Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 05 Oct 2007 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Navy Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Col. Kershaw from the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 05 Oct 2007 -- Presenter: Commander, 2nd Brigade 10th Mountain Division , Multinational Division Center Col. Michael Kershaw
• Oct. 4 airpower summary: F-16s deter enemy activity AFPN 05 Oct 2007 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 4, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• US Military: Coalition Airstrike Kills 25 Militants near Baquba VOA 05 Oct 2007 -- The U.S. military in Iraq says about 25 militants were killed and two houses destroyed in a U.S. air strike near Baquba, north of Baghdad Friday.
• Troops Kill 37 Insurgents, Nab Four, Seize Weapons in Iraq AFPS 05 Oct 2007 -- Iraqi and coalition forces killed 37 enemy fighters, detained four suspects and seized weapons caches in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Orders New Oversight of Private Security Firms in Iraq VOA 05 Oct 2007 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Friday ordered tighter oversight of private security firms working for the State Department in Iraq in the aftermath of the lethal shooting incident last month in Baghdad involving the contractor Blackwater USA
• Army to Expand Basic Combat Training to 10 Weeks Army News 05 Oct 2007 -- In early November, Basic Combat Training will expand from nine to 10 weeks at all five Army BCT sites: Fort Jackson, S.C., Fort Sill, Okla., Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Fort Knox, Ky., and Fort Benning, Ga.
• Army Finalizes Command Realignment Army News 05 Oct 2007 -- Army Regulation 10-87, "Army Commands, Army Service Component Command and Direct Reporting Units," has been posted to the Army Publishing Directorate Web site, http://www.apd.army.mil/.
• Africa Command Works to Become Effective AFPS 05 Oct 2007 -- The stand-up of U.S. Africa Command is a testament to the growing geopolitical importance of the continent.
• Naval Air Training Completes Alignment to Naval Air Forces Navy NewsStand 05 Oct 2007 -- The Chief of Naval Air Training formally realigned from Naval Education and Training Command to commander, Naval Air Forces Oct. 1.
• Seabees Train for War in the Jungle Navy NewsStand 05 Oct 2007 -- Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 took part in a jungle warfare training evolution at the Jungle Warfare Training Center (JWTC) on Okinawa Sept. 27-28.
• Higgins Excels During New ULTRA Sustainment Plus Navy NewsStand 05 Oct 2007 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) completed a two-week assessment called Unit Level Training Assessment-Sustainment Plus (ULTRA-S Plus) Sept. 8-22.
• Joint Intelligence Training Center Now Complete Army News 06 Oct 2007 -- The Department of Defense Human Intelligence Training-Joint Center of Excellence celebrated the five courses that now fall under and complete the JCOE umbrella, and the joint effort that made this unification happen in a ceremony Monday.
• Air Force Reserve stands up first F-22 Raptor unit AFPN 05 Oct 2007 -- Air Force Reserve officials activated the first F-22 Raptor unit, the 477th Fighter Group, in a ceremony here Oct. 2, giving the Reserve a valuable part of America's newest and most sophisticated weapons system.
• Kunsan receives upgraded fighters AFPN 05 Oct 2007 -- The 8th Fighter Wing received its initial group of Block 40 F-16 Fighting Falcons here this week under the Common Configuration Implementation Program.
• PRTs Showing Progress in Afghanistan, Iraq; Civilian Reserve Needed AFPS 05 Oct 2007 -- Provincial reconstruction teams are extending the reach of the Afghan government and helping stabilize Iraq as its government transitions to self-reliance, a panel of Defense Department officials told Congress yesterday.
• VADM Cosgriff Meets Kazakhstani Naval Leaders Navy NewsStand 05 Oct 2007 -- Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT)/U.S. 5th Fleet (C5F) Vice Adm. Kevin J. Cosgriff met with leaders of Kazakhstan's navy and border guard in Astana, Sept. 26.
• Nassau Strike Group Conducts VBSS training Navy NewsStand 05 Oct 2007 -- The Nassau Strike Group's (NASSG) visit, boarding, search and seizure (VBSS) teams participated in practice scenarios Sept. 25-27 as part of its Expeditionary Strike Group Integration (ESGINT) Exercise in preparation for its regularly scheduled deployment next year.
• Secretary of Defense Visits Sailors in Comalapa, El Salvador Navy NewsStand 05 Oct 2007 -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates greeted Sailors at the U.S. Navy's Forward Operating Location (FOL) located in Comalapa, Oct. 2.
