Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 14 Nov 2006 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• CENTAF releases airpower summary for Nov. 14 AFPN 14 Nov 2006 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Nov. 14.
• Iraqi Special Forces, Police Nab Cell Leaders, Members AFPS 14 Nov 2006 -- Iraqi special forces soldiers and police nabbed terror-cell leaders and members in raids in Baghdad over the last two days, U.S. officials reported. In addition, coalition forces killed 11 insurgents in Ramadi.
• Gunmen Abduct Dozens In Baghdad RFE/RL 14 Nov 2006 -- The chairman of the Iraqi parliament's Education Committee, Alaa Makki, has said dozens -- between 100 and 150 -- of employees of a government research institute in Baghdad have been abducted.
• Gunmen Masquerading as Police Kidnap 100 Iraqi Researchers VOA 14 Nov 2006 -- Iraqi police say at least 10 people were killed and 25 others wounded in a car bomb blast in a commercial area of central Baghdad Tuesday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Department of Defense and Netherlands Sign Next Stage Joint Strike Fighter Agreement 14 Nov 2006 -- Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England and the Netherlands Deputy Secretary for Defence Cees van der Knaap signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to begin future cooperation in the production, sustainment, and follow-on development (PSFD) phase of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program.
• Army announces temporary ACU boot policy - Black ICWB boots authorized with ACU in some zones Army News Release 15 Nov 2006 -- The Army announced today that in certain geographic areas for the next six months the black Intermediate Cold Wet Boot (ICWB) will be authorized for wear with the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) in lieu of the tan ICWB, which is currently in short supply.
• Boeing X-45A unmanned combat vehicle on display AFPN 14 Nov 2006 -- The Boeing X-45A unmanned combat air vehicle was officially inducted into the National Museum of the United States Air Force collection during a ceremony Nov. 13.
• GW Removes Mast, Begins Capstone Installation Navy NewsStand 14 Nov 2006 -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) successfully marked its first milestone of the Planned Incremental Availability plus Docking (PIA+D) Nov. 10 as the ship's main mast was removed nearly three weeks ahead of schedule for the installation of the new capstone suite.
• USS Dallas Departs Bahrain Following Week-Long Port Visit Navy NewsStand 14 Nov 2006 -- USS Dallas (SSN 700) departed Manama, Bahrain, Nov. 11, following a week-long port visit that allowed the crew to conduct mid-deployment maintenance and take part in some well-earned liberty.
• USS Anzio Provides Medical Assistance to Pakistani Dhow Navy NewsStand 14 Nov 2006 -- While conducting maritime security operations (MSO) off the coast of Pakistan, Nov. 13, the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) provided medical assistance to a civilian vessel in the Persian Gulf.
• NMCB 1 Detachment Drills Wells in Pohnpei Navy NewsStand 14 Nov 2006 -- Twenty-four Seabees attached to U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 left their homeport of Gulfport, Miss., this summer on a regularly scheduled six-month deployment to Pohnpei, Micronesia, where they are currently working hand-in-hand with the local government to expand the small island's ability to develop reliable, high-producing water wells.
• HSC-28 Detachment Returns from Deployment, Prepares for Next Navy NewsStand 14 Nov 2006 -- Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 Det. 3 returned from a six-month deployment to the Middle East with the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Nov. 3.
• JTFEX Expands EOD Group 1, NCWS 5 Training Skills Navy NewsStand 14 Nov 2006 -- More than 80 active-duty and Reserve Sailors from two commands under Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) set up camp in preparation for a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) here Nov. 6-16.
• US Defense Official: Suit Against Rumsfeld 'Frivolous' VOA 14 Nov 2006 -- U.S. officials are dismissing as frivolous a request by a New York-based advocacy group asking German prosecutors to investigate possible criminal charges against Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
• Poland receives first F-16s AFPN 14 Nov 2006 -- The first F-16 Fighting Falcons acquired by the Polish air force arrived at the 31st Air Base here Nov. 9 and were featured at a special roll-out ceremony.
• EU Gives Cautious Reception to Calls for Greater Role in Afghanistan VOA 14 Nov 2006 -- European foreign ministers meeting in Brussels offered a cautious reaction Monday to calls for the EU to increase its role in Afghanistan
• Unified air defense system deal may be signed in late Nov. RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2006 -- Russia and Belarus may sign an agreement to form a unified air defense system during a meeting of the former Soviet republics' defense ministers November 23, a Belarusian military official said Tuesday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 14 Nov 2006

