Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 17 Jul 2007 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Increases R&R Policy 17 Jul 2007 -- The Department of Defense approved today a policy change to the U.S. Central Command Rest and Recuperation Leave Program, increasing the time provided to military service members for rest and recuperation in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
• July 16 airpower summary: B-1s support coalition operations AFPN 17 Jul 2007 -- Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 16, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Royal Navy Hands Over Combined Task Force 158 to U.S. Forces Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2007 -- Rear Adm. Garry E. Hall relieved Royal Navy Commodore Nick Lambert as commander of Combined Task Force (CTF) 158 and Capt. Paul Severs relieved Royal Navy Capt. Bob Sanguinetti as commander of Combined Task Group (CTG) 158.1 on July 17 aboard Ocean 6, an afloat forward operating barge in the north Persian Gulf.
• Soldiers Detain Suspected al Qaeda Leader; Citizens Foil Car Bomb Attack AFPS 17 Jul 2007 -- A suspected al Qaeda leader is among three terrorism suspects detained today in Mosul, Iraq, by coalition and Iraqi forces, and local citizens helped to foil a car-bomb attack in eastern Baghdad.
• 'Operation Ithaca' Surprises, Pummels, al Qaeda Forces AFPS 17 Jul 2007 -- American and Iraqi military forces broke up al Qaeda operations in the Diyala River valley during "Operation Ithaca," conducted July 12, a U.S. military officer said today.
• Fardh Al-Qanoon Update: MND-B general sees change, progress MNF-I 17 Jul 2007 -- Five months into Operation Fardh Al-Qanoon a senior leader with the Multi-National Division - Baghdad said Iraqi Security Forces have shown continued improvements since the operation began in mid-February.
• Marines launch Operation Mawtini in western Al Anbar MNF-I 17 Jul 2007 -- Regimental Combat Team 2, located in western Al Anbar province, launched Operation Mawtini July 15th to neutralize any future attempts by Anti-Iraqi Forces to re-establish a presence in key urban areas along the Euphrates River valley.
• Security Council welcomes recent initiatives to support Afghanistan UN News Centre 17 Jul 2007 -- Condemning recent attacks against civilians in Afghanistan, the Security Council today affirmed its support for recent initiatives aimed at enhancing security, stability and development in the war-torn nation.
• Troops in Afghanistan Detain Five Militants; Police Find Weapons Cache AFPS 17 Jul 2007 -- Afghan and coalition troops detained five militants today, and Afghan police found a large weapons cache yesterday, military officials reported.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army to Launch Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD Education Program AFPS 17 Jul 2007 -- Within 90 days, all soldiers will receive information to help them identify symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injury, and they will be urged to seek treatment if necessary, Army officials told reporters at the Pentagon today.
• Army takes further action to address Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, mild Traumatic Brain Injuries in worldwide training Army News Release 17 Jul 2007 -- The Army today launched a "chain teaching" program as part of an aggressive campaign to educate more than 1 million Active, Reserve and National Guard Soldiers worldwide within the next 90 days about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injuries.
• U.S. Navy, Malaysian Divers Suit Up for Underwater Cutting Exercise Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2007 -- U.S. Navy and Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) divers suited up and hit the warm waters at Kemaman Port to conduct an exothermic cutting exercise on July 11 and 12 in the capstone of their joint training during the Malaysian phase of the 13th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise.
• Air Force Cyber Command online for future operations AFPN 17 Jul 2007 -- The Air Force's soon-to-be newest major command, Air Force Cyber Command, is still on track, or rather still online.
• NMCB 4 Seabee Provides Healthcare to Local Population Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2007 -- Moving the Earth, constructing buildings and reinventing villages are everyday occurrences within Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4, but construction is not the only thing Seabees provide; on the island of Palau the Seabees also provide basic healthcare and medical assistance.
• BMU-1 Celebrates History, 58th Birthday Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2007 -- Beachmaster Unit (BMU) 1 celebrated its 58th birthday July 13, at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado with a ceremony honoring its past.
• Missile defense experts meet in Hawaii AFPN 17 Jul 2007 -- Missile defense experts from all over the Pacific theater met here July 16 for the four-day 2007 Joint Interface Control Officer Conference.
• Poland a Strong Ally, Says Bush Washington File 17 Jul 2007 -- From its troop contributions to international forces in Iraq and Afghanistan to its offer to host components of a European-based missile defense system, Poland is a strong ally that shares a commitment to peace, President Bush says.
• Poland, U.S. ready to announce missile base location - Kaczynski RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2007 -- Warsaw and Washington have determined the location of the future U.S. missile base in Poland and will announce their decision in the near future, the Polish president said.
• Bush And Poland's Kaczynski Defend Antimissile Plan RFE/RL 17 Jul 2007 -- Polish President Lech Kaczynski met with U.S. President George W. Bush on June 16 at the White House, where the two leaders talked about the war in Iraq and U.S. plans to build a missile-defense base in Poland and the neighboring Czech Republic.
