Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 17 Aug 2007 [PDF]
• MNC-I Soldier dies of non-battle related cause
• Task Force Lightning Soldiers attacked
• Roadside bomb targets MND-B troops
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Transcript: DoD Press Briefing with Lt. Gen. Odierno on Ongoing Security Operations in Iraq from the Pentagon Briefing Room, Arlington Va. 17 Aug 2007 -- Presenter: Army Lieutenant General Ray Odierno, Commander, Multinational Corps-Iraq
• Aug. 16 airpower summary: Air transports vital to moving supplies AFPN 17 Aug 2007 -- Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 16, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Coalition Forces Kill 13 Terrorists While Targeting Cell Leader AFPS 17 Aug 2007 -- Coalition forces killed 13 terrorists and detained 12 suspected terrorists east of Tarmiyah, Iraq, during an operation today targeting an al Qaeda cell leader who provides guidance to senior terrorist leaders in Iraq.
• Coalition Forces Exert Pressure on al Qaeda, Other Extremists in Iraq AFPS 17 Aug 2007 -- Multinational Division Baghdad troops are doing their part to contribute to Multinational Corps Iraq's Operation Phantom Strike by continuing to apply pressure on al Qaeda and Shiia extremists throughout the Iraqi capital.
• Odierno Highlights Operations Phantom Strike, Phantom Thunder AFPS 17 Aug 2007 -- Iraqi and coalition forces are pursuing extremist leaders in Iraq's remote areas in coordinated "quick strikes" that launched this week, the commander of Multinational Corps Iraq told Pentagon reporters today.
• Gunmen in Iraqi Mosque Kill One US Soldier, Injure Another VOA 17 Aug 2007 -- The U.S. military says a U.S. soldier in Iraq was killed and another wounded when they were shot by insurgents who were inside a Sunni mosque north of Baghdad.
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Nab 11 Suspected Insurgents AFPS 17 Aug 2007 -- Afghan troops advised by coalition forces detained 11 suspected insurgents during operations today in Ghazni and Kandahar, Afghanistan.
• Tora Bora Offensive Continues Against Taliban, Al-Qaeda RFE/RL 17 Aug 2007 -- Hundreds of Afghan and U.S.-led coalition troops are continuing a major offensive against Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters in eastern Afghanistan.
• 2 South Korean Hostages Return Home From Afghan Ordeal VOA 17 Aug 2007 -- Two South Korean hostages released by Taleban insurgents in Afghanistan have returned home

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: DoD Press Briefing with Dr. Ward, Capt. Boynton, Mr. Leitch on USNS Comforts Four-Month, 12-Country Humanitarian Mission To South America, Central America and the Caribbean from the Pentagon Briefing Room, Arlington Va. 17 Aug 2007 -- Presenter: Dr. S. Ward Casscells, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs; Navy Capt. Bruce Boynton, Medical Treatment Commanding Officer; and Mr. Robert Leitch, Director of Project Hope Aboard USNS
• Ruling Allows Navy to Continue Using Low-Frequency Sonar Navy NewsStand 17 Aug 2007 -- The National Marine Fisheries Services issued a final rule Aug. 16 that allows the Navy to continue operating Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) sonar in the western Pacific Ocean for the next five years, subject to a yearly authorization renewal.
• Rampagers Bid Farewell to Commanding Officer Navy NewsStand 17 Aug 2007 -- In the presence of distinguished visitors, Sailors and family, the commanding officer bid farewell to the "Rampagers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83, during a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station Oceana Aug. 16.
• CSAF's Scope highlights force structure changes AFPN 17 Aug 2007 -- The CSAF's Scope focuses on current topics the Air Force chief of staff feels are of special importance to today's Airmen.
• Air Force doctrine gets new home at Air University AFPN 17 Aug 2007 -- The Air Force Doctrine Development and Education Center here stood up in August with the leaders of Air University, the 42nd Air Base Wing and local business and government agencies in attendance.
• Holloman Airmen hand stealth knowledge to F-22 community AFPN 17 Aug 2007 -- The stealth community wrapped up a high-powered information exchange Aug. 13 to 17 at Langley Air Force Base, Va.
• Soto Cano team responds to Peru earthquake AFPN 17 Aug 2007 -- Approximately 30 Soldiers and Airmen departed here Aug. 17 in support of relief efforts following the Aug. 15 earthquake near Lima, Peru.
• SOUTHCOM alerts additional medics for Peru relief AFPN 17 Aug 2007 -- A 14-person Air Force medical team, consisting of six doctors, a physician's assistant, a pharmacist and medical technicians, will depart Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 18 en route to Ica, Peru to assist residents affected by the 8.0 magnitude earthquake Aug. 15.
