Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 26 Apr 2007 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Gen. Petraeus from the Pentagon 26 Apr 2007 -- Presenter: Commander, Multinational Force-Iraq Gen. David Petraeus
• April 25 airpower summary: A-10s give commanders lethal options AFPN 26 Apr 2007 -- Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan in the following operations April 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Coalition Forces Kill Seven Terrorists, Disrupt Car-Bomb Cell AFPS 26 Apr 2007 -- Coalition forces in Iraq today killed seven terrorists and disrupted a vehicle-bomb network, military officials reported.
• Progress Continues in Iraq Despite Sensational Attacks, Petraeus Says AFPS 26 Apr 2007 -- Sensational car bomb attacks staged by al Qaeda in Iraq may grab headlines, but coalition and Iraqi forces are making real progress on the ground and steadily achieving significant successes, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq told reporters here today.
• Petraeus: Interrogations Reveal Iranian Influence in Iraq AFPS 26 Apr 2007 -- Through interrogations of key detainees in the past month, the United States has learned a great deal about Iranian involvement in terrorist activities in Iraq, specifically the financing and training of insurgent groups, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq said here today.
• US General Says Iran-Linked Group Attacked US Troops VOA 26 Apr 2007 -- The top U.S. commander in Iraq says an Iraqi group affiliated with an elite Iranian force carried out an attack last year in which five U.S. soldiers were killed near the Iraqi town of Karbala
• Sailors Deploy to Conduct Detainee Operations Navy NewsStand 26 Apr 2007 -- Sailors from B Company, Navy Provisional Detainee Battalion (NPDB) deployed to Iraq on April 22 where they will help run a detainee facility.
• Suicide Bombing at Iraqi Army Checkpoint Kills 9 Soldiers VOA 26 Apr 2007 -- Iraqi police say a suicide car bomber has rammed his vehicle into an Iraqi army checkpoint north of Baghdad, killing nine soldiers.
• US Commander Sees Mixed Picture in Iraq, Condemns Iranian Role VOA 26 Apr 2007 -- The senior U.S. commander in Iraq says the new security plan is ahead of his expectations in some aspects, but behind in others, little more than half way through the deployment the extra U.S. forces
• Afghanistan: Ex-Minister Sees Growing Gap Between Public, State RFE/RL 26 Apr 2007 -- Former Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah spoke with RFE/RL's Tajik Service during a trip to Almaty for an annual meeting of the Eurasian Media Forum on April 22.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US House Approves Funding Measure with Iraq Withdrawal Timetable VOA 26 Apr 2007 -- The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives has approved a war funding bill that includes a timetable for the eventual withdrawal of most U.S. troops from Iraq
• U.S. House Passes Bill Calling For Iraq Withdrawal RFE/RL 26 Apr 2007 -- The U.S. House of Representatives has defied President George W. Bush's veto threat and approved a war-funding bill that sets a timeline for the start of a withdrawal from Iraq.
• U.S. House of Reps. passes war funding, 2008 withdrawal bill RIA Novosti 26 Apr 2007 -- The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday to provide new war funding and set a timeframe for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, defying the president's veto threats.
• Detainee Transfer Announced 26 Apr 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of one detainee from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Afghanistan and the transfer of one detainee to Morocco.
• Gates, German Defense Leaders Discuss Military Ties AFPS 26 Apr 2007 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with German defense leaders yesterday on the last leg of a three-day trip to Moscow, Warsaw and Berlin to discuss U.S. plans to base a missile defense network in Europe.
• Bataan ESG Exercises ERSS Concept Navy NewsStand 26 Apr 2007 -- Personnel from Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 6 aboard USS Bataan (LHD 5) and USS Shreveport (LPD 12) embarked USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) and exercised the Expeditionary Resuscitative Surgical System (ERSS) with a mass casualty drill April 14.
• USS Lassen Conducts Live-Fire Exercise Navy NewsStand 26 Apr 2007 -- The crew of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) conducted a live-fire exercise while underway April 16.
• 'Ardent Sentry' Tests U.S., Canadian Crisis Response Capabilities AFPS 26 Apr 2007 -- Thousands of active-duty and National Guard servicemembers will take part in a two-week, Defense Department-sponsored nationwide emergency preparedness and response exercise that kicks off April 30, a senior department official said here yesterday.
• Putin proposes moratorium on CFE treaty RIA Novosti 26 Apr 2007 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed Thursday that Russia should unilaterally suspend the implementation of the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe until other parties to the treaty ratify the document.
• Putin Threatens Moratorium on European Arms Pact VOA 26 Apr 2007 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday threatened to declare a moratorium on the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, accusing NATO signatories of ignoring the terms of the agreement
• Successful Sea-Based Missile Defense "Hit to Kill" Intercept 26 Apr 2007 -- Lieutenant General Henry "Trey" Obering, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) director, announced the successful completion today of the latest Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense "hit to kill" intercept flight test.
