Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 12 Jul 2007 [PDF]
• Task Force Marne unit attacked
• Initial Benchmark Assessment Report The White House 12 Jul 2007 -- "Section 1314 of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (Public Law 110-28) states that the President is to submit to Congress two reports assessing the status of each of the 18 benchmarks contained in the Act and declaring whether, in the President's judgment, satisfactory progress is being achieved with respect to those 18 benchmarks."
• Press Conference by the President The White House 12 Jul 2007
• White House Report: Iraq Showing Good Progress in 8 of 18 Benchmark Areas AFPS 12 Jul 2007 -- Iraqis are showing good progress toward meeting eight of 18 benchmarks set by Congress and mixed progress toward two other benchmarks, President Bush said today as he summarized findings of a new White House report.
• Bush Pledges Support for Troops in Iraq, Asks Congress for Time, Resources AFPS 12 Jul 2007 -- President Bush today assured U.S troops in Iraq they have his "unwavering support" and that he wants them to return home as soon as conditions there allow it.
• White House Report Cites Mixed Progress in Iraq VOA 12 Jul 2007 -- President Bush says there has been mixed progress in Iraq, and is calling for patience as an extra 30,000 U.S. troops take up their duties
• Analysis: A Mixed Picture from Iraq cfr.org 12 Jul 2007 -- The purpose of the U.S. military surge in Iraq was to provide breathing room for Iraqi leaders to forge compromises on essential political benchmarks
• Bush: US Can Still Win in Iraq VOA 12 Jul 2007 -- President Bush says he believes the United States can still win the war in Iraq, despite a lack of progress in key areas.
• July 11 airpower summary: Predator strikes insurgents AFPN 12 Jul 2007 -- Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 11, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Top Terrorist Leader Captured in Mosul AFPS 12 Jul 2007 -- Coalition forces in Mosul today captured a man they believe to be the most active terrorist cell leader in that area.
• Insurgent leader captured during Operation Grenada MNF-I 12 Jul 2007 -- The ringleader of a cell responsible for conducting rocket and improvised explosive device attacks on the people and security forces of North Babil was captured by Task Force Steel near Tunis, July 7.
• 2 captured during Operation Geronimo Strike III MNF-I 12 Jul 2007 -- Paratroopers from Strike Force Geronimo detained two suspected Al Qaeda insurgents during an air assault and raid July 10 northwest of Iskandariyah.
• Seabees Drill for Water in Iraqi Desert Navy NewsStand 12 Jul 2007 -- The summer heat in the desert of Iraq can be daunting, but the Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 28 drilled a well in the desert floor to help support Al Asad Air Base, June 13.
• Afghan-Pakistani Border Stability Operations Focus of U.S. Aid Washington File 12 Jul 2007 -- The United States is working with the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to build stability along the rugged border between those two nations.
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill 16 Taliban Fighters in Afghanistan Today AFPS 12 Jul 2007 -- Afghan National Army Corps and coalition forces killed 11 Taliban fighters today in a five-hour firefight near the village of Sarsina, in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army Fills 100% of Requests for Equipment from Seven Key States and Three Territories this Hurricane Season Army News Release 12 Jul 2007 -- The Department of the Army announced today, July 12, the completion of the provision of nearly 2,600 pieces of equipment requested by seven states and three territories in hurricane-prone areas of the United States in anticipation of possible needs this storm season
• AFRICOM Chief Nominated for Unique New Command Washington File 12 Jul 2007 -- General William E. Ward, an Army officer, is President Bush's choice to be the first chief of the new U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), which will coordinate U.S. government support for nations across the continent.
• Airmen hold munitions exercise at Kunsan AFPN 12 Jul 2007 -- Airmen from across the Air Force are participating in the annual Combat Ammunition Production Exercise July 10 through 13 here.
• Kadena prepares for typhoon AFPN 12 Jul 2007 -- Kadena Air Base members are bracing for Typhoon Man-Yi as its current path will pass over Okinawa, base weather officials said.
• Defense Logistics Agency helps keep A-10s flying AFPN 12 Jul 2007 -- Defense Logistics Agency members and the Defense Supply Center Richmond responded to a fast suspense request from Air Force officials for critical A-10 Thunderbolt II wing fittings to help keep the planes operational.
• Coalition Ships Assist Distressed Vessel in Gulf of Oman Navy NewsStand 12 Jul 2007 -- Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ship Suzunami and Pakistani ship Tippu Sultan provided assistance to a vessel in distress in the Gulf of Oman July 12 while supporting coalition maritime operations in the 5th Fleet area of operations.
• Hurricane Katrina Repairs Continue at NAS-JRB New Orleans Navy NewsStand 12 Jul 2007 -- The Navy is continuing to make repairs and improvements on Naval Air Station-Joint Reserve Base (NAS-JRB) New Orleans. Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a $56.9 million contract July 3 to Broadmoor L.L.C. of Metairie, La., for the design and construction of six projects on the base.
• Mobility team answers call for critically injured Soldiers AFPN 12 Jul 2007 -- Airmen of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing turned a typical transport mission into a lifesaving effort for a critically injured Soldier where time was of the essence and there was no room for error.
• Advance Coordination Team Smooths Way for Comfort Mission Navy NewsStand 12 Jul 2007 -- As crew members of Military Sealift Command (MSC) hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) focused on the last two days of operations in Guatemala, a small team of three crew members were heading toward the airport in for a flight to Panama.
