• 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 15 Feb 2008 [PDF]
• Gen. David Petraeus Radio Interview, Feb. 15, 2008 MNF-I 15 Feb 2008
• Feb. 14 airpower summary: C-130s support coalition forces AFPN 15 Feb 2008
• Wolfhounds capture brigade's #1 high-value individual MNF-I 15 Feb 2008 -- Elements of 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, detained the brigade's number-one high-value individual and his brother early Feb. 14.
• Coalition Targets Suicide-Bombing Cell, IED Network AFPS 15 Feb 2008 -- Coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained 10 suspects yesterday and today during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks in northern and central Iraq, military officials said.
• Austin Assumes Command of Multinational Corps Iraq AFPS 15 Feb 2008 -- Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III assumed command of Multinational Corps Iraq at Camp Victory's Al Faw Palace here yesterday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Lt. Gen. Ham and Lt. Gen. Sattler from the Pentagon 15 Feb 2008 -- Presenter: Director for Operations, Joint Staff, Lt. Gen. Carter Ham and Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Staff Lt. Gen. John Sattler
• Hungarian air force leaders visit Ramstein AFPN 15 Feb 2008 -- Third Air Force officials hosted a delegate of Hungarian air force leaders at Ramstein Air Base Feb. 5 and 6 and shared C-17 Globemaster III interoperability procedures with its European neighbor.
• DOD health officials host first medical 'Webhall' AFPN 15 Feb 2008 -- The Pentagon's top doctor, S. Ward Casscells, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, hosted a Web-based live "Webhall" Feb 14, a first for the military health system.
• Multiservice team provides presidential support in Africa AFPN 15 Feb 2008 -- A team of Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines are currently arriving and working in Africa to provide support for a series of country visits by President George Bush.
• Air Force C-5 Galaxy modernization program certified AFPN 15 Feb 2008 -- Air Force officials announced today that officials in the office of the under secretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics have certified the C-5 Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program for 49 additional aircraft.
• Top Army Doc Cites Progress One Year After Walter Reed Revelations AFPS 15 Feb 2008 -- The Army has made huge improvements in the way it cares for combat-wounded troops during the year since news reports brought problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to light, the Army surgeon general told Congress today.
• Yuma Testing Systems for War on Terror Army News 15 Feb 2008 -- The Developmental Test Command at Yuma Proving Ground has conducted a considerable workload of testing to help the Army develop weapon systems and munitions to fight the war on terror
• Walter Reed's Warrior Clinic Officialy Opens Army News 15 Feb 2008 -- Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Richard Cody were at Walter Reed Army Medical Center today for the official opening and ribbon cutting of the hospital's Warrior Clinic.
• ACAP 'Express' to Debut Feb. 28 Army News 15 Feb 2008 -- The launch of the Army Career Alumni Program Express, Feb. 28, will give Soldiers, their Families and Civilians a jump start on new careers as they retire or separate from the Army.
• Bataan Leaves Dry Dock, Moors Pierside Navy NewsStand 15 Feb 2008 -- The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) moved out of dry dock to her new berth at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Feb. 7 as part of her depot planned maintenance availability (DPMA).
• Boxer Trains Makin Island Sailors Navy NewsStand 15 Feb 2008 -- USS Boxer (LHD 4) hosted Sailors from Pre-Commissioning Detachment Makin Island (LHD 8) while underway for its Unit Level Training Assessment-Certification (ULTRA-C) off the coast of Southern California Feb. 12-14.
• VCNO, Principal Deputy ASN Visit at NAVSUP Headquarters Navy NewsStand 15 Feb 2008 -- Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Adm. Patrick M. Walsh and Principal Deputy, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development & Acquisition) Vice Adm. David Architzel visited Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Headquarters Feb. 13.
• Boxer Begins ULTRA, Tests Training Teams Navy NewsStand 15 Feb 2008 -- USS Boxer (LHD 4) began its Unit Level Training Assessment - Certification (ULTRA-C) Feb. 12-14 while underway off the coast of Southern California.
• CFFC Emphasizes Stability, Consistency, Clarity in IA Detailing Navy NewsStand 15 Feb 2008 -- Adm. Jonathan Greenert, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (CFFC), emphasized the need to provide stability, consistency and clarity to Sailors preparing to deploy as individual augmentees (IAs) under the Navy's Global War on Terrorism Support Assignment (GSA) detailing system in an address to the San Diego Military Advisory Council meeting here Feb. 13.
• Mid-Atlantic Gets Crisis Planning Training Navy NewsStand 15 Feb 2008 -- Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic (CNRMA) Crisis Action Team took part in three days of command, control and communications training, and participated in an integrated exercise in Norfolk, Feb. 12-15.
