Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 02 Apr 2008 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• PRESS CONFERENCE: Operational Update: Maj. Gen. Bergner, April 2, 2008 MNF-I 02 Apr 2008 -- Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Bergner, Multi-National Force - Iraq spokesman, provides an operational update
• April 1 airpower summary: RAF celebrates 90th Anniversary AFPN 02 Apr 2008
• Temporary hospital finds permanent place in history AFPN 02 Apr 2008 -- Airmen from the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group and the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron here worked together to preserve a piece of Balad Air Base, Logistics Support Area Anaconda and Operation Iraqi Freedom history.
• Pentagon Says Plans to Withdraw Troops to Pre-Surge Levels on Track VOA 02 Apr 2008 -- The top U.S. military commander says the Pentagon will continue to withdraw five combat brigades from Iraq through July as planned, despite recent violence in Baghdad and Basra
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Adm. Mullen from the Pentagon 02 Apr 2008 -- Presenter: Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen
• Troops Kill 14 Suspected Terrorists in Iraq, Capture 49 Others AFPS 02 Apr 2008 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces killed 14 suspected terrorists, detained 49 others, and seized dozens of weapons in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said.
• Aviators Take on Insurgents in Iraq Army News 02 Apr 2008 -- AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crews engaged more insurgents in Iraq during the final days of March than in the previous three months combined, according to Task Force XII officials.
• NATO to Beef Up Forces in Afghanistan; No Accord on Members VOA 02 Apr 2008 -- NATO leaders have devised a plan to bolster alliance forces in parts of Afghanistan where the threat of combat is high
• Afghanistan tops talks as Ban Ki-moon meets NATO, Romanian officials UN News Centre 02 Apr 2008 -- Afghanistan was a key feature of discussions between Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Romania, which is hosting a three-day summit of the alliance beginning today in Bucharest.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Mullen Says Conventional Forces Must Learn From Special Ops Personnel AFPS 02 Apr 2008 -- All servicemembers are going to have to become more like special operations troops as the war against terror continues, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said yesterday.
• Arnold contributes to first supersonic flight using synthetic fuel AFPN 02 Apr 2008 -- When a B-1B Lancer became the first Air Force aircraft to fly at supersonic speed using a 50/50 blend of synthetic and petroleum-based fuels March 19, the Arnold Engineering Development Center work force knew they played a significant role in supporting the flight.
• Research leads to improved wireless communication AFPN 02 Apr 2008 -- An Air Force Office of Scientific Research-funded researcher whose work focused on multi-user detection technology has made radio reception clearer in locations where interference is a challenge for deployed servicemembers.
• U.S., Japan AWACS units join forces AFPN 02 Apr 2008 -- A Kadena Air Base squadron signed an agreement here March 26 with its Japan Air Self-Defense Force counterpart formalizing the joint working relationship they've enjoyed for years.
• A-10 makes wheels-up landing AFPN 02 Apr 2008 -- An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II made an emergency landing here without its landing gear March 25.
• The Navy Bids Farewell to VS-31 Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2008 -- The Navy said farewell to the Topcats of Sea Control Squadron 31 (VS-31) in a disestablishment ceremony held March 27, aboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville.
• USS John L. Hall Visits Montenegro Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2008 -- USS John L. Hall (FFG 32) pulled into port in Bar, Montenegro March 20 for a four day port visit in support of the Commander, Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet (CNE-C6F) operational objective to improve maritime safety and security in Europe and Africa.
• U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Visits Sailors in El Salvador Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2008 -- The Commandant of the U.S Coast Guard, Adm. Thad Allen, visited Sailors at Forward Operating Location (FOL) Comalapa, El Salvador, March 30-31.
• Navy Introduces New PT Uniforms Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2008 -- The Navy introduced its new physical training uniform (PTU) to the world, in a photo shoot, March 20-21.
• New PT Uniforms Ready to Hit the Shelves Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2008 -- The Navy's new Physical Training or PT uniforms are ready to hit NEX Uniform Center shelves beginning this spring.
• Wasp Earns Prestigious Award Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2008 -- USS Wasp (LHD 1) earned the Battle Effectiveness (Battle "E") award Feb. 29, receiving distinction as one of the top large-deck amphibious assault ships on the East Coast.
