• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 13 Feb 2008 [PDF]
• PRESS CONFERENCE: Rear Adm. Smith, MNF-I; and Dr. al-Dabbagh, GOI: Feb. 13, 2008 MNF-I 13 Feb 2008 -- Rear Adm. Gregory Smith, director of MNF-I's Communication Division, and Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh, Government of Iraq spokesman, provide an operational update, Feb. 13
• Feb. 12 airpower summary: A-10s destroy enemy targets AFPN 13 Feb 2008
• Airmen, Marines seek to synchronize in sky over Iraq AFPN 13 Feb 2008 -- Leadership from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and the 3rd Marine Air Wing-Forward met here Feb. 10 and 11 to raise joint air traffic control and airspace utilization in central Iraq to new levels of safety and effectiveness.
• Reins to Change Hands at Multinational Corps Iraq AFPS 13 Feb 2008 -- The command element of Multinational Corps Iraq changes hands tomorrow, as the flag is passed from the U.S. Army's 3rd Corps headquarters to that of 18th Airborne Corps.
• 'Fight for Intelligence' is Key to Mosul Campaign, General Says AFPS 13 Feb 2008 -- Intelligence operations and contributions by Iraqi soldiers and police are key factors in the campaign to defeat al Qaeda and other insurgents who have fled from Baghdad into Mosul and other parts of northern Iraq, a senior U.S. military officer posted in Mosul said today.
• Multinational Division Baghdad Plans to Extend Reach AFPS 13 Feb 2008 -- Coalition forces in the Iraqi capital are going to extend their reach into neighborhoods, the commander of Multinational Division Baghdad said.
• Coalition Forces Kill 4 Terrorists, Detain 8 in Iraq AFPS 13 Feb 2008 -- Coalition forces killed four terrorists and detained eight suspects in operations yesterday and today in central and northern Iraq, military officials reported.
• Iraqi Hospital Chief Detained in Bombing Investigation AFPS 13 Feb 2008 -- A psychiatric hospital administrator in Iraq suspected of supplying mentally impaired women for al Qaeda terror missions was detained Feb. 10.
• 2nd Brigade Soldiers discover largest cache finds since start of Marne Thunderbolt (Arab Jabour) MNF-I 13 Feb 2008 -- Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division found 3,000 pounds of munitions Feb. 6, collectively the largest find since the start of Operation Marne Thunderbolt Jan. 1.
• Commandos Capture Key Taliban Leader Army News 13 Feb 2008 -- Afghan National Army Commandos from the 203rd Kandak, assisted by Coalition forces, captured a key insurgent facilitator in Khowst Province Feb. 9.
• Coalition Forces Kill 1 Terrorist, Capture 3 in Afghanistan AFPS 13 Feb 2008 -- An armed assailant was killed, and three individuals were detained during a coalition operation yesterday in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province, military officials said.
• Air Force Team Aids Afghan Police With Ordnance Disposal AFPS 13 Feb 2008 -- Airmen from the 755th Air Expeditionary Group's explosive ordnance disposal team recently helped Afghanistan National Police here dispose of unexploded ordnance.
• AFGHANISTAN: Donors pledge US$31 million in food aid IRIN 13 Feb 2008 -- The USA, Canada and Denmark have contributed US$31 million to a joint UN and government appeal to provide a temporary safety net for 2.55 million vulnerable Afghans facing food-insecurity, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said.
• PAKISTAN: Gearing up for another Afghan repatriation drive IRIN 13 Feb 2008 -- As the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) gears up for another Afghan repatriation drive, it is clear that fewer Afghans could return home from Pakistan this year because of continuing insecurity in Afghanistan and the fact that there will be no special UN assistance for unregistered refugees as in 2007.
• Senior British Diplomat: 'Defeat' a Real Possibility in Afghanistan VOA 13 Feb 2008 -- Senior British diplomat Paddy Ashdown says defeat is a real possibility in Afghanistan, unless NATO changes its strategy.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Senate Vote Bans CIA from Waterboarding VOA 13 Feb 2008 -- The U.S. Senate has defied a veto threat from President Bush and approved legislation that would prohibit intelligence agencies from using extreme interrogation techniques, including waterboarding
• Opinion: Interrogation Experts Call for Senate to require Adherence to Army Field Manual 13 Feb 2008
• Bush Presses Lawmakers to Approve Controversial Anti-Terror Bill VOA 13 Feb 2008 -- President Bush is pressing the U.S. House of Representatives to act quickly to renew controversial legislation that allows U.S. intelligence agents to monitor suspected terrorist communications without a court warrant
• Retired general becomes Air Force's newest fighter ace AFPN 13 Feb 2008 -- A retired general had been waiting on a call for some time; 55 years to be exact.
