Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 16 Aug 2007 [PDF]
• MND-B Soldiers attacked during combat operations
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• MNC-I Soldier dies of non-battle related cause
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Lt. Gen. Ham from the Pentagon 16 Aug 2007 -- Presenter: Director for Operations, Joint Staff, Lt. Gen. Carter Ham
• August 12-15 airpower summary: Strike Eagles ready to hunt AFPN 16 Aug 2007
• Homestead Airmen return from Iraq AFPN 16 Aug 2007 -- More than 260 Airmen from Homestead Air Reserve Base were welcomed home Aug. 13 as they returned from supporting the war on terrorism at Balad Air Base, Iraq.
• Coalition Forces Capture High-Priority Weapons Smuggler, 62 Others AFPS 16 Aug 2007 -- Coalition forces captured a highly sought "special groups" weapons facilitator before dawn today northeast of Baghdad. In other operations this week, coalition forces captured 54 suspected terrorists and killed 19 terrorists.
• Al Anbar Seabees Conduct Critical Bridge Repair in Iraq Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2007 -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 28 completed construction repairs on a bridge, Aug. 4, which had been severely damaged by an Improvised Explosive Device and was unable to sustain traffic.
• 7 Killed as Car Bomb Explodes in Busy Baghdad Market VOA 16 Aug 2007 -- Iraqi police say a car bomb blast in central Baghdad has killed at least seven people and wounded 15 others.
• Multinational Corps Iraq Tops Retention Goal Six Weeks Early AFPS 16 Aug 2007 -- Multinational Corps Iraq met its command retention goals yesterday, more than six weeks ahead of schedule.
• Phantom Strike Squeezes Insurgents in Iraq, General Says AFPS 16 Aug 2007 -- Operation Phantom Strike is squeezing insurgents in Iraq as the country's security forces grow, a top U.S. general said here today.
• No mountain too high, no bridge too far for Afghan PRT AFPN 16 Aug 2007 -- Whether crawling over dirt mounds to inspect a school, hiking mountains 9,000 feet above sea level or handing out stuffed animals, members of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team are pushing progress in Afghanistan.
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Repel Two Ambush Attacks AFPS 16 Aug 2007 -- Afghan National Army and police forces supported by coalition forces defeated two separate Taliban ambushes yesterday and today in Afghanistan's Helmand province, military officials reported.
• AFGHANISTAN: UN highlights conflict's impact on civilians IRIN 16 Aug 2007 -- Armed conflict in Afghanistan has not only caused hundreds of civilian deaths but has also had a negative impact on many aspects of people's lives, according to a senior UN official.
• South Koreans, Taliban Resume Direct Hostage Talks RFE/RL 16 Aug 2007 -- RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan reports that a fourth round of direct talks between Taliban and South Korean delegates began today over the fate of 19 South Korean hostages.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Boosts Military Aid to Israel VOA 16 Aug 2007 -- The United States has boosted military aid to Israel
• U.S. finalizes deal on unprecedented military aid to Israel RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2007 -- The United States has signed an agreement with Israel under which it will provide its Mideast ally with $30 billion in military aid over the next ten years, a 25% rise on the current level.
• Army Suicides Up, Prevention Efforts Strengthened Army News 16 Aug 2007 -- An Army study released today indicates that during calendar year 2006 Soldier suicides reached their highest level since 1980.
• Army Releases Suicide Data, Promotes Prevention Programs AFPS 16 Aug 2007 -- Though its number of suicides increased in 2006, the Army's suicide rate still is lower than the rate for the same age and gender group in the overall U.S. population, according to a report the service released today.
• New York Air Guard supports far-reaching science missions AFPN 16 Aug 2007 -- The gray and orange LC-130 Hercules, one of the world's largest cargo aircraft with skis, touched down 10,600 feet above sea level onto the frozen ice sheet here July 24, contining an airlift mission that serves as the only supply line for some of the world's leading scientists studying our planet.
• Conventional Forces Must Remain Strong, Pace Says AFPS 16 Aug 2007 -- The continued importance of conventional forces and the growth in importance of unconventional forces will dominate American military thinking over the next few years, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told servicemembers here today.
• Army Study Confirms Recreation, Family Programs Linked to Readiness, Retention Army News 16 Aug 2007 -- The Army has announced results from a recently completed study that identified positive, measurable links between Soldiers' use of recreation and Family programs and readiness and retention.
• CVW-11 Changes Command in Air Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2007 -- Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, held a unique change of command ceremony on Aug. 1.
• CO Says Goodbye to Helo Squadron Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2007 -- The commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 bid farewell to his Sailors during quarters Aug. 9.
• USNS Comfort Arrives in Ecuador, Continues Mission Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2007 -- After treating patients in the first six of 12 scheduled countries, hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived in the port of Manta on Aug. 15 to continue its four-month humanitarian assistance deployment.
• Ecuador Welcomes USNS Comfort Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2007 -- An opening ceremony was conducted for hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) upon arrival to Manta, Aug. 15.
• E-2C Hawkeye Crashes, Navy Conducting Search Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2007 -- A Navy E-2C Hawkeye aircraft from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 120 crashed at sea Aug. 15, while conducting operations on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).
• Comfort Gears up for Ecuador Navy NewsStand 16 Aug 2007 -- Crew members from hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), staged medical equipment and medication in preparation for Comfort's weeklong humanitarian mission in Manta Aug. 15.
• Train loaded with Russian arms leaves Georgia's Batumi base RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2007 -- A train carrying military equipment left a Russian base in Georgia early Thursday as part of a 2006 deal to withdraw all Russian bases from the ex-Soviet Caucasus state, a Russian military official said.