• NATO to Beef Up Forces in Afghanistan; No Accord on Members VOA 02 Apr 2008 -- NATO leaders have devised a plan to bolster alliance forces in parts of Afghanistan where the threat of combat is high
• Defense Secretary Arrives in Bucharest for NATO Summit AFPS 02 Apr 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates landed here today for the start of the NATO summit.
• Bush Pushes NATO Acceptance of Three Balkan Nations AFPS 02 Apr 2008 -- President Bush today called NATO's upcoming decision on whether to accept three Balkan nations for membership into the alliance "historic" and said the United States strongly supports their membership.
• Changing World Leads to NATO'S Transformation AFPS 02 Apr 2008 -- NATO's creation in 1949 provided a unique framework for Western military cooperation in an era of Soviet expansion, and subsequently throughout the Cold War.
• NATO Grows with Afghanistan Experience AFPS 02 Apr 2008 -- NATO's effort in Afghanistan shows not only how far the alliance has come from its original mission of confronting the Cold War era's Soviet threat, but also how far it has to go to become a force for the 21st century.
• NATO Diary: A Chaotic Start In Bucharest RFE/RL 02 Apr 2008 -- The annual summit of the NATO military alliance begins in earnest on the evening of April 2 with a working dinner attended by the leaders of the 26 member states.
• Spokesman: NATO to Postpone Membership Offers to Georgia, Ukraine, Macedonia VOA 02 Apr 2008 -- A NATO spokesman says he does not expect the bloc to start the membership process for Georgia and Ukraine at this week's summit in Bucharest.
• Analysis: The NATO Alliance at War cfr.org 02 Apr 2008 -- Ahead of a presidential trip to Europe built around the upcoming summit of the Atlantic alliance in Romania, President Bush said his chief goal "is to make sure NATO stays relevant."
• Bush Urges NATO Enlargement, More Troops for Afghanistan VOA 02 Apr 2008 -- President Bush is urging NATO to continue its eastward expansion and to provide more support for military operations in Afghanistan
• NATO to discuss expansion as it gathers for summit in Bucharest RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2008 -- A three-day NATO summit opens Wednesday in the capital of Romania, Bucharest, which will focus among other issues on the alliance's controversial eastern expansion into former Soviet territories.
• NATO: In Rough Neighborhood, Hopefuls Feel Lure Of 'Soft Power' RFE/RL 02 Apr 2008 -- Talk to people on the streets of Tbilisi and it becomes clear that Georgia's bid to join NATO is motivated at least partially by fear
• NATO: What Is A Membership Action Plan? RFE/RL 02 Apr 2008 -- Georgia and Ukraine will be holding their breath for any announcement on their bids to obtain a Membership Action Plan (MAP) during this week's NATO summit.
• Russia will respond pragmatically to NATO expansion - Lavrov RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2008 -- Russia will offer a pragmatic response to NATO's possible eastward expansion, the Foreign Minister said Wednesday as the alliance is due to discuss setting Ukraine and Georgia on the path to membership.
• UK ground forces to get advanced air warning system IRNA 02 Apr 2008 -- British ground commanders are to get a new system that will tell them what is happening in the air, help reduce friendly fire incidents and improve ability to counter air attacks, the Ministry of Defense announced Wednesday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 02 Apr 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 02, 2008
• FIRST ACTIVE DUTY USAF C-130J COMBAT SQUADRON RECEIVES NEW AIRCRAFT AS IT BEGINS ITS FIRST DEPLOYMENT Lockheed Martin 02 Apr 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has delivered a sixth C-130J Super Hercules tothe 41st Airlift Squadron, a unit of the 463rd Airlift Group, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark
• LOCKHEED MARTIN OPENS P-3 ORION NEW WING PRODUCTION LINE Lockheed Martin 02 Apr 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] opened its new P-3 Orion wing production line today, marking production kickoff at its Marietta, Ga., facilities with a brief ceremony attended by Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) and Lockheed Martin officials.
• Lockheed Martin and Karem Aircraft Team to Support Department of Defense Joint Heavy Lift Program Lockheed Martin 02 Apr 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Karem Aircraft Incorporated have signed a teaming agreement to jointly develop Karem Aircraft's Optimum Speed Tilt-Rotor (OSTR) design.
