Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 31 Jan 2007 [PDF]
• MNF-W PERSONNEL ATTACKED
• MND-N SOLDIERS ATTACKED
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• US Lawmakers Paint Grim Picture of Iraq, Afghanistan VOA 31 Jan 2007 -- US House lawmakers who have just returned from Iraq and Afghanistan have delivered sobering assessments of the situations there
• CENTAF releases airpower summaries for Jan. 30, 31 AFPN 31 Jan 2007 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Jan. 30 and 31.
• DoD Official: 'Surge' Won't Leave Troops Ill-Equipped, Unprotected AFPS 31 Jan 2007 -- Force protection for deploying U.S. troops is a top priority, and the services are ensuring all units involved in the "surge" in Iraq have the equipment they need to protect themselves and do their jobs, a top Pentagon official told reporters today.
• Helicopters Attack Insurgents Placing Roadside Bomb in Iraq AFPS 31 Jan 2007 -- Helicopters from Multinational Division Baghdad engaged insurgents preparing to emplace a roadside bomb south of the Iraqi capital today. Elsewhere in Iraq, U.S. and coalition troops found several weapons caches in recent days.
• Afghanistan: UN-backed body steps up efforts for reconstruction UN News Centre 31 Jan 2007 -- A high-level United Nations-backed body promoting a five-year development plan for Afghanistan wound up a two-day meeting in Berlin today with a commitment to more aggressive and determined efforts to rebuild the war-torn country, ranging from improving security to easing poverty to fostering human rights.
• Afghanistan: NATO Seeks To Preempt Taliban Offensive In Helmand RFE/RL 31 Jan 2007 -- With daytime temperatures creeping higher in Helmand, the threat of a spring campaign by insurgents in Afghanistan's restive south draws nearer.
• Afghanistan Compact Hits Snags One Year After Signing VOA 31 Jan 2007 -- In a statement issued in Berlin Wednesday, Afghanistan and its international donor partners called for stepped-up efforts to restore security and strengthen governance in Afghanistan

Defense Policy / Programs

• Bush Says No Plans To Invade Iran VOA 31 Jan 2007 -- President Bush says no one in his administration is talking about invading Iran, although all options remain on the table
• Iraq Renews Historic Tensions Between President and US Congress Over Power to Wage War VOA 31 Jan 2007 -- As the U.S. Senate prepares to debate President Bush's decision to send more troops to Iraq, it also serves as a reminder of the historical tensions that have existed between the president and Congress during times of war
• Department of Defense and Norway Sign Joint Strike Fighter Agreement 31 Jan 2007 -- Norway has signed the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) production, sustainment, and follow-on development (PSFD) memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will govern the cooperative program arrangements for the next phase of the Joint Strike Fighter program.
• Air Force posts KC-X request for proposals AFPN 31 Jan 2007 -- The assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition announced Jan. 30 the posting of the KC-X Aerial Refueling Aircraft Request for Proposal to the Federal Business Opportunities Web site, signaling the official launch of the Air Force's No. 1 priority acquisition program.
• Guard integration moves Airmen from Kulis to Elmendorf AFPN 31 Jan 2007 -- The 176th Wing at Kulis Air National Guard Base, Alaska, and associated aircraft, will relocate to Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, in accordance with the 2005 BRAC Commission recommendation.
• Cope Tiger underway in Thailand AFPN 31 Jan 2007 -- The skies over this air base in central Thailand are filled with the sounds of fighter jets screaming on take-off and landing as Exercise Cope Tiger 2007 gets underway.
• Commission Hears Testimony on Future of Guard's Top Post AFPS 31 Jan 2007 -- The Commission on the National Guard and Reserves heard testimony here today from three top leaders concerning how best to empower the Guard through its top leadership position.
• Top Personnel Official: 'Jointness' Key to Future of Military Medicine AFPS 31 Jan 2007 -- As the military health care system transforms its governance structure, the services must work together to sustain the high quality of care servicemembers and their families receive, a top Defense Department official said here yesterday.
• Military Health Officials Unveil Revitalized Plan AFPS 31 Jan 2007 -- Military Health System officials are working on several ways to improve health care delivery and management and save servicemembers money, the Defense Department's top doctor said here yesterday.
• USS Ohio (Blue) Returns Home to NB Kitsap, Bangor Navy NewsStand 31 Jan 2007 -- Sailors of USS Ohio (SSGN 726) (Blue) returned home to Naval Base (NB) Kitsap, Bangor, Jan. 28 to a warm welcome.
• USS Harpers Ferry Polishes Amphibious Readiness Skills Navy NewsStand 31 Jan 2007 -- USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) completed Amphibious Specialty Training (AST) with Amphibious Assault Vehicle launch and recovery exercises Jan. 29.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 31 Jan 2007
• Press Gaggle by Tony Snow and Ed Lazear Washington File 31 Jan 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 31, 2007
• BAE SYSTEMS HERTI UAV COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL WOOMERA TRIALS BAE Systems 31 Jan 2007 -- BAE Systems has confirmed the successful completion of a new series of trials for its fully autonomous HERTI UAV (unmanned air vehicle) system.
• Pratt & Whitney's F135 Engine Completes Successful Afterburner Test Pratt & Whitney 31 Jan 2007 -- The F-35 Lightning II successfully completed its first afterburner test powered by Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine. The test occurred during the F-35's fifth flight in Fort Worth, TexasThe F-35 Lightning II successfully completed its first afterburner test powered by Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine. The test occurred during the F-35's fifth flight in Fort Worth, Texas
• BAE SYSTEMS ENHANCES AIRBORNE NETWORKING PERFORMANCE FOR U.S. AIR FORCE BAE Systems 31 Jan 2007 -- The U.S. Air Force has selected BAE Systems and SRA International to develop the second spiral of the Flexible Access Secure Transfer (FAST) waveform into the Multifunction Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminal 1 (MIDS LVT1).
• Boeing-led Team Responding to Request for Proposals for AMF JTRS Design Boeing 31 Jan 2007 -- A Boeing-led [NYSE: BA] team is preparing a response to a Request for Proposals (RFP), released on Jan. 26, from the U.S. Department of Defense for system design and development of its Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Station Joint Tactical Radio System (AMF JTRS).
• General Dynamics Awarded Test Vehicle Contract for Four Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles General Dynamics 31 Jan 2007 -- U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract and an initial delivery order for the testing, production and support of four Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles
• General Dynamics Antennas and Radio Equipment Selected for German Military SATCOM Program General Dynamics 31 Jan 2007 -- General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been selected by ND SatCom Defence GmbH of Friedrichshafen, Germany, to supply strategic and tactical antennas and radio support equipment to the German Armed Forces SATCOMBw Step 2 Program
• Eurocopter hands over the first two of a total of sixteen EC135 rescue helicopters to the German Ministry of the Interior EADS 31 Jan 2007 -- The German Ministry of the Interior, one of Eurocopter’s largest civilian customers worldwide, took delivery of the first pair of a total of sixteen EC135 air rescue helicopters at Eurocopter’s Donauwörth plant on January 31, 2007.
• EADS CASA Air Refuelling Boom System programme at the final and definitive test phases EADS 31 Jan 2007 -- The EADS CASA’s A310 Boom Demonstrator Aircraft has done, on January 30, 2007, its 12th test flight and the boom has been successfully deployed for the first time.
• Rheinmetall to take up a majority interest in Chempro, supplier of high-tech force protection systems Rheinmetall Defence 31 Jan 2007 -- In taking up a majority interest of 51% in Chempro GmbH of Bonn, and gradually increasing its stake in ADS Gesellschaft für aktive Schutzsysteme mbH of Lohmar, the Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall Group continues to develop its position as a supplier of systems for ground forces. For the companies involved, cooperation holds the prospect of continued success in a forward-looking sector.

