Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 23 Apr 2007 [PDF]
• MNC-I Soldier killed by improvised explosive device
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• April 22 airpower summary: C-17s provide intra-theater heavy airlift support AFPN 23 Apr 2007 -- Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan in the following operations April 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Press briefing with Ryan C. Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, April 23, 2007. MNF-I 23 Apr 2007
• Coalition Forces Kill, Detain Terrorists; Iraqi Troops Find Weapons AFPS 23 Apr 2007 -- Coalition forces killed 16 terrorists, detained 45 suspected terrorists and, along with Iraqi army troops, uncovered multiple weapons caches in operations throughout Iraq over the past three days, military officials reported.
• Training, Technology Combine to Save Lives in Iraq Army News 23 Apr 2007 -- Expanded training in combat life-saving procedures has enabled a greater than 98-percent survival rate for U.S. troops injured in Iraq, a coalition surgeon said Thursday.
• Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group Completes MSO in Persian Gulf Navy NewsStand 23 Apr 2007 -- Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group (BOXESG) completed maritime security operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf on April 16.
• Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group Enters 7th Fleet Navy NewsStand 23 Apr 2007 -- The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHRESG) entered the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) April 23, while enroute to the Persian Gulf in support of the global war on terrorism.
• Strike Group Commanders Visit Oil Terminals Navy NewsStand 23 Apr 2007 -- Two U.S. Navy admirals visited the Al Basrah and Khawr Al Amaya oil terminals April 20 to support the coalition forces currently in command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 158 in the Northern Persian Gulf.
• USS O'Kane Conducts Approach Operations in Persian Gulf Navy NewsStand 23 Apr 2007 -- While operating in the central Persian Gulf, Sailors from USS O'Kane (DDG 77) are conducting "approach operations" as a way to reassure mariners and merchants that coalition forces are helping to provide security and stability in the region.
• Taliban Leader Killed in Air Strike; Two Militants Detained AFPS 23 Apr 2007 -- Coalition aircraft killed a key northeastern Taliban leader during an air strike April 20 in the Alishang district of Laghman province, Afghanistan, military officials reported.
• Pace Pleased with Progress at Afghan Training Center AFPS 23 Apr 2007 -- The progress the Afghan National Army is making was on display for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during a visit to the Kabul Military Training Center here April 21.
• Much Not Known About Iranian Weapons Found in Afghanistan AFPS 23 Apr 2007 -- In the last month, U.S. troops in Afghanistan have found weapons made in Iran, though how the weapons got there is a vexing question, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told servicemembers during a town hall session here April 21.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Principal Deputy Under Secretary Henry from the Pentagon 23 Apr 2007 -- Presenter: Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Ryan Henry
• African Officials Express Concerns About US Africa Command Plan VOA 23 Apr 2007 -- A senior U.S. official says he encountered some resistance to the plan to create a new U.S. military command for Africa during a recent visit to six countries on the continent
• Space professional development program is 1st-of-its-kind AFPN 23 Apr 2007 -- The first course of a five-course, space certificate pilot program initiated by Air Force Space Command and the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs concludes this month for 20 space professionals.
• Phase team keeps F-16s in the fight AFPN 23 Apr 2007 -- The sound of electric drills and pounding hammers resonates inside the hardened aircraft shelter here as crew chiefs shout orders over the noise of wielding power tools and a variety of gadgets: Welcome to Day One of an F-16 Fighting Falcon phase dock.
• Alaska range, airspace critical to combat training AFPN 23 Apr 2007 -- Ejecting out of a fighter jet at more than 400 miles per hour, aircrew members have one objective--to make it to the ground alive.
• Air and Space Operations Centers standardized AFPN 23 Apr 2007 -- A four-year effort for the Global Cyberspace Integration Center here culminated April 13 when Air Forces Southern Command officials signed documents officially accepting the newly installed Air and Space Operations Center Block 10.1 Weapon System at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
• JMRC Soldiers Train NATO Forces to Combat IED Hazards Army News 23 Apr 2007 -- Soldiers at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hoehenfels shared their knowledge of how to react to improvised explosive devices during convoy operations with 40 Soldiers from 12 NATO countries during a recent NATO train-the-trainer counter-IED exercise.
• Snipers in Afghanistan Receive New Weapon Army News 23 Apr 2007 -- Soldiers from Task Force Fury are the first in a combat zone to receive a new sniper rifle, the XM110 semi-automatic sniper system.