• MND CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BUYING F-16 C/D FROM U.S. CNA 17 Jul 2007 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday that it is actively consulting with the United States on the purchase of new F-16 C/D fighter jets, saying that it is "cautiously optimistic" about the purchase.
• PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO UPGRADE TAIWAN'S DEFENSE CAPABILITIES CNA 17 Jul 2007 -- President Chen Shui-bian said Tuesday that Taiwan has the responsibility and obligation to upgrade its defense capabilities to contribute to regional peace and stability.
• India to deploy aircraft in Tajikistan, seeks strategic base RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2007 -- India is preparing to deploy a squadron of Mi-17 Hip multi purpose helicopters, as well as some Kiran trainer aircraft, at the Ayni airbase in Tajikistan, The Times of India said Tuesday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 17 Jul 2007
• Press Briefing by Tony Snow The White House 17 Jul 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 17, 2007
• BAE SYSTEMS DELIVERS FIRST LIGHTWEIGHT RPG PROTECTION KITS FOR RG-31 BAE Systems 17 Jul 2007 -- BAE Systems has installed the first two LRODT rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) protection kits on U.S. Army RG31 and RG31A1 mine-protected vehicles.
• LONGBOW LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AWARDED $29.2 MILLION TO BUILD LONGBOW RADARS AND MAST MOUNTED ASSEMBLIES Lockheed Martin 17 Jul 2007 -- The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) recently awarded the Longbow Limited Liability Company (LBL), a Joint Venture of Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Northrop Grumman Corporation [NYSE: NOC], a $29.2 million contract modification to produce 12 new Fire Control Radar (FCR) systems and 13 Mast Mounted Assemblies for the U.S. Army.
• BAE SYSTEMS WINS THIRD MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND CONTRACT BAE Systems 17 Jul 2007 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for the regular overhaul and drydocking of the Military Sealift Command (MSC) fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha.
• General Dynamics Awarded $116 Million for Virginia-Class Submarine Design and Development General Dynamics 17 Jul 2007 -- The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $116.4 million contract modification for Virginia-class submarine lead-yard services, development studies and design efforts
• BAE SYSTEMS WINS MORE WORK ON SEA-BASED MISSILE WARNING RADAR BAE Systems 17 Jul 2007 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a second contract from Boeing for work on the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX-1), a floating, self-propelled, mobile missile warning radar station.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 17 Jul 2007
• Proposed Mideast Conference Targets Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Washington File 17 Jul 2007 -- A proposed high-level Middle East conference this fall to push for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians is intended to foster regional stability and speed the formation of a Palestinian state, says a senior U.S. diplomat.
• Israel halts humanitarian aid convoy at Gaza checkpoint - agency RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2007 -- Israeli authorities have stopped a convoy of trucks carrying UN humanitarian aid to Gaza at Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing near Egypt, Cairo's MENA news agency said Tuesday.
• Israel finalizes list of 250 Palestinian prisoners to be freed RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2007 -- The Israeli Cabinet approved Tuesday a list of Palestinian prisoners due to be released by the weekend in a bid to strengthen the position of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his standoff with Islamist extremists.
• Israeli Ministers Approve List of Palestinian Prisoners to be Freed VOA 17 Jul 2007 -- A committee of Israeli Cabinet ministers has Tuesday approved a list of 250 Palestinian prisoners to be released this week as a gesture in support of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
• Darfur: UN envoy arrives in Khartoum for talks with Sudanese officials UN News Centre 17 Jul 2007 -- The United Nations senior envoy for Darfur and his African Union (AU) counterpart have arrived in Khartoum from the Libyan capital Tripoli, where they co-chaired two days of talks on fostering a settlement in the strife-torn region of Sudan.
• DRC: Displacement leaves 650,000 people needing aid in North Kivu IRIN 17 Jul 2007 -- Insecurity in North Kivu province in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has led to the displacement of an estimated 650,000 civilians, the largest number of people to have fled their homes because of conflict in the region in the past three years, a spokesman for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said.
• Russia condemns new Kosovo plan, urges to replace Ahtisaari RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2007 -- Veto-wielding Moscow will reject a new resolution of the UN Security Council, which proposes granting Kosovo independence without Serbia's consent, the Russian envoy to the UN said.
• Syria's Assad Urges Israel to Make Next Move For Peace VOA 17 Jul 2007 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been sworn in for a second seven-year term, following a presidential referendum that critics called a scam

News Reports

• US Intelligence Report: US in 'Heightened Threat Environment' VOA 17 Jul 2007 -- The U.S. intelligence community says the United States is in a "heightened threat environment" for a possible terrorist attack
• US Supports Pakistani Government Moves Against Extremists VOA 17 Jul 2007 -- The Bush administration said Tuesday the United States is prepared to back Pakistani government actions against extremism with as a much as $1 billion in economic and military aid over the next several years
• Re-elected Syrian President Bashar al-Assad assumes office RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2007 -- Bashar al-Assad, re-elected Syrian president for a second seven-year term in May, officially assumed office, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported Tuesday.