Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 02 Oct 2007 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Oct. 1 airpower summary AFPN 02 Oct 2007 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 1, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Sept. 30 airpower summary: A-10 Thunderbolts on target AFPN 02 Oct 2007 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 30, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Coalition Raids Kill One, Net 10 Al Qaeda in Iraq Agents AFPS 02 Oct 2007 -- Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained 10 suspects during a series of raids targeting al Qaeda in Iraq in central and northern Iraq today, officials reported.
• Brown Sees 1,000 British Troops Out Of Iraq By Year-End RFE/RL 02 Oct 2007 -- Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said 1,000 more British troops could leave Iraq by the end of the year.
• Britain to Handover More Security Duties to Iraqis VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says about 1,000 British troops can soon leave Iraq
• Operation Anchorage nets five suspected insurgents, stops VBIED MNF-I 02 Oct 2007 -- Coalition Forces detained five suspected insurgents and destroyed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device with two joint direct attack munitions Sept. 30 during Operation Anchorage, east of FOB Falcon.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Col. Ives from the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 02 Oct 2007 -- Presenter: USA, Commander, Task Force Cincinnatus, Combined Joint Task Force 82, Afghanistan, Colonel Jonathan Ives
• Afghanistan: Karzai Tests Waters With New Peace Overture To Taliban RFE/RL 02 Oct 2007 -- A spokesman for Taliban militants has publicly rejected Afghan President Hamid Karzai's latest offer of peace talks, saying foreign troops must first leave the country
• Afghanistan: Would-Be Suicide Bomber Speaks Of Indoctrination, Fear RFE/RL 02 Oct 2007 -- Akhunzada is a 46-year-old would-be suicide bomber from Afghanistan's southern Helmand Province.
• Latvia extends peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan RIA Novosti 02 Oct 2007 -- Latvia has decided to extend its peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan for another year, allocating $14 million in funds, the governmental press service said Tuesday.
• Afghanistan Suicide Bomb Adds to Rising Death Toll VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- A suicide bomber has killed at least eleven people in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, after targeting a police bus

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S. Senate approves $650 bln defense budget for 2008 RIA Novosti 02 Oct 2007 -- The U.S. Senate approved a defense bill of $648.8 billion Monday, which includes $225 million for the deployment of missile defense systems in Central Europe, 27% less than requested.
• US Congress Hears Testimony on Private US Security Contractors VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- The U.S. Congress is scheduled to conduct hearings Tuesday into the U.S. government's use of private security firms in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Blackwater Security Firm Defends Record in Iraq VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- The head of the U.S.-based security firm Blackwater, testifying at a congressional hearing Tuesday, has defended its record in Iraq
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Gen. Renuart and Lt. Gen. Obering from the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 02 Oct 2007 -- Presenter: Commander, NORAD, NORTHCOM Gen. Gene Renuart Jr. and Director of Missile Defense Program at the Missile Defense Agency Lt. Gen. Henry Obering
• U.S. Missile Defense System on Target, Generals Say AFPS 02 Oct 2007 -- The U.S. missile defense system intercepted a warhead during a test over the Pacific Ocean last week, boosting military officials' confidence in the program's ability to neutralize threats from missile-wielding nations like North Korea and Iran.
• Pentagon Hopes Successful Missile Test Boosts Support VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- The Pentagon says a recent successful test of the nation's missile defense system could boost support for the controversial project, which is designed to protect America from missiles fired by countries such as North Korea and Iran
• Press Availability with Secretary Gates and President Saca from San Salvador, El Salvador 02 Oct 2007 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and President, El Salvador Tony Saca
• UAS Video Terminal Connects Boots on the Ground to Eyes in the Sky Army News 03 Oct 2007 -- The Army fielded its 200th One-System Remote Video Terminal to Iraq and Afghanistan last month. Soldiers using an OSRVT can display the sensor feed from any of the Army's Unmanned Aircraft Systems and gain an unprecedented, instantaneous common view of the battlefield.
• Army Launches Benefits Web Site Army News 02 Oct 2007 -- The Soldiers' Benefit Services Web site is now the Army's official one-stop resource for all benefits information.
• Admiral Greenert Assumes Command of U.S. Fleet Forces Navy NewsStand 02 Oct 2007 -- Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert met with the U.S. Fleet Forces headquarters staff at an All Hands call Oct. 2. It was his first opportunity to address the staff since relieving Adm. Gary Roughead as commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) during an informal ceremony held in the Pentagon Sept. 29.
