Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 26 Mar 2007 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualties
• Press Briefing, March 26, 2007 MNF-I 26 Mar 2007 -- Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad, United States Ambassador to Iraq, gives his farewell press conference, March 26, 2007
• Iraqi, Coalition Troops Begin Clearing Operation in Ramadi AFPS 26 Mar 2007 -- Iraqi security and coalition forces began a major operation to clear al Qaeda from western Ramadi in Iraq's Anbar province, military officials reported today.
• AFGHANISTAN: Civilians caught in crossfire in south IRIN 26 Mar 2007 -- Fighting between international forces and Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan continues to claim the lives of civilians, local residents say.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: Special Defense Department Briefing- Inspector General Thomas Gimble Reports On The Death Of Corporal Patrick Tillman In Afghanistan from the Pentagon Briefing Room, Arlington, Virginia 26 Mar 2007 -- Presenter: Thomas Gimble, DoD Acting Inspector General; Brigadier General, Rodney Johnson, Commander, U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command; Pete Geren, Acting Secretary Of The Army; General Richard Cody, Army Vice Chief Of Staff
• Army Acts on Inspector General Recommendations Involving Cpl. Tillman Death Investigation Army News Release 26 Mar 2007 -- Army officials announced specific actions March 26 that will be taken in response to the Department of Defense Inspector General's (DoD IG) review of the events following the death of Army Cpl. Patrick Tillman's, on April 22, 2004, in Afghanistan
• DoD, Army Conclude Tillman's Death Was Accidental AFPS 26 Mar 2007 -- Army Spc. Patrick D. Tillman was accidentally shot and killed by members of his divided Ranger unit after part of it had been ambushed by enemy fighters in a canyon in Afghanistan, senior Defense Department and Army officials told reporters here today.
• US Army Finds No Criminal Negligence in Friendly Fire Death of Former Football Star VOA 26 Mar 2007 -- Pentagon investigations into the friendly fire death of a former U.S. football star in Afghanistan have found no criminal negligence by soldiers involved in the incident
• U.S./Israel Complete Successful Arrow Missile Defense Test MDA 26 Mar 2007 -- Air Force Lieutenant General Henry "Trey" Obering III, Missile Defense Agency Director, today announced the successful completion of the latest ballistic missile test, by the joint U.S./Israel Arrow missile defense system
• Air Force announces milestone in force transformation AFPN 26 Mar 2007 -- The secretary of the Air Force and chief of staff recently announced the completion of the next phase of Total Force Integration initiatives after discussions with Airmen from active-duty, Guard and Reserve organizations.
• Keating Becomes Commander of U.S. Pacific Command AFPS 26 Mar 2007 -- Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating will bring the same good judgment and decisiveness to the U.S. Pacific Command that he demonstrated as commander of U.S. Northern Command, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today.
• 340th EARS keeps aircraft in fight 24/7 AFPN 26 Mar 2007 -- Despite the age of the KC-135 Stratotanker, one of the Air Force's top recapitalization priorities, the role of the Airmen in the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron to refuel coalition aircraft has proven critical to the U.S. Central Command mission.
• A-10 modifications speed up to support warfighters AFPN 26 Mar 2007 -- The Air Force will soon benefit from an A-10 Thunderbolt II milestone achieved here in March.
• Old windshields new protection for Kirkuk tower guards AFPN 26 Mar 2007 -- The 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron structures department team put their heads together to come up with a better way to protect the Airmen who guard the base.
• Marines to Alert 1,800 Individual Ready Reservists for Reactivation AFPS 26 Mar 2007 -- Over the next week, 1,800 Individual Ready Reserve Marines will receive notice from the Marine Corps that they are needed in Iraq, an official announced today.
• U.S. Increases Africa Security with Proactive Stance, General Says Army News 26 Mar 2007 -- A proactive stance in Africa will help enhance stability and deter terrorist activity in the future, the deputy commander of U.S. European Command said here Thursday.
• PHIBRON Staffs Prepare for Foal Eagle Navy NewsStand 26 Mar 2007 -- As the brain behind amphibious operations for the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ESXARG), members of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 have been eagerly awaiting the chance to work side by side with Republic of Korea (ROK) counterparts
• Active Duty Wing Takes Control of HSC-85 Navy NewsStand 26 Mar 2007 -- Command of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 (HSC-85) shifted from Helicopter Reserve Wing (HELWINGRES) to Helicopter Sea Combat Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CHSCWP) on March 25 at Naval Air Station North Island, opening a new chapter in the history of the "High Rollers."
• BHR ESG Wraps Up JTFEX, Ready for Deployment Navy NewsStand 26 Mar 2007 -- USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) (BHR) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) completed its third and final pre-deployment exercise March 24.
