Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 18 Apr 2007 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Task Force Marne Soldier dies in Baghdad
• At least 190 Dead in Baghdad Bombings VOA 18 Apr 2007 -- A series of explosions in mostly Shi'ite areas of Baghdad Wednesday has killed more than 170 people and injured scores more
• April 17 airpower summary: Maintainers work wonders AFPN 18 Apr 2007 -- Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations April 17, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Officer helps build drinking water infrastructure for Iraqis AFPN 18 Apr 2007 -- The challenge for those assigned water system reconstruction work in Iraq's desert environment is not lack of water with the Tigris and Euphrates rivers running through the heart of Iraq.
• Multiple Car Bombs in Baghdad Kill 131 Iraqi Civilians AFPS 18 Apr 2007 -- Four separate car bombs detonated today in the Iraqi capital, killing 131 Iraqi civilians and wounding about 164, military officials reported.
• Iraqi, Coalition Forces Kill, Detain Terrorists AFPS 18 Apr 2007 -- Iraqi and coalition forces killed seven terrorists, detained 79 suspected terrorists, and found numerous weapons caches in operations throughout Iraq over the past three days, military officials reported.
• Coalition Helps Iraq Secure Rule of Law AFPS 18 Apr 2007 -- Coalition efforts are underway to help the Iraqis in the important business of building their nation's rule of law, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said today during a briefing in Baghdad
• Bomb Blasts in Iraqi Capital Kill 157 VOA 18 Apr 2007 -- Iraqi security officials say a series of bomb blasts has killed at least 157 people in mainly Shi'ite areas of Baghdad.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Brig. Gen. Joseph Votel from Afghanistan 18 Apr 2007 -- Presenter: Deputy Commanding General for Operations for Combined Joint Task Force 82 and Deputy Commanding General for the 82nd Airborne Division Brig. Gen. Joseph Votel
• US General Says Taleban Did Not Launch Spring Offensive VOA 18 Apr 2007 -- A U.S. commander in eastern Afghanistan says the expected Taleban spring offensive has not materialized, partly because of increased operations by U.S. and NATO forces
• More NATO Help Needed in Afghanistan, Fallon Says AFPS 18 Apr 2007 -- NATO needs to provide more forces to assist in ongoing security and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. Central Command said during his testimony at a Congressional hearing today.
• Coalition, Afghan Forces Counter Taliban Offensive AFPS 18 Apr 2007 -- Coalition and Afghan National Army operations have blunted the Taliban spring offensive in eastern Afghanistan, Army Brig. Gen. Joseph Votel said at a Pentagon news conference today.
• Iranian-Made Weapons Seized in Afghanistan Washington File 18 Apr 2007 -- U.S. forces in Afghanistan have intercepted a shipment of Iranian-made weapons and explosives intended for the Taliban, raising new concerns in Washington as NATO forces begin a new spring offensive, U.S. officials say.
• Afghanistan: U.S. Says Iranian-Made Weapons Found RFE/RL 18 Apr 2007 -- U.S. officials are expressing concern at the possibility that Iran might be moving to support the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: DoD Briefing with Mr. Michael Dominguez and Maj. Gen. Stephen Goldfein from the Pentagon 18 Apr 2007 -- Presenter: Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Michael Dominguez and Vice Director of the Joint Staff Maj. Gen. Stephen Goldfein
• DoD Announces Program to Recognize Frequent Deployment 18 Apr 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today a program to recognize service members who deploy or mobilize beyond the established rotation policy goals
• DoD Unveils Compensation Program for Frequent Deployments AFPS 18 Apr 2007 -- The Defense Department today unveiled a program that will reward administrative leave to servicemembers whose service in combat does not meet the department's goal for the time at home station between deployments.
• Navy Announces Christening of Submarine North Carolina 18 Apr 2007 -- The Navy's newest attack submarine North Carolina will be christened Saturday, April 21, during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard, Newport News, Va.
• Army Restricts Spending While Waiting for Congressional Approval AFPS 18 Apr 2007 -- Due to budget shortfalls, the Army announced April 16 that spending restrictions will be enforced while waiting for Congress to pass an emergency supplemental for funding requirements associated with the global war on terror.
• Eielson pilots get aggressive during Red Flag-Alaska AFPN 18 Apr 2007 -- Eielson Air Force Base F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots took to the sky as aggressors for the first time in Red Flag-Alaska history during the exercise that runs April 5 through 21.
