, headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. A follow-on to the original ITES program, ITES-2S has a total estimated ceiling value of $20 billion. CACI was one of eight large businesses that won prime contract awards, along with three small business primes.
• NH90 success story continues with NEW-ZEALAND Confirmation of Eurocopter’s leadership in military transport helicopter EADS 31 Jul 2006 -- The government of New-Zealand announced today a firm order for 9 NH90 to provide 8 operational helicopters to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The NH90 has been selected by New-Zealand in April 2005 as the replacement helicopter for the RNZAF ageing Iroquois. A signing ceremony took place in Wellington with Hon Phil Goff, Minister of Defence of New-Zealand in presence of Philippe Harache, Eurocopter’s Senior Executive Vice President.
• General Dynamics to Provide Computer Systems Operations and Maintenance to the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego General Dynamics 31 Jul 2006 -- The U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) has selected General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), to provide computer systems operations, hardware maintenance and systems engineering support to its Tactical Systems Integration and Interoperability Division (Code 245). The total potential value of the contract, if all options are exercised, is $16.5 million over a five-year period of performance.
• General Dynamics Information Technology to Support the U.S. Navy Submarine Communications Information and C4I Systems Division General Dynamics 31 Jul 2006 -- The U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) Code 283 has selected General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), to provide research, development, and test and evaluation services for its Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) engineering support division. The total potential value of the contract if all options are exercised is $21.4 million over a five-year period of performance.
• General Dynamics Information Technology to Provide Support for U.S. Navy C4I Programs General Dynamics 31 Jul 2006 -- The U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) has selected General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), to provide information technology (IT) support to joint and national Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) programs. The estimated value of this contract, if all options are exercised, is $19.2 million over a five-year period of performance.
• General Dynamics Awarded $129 Million for Production of Reactive Armor for Bradley Fighting Vehicle General Dynamics 31 Jul 2006 -- General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a $129 million contract from the U.S. Army TACOM-Picatinny (Picatinny, N.J.) for the production of enhanced-capability reactive armor tile sets for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle System. The total contract value could reach $245 million if all options are exercised.
• U.S. Army Asks Lockheed Martin to Accelerate Production of Guided MLRS Unitary Rockets Lockheed Martin 31 Jul 2006 -- The U.S. Army has asked Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] to accelerate production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS Unitary) rockets.
• Northrop Grumman Awarded $58.4 Million U.S. Navy Guided Missile Cruiser Life Cycle Support Contract Northrop Grumman 31 Jul 2006 -- The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a $58.4 million contract to continue life cycle engineering and technical services in support of the Navy's fleet of USS Ticonderoga (CG 47) class Aegis guided missile cruisers.
• Northrop Grumman Tests Confirm Performance of Advanced EHF Downlink Phased Array Antenna Northrop Grumman 31 Jul 2006 -- The downlink phased array antenna developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) for the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) military satellite communications payload has completed range tests that confirmed performance predictions. The company will provide the Advanced EHF payloads to Lockheed Martin, prime contractor for the Advanced EHF system.
• Sikorsky Aircraft Delivers First New Production UH-60M BLACK HAWK Helicopter to U.S. Army Sikorsky 31 Jul 2006 -- In a rollout ceremony attended by hundreds of government officials, military personnel, and employees, Sikorsky Aircraft launched a new era today with delivery of the U.S. Army's first production UH-60M BLACK HAWK helicopter. Sikorsky is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 31 Jul 2006
• Israel to Press Fight Despite Cease-Fire Calls VOA 31 Jul 2006 -- Israeli warplanes hit suspected Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, despite Israel's promise to suspend air strikes for a 48-hour period
• Iraqi VP: 'Horrible Massacres Carried out by Israeli Aggression' on Lebanon VOA 31 Jul 2006 -- Iraq's vice president has accused Israel of carrying out "massacres" in Lebanon -- the harshest criticism yet of the Jewish state from a top official of the U.S.-backed Iraqi government.
• Republican Senator Criticizes US Policy on Middle East VOA 31 Jul 2006 -- A key Senate Republican is calling on the Bush administration to work for an immediate cease-fire in the conflict between Israeli forces and the Lebanese-based Hezbollah militants.
