Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 03 Aug 2007 [PDF]
• MND-B patrol struck by improvised explosive device
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Col. Charlton from the Pentagon Briefing Room, Arlington Va. 03 Aug 2007 -- Presenter: Commander, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Col. John Charlton
• Aug. 2 airpower summary: Refuelers keep fleet flying AFPN 03 Aug 2007 -- Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 2, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Airmen play key role in developing Iraqi police AFPN 03 Aug 2007 -- Airmen roll out of the gates from here in armored Humvees and drive dangerous roads into Tikrit and the surrounding areas five days a week to do their part in helping Iraq transition to a peaceful democracy.
• Coalition Raids Detain 17 Suspected Terrorists in Iraq AFPS 03 Aug 2007 -- Coalition forces in Iraq detained 17 suspected terrorists during raids targeting al Qaeda operations in the Tigris River Valley today, military officials reported.
• HSC 25 Prepares for Future Deployments Navy NewsStand 03 Aug 2007 -- Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 conducted training exercises starting July 25 to prepare the unit for future deployments to Kuwait and Iraq.
• Afghan Officials Probe Reported Civilian Deaths in US Strikes VOA 03 Aug 2007 -- Afghan officials say they are checking reports of heavy civilian casualties during U.S. coalition air strikes in southern Helmand province Thursday.
• Afghan Army on Right Track, CENTCOM Sergeant Major Says AFPS 03 Aug 2007 -- The Afghan National Army is developing into a professional force, and its soldiers have the will to fight and, if need be, die for their country, the top enlisted leader in U.S. Central Command said.
• South Koreans Tell Taleban Kidnappers Limit to Response VOA 03 Aug 2007 -- South Korea has told Taleban militants there is a limit to what it can do to meet their demands for the release of 21 South Korean hostages.
• U.S.-Afghanistan: Bush-Karzai Summit To Address Insurgency, Opium, Iran RFE/RL 03 Aug 2007 -- When Afghan President Hamid Karzai meets with U.S. President George W. Bush on August 5 and 6, the two leaders are expected to discuss a strategy for increasing Karzai's control over his country.
• Pakistan: 'Economic Development' Needed To Fight Taliban RFE/RL 03 Aug 2007 -- Philip H. Gordon is a senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy with the Washington-based Brookings Institution who has authored numerous books or articles on counterterrorism and security in the broader Middle East.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Manta Airmen continue their counterdrug war AFPN 03 Aug 2007 -- American forces flying from here to hunt down drug runners could soon have to pack up their whole operation and move elsewhere.
• B-1 crews excel at shows of presence AFPN 03 Aug 2007 -- Airmen and B-1B Lancers from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, have taken the reins from the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron here.
• Navy Hosts Japan Self-Defense Force Air Crews Navy NewsStand 03 Aug 2007 -- The Naval Submarine Training Center, Pacific (NSTCP) hosted two air crews of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Patrol Squadron (VPDET) 42 on July 16.
• Regional demonstrations encourage bright future AFPN 03 Aug 2007 -- The Air Force along with 15 countries from Central America, South America and the Caribbean came together to participate in a Regional Coordination Center demonstration July 31 through Aug. 2 in Eagan, Minn.
• Pentagon Official Describes AFRICOM's Mission, Dispels Misconceptions AFPS 03 Aug 2007 -- U.S. Africa Command's foremost mission is to help Africans achieve their own security, not to extend the scope of the war on terrorism or secure African resources, a top Pentagon official said.
• GAO Report Recognizes DLA's Excess Property Program Improvements AFPS 03 Aug 2007 -- The Defense Logistics Agency has significantly improved its handling of excess military property, specifically F-14 Tomcat fighter jet parts, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.
• Defense Department, VA Work to Integrate Health Records AFPS 03 Aug 2007 -- The Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs took the first step this week toward developing a joint electronic health record system that will better serve wounded servicemembers and veterans.
• Stennis Stops in Singapore Navy NewsStand 03 Aug 2007 -- After a five-day port visit in Singapore, Sailors and Marines from USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) returned to sea July 23.
• Stennis' Sailors and Marines Enjoy Hong Kong Navy NewsStand 03 Aug 2007 -- Sailors and Marines from USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) returned to sea Aug. 1 after a five-day port visit in Hong Kong.
• Stethem Sailors Lend a Hand to the Australian Red Cross Navy NewsStand 03 Aug 2007 -- Sailors from guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) donated some of their time to the Australian Red Cross during a port visit July 20-24 to Townsville.
• Peleliu, Pacific Partners, Arrive in Singapore for Port Visit Navy NewsStand 03 Aug 2007 -- USS Peleliu (LHA 5) and its embarked Pacific Partnership team arrived in the port of Singapore July 28 for a regularly scheduled visit.
• FRCSW Supports GWOT Navy NewsStand 03 Aug 2007 -- Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) helped two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters return overseas and continue supporting the global war on terrorism (GWOT) July 25.
• USS Shoup Receives Visit from Homeport Mayor Navy NewsStand 03 Aug 2007 -- Everett's Mayor Ray Stephanson along with his guest, Pat McClain, toured the USS Shoup (DDG-86), at its homeport, Naval Station Everett Aug. 2.
• JTFEX 07-2 Draws to an End Navy NewsStand 03 Aug 2007 -- The Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and Eisenhower CSG have completed Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 07-2 "Operation Bold Step," wrapping up a series of operational scenarios with the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (R06) July 31.
• Navy/Air Force Wrap up Warfighter Talks Navy NewsStand 03 Aug 2007 -- The senior leadership of the Navy and Air Force held warfighter talks Aug. 3 at the Ronald Reagan Building here.
