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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 26 Mar 2008 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• MND-B Soldier attacked by small-arms fire (Baghdad)
• MND-B Soldier attacked by hostile fire
• PRESS CONFERENCE: Operational Update: Maj. Gen. Bergner, March 26, 2008 MNF-I 26 Mar 2008 -- Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner, Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman, provides an update on current operations
• March 25 airpower summary: KC-10s provide vital refueling support AFPN 26 Mar 2008
• Air Strike Targets Al Qaeda in Iraq Member in Tikrit AFPS 26 Mar 2008 -- A coalition air strike today targeted an al Qaeda in Iraq operative linked to local car bombings, U.S. military officials said.
• New Operations in Basra, Baghdad Take Aim at 'Lawlessness' AFPS 26 Mar 2008 -- Some 2,000 Iraqi security force members yesterday entered Basra, Iraq, on a mission to crack down on "lawlessness." Meanwhile, Iraqi and coalition forces have renewed similar efforts in the Iraqi capital.
• Heavy fighting in Iraq IRNA 26 Mar 2008 -- Heavy fighting continued for a second day Wednesday in two of Iraq's largest cities, as Iraqi ground forces and helicopters mounted a huge operation to break what the Iraqi government said the grip of the militia controlling Basra.
• 44,000 wounded Iraq war GIs treated at US hospital in Germany IRNA 26 Mar 2008 -- Almost 44,000 American soldiers wounded during the Iraq war over the past five years have received medical treatment at the US Landstuhl military hospital in Germany, the largest medical facility outside the US, the European-edition of the US military daily Stars and Stripes reported Tuesday.
• Iraqi PM Gives Basra Militants 72 Hours to Surrender Arms VOA 26 Mar 2008 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has ordered Shi'ite gunmen fighting government forces in the southern city of Basra to surrender their weapons within three days or face the consequences.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Col. Schweitzer and Sgt. Maj. Flowers from the Pentagon Briefing Room, Arlington, Va. 26 Mar 2008 -- Presenter: U.S. Army Commander, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Col. Martin Schweitzer and 4th Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Flowers
• Afghan Forces to Assume 'Leading Role' Against Enemy, General Says AFPS 26 Mar 2008 -- The Afghan National Army will assume a leading role in the fight against enemy forces this spring, a military official said in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday.
• Eastern Afghanistan Makes 'Significant' Security, Governance Gains AFPS 26 Mar 2008 -- The people of eastern Afghanistan have realized significant gains in security and governance as compared to just a few years ago, a senior U.S. military officer told Pentagon reporters today.
• Afghanistan: Army Reaches 70,000 Mark, As Taliban Vows New Offensive RFE/RL 26 Mar 2008 -- Officials in Kabul say the Afghan National Army soon will number 70,000 combat-ready soldiers -- the strongest the force has been since the fall of the Taliban regime in late 2001.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Press Secretary Morrell from the Pentagon Briefing Room, Arlington, Va. 26 Mar 2008 -- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell
• New warfighter education courseware released AFPN 26 Mar 2008 -- The commander of Air University has launched a major initiative aimed at enhancing the professional development of the Air Force warfighter. Lt. Gen. Stephen Lorenz recently released the first two courses of the Warfighter Developmental Education program
• Dyess AFB model of energy conservation AFPN 26 Mar 2008 -- Dyess Air Force Base is going green.
• AFNORTH provides support to flood areas AFPN 26 Mar 2008 -- The numbered air force responsible for ensuring the air defense of the continental U.S. has also been supporting civilian and military authorities working to provide relief from the recent floods in the U.S.
• Officials activate 711th Human Performance Wing AFPN 26 Mar 2008 -- Officials at the Air Force Research Laboratory officially activated the 711th Human Performance Wing during a ceremony at the Air Force Institute of Technology's Kenney Hall here March 25.
• Fort Bragg receives first Secretary of the Army Sustainability Award Army News Release 26 Mar 2008 -- The Secretary of the Army recognized Fort Bragg, N.C., as the winner of the first Secretary of the Army Sustainability Award March 26
• New SRAP: More Combat Vets to Bolster Recruiting Army News 26 Mar 2008 -- The Army announced Monday that a test of the Chief of Staff of the Army Special Recruiter Assistance Program will begin in May.
• Engineers Meet to Improve Digital TOCs Army News 26 Mar 2008 -- Representatives from government and industry are now undergoing five weeks of analysis and activity at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., to improve the Army's digital tactical operations centers and command posts
• DoD to Award $15.7 Million for Science and Engineering Research 26 Mar 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today plans to award $15.7 million to 24 academic institutions in 18 states to perform research in science and engineering, under the fiscal 2008 Defense Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR).
