Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 20 Aug 2007 [PDF]
• MNC-I Soldier dies of non-battle related cause
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• Aug. 19 airpower summary: Globemasters on the go AFPN 20 Aug 2007 -- Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 19, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Operation Lightning Hammer continues clearing Diyala, brings humanitarian aid MNF-I 20 Aug 2007 -- Operation Lightning Hammer continued into its fifth day Aug. 18 as 16,000 Iraqi and Coalition Forces Soldiers worked to secure parts of Diyala province and bring food and medical aid to the people there.
• Forces Kill Three, Detain Others in Raids on al Qaeda in Iraq AFPS 20 Aug 2007 -- Coalition forces around Iraq over the past two days killed three terrorists and detained 28 suspects while putting pressure on terrorists facilitating the movement of al Qaeda senior leaders.
• Operation Phantom Strike Continues to Put Pressure on Extremists AFPS 20 Aug 2007 -- Operation Phantom Strike, a series of combined coalition-Iraqi "quick-strike" offensives that launched last week continues to pressure extremist elements across Iraq, a top official there said today.
• Afghan conference addresses communications issues AFPN 20 Aug 2007 -- An American Airman spoke to more than 75 senior military communications professionals of the Afghan national army during a conference in July at Kabul.
• Reconstruction Team Building 29 Schools, Opening Doors to New Life in Khost Navy NewsStand 20 Aug 2007 -- In this rugged border province formerly known for its notorious al-Qaeda training camps, 88,000 Afghan students sit in open fields attending classes, enduring hours under the scorching sun for any opportunity to learn and build a better life.
• Number of displaced Afghans could surge if conflict continues, warns UN expert UN News Centre 20 Aug 2007 -- A United Nations envoy warned today that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Afghanistan could rise significantly if the conflict there continues at the current rate, adding to the multitude of Afghans that have already fled their homes.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Air Force discontinues use of base decals AFPN 20 Aug 2007 -- Air Force officials are working with other services to allow its people to enter installations without requiring them to display a base decal on their vehicles.
• Weather center receives production system upgrades AFPN 20 Aug 2007 -- The American Forces Network Weather Center here received computer upgrades recently ensuring its world-wide products equal or surpass those of its civilian counterparts.
• USNS Comfort Officials to Make 'Needs Assessment' in Peru Navy NewsStand 20 Aug 2007 -- Two military medical officials on board USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) will join a U.S. military mobile surgical team in Lima, Peru, to assist victims recovering from a magnitude 8 earthquake that struck the country Aug. 15 and claimed at least 500 lives.
• CJTF-HOA Coordinates Humanitarian Aid for Somalia Navy NewsStand 20 Aug 2007 -- The Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) coordinated with the American-based charity Islamic Relief USA to donate $463,000 worth of food and medical supplies to the war-torn country of Somalia Aug. 9.
• Guatemalan Navy Honors Global Fleet Station Navy NewsStand 20 Aug 2007 -- Guatemalan Sailors from Commando Naval Del Caribe in Puerto Barrios held a pass-in-review ceremony Aug. 17 to honor Task Group (TG) 40.9 and mark the completion of the second Global Fleet Station (GFS) visit to Guatemala this summer.
• Global Fleet Station Completes Guatemalan Training, Hosts Ambassador Navy NewsStand 20 Aug 2007 -- In preparation for completion of training in Puerto Barrios Aug. 17, the pilot Global Fleet Station (GFS) hosted a reception for distinguished visitors aboard High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift.
• NORTHCOM ready to help save lives AFPN 20 Aug 2007 -- U.S. Northern Command officials continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Dean and are working closely with the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Guard and the state of Texas on hurricane response preparations.
• Texas National Guard Ready for Hurricane Dean Strike AFPS 20 Aug 2007 -- About 4,700 National Guard soldiers and airmen, most from Texas, were making final preparations today for a rapid response should Hurricane Dean strike the Texas coast later this week.
• Pakistan, Turkey to hold joint exercises IRNA 20 Aug 2007 -- A contingent comprising troops of Pakistan Army and Navy left here today for Turkey to participate in Pakistan Turkey Joint Special Services Group Exercise Jinnah-V, the army said.
• Abkhazia's armed forces conducting military exercises RIA Novosti 20 Aug 2007 -- The armed forces of Georgia's self-proclaimed republic of Abkhazia have begun military exercises, a deputy defense minister of the republic said Monday.
• S. Korea, U.S. launch military drill despite N.Korean protests RIA Novosti 20 Aug 2007 -- South Korea and the United States began Monday an annual simulation-based joint military exercise to rehearse repulsing a hypothetical North Korean attack, Seoul's Yonhap news agency reported.
• U.S. Imperialists and S. Korean Army Busy with Preparations for Joint War Exercises KCNA 20 Aug 2007 -- The United States and the south Korean authorities are busy with preparations for the "Ulji Focus Lens" joint war exercises, the drills for war of aggression against the DPRK, to be staged in south Korea from August 20 to 31 in the wake of their recent announcement of the plan for the exercises, according to a military source.
• Press Gaggle on the President's Bilateral Meetings with Mexico and Canada by Dan Fisk, Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs, National Security Council The White House 21 Aug 2007
• Press Gaggle by Gordon Johndroe The White House 20 Aug 2007
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 20 Aug 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 20, 2007
• Aerial Refueling Boom System for Northrop Grumman's KC-30 Tanker Passes Flight Test Milestones Northrop Grumman 20 Aug 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) KC-30 Tanker's fly-by-wire boom has completed more than 130 hours of evaluations during 50 flights, demonstrating the maturity of the world's most advanced military aerial refueling system.