• Tortuga Arrives to Complete RSOI / Foal Eagle 07 Navy NewsStand 26 Mar 2007 -- USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and embarked elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in the Republic of Korea (ROK) on March 23 to conduct Reception, Staging, Onward-Moving and Integration (RSOI) and Foal Eagle (FE) 07.
• Essex Onloads During Foal Eagle '07 Navy NewsStand 26 Mar 2007 -- USS Essex (LHD 2) successfully onloaded utility landing craft (LCU) and personnel while underway March 22 during Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration and Foal Eagle (RSOI/FE) 07.
• NSWC Crane Takes Counter-Sniper System from Concept to Production Navy NewsStand 26 Mar 2007 -- The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division turned an Air Force requirement for a Counter Sniper System (CSS) into an operational prototype and delivered it to the warfighter in 82 days.
• Minesweeper Sailors Make Port Visit to Chinhae Before RSOI / Foal Eagle Navy NewsStand 26 Mar 2007 -- The crew of USS Patriot (MCM 7) arrived in Chinhae, Republic of Korea, March 21 in preparation for the upcoming bilateral exercises Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration (RSOI) and Foal Eagle (FE) 07.
• Essex ARG On Loads U.S., ROK Marines for Foal Eagle 07 Navy NewsStand 26 Mar 2007 -- Amphibious ships of Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ESXARG) completed the on load of U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) Marines and equipment here March 25.
• Hicks Pleads Guilty to Terror Charge AFPS 26 Mar 2007 -- David Hicks, the Australian terror suspect captured in Afghanistan in 2001, has pleaded guilty to a charge of supporting terrorism at his military commission hearing here tonight.
• Australian Detainee Arraigned Before Military Commission AFPS 26 Mar 2007 -- Preliminary hearings began here today in the case of an Australian detainee captured in Afghanistan in 2001, the first detainee to be charged under the Military Commissions Act of 2006.
• Australian Pleads Guilty at Guantanamo Hearing VOA 26 Mar 2007 -- An Australian who is being held at a militaty base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Monday pleaded guilty to one count of supporting a terrorist organization
• Terrorism Suspect Transferred to Guantanamo Bay AFPS 26 Mar 2007 -- A terrorism suspect who admitted to helping to kill 13 civilians, including two children, in a 2002 car bombing in Eastern Africa is in U.S. custody and has been transferred as a "dangerous terror suspect" to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a Defense Department official announced today.
• Terror Suspect Transferred To Guantanamo 26 Mar 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of a dangerous terror suspect to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
• Australian Charged as Enemy Combatant in Guantanamo VOA 26 Mar 2007 -- U.S. military authorities have filed terrorism charges against Australian David Hicks who is being held at a military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
• First Guantanamo Military Commission Hearing to Open Monday VOA 26 Mar 2007 -- An Australian detainee held by U.S. authorities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is to be the first so-called enemy combatant tried under a new military commission procedure that was approved by the U.S. Congress last year
• Israel successfully tests upgraded Arrow missile defense system RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2007 -- Israel has conducted a successful launch of a modernized interceptor missile used as part of the Hetz (Arrow II) missile defense system, the country's Defense Ministry said Monday.
• NATO chief for discussing missile shield in Russia-NATO Council RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2007 -- NATO's secretary general said the proposed deployment of a U.S. missile shield in Central Europe had to be discussed within the Russia-NATO Council.
• Czech govt. to announce decision on U.S. missile shield Wed. RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2007 -- The government of the Czech Republic will announce Wednesday its decision regarding the deployment of a radar system on its territory as part of a U.S. missile shield in Central Europe, the Polish press agency PAP said Monday.
• NATO to help Ukraine with security reform RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2007 -- NATO member countries will assist Ukraine to reform its defense and security sector, John Colston, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defense Policy and Planning, told a news conference Monday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 26 Mar 2007
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 26 Mar 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 26, 2007
• Northrop Grumman Wins Department of Defense Clinical Information Systems Engineering Contract Northrop Grumman 26 Mar 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a follow-on contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to provide systems engineering and integration support to AHLTA, the nation's largest electronic health record system.
• BAE SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE AIR FORCE, MARINES WITH RADAR WARNING RECEIVERS BAE Systems 26 Mar 2007 -- BAE Systems has received a $37 million production contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide 41 AN/ALR-56M radar warning receiver systems. The systems will be used aboard new C-130J aircraft for the Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps.
• Boeing-Developed Massive Ordnance Penetrator Successfully Completes Static Lethality Test Boeing 26 Mar 2007 -- The Boeing [NYSE: BA]-developed Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) successfully completed a static tunnel lethality test March 14 at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's (DTRA) weapons tunnel complex at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
• Northrop Grumman Successfully Completes F-22 Radar Flight-Test Certification Northrop Grumman 26 Mar 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) successfully completed radar flight-test certification for the fourth-generation variant of the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for the U.S. Air Force's F-22 Raptor.
