Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 25 Sep 2007 [PDF]
• Task Force Lightning Soldiers attacked
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Richard Sherlock from the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 25 Sep 2007 -- Presenter: Director, Operational Planning, Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Richard Sherlock
• Coalition Troops Kill Five, Detain 29 in Iraq Raids AFPS 25 Sep 2007 -- Coalition forces killed five terrorists and detained 29 suspects during a series of anti-insurgent operations conducted across Iraq today, officials reported.
• Sept. 24 airpower summary: Globemasters provide heavy airlift AFPN 25 Sep 2007 -- Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• AFGHANISTAN: Increasing armed robberies, abductions in Herat IRIN 25 Sep 2007 -- Increasing armed robberies and abductions are causing widespread concern in Herat, a relatively peaceful province in western Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Appeals Court Rules Military Judge Has Jurisdiction Authority in Gitmo Cases AFPS 25 Sep 2007 -- A military appeals court ruled yesterday that a military trial judge has the authority to determine jurisdiction in a military commission, a ruling that paves the way for proceedings to continue against suspected terrorists at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
• President Bush Addresses The United Nations General Assembly The White House 25 Sep 2007
• Department of Defense Reports on Mental Health Task Force Recommendations 25 Sep 2007 -- DoD recently sent Congress a corrective action plan to improve mental health care for service members and their families. The plan addresses findings and recommendations presented to DoD by the Task Force on Mental Health in a June 12, 2007, report.
• AFSO 21 helps Hurlburt Field save millions in training costs AFPN 25 Sep 2007 -- Members of the 505th Training Squadron here used Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century initiatives to save almost $1.5 million in training costs.
• SECAF addresses Air Force Association conference AFPN 25 Sep 2007 -- "The Air Force Association is the preeminent wingman and our strongest supporter," Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne told the audience during the opening day of the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition event Sept. 24.
• AFA convention features command chiefs forum AFPN 25 Sep 2007 -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley and command chiefs from five Air Force major commands joined to answer Airmen's questions during a forum at the Air Force Association's 2007 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 24.
• Global air chiefs gather for conference AFPN 25 Sep 2007 -- Top leaders from air forces around the globe gathered Sept. 24 to discuss airpower issues during the Global Air Chiefs Conference Forum held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington.
• Combat controller recounts battle for AFA audience AFPN 25 Sep 2007 -- A combat controller assigned to the 21st Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., brought an Air Force Special Operations Command perspective on the war on terrorism to attendees at the Air Force Association's 2007 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition Sept. 24.
• Despite Commitments, U.S. Forces Ready For Any Contingency AFPS 25 Sep 2007 -- The commitment of ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan is heavy, but the U.S. military has ample forces to respond to any other contingency that may arise, the general in charge of planning for the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.
• Reserve EOD Rating Established Navy NewsStand 25 Sep 2007 -- The Navy is establishing an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician rating for the Reserve Component, effective Oct. 1.
• Guyana Welcomes Comfort Navy NewsStand 25 Sep 2007 -- An opening ceremony was held for the arrival of hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) at the Georgetown Public Hospital in Georgetown Sept. 24.
• SUW Mission Package Attacks Small Boat Threat for LCS Navy NewsStand 25 Sep 2007 -- The Navy is moving forward with development of the Surface Warfare (SUW) Mission Package -- a self-contained set of remote sensors and precision attack weapons designed to combat small, fast boat terrorist threats to the fleet.
• Kitty Hawk Returns From Summer Deployment Navy NewsStand 25 Sep 2007 -- USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) pulled into Yokosuka, Japan Sept. 21, after a four-month summer deployment.
• USS Chafee Returns From Successful Deployment Navy NewsStand 25 Sep 2007 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90), with her crew of more than 300 Sailors, will returned home to Pearl Harbor, Sept. 22, marking the end a successful 167-day Western Pacific and Middle East deployment.
• Seabees Train with RED HORSE Navy NewsStand 25 Sep 2007 -- U.S. Navy Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 "crossed into the blue," working with U.S. Air Force personnel during a joint training exercise Sept. 24-26 at Kadena Air Base.
