Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 26 Nov 2007 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Transcript: DoD Press Briefing with Col. Farris and Mr. Folmsbee at the Pentagon Briefing Room, Arlington, Va. 26 Nov 2007 -- Presenter: U. S. Army, Commander, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Col. Don Farris and Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team Leader Paul Folmsbee
• Press Conference: Brig. Gen. Ed Cardon, Deputy Commander for Support, Multi-National Division – Central, Nov. 26, 2007 MNF-I 26 Nov 2007
• Nov. 25 airpower summary: F-16s provide overwatch AFPN 26 Nov 2007
• Airmen help establish Iraqi air force AFPN 26 Nov 2007 -- Camp Taji Airmen are helping rebuild the Iraqi air force.
• Coalition Forces Target Enemy in Tigris River Valley AFPS 26 Nov 2007 -- Coalition forces detained 10 suspects today during operations targeting al Qaeda networks along Iraq's Tigris River Valley.
• Civil Military Operations Platoon Helps Neighborhood AFPS 26 Nov 2007 -- Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment's Civil Military Operations Platoon, stopped at the Daklea Market in Baghdad Nov. 18 to take a census of sorts among the shop owners.
• Troop Redeployment Gets Under Way in Iraq AFPS 26 Nov 2007 -- The first reduction in American forces in Iraq is under way as the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division heads back to Fort Hood, Texas.
• Brigade Continues to Work With Shiia, Sunni Groups AFPS 26 Nov 2007 -- Though the surge has worked, that doesn't mean that extremists - especially Shiia special squads - have been overcome, the commander of the first surge brigade into Iraq said today.
• Rakkasans Kick Off Operation Marne Courageous AFPS 26 Nov 2007 -- For some, a wake-up call came in the form of a B-1B bomber dropping its load on a suspected insurgent safe haven in the pre-dawn hours of Nov. 16.
• Reconstruction Teams Seek Long-Range Solutions in Iraq AFPS 26 Nov 2007 -- The embedded provincial reconstruction teams in Iraq are looking at long-term solutions to problems in the country that undermine security progress, the chief of the team embedded with the 2nd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division said today.
• U.S. Soldiers Train Future Iraqi Police AFPS 26 Nov 2007 -- In a dramatic transformation, a courtyard that a year ago was home to insurgent weapons caches designed to inflict destruction and chaos in the Arab Jabour region has become a training ground for a group of potential Iraqi policemen who want to help rebuild and bring order to their community.
• Afghan Commandos Detain Several Taliban Extremists AFPS 26 Nov 2007 -- Afghanistan's elite military force detained several suspected insurgents during an operation in the Zormat district of Paktya province yesterday, officials said.
• Marine Unit Provides Cyclone Relief in Bangladesh AFPS 26 Nov 2007 -- In response to a request from the government of Bangladesh, elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard USS Kearsarge traveled about 3,500 miles from the Sea of Bengal to provide disaster relief to the cyclone-stricken country.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Officials Explain Recoupment Policy for Wounded Troops AFPS 26 Nov 2007 -- If you are wounded in combat and discharged as a result, you will not have to pay back your enlistment bonus, Defense Department officials said here today.
• US Defense Secretary Calls for Increased Budget for 'Soft' Power VOA 26 Nov 2007 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is calling for a significant expansion in the budgets of government agencies that promote U.S. interests through diplomacy, foreign aid, information and other aspects of what he calls "soft" power
• Gates Urges More Emphasis, Funding for All Aspects of National Power AFPS 26 Nov 2007 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called today for the United States to strengthen all elements of its national power - the "soft" power as well as "hard" military might -- to faces challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan and others it will confront in the future.
• Court Of Military Commissions Review Chief Judge Appointed 26 Nov 2007 -- The Department of Defense today announced that Chief Justice Frank J. Williams, chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court and civilian member of the Court of Military Commissions Review will succeed Chief Judge Griffin Bell as the appellate body's senior member.
• Mechanic-centric focus to improve aircraft availability AFPN 26 Nov 2007 -- By using Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century tools, a maintenance team here established a synchronized, integrated end-to-end maintenance process that does not impact mission requirements, increasing aircraft availability.
• Unit Receives Task Force Marne's First MRAPs AFPS 26 Nov 2007 -- Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, recently became the first in Task Force Marne to receive the Army's new mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, known as MRAPs.
