Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 17 Jan 2008 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Lt. Gen. Odierno from Iraq 17 Jan 2008 -- Presenter: Commander, Multinational Corps Iraq, Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno
• Jan. 16 airpower summary: Tankers fuel the fleet AFPN 17 Jan 2008
• Coalition Forces Continue to Disrupt Al Qaeda in Iraq AFPS 17 Jan 2008 -- Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 17 suspects today during operations targeting al Qaeda networks in northern Iraq.
• Operation Phantom Phoenix Denies Sanctuary to Al Qaeda AFPS 17 Jan 2008 -- Soldiers supporting Operation Phantom Phoenix, a series of division- and brigade-level strikes against al Qaeda and other extremists in Iraq, continue to disrupt terrorist safe havens and bases throughout the country, military officials reported.
• Odierno Touts Phantom Phoenix Progress AFPS 17 Jan 2008 -- Operation Phantom Thunder, under way in Diyala and Ninevah provinces in Iraq, builds on previous operations as coalition and Iraqi forces target al Qaeda in Iraq and other extremist groups, the commander of the Multinational Corps Iraq said today.
• Five Brigades Should be Home by July, Gates Says AFPS 17 Jan 2008 -- Five brigade combat teams, equal to 2007's troop surge, should be home by July, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today.
• US Defense Chief Expects Iraq Troop Drawdown to Stay on Schedule VOA 17 Jan 2008 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he expects the drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq to proceed through July, as planned, and he hopes the process will continue in the second half of the year
• NMCB 1, NMCB 15 Celebrate Getting 'Over the Hump' in Iraq Navy NewsStand 17 Jan 2008 -- U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 and NMCB 15, Task Force Sierra (TFS), celebrated making it half-way through deployment with an 'over-the-hump' party/sports day in Iraq, Jan. 12.
• US Defense Secretary Praises NATO Efforts in Afghanistan VOA 17 Jan 2008 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates tried to lay to rest Thursday the controversy generated by comments he made to the Los Angeles Times that criticized NATO's readiness to fight insurgents in Afghanistan, and to train the country's new security forces
• Transcript: Media Roundtable with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James E. Cartwright from the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 17 Jan 2008 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright
• Marine Deployment Supportive of NATO AFPS 17 Jan 2008 -- The Pentagon's decision to deploy 3,200 Marines to Afghanistan by spring was intended to reinforce the U.S. commitment there and is not intended as a criticism of the efforts of NATO allies in the region, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today.
• Afghanistan plans to discuss refugee problems in spring RIA Novosti 17 Jan 2008 -- Afghanistan plans to host this spring an international conference on the return of Afghan refugees to their homeland, the country's ministry for foreign affairs said on Thursday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• ARMY, NAVY, COAST GUARD TO SHARE BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION CAPABILITIES Army News Release 17 Jan 2008 -- In a ceremony Jan. 15 at Coast Guard offices in Rosslyn, Va., the U.S. Army, the Department of the Navy, and the U.S. Coast Guard signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding that formalizing an agreement to share capabilities for business transformation.
• U.S., Thailand, Singapore prepare for Exercise Cope Tiger AFPN 17 Jan 2008 -- Aviation and ground units from the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps, Royal Thai Air Force and Army, and Royal Singapore Air Force will participate in the Exercise Cope Tiger 2008 field training exercise in Thailand Jan. 26 to Feb. 5.
• USS Harry S. Truman Recovers 75,000th Aircraft Navy NewsStand 17 Jan 2008 -- USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) recovered its 75,000th aircraft without a single mishap Jan 14.
• USS Russell Holds Change of Command Ceremony Navy NewsStand 17 Jan 2008 -- A change of command ceremony was held underway aboard the flight deck of guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59), Jan. 14.
• USS Frank Cable, USS Houston Awarded Battle "E" Navy NewsStand 17 Jan 2008 -- USS Frank Cable (AS 40) and USS Houston (SSN 713) both from commander, Submarine Squadron (CSS) 15 on U.S. Naval Base Guam were named as winners in the Battle Efficiency "E" competition within the submarine force, Jan. 1.
• USS Ohio Moors at Bravo Wharf Navy NewsStand 17 Jan 2008 -- It was nearly noon when the USS Ohio (SSGN 726) moored at Bravo Wharf in Apra Harbor, Jan. 10.
• USNH Yokosuka Holds 7th Fleet Specialty Conference Navy NewsStand 17 Jan 2008 -- Forward deployed independent duty corpsmen (IDC) and general medical officers (GMO) attended the 7th Fleet Specialty Conference at U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Yokosuka Jan. 16.
• NAS Key West Search and Rescue Pulls Downed Pilot to Safety Navy NewsStand 17 Jan 2008 -- A search and rescue (SAR) crew from Naval Air Station Key West safely recovered an Air Force pilot Jan. 15, shortly after he ejected from his F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft, 55 miles west of Key West.
