Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 12 Mar 2007 [PDF]
• MND-B loses Soldier to non-battle death
• MNF-W Forces Attacked
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Press Briefing, March 12, 2007 MNF-I 12 Mar 2007 -- Joint MNF-I and Government of Iraq briefing with MNF-I Spokesman Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV and Iraqi Military Spokesman Brig. Gen.Qassim Atta, March 12, 2007
• March 12 airpower: Globemasters sustain operations AFPN 12 Mar 2007 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for March 12.
• Coalition, Iraqi Forces Capture 48 Suspects; Insurgents Kill Civilians AFPS 12 Mar 2007 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces captured 48 suspected insurgents and killed eight, and insurgents killed more than 20 civilians in several attacks over the past few days in Iraq, military officials reported.
• Iraqi Police, Army Cooperate to Protect Pilgrims AFPS 12 Mar 2007 -- Iraqi army and police forces worked together to provide security for the more than 6 million pilgrims traveling to Karbala to observe the Shiite ritual of Arbaeen, officials in Baghdad said today.
• DESRON 50 Concludes Operations Aboard Ocean 6 Navy NewsStand 12 Mar 2007 -- Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 50 concluded its mission March 6 as command and control staff for the commander of Task Group (CTG) 158.1 aboard Ocean 6, an afloat forward staging base attached to the Khawr Al Amaya (KAAOT) oil terminal in the Persian Gulf.
• CENTAF leaders visit Airmen deployed to Mehtar Lam AFPN 12 Mar 2007 -- The U.S. Central Command Air Forces commander visited Airmen serving in Afghanistan March 7-10, making stops here, at the Mehtar Lam Provincial Reconstruction Team and Kandahar Airfield.
• PRT turns best practice into Afghan community favorite AFPN 12 Mar 2007 -- A best practice program developed by the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team has become a community favorite here. The program provides construction materials to Afghan locals to complete or repair their own projects.
• Afghanistan: political, economic development must accompany military strategy - UN UN News Centre 12 Mar 2007 -- Military strategy has to be combined with political and development strategy in Afghanistan's violence-torn south and south-eastern provinces, the top United Nations peacekeeping official said today.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for February 12 Mar 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of February.
• Army Surgeon General to Retire Army News 12 Mar 2007 -- Yesterday, Lt. Gen. Kevin C. Kiley, Army Surgeon General and commanding general of Army Medical Command, submitted his request to retire from the U.S. Army to Acting Secretary of the Army Pete Geren. Maj. Gen. Gale Pollock, current Deputy Surgeon General, assumed Kiley's duties until a successor is named.
• Acting SecArmy Addresses WRAMC Staff Army News 12 Mar 2007 -- In his first public address as acting secretary of the Army, Pete Geren today addressed personnel of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command and Walter Reed Army Medical Center at WRAMC.
• Change of Command for Combined Task Group 158.1 Navy NewsStand 12 Mar 2007 -- British Royal Navy Capt. Bob Sanguinetti relieved U.S. Navy Capt. Jeffrey Harbeson as commander Task Group (CTG) 158.1 via telephone March 6.
• HMAS Toowoomba Conducts Operational Deployment in NAG Navy NewsStand 12 Mar 2007 -- Australian ship HMAS Toowoomba (FFH 156) is underway in the North Persian Gulf and has been performing maritime security operations (MSO) as part of Combined Task Group (CTG) 158.1 since early January.
• Navy Says Farewell to Last Sea King Navy NewsStand 12 Mar 2007 -- Sailors from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 85 held a decommissioning ceremony for the Navy's last H-3 Sea King helicopter March 6.
• USS Harpers Ferry and JS Ohsumi Complete Transport Exercise 2007 Navy NewsStand 12 Mar 2007 -- USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) completed Transport Exercise (TRANSPORTEX) 2007 with the Japanese Ship (JS) Ohsumi (LST 4001) off the coast of Japan on March 7.
• Tortuga Teams Up with Army for DLQ'S Navy NewsStand 12 Mar 2007 -- Army pilots assigned to Tactical Squadron (TACRON) West Pacific (WESPAC) conducted deck landing qualifications aboard USS Tortuga (LSD 46) off the coast of the Republic of Korea (ROK) on March 7.
• Navy Customs Battalion Sierra Completes First Week of Predeployment Training Navy NewsStand 12 Mar 2007 -- Navy Customs Battalion Sierra wrapped up its first week of predeployment training March 9 in Williamsburg, Va.