• Officials delay basing decision for Air Force Cyber Command AFPN 13 Feb 2008 -- The decision for the final location of the Air Force Cyber Command was expected to be finalized before the official Oct. 1 stand up of the command, but Air Force leaders now say it will not be made until closer to the end of the year.
• Pentagon Officials Press Congress to Pass Defense Budget AFPS 13 Feb 2008 -- Top Pentagon officials today urged Congress to approve a fiscal 2009 defense budget that would grow and modernize the U.S. military, and enhance servicemembers' quality of life.
• Former Iraq Corps Commander Leads IED Defeat Effort AFPS 13 Feb 2008 -- With roadside bomb attacks down in both Iraq and Afghanistan, the director of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization said today he's committed to keeping the Defense Department's collective eye focused on the threat.
• Army Demonstrates Training Tools to Congress Army News 13 Feb 2008 -- Several of the Army's latest techno training tools were displayed on Capitol Hill last week, including a life-size medical mannequin that can blink, tear, salivate and even show allergic reactions, and a real-time language translator Soldier's wear on their wrist that will speak for them.
• War College Previews Future Robotics Army News 13 Feb 2008
• CNO Speaks at National Defense University Navy NewsStand 13 Feb 2008 -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead spoke to students at the National Defense University Feb. 13 about "A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower" and explained how he intends to move from strategy to action.
• Navy Aircraft Lost at Sea off Guam During Training, Crew Safely Recovered Navy NewsStand 13 Feb 2008 -- A Navy EA-6B Prowler assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 136, part of Carrier Air Wing 5, was lost at sea during training Feb. 12 at approximately 4 p.m., 28 nautical miles off Andersen Air Force Base.
• MSC Ships Deliver Vital Supplies to Antarctic Research Station Navy NewsStand 13 Feb 2008 -- Military Sealift Command (MSC) dry cargo ship MV American Tern (T-AK 4729) left the National Science Foundation's McMurdo Station in Antarctica Feb. 12, after delivering a year's worth of equipment and stores as part of Operation Deep Freeze.
• CNAF Air Boss Visits Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center Navy NewsStand 13 Feb 2008 -- Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF), Vice Adm. Thomas Kilcline Jr., visited Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon Jan. 31 to participate in and observe Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 training at Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC).
• Army, VA Sign Mutual Support Agreement Army News 13 Feb 2008 -- Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake signed a mutual support agreement, Feb. 12, outlining continued assistance to service members and their families transitioning through the military Disability Evaluation System.
• Navy Cargo Ship Assists with At-Sea Rescue Navy NewsStand 13 Feb 2008 -- Military Sealift Command large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Seay (T-AKR 302) assisted with an at-sea rescue operation Feb. 9 in the Straits of Gibraltar.
• Essex Trains for Civilian Evacuations During NEO Drill Navy NewsStand 13 Feb 2008 -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) conducted a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) drill Feb. 11, during the ship's spring patrol.
• Navy Region Northwest Clarifies Political Activities Guidelines Navy NewsStand 13 Feb 2008 -- The Navy Region Northwest Staff Judge Advocate released its guidelines and restrictions on political activities for military personnel and Department of Defense (DoD) civilians Feb. 8, just in time for the active and hotly contested election year.
• Ukraine ready to adopt laws against NATO base deployment RIA Novosti 13 Feb 2008 -- Ukraine is ready to adopt laws to prevent NATO military bases from being deployed on its territory in the event of the country joining the military alliance, Ukraine's president said on Wednesday.
• Press Briefing by National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley on the President's Trip to Africa The White House 13 Feb 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 13, 2008
• Boeing Receives FAA Certification for Japan KC-767 Tanker Boeing 13 Feb 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today completed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification requirements for Japan's first KC-767 Tanker, receiving the FAA stamp of approval in the form of a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC).
• EADS Defence & Security launches a high-speed data solutions concept and introduces a Complete Task application for field operations EADS 13 Feb 2008 -- EADS Secure Networks (SN) has launched FortecorTM , a new concept for high-speed, professional mobile radio communications.
• Raytheon Finishes the Year with Two Patriot Awards Totaling $377 Million Raytheon 13 Feb 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) wrapped up 2007 with two Patriot contract awards totaling $377 million, bringing the total value of its 2007 domestic Patriot awards to more than $600 million.
• GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team Completes Successful Design Milestone GE Aviation 13 Feb 2008 -- The GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team has successfully completed its Critical Design Review, a major milestone in the F136 engine development program.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 13 Feb 2008
• Security sector reform depends on national will and capacity, UN report says UN News Centre 13 Feb 2008 -- Security sector reform in any country will not succeed unless there is commitment, leadership and capacity from key figures and institutions in that State, a new United Nations report says.
• COTE D'IVOIRE: Former child soldiers still at risk IRIN 13 Feb 2008 -- Militias in Cote d'Ivoire have stopped recruiting children into their ranks and all the groups were taken off the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's global list of child recruiters, according to the 2007 annual UN report on children and armed conflict issued in 2008.