• NATO Security Experts Stress Cooperation to Combat Terrorism VOA 05 Oct 2007 -- Security experts are gathered for a two-day meeting in Sicily organized by the Italian Atlantic Committee and the Atlantic Treaty Association, umbrella organizations working on security issues in NATO countries
• Comfort Hosts U.S. Ambassador to Suriname Navy NewsStand 05 Oct 2007 -- The U.S. ambassador to Suriname toured hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) Oct. 4 during the ship's humanitarian mission to Paramaribo and surrounding areas.
• NATO Security Experts Stress Cooperation to Combat Terrorism VOA 05 Oct 2007 -- Security experts are gathered for a two-day meeting in Sicily organized by the Italian Atlantic Committee and the Atlantic Treaty Association, umbrella organizations working on security issues in NATO countries
• Security Alliances Led By Russia, China Pool Resources RFE/RL 05 Oct 2007 -- A Russian-led defense alliance of former Soviet states and a regional security body headed by China have agreed to broaden cooperation.
• Russia, U.S. to talk European missile defense in Moscow Oct. 12 RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2007 -- Russia's Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday that top Russian and U.S. defense officials and diplomats would meet in Moscow on October 12-13 to continue discussions on missile defense in Central Europe.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 05 Oct 2007
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 05 Oct 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 10, 2007
• Thales and Boeing Selected for FRES Integration Role Boeing 05 Oct 2007 -- The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MoD) today announced that Thales UK in partnership with Boeing [NYSE: BA], through its Boeing Defence UK subsidiary, have been selected as the preferred bidder for the role of System of Systems Integrator (SOSI) for the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) program.
• Boeing to Develop Advanced Sensor for Next-Generation Munition Boeing 05 Oct 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a $600,000 U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) contract to develop the Seeker Integrated Target Endgame Sensor (SITES) to help advance Joint Dual Role Air Dominance Missile (JDRADM) technology.
• Boeing Delivers First Extended Block II Apache Longbow Helicopter to U.S. Army Boeing 05 Oct 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] this week delivered the first AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter built under the extended Block II contract to the U.S. Army during a ceremony at the company's Mesa, Ariz., Apache production facility.
• Northrop Grumman Celebrates Tenth Year as Prime Integrating Contractor for Nation's Land-Based ICBM Force Northrop Grumman 05 Oct 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today celebrated 10 years as the U.S. Air Force's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Prime Integrating Contractor, a highly successful effort led by the company to modernize and maintain the reliability, safety and security of the nation's land-based Minuteman III weapon system.
• BAE Systems Chosen As Land 121 Preferred Bidder BAE Systems 05 Oct 2007 -- BAE Systems has been selected by the Australian Government as the preferred bidder for one of the largest Australian Army projects for decades, the next generation of medium and heavy tactical trucks and modular payloads
• General Dynamics Unveils the LAV H High-Capacity Technology Demonstrator General Dynamics 05 Oct 2007 -- General Dynamics has developed the LAV H High-Capacity Technology Demonstrator in response to evolving operational requirements and customer needs for enhanced survivability, higher payload capacity, superior mobility, increased mechanical and electrical power, and upgraded vetronics and situational awareness.
• DCNS subsidiary Armaris success on Gowind® corvette programme in Bulgaria DCNS 05 Oct 2007 -- Following his meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergeï Stanishev has given the go-ahead for an immediate start to talks on the procurement of four Gowind® corvettes. A French-Bulgarian working group has been set up to finalise the contract before the end of year.
• Thales and Boeing downselected for FRES SOSI role Thales 05 Oct 2007 -- The UK MoD has announced that Thales UK in partnership with Boeing through its Boeing Defence UK subsidiary have been selected as the preferred bidder for the role of System of Systems Integrator (SOSI) for the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) programme.

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 05 Oct 2007
• Somalia: UN envoy hails Transitional Government moves on political inclusion UN News Centre 05 Oct 2007 -- The senior United Nations envoy to Somalia today hailed a decision by the country's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to endorse the recommendations of the recently concluded National Reconciliation Congress on political inclusion.