• Programs help Airmen, families prepare for deployment AFPN 17 Aug 2007 -- As part of ongoing efforts to inform Airmen about ways to manage stress, Air Force officials here introduced a monthly campaign to highlight initiatives to help Airmen and their families cope with life's difficulties, and the initiative for August is deployment readiness.
• Whole-base transfer completed at Carswell AFPN 17 Aug 2007 -- The Air Force recently completed a whole-base transfer of legacy Base Closure and Realignment property at the former Carswell Air Force Base here when the Army accepted ownership of 247 acres of property known as the weapons storage area.
• U.S. Military Medics to Respond in Peru Quake-Relief Efforts AFPS 17 Aug 2007 -- A joint U.S. military mobile surgical team from Joint Task Force Bravo, based at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras, will deploy to Peru today as part of U.S. Southern Command's response to an 8.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the South American nation Aug. 15.
• Military More Aware of Stress on Troops, General Says AFPS 17 Aug 2007 -- The military is more sensitive to problems concerning stress and mental exhaustion than ever before, but more needs to be done, the commander of Multinational Corps Iraq told Pentagon reporters today.
• More Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles Shipped to Middle East AFPS 17 Aug 2007 -- U.S. troops serving in Iraq will have a little more protection soon, as two of the military's newest armored vehicles are on their way to the theater.
• New Chinook Unveiled at Fort Campbell Army News 17 Aug 2007 -- Aviation history was made at Fort Campbell Wednesday as a newly designed CH-47 Chinook helicopter was officially ushered into operation.
• Navy to Investigate Unmanned Military Capabilities of Hybrid Craft Navy NewsStand 17 Aug 2007 -- The unmanned military capabilities of a hybrid hovercraft and ground-effect vehicle, UH-19XRW, were demonstrated July 25.
• Quantum Mechanics Research May Impact Future Navy Navy NewsStand 17 Aug 2007 -- A new theory being studied by the Naval Special Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren Division quantum processing group (QPG) since 1996 will revolutionize quantum technology and impact the future Navy with hyper-capable devices, a principal scientist here stated Aug. 10.
• 'Black Aces' Take Flight for Valiant Shield Navy NewsStand 17 Aug 2007 -- The "Black Aces" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41 are flying critical missions in support of the joint-force Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 in the vicinity of Guam Aug. 7-15.
• DESRON 23 Sharpens Skills During Valiant Shield 2007 Navy NewsStand 17 Aug 2007 -- Ships of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23 began operations as part of joint Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 in the vicinity of Guam, Aug. 7.
• USS McClusky Off-loads Seized Narcotics in Key West Navy NewsStand 17 Aug 2007 -- After conducting counter narcotics operations for three months in the Eastern Pacific, Sailors of the guided- missile frigate USS McClusky (FFG 41) unloaded approximately 12 tons of seized cocaine with an estimated import value of $306 million at U.S Coast Guard Sector Key West, Aug. 6.
• Stennis Traps 10,000th Aircraft of Deployment Navy NewsStand 17 Aug 2007 -- USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 landed the 10,000th aircraft of the ship's deployment Aug. 13.
• Seabees Welcomed to the Jungle Navy NewsStand 17 Aug 2007 -- Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 and Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 1 disembarked an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter from the USS Peleliu (LHA 5) to take part in an engineering civil-assistance program in Josephstaal Aug. 8.
• Nimitz Concludes Valiant Shield 2007 Navy NewsStand 17 Aug 2007 -- Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) with John C. Stennis and Kitty Hawk CSGs, wrapped up joint-service Exercise Valiant Shield 2007, along with units from the Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Aug. 14.
• Navy Chaplain Corps Aligns for the Future Navy NewsStand 17 Aug 2007 -- The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) have given their blessing to the Chaplain Corps' Strategic Plan.
• EOD Unit Gets a "Lift" Navy NewsStand 17 Aug 2007 -- Members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 6, Det. Mayport conducted training exercises with HH-60H Seahawks assigned to the "Red Lions" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 15 of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Aug. 7.
• John Paul Jones Sharpens Anti-Submarine Skills During Valiant Shield Navy NewsStand 17 Aug 2007 -- Navy ships from three carrier strike groups demonstrated hardened warfighting skills and joint interoperability between task force, strike group, and principle warfare commanders during Exercise Valiant Shield 2007, conducted Aug. 7-14 in the vicinity of Guam.
• USS Nassau Gets New Commanding Officer Navy NewsStand 17 Aug 2007 -- USS Nassau (LHA 4) held a traditional change of command ceremony on Aug. 13 in the ship's hangar bay.
• SCO States Hold Joint Military Exercises RFE/RL 17 Aug 2007 -- Troops from Russia, China, and four Central Asian countries today held joint military exercises in Russia's southern Ural Mountains, near the Kazakh border.