• Army Fields HIMARS to Fourth Battalion Army News 26 Nov 2007 -- The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is now being fielded to the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery at Fort Lewis' Yakima Training Center -- the fourth unit Armywide to receive the rocket system mounted on a five-ton truck chasis.
• Oscar Austin Provides Shelter in Palermo Navy NewsStand 26 Nov 2007 -- Twenty-five Sailors from USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) participated in a community relations project Nov. 21, helping Catholic missionaries rehabilitate homeless shelters in Palermo, Italy.
• Truman, Hue City Sailors Pitch in at Italian Monastery Navy NewsStand 26 Nov 2007 -- During their recent port visit to Naples, Sailors from USS Harry Truman (CVN 75) and USS Hue City (CG 66) volunteered their time in a community relations project, Nov. 23, at the Abbey of San Vincenzo.
• NASA Building Test Pad at White Sands for New Spacecraft Army News 27 Nov 2007 -- NASA took a step toward sending a new generation of explorers to the moon with the groundbreaking for a new test launch pad at White Sands Missile Range Nov. 14.
• International Pressure Best Response to Iranian Threat, Gates Says AFPS 26 Nov 2007 -- The best way to confront Iran's nuclear weapons program is through international diplomatic pressure, and military force should remain a last resort, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today at Kansas State University.
• British MPs warn against dividing Europe over U.S. missile shield RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2007 -- A British parliamentary committee conceded that Russia's opposition to U.S. missile shield plans in Europe will be difficult to overcome, and called for greater international cooperation on the issue.
• Press Gaggle by Dana Perino and General Douglas Lute, Assistant to the President for Iraq and Afghanistan The White House 26 Nov 2007
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 26 Nov 2007
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 26 Nov 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 26, 2007
• Russia's arms exports could exceed $5.5 bln in 2007 RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2007 -- Russia may set a new record in sales of military equipment to foreign states, with exports estimated at over $5.5 billion in 2007, state-controlled arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Monday.
• Raytheon Selected to Design the Next GPS Control Segment for Precision Navigation and Timing Raytheon 27 Nov 2007 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $160 million, 18-month contract to develop a new system design for the next-generation Global Positioning System Control Segment. The contract was awarded by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN AND SANMINA-SCI JOIN FORCES TO COMPETE FOR U.S. ARMY'S UPGRADED VEHICULAR INTERCOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM Lockheed Martin 26 Nov 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Sanmina-SCI have signed a teaming agreement to compete for the U.S. Army program to upgrade thousands of existing tanks, trucks and tactical wheeled vehicles with a next-generation digital intercommunications system.
• Northrop Grumman to Provide U.S. Army With Additional Frequency Hopping Multiplexer Antenna Systems Northrop Grumman 26 Nov 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has received a follow-on contract from U.S. Army Communications and Electronics Command to provide soldiers additional Frequency Hopping Multiplexers (FHMUX) antenna systems.
• Northrop Grumman's KC-30 Tanker Team Will Create 1,000 Aerospace Jobs and Generate Economic Activity Approaching $80 Million Annually in Arizona Northrop Grumman 26 Nov 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) KC-30 Tanker team will generate economic activity nearing $80 million annually and create 1,000 new jobs in Arizona if the KC-30 Tanker aircraft is selected by the U.S. Air Force.
• Typhoon Guaranteed Repair Contract Signed BAE Systems 26 Nov 2007 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a contract worth £11.6m to provide a guaranteed repair service for key Typhoon aircraft components.
• Boeing and AFRL Demonstrate First-Ever Supersonic Munitions Release Boeing 26 Nov 2007 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Air Force have successfully demonstrated how an innovative application of a technology called active flow control enables -- for the first time -- munitions to be safely released from a weapons bay at high supersonic speeds.
• Boeing Achieves First Submerged Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Recovery by a Submarine Boeing 26 Nov 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has successfully demonstrated for the first time that an unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) can be recovered by an underway submerged submarine, opening up new possibilities for advanced naval operations.
• Boeing KC-767 Tanker Win Would Benefit Arizona Economy Boeing 26 Nov 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that Arizona will benefit from an estimated 1,100 direct and indirect jobs if it is selected to build the U.S. Air Force's new tanker aircraft fleet.
