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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 20 Feb 2008 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• MND-N Soldiers attacked in Ninevah Province (Mosul)
• Multi-National Division - Center Soldier attacked by IED
• Operational Update: Rear Adm. Smith MNF-I 20 Feb 2008 -- Rear Adm. Gregory Smith, director of MNF-I's Communication Division, provides an operational update, Feb. 20.
• Troops in Iraq Identify Slain Terrorist, Rescue Civilian, Destroy Bombs AFPS 20 Feb 2008 -- Iraqi and coalition troops identified a slain terrorist, rescued a kidnapped civilian and destroyed a munitions cache in Iraq over the past three days.
• Al Qaeda in Iraq Leaders Killed or Captured, But Threat Continues AFPS 20 Feb 2008 -- Coalition forces in recent days have killed or captured three terrorist leaders responsible for planning or conducting attacks in Iraq or supplying other terrorists with supplies or training to attack, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman reported today.
• Nassau Strike Group Deploys Navy NewsStand 20 Feb 2008 -- The Nassau Strike Group (NASSG), with its more than 2,800 Sailors and Marines, deployed Feb. 19-20 for a regularly scheduled deployment to the Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO).
• Troops in Afghanistan Seize Insurgents, Drugs, Destroy Weapons AFPS 20 Feb 2008 -- Afghan and coalition troops captured 22 suspected insurgents, seized massive quantities of illegal narcotics and destroyed a weapons cache in Afghanistan over the past two days.
• AFGHANISTAN: Psychological scars of violence on children IRIN 20 Feb 2008 -- Hundreds of schoolchildren who witnessed a deadly explosion and its aftermath in Baghlan Province, northern Afghanistan, on 6 November are suffering mental and psychological scars, health specialists and affected residents say.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD Succeeds In Intercepting Non-Functioning Satellite 20 Feb 2008 -- A network of land-, air-, sea- and spaced-based sensors confirms that the U.S. military intercepted a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite which was in its final orbits before entering the earth's atmosphere.
• Navy Missile Hits Decaying Satellite Over Pacific Ocean AFPS 20 Feb 2008 -- A network of land-, air-, sea- and spaced-based sensors confirms that the U.S. military intercepted a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite which was in its final orbits before entering the earth's atmosphere, defense officials announced in a press release.
• Defense Department Background Briefing on the Satellite Intercept Attempt 20 Feb 2008 -- Presenter: Senior Military Official
• Pentagon Opens Window of Time to Shoot Down Satellite AFPS 20 Feb 2008 -- The Pentagon has opened the window of time in which it will shoot down a malfunctioning U.S. reconnaissance satellite, a senior U.S. military officer said here today.
• Opinion: Satellite Shootdown BAD IDEA By J. Mason 20 Feb 2008
• US Satellite Shoot-Down Not Expected Wednesday VOA 20 Feb 2008 -- A senior U.S. military official says high waves in the Pacific, west of Hawaii, Wednesday will likely prevent a first attempt to use a specially modified ship-based missile to shoot down a falling U.S. satellite
• Bush Says No New US Military Bases in Africa VOA 20 Feb 2008 -- President Bush says the United States has no plans to build new military bases in Africa
• The Air Guard migrates to the Air Force Public Web AFPN 20 Feb 2008 -- The Air National Guard has joined the Air Force in consolidating its public Web sites under one network, the Air Force Public Web.
• Joint STARS goes beyond line of sight AFPN 20 Feb 2008 -- A straight line is the shortest distance between two points and the best way for communication to pass from one to the other, unless the earth's curvature prevents it.
• First MH-60R Weapons Load Trainer Delivered to Fleet Navy NewsStand 20 Feb 2008 -- The first MH-60R weapons load trainer (WLT) was delivered to the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) North Island, Feb. 19.
• NASWI Makes Preparations for EA-18G Arrival Navy NewsStand 20 Feb 2008 -- Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) held a groundbreaking at Hangar 5, Feb. 15, to kick off its recapitalization in preparation for the arrival of the EA-18G Growler.
