Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 18 Jan 2008 [PDF]
• MND-B Soldier attacked by IED (Baghdad)
• Jan. 17 airpower summary: A-10s provide air support AFPN 18 Jan 2008
• Coalition Kills 13 Insurgents, Detains Three During Operations AFPS 18 Jan 2008 -- Coalition forces killed 13 terrorists and detained three suspects yesterday and today during operations targeting al Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq, military officials reported.
• Aviation Support Soldiers Keep Helicopters Flying in Iraq AFPS 18 Jan 2008 -- When Command Sgt. Maj. Keith C. Dawson sees a formation of Army helicopters pass overhead in Baghdad, he knows it is likely that some of his soldiers are working to keep those aircraft aloft.
• Shi'ite Sect, Iraqi Forces Clash in Basra; At least 5 Killed VOA 18 Jan 2008 -- Iraqi police say clashes have broken out between security forces and armed members of a Shi'ite sect in the southern cities of Basra and Nasiriyah.
• Operation Phantom Phoenix air strikes take out al-Qaeda training area (Arab Jabour) MNF-I 18 Jan 2008 -- Air strikes dropped 10,000 pounds of munitions Jan. 16 on bunkers in Arab Jabour used by al-Qaeda as training sites for new recruits.
• Pakistan army kills over 90 militants in tribal region: spokesman IRNA 18 Jan 2008 -- Pakistani security forces on Friday killed over 90 militants in two incidents in the country's tribal region, an army statement said.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Set to Deploy Navy NewsStand 18 Jan 2008 -- Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG), with more than 7,000 Sailors and Marines, will deploy Jan. 24 while the forward-deployed USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) undergoes scheduled maintenance in Yokosuka, Japan.
• Civil Affairs Team, Seabees Making a Difference in Obock Navy NewsStand 18 Jan 2008 -- A team of Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 and Soldiers from Charlie Company 486th Civil Affairs Battalion (CA BN) Team 13 are working together in Obock to rebuild a slaughter house and the Waddi Primary School to promote stability in the region.
• Coalition Efforts Build Lawful Maritime Order Navy NewsStand 18 Jan 2008 -- Coalition forces recently completed a coordinated operation in the Gulf of Aden and Horn of Africa to deter and disrupt activities and incidents that affect maritime security and stability.
• Supply Corps Leadership Tackles Top Navy Issues Navy NewsStand 18 Jan 2008 -- All Navy Supply Corps admirals and captains gathered Jan. 15-17 in Norfolk to share insights from December's Navy Flag Officer and Senior Executive Service Training Symposium (NFOSES) and align the Supply Corps community with the Chief of Naval Operation's intentions to build the future force, maintain warfighting readiness, and develop and support Sailors and Navy civilians.
• Boxer Sailors Get ULTRA Ready Navy NewsStand 18 Jan 2008 -- USS Boxer (LHD 4) was back at sea off the southern California coast Jan. 10-16 preparing for its upcoming series of Unit Level Training Assessments (ULTRA).
• BHR Conducts Successful Ammo Offload Navy NewsStand 18 Jan 2008 -- Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) (BHR) returned to its homeport of San Diego Jan. 18 after conducting a post-deployment ammunition offload off the coast of Southern California Jan. 14-17.
• Boxer Adopts GSA Detailing Navy NewsStand 18 Jan 2008 -- As of Jan. 18, USS Boxer (LHD 4) has sent 14 Sailors around the world to fill individual augmentee (IA) assignments since returning from its Western Pacific deployment.
• Navy Moving to Contract Weather Observers Navy NewsStand 18 Jan 2008 -- Military weather observers at all 25 U.S Navy continental United States air fields will be replaced by civilian contracted observers this year, in response to a Navy efficiency study.
• Destroyed by Hurricane Ivan, Army Reserve Center Stands Tall Navy NewsStand 18 Jan 2008 -- Corry Station welcomed its newest resident - 350th Civil Affairs Command (CACOM) Headquarters - at a ribbon cutting and welcome aboard ceremony Jan. 12.