• Aloha and Farewell USS Buffalo Navy NewsStand 12 Jul 2007 -- Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Buffalo (SSN 715) and her crew departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor permanently July 8 for her new homeport at Naval Base Guam.
• Task Group 40.0 Prepares for the Second Phase of POA 2007 Navy NewsStand 12 Jul 2007 -- Task Group 40.0 successfully ended the first phase of its Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2007 deployment after circumnavigating South America while conducting numerous exercises at sea and various port visits.
• "Big E" Conducts MISSILEX Navy NewsStand 12 Jul 2007 -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) (Big E) successfully conducted a NATO Sea Sparrow Missile (NSSMS) Exercise (MISSILEX) on July 10 while operating off the East Coast of the United States.
• Ceremony Held for First Completed Berthing During Vinson's RCOH Navy NewsStand 12 Jul 2007 -- ribbon cutting ceremony was held on board USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) June 29, to commemorate the completion of the first refurbished berthing space aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.
• Blesch assumes command of LOGSU 2 Navy NewsStand 12 Jul 2007 -- Cmdr. Patrick Blesch assumed command of Naval Special Warfare Group 2's Logistics Support Unit (LOGSU 2) from Cmdr. Robert Gantt during a ceremony at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va., on July 2.
• Kansas, Iowa Guard Continue Kansas Flood Assistance AFPS 12 Jul 2007 -- Kansas and Iowa National Guard members are providing assistance to several Kansas communities recovering from the effects of recent record rains and flooding, a state of Kansas official said today.
• Another train with Russian military hardware leaves Batumi base RIA Novosti 12 Jul 2007 -- A train carrying military equipment left a Russian base in Georgia early Thursday as part of a 2006 deal on the withdrawal of Russian bases from the ex-Soviet Caucasus state, a Russian military official said.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 12 Jul 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 12, 2007
• First Six Indian Hawks Report for Duty BAE Systems 12 Jul 2007 -- As the Indian Air Force (IAF) prepares to make its debut appearance at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), the first six Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers destined for the IAF have achieved Interim Acceptance, marking a significant milestone in the Indian Hawk programme.
• ATK Forms 'Team MRM' to Compete for the U.S. Army's XM1111 Mid-Range Munition Program ATK 12 Jul 2007 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) announced today that it has formed "Team MRM" to compete for the U.S. Army's XM1111 Mid-Range Munition (MRM) program.
• Northrop Grumman Awarded Navy Aircraft Maintenance and Modification Contract Northrop Grumman 12 Jul 2007 -- The U.S. Navy's Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Norfolk, Va., has awarded Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) a contract to provide maintenance, modification, and upgrade work for E-2C and C-2A aircraft under the Naval Air Forces Atlantic Fleet program.
• Raytheon Nets $18.5 Million Infrared Marker Upgrade for F/A-18 Targeting Pod Raytheon 12 Jul 2007 -- The U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) an $18.5 million contract modification to provide an infrared marker upgrade on Hornet and Super Hornet targeting pods, which will enhance F/A-18 ground operations support.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 12 Jul 2007
• Sierra Leone: UN fund approves projects to assist peacebuilding efforts UN News Centre 12 Jul 2007 -- The United Nations fund set up to help address the immediate needs of countries emerging from conflict today approved four new projects to support the ongoing electoral process and improve the judiciary, water, sanitation and health facilities in Sierra Leone.
• Kosovo Status Talks with Serbia Might Last Another 120 Days Washington File 12 Jul 2007 -- A European and U.S. draft proposal would allow another 120 days of intensive negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo Albanians on the status of the province
• EU Officials Nervous Over Darfur Security VOA 12 Jul 2007 -- European Union officials say they are deeply concerned about the inability of the African Union to pay its peacekeeping troops in Darfur, western Sudan.
• Somali Government Says Reconciliation Conference Will Begin Sunday VOA 12 Jul 2007 -- Despite escalating insurgent violence in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, the country's transitional government says the much-delayed national reconciliation conference to end the country's 16-year-old civil war will begin on Sunday as scheduled
• Lebanese Army begins final assault on Islamic militants - TV RIA Novosti 12 Jul 2007 -- Lebanese troops have begun a final assault on positions held by Islamic militants at a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon, a local television station said Thursday.
• ISRAEL-OPT: Basic needs reaching Gaza but economy near collapse IRIN 12 Jul 2007 -- While humanitarian aid flows into the Gaza Strip are meeting most of the basic needs of the Palestinians, industries are unable to export their goods.

News Reports

• PRESS CONFERENCE BY COUNTER-TERRORISM COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORATE ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MEETING WITH WEST AFRICAN STATES United Nations 12 Jul 2007
• Musharraf Addresses Nation in Wake of Pakistan Mosque Seige VOA 12 Jul 2007 -- In a televised address to the nation, Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf vowed to eliminate extremism and terrorism from "every corner of the country."
• Pakistan's President Defends Deadly Raid on Radical Mosque VOA 12 Jul 2007 -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says he launched a deadly raid on a radical mosque in Islamabad only after all efforts to negotiate the crisis failed.
• Mosque storming over, Pakistan Army leaves site RIA Novosti 12 Jul 2007 -- The Pakistani Army began withdrawing from Islamabad after completing a 36-hour operation to retake the Red Mosque, seized and held by Islamic radicals for a week, local television said citing military sources.
• Pakistan's President to Address Nation in Wake of Mosque Siege VOA 12 Jul 2007 -- Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is to address the nation Thursday as al-Qaida issues calls to Pakistani Muslims to revolt against the government for its raid against militants in Islamabad's Red Mosque