Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 15 Oct 2007 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Press Briefing: Reconstruction in Al Anbar and Baghdad, Iraq, Oct. 15, 2007 MNF-I 15 Oct 2007 -- Subject: Reconstruction in Al Anbar and Baghdad, Iraq. Monday, October 15, 2007
• Oct. 14 airpower summary: C-130s help sustain operations AFPN 15 Oct 2007 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 14, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Troops in Iraq Capture Terrorists, Weapons Caches AFPS 15 Oct 2007 -- Coalition forces in Iraq captured 10 al Qaeda-linked terrorists during operations in central and northern Iraq today, while yesterday other troops in Baghdad discovered a huge weapons cache, officials said.
• 1st Air Cav Shifts Tactics, Enables Iraqis to Complete Mission AFPS 15 Oct 2007 -- Changing up flight patterns in response to evolving threats and working together with Iraqi forces are keys to success in the skies over Baghdad, a coalition commander said today.
• US Military Says Iraqi Al-Qaida Group Defeated in One Province VOA 15 Oct 2007 -- A top U.S. military commander in Iraq says American armed forces in al-Anbar province have defeated insurgents from al-Qaida in Iraq
• Military Bases Attacked in Southern Iraq VOA 15 Oct 2007 -- Suspected Shi'ite militiamen fired mortars at two military bases and shot at a Polish helicopter south of Baghdad, prompting clashes in fighting that left as many as five Iraqi civilians, including two children, dead and about 20 wounded
• Marne Torch II sweeps weapons caches MNF-I 15 Oct 2007 -- Multiple caches containing weapons, intelligence materials, propaganda literature and improvised explosive device-making materials were discovered during Coalition Force operations in western Hawr Rajab Oct. 14.
• UN Security Council Says Terrorists, Drugs Still Biggest Problems in Afghanistan VOA 15 Oct 2007 -- The United Nations Security Council says terrorism and the drug trade in Afghanistan continue to undermine peace and stability
• UN envoy urges sustained support to tackle Afghanistan's security challenges UN News Centre 15 Oct 2007 -- Security remains a major challenge for Afghanistan, the United Nations envoy to the strife-torn nation said today, urging troop-contributing countries to resist the temptation to reduce their commitments with the caution that "now is not the time to wobble."
• German chancellor plans to visit war-stricken Afghanistan IRNA 15 Oct 2007 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to visit Afghanistan to get a first-hand picture on the situation in the country, however no date has been set for the trip, deputy government spokesman Thomas Steg told journalists here Monday.
• Afghanistan: Top NATO Official Defends ISAF's Record RFE/RL 15 Oct 2007 -- One of NATO's highest-ranking officers in Afghanistan says the alliance's International Security Assistance Force won't be able to secure the country before the Afghan National Army achieves full strength "in three to four" years' time.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: Special DoD Briefing with Gen. Ward and Admiral Ulrich from the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 15 Oct 2007 -- Presenter: General William Ward, U.S. Army, Commander, U.S. African Command; Admiral Henry Ulrich, U.S. Navy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe Location
• Air Force officials release new annual training plan details AFPN 15 Oct 2007 -- Air Force leaders have released the details about the new annual training requirements program for the Total Force.
• Mobility Operations School introduces new maintenance simulator AFPN 15 Oct 2007 -- The U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center's Mobility Operations School begins its first classroom use of the new Aircraft Maintenance Production Simulator, or AMPS, in October for its Maintenance Supervision and Production Course, or MSPC.
• Security forces Airmen receive cognitive function screening AFPN 15 Oct 2007 -- Inbound members of Det. 3, 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, became the first "in-lieu-of" Airmen in the Air Force to be evaluated for cognitive functioning before their deployment to a combat environment.
• Researchers fine-tune F-35 pilot-aircraft speech system AFPN 15 Oct 2007 -- When the first F-35 Lightning II rolls out in 2008, communications between pilot and aircraft will enter a new era thanks in part to testing and analysis conducted at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Human Effectiveness Directorate.
• USS Fort McHenry Mission to Set Tone for U.S. Africa Command AFPS 15 Oct 2007 -- USS Fort McHenry is slated to leave Little Creek, Va., tomorrow for a seven-month deployment to the Gulf of Guinea that the chief of U.S. Africa Command said will exemplify how his new command will operate.
• Brigades to Begin Joint Air-to-Ground Training Army News 15 Oct 2007 -- The new air-ground integration concept for brigade combat teams is designed to improve combat effectiveness while reducing fratricide and collateral damage on the battlefield, according to U.S. Joint Forces Command.
• DON Objectives for 2008 Released Navy NewsStand 15 Oct 2007 -- The Secretary of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps issued a joint document on Oct. 9 publishing objectives for the Department of the Navy for fiscal year 2008.
• Latest doctrine signed on foreign internal defense AFPN 15 Oct 2007 -- The latest revision to Air Force Doctrine Document 2-3.1, Foreign Internal Defense, has been approved by Maj. Gen. Allen G. Peck, Air Force Doctrine Development and Education Center commander.
