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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 13 Mar 2008 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• PRESS CONFERENCE: Operational Update: Des Browne and John Tucknott, U.K.; Lt. Gen. Rollo, MNF-I, March 13, 2008 MNF-I 13 Mar 2008 -- Des Browne, U.K. secretary of state for defence; Lt. Gen. Bill Rollo, Multi-National Force - Iraq deputy commanding general; and John Tucknott, U.K. deputy ambassador to Iraq, provide an update, March 13, 2008
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Col. Charlton from Iraq 13 Mar 2008 -- Presenter: Commander of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, John Charlton
• March 12 airpower summary: C-130s support coalition forces AFPN 13 Mar 2008
• Balad Airmen teach contractors lifesaving skills AFPN 13 Mar 2008 -- When it comes to rescuing someone trapped in a vehicle, using the "jaws of life" can mean the difference between life and death -- but only if the tool is used properly.
• Coalition Forces Kill Two Terrorists, Detain 22 AFPS 13 Mar 2008 -- Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 22 suspects today during operations in central and northern Iraq.
• Task Force Seabees Commended for Improving Weapons Range in Iraq Navy NewsStand 13 Mar 2008 -- Seabees with U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 and NMCB 15, Task Force Sierra Detachment 1 (TFS Det. 1), were recognized for completing construction improvements of a weapons range on board Logistics Support Area (LSA) Anaconda in Iraq, March 10.
• Camp Liberty Water Facility Keeps Troops Hydrated AFPS 13 Mar 2008 -- the desert weather heats up, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers will need to keep drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration
• Bush Lauds Provincial Reconstruction Team Efforts in Afghanistan AFPS 13 Mar 2008 -- President Bush today praised the work of provisional reconstruction teams in Afghanistan, calling them key to a counterinsurgency strategy that requires more than just military action.
• Over 40 Taliban militants killed in air strike in Afghanistan RIA Novosti 13 Mar 2008 -- An air strike carried out by U.S.-led NATO forces in Afghanistan has killed 41 Taliban militants in the south of the country, an Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.
• Afghan, Coalition Troops Help Oruzgan Province Villagers AFPS 13 Mar 2008 -- Afghan security forces provided medical and humanitarian aid March 7 to Tangay Pass villagers in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province.
• Car Bomb Attack on US Convoy in Kabul Kills Civilians VOA 13 Mar 2008 -- A suicide car bomber killed six civilians Thursday in an attack on a convoy of U.S. troops near the airport in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Pentagon Report Finds No Direct Saddam-al-Qaida Connection VOA 13 Mar 2008 -- The U.S. Defense Department has released a study of 600,000 documents from Saddam Hussein's archives concluding that while he supported many terrorist groups he did not have a "direct connection" with al-Qaida. But the department's spokesman says that is not a new conclusion
• Bush, Democrats Clash Again Over Surveillance Law VOA 13 Mar 2008 -- Conflict continues between President Bush and Democrats in the House of Representatives over changes to U.S. foreign intelligence surveillance law
• Pentagon Reviews Policy of Videotaping Interrogations VOA 13 Mar 2008 -- The Pentagon says it has so far found fewer than 50 videotapes of interrogations at its facilities worldwide, following a request for information that went out six weeks ago.
• USS Columbus Departs for Western Pacific Navy NewsStand 13 Mar 2008 -- USS Columbus (SSN 762) departed Pearl Harbor Naval Station for her first Western Pacific deployment in four years, March 11.
• Navy Will Conduct USWEX; Asks Court to Clarify and Modify Preliminary Injunction Navy NewsStand 13 Mar 2008 -- Navy officials said on March 11 they're pleased that Chief U.S. District Judge David Ezra recognizes the Navy's need for realistic antisubmarine warfare training and its contribution to national security.
• Dutch air chief predicts continued cooperation AFPN 13 Mar 2008 -- His air force has a history of training pilots in the United States that dates back to 1941. It's a long relationship Lt. Gen. Hans de Jong would like to continue.
