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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 21 Dec 2007 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Suicide bomber attacks MND-N Soldiers, Iraqis (Diyala)
• Dec. 20 airpower summary: C-17 'masters' heavy airlift support AFPN 21 Dec 2007
• Troops Kill 1, Capture 24 in Iraq AFPS 21 Dec 2008 -- Iraqi and coalition forces killed one suspected terrorist and detained 24 others in Iraq over the past two days, military officials said.
• Northern Iraq Operations Expose Enemy's Grim Nature AFPS 21 Dec 2008 -- Ongoing Multinational Force Iraq operations against terrorists are focused in the country's northern provinces, where al Qaeda activity is heavy, a U.S. military official said from Baghdad.
• US Commander Asks Iran to Stop Bomb Supplies to Iraq, Afghanistan VOA 21 Dec 2007 -- The commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East has called on Iran to officially stop helping insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Secretary Gates and Gen. Cartwright From the Pentagon 21 Dec 2007 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright
• Analysis: NATO's Afghan Trials cfr.org 21 Dec 2007 -- Patience is at a premium among NATO allies in Afghanistan. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, frustrated by an inability to secure additional helicopters and soldiers, lashed out at member nations ahead of meetings in Scotland on December 15
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Help Brighten Residents' Lives AFPS 21 Dec 2008 -- Afghan and coalition forces brightened the lives of Afghan adults and children alike with a wave of humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan this week.
• Gates: Coalitions Critical in Afghanistan, Other Security Missions AFPS 21 Dec 2008 -- After visiting some 50 countries during his first year running the Defense Department, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he's yet to find one that doesn't want to work with the United States.
• Mullen Says Evaluating Afghan Strategy Makes Sense AFPS 21 Dec 2008 -- Constantly evaluating U.S. strategy in Afghanistan makes sense given the unpredictability of the area and the enemy, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.
• Kandahar Base Shows Inequities Between Afghan Army, Police AFPS 21 Dec 2008 -- A look at the forward operating base here tells you all you need to know about security in Kandahar province: Coalition and Afghan soldiers are well-equipped to handle operations, but the Afghan police need more help.
• US Navy Gets Tough with Pirates off Somalia VOA 21 Dec 2007 -- The commander of U.S. forces in East Africa and the Middle East says he has ordered his naval commanders to take a tougher approach to pirates off the coast of Somalia, in an effort to help the region's economy and promote stability