• Training Air Wing 2 Resumes Flight Operations Navy NewsStand 02 Oct 2007 -- Training Air Wing 2 is expected to resume flight operations Oct. 2, a day after a T-45 Goshawk crashed about two miles north of the Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville on land owned by the King Ranch.
• Pilot Global Fleet Station Completes Mission Navy NewsStand 02 Oct 2007 -- The Global Fleet Station (GFS) completed its pilot mission, Sept. 30, when High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift returned to Naval Station Mayport.
• USS Doyle Joins Ghanaian, South African Navies for Exercise Navy NewsStand 02 Oct 2007 -- USS Doyle (FFG 39), four Ghanaian patrol crafts and the newly commissioned South African frigate SAS Mendi (F 148) are participating in a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) and maritime interdiction operation exercise off the coast of Takoradi, Ghana during the week of Oct. 1.
• CENTAF Mobility director visits Airmen at Camp Djibouti AFPN 02 Oct 2007 -- The U.S. Central Command Air Forces director of Mobility visited Airmen assigned to Camp Djibouti recently as part of his first visit of the Southwest Asia area of operations since assuming his position.
• Air Force completes transfer of former Grissom AFB AFPN 02 Oct 2007 -- Air Force officials reached a property transfer milestone when the deed for the final parcel of property at the former Grissom Air Force Base, Ind., was accepted by its local redevelopment authority Sept. 21.
• Active-duty, Guard wings pave future alliances AFPN 02 Oct 2007 -- Two Fairchild Air Force Base air refueling wings merged Oct. 1 and forged into Air National Guard and active-duty wings.
• Gates Launches Latin American Trip AFPS 02 Oct 2007 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates set off today on a five-day, five-country Latin America trip with his first stop here this morning to meet with the country's president and other senior political and military officials.
• The Rooks Change Command Aboard Enterprise Navy NewsStand 02 Oct 2007 -- The "Rooks" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137 held a change of command ceremony Oct. 1, on the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) as it steamed around the Persian Gulf.
• T-45 Crashes Near NAS Kingsville Navy NewsStand 02 Oct 2007 -- A T-45 Goshawk attached to Training Air Wing 2 crashed about 2 miles north of Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville Oct. 1.
• USS Bataan Celebrates 10th Birthday Navy NewsStand 02 Oct 2007 -- The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) celebrated her 10th birthday during a ceremony at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek Sept. 28.
• American, Japanese Mine Countermeasure Ships Participate in PASSEX Navy NewsStand 02 Oct 2007 -- USS Guardian (MCM 5) concluded a successful two-day passing exercise (PASSEX) with a Japanese maritime asset Sept. 25.
• USS Chosin, USS Chung-Hoon Return From Deployment Navy NewsStand 02 Oct 2007 -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) and guided- missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) returned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Sept. 28, from a five-and-a-half month deployment to the Western Pacific.
• Regional Planning Teams Spell Success for Black Sea Partnership Cruise Navy NewsStand 02 Oct 2007 -- Six months worth of planning came to fruition for the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet (CNE-C6F) Black Sea Caspian Sea Regional Planning Team (BSCS RPT) with 59 ship riders from five partner nations participating in the Black Sea Partnership Cruise, Sept. 24-28.
• For Nassau Strike Group, Rapid Planning Leads to Rapid Execution Navy NewsStand 02 Oct 2007 -- Nassau Strike Group (NASSG) tested its Rapid Response Planning Process (R2P2) during Exercise Expeditionary Strike Group Integration (ESGINT), allowing for a means of planning for receiving, and ultimately executing orders from higher authorities quickly and efficiently.
• Nimitz Returns to San Diego Following Successful Deployment Navy NewsStand 02 Oct 2007 -- The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) returned to its homeport of San Diego Sept. 30, following a successful six-month deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability in the Western Pacific and Middle East.
• AAV Training Hones Proficiency, Integration During ESGINT Navy NewsStand 02 Oct 2007 -- The Nassau Strike Group (NASSG) and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24 MEU) participated in amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) training aboard USS Nashville (LPD 13) and the beaches surrounding Onslow Bay, N.C., Sept. 30.
• U.S. Africa Command Marks Startup of Initial Operations AFPS 02 Oct 2007 -- The new U.S. military organization responsible for operations across Africa marked the startup of its initial operations yesterday, according to a U.S. Africa Command news release.