• Instinctive action by Bagram Airman prevents catastrophe AFPN 13 Mar 2008 -- An Airman's quick action following an explosion of a jet fuel starter Feb. 26 that sent shrapnel across the Bagram Air Base flightline averted a possible explosion of an F-15E Strike Eagle.
• AF leaders focus on the future during CORONA South AFPN 13 Mar 2008 -- "Securing the Future" was the central theme of this year's CORONA South, held at Bolling Air Force Base here.
• Airpower's advantages unlocked via sound strategy, paper says AFPN 13 Mar 2008 -- American leaders should worry less about which armed service is preeminent and more about their severe strategy deficit, according to a new research paper written by Dr. Colin S. Gray.
• Five years later, it's still known as 'Mother of all bombs' AFPN 13 Mar 2008 -- What's worse than unleashing on society the wrath of the largest non-nuclear bomb yet to be made? Letting the world know it's out there and ready to be used at any moment.
• Review Panel Recommends Military Pay Changes AFPS 13 Mar 2008 -- The 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation has suggested a new way of measuring military pay, proposed that more money be spent on special and incentive pays, and recommended restructuring the basic allowance for housing.
• Standardization Program Presents Annual Achievement Awards 13 Mar 2008 -- Three individuals and five teams have won awards from the Defense Standardization Program Office (DSPO) for outstanding contributions to the Department of Defense last fiscal year.
• NMCB 133, 24 & 27 Conduct Super-Field Training Navy NewsStand 13 Mar 2008 -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133, 24 & 27 realized the value of training in bad weather during a super-field exercise near Camp Shelby, Miss. Feb. 22-March 6.
• Pacific Northwest Sailor Provides Support to Exercise Foal Eagle Navy NewsStand 13 Mar 2008 -- A USS San Francisco (SSN 711) Sailor returned March 8 from Exercise Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2008 in the Republic of Korea, where he provided distinguished visitor (DV) support.
• NAVFAC Southeast Awards $49.3 Million Contract Navy NewsStand 13 Mar 2008 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a $49.3 million contract to Ahtna Technical Service, Inc., a small business out of Anchorage, Alaska, on March 3 for Multifunction Facilities Support Services at the Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort.
• NMCB 133 Tackles Training Challenges Navy NewsStand 13 Mar 2008 -- The recently completed Field Exercise (FEX) 2008 held many challenges for Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 and Echo Company in particular.
• NASA Visits USS Pearl Harbor Navy NewsStand 13 Mar 2008 -- USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) embarked members of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United Space Alliance, and the Human Space Flight Support Office (HSFS) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center for an informational tour, Feb. 27.
• Disaster and Emergency Response Training Now Accredited Navy NewsStand 13 Mar 2008 -- Marines and Sailors assigned to the Marine Corps Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF), located at Naval Support Facility Indian Head, will now receive college credit for their extensive training in responding to emergencies and disasters.
• USS Pinckney Hosts Leaders to Sea Navy NewsStand 13 Mar 2008 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91) hosted seven civilian guests March 11 for a day-long embark as part of the Leaders to Sea (LTS) program.
• Sacramento Embraces Navy Week Navy NewsStand 13 Mar 2008 -- As the Navy's F-18 flight simulator eased into a parking lot at Sacramento's Arden Fair Mall on March 9, the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO), the San Francisco Navy Recruiting District (NRD), and the Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Sacramento officially launched Sacramento Navy Week.
• Vandenberg Airmen launch Atlas V rocket AFPN 13 Mar 2008 -- Vandenberg Air Force Base Airmen successfully launched a Atlas V rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload from Space Launch Complex-3 at 3:01 a.m. Pacific Daily Time March 13 here.
• RC-135 surpasses 50,000 flying-hour mark AFPN 13 Mar 2008 -- A 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron RC-135 Rivet Joint surpassed the 50,000 flight-hour mark during a mission supporting Operation Enduring Freedom March 12.
