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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 06 Feb 2008 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• PRESS CONFERENCE: Rear Adm. Smith, MNF-I; Maj. Gen. Askari, MOD: Feb. 6, 2008 MNF-I 06 Feb 2008
• Feb. 5 airpower summary: F-16s support coalition forces in Iraq AFPN 06 Feb 2008
• Pentagon Chief Says Future Iraq Agreement Won't Include Defense Commitment VOA 06 Feb 2008 -- Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says a future Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) negotiated with the Iraqi government will not include a formal arrangement requiring the United States to defend Iraq.
• Coalition Forces Continue to Hunt Down Terrorists in Iraq AFPS 06 Feb 2008 -- Coalition forces killed seven terrorists and detained 27 suspects today during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks operating in central and northern Iraq.
• Shortage of Resources Spurs Risk Management for NATO in Afghanistan AFPS 06 Feb 2008 -- A shortage of resources for the NATO effort in Afghanistan has necessitated a risk-management approach to operations there, the commander of the alliance's International Security Assistance Force said at a Pentagon news conference today.
• Gates Urges Action to Bolster NATO Effort in Afghanistan AFPS 06 Feb 2008 -- Though many of its nations have been fighting hard in Afghanistan, action is needed to prevent NATO from becoming a two-tiered alliance in which some countries contribute military forces and some do not, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today at a congressional hearing.
• NATO Says Taliban Not Surging, But More Foreign Forces Needed VOA 06 Feb 2008 -- The top NATO commander in Afghanistan is disputing claims that the Taliban is experiencing a resurgence and that the recent increase in violence proves it
• US, Britain Urge NATO Allies to Boost Afghan Military Presence VOA 06 Feb 2008 -- The United States and Britain are calling on other NATO countries to send more soldiers to Afghanistan to fight the ongoing Taliban insurgency.
• Taliban, Al-Qaida Threaten Pakistan VOA 06 Feb 2008 -- Military and political analysts in Pakistan are expressing growing concern that al-Qaida and Taliban-linked insurgents are now emerging from their traditional strongholds along the border with Afghanistan and are becoming a serious threat to the entire country
• UN survey: Afghan opium production remains 'shockingly high' UN News Centre 06 Feb 2008 -- A United Nations study of opium production in Afghanistan released today has concluded that this year's cultivation levels remain shockingly high, and will be broadly similar to or slightly lower than last year's record harvest of 192,000 hectares.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell from the Pentagon 06 Feb 2008 -- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell
• Defense Officials Discuss Budget Assumptions AFPS 06 Feb 2008 -- Defense Department budget officials spoke of some of the assumptions they used in formulating the Pentagon's fiscal 2009 budget request, during a session with reporters yesterday.
• Senators Seek Analysis of U.S. Aid to Pakistan AFPS 06 Feb 2008 -- The Senate Armed Services Committee today requested a report on the effectiveness of U.S.-funded Pakistani operations against an insurgency spreading along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Gen. McNeill from the Pentagon 06 Feb 2008 -- Presenter: Commander, Nato International Security Assistance Force Gen. Dan McNeill
• Texas team teaches expeditionary medical techniques in Hawaii AFPN 06 Feb 2008 -- The Republic of Moku is a fictitious Pacific island chain, but during exercise Pacific Lifeline it is home to real-world training as more than 90 medical Airmen assigned to Pacific Air Forces practice how to deploy and provide critical services following a natural disaster.
• Threatening dust storms can't stop the mighty Herc AFPN 06 Feb 2008 -- The C-130 Hercules touched down on an unremarkable stretch of dirt in central Africa Jan. 28.
• Active duty, Guard, Reserve: One awesome force AFPN 06 Feb 2008 -- The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Michael T. Moseley, recently said, "You can't look at an Airman and tell if he or she is active, Guard or Reserve
• Air Force Honor Guard holds annual training at Maxwell AFPN 06 Feb 2008 -- Maxwell Air Force Base is now the new home for annual training of the Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team
• Signal Battalion Preps Future Network in 'Dragon Warrior' Army News 06 Feb 2008 -- Signal waves and U.S. Army Europe Soldiers blanketed the Bavarian fields during a network training exercise dubbed "Dragon Warrior."
• Commandant Leaves War College to Direct Army Staff Army News 06 Feb 2008 -- Lt. Gen. David Huntoon Jr. pinned on his third star Jan. 25 at the U.S. Army War College as he prepared to leave the position of commandant and assume new duties as director of the Army Staff at the Pentagon.
• Navy Responds to Recent Sonar Ruling Navy NewsStand 06 Feb 2008 -- The Navy issued the following statement, Feb. 6, responding to the ruling on Feb. 4, by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, which denied the Navy's motion to vacate its tailored preliminary injunction.