• Joint exercise accomplishes historical achievements AFPN 18 Jan 2008 -- For the past week Airmen have been participating in an operational readiness exercise alongside South Korea airmen and soldiers, testing the combined mission of the two allies stationed here.
• Maintenance unit completes upgrade of 100th A-10 AFPN 18 Jan 2008 -- An upgraded A-10 Thunderbolt II, which took off in early January for Moody Air Force Base, Ga., represents another production milestone for the Air Force.
• Kunsan, Eielson swap F-16s AFPN 18 Jan 2008 -- Officials from the 8th Fighter Wing received 18 modified F-16 Fighting Falcons in mid January from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, as the two bases exchange fighter aircraft.
• Weather center offers Web-based broadcasts AFPN 18 Jan 2008 -- In an effort to offer servicemembers, their families and other Department of Defense personnel stationed overseas access to timely weather updates, American Forces Network Weather Center weathermen here now include daily forecasts on their Web site.
• General Brady assumes command of USAFE AFPN 18 Jan 2008 -- General Roger A. Brady ceremonially assumed command of U.S. Air Forces in Europe Jan. 17.
• Policy changes to delay some Reserve field grade officer promotions AFPN 18 Jan 2008 -- Starting this year, policy changes will result in some Air Force Reserve officers having to wait longer before becoming eligible for promotion.
• Gates Observes MRAP Progress, Praises Workers Behind It AFPS 18 Jan 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited here to see progress made in speeding up delivery of mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles to warfighters and to thank the people working behind the scenes to save military lives.
• Dedication Runs High at MRAP Equipping Facility AFPS 18 Jan 2008 -- Just before rolling the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle they've spent the last several hours configuring with electronics for shipment to Iraq or Afghanistan, crews at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command here slip a simple 8-and-a-half-by-11-inch certificate onto the dashboard.
• Army Aims to Better Identify Soldiers with Brain Injuries AFPS 18 Jan 2008 -- An Army report released yesterday outlines how the service can better identify and help soldiers who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.
• Military Absentee Voting 'Primary' Concern for Federal Voting Assistance Program AFPS 18 Jan 2008 -- For the Federal Voting Assistance Program, getting deployed troops and their families engaged in the current election season is a primary goal.
• Aviation Modernization Program to Field Lakota, Modify Current Helos Army News 18 Jan 2008 -- The Army's $14.6-billion aviation modernization program includes fielding the Lakota UH-72A, along with a number of modifications to existing helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.
• Leaders announce policy changes for Airmen in AOR AFPN 18 Jan 2008 -- Changes are on the horizon for Airmen serving in the Central Command area of responsibility
• Communications agency looks to protect data AFPN 18 Jan 2008 -- Air Force Communications Agency members here are aggressively developing a solution to protect personal and other sensitive information from being stolen and misused.
• 480th Intelligence Wing realigned AFPN 18 Jan 2008 -- Air Force officials announced Jan. 14 the transfer of the 480th Intelligence Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Va., to the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency at Lackland AFB, Texas. Formal realignment of the affected units will occur on or before March 1.
• New Russian envoy to NATO to arrive in Brussels in late January RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2008 -- The recently-appointed Russian ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, will arrive at the organization's HQ in Brussels on January 28, a source in Russia's mission to NATO said on Friday.
• Ukraine MPs block rostrum to protest leadership's NATO plans RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2008 -- Members of opposition factions in Ukraine's parliament protested on Friday against the leadership's drive for NATO membership, blocking the rostrum.
• Russia continues test flights of Yak-130 combat trainer RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2008 -- Russia is planning to start test flights of the fourth prototype Yak-130 combat training aircraft in March, a deputy Air Force commander said on Friday.