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Defense Chief Criticizes Congress for Short-Term Funding of Wars VOA 21 Dec 2007 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has criticized the U.S. Congress for providing only three months worth of funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Guantanamo Detainee Charged 21 Dec 2007 -- The Office of Military Commissions announced today that charges have been sworn against Guantanamo detainee Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al Darbi of Saudi Arabia
• MRAP Deliveries Top Year-End Goal AFPS 21 Dec 2008 -- The Defense Department today topped its year-end goal of delivering 1,500 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles to troops in the Afghanistan and Iraq combat theaters, a Pentagon official said.
• Airmen, Sailors Complete Interservice Air Combat Training AFPS 21 Dec 2008 -- Airmen from the 8th Fighter Wing "Wolf Pack" returned here yesterday after completing an 11-day air combat training exercise with sailors flying F-18 Hornets at Atsugi Naval Air Facility, Japan.
• Naval Facility Pursues LEED-EB Certification Navy NewsStand 21 Dec 2008 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (NAVFAC ESC) is seeking to become the first Navy facility to achieve the coveted silver certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB), as part of a larger effort to comply with energy conservation goals set forth in Presidential Executive Order 13423.
• USS Port Royal Visits Jakarta Navy NewsStand 21 Dec 2008 -- Indonesian naval officers stood in formation on the pier and a military band played patriotic songs Dec. 20 as USS Port Royal (CG 73) pushed away from her berth at Tanjung-Priok Port in Jakarta, after a four-day port visit to Indonesia's capital province.
• Navy Engineers Begin Work on Hydrogen Fueling Demonstration Project Navy NewsStand 21 Dec 2008 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (NAVFAC ESC) personnel are working with the U. S. Marine Corps and private industry to construct the Navy's first compressed-hydrogen fueling station.
• New Warrior Transition Facility Improves Support for Redeploying Sailors Navy NewsStand 21 Dec 2008 -- The Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center (ECRC) dedicated a new Warrior Transition Program (WTP) facility at Camp Arifjan on Dec. 14.
• KBAR: Naval Special Warfare's Edge on Advancement Navy NewsStand 21 Dec 2008 -- Naval Special Warfare Sailors around the world will be receiving an early Christmas present to help them prepare for the next advancement exam thanks to a new leap in technology.
• Naval Special Warfare Special Boat Team Conducts MEATS Evolution Navy NewsStand 21 Dec 2008 -- Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) from Special Boat Team (SBT) 12, stationed at Naval Base Coronado, Calif., conducted a Maritime External Air Transportation System (MEATS) training evolution, Dec. 12, with the help of a Marine Corps CH-53 helicopter.
• Kearsarge Achieves 1,000th Aircraft Deployed Approach Navy NewsStand 21 Dec 2008 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) completed its 1,000th aircraft approach, Dec. 5, setting a new record during the current deployment for Kearsarge and large deck amphibious ships in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
• McChord combat controllers receive medals AFPN 21 Dec 2007 -- Twenty-five medals were presented to 15 combat controllers and special tactics officers by the Air Force Special Operations Command commander during a Dec. 18 ceremony at McChord Air Force Base.
• Pope says goodbye to last A-10s AFPN 21 Dec 2007 -- Pope Air Force Base officials held a Dec. 19 ceremony to say goodbye to their last three A-10 Thunderbolt IIs as the aircraft took off here and flew to Moody AFB, Ga.
• Airmen, Sailors complete interservice air combat training AFPN 21 Dec 2007 -- Forty Kunsan Air Base Airmen returned here Dec. 20 after completing an 11-day training exercise for air combat training with Sailors at Atsugi Naval Air Facility, Japan.
• C-17 polar airdrop capability successful AFPN 21 Dec 2007 -- During the winter season at the South Pole, temperatures often dip as low as minus 100 F and can paralyze an aircraft's hydraulic systems, crystallize the fuel and solidify lubricants.
• Air Force provides Army burn flight team with training AFPN 21 Dec 2007 -- Since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in March 2003, Army burn flight and Air Force critical care air transport teams have evacuated and treated hundreds of patients who've suffered burn and inhalation injuries primarily resulting from improvised explosive device detonations.
• Delta II with GPS payload successfully launches AFPN 21 Dec 2007 -- Air Force space technicians successfully launched a United Launch Alliance Delta II booster Dec. 21 carrying the fifth modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellite into space
• Backgrounder: The Impact of the 110th Congress on U.S. Foreign Policy cfr.org 21 Dec 2007 -- The 2006 elections brought Democratic majorities to the House of Representatives and the Senate, with a new leadership determined to change U.S. policy in Iraq
• Press Gaggle by Tony Fratto The White House 21 Dec 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 21, 2007
• NEXT GENERATION OF UK FAST JET TRAINER MOVES STEP CLOSER BAE Systems 21 Dec 2008 -- A new generation of fast jet training for the UK Royal Air Force and Royal Navy pilots moved a step closer with the start of final assembly on the first production Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT).
• Northrop Grumman to Repair Damaged Sentry E-3D Aircraft Northrop Grumman 21 Dec 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a contract from the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) Sentry Integrated Project Team (IPT) for the repair of a Sentry E-3D aircraft, which suffered significant structural and electrical system damage during a severe storm.
• Northrop Grumman Awarded $1 Billion Contract to Build Ninth San Antonio-Class Ship Northrop Grumman 21 Dec 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today received a $1 billion U.S. Navy shipbuilding contract to build a ninth San Antonio (LPD 17)-class ship.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 21 Dec 2007
• Analysis: Africa Engages with Open Eyes cfr.org 21 Dec 2007 -- The crises afflicting Darfur, Somalia, and Zimbabwe frequently appear in international headlines. But three other African countries-Equatorial Guinea, Angola, and Mauritania-scarcely make the news
• Online Debate: Should the United States Recognize Kosovo? cfr.org 21 Dec 2007
• Russia would veto UN resolution on Kosovo independence RIA Novosti 21 Dec 2008 -- Russia's foreign minister said the country would veto a United Nations resolution granting independence to Serbia's Albanian-dominated breakaway province of Kosovo.
• Next months vital for Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts - UN political chief UN News Centre 21 Dec 2007 -- The top United Nations political officer today called for an Israeli freeze on settlements and removal of unauthorized outposts and for Palestinian steps to end violence, terrorism and incitement, warning that the next few months are critical for the renewed peace process between the two sides.
• Security Council calls on DR Congo rebels to disarm, end child recruitment UN News Centre 21 Dec 2007 -- Concerned at the worsening situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where fighting has escalated between Government and renegade forces, the Security Council today demanded that all rebel groups lay down their arms and immediately stop recruiting children.
• Security Council extends UN office in Sierra Leone for final nine months UN News Centre 21 Dec 2007 -- The Security Council today extended for a final period of nine months the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL), during which the operation would take steps to progressively reduce its strength with a view to completing its mandate by next September.
• Disarmament Process Kicks Off in Ivory Coast VOA 21 Dec 2007 -- Rebels and government troops in Ivory Coast are set to begin the long-awaited disarmament process on Saturday, a critical first step before forming a new national army is the divided country.
• Ugandan President Questions Rebel's Peace Commitment VOA 21 Dec 2007 -- Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni has said the leader of the rebel Lords Resistance Army is "not ready" for a peace agreement.

News Reports

• Rice Says Enmity With North Korea, Iran, Syria Need Not Be Permanent VOA 21 Dec 2007 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in a year-end news conference Friday, left open the prospect of better relations with U.S. adversaries North Korea, Iran and Syria before the end of the Bush administration.
• UN, Netherlands sign accord to base Lebanon Special Tribunal in The Hague UN News Centre 21 Dec 2008 -- The United Nations and the Netherlands today signed an agreement to base in The Hague the court to judge recent assassinations in Lebanon, including that of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.