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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 21 Feb 2008 [PDF]
• Marine attacked in Al Anbar Province
• Feb. 20 airpower summary: F-15s destroy enemy targets AFPN 21 Feb 2008
• Feb. 19 airpower summary: A-10s conduct show of force AFPN 21 Feb 2008
• Pause Should Not Slow Down Troops' Return, Gates Says AFPS 21 Feb 2008 -- A short pause after the initial withdrawal of five brigade combat teams from Iraq should not sideline efforts to bring more troops home by the end of the year, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today.
• Coalition Forces Kill Terrorist, Detain 20 Suspects AFPS 21 Feb 2008 -- Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained 20 suspected terrorists yesterday and today during operations to disrupt al Qaeda operations in central and northern Iraq, military officials reported.
• Iraqi Police Find 15 Bodies in Northeast Diyala Province VOA 21 Feb 2008 -- Iraqi authorities say they have found 15 bodies in northeastern Iraq's Diyala province.
• Over 30 Taliban militants killed in southern Afghanistan RIA Novosti 21 Feb 2008 -- Over 30 Taliban militants have been killed and 12 captured in an army operation in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand, an Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Britain Reveals US Used British Territory for Rendition Flights VOA 21 Feb 2008 -- Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband has revealed that the United States used the British territory of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to transport terrorism suspects in 2002
• Gates Pleased by Mission's Success AFPS 21 Feb 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates was pleased when he learned a U.S. Navy missile hit the crippled reconnaissance satellite that was falling out of orbit and threatening to spill its toxic rocket fuel upon re-entry.
• Navy Missile Likely Hit Fuel Tank on Disabled Satellite AFPS 21 Feb 2008 -- The missile fired from a U.S. Navy ship in the Pacific Ocean that hit a malfunctioning U.S. reconnaissance satellite late yesterday likely accomplished its goal of destroying the satellite's toxic fuel tank, a senior U.S. military officer said here today.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Gen. Cartwright from the Pentagon 21 Feb 2008 -- Presenter: Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright
• US Destroys Falling Satellite, Dangerous Fuel Likely Burned VOA 21 Feb 2008 -- A senior U.S. military officer says there is a high degree of confidence that the warhead from a missile fired by a U.S. Navy ship west of Hawaii late Wednesday hit the fuel tank of a failed American satellite, eliminating any significant danger from the satellite's fall to earth
• US Missile Shoots Down Wayward Spy Satellite VOA 21 Feb 2008 -- U.S officials say a missile launched from a Navy ship in the Pacific successfully hit a U.S. spy satellite more than 200 kilometers above the Earth
• Transparency of Satellite Shootdown Offers Model AFPS 21 Feb 2008 -- The way the United States handled the shootdown of a dead reconnaissance satellite last night offers a model of the transparency it encourages other countries more secretive about their military operations to adopt, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command said today.
• Gates Tours Backup Ship for Satellite Shot AFPS 21 Feb 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today toured the USS Russell, one of the three ships used for yesterday's shooting of the dying reconnaissance satellite orbiting Earth.
• Missile Defense System Works, Gates Says AFPS 21 Feb 2008 -- The Navy's outer-atmosphere blasting of an ailing U.S. spy satellite this week proves that the nation's missile defense systems work, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today.
• Belarus says U.S. tested new space weapon RIA Novosti 21 Feb 2008 -- The Belarusian defense minister accused the United States on Thursday of using the destruction of a defunct NASA satellite to test a new space weapon.
• Bush: U.S. Plans No New Military Bases in Africa AFPS 21 Feb 2008 -- The United States stood up U.S. Africa Command to provide military assistance to African nations, not as a springboard to opening new military bases there, President Bush said during his visit to Ghana yesterday.
• Pacific Command Strategy Hinges on Military Engagement AFPS 21 Feb 2008 -- Military preeminence and strategic cooperation are at the heart of every action taken by U.S. Pacific Command, the chief of America's largest combatant command said here yesterday.
• Gates Heads 'Down Under' for Australian-U.S. Talks AFPS 21 Feb 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates plans to discuss Australia's future efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and across the globe as he meets for the first time with the country's newly elected Prime Minister Kevin Rudd this weekend.
• Balikatan 08 kicks off in Philippine Jungle Army News 21 Feb 2008 -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines stood shoulder to shoulder with U.S. servicemembers at Camp Aguinaldo Feb. 18, watching the uncasing of the Balikatan Colors, beginning the annual bilateral exercise which continues through March 3.