• USSTRATCOM Changes Leadership Navy NewsStand 15 Oct 2007 -- Vice Adm. Carl V. Mauney assumed the position of Deputy Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) Oct. 15.
• US Navy Begins Training Deployment to West Africa VOA 15 Oct 2007 -- A U.S. Navy ship leaves Tuesday for a seven month deployment to West Africa as part of increased U.S. military engagement with the continent following a series of regional meetings and requests
• Air Force, Boeing team up for early-orbit operations AFPN 15 Oct 2007 -- Airmen with the 3rd Space Operations Squadron and Boeing Corporation contractors took over early-orbit operations on Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite Vehicle 1 from a Boeing facility in El Segundo, Calif., Oct. 10, approximately 30 minutes after it launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
• Iran may join Caspian naval force if sea status clarified RIA Novosti 15 Oct 2007 -- Iran will join a Russian-proposed joint naval task force in the Caspian region only after the legal status of the Caspian Sea has been determined, an Iranian analyst said on Monday.
• Turkey plans Kurdistan military operations RIA Novosti 15 Oct 2007 -- The Turkish government is set to ask parliament to authorize a series of military operations against Kurdish insurgents in northern Iraq, the Hurriyet daily said on Monday
• China no military threat to others - Hu RIA Novosti 15 Oct 2007 -- Chinese leader Hu Jintao said in Beijing on Monday that his country posed no military threat and strived to maintain friendly relations with other nations.
• Rice expresses concern over Russia's military build-up RIA Novosti 15 Oct 2007 -- The U.S. administration is concerned about Russia's rapid increase in military spending and recently resumed patrol flights by Russian strategic bombers, the U.S. Secretary of State said.
• Russian strategic bombers to conduct exercises Oct. 16-30 RIA Novosti 15 Oct 2007 -- Russian strategic bombers will conduct October 16-30 a series of long-range training flights, with simulated bomber raids and missile launches, an Air Force spokesman said on Monday.
• Moscow seeks missile defense talks in Russia-NATO council RIA Novosti 15 Oct 2007 -- Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Monday it wants U.S. plans to deploy components of its global missile defense system in Europe to be tabled for Russia-NATO Council discussions.
• US missile defence shield plan in East Europe a military adventurism: Spokesman IRNA 15 Oct 2007 -- Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said the US missile defence shield plan in the Eastern Europe is a military adventurism which is based upon illogical, unrealistic and vague explanations and in contradiction with international efforts to decrease and control armaments.
• Press Gaggle by Tony Fratto The White House 15 Oct 2007
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 15 Oct 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 15, 2007
• BAE Systems Delivers Air and Ground Crew Training BAE Systems 15 Oct 2007 -- Twelve Indian Air Force (IAF) Flying Instructors have just completed their conversion training for the Indian Air Forces variant of the world's most successful jet trainer aircraft, the Hawk.
• Typhoon Development Continues To Move Forward In UK BAE Systems 15 Oct 2007 -- Following the announcement that Royal Air Force Typhoons have formally taken up operational duties in the UK, development of the world's most advanced swing role combat aircraft continues apace at BAE Systems.
• BAE Systems Led UCAV Programme Breaks New Ground BAE Systems 15 Oct 2007 -- The cutting of first metal for the UK's 124m Taranis UCAV (unmanned combat air vehicle) technology demonstrator programme means that the BAE Systems led team remains well on track for first flight in 2010.
• Boeing Performance on KC-10 Support Positions Company for Additional Work Boeing 15 Oct 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] recently completed its 700th consecutive on-time depot-level servicing of U.S. Air Force KC-10 aircraft, successfully capping a Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) agreement signed in 1998.
• BAE SYSTEMS TO UPGRADE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ON A-1OA AIRCRAFT BAE Systems 15 Oct 2007 -- The Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves have selected BAE Systems to upgrade the A-10A Thunderbolt II for increased situational awareness and targeting control.
• Boeing Conducts Successful Avenger-Mounted Laser Tests Boeing 15 Oct 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has successfully demonstrated that its Avenger-mounted laser system can neutralize the kinds of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and unexploded ordnance (UXO) that threaten U.S. troops deployed in war zones.
• EADS Defence & Security provides missile warning sensors to Korean Helicopter Program EADS 15 Oct 2007 -- EADS Defence & Security (DS) will equip the self-protection system under development in the Korean Helicopter Program KHP with its proven MILDS (Missile Launch Detection System) missile warning sensor.
