Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 22 Aug 2007 [PDF]
• Helicopter downed, results in 14 non-battle deaths
• Aug. 21 airpower summary: Lancers show force AFPN 22 Aug 2007 -- Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 21, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Iraqis Destroy Terrorist Safe House AFPS 22 Aug 2007 -- Iraqi army scouts accompanied by U.S. special operations forces destroyed a suspected weapons cache and insurgent safe house yesterday in a helicopter assault. Other operations across Iraq have led to the capture of enemy fighters and weapons caches.
• Reconnaissance aircraft beat heat AFPN 22 Aug 2007 -- Global Hawk and U-2 aircraft provide critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and in order to be efficient and effective the technological sensors on these aircraft cannot be subjected to heat for extended periods of time.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Lt. Col. Phillips from Afghanistan 22 Aug 2007 -- Presenter: Commander Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team Lt. Col Gordon Phillips and State Department Representative Shawn Waddoups
• Reconstruction Progresses in Eastern Afghanistan AFPS 22 Aug 2007 -- The U.S. provincial reconstruction team in one of Afghanistan's easternmost provinces is making great strides in working with provincial and district leaders to build local infrastructure and capability, the team's commander said today.
• AFGHANISTAN: Hundreds of families displaced by fighting in Nangarhar Province IRIN 22 Aug 2007 -- Hundreds of families have been displaced by ground and aerial military operations by US and Afghan forces against insurgents in the Tora Bora area of Nangarhar Province, eastern Afghanistan, provincial officials told IRIN on 22 August.
• US Says Afghan Violence Hasn't Stopped Reconstruction in East VOA 22 Aug 2007 -- U.S. officials say a recent surge of violence in Afghanistan has not hurt reconstruction efforts in the eastern part of the country.

Defense Policy / Programs

• President Bush Attends Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention, Discusses War on Terror The White House 22 Aug 2007
• Air Force officials announce 2008 force-shaping plans AFPN 22 Aug 2007 -- Air Force officials recently announced plans to meet the 2008 fiscal year end-strength of 328,600, which calls for a force reduction of about 5,400 officers and enlisted members through normal attrition, retirement or force-shaping measures.
• Air Force Reserve to form A-10 associate units AFPN 22 Aug 2007 -- As part of the Air Force's total force integration, Air Force Reserve Command officials are teaming up with Air Combat Command officials to establish two A-10 Thunderbolt II associate units in October.
• Referral Bonus Program Draws 6,800 New Soldiers Army News 22 Aug 2007 -- Under the Army's Referral Bonus Program, sponsors have referred 31,000 recruits resulting in 6,800 contracts as of early August, according to officials at the U.S. Army Recruiting Command in Fort Knox, Ky.
• Defense Department Senior Executive Service Announcement 22 Aug 2007 -- Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service appointments
• Department of Defense Releases Selected Acquisition Reports 22 Aug 2007 -- The Department of Defense (DoD) has released details on major defense acquisition program cost, schedule, and performance changes since the December 2006 reporting period
• Air Force convenes AFSO 21 summit AFPN 22 Aug 2007 -- The secretary of the Air Force, chief of staff and the heads of all Air Force major commands gathered here Aug. 22 to increase the capability of the individual warfighter through Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century, commonly known as AFSO 21.
• Air Force to merge equal opportunity organizations AFPN 22 Aug 2007 -- The military equal opportunity and equal employment opportunity offices will merge in January 2008, Air Force officials announced recently.
• Comfort Arrives in Colombia, Continues Mission Navy NewsStand 22 Aug 2007 -- After seeing thousands of patients in seven of 12 countries, hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived in Colombia, Aug. 22, to continue its four-month humanitarian assistance deployment.
• Lincoln Achieves Outstanding Grade During TSTA/FEP Navy NewsStand 22 Aug 2007 -- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) blazed through its Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA) and Final Evaluation Problem (FEP) Aug. 20, achieving an "Outstanding" grade after 45 days at sea.
• NMCB 5 Corpsman and Combat Lifesavers Train, Part of "Operation Bearing Duel" Navy NewsStand 22 Aug 2007 -- The medical department and Combat Lifesavers with U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 tested their capabilities during a Mass Casualty Drill (MCD).