• Northrop Grumman-Built Mesa Verde (LPD 19) Successfully Completes Builder's Trials Northrop Grumman 20 Aug 2007 -- The Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC)-built amphibious transport dock ship Mesa Verde (LPD 19) successfully completed builder's trials last week, in a collaborative effort involving the U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman.
• BAE SYSTEMS WINS WORK ON COAST GUARD CUTTER MONSOON BAE Ssytems 20 Aug 2007 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a $2.1 million contract from the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center for the drydocking phased maintenance availability of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Monsoon.
• General Dynamics Awarded $108 Million for Production of Reactive Armor for Bradley Fighting Vehicle General Dynamics 20 Aug 2007 -- General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a $107.7 million contract option from the U.S. Army TACOM-Picatinny (Picatinny, N.J.) for reactive armor production for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN SIGNS $16.5 MILLION DEPOT MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH LETTERKENNY ARMY DEPOT Lockheed Martin 20 Aug 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has been awarded a $16.5 million contract from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) to partner with Letterkenny Army Depot to provide life cycle contractor support of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) M270A1 system.
• Governor Baldacci, Senator Collins and Representative Allen Recognize Pratt & Whitney for $1.3 Billion Fighter Engine Contract Pratt & Whitney 20 Aug 2007 -- Maine Gov. John Baldacci, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and U.S. Representative Tom Allen celebrated Pratt & Whitney's recent award of a $1.3 billion multiyear contract from the United States Air Force to deliver F119 engines
• Rafael Releases M-TAPS – New Add-On Armor for Combat Vehicles Rafael 20 Aug 2007 -- Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd. announces the release of the M-TAPS – Multi-Threat Armor Protection System – a new generation add-on armor technology for combat vehicles.
• ADF orders additional Bushmaster vehicles Thales 20 Aug 2007 -- Today's announcement by the Commonwealth for an additional 254 Bushmaster Protected Mobility vehicles for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is welcomed by Thales as further endorsement of the excellence of this unique indigenous design.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 20 Aug 2007
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS United Nations 20 Aug 2007
• Security Council extends African mission in Somalia, plans for possible UN force UN News Centre 20 Aug 2007 -- The Security Council today voted unanimously to extend the African Union-led mission in Somalia by six months while approving continued contingency planning for a possible United Nations peacekeeping operation in the war-ravaged country.
• NIGERIA: Lull in Port Harcourt fighting is likely to be temporary IRIN 20 Aug 2007 -- Despite heavily armed government troops manning roadblocks and patrolling the streets of Nigeria's main southern oil city Port Harcourt, many locals say the militias which the troops have been fighting, are still located in and around the city and that the current peace is temporary.
• Election process in Nepal in 'good shape' - UN political chief UN News Centre 20 Aug 2007 -- The top United Nations political official today, having just returned from Nepal, hailed the preparations for upcoming elections in the Himalayan nation and urged all political parties to ensure that the process remains on track.
• UN Extends African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia VOA 20 Aug 2007 -- The United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a resolution extending its authorization of the African Union's mission in Somalia for another six months
• EU Says No Fuel Supplies to Gaza Unless Hamas Drops Plan to Tax Electricity VOA 20 Aug 2007 -- The European Union says a Hamas plan to try to make money off EU fuel donations to the Gaza Strip means the suspension of fuel oil deliveries to the territory will continue
• SOMALIA: Mogadishu violence hurting health care delivery, says charity IRIN 20 Aug 2007 -- Access to medical care for civilians and displaced persons in and around the Somali capital of Mogadishu has decreased alarmingly in the past months, according to the international medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
• UGANDA: Government to consult on new court IRIN 20 Aug 2007 -- Legal proceedings against Ugandan rebel leaders may be held in a special court instead of the International Criminal Court (ICC), a government minister said on 19 August.
• Medical Group Says Access to Medical Help in Somalia Down Drastically VOA 20 Aug 2007 -- The medical group Doctors Without Borders is reporting a drastic decline in medical care for people in the Somali capital Mogadishu that has corresponded with widespread conflict across the country
• Former Liberian President Charles Taylor, Awaiting Justice VOA 20 Aug 2007 -- Former Liberian president Charles Taylor awaits trial in The Hague for his role in a brutal war in neighboring Sierra Leone during the 1990s

News Reports

• US Cites Serious Shortcomings in Kazakhstan Election VOA 20 Aug 2007 -- The U.S. State Department said Monday there were serious shortcomings in parliamentary elections held Saturday in Kazakhstan that were swept by the ruling party of President Nursultan Nazarbayev
• Turkey: Gul Fails To Win Presidency In First Round RFE/RL 20 Aug 2007 -- Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul today failed to win enough votes today to be elected Turkey's president in the first round of parliamentary voting.
• Russia's new research station in Arctic to open in late Sept. RIA Novosti 20 Aug 2007 -- Russia's new drifting research station in the Arctic will begin working in late September, the press spokesman of the Artic and Antarctic Research Institute said Monday.
• Thailand Approves Constitution VOA 20 Aug 2007 -- Thailand's rulers say the country will hold elections in December to restore democratic rule following a military coup last year
• Tsunami Early Warning System Takes Shape in the Caribbean Washington File 20 Aug 2007 -- An early warning system for tsunamis is taking shape in the Caribbean region, building on the island nations' long experience in dealing with hurricanes, storm surge, volcanic eruptions and mudslides.