Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 30 Jan 2007 [PDF]
• MNF-W PERSONNEL ATTACKED
• 13TH SC(E) SOLDIER KILLED IN ACCIDENT
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Iraqi, U.S. Troops Find Bombs, Other Weapons During Iraq Operations AFPS 30 Jan 2007 -- American military engineers in Iraq discovered and detonated an anti-tank mine; Iraqi police were attacked by an improvised explosive device; and Iraqi soldiers nabbed an insurgent during operations in Iraq over the past few days, officials said.
• Bataan Transits Suez Canal, Enters U.S. 5th Fleet Navy NewsStand 30 Jan 2007 -- The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and the Sailors and Marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) successfully transited the Suez Canal on Jan. 30 and entered the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.
• Blasts Kill 36 at Shi'ite Religious Observances in Iraq VOA 30 Jan 2007 -- Iraqi officials say at least 36 people were killed in bomb attacks against Shi'ite Muslims performing rituals for Ashura Tuesday.
• Gray Wolves Home After Prowling Afghan Skies Navy NewsStand 30 Jan 2007 -- Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142 returned home to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) in the early morning hours of Jan. 27 after successfully completing a deployment to Afghanistan.
• Afghanistan: Multipronged Drug-Eradication Effort Set For Helmand RFE/RL 30 Jan 2007 -- Afghan police and a provincial force are set to begin a poppy-eradication campaign in the southern Helmand Province -- targeting roughly one-tenth of the opium-poppy crops that provide about half of the heroin that reaches Europe

Defense Policy / Programs

• CENTCOM Nominee Touts Diplomacy in Iraq Approach AFPS 30 Jan 2007 -- Cooperation and assistance from U.S. allies in the Middle East are essential to promoting security and stability in Iraq, the president's nominee to lead U.S. Central Command said here today.
• New US Commander Says Iraq Situation Can Be Salvaged VOA 30 Jan 2007 -- The U.S. Navy admiral nominated to take command of all U.S. forces in the Middle East, Central Asia and East Africa says the situation in Iraq can be salvaged, but it will require hard work by the military, Iraqi leaders and the country's neighbors
• New U.S. Middle East Commander To Focus on Regional Diplomacy Washington File 30 Jan 2007 -- Admiral William Fallon, nominated to be the new U.S. commander in the Middle East, says he will focus on regional diplomacy and carrying out President Bush's new Iraq plan, which calls for an American troop surge to help Iraqi forces reduce violence-wracked Baghdad neighborhoods.
• Middle East Region Critical to World, Fallon Says AFPS 30 Jan 2007 -- Acknowledging the immense security challenges in the Middle East, President Bush's pick for command of U.S. forces there said today that he is eager to work with U.S. troops in the region and is optimistic about the future of Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Air Force Posts Request for Proposals for Tankers 30 Jan 2007 -- The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition announced today the posting of the KC-X aerial refueling aircraft request for proposals to the Federal Business Opportunities web site signaling the official launch of the Air Force's number one priority acquisition program.
• Tanker recapitalization proposal released AFPN 30 Jan 2007 -- Air Force leaders officially released a request for proposal for a replacement tanker aircraft Jan. 30.
• DACOWITS Committee Members Chosen 30 Jan 2007 -- Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates has announced the selection of the fiscal 2007 appointees to the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS).
• Ramstein control tower gets facelift AFPN 30 Jan 2007 -- Ramstein AB air traffic controllers left their 10-story tower in January for a one-story MSN-7 mobile control tower.
• C-130 mechanics beat repair deadline for gunship AFPN 30 Jan 2007 -- When Aircraft 89-0512, an AC-130U Gunship, arrived at Robins AFB for program depot maintenance, it was given an accelerated schedule of only 150 days to complete.
• USAFE, Ukrainian air force continue spirit of cooperation AFPN 30 Jan 2007 -- As the Ukrainian air force continues its steady progress, information exchanges with partnering nations such as U.S. Air Forces in Europe help further that development, said the chief of the Ukrainian air force.
• Hickam Airmen strategize aircraft weight-reduction initiative AFPN 30 Jan 2007 -- Members of the Hawaii Air National Guard have been categorizing parts of a KC-135 Stratotanker to figure out what can come off during certain missions to save fuel and money for the Air Force.
• Training Center Transformation Ensures Combat-Ready Troops AFPS 30 Jan 2007 -- When the National Training Center opened here in 1981, it presented the most realistic environment imaginable for troops to prepare for a potential large-scale, tank-on-tank confrontation with the Soviet Union in Germany's Fulda Gap.