• Halsey Fires Tomahawk Missile Navy NewsStand 25 Sep 2007 -- USS Halsey (DDG 97) successfully fired a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile off the coast of Southern California, Sept. 12.
• Kitty Hawk Records 400,000th Trap; CAG Hits 1,000 Navy NewsStand 25 Sep 2007 -- An E/A-6B Prowler from Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136 became the 400,000th aircraft to land on USS Kitty Hawk's (CV 63) flight deck Sept. 8.
• Air Force Space Command general speaks at AFA conference AFPN 26 Sep 2007 -- General Kevin Chilton, Air Force Space Command commander, addressed hundreds of military members and civilians at the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition Sept. 25.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 25 Sep 2007
• Press Briefing by NSC Director for Democracy, Human Rights and International Organizations Mike Kozak The White House 25 Sep 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for September 12, 2007
• LOCKHEED MARTIN C-130J SUSTAINMENT PROGRAM WINS MILITARY LOGISTICS STRATEGY AWARD Lockheed Martin 25 Sep 2007 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] C-130J Long Term Sustainment Program received top honors for Outstanding Achievement in Military Logistics Strategy from the Institute for Defense and Government Advancement (IDGA) at its annual conference in Adelphi, Md., last week.
• Boeing Holds Major Join Ceremony for Newest UK C-17 Boeing 25 Sep 2007 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today reached a significant milestone at its Long Beach, Calif., C-17 final assembly facility with a "major join" ceremony for the United Kingdom's fifth C-17 Globemaster III.
• Lockheed Martin Awarded B-1B Sniper Pod Contract Lockheed Martin 25 Sep 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has been awarded a $2.8 million follow-on contract by the Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] to support full Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) functionality on the U.S. Air Force B-1B aircraft. Integration activities began in June 2007.
• Boeing Delivers First Production EA-18G Growler to U.S. Navy Boeing 25 Sep 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] yesterday delivered the first production EA-18G Growler to the U.S. Navy ahead of schedule and within budget.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN AWARDED $20.6 MILLION FOR FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM UPGRADE TO SUPPORT ENHANCED MISSILE AUSTRALIAN NAVY FRIGATE Lockheed Martin 25 Sep 2007 -- The Commonwealth of Australia awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a contract valued at US$20.6 million to upgrade the MK92 Fire Control System to support the introduction of Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) capability into the Royal Australian Navy Adelaide-class guided missile frigates (FFGs).
• Northrop Grumman's KC-30 Tanker Successfully Completes First Flight Northrop Grumman 25 Sep 2007 -- The first KC-30 Tanker aircraft completed its maiden flight today, underscoring the production strategy selected by Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) KC-30 industry team for the U.S. Air Force's KC-135 tanker replacement program.
• Boeing-Insitu ScanEagle UAV Logs 5,000 Flight Hours in Support of Australian Army Operations Boeing 25 Sep 2007 -- Boeing Australia Limited and Insitu, Inc., today announced that the ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has provided 5,000 hours of eye-in-the-sky surveillance and reconnaissance services to Australian Army forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
• CF6-80E1 Powers KC-30 to Successful First Flight GE Aviation 25 Sep 2007 -- The CF6-80E1 engine took to the skies today, marking the start of flight-testing on the first Northrop Grumman KC-30 aircraft which is under consideration for the United States Air Force (USAF) KC-X tanker replacement program. During the four-hour first flight, the CF6-80C1 engine demonstrated aircraft systems and instrumentation functionality, climbed to numerous mission altitudes and established the engine performance baseline for flight-testing.
• Rafael Welcomes SpotLite-M to Family of E/O Enemy Fire Detection Systems Rafael 25 Sep 2007 -- Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd. reveals a new member in its SpotLite Family of electro-optic enemy fire detection systems. The SpotLite-M joins the SpotLite-P (previously SpotLite Mk 2) as the mobile version of the well-known system that is capable of accurately and immediately detecting, locating and thereby enabling reaction to enemy fire sources, such as small arms fire, RPGs and anti-tank missiles.

