Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 20 Nov 2007 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• Nov. 19 airpower summary: EC-130J supports OIF, OEF AFPN 20 Nov 2007
• Coalition Forces Kill 5 Terrorists, Detain 11 in Iraq AFPS 20 Nov 2007 -- Coalition forces killed five terrorists and detained 11 suspects affiliated with the al Qaeda in Iraq network during several operations in central and northern Iraq that ended today, officials said.
• Pentagon Wants More Funding For Pakistan Frontier Corps RFE/RL 20 Nov 2007 -- The U.S. military wants to nearly double its funding to train and equip Pakistan's Frontier Corps, a paramilitary force with members who are the same ethnicity as pro-Taliban tribal fighters near the border with Afghanistan.
• AFGHANISTAN: Conflict-affected displacement "major" humanitarian challenge - Afghan Red Crescent IRIN 20 Nov 2007 -- Afghan civilians displaced by armed conflict in volatile parts of the country have become a "major" humanitarian challenge, the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) told IRIN on 20 November.
• AFGHANISTAN: Oxfam calls for aid to be more effective, transparent IRIN 20 Nov 2007 -- Over US$15 billion of international aid money spent in Afghanistan in the past six years has not met the urgent humanitarian and development needs of the Afghan people because aid has either been insufficient or delivered ineffectively, a British charity organisation, Oxfam GB, said in a report.
• Pakistani Army Continues Offensive in Restive Swat Valley; Residents Evacuate VOA 20 Nov 2007 -- The Pakistani army is continuing its offensive against pro-Taliban militants in the restive northern Swat Valley region, as residents evacuate the area ahead of a major operation.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Press Secretary Geoff Morrell from the Pentagon 20 Nov 2007 -- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell
• Lack of Supplemental Funding May Lead to Civilian Furloughs AFPS 20 Nov 2007 -- The Defense Department is developing plans to send furlough notices to some civilian workers as early as mid-December if Congress doesn't pass the $178 billion emergency supplemental funding bill quickly, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters today.
• Africa Command Pledges to Partner with Other U.S. Agencies AFPS 20 Nov 2007 -- The military's unified command responsible for operations across Africa will work in tandem with other U.S. government agencies to assist partner nations there to confront poverty, disease, terrorism and other challenges, a senior U.S. officer said today.
• US Military Chief Says US Must Look Beyond Iraq and Afghanistan VOA 20 Nov 2007 -- The Chairman of the U.S. military Joint Chiefs of Staff, Navy Admiral Michael Mullen, says the United States must look beyond the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and reach out to partners around the world to reduce uncertainty
• U.S. Must Look Beyond Current Conflicts, Chairman Says AFPS 20 Nov 2007 -- The United States military must look beyond the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and press forward with a view of shaping the strategic environment, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the Foreign Press Center here today.
• US Efforts Reduce Threat from Roadside Bombs VOA 20 Nov 2007 -- The head of the U.S. government team working to combat roadside bombs used by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan says the effort has sharply reduced the effectiveness of the deadly devices
• U.S. Troops Stand Ready for Bangladesh Cyclone Relief AFPS 20 Nov 2007 -- If asked, American troops stand ready to help the victims of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh, Pentagon officials said today.
• Mullen Discusses Regional Issues With Foreign Press AFPS 20 Nov 2007 -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff gave reporters a whirlwind tour of the world during a news conference at the Foreign Press Center here today.
• German Frigate Augsburg Helps Iranian-Flagged Dhow Navy NewsStand 20 Nov 2007 -- Coalition warship German frigate FGS Augsburg (F 213) provided assistance to an Iranian-flagged dhow in distress in international waters off the coast of Yemen, Nov. 18.
• Yokosuka First Responders Participate in Bilateral Mass Casualty Drill Navy NewsStand 20 Nov 2007 -- The U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Yokosuka, the Japanese Self-Defense Force (JSDF) Hospital, and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Medical Service Unit held a bilateral mass casualty exercise at Azumajima Island, Japan on Nov. 16.
• Patriot and Guardian Wrap Up Historic Vietnam Visit Navy NewsStand 20 Nov 2007 -- After completing a historic four-day port visit to Hai Phong, Vietnam on Nov. 18, the mine countermeasures ships USS Patriot (MCM 7) and USS Guardian (MCM 5) departed after successfully strengthening the U.S. diplomatic role in Vietnam.