• Soldiers' Online Chats Produce Valuable Army Knowledge, Colonel Says AFPS 15 Feb 2008 -- The Army is trying to capitalize on the practices of "digital natives" by creating online communities for soldiers to exchange information, with the hope of turning into servicewide knowledge, a senior officer said yesterday.
• Whidbey Island Commemorates 35th Anniversary of Operation Homecoming Navy NewsStand 15 Feb 2008 -- Vietnam War veterans and members of the Whidbey Island community gathered to remember Operation Homecoming at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Feb. 12.
• Mustin Flight Deck Crew Prepares For Worst-Case Scenario Navy NewsStand 15 Feb 2008 -- The Crash and Salvage Team aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) trained for a worst-case scenario on the ship's flight deck Feb. 13.
• DESRON 21 Hosts ASW Conference Navy NewsStand 15 Feb 2008 -- Navy officers and civilian analysts met at Independence Auditorium on Naval Base San Diego, Feb. 8, to discuss and coordinate training exercises during an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) conference hosted by Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21, Capt. Mike Salvato.
• 22 NCR's Training Department Provides Deployment Readiness Navy NewsStand 15 Feb 2008 -- In preparation for their upcoming deployment to the Al Anbar Province of Iraq in support of Multi-National Forces-West, the 22nd Naval Construction Regiment's (NCR) training department has been very busy over the past few months.
• Russia tracks rogue U.S. satellite containing nuclear material RIA Novosti 15 Feb 2008 -- Russia's Defense Ministry is closely monitoring a U.S. spy satellite that has gone out of control and may have nuclear material on board, a high-ranking defense source said on Friday.
• Russian Armed Forces more mobile, combat ready - Putin RIA Novosti 15 Feb 2008 -- Russia's Armed Forces have become more mobile and combat ready in recent years, President Vladimir Putin said Friday.
• Indian Air Force's fighter plane 'MiG 21' crashes IRNA 15 Feb 2008 -- MiG-21, an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter plane crashed Friday in the border district of Kutch in Gujarat state.
• Pilot killed as Pakistan Air Force fighter plane crashes IRNA 15 Feb 2008 -- A pilot was killed as French-made Mirage fighter plane of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) crashed near the city of Sargodha in eastern Punjab province on Friday, the PAF said.
• Military procurement should be overseen by legislature: speaker CNA 15 Feb 2008 -- Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng said Friday that it would be "more normal and reasonable" if military procurement and related industries, which are important to national security, can be overseen by the legislature.
• Premier defends controversial private defense company CNA 15 Feb 2008 -- Premier Chang Chun-hsiung reaffirmed Friday that the controversial establishment of a private company to handle Taiwan's foreign arms transactions was appropriate and necessary to "develop an independent defense industry."
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 15 Feb 2008
• Press Gaggle by Scott Stanzel The White House 15 Feb 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 14, 2008
• BAE SYSTEMS TO PARTNER WITH BMT AND DSME FOR MARS FLEET TANKERS BAE Systems 15 Feb 2008 -- A consortium led by BAE Systems has today submitted its response to the Ministry of Defence's Pre-Qualifying Questionnaire (PQQ) to design and build up to six fleet tankers for the UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
• General Dynamics .50 Caliber Ammunition First to be Qualified for NATO Interchangeability General Dynamics 15 Feb 2008 -- General Dynamics announced today that its 12.7mm (.50 caliber) C162 Ball and C163 Tracer cartridges are qualified for NATO interoperability, according to the NATO International Panel on Standard Small Arms Ammunition.
• Russia, Ukraine to revive An-70 joint project - defense minister RIA Novosti 15 Feb 2008 -- Russia will resume a joint project with Ukraine to build An-70 military transport aircraft after an almost 2-year delay in setting up the program, the Ukrainian defense minister said on Friday.
• ATK Advanced Hypersonic Test Combustor Completes Acceptance Tests at U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tennessee ATK 15 Feb 2008 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) announced today that the U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) has completed acceptance testing of a state-of-the-art Combustion Air Heater (CAH).
• Thales wins UK target locator system competition Thales 15 Feb 2008 -- Defence Secretary Des Browne has today announced that Thales UK has been awarded a £30m contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply the latest version of its Joint-Target Acquisition System (J-TAS) to meet the MoD's Surveillance System and Range Finding (SSARF) requirement. He made the announcement during a visit to the company's Glasgow facility, where the equipment will be built.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 15 Feb 2008
• UN refugee agency alarmed after armed group prevents relocation of Darfurians UN News Centre 15 Feb 2008 -- Unidentified gunmen today blocked attempts by the United Nations refugee agency to move 179 Darfurian families away from the volatile border region and into formal camps in eastern Chad, sparking concern among humanitarian officials.
