Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 31 Jul 2007 [PDF]
• MNF-W forces attacked
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• DoD Announces Force Adjustments 31 Jul 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today additional major units scheduled to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Airpower Summary for July 30: Strike Eagles strike AFPN 31 Jul 2007 -- Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 30, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Second Predator crashes in Iraq in two days AFPN 31 Jul 2007 -- An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashed off base Tuesday at approximately 8 p.m. local time.
• Coalition Detains 35 Suspects in Central, Northern Iraq AFPS 31 Jul 2007 -- Coalition forces detained 35 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al Qaeda in central and northern Iraq over the past two days.
• Predator crashes on base in Iraq AFPN 31 Jul 2007 -- An MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashed at the end of the runway while landing at approximately 11 p.m. local time July 30 at Balad Air Base.
• Airmen teach Afghan police forces tactics, training AFPN 31 Jul 2007 -- Members of the Police Technical Advisory Team here have trained more than 200 Afghan national police and Afghan national auxiliary police since April to help improve the security of Afghanistan.
• Second South Korean Hostage Killed In Afghanistan RFE/RL 31 Jul 2007 -- Police say they found today the bullet-riddled body of one of the 22 remaining South Korean hostages held by suspected Taliban rebels in central Afghanistan.
• South Korea Condemns 'Merciless' Killing of Second Hostage by Taleban VOA 31 Jul 2007 -- Taleban kidnappers have executed a second South Korean hostage, drawing harsh condemnation from Seoul
• AFGHANISTAN: Rights group, UN sceptical about reduced civilian casualties IRIN 31 Jul 2007 -- Afghan and international forces fighting Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan have agreed on a number of measures designed to minimise civilian casualties in their military operations, officials told IRIN.
• Airmen teach Afghan police forces tactics, training AFPN 31 Jul 2007 -- Members of the Police Technical Advisory Team here have trained more than 200 Afghan national police and Afghan national auxiliary police since April to help improve the security of Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: Press Roundtable With Secretary of Defense Robert Gates US Dept. of State 31 Jul 2007
• Bush Plan To Sell Arms to Gulf States Faces Congressional Opposition VOA 31 Jul 2007 -- A group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced legislation aimed at blocking President Bush's plan to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States, arguing that the proposal would be destabilizing to the region.
• FM: US' arms sale, illusive scenarios, instance of adventurism IRNA 31 Jul 2007 -- Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Tuesday that the US plan to sell billions of dollars worth of arms and prepare illusive scenarios in the region is an instance of adventurism and a disparate effort.
• Rice Defends US Mideast Arms Sales Plans VOA 31 Jul 2007 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, heading for the Middle East for a joint diplomatic mission with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, has defended Bush administration plans for major new weapons sales in the region
• U.S. Unveils Military-Aid Package For Middle East Allies RFE/RL 31 Jul 2007 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates have held talks in Egypt and extended offers of military aid to Arab countries and Israel.
• U.S. military aid plans aimed against Iran - Russian experts RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2007 -- The Bush administration's plans to sell modern weaponry and increase military assistance to its allies in the Middle East are aimed at exerting pressure on Iran and strengthening the Republicans' positions on the domestic front, Russian experts said Tuesday.
• Mullen, Cartwright Pledge to Represent Force to Best of Ability AFPS 31 Jul 2007 -- President Bush's nominees to fill the nation's top two military posts today pledged to do their best to represent the men and women of the U.S. military.
• Top US Military Officer Says Iran Threat Must be Addressed VOA 31 Jul 2007 -- The man nominated to be the top U.S. military officer says he is concerned about what he called Iran's "increasingly hostile" role in the Middle East
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Secretary Geren and Gen. Cody from the Pentagon 31 Jul 2007 -- Presenter: Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Cody
• General Censured for Tillman Investigation Mistakes AFPS 31 Jul 2007 -- The Army's senior civilian announced today that a retired three-star general will receive a letter of censure as the result of a review of previous military investigations into the death of Army Spc. Patrick D. Tillman.
• Navigation Plots Charts for JTFEX Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2007 -- The Navigation Department aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Ike, plays a major role in the Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 07-2 "Operation Bold Step," which began July 26.