• PACOM Sends Survey Team to Bangladesh Navy NewsStand 20 Nov 2007 -- At the request of the U.S. embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh, U.S. Pacific Command has sent a 23-person humanitarian assistance survey team (HAST) composed of U.S. Marines from 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan, to the southern coast region of Bangladesh.
• Gansler: U.S. Army Needs More People, Oversight, to Improve Contracting cfr.org 20 Nov 2007
• Nigeria Rejects US African Military Command VOA 20 Nov 2007 -- Nigeria has rejected plans to host the U.S. African military command, or AFRICOM, on the continent
• Logistics innovations impact warfighters AFPN 20 Nov 2007 -- The commander of Air Mobility Command thanked members of his organization in attendance Nov. 14 here at the national conference of the Logistics Officer Association, noting their initiatives are resulting in needed fuel and equipment being delivered to warfighters faster and more efficiently.
• Over land or sea: B-2 Spirit participates in Koa Lightning AFPN 20 Nov 2007 -- B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron simulated attacking naval vessels in their home port while over Hawaii Nov. 15 on a Koa Lightning exercise mission.
• Air Guard Breaks Ground for Expanded Readiness Center AFPS 20 Nov 2007 -- Officials broke ground here yesterday on a $52 million Air National Guard Readiness Center expansion.
• Putin says Russia will not tolerate NATO military build up RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2007 -- President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia would not ignore NATO's military build up near its borders and would provide an adequate response to any "muscle-flexing."
• Russia to conduct strategic military exercises in 2008 RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2007 -- Russia's Armed Forces will hold a series of command-and-post exercises under a common strategic concept in 2008, the defense minister said Tuesday.
• Press Gaggle by Dana Perino The White House 20 Nov 2007
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 20 Nov 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 20, 2007
• Boeing Delivers Third C-40C to U.S. Air Force Reserve Command Boeing 20 Nov 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] Friday delivered the third of three C-40C transport aircraft to the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC), providing a critical airlift asset to government leaders on official business.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN DELIVERS KEY SATELLITE HARDWARE FOR NEW MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM Lockheed Martin 20 Nov 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has achieved another major milestone in the development of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications system with the successful delivery of the core propulsion module for the second satellite in the program constellation
• LOCKHEED MARTIN ANNOUNCES ALCOA AS PRINCIPAL TEAM MEMBER TO COMPETE FOR JOINT LIGHT TACTICAL VEHICLE PROGRAM Lockheed Martin 20 Nov 2007 -- Alcoa Defense, a division of Alcoa [NYSE:AA], has joined the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team that will compete to build the armed services' next-generation family of light military trucks known as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV).
• Northrop Grumman Awarded $85 Million Contract Option for Submarine Work Northrop Grumman 20 Nov 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) was awarded a contract option from the U.S. Navy for work to support the Los Angeles, Ohio, Seawolf, and Virginia-class submarines
• Admiral Gorshkov overhaul slow, could be delayed - contractor RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2007 -- The overhaul of a Russian-made aircraft carrier sold to India under a 2004 contract could be delayed indefinitely, a source at the Sevmash shipyard said Tuesday.

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 20 Nov 2007
• Ban Ki-moon calls for Security Council working group on protection of civilians UN News Centre 20 Nov 2007 -- Deploring the "dreadful toll" that civilians continue to pay in armed conflicts around the world, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the Security Council to establish a working group dedicated to improving protection for civilians in such situations.
• Middle East Peace Conference Sets Stage for Formal Talks Washington File 20 Nov 2007 -- Creation of a Palestinian state and resolution of long-standing Arab-Israeli issues are the focal points of a U.S.-sponsored international conference November 26-28.
• US Confirms Middle East Meeting for Next Week VOA 20 Nov 2007 -- The State Department late Tuesday confirmed plans to convene a much-heralded conference on the Middle East next week in Annapolis, Maryland near Washington.
• Abbas, Olmert Receive Formal Invitations to Mideast Peace Conference VOA 20 Nov 2007 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have received formal invitations to a Mideast peace conference in the U.S. city of Annapolis near Washington next week.