• Carl Vinson Sailors Embrace Grooming Efforts, Learn From Past Overhaul Navy NewsStand 26 Mar 2008 -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) has assembled a group of crew members to carry out an important yet difficult task; groom spaces in support of the ship's much anticipated crew move aboard evolution scheduled for August 2008.
• Secretary of the Navy Visits Israel Navy NewsStand 26 Mar 2008 -- Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Dr. Donald C. Winter, arrived on March 23 for a three-day visit in Israel as a guest of the Israel Ministry of Defense and the Israel Navy Commander in Chief, Vice Admiral Eli Marum.
• Ingraham Holds Change of Command Navy NewsStand 26 Mar 2008 -- USS Ingraham (FFG 61) held a change of command ceremony March 20, while in port in Limassol.
• Officials Express Regret Over Death in Suez Canal Incident AFPS 26 Mar 2008 -- U.S. 5th Fleet officials today expressed regret for the death of an Egyptian citizen who died the night of March 24, an apparent result of warning shots fired at a small boat approaching a ship chartered by the U.S. Navy.
• Taiwan returns missile components to U.S., MND confirms CNA 26 Mar 2008 -- A batch of four fuses used in triggers for nuclear weapons that the United States mistakenly shipped to Taiwan in 2006 have been returned to U.S. possession, the Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday.
• Poland eyes German support for Ukraine's NATO membership bid IRNA 26 Mar 2008 -- Polish President Lech Kaczynski is reportedly seeking German support for Ukraine's NATO membership campaign, the Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper said Wednesday.
• NATO fighters accompany Russian bombers near Alaska RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2008 -- NATO fighters accompanied Russian Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers on a regular strategic patrol flight on Wednesday, a Russian Air Force spokesman said.
• Poland may agree to Russian missile checks on reciprocal basis RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2008 -- Poland will only agree to temporary inspections by Russian military personnel of U.S. missile bases on its soil, and only on a reciprocal basis, the Polish defense minister said Wednesday.
• Press Briefing by National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley on the President's Trip to the NATO Summit The White House 26 Mar 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 26, 2008
• SAIC Delivers Infrared Sensor for Risk Reduction - Alternative Infrared Satellite System L-3 Communications 26 Mar 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced that it has delivered its infrared sensor for the Risk Reduction - Alternative Infrared Satellite System (RR-AIRSS) program ahead of schedule.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN TEAM ACHIEVES MAJOR MILESTONE ON U.S. NAVY'S MOBILE USER OBJECTIVE SYSTEM Lockheed Martin 26 Mar 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has achieved a key milestone in the development of the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) with the successful completion of static loads testing of the first satellite in the program constellation. MUOS will provide significantly improved and assured communications for U.S. mobile warfighters.
• Raytheon Awarded $17.8 Million for NATO SEASPARROW Surface Missile System Raytheon 26 Mar 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $17.8 million contract from the U.S. Navy and the NATO SEASPARROW Project Office for the company's MK57, MK29 and MK73 NATO SEASPARROW missile systems.
• Thales Announces Liberty: The First Multiband Software Defined Land Mobile Radio Thales 26 Mar 2008 -- Thales Communications, Inc., announces the introduction of Liberty™, the first multiband software defined Land Mobile Radio (LMR) for government agencies and first responders.
• Improved version of the Starstreak hits the mark! Thales 26 Mar 2008 -- A delegation from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) today witnessed the first demonstration of the latest variant of the self-propelled Starstreak missile system, incorporating automatic target tracking (ATT), new control consoles and the firing of the new standard of Starstreak missile (Starstreak II).

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICES OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 26 Mar 2008
• COMOROS: New polls promised as military take over Anjouan IRIN 26 Mar 2008 -- Comoros will establish an interim government on the island of Anjouan by the end of the week, paving the way for a swift democratic election on the renegade island, a government official said on Wednesday.
• Comoros Official: Rebel Chief Fled VOA 26 Mar 2008 -- A government official in Comoros says rebel leader Mohamed Bacar has fled to a nearby French island after troops overthrew him from the Comorian island of Anjouan.
• Comoros Announces Interim Government on Anjouan Island VOA 26 Mar 2008 -- In the Comoros, central government troops are mopping up pockets of resistance one day after they landed on the rebel-held island of Anjouan
• Somali PM Pledges Action in Face of Humanitarian Catastrophe VOA 26 Mar 2008 -- Somalia Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein is promising to help speed delivery of relief to desperately needy citizens, as humanitarian agencies warn of an impending humanitarian catastrophe in the war-ravaged nation
• Somalia: political solution key to averting humanitarian catastrophe, says UN official UN News Centre 26 Mar 2008 -- Supporting a joint statement issued by dozens of humanitarian agencies warning of an impending catastrophe in Somalia, the United Nations relief chief today said that political reconciliation is essential to solve the problem.