• Sailors Depart for Six-Month Air Cargo Mission in Iraq Navy NewsStand 17 Jan 2008 -- Family, friends and fellow shipmates gathered at Cheatham Annex, Jan. 17, to say goodbye to 27 Sailors heading to Iraq for a six-month deployment with Cargo Transfer Platoon (CTP) 4.
• Seabees to Receive New Convoy Simulator Navy NewsStand 17 Jan 2008 -- The Naval Construction Force will soon have a new, 21st century convoy training simulator to augment current training for Seabees.
• MH-53E Sea Dragon Crashes South of Corpus Christi Navy NewsStand 17 Jan 2008 -- At approximately 8:15 p.m. local time, on Jan. 16 an MH-53E Sea Dragon attached to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 crashed in a field approximately four miles south of Corpus Christi, Texas.
• CNO Speaks About Shipbuilding at 20th SNA National Symposium Navy NewsStand 17 Jan 2008 -- Delivering the keynote address at the Surface Navy Association's 20th National Symposium Jan. 15, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead spoke on the importance of providing the fleet with the right number of ships, submarines and aircraft to achieve the objectives of the Maritime Strategy.
• Squadron deployment tests Kunsan's readiness AFPN 17 Jan 2008 -- A South Carolina-based unit began arriving here Jan. 15 as part of an air and space expeditionary force deployment as a measure to maintain a credible deterrent posture and presence in the Pacific region.
• Don't overlook airpower in joint counterinsurgency doctrine AFPN 17 Jan 2008 -- The counterinsurgency manual used by U.S. Soldiers and Marines undervalues the role airpower plays in fighting insurgencies, stated a monograph recently published by Air University officials.
• Web site links, educates squadron commanders AFPN 17 Jan 2008 -- A Web site developed by Air University's Air Command and Staff College members here is now empowering commanders through a familiar concept -- communication.
• Defense Officials Mull U.S. Military Aid to Pakistan AFPS 17 Jan 2008 -- Defense Department officials are assessing what help, if any, the department could extend to the government of Pakistan.
• Chief Outlines Plan to Get Army Back in Balance Army News 17 Jan 2008 -- After six years of war in the Middle East, the Army is out of balance, said the service's senior military leader.
• Army's Largest Solar Array Generates More Than Power Army News 17 Jan 2008 -- Officials cut the ribbon Monday on the Army's largest solar array, a 2-megawatt system at Fort Carson that should produce enough power for 540 homes.
• Removing Dark Stains: Soldiers Help Clean up Korea's Worst Oil Spill Army News 17 Jan 2008 -- The once-fresh sea air was now nauseating, as if the breeze carried a pungent grease smell across the Taean coast. Stones worn smooth by the ocean tides littered the beach, each one heavy with black oil that seeped through a charcoal dust that had been laid down days earlier as the first step to stem the pollution.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 17 Jan 2008
• Press Briefing by Tony Fratto The White House 17 Jan 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 17, 2008
• BAE SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE ALL-QUADRANT INTERIM DEFENSIVE WEAPON SYSTEM FOR CV-22 OSPREY BAE Systems 17 Jan 2008 -- BAE Systems will develop an interim all-quadrant defensive weapon system for the CV-22 Osprey aircraft. The contract awarded by the U.S. Special Operations Command, calls for rapid development, installation, testing, and qualification of a weapon capability that provides defensive fire protection to all quadrants of the aircraft.
• BAE SYSTEMS RECEIVES $7 MILLION U.S. ARMY CONTRACT MODIFICATION TO PREPARE BRADLEY COMBAT VEHICLES FOR COUNTER-IED ELECTRONIC WARFARE SYSTEMS BAE Systems 17 Jan 2008 -- BAE Systems has received a $7 million contract modification from the U.S. Army to prepare almost 1,700 Bradley Combat Vehicles to receive electronic warfare systems capable of jamming the detonation of roadside bombs. Under this contract, the company will manufacture and install the A-Kits, which are the assemblies used to mount the system, onto 1,691 Bradleys.
• SAIC to Support USMC Law Enforcement Training SAIC 17 Jan 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced it won a task order from the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to perform interoperability consequence management in support of the Non-Guard Security Support and Training Support program.
• SAIC Subsidiary Awarded GSA Blanket Purchase Agreement to Support TACAMO Program SAIC 17 Jan 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced that its subsidiary, Eagan, McAllister Associates, Inc. (EMA) has won a contract from the Naval Air Systems Command to support the U.S. Navy's E-6B Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO)/Airborne Command Post (ABNCP) Survivable Mobile Command Center (SMCC) program.
• Boeing and SAIC Announce Accelerated Testing of FCS Early Prototype Systems Boeing 17 Jan 2008 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and partner Science Applications International Corporation [NYSE: SAI], the Lead Systems Integrator for the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, today announced that the Army has accelerated test schedules for two FCS robotic prototypes based on current readiness levels and positive feedback from soldiers who are using early versions of the systems in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• EADS Defence & Security hands over system software for Army Command and Control Information System to Franco-German Brigade EADS 17 Jan 2008 -- EADS Defence & Security (DS) handed over today the system software for the state-of-the-art, digital Army Command and Control Information System (FüInfoSyS H) at the Franco-German Brigade site in Müllheim, Germany, to the Head of the Modernisation Department in the Federal Ministry of Defence.