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 14, 2006
• LOCKHEED MARTIN'S LANTIRN EXTENDED RANGE POD SELECTED BY THE ROYAL DENMARK AIR FORCE Lockheed Martin 14 Nov 2006 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] was awarded a $20 million contract by the Royal Denmark Air Force (RDAF) for LANTIRNT Extended Range (ER) targeting pods.
• Raytheon Awarded $12.8 Million Contract for Missile Launcher Production Raytheon 14 Nov 2006 -- Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), has been awarded a $12.8 million contract to produce LAU-115 and LAU-116 missile launchers in support of the U.S. Navy's F/A-18 E/F aircraft

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICES OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 14 Nov 2006
• Perils of unexploded remnants of war stressed in UN mine report UN News Centre 14 Nov 2006 -- A new United Nations report finds 26 out of 29 war-ravaged countries or territories surveyed to be plagued with the lurking remnants of cluster bombs and other explosives, and proposes measures to address these deadly weapons.
• United States Concerned About Increasing Violence in Chad Washington File 14 Nov 2006 -- The United States is watching closely recent attacks on civilians by ethnic Arab militias in Chad's provinces bordering Sudan's western region of Darfur, says State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
• Inter-communal violence spiralling out of control in south-east Chad, UN warns UN News Centre 14 Nov 2006 -- Voicing "extreme" concern at the escalating communal fighting in south-east Chad, the United Nations refugee agency today called on the international community to quickly mobilize a "multi-dimensional presence" to protect hundreds of thousands of Chadian civilians, Sudanese refugees and aid workers trying to help them.
• Ceasefire needed in Darfur, says top UN peacekeeping official as diplomacy intensifies UN News Centre 14 Nov 2006 -- All sides must stop fighting immediately in Darfur, the top United Nations peacekeeping official said today, as he outlined increasing diplomatic efforts over the next few weeks aimed at ending the spiralling violence and the "very tragic" situation in the strife-torn region.
• SUDAN: African Union to probe Darfur massacre IRIN 14 Nov 2006 -- The African Union is to investigate the killing of at least 30 civilians on 11 November by hundreds of armed militiamen, who attacked a camp for internally displaced people at Sirba near Kulbus in the Sudanese state of West Darfur, a source said.
• Annan Seeks Support for 'Hybrid' Darfur Peacekeeping Force VOA 14 Nov 2006 -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called a high-level meeting to discuss formation of a "hybrid" peacekeeping force for Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur region
• African Union says Militia Attacks on Civilians Continue in Darfur VOA 14 Nov 2006 -- The African Union says a series of deadly militia attacks on civilians has continued in Sudan's embattled Darfur region
• Congolese presidential contenders will respect neutrality of security forces, UN says UN News Centre 14 Nov 2006 -- As part of a series of agreements to abide by the outcome of the Congolese presidential elections, the contenders have pledged to respect the apolitical character of the national security services, the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) said today.
• Hamas Says New Palestinian Government Will Not Recognize Israel VOA 14 Nov 2006 -- A spokesman for the Hamas militant group says a new Palestinian government will not recognize Israel or accept a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict
• UGANDA: UN to participate in monitoring ceasefire agreement IRIN 14 Nov 2006 -- The United Nations will join the team monitoring the cessation of hostilities agreement between the Ugandan government and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in an effort to bolster the peace process, a top United Nations official said on Tuesday.
• CAR: Displaced civilians flock to town targeted by rebels IRIN 14 Nov 2006 -- A large number of civilians displaced by rebel activity in northern Central African Republic (CAR) have in the past three days flocked into the mining town of Bria, where the army and forces of Central African States Economic Community (CEMAC) have sent troops and materials to halt the insurgents.
• India, Pakistan Resume Peace Talks VOA 14 Nov 2006 -- India and Pakistan have resumed a peace process that was halted earlier this year by deadly train bombings in Mumbai

News Reports

• Proteus platform added to approved NASA Rapid Spacecraft Development Office supplier catalog Thales 14 Nov 2006 -- Alcatel Alenia Space today announces that Proteus, the flight-proven multi-mission Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) platform developed in cooperation with the French space agency CNES, has been selected by NASA to be part of their Rapid Spacecraft Development Office (RSDO) catalog.