• EADS Defence & Security as prime contractor and Sagem Défense Sécurité as main subcontractor have been awarded the prototype phase of the Swiss soldier modernization programme IMESS EADS 26 Nov 2007 -- EADS Defence & Security, through its integrated Business Unit Defence & Communications Systems (DCS) as prime contractor, and Sagem Défense Sécurité from SAFRAN Group as main subcontractor have been awarded an exclusive contract with armasuisse, the Procurement, Technology and Real Estate Center of the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS, for the prototype phase of IMESS, the future soldier modernisation programme, with options for a subsequent industrialisation and first series delivery.
• New Army Tiger Helicopter Simulator Accredited EADS 26 Nov 2007 -- The Tiger ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter) Full Flight & Mission Simulator (FFMS) has been granted FSD-1 Level 5 accreditation - equivalent to Europe's Level D - the first time a flight simulator with two coupled domes has attained what is the highest level of certification worldwide.
• Northrop Grumman Installs, Begins Flight Testing New Radar Test Units On B-2 Northrop Grumman 26 Nov 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has completed the installation, integration and initial flight testing of the first developmental test units (DTU) of the new radar antenna developed for the B-2 stealth bomber's radar modernization program (RMP).
• Northrop Grumman Team Wins $160 Million U.S. Air Force Contract for Global Positioning System Next Generation Control Segment Northrop Grumman 26 Nov 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a $160 million U.S. Air Force contract for the Global Positioning System (GPS) Next Generation Control Segment (OCX) System design and risk reduction.
• Northrop Grumman Qualifies Extended Data Rate Software for Advanced EHF Military Communications Satellite Northrop Grumman 26 Nov 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has completed qualification testing of the payload flight software for the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) military communications satellite payload.
• EADS Defence & Security as prime contractor and Sagem Défense Sécurité as main subcontractor have been awarded the prototype phase of the Swiss soldier modernization programme IMESS Sagem (Safran group) 26 Nov 2007 -- EADS Defence & Security, through its integrated Business Unit Defence & Communications Systems (DCS) as prime contractor, and Sagem Défense Sécurité from SAFRAN Group as main subcontractor have been awarded an exclusive contract with armasuisse, the Procurement, Technology and Real Estate Center of the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS, for the prototype phase of IMESS, the future soldier modernisation programme, with options for a subsequent industrialisation and first series delivery.

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 26 Nov 2007
• PRESS CONFERENCE ON REPORT ON UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS/ARMS EMBARGOES SINCE 1990 United Nations 26 Nov 2007
• International Engagement in Mideast Conference Cause for Optimism Washington File 26 Nov 2007 -- As President Bush met with Palestinian and Israeli leaders at the White House before the start of a U.S.-sponsored Middle East conference, officials highlighted broad international support as essential to move the peace process forward.
• Historic Annapolis, Maryland, Hosts Middle East Peace Conference Washington File 26 Nov 2007 -- The scenic, waterfront city of Annapolis -- a historic Colonial town and state capital of Maryland -- is the site of a Middle East peace conference November 26-28.
• Bush Meets Olmert, Abbas Ahead of Mideast Conference VOA 26 Nov 2007 -- President Bush has met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders at the White House to set the stage for Tuesday's Mideast Conference in nearby Annapolis, Maryland
• Bush 'Optimistic' About Prospects for Mideast Peace VOA 26 Nov 2007 -- President Bush says he is optimistic about the prospect for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
• Iranian Supreme Leader Says Mideast Conference 'Doomed to Failure' VOA 26 Nov 2007 -- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the U.S.-hosted Mideast conference this week is doomed to failure.
• Iran spiritual leader says U.S. Mideast peace forum doomed RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2007 -- Iran's spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has predicted that the U.S.-sponsored Middle East peace conference due to take place in Annapolis on Tuesday will be a failure.
• Key units arrive in Darfur ahead of deployment of hybrid UN-AU force UN News Centre 26 Nov 2007 -- Chinese and Bangladeshi units that will form part of the hybrid United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur (UNAMID) have arrived in the war-torn Sudanese region to help in the transition from the existing AU peace operation (AMIS).