• UN Police trainers to meet in Ghana to discuss plans for Darfur force UN News Centre 15 Feb 2008 -- Senior international police trainers will gather in Ghana next week to coordinate plans to run pre-deployment training for the thousands of United Nations police - the largest-ever UN Police contingent - mandated to serve in the joint peacekeeping mission to Sudan's troubled Darfur region.
• CHAD: Armed group blocks UNHCR from moving new Sudanese refugees IRIN 15 Feb 2008 -- Efforts by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in eastern Chad to move newly-arrived Sudanese refugees from West Darfur to camps away from the volatile border were blocked by an unknown armed group, according to an agency spokeswoman.
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC-CHAD: CAR refugees not ready to return home IRIN 15 Feb 2008 -- Around 6,000 refugees from Central African Republic have arrived in the Goré region of Southern Chad over the last two months. Some of them say categorically that they will never go home, and that if insecurity spreads to the south of Chad, they will then go elsewhere.
• Security Council extends arms embargo against militia groups in DR Congo UN News Centre 15 Feb 2008 -- The Security Council today extended its arms embargo and other sanctions against militias operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) until the end of March, underlining that it remains deeply concerned about the presence of unauthorized armed groups, especially in the east of the vast and impoverished country.
• Security Council, UN officials urge Eritrea to stop blocking mission's relocation UN News Centre 15 Feb 2008 -- Top United Nations officials and the Security Council today appealed to Eritrea to stop obstructing the temporary relocation of the personnel and equipment of the UN mission across the border to Ethiopia amid growing concern over rapidly dwindling food and fuel supplies for the blue helmets.
• UGANDA: Military action an option if peace talks fail - government IRIN 15 Feb 2008 -- Renewed military action against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) would be an option if peace talks between the insurgency and the Ugandan government did not lead to an agreement by the end of February, a spokesman for the state delegation said.
• Kosovo may influence Russian ties with Georgia breakaway regions RIA Novosti 15 Feb 2008 -- Russia could be forced to reconsider its relations with two Georgian breakaway regions if Kosovo declares independence and it is recognized by other states, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
• Serbia may recall ambassadors from EU states over Kosovo RIA Novosti 15 Feb 2008 -- Serbia's ambassadors to a host of EU states have packed their belongings and are ready to return to Belgrade if Kosovo declares unilateral independence, the Serbian Blic newspaper said on Friday.
• UN refugee agency aids 55,000 Congolese returning to Katanga UN News Centre 15 Feb 2008 -- The United Nations refugee agency is distributing supplies to some 55,000 displaced people who have returned to their homes in the southern province of Katanga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
• Kenya Mediator Outlines Agreement, Says Deal Is Close VOA 15 Feb 2008 -- The chief mediator in the Kenya reconciliation talks, Kofi Annan, says difficult steps remain before the government and opposition can reach a settlement to end the crisis over December's disputed elections, but he says a deal is close

News Reports

• Key US Lawmakers Seek to Resolve Standoff Over Wiretap Bill VOA 15 Feb 2008 -- The chairman of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee is to meet with his House counterpart Friday to try to resolve the political standoff over legislation to overhaul wiretapping legislation before current law expires Saturday
• Vaclav Klaus re-elected Czech president RIA Novosti 15 Feb 2008 -- The Czech Republic's incumbent President Vaclav Klaus has been re-elected head of state by parliament, the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Miloslav Vlcek, said on Friday.
• Russian parliament could approve 7-year presidential term - paper RIA Novosti 15 Feb 2008 -- Russia's parliament may pass a bill this year to extend the presidential term from the current four to six or seven years, a respected daily said on Friday.
• Pakistan Prepares for Crucial Elections VOA 15 Feb 2008 -- Voters in Pakistan go to the polls Monday in one of the most crucial elections in the South Asian nation's 60-year history
• Analysis: A Crucial Vote in Pakistan cfr.org 15 Feb 2008 -- Many have expressed hope that Pakistan's February 18 parliamentary elections (ElectionGuide.org) will bring political stability to a country torn by militancy, emergency rule, and political upheaval
• PAKISTAN: Schools in Lahore face bomb threats ahead of polls IRIN 15 Feb 2008 -- As uncertainty continues in the run-up to next week's potentially violent elections in Pakistan, a new wave of fear and panic has been created by a series of threats to schools in Lahore, the capital of the Punjab Province.