• Egypt Vital to Peace in Middle East, Gates Says AFPS 18 Apr 2007 -- Security challenges in the Middle East are significant, but can be overcome by Egypt and the United States working closely together in the region, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today.
• Giambastiani: Submarines Critical to Current, Future U.S. Operations AFPS 18 Apr 2007 -- Ground operations in the Middle East may dominate national headlines, but the 107-year-old submarine force is a critical part of current and future U.S. operations, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during a meeting here yesterday with Submarine League members.
• Vice Chairman: Future of Military Transformation Depends on Service Integration AFPS 18 Apr 2007 -- Integration between services and becoming part of the joint community are vital to the U.S. military's ability to transform, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told members of Submarine Group Two and students at the submarine school here yesterday.
• Transcript: Media Availability With Secretary Gates from Cairo, Egypt 18 Apr 2007 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• Transcript: Press Availability with Secretary of Defense Gates and Minister Peretz from the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Telaviv, Israel 18 Apr 2007 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Israeli Minister of Defense Amir Peretz
• US Navy seeks access to Indian ports IRNA 18 Apr 2007 -- The US Navy has again sought berthing and access facilities at Indian ports, a top American commander said Wednesday, even as he expressed happiness over the 'very supportive' response to his concept of a 'thousand ship navy' collaboration between seafaring nations.
• Expeditionary Strike Group 3 Established Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2007 -- After months of detailed preparation, the Commander Amphibious Group (CPG) 3 staff completed their transition to Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 3 on April 17.
• USS Carney Trains with Trinidad & Tobago Coast Guard Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2007 -- USS Carney (DDG 64) welcomed aboard 13 members of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) on April 16 to participate in a series of training evolutions as part of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) theater security cooperation efforts.
• NAVFAC Pacific Awards $318 Million Contract for New NSA Facility Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2007 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific awarded Shaw-Dick Pacific LLC, of Honolulu, a firm-fixed contract for nearly $176 million on April 12 for the construction of a new National Security Agency (NSA) facility.
• CTF 76 Commander Hosts U.S.-Japan Friendship Event Aboard Essex Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2007 -- Senior military and government officials of the United States and Japan gathered aboard USS Essex (LHD 2) April 11 for a reception hosted by Commander Amphibious Force, 7th Fleet Rear Adm. Carol M. Pottenger.
• US Defense Secretary Says Diplomacy Working on Iran VOA 18 Apr 2007 -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, on a visit to Israel, says he believes diplomatic efforts to isolate Iran for it uranium enrichment activities are working
• Russia: NATO, Moscow To Discuss U.S. Missile Defense RFE/RL 18 Apr 2007 -- Officials from the United States and other NATO member countries are set to meet their Russian counterparts in Brussels on April 19 for talks on U.S. plans to deploy parts of its missile shield in Central Europe.
• U.S. releases technical details on missile shield in C.Europe RIA Novosti 18 Apr 2007 -- The U.S. administration has disclosed the technical parameters of a missile defense system to be deployed in Poland and the Czech Republic.
• Military Experts Gather in Africa to Develop Communications Network VOA 18 Apr 2007 -- Military communications experts from Africa, Europe and North America, are finalizing strategies for testing a continental communication network facility
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 18 Apr 2007
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 17 Apr 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 18, 2007
• LOCKHEED MARTIN AWARDED $59.4 MILLION TO PROVIDE ELECTRONIC SUPPORT MEASURE SYSTEMS TO CANADIAN FORCES Lockheed Martin 18 Apr 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received a $59.4 million U.S. Navy Foreign Military Sales contract to provide Canadian Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)/Electronic Support Measure (ESM) systems in support of 28 Canadian Maritime Helicopter Project (MHP) aircraft.
• Pratt & Whitney F119 Engine Achieves 40,000 Flight Hours Pratt & Whitney 18 Apr 2007 -- The Pratt & Whitney F119 engine, powering the F-22 Raptor, exceeded 40,000 production flight hours in April, a major milestone for the engine program.
• Skyguard 'AMOUN' Scores Direct Hit in Live Missile Firing Using Raytheon-Upgraded Launcher Raytheon 18 Apr 2007 -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Skyguard "AMOUN" achieved a major milestone with a successful missile firing at a test range near Cairo, Egypt.