• SUDAN: "High risk" of Arab insurgency in Darfur IRIN 26 Nov 2007 -- The International Crisis Group (ICG) has cautioned that new dynamics in Sudan's Darfur crisis could result in an Arab insurgency and a possible spillover of the conflict into neighbouring Kordofan.
• SUDAN: Tension over peace deal, but war unlikely IRIN 26 Nov 2007 -- Ayot Deng, who sells mobile-phone accessories from a stall in downtown Juba, the South Sudanese capital, laughed when asked whether war between North and South was imminent. "There will be no war," he said.
• Lankan rebels shifting operations to Kerala coast IRNA 26 Nov 2007 -- With its movement restricted on the India's amil Nadu coast due to constant surveillance by navy and coast guard, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has started shifting its operations to the India's Kerala coast, a top Naval official said in Kochi, a city of Kerala today.
• 18 Tamil Tigers killed in Sri Lanka IRNA 26 Nov 2007 -- At least 18 Tamil Tigers and four civilians have been killed in clashes with security forces in the embattled northern Sri Lanka, the army said in Colombo on Monday.
• NIGERIA: Mixed reaction to army's apology IRIN 26 Nov 2007 -- The Nigerian army has apologised for a 2001 attack on a community that killed some 1,000 people, but relatives and human rights advocates say the move falls short.
• CHAD: Rebel attacks, banditry hit eastern region IRIN 26 Nov 2007 -- In the past two days two different kinds of armed attacks have put aid workers on alert in eastern Chad near Sudan's Darfur region: one by robbers who attacked aid facilities; the other, a military offensive by Chadian rebels near the town that serves as a hub for humanitarian aid.
• More clashes in DR Congo's North Kivu will harm civilians, UN official warns UN News Centre 26 Nov 2007 -- A senior United Nations envoy to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has called on parties in the country's troubled North Kivu province to avoid any actions that could harm the already beleaguered civilian population in the area.
• Somalia President Says He Wants More Control VOA 26 Nov 2007 -- Somalia's interim president has told officials he wants his interim government to tighten control over the country's politics, economy, and security
• Chad Cease-Fire Breaks Down, Slows Humanitarian Work VOA 26 Nov 2007 -- A cease-fire between government troops and rebels in eastern Chad has broken down, one month after a peace deal was signed in Libya
• CIS to rotate peacekeepers in Georgian conflict zone Dec. 5-10 RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2007 -- A planned rotation of the CIS joint peacekeeping forces in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone will be held December 5-10, an aide to the forces' commander, Lt.-Col. Alexander Diordiyev, said on Monday.
• Russia's Lavrov blames West for fueling dispute over Kosovo RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2007 -- Russia's foreign minister accused Western countries on Monday of fueling Kosovo's drive for independence by neglecting Pristina's violations of a United Nations resolution.

News Reports

• Nawaz says he will not work under Musharraf IRNA 26 Nov 2007 -- Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday that he will not work as Prime Minister under President General Pervez Musharraf.
• Officials Say Musharraf to Take Oath as Civilian President on Thursday VOA 26 Nov 2007 -- Senior Pakistani officials say President Pervez Musharraf will resign as army chief and take the oath of office as a civilian president on Thursday.
• Former PM Sharif applies to run in Pakistan polls RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2007 -- Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who returned to the country on Sunday after eight years exile, has applied for registration to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
• Pakistani Opposition Figure Nawaz Sharif Files Papers to Participate in January Elections VOA 26 Nov 2007 -- Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif filed nomination papers in Pakistan Monday for general elections set for early January.
• BANGLADESH: Top military official criticises cyclone relief distribution IRIN 26 Nov 2007 -- A senior member of Bangladesh's military has criticised relief efforts for victims of Cylone Sidr, citing poor coordination and mismanagement in the distribution of relief supplies.
• YEMEN: UNHCR to build more shelters in refugee camp IRIN 26 Nov 2007 -- The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will begin to construct new shelters for African refugees in Kharaz camp, 150km west of Aden, according to a senior UNHCR official
• IASI Instrument built by Thales Alenia Space operational in orbit Thales 26 Nov 2007 -- Following the IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) conference, held in France (Anglet) from 13 to 16 November 2007 and organized by the French Space Agency (CNES) and Eumetsat, Thales Alenia Space is joining the Agencies and the scientists to celebrate the validation of the instrument and the good quality of the first results.