Other Conflicts

• PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF FRANCE United Nations 25 Sep 2007
• Fighting in DRC Challenges Ceasefire VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- More fighting has been reported in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo following Monday's clashes between the army and renegade forces who battled on three separate fronts despite a shaky ceasefire
• DRC: More displaced in North Kivu as fighting resumes IRIN 25 Sep 2007 -- Military dissidents loyal to renegade army general Laurent Nkunda have resumed fighting in the eastern province of North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, two weeks after a ceasefire was negotiated by the UN Mission in the Congo (MONUC).
• Tensions Flare in Eastern Congo Amid Ongoing Clashes VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- Tensions are growing in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, amid ongoing clashes between forces loyal to dissident General Laurent Nkunda and the Congolese army
• UNHCR Running Out of Money in Darfur VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- The U.N. refugee agency says it may have to scale down its operations in West Darfur because it is running out of money
• Sudan Advises Aid Agencies to Accept Military Escort Offer VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- With the security situation growing more precarious in Darfur, Sudan's government is warning U.N. agencies and other aid groups that they should accept offers of military escorts, when they travel through the region
• Ex-Minister Says Georgian Leader Ordered Killings RFE/RL 25 Sep 2007 -- A former member of the Georgian administration, Irakli Okruashvili, has accused President Mikheil Saakashvili of "ordering murders."
• Security Council approves UN presence in Central African Republic, Chad UN News Centre 25 Sep 2007 -- The Security Council today established a United Nations-mandated, multidimensional presence, which will include European Union military forces, in eastern Chad and north-eastern Central African Republic (CAR) to help protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid to thousands of people uprooted due to insecurity in the two countries and neighbouring Sudan.
• Ethiopian Foreign Minister Expected to Mediate in Somali Political Crisis VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- Ethiopia's foreign minister is expected to travel soon to Somalia's seat of government in Baidoa to help resolve a deepening political crisis sparked by a dispute between the country's top leaders
• UN Approves Peacekeepers for Chad and CAR VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- The United Nations Security Council has authorized a European Union peacekeeping force to help protect civilians in Chad and the Central African Republic from violence in neighboring Sudan
• Rebels Call for Peace Talks as Fighting Rages in Sri Lanka VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka have urged the international community to step up pressure on the government to halt military operations against them

News Reports

• World Leaders Address UN General Assembly VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened the annual U.N. General Assembly debate Tuesday saying the world faces a "daunting array of challenges," including nuclear proliferation, the crisis in Darfur, the need for peace in the Middle East and climate change
• Burma's Military Government Imposes Curfew VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- Burma's military government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Rangoon and Mandalay as part of efforts to end pro-democracy demonstrations led by Buddhist monks.
• Bush Says US Will Expand Sanctions on Burma VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- U.S. President George Bush used his appearance before the U.N. General Assembly Tuesday to criticize several governments including Burma, against which he announced new sanctions.
• Thousands of Burmese Monks Resume Protests in Defiance of Government Warnings VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- Thousands of monks and other protesters have been marching again in Burma, despite warnings from the military government for them to stop their weeklong peaceful demonstrations
• UN Chief Says Daunting Challenges Ahead VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened the annual U.N. General Assembly debate Tuesday saying the world faces a "daunting array of challenges" including nuclear proliferation, the crisis in Darfur, peace in the Middle East and climate change
• Israel Opens Criminal Probe of Prime Minister VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- A new corruption scandal is dogging Israel's embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
• Lebanon's Parliament Puts Off Presidential Election Until October 23 VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- Lebanon's parliament has failed to attain the required two-thirds quorum to elect the country's next president, forcing a postponement of the electoral session to October 23
• Bhutto Says Pakistan at a Crucial Point VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- Exiled former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto says she plans to return home, even without reaching a political deal with the country's military ruler
• Fukuda becomes Japan's new prime minister RIA Novosti 25 Sep 2007 -- Yasuo Fukuda was chosen as Japan's new prime minister by parliament's lower house on Tuesday, reported Kyodo news.
• Fukuda Elected Japanese Prime Minister VOA 25 Sep 2007 -- Veteran lawmaker, Yasuo Fukuda, has been elected Japan's new prime minister.
• AFRICA: Food production to halve by 2020 IRIN 25 Sep 2007 -- Food security in Africa is likely to be "severely compromised" by climate change, with production expected to halve by 2020, according to climate change experts.