• Combined Maritime Forces Commander Meets With Japanese Media Navy NewsStand 20 Feb 2008 -- Commander, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), met with Japanese media Feb. 19 to discuss resumption of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's (JMSDF) refueling mission.
• Illegal Smuggling at Sea Ends After Coalition Interception Navy NewsStand 20 Feb 2008 -- Two coalition warships have intercepted and stopped illegal smuggling activities in the North Arabian Sea Feb. 18-19.
• Africa Partnership Station Returns to Cameroon Navy NewsStand 20 Feb 2008 -- Africa Partnership Stations (APS) arrived in Limbe, Feb. 20 for a return visit aboard Amphibious Dock Landing Ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43).
• USS Ohio Arrives in Busan Navy NewsStand 20 Feb 2008 -- USS Ohio (SSGN 726), the U.S. Navy's newly converted guided-missile submarine, arrived in Busan, Republic of Korea (ROK), Feb. 20 for a scheduled port visit.
• SECNAV Visits USS Virginia Navy NewsStand 20 Feb 2008 -- The Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), Donald C. Winter, came aboard USS Virginia (SSN 774) and spent the day touring the ship and meeting the crew.
• Ramstein firefighters train in mass casualty exercise AFPN 20 Feb 2008 -- Firefighters from the 435th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Protection Flight faced billowing smoke and screaming casualties during a mass casualty exercise Feb. 11 at Ramstein Air Base.
• Deployed Airmen may qualify for assignments, deferments AFPN 20 Feb 2008 -- Some deployed Airmen who have served uncharacteristically long tours of duty will become qualified for a special advance assignment/deferment program, Air Force Personnel Center officials here said recently.
• Chairman Discusses Risk Assessments AFPS 20 Feb 2008 -- The United States will continue to face military risks even when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan end, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said yesterday.
• Gates Departs on Nine-Day World Trip AFPS 20 Feb 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates left today on a nine-day trip around the world aimed at reinforcing relationships with some countries he has yet to visit as defense secretary.
• Mullen Wishes Kosovo Well, Says NATO Mission Won't Change AFPS 20 Feb 2008 -- NATO will continue its mission in the newly independent republic of Kosovo, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here yesterday.
• Gates Discusses Adriatic Nations' Desire to Join NATO AFPS 20 Feb 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met today with the defense ministers of Albania, Croatia and Macedonia to discuss their progress in making the reforms required for them to join NATO, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters.
• Lakota Leaders Join Army to Welcome New Helicopter Fleet Army News 20 Feb 2008 -- Rosebud Sioux tribal leaders joined the Army Feb. 5 to celebrate the proud name for a new Army helicopter - the UH-72A Lakota.
• Army Helping Soldiers Heal at Wiesbaden WTU Army News 20 Feb 2008 -- Wiesbaden's wounded warriors now have a healing hospice designed by community caretakers to ensure their personal recovery takes top priority.
• Putin demands more aircraft for Russian Air Force RIA Novosti 20 Feb 2008 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded on Wednesday that the state program for arms procurement be adjusted to increase the number of modern combat aircraft for the Air Force.
• Russian Air Force to receive new Su-35 fighters by 2011 RIA Novosti 20 Feb 2008 -- The new Su-35 Flanker-E multi-role fighter will be put into service with the Russian Air Force in two-three years, the head of the Sukhoi aircraft manufacturer said on Wednesday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 20 Feb 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 20, 2008
• Boeing Australia Limited and AgustaWestland Team for Helicopter Training Proposal Boeing 20 Feb 2008 -- Boeing Australia Limited and AgustaWestland today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to propose an integrated helicopter aircrew training system to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for the Air 9000 Phase 7 program.
• Northrop Grumman's MQ-8B Fire Scout to be Tested and Evaluated Early On An Additional Air-Capable Ship Northrop Grumman 20 Feb 2008 -- The U.S. Navy has decided to integrate Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) onto another air-capable ship before it reaches the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
• Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker Carefully Designed to Meet or Exceed Key Performance Parameters Designated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff for America's Next Generation Tanker Northrop Grumman 20 Feb 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) stated today that its KC-30 Tanker was carefully designed to meet or exceed all KC-X Tanker Replacement Program Key Performance Parameters, or KPPs, designated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). KPPs in nine key areas were reviewed and approved by the U.S. Defense Department's Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC).