• Commentary: The West Needs a Defense System That Works AFPS 26 Apr 2007 -- Sixteen years after the end of the Cold War, the transatlantic community and Russia are not adversaries. Indeed, on a number of issues, we are partners.
• Rice Dismisses Russian Concerns About US Missile Defense Plan VOA 26 Apr 2007 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Thursday dismissed as "ludicrous" Russian concerns that a U.S. missile defense plan for Europe would threaten Moscow's nuclear deterrent.
• Czech president arrives in Moscow to discuss radar plans RIA Novosti 26 Apr 2007 -- The president of the Czech Republic arrived in Russia Thursday on an official visit to be dominated by discussions of U.S. plans to deploy a missile defense radar in the Central European state.
• U.S., NATO to press Russia on missile shield at Oslo talks RIA Novosti 26 Apr 2007 -- The United States and its NATO allies will make another attempt Thursday to convince Russia of the necessity to place elements of a U.S. missile shield in Europe during two-day NATO talks in Oslo.
• Radio controlled toys serious threat to security - NATO official RIA Novosti 26 Apr 2007 -- NATO is concerned by the easy access to drone technology in the world, which is in particular used in radio controlled toys, a NATO deputy assistant secretary general said Thursday.
• Press Gaggle by Dana Perino and Administration Officials on the EU Summit The White House 26 Apr 2007
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 26 Apr 2007
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 26 Apr 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 26, 2007
• Boeing Supports Successful Intercept Test of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Boeing 26 Apr 2007 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] played a key role in today's eighth successful intercept of a ballistic missile target by the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) and the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System.
• Raytheon Missiles Engage Ballistic Missile and Airborne Targets Over the Pacific Ocean Raytheon 26 Apr 2007 -- In a first-of-its-kind dual missile defense test today, Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN)-produced Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) and Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) simultaneously engaged targets over the Pacific Ocean.
• Raytheon Awarded $38 Million Contract for Electronic Infrastructure Services in Iraq Raytheon 26 Apr 2007 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $38 million option year U.S. Army contract for its ongoing efforts in the design, development, installation and maintenance of state-of-the-art command and control, communications and computing (C4) facilities in Iraq.
• Boeing Demonstrates Key GPS III Features in Critical Program Review Boeing 26 Apr 2007 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] this month successfully completed a critical Global Positioning System (GPS) Space Segment III System Design Review, supporting the U.S. Air Force's requirement for a low-risk, high-confidence acquisition solution.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN AEGIS BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE WEAPON SYSTEM SIMULTANEOUSLY ENGAGES TWO THREATS DURING MULTI-MISSION TEST Lockhed Martin 26 Apr 2007 -- During a test today, Lockheed Martin's [NYSE: LMT] Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System proved its multi-mission capability by simultaneously engaging two targets - a ballistic missile and an anti-ship cruise missile - in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii.
• U.S. Army Awards Raytheon $144 Million for Patriot Engineering Services Raytheon 26 Apr 2007 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $144 million contract modification by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command to provide engineering services for the Patriot Air and Missile Defense program.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 26 Apr 2007
• UN Chief 'Gravely Concerned' About Somalia VOA 26 Apr 2007 -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed grave concern at the violence in Somalia
• Secretary-General calls for world's assistance to bring stability to Somalia UN News Centre 26 Apr 2007 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his grave concern about the intensified violence in Somalia, and called on the world to step up its assistance to the war-torn East African nation.
• Somali PM Claims Victory in Mogadishu VOA 26 Apr 2007 -- The prime minister of Somalia's transitional government is claiming victory over insurgents in Mogadishu
• Palestinian Militants Reaffirm Gaza Truce VOA 26 Apr 2007 -- Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have reaffirmed they will adhere to a truce with Israeli forces agreed to five months ago
• NEPAL: IDPs unable to return home despite end of armed conflict IRIN 26 Apr 2007 -- Hundreds of thousands of people displaced from their homes during the decade-long war between Maoist rebels and the government are having difficulty returning to their homes, despite the conflict ending in November 2006, aid workers say.
• YEMEN: Government to close gun markets IRIN 26 Apr 2007 -- A decision by the Yemeni government to close all arms markets and outlets selling wepaons in the country could help limit tribal conflicts and reduce crime, analysts say, particularly at a time when a confrontation between government forces and al-Houthi followers in northern Yemen has escalated.

News Reports

• Orbital Successfully Launches Company-Built AIM Scientific Satellite For NASA Aboard Pegasus Rocket Orbital Sciences Corp. 26 Apr 2007 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that its Pegasus® space launch vehicle successfully launched the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) scientific satellite for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
• Galaxy 17 telecommunication satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space, is ready for launch Thales 26 Apr 2007 -- The Galaxy 17 satellite, for which Thales Alenia Space is prime contractor, is ready for launch. Dedicated to reach the Intelsat fleet, Galaxy 17 will be launched on May 3 from the launch site in Kourou, French Guiana, with an Ariane 5 rocket.