• Georgia discovers radioactive substance at former Russian base RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2007 -- The Georgian military has removed two capsules containing radioactive cesium-137 from a former military base in the south of the country, the Defense Ministry said Thursday.
• Central Asia: SCO Leaders Focus On Energy, Security, Cooperation RFE/RL 16 Aug 2007 -- The presidents of the six member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization held their annual summit today in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek.
• Wrap: Regional security summit vows to ensure stability in Asia RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2007 -- Central Asian states can ensure regional stability and energy security without outside assistance, leaders of the six Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries said at a summit in Kyrgyzstan Thursday.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organization Seeks to Expand Energy and Security Influence VOA 16 Aug 2007 -- The six-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization has concluded its one-day summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, amid calls from two of its energy-rich members for the creation of an Asian energy club
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 16 Aug 2007
• Press Gaggle by Gordon Johndroe The White House 16 Aug 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 16, 2007
• LOCKHEED MARTIN MH-60 HELICOPTER SYSTEMS MULTI-YEAR PRODUCTION CONTRACT FROM THE U.S. NAVY TOTALS $1.065 BILLION Lockheed Martin 16 Aug 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received $951.7 million from the U.S. Navy to produce and integrate mission systems for the MH-60R helicopter over five years.
• Northrop Grumman Awarded Aircraft Installation Contract Northrop Grumman 16 Aug 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Navy to upgrade three additional fleet EA-6B Prowler aircraft with the latest electronic attack system.
• Northrop Grumman Mentors Army Logistics Firm Under Defense Department Program Northrop Grumman 16 Aug 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has signed a U.S. Department of Defense Mentor-Protege agreement with the U.S. Defense Contract Management Agency to provide hands-on guidance and development assistance to Joint Logistics Managers Inc.
• Russia to exhibit S-400 air defense system at MAKS-2007 show RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2007 -- Russia will display its new S-400 air defense missile system for the first time at a major air show outside Moscow on August 21-26, a spokesman for the event said Thursday.
• Raytheon's Laser-Guided Maverick Missile Meets Urgent Air Force Need Raytheon 16 Aug 2007 -- Having published an urgent operational need for a close air support weapon to defeat high-speed moving targets with minimal collateral damage, the U.S. Air Force has expressed interest in re-establishing production of Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) laser-guided Maverick.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN DELIVERS 500TH PAC-3 MISSILE TO THE U.S. ARMY Lockheed Martin 16 Aug 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] recently recognized delivery of the 500th PAC-3 Missile to the U.S. Army during a celebration at the PAC-3 Missile production facility in Camden, AR.
• SAIC Awarded C4I Contract to Support Navy SAIC 16 Aug 2007 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) announced today it won a contract from the Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center, San Diego (SSC San Diego) for In-Service Engineering Agent (ISEA) and Networks Integration Engineering Facility (NIEF) support
• SAIC Awarded C4I Contract to Support Navy SAIC 16 Aug 2007 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) announced today it won a contract from the Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center, San Diego (SSC San Diego) for In-Service Engineering Agent (ISEA) and Networks Integration Engineering Facility (NIEF) support. This support includes a range of command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) programs for shipboard, shore, air and foreign military sales.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 16 Aug 2007
• Russian Ambassador Says It's Too Soon For UN to Respond to Georgian Allegations VOA 16 Aug 2007 -- Russia's ambassador to the United Nations says the Security Council should not take any action on Georgian allegations that Russia violated its airspace until after officials of the two countries carry out their own investigation
• US Denies Serbian Allegations of Turning Kosovo into NATO-Puppet State VOA 16 Aug 2007 -- The commander of U.S. troops in Serbia's breakaway Kosovo province has denied Serbian accusations that the United States is planning to turn the province into a NATO-puppet state.
• Experts Confirm Jet Entered Georgian Airspace From Russia RFE/RL 16 Aug 2007 -- A team of international experts has concluded that an aircraft entered Georgian airspace from Russia and dropped a missile on August 6.
• Tbilisi says Russian airspace violation possibly part of exercise RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2007 -- Tbilisi said Thursday that the air incident, in which an unidentified aircraft violated its airspace from the Russian side August 6, could have been linked to Russian military exercises in the North Caucasus.
• SOMALIA-UGANDA: Ugandan soldiers to train Somali army IRIN 16 Aug 2007 -- Uganda will send an additional 250 soldiers to strife-torn Somalia to train the country's army as the transitional government in Mogadishu grapples with rising violence blamed on armed groups opposed to it.

News Reports

• PRESS CONFERENCE BY DEPUTY EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR MARGARETA WAHLSTRÖM ON FLOODS IN DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA, EARTHQUAKE IN PERU United Nations 16 Aug 2007
• At Least 450 Dead in Peru Earthquake VOA 16 Aug 2007 -- Rescue workers in Peru are searching for survivors in the rubble of an earthquake that killed at least 450 people
• Official Immunity Turns Into Campaign Issue In Ukraine RFE/RL 16 Aug 2007 -- In an apparent attempt to upstage his political rivals ahead of elections, Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych has proposed that all of the country's officials be stripped of their immunity from prosecution.
• BANGLADESH: Government says flood conditions stabilising IRIN 16 Aug 2007 -- Flood conditions in Bangladesh show signs of stabilising after weeks of heavy rain wreaked havoc on the country, leaving over 300 dead and hundreds of thousands homeless, according to the government.