• Kearsarge Extends Diplomacy in Malta Navy NewsStand 22 Aug 2007 -- Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) demonstrated partnership with the government of Malta and participated in numerous community relations projects during their port visit to Valetta, Aug. 15-19.
• Stratofortresses test operational skills in Koa Lightning AFPN 22 Aug 2007 -- B-52 Stratofortresses and aircrews demonstrated the Air Force's global reach and global power by participating in the latest Koa Lightning exercise Aug. 21 through 23 from Andersen Air Force Base.
• CIS defense chiefs arrive in south Russia for live firing drill RIA Novosti 22 Aug 2007 -- The defense ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States arrived Wednesday at the Ashuluk firing range in south Russia for the final day of a joint annual exercise.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 22 Aug 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 22, 2007
• Northrop Grumman's KC-30 Tanker Will Create Aerospace Jobs and Generate Economic Activity in Virginia Northrop Grumman 22 Aug 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) KC-30 Tanker team will generate economic activity and create aerospace jobs in Virginia if the KC-30 Tanker aircraft is selected by the U.S. Air Force.
• Northrop Grumman's KC-30 Tanker Team Will Support 4,200 Jobs in Georgia and Generate Economic Activity Statewide Northrop Grumman 22 Aug 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) KC-30 Tanker team will support more than 4,200 direct and indirect jobs throughout Georgia if the KC-30 Tanker aircraft is selected by the U.S. Air Force.
• Boeing and FCS Partners Announce the Kick-off of Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon Work in Elgin, Okla. Boeing 22 Aug 2007 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and partner Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Lead Systems Integrator for the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, with industry teammates BAE Systems and General Dynamics, have selected Elgin, Okla., as a principal site for FCS Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) integration and assembly work.
• U.S. Army Awards General Dynamics Contract for 30mm PGU-15 Ammunition Production General Dynamics 22 Aug 2007 -- The U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command at Rock Island, Ill., has awarded General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems the first year of a multiple award contract with a total potential value of $74.6 million for the production of 30mm PGU-15 A/B Target Practice Cartridges. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• LOCKHEED MARTIN SELECTS CAMDEN, ARKANSAS, AS MANUFACTURING SITE FOR THAAD LAUNCHER AND FIRE CONTROL/COMMUNICATIONS UNIT Lockheed Martin 22 Aug 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], prime contractor and systems integrator for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System, has selected its award-winning manufacturing facility in Camden, AR, to build the THAAD launcher and Fire Control and Communications (TFCC) unit.
• BAE SYSTEMS TO DEVELOP ELECTRONIC WARFARE AMPLIFIER TECHNOLOGY BAE Systems 22 Aug 2007 -- BAE Systems is developing a new high-power amplifier technology that can guard U.S. forces against radar-guided missile threats.
• Boeing Awarded U.S. Air Force Contract for Combat Survivor Evader Locator Radios Boeing 22 Aug 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a $107 million U.S. Air Force contract for an additional 15,452 Combat Survivor Evader Locator (CSEL) radios and supporting equipment.
• Boeing Delivers First Upgraded Phase II CF-18 Hornet to Canadian Defense Forces Boeing 22 Aug 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and industry partner L-3 Communications MAS, Inc., delivered Monday the first modernized Phase II CF-18 fighter to the Canadian Department of Defense.
• JSC RPKB and Sagem Défense Sécurité sign deal Sagem (Safran group) 22 Aug 2007 -- JSC RPKB (Ramenskoye Design Company) and Sagem Défense Sécurité (SAFRAN Group) announced today the signature of a deal on August 22, 2007, in view to forming a joint venture in Russia to adapt, manufacture, sell and provide support for latest-generation inertial navigation systems for Russian and international avionics programs.
