Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 24 Jan 2008 [PDF]
• Jan. 23 airpower summary: A-10s strike enemy positions AFPN 24 Jan 2008
• Insurgents Out, Combat Outpost In Army News 24 Jan 2008 -- Just days after a major precision air strike in southern Arab Jabour to root out al-Qaeda in Iraq, combat engineers traversed the battlefield, arriving in the area to construct Multi-National Division - Center's newest combat outpost.
• Suicide Bomb Kills Iraqi Police Chief VOA 24 Jan 2008 -- In Iraq, a top police chief was killed in the northern city of Mosul Thursday after a suicide bomber struck officials touring the site of a previous blast
• Officials Denounce Mosul Terror Bombing AFPS 24 Jan 2008 -- Senior U.S. military officials denounced yesterday's deadly terror bombing that reportedly killed at least 30 Iraqi citizens and three Iraqi soldiers and injured at least 150 civilians in the northern Iraq city of Mosul.
• Joint Raid Yields Capture of Terror Cell Leader AFPS 24 Jan 2008 -- The suspected leader of an al Qaeda in Iraq-affiliated terror cell was detained Jan. 22 in Balad, Iraq, during a joint raid by Iraqi and American forces, military officials reported.
• With Al Qaeda Gone, Combat Outpost Construction Begins AFPS 24 Jan 2008 -- Just days after a precision air strike rooted out al Qaeda in Iraq operatives in the Arab Jabour area, south of Baghdad, combat engineers arrived to build Multinational Division Center's newest combat outpost.
• Transcript: DoD Press Briefing with Brig. Gen. Lindell at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 24 Jan 2008 -- Presenter: Deputy Commander, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, and Commander, Combined Air Power Transition Force U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jay H. Lindell
• General Shares Successes, Challenges of Afghan Air Corps AFPS 24 Jan 2008 -- The Afghan army air corps is going through rapid growth, but it will take eight years for the force to be self-sustaining and independent, the commander of the Combined Air Power Transition Force said from his headquarters in the Afghan capital of Kabul today.
• Coalition Forces in Afghanistan Kill, Detain Insurgents AFPS 24 Jan 2008 -- Several insurgents were killed and nine suspected insurgents were detained yesterday as coalition forces conducted an operation to degrade Taliban command-and-control networks in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, military officials reported.
• U.S. 'Ready, Willing, Able' to Assist Pakistan, Gates Says AFPS 24 Jan 2008 -- The United States remains "ready, willing and able" to assist Pakistan and partner with the nation as it takes on al Qaeda, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a Pentagon news conference today.
• Defense Chief: US Ready for Military Operations in Pakistan, If Asked VOA 24 Jan 2008 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the United States is prepared to conduct joint military operations with Pakistani forces, inside Pakistan, to fight increased al-Qaida activity there.
• US Plans More Training of Pakistani Forces Fighting Islamic Militants VOA 24 Jan 2008 -- U.S. defense and military officials say they want to step up the training of Pakistani forces in the country's fight against a growing insurgency.
• Pakistan Army Says Scores of Islamic Militants Killed, Captured VOA 24 Jan 2008 -- The Pakistani army says it killed 40 Islamic militants and arrested 30 during two days of fighting along its border with Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael G. Mullen from the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 24 Jan 2008 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen
• Petraeus to Stay in Job; Tour Lengths Remain Untouched, Gates Says AFPS 24 Jan 2008 -- The Multinational Force Iraq commander will stay where he is for the time being, and no decision has been made to shorten tour lengths for Army personnel in the U.S. Central Command area of operations, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a Pentagon news conference today.
• Army and Air Force Discuss Interoperability Army News Release 24 Jan 2008 -- Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley, along with other senior leaders from both Services, met Jan. 23 at Bolling Air Force Base to discuss issues of mutual interest regarding interdependency and interoperability.
• Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Deploys Navy NewsStand 24 Jan 2008 -- Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) departed San Diego Jan. 24, for a planned four-month deployment to the Western Pacific in support of U.S. commitments in the region.
• Nimitz Gets Underway for Western Pacific Deployment Navy NewsStand 24 Jan 2008 -- USS Nimitz (CVN 68) departed San Diego Jan. 24 with commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11 on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment.
• Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Visits El Salvador Navy NewsStand 24 Jan 2008 -- Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen, the U.S military's highest ranking officer, visited with Sailors stationed at Forward Operating Location (FOL) Comalapa, Jan. 18.
• PCU George H.W. Bush Calibration Lab Generates Unique Training Navy NewsStand 24 Jan 2008 -- The Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department calibration lab from the Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is maintaining their Sailors' skill sets, despite not having a facility of their own, while the aircraft carrier is under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard.
• Air Force develops friend vs. foe identification system AFPN 24 Jan 2008 -- Air Force Research Laboratory officials here recently have developed a technology that helps identify friendly forces during combat exercises.
• Air Force funds research into oil repellent surfaces AFPN 24 Jan 2008 -- Air Force Office of Scientific Research officials here currently are funding investigations into super oil repellent surfaces because of their potential utility in cleaning up jet fuel spills and protecting aircraft or rocket parts from fuel absorption.
• Army, Air Force leaders discuss interoperability AFPN 24 Jan 2008 -- The chief of staffs for the Army and Air Force along with other senior leaders from both Services met to discuss issues of mutual interest regarding interdependency and interoperability Jan. 23 at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.