• Somalia's Transitional Government Cracks Down on Insurgents VOA 05 Oct 2007 -- Somalia's transitional government has launched a crackdown meant to counter insurgents whose frequent attacks against government troops and Ethiopian forces have exacted a deadly toll in recent weeks
• SOMALIA: Rising tension forces aid workers out of project area IRIN 05 Oct 2007 -- Tensions between Somalia's self-declared republic of Somaliland and the autonomous region of Puntland have risen, prompting some aid workers to temporarily leave the area, an NGO said.
• Ban Ki-moon disappointed by delay to Nepalese elections UN News Centre 05 Oct 2007 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced disappointment at the decision of Nepal's interim Government to postpone Constituent Assembly elections scheduled for next month, stressing that the people of the Himalayan country deserve their opportunity to express their political aspirations.
• Nepalese Election Delayed Again, Peace Process Threatened VOA 05 Oct 2007 -- The Nepalese government has postponed elections scheduled for November after the major political parties led failed to reach agreement on a range of issues
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC CONFERENCE United Nations 05 Oct 2007
• Côte d'Ivoire: UN mission's military chief meets Government, rebel leaders UN News Centre 05 Oct 2007 -- The military head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) met this week with Government and former rebel army leaders to discuss aspects of the implementation of the Ouagadougou political accord between rival political groups in the divided West African nation.
• Palestinians Want 6-Month Deadline for Reaching Peace Deal VOA 05 Oct 2007 -- The Palestinian Authority is pushing for a tight timetable for reaching a permanent peace treaty with Israel
• ETHIOPIA: UN warns of humanitarian crisis in Somali region IRIN 05 Oct 2007 -- Concern is mounting about the humanitarian situation and human rights in Ethiopia's Somali region, which threatens to affect 1.8 million people unless remedial action is taken soon, according to the UN.
• KENYA: Security improves but Mt Elgon disruption continues IRIN 05 Oct 2007 -- Thousands of lives are still disrupted, despite an improvement in the security situation in the western district of Mt Elgon, along the Kenya-Uganda border, according to humanitarian officials.
• CONGO: Ntoumi "problem" is solved, says President IRIN 05 Oct 2007 -- The Congolese President, Denis Sassou Nguesso, has called on former rebel leader Frédéric Bintsangou, alias Pasteur Ntoumi, to return to Brazzaville to take up his general delegate post "without conditions".

News Reports

• Myanmar should take 'bold actions' towards democracy, says Ban Ki-moon UN News Centre 05 Oct 2007 -- Myanmar needs to take major steps towards democratizing, protecting human rights and accelerating its national reconciliation process, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, calling authorities' recent use of force against peaceful demonstrators in the Asian country "abhorrent and unacceptable."
• UN Envoy Warns Burma of Serious International Consequences VOA 05 Oct 2007 -- United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari has warned Burma's military rulers that their violent crackdown on anti-government protests could have serious international consequences.
• UN Security Council Debates Action on Burma VOA 05 Oct 2007 -- The United Nations Security Council has debated whether to impose sanctions or take other action in response to Burma's violent crackdown on anti-government protests.
• US Envoy in Burma to Meet Military Leaders VOA 05 Oct 2007 -- The U.S. envoy in Rangoon, Shari Villarosa, is expected to meet with Burma's military leaders Friday after they invited her for talks in the country's administrative capital, Naypyidaw.
• Burmese Military's Offer to Meet Opposition Leader Questioned VOA 05 Oct 2007 -- The sincerity of the Burmese leadership's offer to meet with pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi is being questioned by activist groups
• UN Reports Call for Changes in Structure of Khmer Rouge Tribunal VOA 05 Oct 2007 -- A United Nations agency says the U.N. should pull out of the special tribunal set up to try leaders of Cambodia's genocidal Khmer Rouge government unless reforms are made
• Pakistan Politics Mired in Uncertainty VOA 05 Oct 2007 -- Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, signed an order dropping corruption charges against former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto Friday, paving the way for her to return home from self-imposed exile
• Bhutto, Musharraf strike last-minute deal before polls RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2007 -- Pakistan's government and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), headed by exiled ex-premier Benazir Bhutto, reached a national reconciliation deal on the eve of polls slated October 6, local press said Friday.
• Pakistan's Presidential Election, Power-Sharing Deal Set to Proceed VOA 05 Oct 2007 -- Pakistan's Supreme Court has rejected requests to postpone Saturday's presidential election, but says the results will be kept secret until the court decides whether President Pervez Musharraf can legally run for re-election