• Regional security exercise cost Russia $80 million RIA Novosti 17 Aug 2007 -- An antiterrorism exercise conducted by a regional security organization has come with a price tag of 2 billion rubles ($80 million) for Russia, a Defense Ministry official said Friday.
• Putin denies Shanghai regional group is military bloc RIA Novosti 17 Aug 2007 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed as irrelevant allegations that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a military bloc, and highlighted its increasing role in economic cooperation.
• GUINEA: Military warns of more protests if demands not met IRIN 17 Aug 2007 -- Guinean soldiers warn they could stage fresh protests within weeks if the government fails to meet demands that were at the centre of military-led riots in May that left two people dead and several injured.
• Press Gaggle by Gordon Johndroe The White House 17 Aug 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 17, 2007
• General Dynamics NASSCO Awarded Contract for Frigate Maintenance and Repair General Dynamics 17 Aug 2007 -- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy to provide maintenance and emergent repair services for San Diego-based frigates

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 17 Aug 2007
• Russia Continues Investigation Of Georgian Missile Claim RFE/RL 17 Aug 2007 -- Moscow has dismissed the findings of international investigators who said an aircraft from Russia recently violated Georgian airspace and dropped a missile.
• Russia's top Air Force officer denies planes flew over Georgia RIA Novosti 17 Aug 2007 -- The chief of staff of Russia's Air Force, Gen. Igor Khvorov, denied Friday Tbilisi's claims that Russian aircraft violated Georgian airspace on August 6.
• Russian experts say evidence in Georgia incident fabricated RIA Novosti 17 Aug 2007 -- Russian experts investigating the alleged violation of Georgian airspace by a Russian warplane said they suspect an unexploded missile found in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone had been deliberately planted by Tbilisi.
• Russia blocks UN statement on missile incident with Georgia RIA Novosti 17 Aug 2007 -- Russia blocked an attempt late Thursday to force a UN Security Council vote condemning Moscow for an alleged violation of Georgian airspace by Russian aircraft.
• SOMALIA: Juggling peacekeeping and medical care IRIN 17 Aug 2007 -- Already struggling to keep peace in lawless Somalia, African Union (AU) peacekeepers have also been overwhelmed with hundreds of desperate people seeking free treatment at their clinic in the capital Mogadishu.
• UN Says Somalis in South Are Severely Malnourished VOA 17 Aug 2007 -- A United Nations agency report says 600,000 people in southern Somalia, including people in and around the capital Mogadishu, are suffering from severe malnutrition and nearly 300,000 of those require immediate assistance
• Russian Envoy Says 'Nothing Impossible' In Kosovo Talks RFE/RL 17 Aug 2007 -- Russia's representative on the "troika" of international mediators for Kosovo said today he believes a negotiated settlement is still possible in Kosovo.
• Serbia Calls For Return of Its Security Troops to Kosovo VOA 17 Aug 2007 -- Serbia has called for the return of its army and police to the breakaway Kosovo province after an eight-year absence.
• NIGERIA: Uneasy calm restored in Port Harcourt IRIN 17 Aug 2007 -- The army appeared to be in charge again in Nigeria's southern city of Port Harcourt a day after gun fights had erupted across the city causing many residents to flee their homes.
• Israeli Aircraft Fires on Suspected Palestinian Rocket Sites VOA 17 Aug 2007 -- The Israeli military has carried out an airstrike in the Gaza Strip against what it called Palestinian militants who had launched rockets at Israel. No one was hurt in the airstrike.
• Negotiations Under Way for Peacekeeper Deployment, East Chad, CAR VOA 17 Aug 2007 -- United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is urging the U.N. Security Council to approve a new peacekeeping force for the volatile border region between Chad and Central African Republic
• SUDAN: High hopes for new Darfur mission IRIN 17 Aug 2007 -- Humanitarian workers in Darfur have welcomed the planned deployment of a joint UN and African Union (AU) mission in the region, but warned it would have to meet very high expectations.
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Slightly better conditions for Darfur refugees in northeast IRIN 17 Aug 2007 -- Malaria and diarrhoea cases among Sudanese refugees living in the Sam Ouandja region of northeastern Central African Republic (CAR) have dropped, but malnutrition and anaemia are still being registered especially among children, relief agencies said.
• NIGERIA: Residents flee heavy fighting in Niger Delta's main city IRIN 17 Aug 2007 -- People are fleeing Nigeria's main oil city of Port Harcourt amid heavy fighting between government troops and armed gangs, residents and officials told IRIN on Friday.
• Southern African Leaders Announce New Peacekeeping Force VOA 17 Aug 2007 -- Southern African leaders meeting in Zambia have announced the creation of a peacekeeping force available for rapid deployment in the region.

News Reports