• Elmendorf Airmen move toward initial operational capability AFPN 24 Jan 2008 -- Airmen in the 90th Fighter Squadron are completing steps to declare initial operational capability, with the overall goal of declaring full operational capability.
• Mullen Says Colombia Making Progress Against Narcoterrorists AFPS 24 Jan 2008 -- The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia is a terrorist organization and should remain so, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during a Pentagon news conference today.
• Ukraine's Communists to protest against drive for NATO in Feb RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2008 -- The Communist Party of Ukraine plans to hold a public protest in February against moves by the country's leadership to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the party's press service said.
• Over half of Ukrainians against joining NATO - survey RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2008 -- Over 50% of Ukrainians would vote against joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, according to a survey carried out by the country's Democratic Initiatives foundation.
• Over 40 Russian planes to take part in naval drills in Atlantic RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2008 -- Over 40 aircraft of Russia's Air Force will take part in the final stage of a naval exercise in the Atlantic later this month, an aide to the Air Force commander said on Thursday.
• Russia's NATO envoy says new CFE treaty should include navies RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2008 -- An adapted Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty should also cover signatory states' naval forces, Russia's new ambassador to NATO said on Thursday.
• Russia's new envoy to NATO to start work in Brussels on Jan. 28 RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2008 -- The recently-appointed Russian ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, said on Thursday he would start work at the organization's HQ in Brussels on January 28.
• Russia's envoy poised for military patent discussions with NATO RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2008 -- The new Russian ambassador to NATO has raised the issue of military patent infringement and promised to look into the production of the famous 'Kalashnikov' brand of automatic weapons by NATO countries.
• Russia and Ukraine keep fee for Sevastopol base unchanged RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2008 -- Russia and Ukraine have agreed to keep the rent for Russia's base in Sevastopol unchanged, Russia's deputy foreign minister said between sessions of a joint subcommittee on the Black Sea base on Thursday.
• Poland grounds military flights after deadly plane crash IRNA 24 Jan 2008 -- Polish officials have grounded some of its military planes after the crash of a Polish military aircraft in northwestern Poland which killed all 20 people aboard, the press reported Thursday.
• Joint Russian-French naval exercise starts in Atlantic RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2008 -- A joint Russian-French naval exercise has started in the northeastern Atlantic, a Russian Navy spokesman said.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 24 Jan 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 24, 2008
• CACI Awarded $243 Million in Previously Unannounced Contracts to Support National Security and Intelligence CACI 24 Jan 2008 -- CACI International Inc (NYSE:CAI) announced today that it has won approximately $243 million in previously unannounced contracts with federal government clients in the national security and intelligence communities
• BAE SYSTEMS RECEIVES U.S. AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR RADIO TESTING SUPPORT BAE Systems 24 Jan 2008 -- BAE Systems has received a contract from the U.S. Air Force to support a multi-platform radio test set for electronic warfare systems. The performance-based logistics contract is part of the Department of Defense strategy to optimize the total system availability while minimizing costs associated with equipment procurement, maintenance, and transportation.
• General Dynamics NASSCO Begins Construction of Second Product Carrier Ship General Dynamics 24 Jan 2008 -- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today began construction of the second ship of its new class of product carriers.
• Rafael's WIZARD Makes Magic for the First Time at Pacific 2008 Rafael 24 Jan 2008 -- Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. announces that it will display its WIZARD, naval corner reflector decoy, for the first time at Pacific 2008 in Sydney, Australia next week.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 24 Jan 2008
• Ethiopia and Eritrea must de-escalate border row, says Ban Ki-moon UN News Centre 24 Jan 2008 -- Warning that the continuing military build-up by Ethiopia and Eritrea in their border areas, where the two countries fought a deadly two-year war that ended in 2000, creates the risk of reigniting hostilities, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging the neighbouring States to urgently de-escalate the situation.
• Human Rights Council calls for end to Israeli restrictions on Gaza Strip UN News Centre 24 Jan 2008 -- The United Nations Human Rights Council today called for immediate international action to force Israel to allow fuel, food, medicine and other essential items to be sent to the Gaza Strip, to reopen the border crossings and to end its "grave violations" in the occupied Palestinian territory.
• Egypt Tries to Restore Order on Gaza Border VOA 24 Jan 2008 -- The situation on the border between Egypt and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip remains chaotic, a day after Palestinian militants blew up the border wall
• SRI LANKA: UN human rights commissioner in the firing line IRIN 24 Jan 2008 -- otests in front of the UN compound in Colombo usually call for more assertive action by the world body, but this week was different
• KENYA: Concern over Molo IDPs as camp closures continue IRIN 24 Jan 2008 -- A government directive to close camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the country has raised concerns among aid workers, especially over the plight of IDPs in the volatile district of Molo in Rift Valley Province, where thousands live in at least 50 congested sites.
• SENEGAL: Lack of basics blocks return of war-weary displaced IRIN 24 Jan 2008 -- Despite a lingering landmine threat, families who years ago fled fighting in Senegal's southern Casamance region are slowly trying to return to their home villages. But a lack of water - for drinking and for building homes - is keeping many away.
• African Union Unveils Road Map for Peace in Somalia VOA 24 Jan 2008 -- The African Union's top security official has presented Somalia's leaders a four-point plan for creating stability in the war-ravaged country.
• Kenya's President, Opposition Leader Hold Closed-Door Talks VOA 24 Jan 2008 -- The two rivals in Kenya's political crisis met on Thursday for the first time since a disputed election and pledged to seek an end to weeks of unrest that have killed nearly 700 people

News Reports