• Indian navy chief to visit Russia on Thursday IRNA 13 Mar 2008 -- Indian navy chief, Admiral Suresh Mehta, is to visit Russia on Thursday for a six-day tour to boost military ties between the two countries and help speed up the delivery of the Gorshkov aircraft carrier as well as the deployment of MiG-29KUB jets.
• Indian Navy chief to inspect MiG-29K assembly in Russia RIA Novosti 13 Mar 2008 -- The Indian Navy's chief of staff will inspect on Friday the assembly of MiG-29K Fulcrum-D fighters at a plant near Moscow, a Russian military source said.
• S-400 air defense systems to participate in live firing drills RIA Novosti 13 Mar 2008 -- Russia's new S-400 air defense missile systems may participate for the first time in live firing exercises at a test site in south Russia, an Air Force spokesman said on Thursday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 13 Mar 2008
• Press Briefing by Tony Fratto The White House 13 Mar 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 13, 2008
• Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, RD AMROSS Power Atlas V's Inaugural Launch from Vandenberg AFB Pratt & Whitney 13 Mar 2008 -- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) and RD AMROSS, LLC powered the launch of an Atlas V rocket for the first time from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., today on a mission to deliver a U.S. National Reconnaissance Office satellite into orbit. PWR is a United Technologies Corp. [NYSE: UTX] company.
• EADS Military Transport Aircraft Division starts static testing of a complete A400M structure EADS 13 Mar 2008 -- The static tests of a dedicated A400M complete structure has begun at the Military Transport Aircraft Division (MTAD) facilities in Getafe, Madrid.
• Raytheon Delivers Missile Warning Sensor Prototype Ahead of Schedule Raytheon 13 Mar 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has successfully demonstrated a fully integrated, high-performance infrared sensor ahead of schedule for the Risk Reduction Alternative Infrared Satellite Systems program.
• Lockheed Martin F-35 Succeeds in First Aerial Refueling Test Lockheed Martin 13 Mar 2008 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II successfully completed the first stage of its airborne refueling tests during the aircraft's 34th flight yesterday.
• Air Force Distributed Mission Operations Center Wins Department Of Defense Modeling And Simulation Award Lockhed Martin 13 Mar 2008 -- The U.S. Air Force Distributed Mission Operations Center (DMOC) at Kirtland AFB, NM has been awarded the Department of Defense Modeling and Simulation Award for Training for "significant advancements in exercise delivery and combat training."
• Northrop Grumman Consolidates Information Technology Services for Hanscom Air Force Base Northrop Grumman 13 Mar 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) was awarded a task order under the Network Centric Solutions (NETCENTS) program to provide desktop and network support services to the U.S. Air Force at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., which will centrally manage the base's information technology (IT) infrastructure.
• First Flight of Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicle over Alberta, Canada Israel Aerospace Industries 13 Mar 2008 -- MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (TSX: MDA) a provider of essential information solutions, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)'s Malat Division, announced today that that it has achieved a successful ‘First Flight in Canada’ milestone for the company’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Service known as ‘Ardea.’ This is the first time that a Medium Altitude, Long Endurance UAV has flown in Canada for civil applications.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 13 Mar 2008
• Iran Fires Artillery at Kurdish Villages in Northern Iraq VOA 13 Mar 2008 -- Iraqi officials say Iranian forces have fired artillery at several northwestern Iraqi villages suspected of harboring Kurdish rebel bases.
• Iranian military attacks Kurdish militants on Iraqi border RIA Novosti 13 Mar 2008 -- Iranian troops have launched attacks against two groups of Kurdish separatists on the country's border with Iraq, an Iranian official said on Thursday.
• Rocket Fire Ends Brief Lull in Israeli-Palestinian Fighting VOA 13 Mar 2008 -- A brief lull in Israeli-Palestinian fighting is over.
