Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 14 Jan 2008 [PDF]
• US Military Says 60 Killed in First Week of Offensive Against Al-Qaida in Iraq VOA 14 Jan 2008 -- The U.S. military says 60 suspected extremists have been killed in northern Iraq, during the first week of a major offensive against flashpoints of militant activity.
• Phantom Phoenix Produces Promising Results in Iraq AFPS 14 Jan 2008 -- Multinational Corps Iraq soldiers and Iraqi forces have discovered scores of weapons and explosives, detained six suspects, and destroyed booby-trapped homes in Iraq this month in coordinated offensives.
• Troops Kill Terrorist, Detain 31 Others In Iraq AFPS 14 Jan 2008 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 31 suspected terrorists, killed another and seized weapons caches in Iraq over the past four days, military officials reported.
• Balad Airmen take on galactic mission AFPN 14 Jan 2008 -- For Airmen assigned to the 721st Aircraft Mobility Operations Group Det. 5 here, going to work each day means taking on two of the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory.
• Jan. 13 airpower summary: C-17s on the move AFPN 14 Jan 2008
• Marine Combat Team Leaves Anbar After Year of Progress AFPS 14 Jan 2008 -- After more than 12 months of hard work in Iraq's Anbar province, the Marines and sailors of Regimental Combat Team 2 are finally heading home.
• Operation Phantom Phoenix: Pursuit of al-Qaeda continues MNF-I 14 Jan 2008 -- Operation Iron Harvest - a division-level operation in support of Multi-National Corps - Iraq's Operation Phantom Phoenix - continues to pursue al Qaeda across four provinces of northern Iraq.
• Large cache, underground bunker system discovered during Operation Phantom Phoenix (Esalwid) MNF-I 14 Jan 2008 -- Coalition Forces discovered a complex cache site and underground bunker system inside a dense palm grove Jan. 12 near Esalwid, Iraq, during Operation Raider Harvest which is a division-level operation that is part of the countrywide Operation Phantom Phoenix.
• Cordesman: Despite Gains, Future in Iraq, Afghanistan Remains 'Uncertain' cfr.org 14 Jan 2008
• Afghan Forces Provide Humanitarian Aid to Villagers AFPS 14 Jan 2008 -- The Afghan National Army demonstrated flexibility in accomplishing missions at the behest of the Afghan government, as soldiers provided humanitarian and medical assistance to hundreds of Anchagal villagers in the Naray district here.
• AFGHANISTAN: Rising food prices push two million into food-insecurity - WFP IRIN 14 Jan 2008 -- Soaring staple food prices have pushed 1.3 million previously food-secure people in rural Afghanistan into high risk food-insecurity, according to the latest assessment by the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