• Raytheon's Common Aviation Command and Control System Successfully Integrates Marine Air Ground Task Force Capabilities Raytheon 26 Mar 2007 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) successfully demonstrated its Common Aviation Command and Control System, or CAC2S, and associated integrated capabilities last month to the Naval Advisory Board at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
• Australia To Acquire 24 GE-powered Super Hornets GE Aviation 26 Mar 2007 -- Australia has announced its decision to procure 24 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, powered by twin F414-GE-400 turbofan engines. Engine deliveries for this order will begin in 2009. The total value of the engine program, including support, is estimated at (US)$428 million. With this order, Australia becomes the first international customer for the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The engine agreement includes plans for a two-year support package and a 10-year Performance Based Logistics (PBL) program.
• Successful flyout for the Arrow Weapon System Israel Aerospace Industries 26 Mar 2007 -- The Arrow Program performed today (26/03/2007) a “fly out test” of an arrow interceptor with improved capabilities. The test, the 16th for the interceptor is part of Arrow System Improvement Program , ASIP, which is being carried out jointly by Israel and the United States.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 26 Mar 2007
• UN Report Recommends 'Supervised Independence' For Kosovo RFE/RL 26 Mar 2007 -- A special UN envoy has recommended independence for Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo, supervised by the international community.
• UN envoy on Kosovo's status says 'independence is the only option' UN News Centre 26 Mar 2007 -- The only viable option for Kosovo is independence, with an initial period of supervision by the international community, the senior United Nations official overseeing the Serbian province's future status process has concluded in a report endorsed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and sent today to the Security Council.
• United States Supports U.N. Report Endorsing Independent Kosovo Washington File 26 Mar 2007 -- The United States and the European Union support a U.N. mediator's proposal to grant Kosovo independence from Serbia, but keep the province under international supervision until a multiethnic democracy is established.
• UN Proposal Recommends Independence for Kosovo VOA 26 Mar 2007 -- The U.N. mediator for Kosovo has recommended independence for the breakaway Serbian province
• Kosovo Envoy To Brief UN Security Council RFE/RL 26 Mar 2007 -- UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari is expected to present his final proposal for the future status of Kosovo to the UN Security Council today.
• Israel, Palestinians must both take steps on path to peace, Ban Ki-moon says UN News Centre 26 Mar 2007 -- It is crucial that both Israel and the Palestinians take steps to reduce tensions in the Middle East in order to advance the peace process, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in Jerusalem today after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
• UN meeting on Middle East peace urges support for new Palestinian Government UN News Centre 26 Mar 2007 -- The international community has an obligation to support the new Palestinian National Unity Government without preconditions and to lift the aid restrictions imposed on it, according to participants in a United Nations meeting on Israeli-Palestinian peace.
• Rice Pushes for Increased Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue VOA 26 Mar 2007 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice shuttled between Israel and Jordan as she neared the end of her fourth Middle East mission in as many months
• UN Chief Urges Israel to Reconsider Rejection of New Palestinian Government VOA 26 Mar 2007 -- The U.N. Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon wrapped up a two-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories with a proposal to include key Arab states in a future meeting of the so-called Middle East Peace Quartet
• Northern Ireland Power-Sharing Agreement Demonstrates "New Era" Washington File 26 Mar 2007 -- The agreement between Northern Ireland's major Protestant and Catholic parties to create a power-sharing administration is "historic" and demonstrates a "new era in Northern Ireland," according to Paula Dobriansky, the U.S. special envoy on Northern Ireland.
• Northern Ireland Rivals Agree to May 8 Power Sharing VOA 26 Mar 2007 -- Northern Ireland's bitter rivals, the protestant Democratic Union Party and the Irish Catholic Sinn Fein reached agreement in Belfast Monday that they'll begin sharing power as of May 8
• Sri Lanka: Tamil Tigers Launch First Ever Air Strike VOA 26 Mar 2007 -- Tamil Tiger rebels have launched their first ever air strike in Sri Lanka - bombing an air force base near Colombo
• UN Envoy Warns Darfur Aid Effort at Risk VOA 26 Mar 2007 -- The United Nations humanitarian chief has warned that aid efforts in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region are at risk of collapse.
• SUDAN: UN official calls for freedom of movement IRIN 26 Mar 2007 -- Aid workers in the troubled western Sudanese region of Darfur are frequently prevented from doing their jobs by being denied access to certain areas, United Nations Under-Secretary-General John Holmes said.
• Calm returning to capital of DR Congo, says UN mission UN News Centre 26 Mar 2007 -- The situation is relatively calm again inside Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), after two days of deadly clashes between Government forces and the security detail of former Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba, the United Nations mission to the country has reported.

News Reports