• Lebanon Asks Security Council to Investigate Qana Air Strike VOA 31 Jul 2006 -- Israeli and Lebanese officials clashed at a Security Council meeting Monday as Lebanon's acting foreign minister, Tareq Mitri, asked for an international investigation into the deadly air strike on the southern town of Qana, where 54 people, including many children, were killed Sunday.
• Diplomacy Efforts in Middle East Take on Greater Importance VOA 31 Jul 2006 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is on her way home to Washington today Monday optimistic that a "comprehensive settlement" to the Middle East crisis can be reached in the coming days
• Could Middle East Conflict Bolster Hezbollah? VOA 31 Jul 2006 -- Israel's military campaign against Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon has entered its fourth week, but as civilian casualties mount, some experts caution that the conflict may leave Hezbollah stronger than before.
• Bush Calls for Lasting Middle East Cease-Fire, End of Status Quo AFPS 31 Jul 2006 -- The current Middle East crisis between Israel and Hezbollah is part of a larger struggle between the forces of freedom and terror, President Bush said today in Miami.
• Middle East: Iranians 'Volunteer' To Help Hizballah RFE/RL 31 Jul 2006 -- Groups of Iranian volunteers left Tehran for Lebanon recently, despite government discouragement and denials of responsibility
• UNICEF chief joins others in condemning Israeli attack on Qana, Lebanon UN News Centre 31 Jul 2006 -- Reacting to an attack which killed over 50 people in Qana, Lebanon, this weekend, the head of the United Nations Children's Fund has joined her voice to others condemning the incident and calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities as well as special measures to protect the youngest victims of the conflict.
• UN's top rights chief condemns killings of civilians in Qana, Lebanon UN News Centre 31 Jul 2006 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today strongly condemned the weekend killing of dozens of civilians, including numerous children, resulting from the shelling by the Israeli forces of a residential building in Qana, south Lebanon, and reminded the parties of their obligations under international law.
• Annan would have preferred joint probe with Israel into attack on UN post - letter UN News Centre 31 Jul 2006 -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan has told the Security Council that Israel will carry out its own investigation into the events that led to the deaths of four United Nations observers in southern Lebanon last week, but he would have preferred a joint UN-Israeli probe.
• UN Force in Lebanon extended for 1 month as Council mulls future action UN News Centre 31 Jul 2006 -- The Security Council today extended for one month the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) while proposals for a new international presence in the violence-wracked region are considered.
• Addressing Security Council, Lebanese minister urges steps to end violence UN News Centre 31 Jul 2006 -- Addressing a meeting of the United Nations Security Council today, Lebanon's acting Foreign Minister urged an immediate series of steps aimed at quelling the violence there, while Israel's representative said his country was acting in self-defence and called for the authorities in Beirut to take control of their entire nation.
• IRAQ: Dozens of Iraqis evacuated from Lebanon require urgent assistance IRIN 31 Jul 2006 -- Dozens of Iraqis who fled Lebanon after the Israeli offensive began on 12 July have now reached the Iraqi capital, Baghdad and urgently need assistance, Iraqi officials said.
• French foreign minister in Lebanon calls for cease-fire IRNA 31 Jul 2006 -- French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy called Monday for a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon.
• Security Council Deplores Lebanese Deaths Washington File 31 Jul 2006 -- The Security Council expressed "extreme shock and distress" over the killing of dozens of civilians in Qana, Lebanon, July 30 and called for an end to the violence in the region.
• Rice Says Settlement of Israel-Hizballah Conflict Taking Form Washington File 31 Jul 2006 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says there is a growing consensus on a possible settlement to the conflict between Israel and Hizballah and expects to see the U.N. Security Council act on a proposal within the week.
• Experts: Lebanon Crisis May Complicate Iran Nuclear Issue VOA 31 Jul 2006 -- The crisis in Lebanon is greatly complicated by the fact that Iran is a key backer of Hezbollah, which is locked in conflict with Israel
• Peres Says Iran Uses Hezbollah to Divert Attention from its Nuclear Activity VOA 31 Jul 2006 -- In New York Monday, Israeli Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres said Iran is using Hezbollah and the conflict in Lebanon to divert attention from its nuclear ambitions.