• "Eightballers" receive Isbell and Thatch awards Navy NewsStand 12 Mar 2007 -- The "Eightballers" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 8, currently embarked aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), received word Feb. 9 that they were the 2006 Adm. Jimmy Thatch award nominee for West Coast HS squadrons and winners of the Capt. Arnold J. Isbell award for Pacific Fleet squadrons.
• Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron 4 Completes Deployment to Guatemala Navy NewsStand 12 Mar 2007 -- Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron (NCWS) 4 completed a six-week deployment to Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, on March 4.
• Blue Ridge Visits Malaysia Navy NewsStand 12 Mar 2007 -- USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and embarked U.S. 7th Fleet Staff Sailors and Marines enjoyed a four-day port visit to Port Klang, Malaysia, on March 1-5.
• F-16 crashes in Florida Straits AFPN 12 Mar 2007 -- -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the Air Force Reserve Command's 482nd Fighter Wing here crashed about 11:05 a.m. today approximately 75 miles south-southeast of Homestead in the Florida Straits
• Army, DoD Reacting 'With Urgency' to Fix Medical System AFPS 12 Mar 2007 -- Motivated by its commitment to those who fight for freedom, the Army is acting quickly to fix problems with the medical system that have come to light since reports surfaced in February of poor conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, the Army's top civilian leader said today.
• Army Surgeon General Submits Retirement Request Army News Release 12 Mar 2007 -- On March 11 Lt. Gen. Kevin C. Kiley, Army Surgeon General and Commanding General of Army Medical Command, submitted his request to retire from the U.S. Army to Acting Secretary of the Army Pete Geren. Maj. Gen. Gale Pollock, current Deputy Surgeon General, immediately assumed the Surgeon General's duties.
• Army Inspector General Details Findings on Soldier Disability System Army News Release 12 Mar 2007 -- On 12 March, The U.S. Army Inspector General provided House and Senate Congressional committees a completed inspection report on the Army Physical Disability Evaluation System detailing findings of military medical and personnel policies, procedures and services for wounded and injured Soldiers.
• Air Force's satellite-loaded Atlas V is 50th launch success AFPN 12 Mar 2007 -- The Air Force marked its 50th consecutive successful launch March 8 with an Atlas V loaded with six experimental satellites.
• Future is bright for Air Force space assets AFPN 12 Mar 2007 -- The Airmen of Air Force Space Command are tracking a lot more than the man-made space junk that orbits the Earth.
• NATO chief warns of split over US `son of star wars' IRNA 12 Mar 2007 -- NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer warned Monday that the transatlantic military alliance risks being split between countries covered by the controversial US `son of star wars' program and other member states left exposed.
• NATO chief warns of split in Europe over planned US missile base IRNA 12 Mar 2007 -- Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has warned that the alliance risks being split between countries that would be covered by the US's proposed missile defence program and other member states left exposed to missile threats.
• Georgian political leaders sign NATO national accord declaration RIA Novosti 12 Mar 2007 -- The leaders of Georgia's political parties Monday signed a declaration of national accord on the country's accession to NATO.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 12 Mar 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 12, 2007
• Boeing Selects Pratt & Whitney Engines for KC-767 Advanced Tanker Boeing 12 Mar 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has reached an agreement with Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corporation [NYSE: UTX], for the price and terms under which it will supply engines for the KC-767 Advanced Tanker.
• ATK and ARDEC to Develop Advanced Ammunition and Gun System to Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar Attacks ATK 12 Mar 2007 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) has received a $4.6 million contract from the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), Picatinny, New Jersey, to develop and demonstrate a next-generation ammunition and gun system for the Army's Extended Area Protection & Survivability (EAPS) program.
• L-3 Communications Link Simulation and Training Awarded $43.7 Million Contract to Maintain C-9 Aircraft L-3 Communcations 12 Mar 2007 -- L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) announced today that its Link Simulation and Training (L-3 Link) division was awarded a $43.7 million contract from the U.S. Navy to serve as prime contractor on the C-9 Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) program. Should the U.S. Navy exercise four additional annual contract options, potential contract value of the C-9 CLS program could grow to approximately $230 million.
• Raytheon's 'Pure Fleet' $38.6 Million Contract Award To Enhance Patriot Global Capabilities Raytheon 12 Mar 2007 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) received a $38.6 million Army contract to provide increased capability for warfighters now using the Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) configuration.