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 02 Oct 2007
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 02 Oct 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 02, 2007
• LOCKHEED MARTIN DELIVERS AN/TPS-59 BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE RADAR TO BAHRAIN Lockheed Martin 02 Oct 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] has delivered an AN/TPS-59(V)3B ballistic missile defense radar system to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
• BAE SYSTEMS LAUNCHES NEW V-22 DEFENSIVE WEAPON SYSTEM, BEGINS ON-THE-MOVE TESTING BAE Systems 02 Oct 2007 -- BAE Systems today unveiled its new remotely operated turreted weapon system, the Remote GuardianT System (RGS), designed to provide 360 degrees of suppressive fire for the Marine Corps V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft.
• General Dynamics Awarded $28 Million for Combat Vehicle Reset Efforts General Dynamics 02 Oct 2007 -- The U.S. TACOM Lifecycle Management Command has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), $28 million for Stryker combat vehicle and Abrams main battle tank-related reset activities.
• Greece and U.S. Sign Agreement for Sale of Additional Lockheed Martin HELLFIRE II Missiles Lockheed Martin 02 Oct 2007 -- The governments of Greece and the United States have signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the sale of additional Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] precision-strike laser-guided HELLFIRE II® missiles to Greece.
• Northrop Grumman Selects BRPH Companies, Inc. to Design the KC-30 Production Center in Mobile, Alabama Northrop Grumman 02 Oct 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has selected Melbourne, Fla.-based BRPH Companies, Inc. to lead a multi-firm team to design the KC-30 Production Center in Mobile, Ala.
• SAIC Awarded Contract to Support Navy SAIC 02 Oct 2007 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) announced today it won a contract from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Philadelphia, Pa. to provide Shipboard Instrumentation and Systems Calibration (SISCAL) to support the Navy's engineering agent for Calibration by providing programmatic and engineering services.
• Ideal Innovations, Inc., Oshkosh Truck, and Ceradyne, Inc. Deliver Two Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) II Vehicles – “The Bull” – to U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center Oshkosh 02 Oct 2007 -- Ideal Innovations, Inc. (I-3), Oshkosh Truck Corporation (NYSE:OSK), and Ceradyne, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRDN) announced today that they have delivered both a 6-person and a 10-person MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) II vehicle – known as The Bull™ – to the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center for further service evaluation.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICES OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 02 Oct 2007
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON OCTOBER WORK PROGRAMME United Nations 02 Oct 2007
• Israel Confirms September Air Strike on Syria VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- Israel has confirmed that it carried out an air strike in Syria in early September
• Israel Releases 29 Palestinian Prisoners to Gaza VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- Israel has released another group of Palestinian prisoners in a bid to shore up the peace process
• Israel Releases 29 Palestinian Prisoners to Gaza VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- Twenty nine Palestinian prisoners have returned to the Gaza Strip after being released by Israel in a goodwill gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
• Security Council speaks out against deadly attack on AU peacekeepers in Darfur UN News Centre 02 Oct 2007 -- The Security Council today condemned last weekend's "murderous" attack on African Union (AU) peacekeepers in Haskanita, South Darfur, and demanded that no effort be spared to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
• UN Says Attempts to Undermine Darfur Peace Process 'Unacceptable' VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- The U.N. Security Council has condemned an attack on African Union peacekeepers in the Darfur region of Sudan, saying any attempt to undermine the peace process is "unacceptable."
• UN Security Council Condemns Darfur Attack on AU Base VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- The U.N. Security Council has condemned an attack on African Union peacekeepers in Sudan's Darfur region that killed 10 of them, but could not agree on language for a formal statement
• Rebel Support for Darfur Negotiations Wanes After AU Attack VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- A rebel faction in Sudan's troubled Darfur region is accusing the Khartoum government of responsibility for a weekend attack that killed 10 African Union peacekeepers
• SUDAN: Darfur attackers "committed war crimes" IRIN 02 Oct 2007 -- The attackers who killed 10 African Union (AU) peacekeepers in the volatile western Sudan region of Darfur committed a war crime and should be investigated to bring them to book, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said.
• Northern Somalia Fighters Claim to Capture Town VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- The breakaway republic of Somaliland says it has captured a disputed town after clashes with fighters from Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region.