• Israel resumes airstrikes in Gaza RIA Novosti 13 Mar 2008 -- Israel resumed airstrikes Thursday against Palestinian militants in Gaza ending a week-long ceasefire in response to new rocket attacks aimed at Israeli border towns, an army spokesperson told RIA Novosti.
• ISRAEL-OPT: Group of Gazan doctors gets war surgery training IRIN 13 Mar 2008 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) held a three-day seminar on war surgery in the Gaza Strip from 11-13 March for 55 Palestinian medics, with lessons ranging from international humanitarian law to basic management of war wounded, and more specific topics like head and stomach injuries.
• PRESS CONFERENCE ON HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN CHAD United Nations 13 Mar 2008
• Eastern Chad under severe humanitarian strain, UN official says UN News Centre 13 Mar 2008 -- The swelling numbers of Darfur refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in eastern Chad is seriously straining the capacity of both the arid local environment and the region's basic infrastructure, a United Nations aid official said today, warning that the humanitarian situation remained extremely precarious.
• African Union, UN envoys to hold consultations to spark Darfur peace process UN News Centre 13 Mar 2008 -- The United Nations and African Union envoys spearheading efforts to bring peace to Sudan's war-wracked Darfur region will hold informal consultations early next week with regional partners and international observers in a bid to find new momentum for the political process.
• Chad, Sudan Sign Peace Agreement VOA 13 Mar 2008 -- The presidents of Sudan and Chad have signed a peace deal aimed at ending cross-border rebel attacks between the neighboring countries.
• Chad-Sudan Talks Face Delays VOA 13 Mar 2008 -- Planned Chad-Sudan peace talks have faced more delays on the sidelines of the Islamic conference being held in Senegal
• SUDAN: "Commitment to CPA at critical stage" IRIN 13 Mar 2008 -- The Sudanese ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) must show commitment to the agreement that ended war in the South if peace is to hold across the vast country, a think-tank has warned.
• Rwandan armed groups in eastern DR Congo must surrender - Security Council UN News Centre 13 Mar 2008 -- The Security Council today called on all Rwandan armed groups operating in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to surrender immediately to Congolese authorities and the United Nations peacekeeping mission known as MONUC.
• Analysts: Mercenaries Still Active in African Conflicts VOA 13 Mar 2008 -- Former British soldier Simon Mann is awaiting trial in Equatorial Guinea - charged with conspiracy to violently overthrow the government and murder the president of the oil-rich West African country
• Serbia Asks Security Council To Keep UN Kosovo Mission In Place RFE/RL 13 Mar 2008 -- In his March 11 address to the UN Security Council, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic called on the UN to maintain its mission in Kosovo, urged countries that have recognized Kosovo's independence to reconsider their decision, and urged those that have not done so to stay the course and defend international law.
• Russia: Duma To Weigh In On Abkhaz, South Ossetian, Transdniestrian Status RFE/RL 13 Mar 2008 -- The leaders of the self-proclaimed republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in Georgia, and Transdniester, in Moldova, have appealed to Russia to recognize their breakaway regions' independence.
• SOMALIA: "Government interested in dialogue with the opposition" IRIN 13 Mar 2008 -- The announcement by the Somali transitional government that it would like to engage opposition groups in dialogue to end the country's 16-year civil war is an important policy shift, an analyst said.

News Reports

• Pirate Attacks On the Rise in Nigerian Waters VOA 13 Mar 2008 -- Pirate attacks in the waters of Africa's largest oil producer, Nigeria, have surged in recent weeks, linked to a decline in general security in the southern oil-producing region
• Serbia's Tadic dissolves parliament, slates election for May 11 RIA Novosti 13 Mar 2008 -- Serbian President Boris Tadic has signed a decree dissolving the country's parliament and slating early parliamentary elections for May 11, the presidential press service said on Thursday.
• Russian lawyer visits 'Merchant of Death' in Thai jail RIA Novosti 13 Mar 2008 -- A Moscow lawyer visited a suspected Russian arms dealer in jail in Thailand on Thursday, the Russian consul in the Southeast Asian country said.