• $50 Million Rehabilitation Center Opens on Fort Sam Houston Army News 30 Jan 2007 -- Thanks to the generosity of 600,000 Americans, wounded warriors now have a $50 million state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation facility.
• Navy Takes Delivery of Airborne Laser Mine Detection System Navy NewsStand 30 Jan 2007 -- Navy officials observed the roll-out of the first low-rate initial production unit of the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) in an official ceremony at Northrop Grumman Corporation and Integrated Systems Division's, Melbourne, Fla., facility on Jan. 26.
• NMCB 1 Seabees Launch Medium Girder Bridge Navy NewsStand 30 Jan 2007 -- Seabees attached to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 launched a medium girder bridge (MGB) Jan. 25 as part of a two-week class at the Contingency Construction Crew Training (CCCT) facility at Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss.
• U.S.: Pentagon Unveils The Next Generation Of Nonlethal Weapons RFE/RL 30 Jan 2007 -- A bacterial cocktail that transforms jet fuel into useless jelly. A chemical spray that turns enemy soldiers into homosexuals. A ray gun that shoots invisible beams of heat, dispersing crowds in a few seconds.
• Changes planned for ISR community AFPN 30 Jan 2007 -- The Air Force director of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, or ISR, recently discussed his plans for improving the service's ISR capabilities.
• US Official: China's Anti-Satellite Weapon No Threat to US Missile Defense VOA 30 Jan 2007 -- The deputy director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency says his organization could fairly easily develop a system to counter China's new anti-satellite weapon, but it has not been told to do so
• Lawmaker Faults US Response to Chinese Anti-Satellite Test VOA 30 Jan 2007 -- A Republican senator is criticizing what he calls the Bush administration's weak response to China's recent anti-satellite test, saying the test shows the United States needs to pursue all its options when it comes to space defense
• NATO, Pakistan discuss closer security cooperation IRNA 30 Jan 2007 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz met the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Brussels Tuesday afternoon and discussed military, security and political cooperation as well as the situation in Afghanistan.
• NATO chief raps inadequate coop between NATO and EU IRNA 30 Jan 2007 -- NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer criticized the inadequate cooperation between NATO and the European Union, DPA reported.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 30 Jan 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 30, 2007
• General Dynamics Awarded $9 Million Contract for MK47 'STRIKER40' Weapon Systems General Dynamics 30 Jan 2007 -- General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded an $8.6 million option from the U.S. Government for production of the MK47 MOD 0 Weapon System, a lightweight 40mm grenade launcher
• ATK Receives $330 Million in Orders for Small-Caliber Ammunition and the Modernization of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant ATK 30 Jan 2007 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK), the largest supplier of small-caliber ammunition to the United States military, has received an additional $284 million in orders for the production of small-caliber ammunition. In addition the company has received $46 million for plant modernization.
• BAE SYSTEMS RECEIVES FOLLOW-ON CONTRACT FOR NEW SWEDISH ARTILLERY SYSTEM BAE Systems 30 Jan 2007 -- BAE Systems has received a SEK 100 million contract from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration for the next phase of the Archer program.
• Data Link Solutions Receives Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems Contract for Saudi Arabia BAE Systems 30 Jan 2007 -- Data Link Solutions has received a $34.8 million U.S. Air Force contract from Warner Robins Air Logistic Center to provide Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems (MIDS) capability to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• BAE SYSTEMS RECEIVES $62 MILLION ORDER FOR MEDIUM RECOVERY VEHICLE OVERHAUL WORK BAE Systems 30 Jan 2007 -- BAE Systems has received a $62 million order from the Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) to reset 166 M88A1 medium recovery vehicles.
• CACI and ActioNet Joint Venture Awarded $330 Million U.S. Navy Systems Engineering Contract CACI 30 Jan 2007 -- CACI International Inc (NYSE:CAI) and ActioNet, Inc. announced today that a joint venture the companies have formed, called eVenture Technologies, LLC, has been awarded a five-year, estimated $330 million Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) services contract to support the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center New Orleans (SSC NOLA).
• LOCKHEED MARTIN RECEIVES $166 MILLION CONTRACT FOR ARMY, MARINE CORPS HIGH MOBILITY ARTILLERY ROCKET SYSTEM Lockheed Martin 30 Jan 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received a $166 million contract to provide 44 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to the U.S. Army and 16 to the U.S. Marine Corps.
• Raytheon to Demonstrate Global Joint Interoperability Solutions During U.S.-Japan Joint Exercise Raytheon 30 Jan 2007 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) will conduct the second in a series of global command and control integrated battle management demonstrations for U.S. Forces Japan during KEEN EDGE 2007, a U.S-Japan joint military exercise beginning Feb. 1.