• Russia, Cuba agree on purchase of five Russian aircraft RIA Novosti 22 Aug 2007 -- The Russian leasing company Ilyushin Finance and Cuba's Aviaimport SA signed Wednesday a memorandum of understanding at the MAKS-2007 air show on the delivery of two Tu-204 and three An-148 planes to Cuba.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 22 Aug 2007
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY GEORGIA United Nations 22 Aug 2007
• Georgia Accuses Russia of Second Incursion VOA 22 Aug 2007 -- Georgia has accused Russia of violating its airspace for the second time this month.
• Sudanese military missed re-deployment deadline in south, says UN report UN News Centre 22 Aug 2007 -- Sudan's armed forces missed a deadline last month to re-deploy out of the south of the country, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in his latest report charting the progress being made on implementing the comprehensive peace agreement ending the long-running north-south civil war.
• Sudanese Government Raid on Darfur Refugee Camp Raises Tensions VOA 22 Aug 2007 -- A Sudanese government raid on a refugee camp has raised tensions regarding the tenuous peace process in the troubled Darfur region.
• DARFUR: IDPs lead protest over police raid on fragile camp IRIN 22 Aug 2007 -- Internally displaced persons (IDPs) staged a demonstration on 22 August after Sudanese forces raided one of Darfur's largest camps to arrest suspects believed to be behind a series of attacks on police stations.
• SOMALIA: Displaced people branded "terrorists" by Mogadishu mayor IRIN 22 Aug 2007 -- Allegations that humanitarian operations fuel insurgency in the Somali capital Mogadishu by the city's mayor have been slammed as "irresponsible" by a minister in the fragile transitional government as analysts expressed concern.
• SOMALIA: Imprisoned political leaders to be released as elections approach IRIN 22 Aug 2007 -- President Dahir Rayale Kahin of the self-declared republic of Somaliland has agreed to release three leaders of the Qaran organisation who were jailed for setting up a political party unsanctioned by the authorities, officials said.
• Middle East: UN envoy holds talks with Israeli, Palestinian leaders UN News Centre 22 Aug 2007 -- The United Nations Middle East envoy is in Jerusalem today for talks with Israeli and Palestinian political leaders on the need for dialogue between the two sides and to help prepare for a future meeting of the Quartet, the international diplomatic grouping trying to resolve the conflict.
• UN Envoy: Israel Should Make More Gestures to Abbas VOA 22 Aug 2007 -- The U.N.'s Mideast envoy is urging Israel to make more gestures to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in an effort to maintain momentum toward peace.
• Electricity Returns to Gaza After EU Resumes Funding VOA 22 Aug 2007 -- Electrical power is back on in the Gaza Strip after the European Union cut off fuel supplies in a dispute with the Islamic militant group Hamas.
• BURUNDI: Congolese camp out in Bujumbura after fleeing South Kivu insecurity IRIN 22 Aug 2007 -- Several hundred people from the Democratic Republic of Congo have arrived in Burundi's capital Bujumbura to seek refugee status after fleeing violence in the South Kivu region.
• YEMEN: Peace agreement with northern rebels in jeopardy? IRIN 22 Aug 2007 -- committee appointed by the Qatari government to supervise the peace agreement between government forces and followers of rebel leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi left Yemen on 17 August for a second time, sparking fears that clashes might resume in Saada Governorate, northern Yemen, observers say.
• Sri Lankan military claims to destroy LTTE's sea base IRNA 22 Aug 2007 -- A major sea-tiger base in the northern district of Mullaithivu, was completely destroyed in an aerial bombing carried out by Sri Lankan military today.
• UN to Reduce Number of Peacekeepers in Liberia VOA 22 Aug 2007 -- A United Nations plan to reduce the number of peacekeepers in war-scarred Liberia has some Liberians concerned about the security of the country

News Reports

• Kazakhstan: OSCE Offers Glimpse Into How It Monitors Elections RFE/RL 22 Aug 2007 -- It was no surprise that Kazakhstan's ruling party received a majority of the vote in the August 18 elections to the Mazhilis, or lower house or parliament.
• Kazakhstan: Opposition Left To 'Find Whatever Space Is Possible' RFE/RL 22 Aug 2007 -- Experts say the August 18 elections that created a one-party parliament in Kazakhstan could affect Astana's bid to chair the OSCE in 2009 and harm the country's image as a Central Asian leader