• Commander ESG 7 Visits Tortuga After Spring Patrol Navy NewsStand 23 Apr 2007 -- Rear Adm. Carol M. Pottenger, Commander, U.S. Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, came aboard dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) April 17 for a visit and to personally deliver a congratulatory "Bravo Zulu" to the crew for its work as part of Spring Patrol 2007.
• Fast Cruise Preps Carl Vinson for Undocking Navy NewsStand 23 Apr 2007 -- The crew of USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) is preparing for the ship's undocking and move to a pier location at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard by holding a mini "fast cruise" May 9
• Partnership of the Americas Completes Successful Visit in Brazil Navy NewsStand 23 Apr 2007 -- Partnership of the Americas (POA) Task Group 40.0 departed Salvador, Brazil, April 20 after a port visit, during which each ship's crew participated in a variety of events ashore in support of POA 2007 deployment.
• Ship to Ship Delivery of Project Handclasp During POA 07 Navy NewsStand 23 Apr 2007 -- USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) transferred three pallets of supplies to USS Mitscher (DDG 57) during a vertical replenishment (VERTREP) at sea, playing a major part in the Navy's Project Handclasp program April 16.
• CENTAF leaders visit Airmen at nontraditional places AFPN 23 Apr 2007 -- The commander and command chief for U.S. Central Command Air Forces made a round-robin tour of locations April 20 in Southwest Asia where Airmen are performing duties never done before in places where you normally don't find Air Force members.
• Press Availability with Secretary Gates in Moscow 23 Apr 2007 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• Gates Announces Formation of U.S.-Russia Working Group on Missile Defense AFPS 23 Apr 2007 -- The United States and Russia will form a working group of experts to discuss the proposed U.S. plan to base missile defenses in Eastern Europe, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced here today.
• Gates Asks Russia to Partner on Missile Defense Development AFPS 23 Apr 2007 -- The United States intends to be prepared for future threats and is inviting Russia to become a partner in a defensive endeavor, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today.
• Gates Travels to Russia to Discuss Missile Defense AFPS 23 Apr 2007 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived here yesterday to meet with President Vladimir Putin and other top Russian security officials to discuss U.S. plans to base missile defense assets in Eastern Europe.
• Russia, U.S. agree to continue dialogue on missile defense RIA Novosti 23 Apr 2007 -- Moscow and Washington will continue a dialogue on America's missile defense plans in Europe, a Russian diplomat said following a meeting between the Russian president and the U.S. defense secretary on Monday.
• U.S. missile shield in Europe not aimed at Russia - Gates RIA Novosti 23 Apr 2007 -- Deploying elements of the U.S. missile defense system in Central Europe will not be aimed at Russia, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said Monday.
• U.S. Defense Secretary visits Moscow for missile shield talks RIA Novosti 23 Apr 2007 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will arrive in Moscow Monday to discuss the placement of elements of the U.S. missile defense system in Central Europe, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
• US Defense Chief Visits Moscow to Discuss Missile Defense VOA 23 Apr 2007 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is trying to ease Russia's strong objections to Washington's plans to extend an anti-missile defense system into Central and Eastern Europe.
• Russia alarmed by prospect of Georgia's NATO membership RIA Novosti 23 Apr 2007 -- Russia fears that Georgia's NATO membership will seriously worsen relations between Moscow and Tbilisi, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Monday.
• PRESS CONFERENCE ON GLOBAL ARMS TRADE TREATY United Nations 23 Apr 2007
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 23 Apr 2007
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 23 Apr 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 23, 2007
• iRobot and Boeing Team to Deliver New Military Reconnaissance Robot iRobot Corp. 23 Apr 2007 -- iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ: IRBT) and The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) today announced they have signed a teaming agreement to develop and deliver a new, next-generation Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) to military, civil and commercial users
• CACI Awarded $48 Million Contract to Continue Readiness Based Sparing Support for Naval Supply Systems Command CACI 23 Apr 2007 -- CACI International Inc (NYSE:CAI) announced today that it has been awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract (one-year base term and four one-year options) to provide technical and engineering support services to the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Readiness Based Sparing (RBS) Program
• Boeing and iRobot Team to Develop New Reconnaissance Robot for Military, Civil and Commercial Use Boeing 23 Apr 2007 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and iRobot Corp. [NASDAQ: IRBT] today announced they have signed a teaming agreement to design and develop a next-generation, small unmanned ground vehicle (SUGV) called the SUGV Early
• General Dynamics Awarded $33 Million in U.S. Navy SeaPort-e Orders General Dynamics 23 Apr 2007 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded four SeaPort-e task orders by the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Combat Direction Systems Activity (CDSA) at Dam Neck, Va., to support its intelligence and temporary alteration programs
• General Dynamics Awarded $14 Million to Design Lightweight Ammunition Magazine for Future Combat Systems General Dynamics 23 Apr 2007 -- General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a $14 million contract from Meggitt Defense Systems, Inc. (Irvine, Calif.), for ammunition magazine system development and demonstration work related to the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems
• Boeing Completes First CSEL Radio Full-Rate Production Order Boeing 23 Apr 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has delivered the first full-rate production Combat Survivor Evader Locator (CSEL) radios, 5,053 units, to the U.S. Department of Defense, bringing the total number of CSEL radios delivered to the warfighter to 11,436.