• Boeing-Led Team Developing Surface Navigation Concept for DARPA Boeing 18 Apr 2007 -- How would U.S. ground troops navigate precisely and effectively if signals from the Global Positioning System (GPS) were not available?
• Raytheon Demonstrates New DCGS Web-Portal Capabilities to Improve Intelligence Sharing Across Military Services Raytheon 18 Apr 2007 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) recently demonstrated new key Web-portal capabilities, much like the Internet, that will improve intelligence sharing across the military services and intelligence agencies and facilitate closer collaboration.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 18 Apr 2007
• PRESS CONFERENCE ON CHILDREN IN SUDAN United Nations 18 Apr 2007
• Ban Ki-moon voices 'deep concern' at reports of arms flights into Darfur UN News Centre 18 Apr 2007 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern today at evidence presented to Security Council members of the flying of arms and heavy weapons into the war-torn region of Darfur, a direct violation of a United Nations embargo.
• Bush Urges Action on Darfur Washington File 18 Apr 2007 -- President Bush says the United States will step up sanctions against Sudan if President Omar al-Bashir continues to ignore pledges to end the violence in the Darfur region of his country.
• State's Negroponte Thanks Chad for Aiding Darfur Refugees Washington File 18 Apr 2007 -- Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte thanked the Chadian government and civil authorities for providing assistance to refugees from neighboring Sudan's Darfur region.
• UN Report Says Sudan Flying Weapons to Darfur VOA 18 Apr 2007 -- A United Nations report is accusing Sudan of flying weapons and heavy military equipment into Darfur in violation of Security Council resolutions
• Bush Threatens Tougher Sudan Sanctions VOA 18 Apr 2007 -- President Bush is threatening tougher economic and military sanctions against Sudan if it does not follow through on promises to improve security in the troubled Darfur region, where more than 200,000 people have died
• SUDAN: Peace bolsters food security in the south IRIN 18 Apr 2007 -- Kandororo used to be a hiding place for civilians caught up in fighting between various armed groups until a peace agreement was signed that ended more than two decades of conflict in southern Sudan.
• Many Killed as Fighting Erupts Again in Mogadishu VOA 18 Apr 2007 -- Heavy fighting between Ethiopian troops and insurgents erupted again late Tuesday in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, killing and wounding nearly two dozen people
• At Least 10 Dead in Renewed Mogadishu Violence VOA 18 Apr 2007 -- Witnesses in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, say renewed fighting between Ethiopian troops and Somali insurgents has left at least 10 people dead and at least 20 injured.
• Peace process improves humanitarian conditions in Northern Uganda - UN UN News Centre 18 Apr 2007 -- The peace process in Northern Uganda has fostered improved conditions for beleaguered civilians there, according to a senior United Nations official, who called for continued efforts to bring stability to the region which has been torn by a violent rebellion for some two decades.
• Security Council calls for team to assess possible arms movements into Lebanon UN News Centre 18 Apr 2007 -- Voicing concern at reports of illegal arms movements across the Lebanese-Syrian border, which would violate the United Nations resolution ending last year's conflict between the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and Hizbollah, the Security Council has invited Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to send an independent mission as soon as possible to assess the monitoring of the entire border.
• Secretary-General recommends 6-month extension of UN mission in Western Sahara UN News Centre 18 Apr 2007 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today recommends a further six-month extension in the mandate of the United Nations mission in the Western Sahara until October, calling also for the Security Council to urge Morocco and the Frente Polisario to start negotiations in an effort to re-start the long-stalled peace process in the region.
• UN Security Council mission could leave for Kosovo, Belgrade next week RIA Novosti 18 Apr 2007 -- A UN Security Council mission could leave for Kosovo and Belgrade next week, Russia's envoy to the UN said during a New York-Moscow TV link at RIA Novosti Wednesday.
• South Ossetia urges Tbilisi to withdraw "puppet government" troops RIA Novosti 18 Apr 2007 -- The breakaway province of South Ossetia in Georgia called Wednesday on Tbilisi to pull out all illegal armed groups from the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone.
• Philippine Government Puts Price on Head of Muslim Rebel Commander VOA 18 Apr 2007 -- The Philippine government has offered a bounty for the capture of a Muslim guerrilla commander on the southern island of Jolo, where recent fighting has killed at least 21 people

News Reports