• Africa Partnership Station Returns to Ghana Navy NewsStand 06 Feb 2008 -- Africa Partnership Stations (APS) returned recently to Ghana bringing more training during its maiden deployment, aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43).
• WASP Lagging Team Keeping Ship Ahead of Schedule Navy NewsStand 06 Feb 2008 -- USS Wasp (LHD 1) Sailors are saving the Navy money and helping the ship stay ahead of maintenance by fixing the ship's insulation (or lagging) discrepancies in preparation for the 2009 Inspection and Survey (INSURV).
• Navy to Christen USNS Robert E. Peary Navy NewsStand 06 Feb 2008 -- The Navy will christen the USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE-5) at an 11 a.m. PST ceremony on Feb. 9.
• Harpers Ferry VBSS Conducts Proficiency Training Navy NewsStand 06 Feb 2008 -- Visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team members from dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) renewed their boarding proficiency aboard Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oilier USNS Pecos (T-AO 197), Feb. 5.
• USS Shoup Undergoes First INSURV Navy NewsStand 06 Feb 2008 -- USS Shoup (DDG 86) completed her first day of a material readiness inspection by the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) team, off the coast of San Diego, Feb. 4.
• Gates Urges Passage of Supplemental War Funds AFPS 06 Feb 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today urged Congress to provide the remaining balance of President Bush's fiscal 2008 supplemental funding request for the global war on terror, saying the delay in funding is damaging the Defense Department's operations at home and abroad.
• Defense Intel Director Tells Senate of Military Threats AFPS 06 Feb 2008 -- The director of the Defense Intelligence Agency gave the Senate Intelligence Committee an assessment of military threats confronting the United States during testimony before the panel yesterday.
• Southern Tornadoes Bring out National Guard Army News 06 Feb 2008 -- More than 160 National Guard members turned out Wednesday to support tornado recovery missions in three of the states hit by a violent string of twisters Tuesday night.
• White House Defends CIA's Use of 'Waterboarding' Interrogation Technique VOA 06 Feb 2008 -- The White House is defending the use of the interrogation technique known as waterboarding in certain, rare circumstances when suspects are believed to have knowledge of an imminent threat.
• Polish premier says no final decision on U.S. missile shield yet RIA Novosti 06 Feb 2008 -- Poland has not yet decided on the possible deployment of elements of the U.S. missile shield on its territory, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 06 Feb 2008
• Press Briefing by Tony Fratto The White House 06 Feb 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 04, 2008
• Thales and Boeing Sign FRES Contract with UK Ministry of Defence Boeing 06 Feb 2008 -- The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) today announced the award of a contract to Thales UK in partnership with The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] for the System-of-Systems Integrator (SOSI) role on the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) program.
• ATK Reaffirms FY08-FY09 Guidance Following Air Force Action on LUU-19 Flare Program ATK 06 Feb 2008 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) has been notified by the Department of the Air Force that the Launch Systems Group has temporarily been placed on the Excluded Parties List, which could result in limitations being temporarily placed on the group's ability to be awarded new contracts.
• France Awards Raytheon $22 Million for Enhanced Paveway(TM) II Raytheon 06 Feb 2008 -- The government of France awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) a direct commercial sales contract Jan. 18 worth $22 million for the combat-proven Enhanced Paveway(TM) II (EP2) dual- mode GPS/laser-guided precision munition and weapons integration for the French Air Force's Mirage 2000D fighter aircraft.
• Sagem Défense Sécurité to supply Tiger helicopters with STRIX optronic systems Sagem (Safran group) 06 Feb 2008 -- Sagem Défense Sécurité (SAFRAN Group) received an order from OCCAR* for STRIX observation and sighting systems for 64 Tiger HAD European combat helicopters in France and Spain.
• The Royal Netherlands Army select Thales for 13 additional simulators for TACTIS Thales 06 Feb 2008 -- The Netherlands Defence Materiel Organization has ordered a CV9035 NL vehicle platform including five fixed simulators and eight mobile systems which will be interconnected to the existing TACTIS System currently being set to work.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 06 Feb 2008
• Central African refugees may suffer again because of Chad's crisis - UN official UN News Centre 06 Feb 2008 -- The top United Nations humanitarian official voiced grave concern today that about 50,000 Central African refugees who have been living in Chad will be uprooted again because of the widespread violence in the impoverished African nation.