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 31 Jan 2007
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY CHAIRMAN OF WORKING GROUP ON CRIME OF AGGRESSION United Nations 31 Jan 2007
• ISRAEL-LEBANON: US inquiry into use of cluster bombs IRIN 31 Jan 2007 -- Israel may have violated agreements regarding the use of American-made cluster bombs during its war in Lebanon in July 2006, the US State Department said on Monday.
• Russian MP warns Lebanon against intl. tribunal on ex-PM's death RIA Novosti 31 Jan 2007 -- A senior Russian lawmaker warned Lebanon Wednesday against rushing to approve an international tribunal on the killing of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, as this could deepen social discord.
• Israel Considers Moving Security Barrier Farther into West Bank VOA 31 Jan 2007 -- Israel's government says it is considering moving the West Bank security barrier eastward, farther into the West Bank to enclose two Jewish settlements
• DR Congo: UN reports clashes and abuses in east despite overall calm UN News Centre 31 Jan 2007 -- Certain army elements in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continue to harass and terrorize civilians in the east of the vast country while renegade forces who refuse to join in the demobilization and reintegration process have engaged in rape and other "intolerable violations," the United Nations mission reported today.
• SOMALIA: AU seeks troops for peace mission IRIN 31 Jan 2007 -- The African Union's (AU) new chairman, President John Kufuor of Ghana, appealed on Tuesday to African governments to contribute troops to a planned peace and stabilisation force for strife-town Somalia.
• NEPAL: Saraswati Devi Gupta, Nepal "It won't take long for us to run out of food and medicine" IRIN 31 Jan 2007 -- After two weeks of riots, curfews and travel restrictions, many Nepalis living in the southern Terai region - home to the Madhesi - are desperate for humanitarian assistance.

News Reports

• Venezuela's President Granted New Powers to Declare Law VOA 31 Jan 2007 -- Venezuelan lawmakers approved a measure Wednesday granting President Hugo Chavez the power to issue law by decree for the next 18 months
• Australia Denies Involvement in Plot to Kill Solomon Islands Leader VOA 31 Jan 2007 -- Australian Prime Minister John Howard has denied an allegation that his government offered a bounty for the murder of his counterpart in the Solomon Islands
• Arroyo Vows to End Political Violence, But Critics Are Skeptical VOA 31 Jan 2007 -- Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has pledged to end political violence that has claimed more than 800 lives since she took office in 2001