Defense Policy / Programs

• Mary Beth Long Sworn in as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs 14 Jan 2008 -- Mary Beth Long was sworn in as the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs Dec. 21, 2007, during a ceremony at the Pentagon. Long was nominated by President Bush to be the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs on Nov. 8, 2007
• APS Aerographer's Mates Collect Weather Data in West Africa Navy NewsStand 14 Jan 2008 -- In support of Africa Partnership Station (APS) Aerographer's Mates (AG) are collecting weather data on West and Central Africa.
• Congressional Representatives Visit Blue Ridge Navy NewsStand 14 Jan 2008 -- Members of the House Armed Services Committee visited USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) to meet with Vice Adm. Doug Crowder as part of a fleet familiarization trip to discuss the U.S. Navy's mission of promoting peace and stability in the 7th Fleet's area of responsibility.
• USS Carl Vinson Utilizes Teamwork to Accomplish RCOH Navy NewsStand 14 Jan 2008 -- USS Carl Vinson's (CVN 70) Air Department is assisting Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard employees with a renovation project in the aircraft carrier's hangar bay this January, an effort that will provide the Navy more than $500,000 in cost avoidance.
• Wheeler Takes Helm of Theodore Roosevelt Navy NewsStand 14 Jan 2008 -- Capt. Ladd Wheeler relieved Capt. J. R. Haley as commanding officer of the Norfolk-based aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) during a change-of-command ceremony held aboard the ship Jan. 11.
• Kadena F-15s returning to flight AFPN 14 Jan 2008 -- Officials from the 18th Wing anticipate resuming flight operations here Jan. 14 as 39 Kadena Air Base F-15 C and D model Eagles are cleared to fly again after remaining on the ground for more than two months as a result of a fleetwide stand-down.
• Joint Forces Command Exercise Trains Next Horn of Africa Task Force Leaders AFPS 14 Jan 2008 -- Leaders preparing to deploy to Djibouti as the next headquarters staff at Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa are wrapping up a week-long exercise to prepare them for the challenges they'll face.
• Sensors May Lead to Faster Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injuries AFPS 14 Jan 2008 -- While it still may be years away, military medical officials hope to one day place a sensor on every troop that would measure a blast's impact and alert a combat medic to the possibility of a brain injury.
• Deputy Defense Secretary Tours Guantanamo Legal Complex AFPS 14 Jan 2008 -- Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England visited here Jan. 12 to review progress of the new Expeditionary Legal Complex, which will be the site of military commissions proceedings once construction is complete.
• Israeli MOUT Facility Model for National Guard Army News 14 Jan 2008 -- National Guard Soldiers could one day train at a state-of-the-art urban warfare training center in Israel, or one modeled after it, according to Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum.
• Guantanamo Mission Mitigates Global Risk, Mullen Says AFPS 14 Jan 2008 -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited the naval station here yesterday to share his vision for the joint services and express his gratitude to those serving here.
• US Pacific Commander Speaks With Chinese Officials in Beijing VOA 14 Jan 2008 -- The commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific is meeting with Chinese officials in Beijing Monday to discuss military ties, Taiwan and other issues.
• U.S. resumes F-15 fighter flights in Japan amid protests RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2008 -- U.S. F-15 military jets resumed flights from an air base on the Japanese island of Okinawa on Monday after being grounded for over a month for safety inspections.
• US to Sell Precision-Guided Bombs to Saudi Arabia VOA 14 Jan 2008 -- The Bush administration officially notified Congress Monday of its intention to sell sophisticated precision-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia
• Russia, U.S. plan joint anti-terrorism exercises in summer RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2008 -- Russia and the U.S. will conduct this summer a joint Air Force exercise aimed at practicing interoperability in anti-terror operations, a Russian military official said on Monday.
• India to upgrade coastal security to face LTTE threats IRNA 14 Jan 2008 -- India is planning to revamp and upgrade its coastal security scheme to prevent infiltration by Sri Lankan rebels, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
• Russian Air Force to receive five Su-34 warplanes in 2008 RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2008 -- Russia's Air Force will receive at least five advanced Su-34 fighter bombers in 2008, the Sukhoi plane maker said on Monday.
• S-400 air defense systems to be deployed in central Russia RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2008 -- Russia's advanced S-400 air defense missile systems will be initially deployed in central regions of the country, the Air Force commander said on Monday.
• Czech firms seek U.S. missile defense contracts RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2008 -- Prague is looking to sign an exclusive contract with Washington for the involvement of Czech companies in the construction of a planned European missile shield, national radio reported on Monday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 14 Jan 2008
• Press Gaggle by National Security Advisor Steve Hadley The White House 14 Jan 2008
• Press Briefing by Counselor to the President Ed Gillespie and Press Secretary Dana Perino The White House 14 Jan 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 14, 2008
• LOCKHEED MARTIN AWARDED $40.4 MILLION TO PROVIDE AEGIS BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE TO THIRD JAPANESE DESTROYER Lockheed Martin 14 Jan 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] received a $40.4 million contract modification to provide Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capability to the Aegis-equipped Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force destroyer JS Myoko.
• BAE SYSTEMS WINS CONTRACT TO DEVELOP AND PRODUCE NEXT GENERATION MINE RESISTANT AMBUSH PROTECTED (MRAP) II TEST VEHICLES BAE Systems 14 Jan 2008 -- BAE Systems has been competitively selected to develop and produce prototypes of the next generation of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) II vehicle with the award of a $5.7 million contract from the MRAP Joint Program Office
• BAE SYSTEMS AWARDED £200M TORNADO CAPABILITY UPGRADE CONTRACT BAE Systems 14 Jan 2008 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a contract for CUS(P) (Capability Upgrade Strategy (Pilot)) for the Tornado GR4 by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• BAE SYSTEMS AWARDED A £84M HARRIER CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT BAE Systems 14 Jan 2008 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a £84m contract for the development of 'Capability E' on Harrier GR9 aircraft by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• Boeing 767 More Fuel Efficient than Airbus 330, Analysis Finds Boeing 14 Jan 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today released a 53-page study prepared by Conklin & de Decker Aviation Information showing that a commercial 767 airplane is substantially more fuel efficient than the larger Airbus 330.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN DELIVERS THIRD PRODUCTION REMOTE MULTI-MISSION VEHICLE (RMMV) TO U.S. NAVY Lockheed Martin 14 Jan 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] recently delivered the third production Remote Multi-Mission Vehicle (RMMV) to the U.S. Navy, increasing the mine countermeasures capability for both DDG 51 Arleigh Burke class destroyers and the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
• Northrop Grumman Announces Key Leadership and Organizational Changes Northrop Grumman 14 Jan 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today announced a strategic realignment of several of its operating sectors to enhance the company's support to its customers, better utilize its capabilities and resources and drive operating improvements
• Raytheon Teams With US Navy and NASA for First-of-its-Kind Rolling Airframe Missile Wind Tunnel Test Raytheon 14 Jan 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), partnering with the U.S. Navy and NASA, has successfully completed an innovative wind tunnel test of the company's Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 14 Jan 2008
• Bush Arrives in Saudi Arabia After Warning Iran VOA 14 Jan 2008 -- President Bush is in Saudi Arabia for talks with King Abdullah
• Israeli, Palestinian Officials Launch Negotiations, Airstrike Kills 3 Palestinians VOA 14 Jan 2008 -- Israeli and Palestinian officials have launched negotiations on core issues in an attempt to reach a final peace agreement by the end of this year.
• Israeli-Palestinian dialogue resumed after seven-year hiatus RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2008 -- Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have launched the most serious peace talks between the sides in seven years despite clear differences over what each aims to achieve, Israeli radio said on Monday.
• ISRAEL-OPT: Palestinian camp residents sceptical over Bush visit IRIN 14 Jan 2008 -- Many residents of Qalandia refugee camp, just outside Ramallah, felt more frustrated than excited by the recent visit of US President George W Bush to Israel and the West Bank. Others were simply apathetic.
• BURUNDI: Thousands of displaced need assistance IRIN 14 Jan 2008 -- About 1,400 families (8,400 people) displaced in Musigati commune in the northwestern province of Bubanza, following fighting between government forces and the Forces Nationales de Libération (FNL), desperately need help, according to local officials.
• Turkey to continue indefinitely operations against Kurdish rebels RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2008 -- Turkey's military will continue cross-border attacks against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq with no clear date for the cessation of operations, the country's prime minister said on Monday.
• At Least 8 Soldiers Killed in Thailand Separatist Violence VOA 14 Jan 2008 -- At least eight soldiers are dead after what authorities in Thailand say was an attack by Islamic militants in the country's south.

News Reports