• Northrop Grumman and Oshkosh Select Plasan to Develop Armor for Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Northrop Grumman 20 Feb 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) have selected Plasan, a leading developer and manufacturer of add-on armor systems for the military and commercial market, to assist with the design and engineering of the armor for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program.
• Northrop Grumman and Oshkosh Select Plasan to Develop Armor for Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Oshkosh 20 Feb 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) have selected Plasan, a leading developer and manufacturer of add-on armor systems for the military and commercial market, to assist with the design and engineering of the armor for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program.
• Pratt & Whitney Awarded $521.2 Million Contract for F119 Engine Support Pratt & Whitney 20 Feb 2008 -- Pratt & Whitney was awarded a $521.2 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to maintain F119 engines for the F-22 Raptor.
• Raytheon awarded Paveway(TM) IV Weapon Integration contract for U.K. RAF Tornado GR4 Raytheon 20 Feb 2008 -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) United Kingdom-based subsidiary has been awarded a contract to support the integration and flight trials of the Paveway(TM) IV dual mode precision guided bomb onto the U.K. Royal Air Force Tornado GR4/4A
• Boeing Awarded Air Force Contract for Advanced Laser Development and Testing Boeing 20 Feb 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a $49 million U.S. Air Force contract to advance the state of the art in laser technology.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 20 Feb 2008
• Violence not an option, stresses UN envoy to Kosovo UN News Centre 20 Feb 2008 -- All sides in Kosovo, which declared its independence from Serbia on Sunday, must refrain from violence, the top United Nations official there said today, noting that the situation is currently calm following yesterday's attacks on two border crossings.
• EU Launches Kosovo Mission Amid Tensions VOA 20 Feb 2008 -- The European Union has begun setting up its 2,000-member police and judicial mission in Kosovo, to oversee the region's independence
• Germany recognizes Kosovo as sovereign state IRNA 20 Feb 2008 -- Germany on Wednesday extended diplomatic recognition to Kosovo, which declared its independence from Serbia on Sunday.
• Kosovo: Tensions Prompt Border Closure With Serbia RFE/RL 20 Feb 2008 -- NATO-led forces have sealed two border crossings along Serbia's frontier with newly independent Kosovo after Serbs angry at Kosovo's secession ransacked them.
• Kosovo: Will Divorce From Serbia Be Better Than Forced Marriage? RFE/RL 20 Feb 2008 -- Balkan-watchers are wondering whether Kosovo can come out from under centuries of bad blood and thrive as a free state -- and whether Serbia will let it.
• Russia says its proposals on Kosovo status valid RIA Novosti 20 Feb 2008 -- Russian proposals on Kosovo's status, earlier submitted to the UN Security Council, remain in force, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.
• Former Bosnian Croat leaders granted temporary leave by UN war crimes tribunal UN News Centre 20 Feb 2008 -- Five former senior Bosnian Croat figures facing trial over their actions during the Balkan wars of the 1990s have been granted temporary release by the United Nations war crimes tribunal set up to deal with the worst crimes of that era.
• Security Council agrees to increase number of judges at UN's Balkans tribunal UN News Centre 20 Feb 2008 -- The Security Council today authorized Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to appoint up to four extra judges to the United Nations tribunal set up after the Balkan wars of the 1990s to help that court better meet its target to try all defendants by the end of this year.
• UN-backed talks on easing Georgia-Abkhaz tensions wrap up UN News Centre 20 Feb 2008 -- Two days of United Nations-backed talks on the Georgia-Abkhaz conflict have ended, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to a peace process led by the world body.
• Worsening situation in West Darfur jeopardizes aid efforts - UN report UN News Centre 20 Feb 2008 -- The security situation in West Darfur has deteriorated so sharply in the past two months that the United Nations' efforts to bring humanitarian relief to those in need is being severely undermined, a new UN report says, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and warning that the region needs many more peacekeepers.