• Comfort Completes visit to El Salvador Navy NewsStand 03 Aug 2007 -- The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) wrapped up its six-day mission in Acajutla July 31 with a ceremony in the town's municipal park.
• Foreign Navies Crucial to U.S. Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Navy NewsStand 03 Aug 2007 -- Peruvian submarine Buque Armada Peruana (BAP) Chipana (SS-34) arrived in Mayport July 20 during training exercises with U.S. Navy ships as part of the Diesel Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI) off the coast of Florida and Georgia.
• Presidency of Bosnia-Herzogovina Visits Big E Navy NewsStand 03 Aug 2007 -- Enterprise Strike Group hosted the three members of the Bosnia-Herzogovina presidency aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) (Big E) for a firsthand look at the ship and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 on July 30.
• Air Force integrates space operations into A-staff AFPN 03 Aug 2007 -- Air Force officials here completed the final phase in integrating space functions into key Air Staff processes for operations, plans and requirements, or A3/5.
• France Confirms Agreement to Sell Arms to Libya VOA 03 Aug 2007 -- France and Libya have agreed to their first arms deal since the European Union lifted an arms embargo on Libya in 2004
• Cuba takes delivery of first Russian-made cargo airplane RIA Novosti 03 Aug 2007 -- Russia's Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar-SP has delivered the first of four Tu-204SE transport airplanes it is building for Cuba's flagship carrier, Cubana de Aviacion, the company said Friday.
• Press Briefing by Scott Stanzel The White House 03 Aug 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 03, 2007
• LOCKHEED MARTIN CONTINUES DELIVERIES TO AIR FORCE'S FIRST ACTIVE- DUTY C-130J COMBAT SQUADRON Lockheed Martin 03 Aug 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today delivered a third C 130J Super Hercules to the 41st Airlift Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.
• General Dynamics Awarded CAD$49 Million Contract to Supply LAV III Infantry Section Carriers to Canadian Forces General Dynamics 03 Aug 2007 -- The Canadian Department of National Defence has awarded a CAD$49.2 million (approximately USD$46.3 million) contract to General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada to provide 33 LAV III Infantry Section Carriers. General Dynamics Land Systems, the Canadian company's parent corporation, is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• EADS specifies the status of its discussions with Libya EADS 03 Aug 2007 -- EADS specifies the status of its discussions with Libya following media reports concerning defence contracts signed between the two parties
• Northrop Grumman Contributes Expertise to Military Exercise Testing Emerging Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Concepts Northrop Grumman 03 Aug 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) recent participation in a joint military exercise will enhance its work with the U.S. Joint Forces Command to improve how military forces conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 03 Aug 2007
• UN and African Union envoys convene 'pre-negotiation' talks on Darfur UN NewsStand 03 Aug 2007 -- The United Nations and African Union envoys tasked with reviving the Darfur peace process are preparing for talks starting this evening with leading figures from rebel groups that have not signed a key agreement aimed at bringing an end to the violence wracking the Sudanese region.
• SUDAN: Darfur rebels gather for talks, key figures yet to arrive IRIN 03 Aug 2007 -- Leaders of rebel groups from western Sudan arrived in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha on 3 August, ahead of talks aimed at securing common ground for fresh negotiations on Darfur with the Sudanese government, an official said.
• Darfur Peace Talks Falter Before They Begin VOA 03 Aug 2007 -- Negotiations aimed at resolving Sudan's brutal Darfur conflict faltered before they began on Friday after a leading rebel groups refused to participa
• COMOROS: An expensive stalemate IRIN 03 Aug 2007 -- Tension is mounting as the political stalemate deepens between the Union of Comoros and one of its semi-autonomous islands, Anjouan, sparking fears of possible military action and postponing much-needed international development assistance.
• UNHCR Says Thousands Fleeing Somali Capital VOA 03 Aug 2007 -- The U.N. refugee agency reports between February and May, more than 400,000 civilians fled the Somali capital Mogadishu.
• SOMALIA: Call for agencies to scale up aid operations in capital IRIN 03 Aug 2007 -- A senior UN official has urged humanitarian agencies to take advantage of security provided by African Union troops in Mogadishu to improve the delivery of aid to tens of thousands of displaced people camped in surrounding areas.
• RWANDA: New law brings hope for extradition of genocide suspects IRIN 03 Aug 2007 -- Rwanda's Justice Minister Tharcisse Karugarama has expressed optimism that countries hosting genocide suspects would soon expedite their transfer to Kigali now the death penalty has been abolished.

News Reports

• Security Council Concerned About Syria-Lebanon Arms Shipments Washington File 03 Aug 2007 -- The U.N. Security Council adopted a presidential statement August 3 expressing its concern over reports of arms shipments from Syria to nonstate armed groups in Lebanon in violation of Security Council Resolution 1701.
• Lebanon: UN legal chief invites countries to submit candidates for Hariri tribunal UN NewsStand 03 Aug 2007 -- The United Nations' top legal official today sent a letter inviting UN Member States to submit names of candidates to be considered as international judges of an independent tribunal to try the suspected killers of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri.
• Russia: Polar Expedition Means 'Very Little' For Territorial Claims RFE/RL 03 Aug 2007 -- Russian explorers have successfully dived to the bottom of the Arctic Ocean and planted a Russian flag directly under the North Pole
• Russian flag on Arctic seabed no legal claim to territory - U.S. RIA Novosti 03 Aug 2007 -- Washington has dismissed Russia's mission to plant its national flag on the Arctic ocean floor as an illegitimate claim to territory.