• U.S. offers to help India develop missile shield RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2008 -- Lockheed Martin, a U.S. defense industry giant, has expressed an interest in helping India develop its own missile defense network, an Indian news agency said on Friday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 18 Jan 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 18, 2008
• Boeing Delivers Fourth Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Boeing 18 Jan 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) its fourth C-17 Globemaster III during a ceremony at the company's Long Beach, Calif., C-17 manufacturing facility.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN RECEIVES $1.4 BILLION CONTRACT FOR 17 C-130J SUPER HERCULES AIRCRAFT FOR CANADA Lockheed Martin 18 Jan 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has signed a contract with the Government of Canada valued at $1.4 billion for the purchase of 17 C-130J Super Hercules airlifters and related equipment and services.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 18 Jan 2008
• Ban Ki-moon applauds UN Peacebuilding Commission on one-year anniversary UN News Centre 18 Jan 2008 -- Lauding the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) on its one-year anniversary and its successes in Sierra Leone and Burundi, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today underscored the advisory body's key role in helping countries emerging from conflict avert a slide back to war.
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR ON ISRAEL-GAZA BORDER CLOSURES United Nations 18 Jan 2008
• Israeli air strike kills two in Gaza RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2008 -- At least two Palestinians were killed and 15 injured when the Israeli Air Force attacked a Defense Ministry building in Gaza, a local emergencies service said on Friday.
• Israel Closes Gaza Crossings in Response to Rocket Attacks VOA 18 Jan 2008 -- Israel has sealed its borders with the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip after a surge in cross-border attacks this week
• Witnesses: Israeli Missile Strike Destroys Hamas Interior Ministry VOA 18 Jan 2008 -- Palestinian witnesses say an Israeli missile strike has destroyed the Hamas Interior Ministry building in Gaza City, part of an Israeli military offensive this week that has killed about 30 people, mostly militants, in Gaza.
• UN: Israeli Closure of Gaza Border Worsens Already 'Dire' Humanitarian Situation VOA 18 Jan 2008 -- A senior United Nations official has appealed to Israel to reverse its decision Friday to close its border with the Gaza Strip, following days of rocket attacks on Israel from the Palestinian territory
• Putin says Russia will not support independence for Kosovo RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2008 -- President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia will not support any "illegal and immoral" decision by Kosovo to declare unilateral independence.
• Russia says OSCE must leave Kosovo if independence declared RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2008 -- Russia's envoy to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said on Friday the OSCE will have to shut down its mission in Kosovo if the province declares its independence from Serbia.
• Putin Warns Against Unilateral Declaration of Kosovo Independence VOA 18 Jan 2008 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has again expressed opposition to a unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence.
• Turkish Army Reports Strikes Against Kurdish Rebels in Iraq VOA 18 Jan 2008 -- The Turkish military says its warplanes have struck nearly 60 positions of the Kurdish Workers Party, the PKK, in northern Iraq
• Darfur: UN, AU envoys meet with second rebel group UN News Centre 18 Jan 2008 -- United Nations and African Union (AU) envoys seeking to end the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region have met with a second rebel movement in an effort to pave the way for peace negotiations.
• UN-backed summit in DR Congo discusses amnesty for dissident general UN News Centre 18 Jan 2008 -- Delegates at the United Nations-backed conference aimed at bringing peace, security and development to the strife-torn eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have discussed the possibility of amnesty for certain belligerents, including dissident General Laurent Nkunda.
• SRI LANKA: Bombs and bullets greet end of ceasefire IRIN 18 Jan 2008 -- An upsurge in violence, including a spate of bombings in the last few weeks of 2007, led the government on 2 January to declare it would be pulling out of the 2002 ceasefire agreement (CFA) on 16 January.
• KENYA: The Rift Valley's deadly land rows IRIN 18 Jan 2008 -- Kenya's breadbasket Rift Valley Province has experienced some of the worst ethnic clashes since December's disputed polls. But there is nothing new to the violence in this volatile region.

News Reports

• CIA Blames Islamic Militants for Bhutto's Death; Pakistan Steps Up Security VOA 18 Jan 2008 -- The CIA has blamed al Qaida-linked militants operating in Pakistan's mountainous tribal region for the assassination last month of former Prime Minister and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto
• Increasing violence on Kenyan streets as protests enter third day - UN UN News Centre 18 Jan 2008 -- The United Nations reported more violence today in Kenya where opposition supporters took to the streets for a third day to protest last month's disputed elections.