• 2 Eglin F-15 pilots rescued from Gulf of Mexico AFPN 21 Feb 2008 -- Two F-15 Eagle pilots from Eglin Air Force Base were rescued Feb. 20 in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Crommelin Loads Project Handclasp Goods to Deliver to Latin America Navy NewsStand 21 Feb 2008 -- USS Crommelin (FFG 37) Sailors unloaded a pallet of Project Handclasp toys and medical supplies on the pier and brought the items on board their ship Feb. 8 for distribution during their deployment to Latin America.
• Peleliu Returns to Sea After PMA Navy NewsStand 21 Feb 2008 -- USS Peleliu (LHA 5) left Naval Base San Diego Feb. 20 to complete a two-week underway period, after completing a three-month planned maintenance availability.
• Cleaning Stations Making a Difference on 'Gold Eagle' Navy NewsStand 21 Feb 2008 -- Sailors on board USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) are manning their brooms this February as the ship revives the daily evolution of cleaning stations in support of the aircraft carrier's rapidly approaching crew move-aboard at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard in Newport News.
• Africa Partnership Station Arrives in Lobito Navy NewsStand 21 Feb 2008 -- Africa Partnership Station (APS) aboard High Speed Vessel 2 Swift arrived in Lobito, Feb. 21, its third port of call, and one with an emphasis on interaction in the community.
• Albania, Croatia, Macedonia Qualify for NATO Membership, U.S. Official Says AFPS 21 Feb 2008 -- Albania, Croatia and Macedonia are valued strategic partners of the United States and are qualified to join NATO, a senior Defense Department official said here Feb. 20.
• Belarus plans to buy Russian S-400 air defense systems RIA Novosti 21 Feb 2008 -- Belarus is negotiating the purchase of advanced S-400 air defense systems from Russia, the country's defense minister said on Thursday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 21 Feb 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 21, 2008
• Raytheon's Paveway(TM) Kicks Off 2008 With Asian Bookings Worth More Than $100 Million Raytheon 21 Feb 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) was awarded more than $100 million worth of contracts in the first two months of 2008 by countries in the Asia-Pacific region for the combat-proven Paveway(TM) family of precision-guided munitions
• Infrared version of Sagem Défense Sécurité’s AASM modular air-to-ground weapon successfully test fired Sagem (Safran group) 21 Feb 2008 -- On February 5, 2008, the AASM modular air-to-ground weapon was successfully fired with an infrared homing device from a Mirage 2000 fighter. The firing completes the industrial validation of this second AASM version.
• BAE SYSTEMS INSTALLS DEFENSIVE WEAPON SYSTEM ON CV-22 OSPREY IN PREPARATION FOR GROUND-FIRE AND FLIGHT TESTING BAE Systems 21 Feb 2008 -- Systems has installed a remotely operated defensive weapon system aboard a U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey in preparation for ground-fire and flight testing.
• BAE SYSTEMS RECEIVES $58 MILLION U.S. MARINE CORPS CONTRACT FOR MRAP TESTING SUPPORT BAE Systems 21 Feb 2008 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a $58 million contract modification from the U.S. Marine Corps for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle test support.
• Lockheed Martin Demonstrates Two-Way Video Datalink for the Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pod Lockhed Martin 21 Feb 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] recently demonstrated a prototype two-way video data link (VDL) for the Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) during a U.S. Air Force Sniper users' conference at its Missiles and Fire Control facility in Orlando, FL. Sniper ATP provides an unrivaled aerial advantage on the battlefield
• Northrop Grumman Completes Successful Flight Testing of Latest Generation LITENING Targeting System Northrop Grumman 21 Feb 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today announced the successful flight demonstration of the company's new fourth generation LITENING all digital precision targeting system.
• Northrop Grumman Delivers First Beyond-Line-of-Sight IP Network to U.S. Air Force E-8C Joint STARS Fleet Northrop Grumman 21 Feb 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has delivered a new airborne broadband capability to the U.S. Air Force E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) aircraft flee
• China copies Su-27 fighter, may compete with Russia - paper RIA Novosti 21 Feb 2008 -- China has built a domestic copy of the famed Su-27 Flanker fighter and may compete with Russia on third-party markets if it sets up the full-scale production of the plane, a Russian daily said on Thursday.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 21 Feb 2008
• Turkey may launch major attack on Iraq Kurds in March RIA Novosti 21 Feb 2008 -- Turkey may carry out a military operation against Kurdish insurgents based in northern Iraq in the second half of March, a national daily reported on Thursday.
• Protesters Attack US Embassy in Belgrade VOA 21 Feb 2008 -- A group of protesters in the Serbian capital attacked the United States embassy in Belgrade late Thursday, setting fire to part of the building
• Serbs Set To Protest Against Kosovo Independence RFE/RL 21 Feb 2008 -- More than 100,000 people are expected to protest against Kosovo's declaration of independence at a "People's Rally" in Belgrade.