• Chad Rebels Warn France 'Not to Intervene' VOA 06 Feb 2008 -- While France is stepping up its support of Chad's government following a failed rebel attack on N'Djamena, rebels say they are not dissuaded
• French Defense Minister Visits Chad VOA 06 Feb 2008 -- French Defense Minister Herve Morin is in Chad for a meeting with beleaguered President Idriss Deby, whose government has been holding off rebels threatening to take the capital.
• Israeli Leaders Approve Reinforcing Barrier on Israel-Egypt Border VOA 06 Feb 2008 -- Israeli officials say the country's top leaders have approved construction of a reinforced barrier on the border with Egypt, to prevent infiltration by Palestinian militants.
• Israel to build barrier along Egyptian border to stop terrorists RIA Novosti 06 Feb 2008 -- Israel has decided to reinforce its border with Egypt by constructing a barrier to prevent terrorists from entering Israeli territory, the Haaretz newspaper said Wednesday.
• Israel to continue using 'economic weapon' against Gaza RIA Novosti 06 Feb 2008 -- Israeli Vice Premier Haim Ramon said on Wednesday his country would continue its economic blockade of the Gaza Strip in addition to military strikes against Palestinian militants in response to Hamas terrorist attacks.
• JORDAN: Defining "hardship" - a new yardstick for Palestinian refugee aid IRIN 06 Feb 2008 -- The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, will adopt new criteria to identify hardship cases among the 1.9 million Palestinian refugees who benefit from its humanitarian assistance programme, according to an UNWRA official.
• Yemen: UN steps up food aid to Somali refugees UN News Centre 06 Feb 2008 -- Somalis fleeing the violence in their country for Yemen will receive a food boost from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), it was announced today.
• SOMALIA: Explosions in Bosasso leave 21 dead, dozens injured IRIN 06 Feb 2008 -- Explosions in the port town of Bosasso, the commercial capital of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia, killed 21 people and injured 69 others on 5 February, a senior official said.
• Blasts in Somalia's Puntland Region Kill 20 VOA 06 Feb 2008 -- Two explosions have killed at least 20 people in the port town of Bosasso in the semi-autonomous Puntland region of Somalia.
• KENYA: Crisis ripple effects felt across the region IRIN 06 Feb 2008 -- Unrest in Kenya threatens humanitarian and commercial operations throughout the Great Lakes region, potentially affecting more than 100 million lives, according to analysts.
• Kenya Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as Talks Continue VOA 06 Feb 2008 -- In Kenya, the government and opposition have resumed talks on the dispute over the elections that sparked a month-long wave of violence
• Kenya: Security Council voices concern over continued post-election violence UN News Centre 06 Feb 2008 -- Despite the announcement of progress in negotiations between the Government and the opposition, the Security Council today expressed its concern over the continued violence in Kenya which first broke out after last December's contested polls.
• DRC-SUDAN: SPLA leaves border after 10 years IRIN 06 Feb 2008 -- Police and other security services from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have begun deploying near the Sudanese border after the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) withdrew troops who had occupied the area for a decade, officials said.
• UN war crimes tribunal to hold second hearing in Sarajevo UN News Centre 06 Feb 2008 -- The United Nations tribunal set up to try those responsible for the worst war crimes committed in the Balkans in the 1990s will travel to Sarajevo - a city synonymous with the conflict - on Friday for a four-day hearing in the trial of the former head of the Bosnian Muslim forces during the Balkan wars.
• Over 400 militants active in Chechnya - Russian Interior Ministry RIA Novosti 06 Feb 2008 -- Up to 440 militants are active in the Russian troubled North Caucasus republic of Chechnya, a deputy interior minister told a ministerial meeting on Wednesday.
• Secretary-General outlines plan for reduced UN presence in Sierra Leone UN News Centre 06 Feb 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has presented detailed proposals for reducing the number of staff at the United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL), which is due to be replaced by a leaner integrated political office in September.

News Reports

• Red Cross Urges Ban on Cluster Munitions VOA 06 Feb 2008 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross is appealing to governments to stop using cluster weapons that, it says, have killed and maimed tens of thousands of civilians during the past 40 years
• Russia: OSCE Rejects New Offer For Monitoring Presidential Poll RFE/RL 06 Feb 2008 -- The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has rejected what Russia describes as new concessions in the quarrel over conditions for monitoring Russia's presidential poll.
• Italy's president dissolves parliament, snap elections called RIA Novosti 06 Feb 2008 -- Italian President Giorgio Napolitano dissolved parliament on Wednesday, paving the way for snap elections, in an attempt to end a political crisis that has paralyzed the legislature.
• Clinton, Obama Battle On, McCain Claims Frontrunner Status After 'Super Tuesday' VOA 06 Feb 2008 -- Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are preparing for a long campaign after splitting victories in the Super Tuesday contests for the Democratic presidential nomination