• Truman Conducts JTFEX Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2007 -- The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 started procedures for Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) "Operation Bold Step" on July 26 off the Southern Atlantic coastline.
• NAS Whidbey Island Welcomes Back VAQ-134 Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2007 -- Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 134 "Garudas" returned home to Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island on July 30.
• Damage Controlmen Ensure Ike is Battle Ready for JTFEX Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2007 -- The Damage Controlmen aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) are doing their part in the ongoing Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 07-2, "Operation Bold Step" by making sure Ike is always in complete battle readiness.
• Aerial porters help demonstrate new transportation concepts AFPN 31 Jul 2007 -- Airmen from the 305th Aerial Port Squadron here recently played a major role in helping U.S. Transportation Command officials assess joint modular intermodal distribution, or JMIDS, concepts.
• Partnership of the Americas Arrives in El Salvador Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2007 -- USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) arrived in La Union July 30, after completing a port visit to Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala and a short underway period.
• Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force Looks to the Future Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2007 -- East and west coast senior leadership from the maritime patrol reconnaissance force gathered for a three-day conference at Naval Station Norfolk July 23-26 to gather information and discuss challenges and changes in the community.
• USS Pearl Harbor Departs Puerto Quetzal Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2007 -- USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) departed Puerto Quetzal July 28, after participating in theater security cooperation activities including a community relations project and other events ashore in support of Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2007 deployment.
• CIS annual air defense exercise continues in August RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2007 -- The second stage of the joint air defense exercise of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will be held at the Ashuluk training ground, in Russia's Astrakhan Region near the Caspian Sea, August 14-21, Russia's Air Force spokesman said Tuesday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 31 Jul 2007
• Press Briefing by Tony Snow The White House 31 Jul 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 31, 2007
• LOCKHEED MARTIN AWARDED ADDITIONAL $5 BILLION IN MULTIYEAR CONTRACT TO BUILD 60 F-22 RAPTORS Lockheed Martin 31 Jul 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today received an additional $5 billion from the U.S. Air Force for three lots of F-22 Raptor air dominance fighters.
• BAE SYSTEMS COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF ARMOR HOLDINGS INC. BAE Systems 31 Jul 2007 -- BAE Systems today completed its acquisition of Armor Holdings Inc. (Armor Holdings), after receiving all required shareholder and regulatory approvals.
• General Dynamics Awarded GSA Alliant Contract for Technology Solutions General Dynamics 31 Jul 2007 -- General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) is one of 29 companies that has been awarded a General Services Administration (GSA) Alliant contract to provide federal government agencies with integrated information technology solutions for evolving needs on a global basis
• L-3 Flight Tests Miniature Common Data Link Terminal L-3 Communications 31 Jul 2007 -- L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) announced today the successful flight test of a 1 lb., Common Data Link (CDL) compliant, software-programmable terminal on a small unmanned aircraft system (UAS).
• Pratt & Whitney Awarded $1.3 Billion Contract for F119 Engines Pratt & Whitney 31 Jul 2007 -- Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company, was awarded a $1.3 billion multiyear contract from the United States Air Force to deliver F119 engines for the F-22 Raptor.
• Pratt & Whitney Awarded $1.05 Billion Contract for F117 Engines Pratt & Whitney 31 Jul 2007 -- Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company, was awarded a contract from the United States Air Force to deliver F117 military transport engines.
• ATK Receives an Additional $14 Million in Orders for Small-Caliber Ammunition ATK 31 Jul 2007 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK), the largest supplier of small-caliber ammunition to the United States military, has received an additional $14 million in orders for the production of small-caliber ammunition.
• Spanish Air Force purchases two more EADS CASA C-295 military transport aircraft EADS 31 Jul 2007 -- Spanish Air Force has recently purchased 2 more units of the EADS CASA C-295 military transport aircraft.
• General Dynamics Awarded $26 Million for M2HB Machine Gun Production General Dynamics 31 Jul 2007 -- General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), was awarded a $26 million contract from U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command, Rock Island, Ill., for the production of M2HB machine guns.