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 12 Mar 2007
• AU Critical Component to Peace on the Continent, says US Ambassador VOA 12 Mar 2007 -- Somalia and the situation in Darfur are among the major issues being addressed by the African Union - and both present major challenges to the organization.
• Kosovo: declaring end to future status talks, UN envoy to present 'realistic compromise' UN News Centre 12 Mar 2007 -- Neither Kosovo's ethnic Albanian-led Government nor Serbia have shown any will to reach a negotiated accord on the future status of the Serbian province, where Albanians outnumber Serbs and others by 9 to 1, and the senior United Nations official overseeing the issue will submit a "realistic compromise" to the Security Council this month.
• Majority of Serbs Intend To Stay in Kosovo, U.S. Diplomat Says Washington File 12 Mar 2007 -- Kosovo's Serbs strongly disagree with a settlement proposal being sent to the U.N. Security Council, but a senior U.S. diplomat says most Serbs now living in Kosovo intend to stay there and seek a future of peace and prosperity.
• US Hopeful of Security Council Action on Kosovo VOA 12 Mar 2007 -- The U.S. State Department's top diplomat for Europe says he believes the U.N. Security Council will be able to approve a final-status plan for Kosovo, despite the failure of U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari to conclude a deal with the Balkan parties
• Côte d'Ivoire: Ban Ki-moon calls on world to be ready to help consolidate peace accord UN News Centre 12 Mar 2007 -- Following the signing of a peace agreement between the rival leaders in Côte d'Ivoire, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling on the international community to be ready to provide key help in such fields as disarmament, security sector reform and preparations for elections in the divided West African country.
• UN Security Council Studies Ivory Coast Pact Amid Concerns VOA 12 Mar 2007 -- Officials at the United Nations Security Council are evaluating a new peace deal for Ivory Coast
• Somali Clan Opposes Disarmament Plan VOA 12 Mar 2007 -- In the Somali capital, Mogadishu, elders of the locally-dominant Hawiye clan tell VOA that the interim government's plan to disarm civilians there by force will only ignite clan warfare and bring more instability
• SOMALIA: Government pledges to secure capital in 30 days IRIN 12 Mar 2007 -- Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has said it would secure Mogadishu, the capital, in 30 days. However, the announcement came as violence and displacement continued unabated in the city.
• Stressing need to end suffering in Northern Uganda, Ban Ki-moon hails talks UN News Centre 12 Mar 2007 -- Stressing the need to end the suffering in conflict-torn Northern Uganda, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the latest pledges by the parties to hold their fire and voiced hope that formal peace negotiations will soon resume.
• Hamas Rejects al-Qaida Criticism of Palestinian Unity Government VOA 12 Mar 2007 -- The Islamic militant group Hamas, which heads the Palestinian Authority, has rejected criticism from al-Qaida, the group responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States
• UN Team Accuses Sudan of Darfur War Crimes VOA 12 Mar 2007 -- A U.N. human rights team has accused Sudan's government of orchestrating war crimes in Darfur, and blocking international attempts to intervene
• UGANDA: Bid to restart peace talks IRIN 12 Mar 2007 -- A United Nations envoy, government ministers, religious and local community leaders are meeting the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in an effort to resurrect the stalled peace talks between the rebels and the Ugandan authorities.
• ETHIOPIA-SUDAN: Refugee repatriation to southern Sudan resumes IRIN 12 Mar 2007 -- The opening of two new return corridors from Ethiopia to southern Sudan will ease the repatriation of thousands of refugees, mostly to Upper Nile, Jonglei and Blue Nile States, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
• Georgia reports shelling in upper part of Kodori Gorge RIA Novosti 12 Mar 2007 -- Georgian authorities said Monday that the upper part of the Kodori Gorge, the de facto border between Abkhazia and Georgia, was under rocket and artillery fire for 40 minutes during the night.
• Tens of Thousands Flee Homes as Sri Lanka Fighting Escalates VOA 12 Mar 2007 -- International relief organizations in Sri Lanka say there has been a massive influx of refugees in the east of the country, as fighting escalates between the army and Tamil rebels

News Reports

• Astrium successfully achieves first step in triple challenge EADS 12 Mar 2007 -- Astrium has succeeded in the first step of a triple challenge with the first Ariane 5 mission of 2007, on 11 March, which has successfully launched the British military communications satellite Skynet 5A, together with the Indian INSAT-4B telecommunications satellite.