• UN Independent Expert Calls for Greater UN, US Help for Somalia VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- The UN Independent Expert on Human Rights in Somalia is calling for greater UN and international response to help bring peace to the nation. Ghanim Alnajjar recently completed a 5-day mission to Somalia where fighting has displaced some 700-thousand people.
• DRC: Troop build-up in North Kivu worrying - UN official IRIN 02 Oct 2007 -- Humanitarian workers are concerned that a build-up of Congolese troops in two areas of the embattled North Kivu Province could hinder access to civilians displaced by fighting, a UN official said on 2 October.
• NEPAL: Newly displaced fear to return home, seek security guarantees IRIN 02 Oct 2007 -- Thousands of displaced people are fearful of returning to their homes in the Terai region of southern Nepal, after ethnic clashes forced them flee nearly two weeks ago, local human rights activists told IRIN.
• UGANDA: Picking up the Pieces IRIN 02 Oct 2007 -- After two decades of war and displacement, ongoing talks between the government and rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) could finally bring peace to the people of northern Uganda.
• Moldova calls for withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers RIA Novosti 02 Oct 2007 -- Moldovan Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan said Russian peacekeepers in the country's breakaway region of Transdnestr should be replaced with a "multinational civil mission with an international mandate."

News Reports

• Analysis: The ASEAN Bloc's Myanmar Dilemma cfr.org 02 Oct 2007 -- With the shakeout from Myanmar's late September protests still unclear, international attention turns to the diplomatic turmoil sparked by the unrest, most notably among Myanmar's neighbors.
• Top UN Human Rights Official Condemns Burma 'Shocking' Crackdown on Protesters VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- The top United Nations human rights official has condemned the Burmese military government for what she calls its "shocking" repression of peaceful opposition protests.
• Burma's Rulers Isolated But Defiant VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- The crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Burma has sparked widespread international condemnation
• Unanimous UN Human Rights Council Condemns Burma VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- The United Nations Human Rights Council has condemned the Burmese government for its violent repression of peaceful demonstrations by Buddhist monks and opposition protesters
• UN Envoy Meets With Burma's Military Leader, Democracy Leader Suu Kyi VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- The U.N. special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, has met with Burmese military leader Senior General Than Shwe, and again visited democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi again after that
• Burma Blames 'Political Opportunists' for Violence VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- Burma's foreign minister has blamed "political opportunists" for the current situation in his country
• Top UN Rule of Law officials outline goals of new Office; highlight increased police role UN News Centre 02 Oct 2007 -- Bringing all aspects of United Nations support for rule of law - the police, the judiciary and corrections - under the authority of one office not only helps improve efficiency but also ties in with the world body's longer term goal of building sustainability in a nation's rule of law sector, the two senior UN officials responsible for this area said today.
• Russia: Putin Makes Next Move In 'Operation Successor' RFE/RL 02 Oct 2007 -- Has Russian President Vladimir Putin finally shown his hand?
• Pakistan to Grant Amnesty to Benazir Bhutto VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- Pakistan's government has agreed to drop corruption charges against former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
• President Musharraf names his Army chief successor RIA Novosti 02 Oct 2007 -- Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf has nominated a new Army commander, Pakistani television reported on Tuesday.
• Musharraf Opponents Resign From Parliament, File Last-Minute Challenge VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- Pakistani lawmakers have resigned and opposition lawyers filed a last-minute petition against General Musharraf's re-election bid as president
• Ukraine Election Indecisive, Tarnished With Claims of Fraud VOA 02 Oct 2007 -- With more than 97 percent of the vote counted in Ukraine's special parliamentary election, the country's leading political parties are maneuvering to be part of the ruling coalition
• Two Leading Parties Each Claiming Victory In Ukrainian Elections RFE/RL 02 Oct 2007 -- A possible coalition of two pro-Western parties in Ukraine appears to be holding a slim lead over the party of the country's pro-Russia prime minister and its likely partners.
• "Orange" parties hope to counter PM's lead in Ukraine polls RIA Novosti 02 Oct 2007 -- The party led by Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych is leading the parliamentary polls in Ukraine, but reunited "orange" forces are hoping they will have enough votes to form a ruling majority.
• Orbital Selected As Industry Partner For Scientific Satellite To Detect Black Holes by Caltech/JPL Orbital Sciences Corp. 02 Oct 2007 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that it has been selected by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to design, manufacture, integrate and test the Nuclear Spectroscopic Array (NuSTAR) scientific satellite.