• Bath Iron Works Awarded $257 Million to Complete DDG 1000 ZUMWALT Class Detail Design General Fynamics 30 Jan 2007 -- The U.S. Navy has awarded Bath Iron Works a $257.4 million contract option to complete the detail design of the DDG 1000 ZUMWALT Class Destroyer
• Oshkosh Truck Contracted By U.S. Marine Corps To Provide Four Armored Vehicles For Testing Oshkosh 30 Jan 2007 -- Oshkosh Truck Corporation (NYSE:OSK) announced today that the company has been awarded a contract by Marine Corps Systems Command to provide four test vehicles in support of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program. Under the contract, Oshkosh will provide two Category I and two Category II vehicles, which will then undergo testing at the government's Aberdeen Proving Ground.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN READIES FOR ORION CREW EXPLORATION VEHICLE AT NASA'S KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Lockheed Martin 30 Jan 2007 -- another milestone marking steady progress on the Orion crew exploration vehicle program, the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team accepted responsibility today for the Operations & Checkout (O&C) Building at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Kennedy Space Center. Lockheed Martin will use the historic facility to process Orion, America's next-generation human spacecraft.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICES OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 30 Jan 2007
• Ban Ki-moon calls for resumption of intra-Palestinian dialogue on national unity UN News Centre 30 Jan 2007 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on all Palestinian parties to quickly resume dialogue for national unity after the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza to end a civil conflict that has seen more than 40 people killed in Palestinian-on-Palestinian violence over the past month.
• OPT: Civilians caught in the crossfire IRIN 30 Jan 2007 -- Palestinians in Gaza say they have been trapped in their homes as deadly fighting between rival Palestinian militia groups had taken over the streets
• Moscow hopes Palestine truce a step to peace RIA Novosti 30 Jan 2007 -- The ceasefire announced Tuesday between Palestine's rival political factions may lead to peace among the Palestinian people, Russia's Foreign Ministry said.
• U.S. not ready to resolve Mideast problem - Russian analyst RIA Novosti 30 Jan 2007 -- The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict undermines U.S. positions in the Mideast, but Washington is not yet ready to resolve this problem due to internal political uncertainties, a Russian foreign relations expert said Tuesday.
• Israeli Aircraft Bomb Tunnel on Gaza Border VOA 30 Jan 2007 -- The Israeli military says its aircraft bombed a tunnel on Israel's border with the Gaza Strip early Tuesday.
• Palestinian Truce Takes Hold in Gaza VOA 30 Jan 2007 -- A truce between the Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah appears to be holding in Gaza, despite the killing of a Hamas militant in Khan Younis
• Extending UN mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea, Security Council cuts troop levels UN News Centre 30 Jan 2007 -- The Security Council today extended the mandate by six months of the United Nations peacekeeping mission monitoring the ceasefire that ended the border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea in 2000, but cut the number of blue helmets as it voiced frustration with the lack of progress made by either country.
• UN Slashes Ethiopia-Eritrea Peace Mission VOA 30 Jan 2007 -- The United Nations is reducing the size of its peacekeeping mission along the Ethiopia-Eritrea frontier
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY PROSECUTOR FOR SPECIAL COURT FOR SIERRA LEONE United Nations 30 Jan 2007
• Kosovo: UN envoy briefs Council of Europe on Serbian province's final status talks UN News Centre 30 Jan 2007 -- The top United Nations envoy in Kosovo today briefed the Council of Europe on latest developments in deciding the final status of the Albanian-majority Serbian province that the world body has run since Western forces drove out Yugoslav troops in 1999 amid ethnic fighting.
• CHAD: Govt pins hope for east on food aid IRIN 30 Jan 2007 -- Local officials in eastern Chad have appealed to the government for protection of civilians there, and the government has elaborated plans to improve its efforts to send food aid, but national plans to provide security remain vague, observers say.
• DRC: Opinion split in Ituri over rebel's indictment IRIN 30 Jan 2007 -- Residents in the volatile district of Ituri in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo have largely welcomed the International Criminal Court's (ICC) indictment of rebel leader Thomas Lubanga for war crimes, specifically the conscription of children.
• Somali President Agrees to Reconciliation Meeting VOA 30 Jan 2007 -- Somalia's president agreed Tuesday to a national reconciliation conference to try to end 16 years of fighting in the war-ravaged country

News Reports

• Lebanese Shi'ites Mark Ashura Amid Tight Security VOA 30 Jan 2007 -- Shi'ite Muslims around the world Tuesday held ritual celebrations marking the holy day known as Ashura, which commemorates the death of Muhammad's grandson