• AIR MOBILITY COMMAND'S TACTICAL AIRLIFT CAPABILITY STRENGTHENS AS C-130J SUPER HERCULES DELIVERIES CONTINUE Lockheed Martin 02 Apr 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today delivered another C-130J Super Hercules to Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.
• Northrop Grumman Welcomes Narrowed KC-45 Protest Northrop Grumman 02 Apr 2008 -- The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today denied motions filed by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the United States Air Force calling for a partial dismissal of Boeing Corporation's protest of the Air Force decision in the KC-45 Tanker acquisition process
• CACI Awarded $26.8 Million Task Order With U.S. Army C4ISR On-The-Move Product Management Office CACI 01 Apr 2008 -- CACI International Inc (NYSE:CAI) announced today that it has been awarded a $26.8 million task order contract by the U.S. Army's Research, Development and Engineering Command to provide engineering support for the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) On-The-Move Product Management Office.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 02 Apr 2008
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON WORK PROGRAMME FOR APRIL United Nations 02 Apr 2008
• Israel to Redistribute Gas Masks Amid Fears of War with Iran VOA 02 Apr 2008 -- Israel is strengthening security on its home front in a sign of war jitters
• Backgrounder: Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade cfr.org 02 Apr 2008
• As election in Nepal nears, UN envoy says security appears under control UN News Centre 02 Apr 2008 -- On the third stop of his tour of Nepal ahead of historic elections, the United Nations' top envoy in the south Asian country said that security appears to be under control for the poll, despite recent political violence.
• Sudan Accuses Chad of Violating Territory 3 Times in 2 Days VOA 02 Apr 2008 -- Sudan Wednesday accused Chad of violating its territory three times since Tuesday in the latest exchange of accusations between the neighboring countries.
• Russia Threatens to Block Kosovo's UN Membership VOA 02 Apr 2008 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow can use its seat on the Security Council to block Kosovo's membership in the United Nations
• BURUNDI: Demobilisation hits snag IRIN 02 Apr 2008 -- Hundreds of Burundian soldiers scheduled for demobilisation under a donor-recommended programme have refused to complete the process until various financial and selection concerns are answered.
• Abbas sees no progress in Mideast peace process RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2008 -- No tangible progress has been made during ongoing Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations, the Palestinian Authority president said in Cairo on Wednesday.
• Ukraine rotates peacekeepers in Kosovo RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2008 -- Ukraine is conducting the tenth rotation of its peacekeepers from a joint Polish-Ukrainian battalion serving as part of a UN mission in Kosovo, the defense ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
• Russia govt. to consider recognizing Georgia breakaway regions RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2008 -- Russia's foreign minister said on Wednesday that the government would study closely a proposal by the Russian parliament to recognize the breakaway Georgian republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

News Reports

• US Envoy Expresses Concern to Chinese Officials About Tibet VOA 02 Apr 2008 -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says he has expressed concern to Chinese officials about recent violence in Tibet.
• Zimbabwe's Ruling Party Loses its Majority in Parliament VOA 02 Apr 2008 -- Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party has lost its majority in parliament according to the latest official result from the Zimbabwe Election Commission
• ZIMBABWE: Recession slows election results IRIN 02 Apr 2008 -- painful slowness of announcing the results of Zimbabwe's 29 March poll is being condemned internationally as "suspicious", but the accusations do not take account of the debilitating affects of the country's eight-year long recession and its impact on the electoral process.
• ZIMBABWE: Mugabe loses control of parliament IRIN 02 Apr 2008 -- ZANU-PF, the party that has held power since Zimbabwe won its independence from Britain in 1980, has lost control of parliament - according to official election results - and its leader, Robert Mugabe, is facing defeat at the presidential polls the opposition party the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) claimed on Wednesday.
• Zimbabwe Opposition Claims Victory in Presidential, Parliamentary Elections VOA 02 Apr 2008 -- In Zimbabwe, the opposition says it defeated President Robert Mugabe and his party in last Saturday's presidential and parliamentary elections
• Belarus advises U.S. to reduce embassy staff to seven - ministry RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2008 -- Belarus has cut its diplomatic staff in its embassy in the U.S. to seven and is advising the U.S. to follow suit, a deputy Belarusian foreign minister said Wednesday.