• Final phase of Thales high performance phased array RBE2 radar programme Thales 23 Apr 2007 -- Thales, European leader in electronic combat systems, is pursuing the final phase of development and production engineering for the active phased-array radar for combat aircraft.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 23 Apr 2007
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT United Nations 23 Apr 2007
• Secretary-General urges end to deadly violence in Somalia UN News Centre 23 Apr 2007 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for an end to the violence raging in Somalia, where hundreds of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands of others forced to flee their homes in recent days.
• US Hits Eritrean Role in Somalia Fighting VOA 23 Apr 2007 -- A senior U.S. State Department official accused Eritrea Monday of helping insurgents battle forces of the Somali transitional government and Ethiopia in Mogadishu
• SOMALIA: Warnings of health risks; thousands more abandon Mogadishu IRIN 23 Apr 2007 -- Medical workers in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, have warned of health risks posed by rotting bodies littering the streets as thousands of civilians flee the city to escape fighting.
• Fighting Continues in Mogadishu for Sixth Day VOA 23 Apr 2007 -- Fighting between Ethiopian forces and insurgents rocked the Somali capital, Mogadishu, for the sixth straight day, Monday.
• Somali Government Warns Civilians in Mogadishu VOA 23 Apr 2007 -- Heavy fighting between Ethiopian troops and insurgents is continuing in Mogadishu for the sixth day, bringing the unofficial death toll to more than 200
• Sudan Intimidating Aid Workers in Darfur, U.S. Official Says Washington File 24 Apr 2007 -- The Sudanese government appears to be intimidating humanitarian aid workers in Darfur deliberately, the State Department's second-highest official told reporters April 23
• US Presses Sudan to Accept Darfur Peace Force VOA 23 Apr 2007 -- The U.S. State Department's second-ranking official warned Sudan's government Monday that time is running out for it to accept an expanded peacekeeping mission for Darfur or face new sanctions
• SUDAN: Aid agencies suspend work in Darfur town IRIN 23 Apr 2007 -- Several aid agencies working in West Darfur have suspended work in Um Dhukun, affecting about 100,000 people, including refugees from Chad and Central African Republic (CAR), a spokesperson said.
• Aid Agencies Pull Out of Western Darfur VOA 23 Apr 2007 -- Violence in Sudan's embattled Darfur region has dealt another blow to the world's largest aid operation
• Security Council delegation on Kosovo heads to region tomorrow UN News Centre 24 Apr 2007 -- A Security Council delegation heads tomorrow for Kosovo on a fact-finding trip as the 15-member body considers a United Nations envoy's proposal to grant independence in a phased process to the ethnic Albanian-majority province of Serbia that has been run by the UN since 1999.
• No talks with S. Ossetia "alternative gov't" - Russian diplomat RIA Novosti 23 Apr 2007 -- Russia will not hold talks with the "alternative government" of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, a Russian deputy foreign minister said Monday.
• DRC-UGANDA: Army, UN to monitor rebel move to assembly point IRIN 23 Apr 2007 -- Officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) army and the United Nations will verify that Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels have assembled near the DRC-Sudan border as agreed.

News Reports

• Successful launch of AGILE satellite with Thales Alenia Space payload & electronic devices on board Thales 23 Apr 2007 -- The Italian astronomical satellite AGILE (Astro-rivelatore Gamma a Immagini Leggero), has been successfully launched today at 12:00, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota in India by a PSLV-C8 rocket.