• OPT: Proposed humanitarian terminals in West Bank could triple aid costs - UNRWA IRIN 20 Nov 2007 -- New Israeli travel restrictions on aid workers in the West Bank could have a profound impact on the UN agency for Palestinian refugees' (UNRWA) humanitarian work and endanger the lives of many Palestinians, said Commissioner-General of UNRWA Karen Koning AbuZayd, urging donor countries to provide badly needed funds for the aid agency.
• US Sending Invitations For Middle East Conference VOA 20 Nov 2007 -- The United States has begun sending invitations for the Middle East peace conference it is holding next week in Annapolis, Maryland, near Washington
• Israeli PM expects peace deal with Palestinians in 2008 RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2007 -- Israel's prime minister said on Tuesday following a meeting with the Egyptian president that he expected a final peace deal to be signed with the Palestinians in 2008.
• UN should extend peacekeeping mission in DR Congo for a year - Ban Ki-moon UN News Centre 20 Nov 2007 -- Citing ongoing security challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has recommended extending the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping operation in the vast country for one more year, suggesting that a drawdown could commence following the holding of local elections.
• Foreign Minister Of Chechen Separatist Government Resigns RFE/RL 20 Nov 2007 -- The foreign minister-in-exile of the separatist Chechen government, Akhmed Zakayev, has submitted his resignation.
• Armed bandits continue attacks against vehicles in Darfur, says UN mission UN News Centre 20 Nov 2007 -- Armed bandits continue to carry out attacks on vehicles across Darfur, especially in the south of the war-torn and impoverished Sudanese region, the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) reported today.
• Tensions Grow in Somalia VOA 20 Nov 2007 -- In Somalia, the head of a clan-based group that has been critical of the presence of Ethiopian troops in the country tells VOA that he has been forced to flee the Somali capital after receiving unspecified threats from officials of the interim government and their Ethiopian advisors
• Troika-mediated talks on Kosovo start in Brussels RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2007 -- Another round of talks on the status of Serbia's secessionist republic of Kosovo, mediated by the European Union, the United States and Russia, has begun in Brussels, an EU spokesperson said on Tuesday.
• ETHIOPIA: Six more NGOs to operate in Somali region IRIN 20 Nov 2007 -- More aid agencies - including three medical organisations - have been approved to operate in the troubled Somali region of Ethiopia.

News Reports

• Pakistan to hold parliamentary elections on Jan. 8 RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2007 -- General parliamentary elections in Pakistan will be held on January 8, 2008, Mohammad Farooq, head of the Electoral Commission, said on Tuesday.
• Pakistan Releases Over 3,000 Prisoners Detained During Emergency Rule VOA 20 Nov 2007 -- Pakistan's Interior Ministry says about 3,400 hundred prisoners detained since emergency rule was decreed on November 3 have since been released
• UN's Myanmar envoy holds talks with regional leaders in Singapore UN News Centre 20 Nov 2007 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Adviser on Myanmar is in Singapore, where he is meeting with various regional leaders taking part in this week's summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
• Issue of Burma Dogs Southeast Asian Summit VOA 20 Nov 2007 -- The issue of Burma's crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators and its failure to enact reforms has dogged leaders gathering this week at the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and exposed deep divisions among them
• BANGLADESH: Cyclone death toll likely to climb IRIN 20 Nov 2007 -- The final death toll from the devastating cyclone that struck southwestern Bangladesh on 15 November continues to rise, as aid workers struggle to reach survivors.
• Cambodia's Khmer Rouge Tribunal Holds First Public Hearing VOA 20 Nov 2007 -- The man accused of being the Khmer Rouge torture master has appeared before Cambodia's genocide court, in a long-awaited first official hearing on the deaths of nearly two million Cambodians during the 1970's
• DRC: Government announces end of Ebola outbreak IRIN 20 Nov 2007 -- Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) said an outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever, which claimed the lives of 21 of the 26 people infected in the Kasai Occidental province, is now over.
• Lebanese Presidential Vote Postponed Again VOA 20 Nov 2007 -- Political sources in Lebanon say the country's presidential election has been postponed until Friday, to give rival political factions more time to agree on a candidate.
• Dalai Lama May Name Successor to Avoid Chinese Interference VOA 20 Nov 2007 -- Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, says he may name his successor before he dies, rather than rely on the centuries-old selection process involving reincarnation, to avoid interference from China.