• BAE SYSTEMS DELIVERS UAV TARGET DETECTION SYSTEMS TO U.S. ARMY BAE Systems 16 Jan 2008 -- BAE Systems has delivered five target detection systems to the U.S. Army for use on Shadow unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
• Corrective Action To Be Taken By INSCOM On L-3's Linguist Protest L-3 Communications 17 Jan 2008 -- L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) has been advised that the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) intends to take corrective action on a protest filed by L-3 in connection with the contract to provide translators and linguists in support of U.S. military operations in Iraq.
• Czech firms may take part in planned U.S. missile defense project RIA Novosti 17 Jan 2008 -- Prague and Washington will prepare a treaty on missile defense cooperation, with the involvement of Czech firms, by June 2008, the Czech foreign minister said on Thursday.
• Rheinmetall to supply Kodiak armoured engineer vehicles to Sweden and the Netherlands Rheinmetall Defence 17 Jan 2008 -- The Swedish procurement authority, FMV, and The Netherlands Ministry of Defence procurement authority have placed orders with Rheinmetall for the Kodiak armoured engineer (breaching) vehicle. The total value of the orders is approximately €100 million. Signed on January 16, 2008, the contracts include ten systems for the Dutch Army, and six for the Swedish Army. The vehicles will be delivered during the period 2011-2012.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 17 Jan 2008
• UN Security Council Deadlocks Again Over Kosovo's Future RFE/RL 17 Jan 2008 -- In the latest round of diplomacy over Kosovo, the Security Council heard Belgrade repeat its calls for the UN to block the breakaway province's independence, despite Pristina's insistence upon sovereignty.
• Conflict in Central African Republic uproots 300,000, UN reports UN News Centre 17 Jan 2008 -- Government troops and rebel forces in the Central African Republic (CAR) continue to clash despite ongoing talks of a peace agreement, and nearly 300,000 people had been driven from their homes as of last month, according to a United Nations update.
• Sudan releases eight Darfur rebels into UN custody UN News Centre 17 Jan 2008 -- The Sudanese Government today released eight rebel detainees to the newly-deployed United Nations-African Union (AU) hybrid peacekeeping force, known as UNAMID, which is seeking to bring peace to the war-ravaged Darfur region.
• Israel's Prime Minister Vows 'War' Against Gaza VOA 17 Jan 2008 -- Israel's prime minister on Thursday vowed to wage war against Palestinian militants who are continuing to fire homemade rockets at southern Israel. An Israeli air strike killed two Palestinian militants in Gaza on Thursday
• UN deadlocked over Kosovo status with no compromise prospects RIA Novosti 17 Jan 2008 -- U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad has said the Security Council is in a deadlock over Kosovo's future status, and no longer has any role to play on the issue.
• Israeli PM Vows to Continue Fighting Palestinian Militants in Gaza VOA 17 Jan 2008 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says his country will attack Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip as long as rocket fire on southern Israel continues
• Pakistan Militants Abandon Captured Army Fort VOA 17 Jan 2008 -- Pakistani military officials say Islamic militants have abandoned a fort they captured near the Afghan border earlier this week.

News Reports

• UN envoy's return to Myanmar could spur further progress, says Security Council UN News Centre 17 Jan 2008 -- Disappointed with the slow pace of change in Myanmar, the Security Council today said an early return to the country by United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari could help promote progress towards democratization and national reconciliation.
• US Says Political Accord in Kenya Overdue VOA 17 Jan 2008 -- The United States Thursday renewed its call on Kenya's government and political opposition to end clashes and resolve the conflict stemming from last month's disputed elections
• Kenyan Protesters Clash With Police For Second Day VOA 17 Jan 2008 -- Kenyan protesters fought with police on the second of three days of protests organized by opponents of President Mwai Kibaki
• Russia's Balkan Power Play RFE/RL 17 Jan 2008 -- Serbs go to the polls this weekend to elect a new president in a hotly contested election
• Serbia: The First Colored Revolution? RFE/RL 17 Jan 2008 -- "Slobo, save Serbia," groups of youths could be heard chanting in the streets of Belgrade in September 2000. "Kill yourself!"
• UN Security Council Says Progress Too Slow in Burma VOA 17 Jan 2008 -- The U.N. Security Council says progress has been too slow in bringing democratic reforms to Burma, and has called for an early visit to the country by the Secretary-General's Special Advisor, Ibrahim Gambari
• Suicide Blast at Mosque in Pakistan Kills at Least 9 VOA 17 Jan 2008 -- Authorities in Pakistan say a suicide bomb attack at a Shiite mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar has left at least nine people dead and many others injured
• Explosion Rocks Shi'ite Mosque in Northern Pakistan VOA 17 Jan 2008 -- At least four people have been killed and 20 wounded in an explosion at a Shi'ite mosque in northwestern Pakistan.