• Eglin F-15 pilot dies AFPN 21 Feb 2008 -- An Eglin Air Force Base pilot involved in a Feb. 20 crash of two F-15 Eagles over the Gulf of Mexico has died.
• Command and control Airmen keep eyes on the sky AFPN 21 Feb 2008 -- Airmen who sleep in their beds at night don't have worry about who's watching the sky because of Airmen who patrol the sky 24/7 in Southwest Asia.
• RED HORSE team improves flightline operations AFPN 21 Feb 2008 -- Airmen assigned to the 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group are nearing the completion of installing a barrier arresting kit on the flightline at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.
• Elmendorf Airmen complete first F-22 deployment AFPN 21 Feb 2008 -- Eight F-22 Raptors and 132 Airmen from Elmendorf Air Force Base completed the first deployment from Alaska as Reserve and active-duty Airmen combined for training Feb. 2 through 17 at Tyndall AFB, Fla.
• Transcript: Media Availability with Secretary Gates at the Pier for the USS Russell, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 21 Feb 2008 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• Uganda's Rebels Walk Out of Peace Talks With Government VOA 21 Feb 2008 -- Ugandan rebel negotiators have walked out of peace talks aimed at ending more than 20 years of insurgency in northern Uganda.
• UGANDA: Peace, justice and the LRA IRIN 21 Feb 2008 -- An agreement to prosecute alleged war criminals in Uganda rather than in the International Criminal Court (ICC) has fuelled hopes for an imminent end to the long-running civil war, even if one leading rights group has condemned the deal.
• SOMALIA: Extension of peace mission's mandate not enough, says government IRIN 21 Feb 2008 -- Somalia's transitional government has welcomed a resolution by the UN Security Council authorising a six-month extension for African Union (AU) peacekeepers but said more needed to be done to restore peace and stability to the war-torn country.
• DRC: Concerns over acquittal of war crimes convict IRIN 21 Feb 2008 -- The acquittal by a court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of a militia leader convicted of war crimes has drawn criticism, with human rights activists saying the decision could set a bad precedent in a country where armed groups have committed atrocities against civilians with impunity.
• CAMEROON-CHAD: Aid reaches refugees in Maltam amid difficult conditions IRIN 21 Feb 2008 -- As refugees began moving from the northern Cameroonian town of Kousseri to a more permanent site in Maltam some 32 kilometres away this week, services and facilities were being rapidly prepared to accept them but conditions remain extremely basic.
• Israel urges international community to back Gaza boycott RIA Novosti 21 Feb 2008 -- Israel's foreign minister has warned the international community against any attempts to review the policy of boycott and isolation with respect to the Islamic Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
• Rwandan ex-minister pleads not guilty to 11 charges before UN genocide tribunal UN News Centre 21 Feb 2008 -- A former Rwandan government minister has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges during his first appearance before the United Nations war crimes tribunal set up to deal with the 1994 genocide in the small country.

News Reports

• UN envoy hopes to return to Myanmar in early March UN News Centre 21 Feb 2008 -- The Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Myanmar said today he hopes to return to the South-East Asian nation in the first week of March, adding that the authorities there are currently in the process of inviting him.
• UN Envoy Hopes for Burma Visit in Early March to Discuss Elections VOA 21 Feb 2008 -- The United Nations envoy to Burma says he thinks Burma's military rulers are preparing to invite him to the country in early March to discuss planned elections
• Last poll predicts Medvedev will get 73% in presidential vote RIA Novosti 21 Feb 2008 -- Russia's final pre-election opinion poll has shown that Kremlin front-runner Dmitry Medvedev enjoys the support of 72.9% of voters, the state-run VTsIOM pollster said on Thursday.
• South Korean Investigators Clear President-Elect of Fraud Charges VOA 21 Feb 2008 -- Independent investigators have cleared South Korea's president-elect of fraud and stock manipulation allegations
• Pakistan: Victorious Opposition Looks To Shift Strategy Toward Militants RFE/RL 21 Feb 2008 -- Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, on the United States, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has been a key ally in the U.S. war on terror
• Pakistan Opposition Leaders Agree to Form New Government VOA 21 Feb 2008 -- Pakistan's two main opposition parties say they have agreed to work together to form a new government after winning general elections Monday
• Defense Experience May Help Raul Castro As Next Cuban Leader VOA 21 Feb 2008 -- Cuban leaders are expected to name Raul Castro as the next president, replacing his older brother Fidel