• Security Council extends African Union mission in Somalia by six months UN News Centre 20 Feb 2008 -- The Security Council today extended for another six months the African Union-led mission in Somalia, which has been helping the war-wracked country that has not had a functioning government since 1991 to achieve national reconciliation and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.
• UN probes killings by Government forces, rebels in eastern DR Congo UN News Centre 20 Feb 2008 -- The United Nations peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) said today that it is investigating human rights violations committed by both Government troops and rebel groups in the eastern part of the strife-torn nation.
• Ban Ki-moon welcomes 'breakthrough' Ugandan agreement with northern rebels UN News Centre 20 Feb 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the signing of an agreement by the Ugandan Government and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) to set up accountability and reconciliation measures to help end the conflict that has ravaged the north of the country for two decades.
• SRI LANKA: Escalating war takes toll on children IRIN 20 Feb 2008 -- Children in Sri Lanka are increasingly being killed and injured and having their education disrupted as bomb attacks blamed on the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) as well as government security forces drive families from their homes in search of safety.
• SUDAN: "Abyei a potential flashpoint for conflict" - UN envoy IRIN 20 Feb 2008 -- Sudan's Abyei region is a possible troublespot from which conflict could resume, three years after a comprehensive agreement was signed to end civil war between the north and south, the UN special envoy to Sudan has warned.
• SOMALIA: Clashes force nomads out of south-central region IRIN 20 Feb 2008 -- Hundreds of nomadic families have fled the Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan regions of south-central Somalia after clashes between two communities claimed dozens of lives, sources said.
• KENYA: Violence unabated in Mt Elgon district IRIN 20 Feb 2008 -- Sporadic killings are continuing in western Kenya's Mt Elgon district where a dispute over land ownership sparked violence and widespread displacement of people in 2006.
• SUDAN-CHAD: Bombing blocks access to new refugees IRIN 20 Feb 2008 -- The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is warning that its teams in eastern Chad that have been providing assistance to 10,000 newly arrived refugees from Sudan's West Darfur region have been forced to withdraw because of aerial bombing across the border, close to where the refugees are located.
• 2 soldiers, 25 Tamil Tigers killed in Lanka clashes IRNA 20 Feb 2008 -- At two soldiers and 25 Tamil Tigers were killed in fierce clashes in Sri Lanka's embattled northern region, officials said in Colombo on Tuesday.
• South Ossetia's leader says recognition may come "this year" RIA Novosti 20 Feb 2008 -- The leader of the de facto independent breakaway Georgian republic of South Ossetia said on Wednesday that some countries may recognize the republic's sovereignty later this year.
• Chad Rebels Cautiously Await European Force Deployment VOA 20 Feb 2008 -- After weeks of delays, European peacekeeping forces are preparing to travel to Chad's troubled eastern border with Sudan
• Senior Palestinian Calls for Kosovo-Like Independence VOA 20 Feb 2008 -- A senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says Palestinians should follow the example of Kosovo and unilaterally declare independence
• UN Troops in Eritrea Move to Capital VOA 20 Feb 2008 -- The United Nations has instructed its peacekeepers monitoring the Ethiopia-Eritrea border to regroup in the Eritrean capital Asmara

News Reports

• Analysis: U.S. Scrambles to Remake Pakistan Policy cfr.org 20 Feb 2008 -- The unstinting support Washington has lent to Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf throughout the past year of tumult has led to something of a crisis for U.S. policy toward Pakistan
• Pakistani President Calls for 'Harmonious Coalition' Following Opposition Election Wins VOA 20 Feb 2008 -- Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf is calling for a "harmonious coalition" in the new national assembly, which is now dominated by opposition parties
• US Diplomat Says Cuban President Likely Will Remain Involved After Resignation VOA 20 Feb 2008 -- A former U.S. diplomat to Cuba says Cuban President Fidel Castro likely will still have a role in Cuban politics, despite announcing his resignation after 49 years in power.