• Northrop Grumman Actively Pursuing MP-RTIP Radar Enhancement for Joint STARS Platform Northrop Grumman 15 Oct 2007 -- The capabilities of the U.S. Air Force's E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) platform may be enhanced with the addition of a Wide Area Surveillance (WAS) Multi-platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) radar
• SAIC Awarded DoD Business Transformation Agency Contract SAIC 15 Oct 2007 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced that it won a contract from the Department of Defense (DoD), Business Transformation Agency (BTA) in Arlington, Va., to support their Transformation Planning and Performance (TP&P) Directorate.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN INAUGURATES TARGET SINGLE INTEGRATION CAPABILITY FOR THE MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY IN COURTLAND, ALA. Lockheed Martin 15 Oct 2007 -- The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) inaugurated the new Targets and Countermeasures Single Integration Capability in Courtland, Ala., today
• MODERNIZED GPS BUILT BY LOCKHEED MARTIN READY FOR LAUNCH FROM CAPE CANAVERAL Lockheed Martin 15 Oct 2007 -- The fourth modernized Global Positioning System (GPS) Block IIR satellite built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] for the U.S. Air Force is set for launch aboard a Delta II rocket on Oct. 17, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
• Oshkosh Truck To Provide 35 Heavy Equipment Transport Vehicles to Egyptian Ministry of Defense Oshkosh 15 Oct 2007 -- Oshkosh Truck Corporation [NYSE:OSK] announced today it has been awarded a contract to provide 35 specially-designed Heavy Equipment Transport (HET) military vehicles to meet logistics and transport requirements set by the Egyptian Ministry of Defense. Valued at more than $16 million, the contract includes the 35 HETs, 35 trailer kits, training services and support, and field service representative support. This contract is the second contract in 2007 for Oshkosh Truck and the Egyptian Ministry of Defense.

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 15 Oct 2007
• Olmert Questions Israeli Control of Jerusalem's Arab Neighborhoods VOA 15 Oct 2007 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has raised questions about Israel's control of Arab neighborhoods in east Jerusalem
• Israelis, Palestinians Making Progress to Resolve Conflict VOA 15 Oct 2007 -- U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice says the time for a Palestinian state has come, and that Israelis and Palestinians are making a serious effort to bridge differences before a planned Mideast peace conference next month
• Senior UN envoy meets SPLM on withdrawal from Sudan Unity Government UN News Centre 15 Oct 2007 -- The top United Nations official in Sudan has met with members of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) to discuss its recent decision to withdraw from the Government of National Unity.
• EU deployment force set for Darfur border RIA Novosti 15 Oct 2007 -- Some 40 EU military representatives arrived in Chad's capital N'Djamena to lay the ground for the deployment of EU peacekeepers in areas bordering Darfur, a western province of Sudan.
• Security Council extends Georgia mission, voices concern at deadly incidents UN News Centre 15 Oct 2007 -- The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) for six months, voicing serious concern over deadly incidents violating the Georgian-Abkhaz ceasefire.
• Top UN envoy meets with DR Congo president regarding North Kivu violence UN News Centre 15 Oct 2007 -- The top United Nations envoy to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Force Commander of the UN peacekeeping mission there (MONUC) met today with the country's president today to discuss the violence in the troubled North Kivu province.
• Extending UN's Haiti mission, Security Council adjusts forces to reflect changes UN News Centre 15 Oct 2007 -- The Security Council today extended the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) through mid-October 2008 while reducing its military component and increasing police in order to adjust to changing circumstances in the country, where civil unrest remains a threat but gang violence has been significantly curtailed.
• Tensions Between Somaliland, Puntland Heat Up VOA 15 Oct 2007 -- Officials in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland in Somalia are warning that a full-scale war could break out within days between Puntland and its neighboring breakaway republic of Somaliland
• CAR: Insecurity in north persists - UNICEF IRIN 15 Oct 2007 -- A continuing wave of violence in northern Central African Republic (CAR) has led to the displacement of at least 290,000 civilians since 2005 and the "complete decimation" of public infrastructure, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has said.
• Eastern Congo Braces for More Fighting VOA 15 Oct 2007 -- The situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is reported to be tense as a government deadline for rebel fighters to join the army draws near.

News Reports

• Recent arrests in Myanmar 'extremely disturbing,' says UN envoy UN News Centre 15 Oct 2007 -- The United Nations Special Envoy to Myanmar today urged the Government to halt the use of force against dissidents, calling recent reports of arrests, interrogations and intimidation "extremely disturbing."
• EU Strengthens Sanctions on Burma VOA 15 Oct 2007 -- The European Union has imposed an import embargo on timber, gems and precious metals from Burma in response to the military government's crackdown on demonstrators.
• UN Envoy Urges Burmese Government to Stop Political Arrests VOA 15 Oct 2007 -- The United Nations' top envoy to Burma is urging the military government to stop arresting pro-democracy activists, and release all political detainees
• Alleged Plot To Kill Putin In Iran Overshadows Landmark Trip RFE/RL 15 Oct 2007 -- An alleged plot by suicide bombers in Iran to assassinate Russian President Vladmir Putin has cast a shadow over his landmark trip to Tehran today to attend a summit of Caspian Sea heads of state.
• Putin Going to Iran Despite Reported Death Plot VOA 15 Oct 2007 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is going ahead with his planned trip to Iran, despite reports of an assassination plot against him in that country
• Putin's Meeting With Merkel Shows Strains In EU-Russia Ties RFE/RL 15 Oct 2007 -- Speaking at a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel today, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised growing trade between Europe and Russia