• Northrop Grumman's First KC-30 Tanker Completes Initial Assembly in 30 Days Northrop Grumman 31 Jul 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) first KC-30 Tanker aircraft completed initial airframe assembly in July, illustrating an efficient and low-risk approach for quickly replacing the U.S. Air Force's KC-135 tanker fleet.
• Eagan, McAllister Associates, Inc. Awarded Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Contract SAIC 31 Jul 2007 -- Eagan, McAllister Associates, Inc. (EMA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Science Applications International Corporation [NYSE: SAI] today announced that it won an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, single-award, cost-plus-fixed-fee performance-based contract from the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston, S.C. (SSCC).

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 31 Jul 2007
• UN Unanimously Approves Peacekeeping Force for Darfur VOA 31 Jul 2007 -- The United Nations Security Council has unanimously approved sending an expanded peacekeeping force to Sudan's Darfur region
• Security Council authorizes hybrid UN-African Union operation in Darfur UN News Centre 31 Jul 2007 -- The Security Council today approved the creation of a hybrid United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force to quell the violence and instability plaguing the Darfur region of Sudan, where hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and two million others forced to flee their homes.
• British PM Brown Urges Swift UN Action in Darfur VOA 31 Jul 2007 -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says the United Nations must take swift action on a resolution to send U.N. peacekeepers to Sudan's war-torn Darfur region
• Finalized UN Darfur Resolution Expected Tuesday VOA 31 Jul 2007 -- The United States says a U.N. resolution authorizing as many as 26,000 troops in Sudan's war-torn Dafur region will be finalized by Tuesday
• US Lawmakers to Step Up Economic Pressure on Sudan Over Darfur VOA 31 Jul 2007 -- The House of Representatives is poised to approve legislation aimed at stepping up economic pressure on the government of Sudan because of the situation in Darfur
• Arab Leaders Renew Support for Iraq, Mideast Peace Washington File 31 Jul 2007 -- Arab leaders meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Defense Robert Gates in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, July 31 agreed to continue aiding Iraqis and expressed support for intensified U.S. efforts toward a comprehensive Palestinian-Israeli peace.
• British Army Ends Northern Ireland Operation After 38 Years VOA 31 Jul 2007 -- The British army ends its longest continuous military engagement at midnight Tuesday, when responsibility for security in Northern Ireland passes to local authorities.
• Britain ends military operations in N.Ireland after 38 years IRNA 31 Jul 2007 -- The British Army formally ended its longest- ever military campaign Tuesday by bringing the curtain down on its controversial operations in Northern Ireland after 38 years.
• YEMEN: Humanitarian situation in Saada remains poor despite peace agreement IRIN 31 Jul 2007 -- The humanitarian situation in Yemen's northern governorate of Saada remains poor as displaced families have not been able to return in spite of the peace agreement between the government and rebels, activists and officials say.
• Russia: Security Sweep Fails To Stem Violence In Ingushetia RFE/RL 31 Jul 2007 -- One police officer was killed and three were wounded in the latest attack in Ingushetia.
• UN, international partners to step up contacts with reconciliation body in Somalia UN News Centre 31 Jul 2007 -- The United Nations and its international partners in the search for peace in Somalia plan to step up their contacts with the country's National Reconciliation Congress in an effort to bring stability to a faction-riven land that has had no functioning central government for 16 years.
• DRC: Government seeks help for 75,000 IDPs IRIN 31 Jul 2007 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo's Humanitarian Affairs Minister Jean-Claude Muyambo has said there were 75,000 homeless people in the two biggest cities, adding to a growing number of internally displaced people (IDPs) countrywide.
• Georgia: Sides In Frozen Conflicts 'Need To Talk' RFE/RL 31 Jul 2007 -- The European Union's special representative to the South Caucasus, Ambassador Peter Semneby, was in Georgia on July 26-28 to wrap up some discussions with the Georgian government on the EU's contribution to the confidence-building and the peace processes in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
• Russia against setting timeframes for Kosovo status RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2007 -- Russia is against setting artificial timetables to decide Kosovo's status and attempts to predetermine the outcome, the Foreign Ministry's spokesman said Tuesday.

News Reports