• Analysis: Israel Halts Strikes, U.S. Now Seeks Ceasefire cfr.org 31 Jul 2006 -- Israel announced July 30 it would suspend air strikes on Lebanon for two days after a deadly strike on the village of Qana killed fifty-seven civilians, mostly women and children
• UN Security Council Expresses Shock At Qana Bombing RFE/RL 31 Jul 2006 -- The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to express "extreme shock and distress" at the Israeli attack in Qana that left at least 54 people dead, many women and children.
• Rice Says Mideast Ceasefire Possible This Week VOA 31 Jul 2006 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants is possible this week
• Israeli Warplanes Bomb S. Lebanon Despite Promised Airstrike Pause VOA 31 Jul 2006 -- Israeli officials say warplanes carried out a last bombing run in eastern Lebanon early Monday, shortly before Israel suspended its air campaign against Hezbollah guerrillas for 48 hours.
• Human Rights Watch: Israeli Attacks 'War Crimes' VOA 31 Jul 2006 -- A New York-based human rights group says the Israeli military is fully responsible for its air strike that killed nearly 60 civilians in Lebanon, calling such attacks a "war crime."
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS ON DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, MIDDLE EAST United Nations 31 Jul 2006
• DRC: Two elections held, four more to go IRIN 31 Jul 2006 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo's first democratic elections since 1960 were held on Sunday for the presidency and parliament but the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) must now prepare for four more elections between October and January 2007.
• DRC Election Officials Working Overtime to Prepare Results VOA 31 Jul 2006 -- Election officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are working around the clock to prepare results from most polling centers in the country's first election in more than 40 years
• UN reports generally peaceful voting in DR Congo's historic elections UN News Centre 31 Jul 2006 -- As the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) went to the polls this weekend for the firsts time in more than four decades, voting was largely peaceful, according to the United Nations mission in the country (statement, reporting "no major incidents of note" up to the early afternoon.
• Deadline for Chechnya gunmen surrender extended to Sept. 30 RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2006 -- The chairman of the National Anti-Terror Committee Monday extended the term for the voluntary surrender of Chechen militants until September 30.
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY GEORGIA United Nations 31 Jul 2006
• S.Ossetia's leader presses to join Russia RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2006 -- The president of South Ossetia said Monday that the breakaway Georgian region would soon ask Russia's Constitutional Court to let the region become a part of Russia, and present historical documents to back its claim.
• Senior Sri Lankan rebel says truce void, war back on IRNA 31 Jul 2006 -- Sri Lanka's four-year ceasefire is now void and the island's two-decade civil war is back on, a top Tamil Tiger rebel said as the guerrillas and the military entered a sixth straight day of fighting.
• Sri Lankan troops capture key reservoir, 40 Tigers killed IRNA 31 Jul 2006 -- Sri Lankan troops captured a key reservoir in the North-east after an intense air and artillery raid that killed up to 40 Tamil Tigers, who asked Nordic monitors to officially declare that the faltering truce in the island nation was over.
• Sri Lanka Fighting Escalates as Tamil Tigers Say Cease-Fire is Dead VOA 31 Jul 2006 -- In Sri Lanka, regional leaders from the Tamil Tiger guerrilla group say a cease-fire with the government is dead, and the country's civil war has resumed
• NEPAL: UN mission assesses peace process IRIN 31 Jul 2006 -- A high-level United Nations (UN) mission is assessing what role the world body can play in the peace process to end Nepal's decade-long armed conflict.
• India, Northeast separatists NSCN-IM extends ceasefire by a year IRNA 31 Jul 2006 -- Separatist rebels from northeastern Nagaland state and the Indian government Monday agreed after three days of talks in Bangkok to extend their nine-year-old ceasefire by another year, a rebel spokesman said.
• In Sudan's troubled Darfur region, UN mission reports continuing clashes UN News Centre 31 Jul 2006 -- Violent clashes between Sudanese Government forces, allied militias and rebel groups continue to plague the strife-torn Darfur region, the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) reported today, while a UN humanitarian convoy has also been ambushed.

News Reports