• Relief Groups Warn of Worsening Humanitarian Situation in Somalia VOA 26 Mar 2008 -- A total of 40 international humanitarian organizations have issued a statement warning of the worsening humanitarian situation in Somalia and appealing for increased attention from the international community
• SUDAN-CHAD: Hopes for peace fade with fresh round of accusations IRIN 26 Mar 2008 -- Just two weeks after Chad and Sudan signed a landmark peace accord their two governments have accused each other of supporting fresh attacks into their respective territories by proxy armed groups. Both governments appear to be bristling for a fight.
• Attacks on Darfur aid workers jeopardizing basic relief efforts, says UN official UN News Centre 26 Mar 2008 -- Attacks against aid workers in western Sudan have reached unprecedented levels, jeopardizing vital relief operations in the war-wracked Darfur region, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator said today.
• Guinea-Bissau: international engagement key for peace, says top UN envoy UN News Centre 26 Mar 2008 -- Welcoming last night's announcement by Guinea-Bissau's President of the date of upcoming legislative elections, the top United Nations to the West African nation today said that the international community must remain engaged for peace to be consolidated.
• UN completes safety check of proposed crossing point in Cyprus UN News Centre 26 Mar 2008 -- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today completed a sweep for unexploded ordnance in the area of the Ledra Street crossing point in Nicosia, which the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities last week agreed to open as soon as technically possible.
• Panel in Côte d'Ivoire accepts UN election certification standards UN News Centre 26 Mar 2008 -- The committee that monitors last year's political agreement in Côte d'Ivoire has accepted conditions for certifying the validity of upcoming elections which had been proposed by the United Nations' top envoy to the divided West African country.
• Israel's Olmert: Peace Talks Will Continue, But Without Hamas VOA 26 Mar 2008 -- Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday said peace talks with the Palestinians will continue, but he ruled out any talks with Hamas militants who control the Gaza Strip
• Malian Troops Clash With Tuarag Rebels in Northern Desert Region VOA 26 Mar 2008 -- Malian military officials say fighting has erupted between soldiers and Tuarag rebels in the northern region of Kidal.
• DRC: Fear, uncertainty deter North Kivu IDPs from going home IRIN 26 Mar 2008 -- Hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in North Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are reluctant to go back to their villages for fear of attacks despite a truce signed in January between the government and various armed groups.
• Kosovo wants to be consulted on Russian aid to Serbs RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2008 -- Russia should discuss with Pristina proposed deliveries of humanitarian aid to Kosovo, the independent province's Prime Minister Hasim Taci said in an interview with the Zeri newspaper on Wednesday.

News Reports

• Kazakhstan: President's Ex-Son-In-Law Found Guilty Of Coup Plot RFE/RL 26 Mar 2008 -- A military court has found the former son-in-law of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev, Rakhat Aliev, guilty of planning a coup, among other crimes, and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
• Turkey: Constitutional Crisis Pits 'Deep State' vs. 'Deep State' RFE/RL 26 Mar 2008 -- With Turkey's Constitutional Court due to rule on whether to ban the ruling Islamist-rooted Justice and Development (AK) party, the country's political fault lines are growing deeper.
• Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia Snub Arab League Summit VOA 26 Mar 2008 -- Egypt says it is sending a junior minister to the Arab League summit scheduled for Damascus this weekend
• Bush Relays US Concerns Over Tibet in Call to China's President VOA 26 Mar 2008 -- President Bush telephoned Chinese President Hu Jintao Wednesday to talk about Tibet, Taiwan, and North Korea
• Musharraf's Future in Hands of New Pakistani Government VOA 26 Mar 2008 -- The advent of a new elected civilian government in Pakistan effectively ends the military rule of Pervez Musharraf. However, Mr. Musharraf still remains president, at least for now
• Pakistani PM Advocates Political Approach to US War on Terror VOA 26 Mar 2008 -- Pakistan's new prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, has told President Bush he wants a broader approach to fighting terrorism in Pakistan.
• China says 660 People Surrender, Escorts Foreign Journalists to Tibet VOA 26 Mar 2008 -- China's state media has said more than 600 people have surrendered to authorities after a series of demonstrations by Tibetans against Chinese rule turned violent.