• Violence puts some 2 million people in Somalia at risk, says UN UN News Centre 13 Feb 2008 -- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that there are up to 2 million vulnerable people in need of humanitarian aid in war-wracked Somalia, which has not had a functioning government since 1991 and where fighting has intensified in recent months.
• Armed attacks by unidentified group in southern Sudan concern UN officials UN News Centre 13 Feb 2008 -- Members of an unidentified armed group have launched a series of violent attacks against locals in southern Sudan's Central Equatoria state over the past month, prompting United Nations officials to organize the distribution of basic relief supplies to the affected population in the already impoverished region.
• Israel Sentences Soldier for Rogue Operation that Wounded Palestinian VOA 13 Feb 2008 -- An Israeli military court has sentenced an army officer to 15 months in prison for leading a rogue operation in which a Palestinian civilian was shot and wounded.
• SUDAN: Darfur attack leaves thousands needing aid IRIN 13 Feb 2008 -- Thousands of civilians recently attacked by government-backed militias in West Darfur need urgent assistance, a joint UN assessment mission has found.
• LEBANON: Government unveils rebuilding plan for ruined Palestinian camp IRIN 13 Feb 2008 -- The government launched a preliminary master plan on 12 February to rebuild Nahr El-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon, destroyed in a battle last year between the army and militant Islamists.
• 6 soldiers killed in LTTE attacks in Sri Lanka IRNA 13 Feb 2008 -- Six soldiers were killed and 10 others injured as the LTTE fired artillery targeting a church in the north- western district of Mannar on Tuesday, Sri Lankan military said.
• Balkans: Kosovo And Serbia Enter A New Era RFE/RL 13 Feb 2008 -- The government of Kosovo is widely expected to declare independence shortly on the basis of a UN-sponsored plan, with the backing of the United States and most of the EU.
• Russia joins Serbia's call for emergency UN session on Kosovo RIA Novosti 13 Feb 2008 -- Russia is backing Serbia's plea to the UN Security Council to hold an emergency session on "the extremely grave situation" in Kosovo on Thursday.
• EUFOR Resumes Challenging Deployment Along Sudan's Border VOA 13 Feb 2008 -- The European peacekeeping force known as EUFOR has resumed deploying in the refugee-swamped border region near Sudan
• Red Cross Alarmed by Civilian Casualties in Sri Lanka VOA 13 Feb 2008 -- The International Red Cross says civilian casualties in Sri Lanka have reached appalling levels, as fighting between the military and Tamil Tiger rebels intensifies.
• E. Timor Prepares Arrest Warrants in Connection with Assassination Attempt VOA 13 Feb 2008 -- East Timor's embattled government is preparing arrest warrants for 18 men believed to have been involved in the assassination attempts on the country's president and prime minister

News Reports

• Radelet: Bush Policies Have Made a Difference in Africa cfr.org 13 Feb 2008
• Backgrounder: President Bush Travels to Africa cfr.org 13 Feb 2008 -- President George W. Bush travels to Africa in February 2008, his second trip to the continent while in office (the first was in 2003).
• Backgrounder: Profile: Imad Mugniyah cfr.org 13 Feb 2008
• Hezbollah says top commander killed by Israel's Mossad RIA Novosti 13 Feb 2008 -- Hezbollah has blamed Israel's secret service for the death on Wednesday of one the Lebanese radical group's top commanders, implicated in several attacks on U.S. and Israeli targets.
• Hezbollah Announces Killing of Top Agent, Imad Mughniyeh VOA 13 Feb 2008 -- Lebanon's pro-Iranian Hezbollah guerilla group is accusing Israel in the car bomb explosion in Damascus, overnight, that killed Hezbollah terrorist Imad Mugniyah - wanted in dozens of terror attacks Lebanon and elsewhere
• Israel Denies Involvement in Hezbollah Leader's Death VOA 13 Feb 2008 -- Officials in Israel say they are not responsible for the bombing that killed Imad Mughniyeh, a senior Hezbollah leader involved in terrorist attacks against Israel and the West for three decades
• Rice Calls Russian Threats on Ukraine Unacceptable VOA 13 Feb 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Wednesday condemned implicit threats by Russian President Vladimir Putin against Ukraine, if the Kyiv government upgrades its relationship with NATO
• Myanmar: Secretary-General convenes 'Group of Friends' meeting UN News Centre 13 Feb 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today convened a meeting of the 14 Member States known as the "Group of Friends" to review developments in Myanmar, where the Government forcefully cracked down on peaceful protesters last year.
• Pakistani Police Announce Breakthrough in Bhutto Assassination Probe VOA 13 Feb 2008 -- Pakistani police investigating the murder of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto say two suspects in custody have confessed to helping the suicide bomber who carried out the attack.