Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 08 Apr 2008 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• MND-B Soldier attacked by IED (Baghdad)
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• MND-B Soldier attacked by IED
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• April 7 airpower summary: F-16s bomb enemy artillery AFPN 08 Apr 2008
• Aircrews Kill Attackers, Destroy Mortar Launching Site in Baghdad AFPS 08 Apr 2008 -- An Army Apache helicopter and an Air Force F-16 took out a mortar-launching team and their launch site yesterday after an observation team saw them emplacing mortars in the New Baghdad district, military officials reported.
• Gimlets Work to Flush Terror Out of Sadr City Army News 08 Apr 2008 -- Days after intense fighting and the call to peace from Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr March 30, Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers patrol the outskirts of Baghdad's Sadr City, ensuring the safety of the city's residents.
• Afghanistan Operations Targeting Extremists Net Five Suspects AFPS 08 Apr 2008 -- Five suspects were caught yesterday during two separate operations targeting extremist networks in Afghanistan's Uruzgan and Khowst provinces.
• Bush Meets With Afghan Governors VOA 08 Apr 2008 -- President Bush met with Afghan governors to discuss security and economic progress in Afghanistan
• AFGHANISTAN: Humanitarian needs growing as conflict spreads - ICRC IRIN 08 Apr 2008 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has expressed deep concern about the intensification and spreading of armed conflict in Afghanistan, and called on aid agencies to "urgently" meet the growing humanitarian needs of conflict-affected Afghans.
• Afghanistan Opens New Civil Order Police Training Center AFPS 08 Apr 2008 -- Afghan and American leaders celebrated the grand opening of a new facility for training Afghan National Civil Order Police here yesterday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Tweet complete: T-37 retires after 39 years of service AFPN 08 Apr 2008 -- The T-37 Tweet formally retired April 3 from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training here after 39 years of service as the gateway to the sky for more than 10,000 Air Force aviators.
• Aerial porters can now train anytime, anywhere AFPN 08 Apr 2008 -- Air transportation Airmen across the Air Force can access training anytime, anywhere through the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center's distance learning program.
• 'Campus Dining' to transform AF food services AFPN 08 Apr 2008 -- Air Combat Command is leading the Air Force in a study that will change the way food service is delivered at Air Force installations.
• Airmen at war set cargo, passenger movement records AFPN 08 Apr 2008 -- Air transportation requirements of cargo and troops within U.S. Central Command's 27-nation area of responsibility reached an all-time high in March, but Airmen responded to this demand with a record-setting performance, officials said.
• Bush Confers Highest Military Decoration on Fallen Navy SEAL AFPS 08 Apr 2008 -- President Bush today posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, a Navy SEAL whose mortal sacrifice in Iraq saved the lives of two fellow SEALs and several Iraqi soldiers.
• U.S., Chile Sign Information-Sharing Agreement AFPS 08 Apr 2008 -- Top defense officials for the United States and Chile today signed an agreement to begin sharing science and technology information, further strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.
• Ronald Reagan Strike Group Returns Following Successful COMPTUEX Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2008 -- The officers and crew of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CCSG) 7, and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 returned to San Diego April 7, following completion of the ship's Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) that took place off the coast of Southern California.
• USS La Jolla departs for Western Pacific Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2008 -- USS La Jolla (SSN 762) departed Pearl Harbor Naval Station for a scheduled Western Pacific deployment, April 3.
• USS Peleliu Completes COMPTUEX in Preparation for Deployment Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2008 -- Commander, Amphibious Squadron 3 (CPR-3), USS Peleliu (LHA 5) and the other ships of Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group completed Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) March 28.
• USS Ashland Builds Maritime Partnerships in Mauritius Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2008 -- USS Ashland (LSD 48) arrived in Port Louis, Mauritius, April 8, the first U.S. Navy ship to visit the Indian Ocean island this year.
• TR Completes Successful TSTA FEP Process Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2008 -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Sailors successfully completed the three-week Tailored Ship's Training Availability and Final Evaluation Problem (TSTA/FEP) process, April 6.
• Nassau Sailors Tour Island of Gozo during Malta Port Visit Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2008 -- USS Nassau (LHA 4) Sailors and Marines toured the Maltese island of Gozo during a port visit to Malta, March 14-17.
• Navy Launches Newest T-AKE Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2008 -- USNS Amelia Earhart, the newest ship in the U.S. Navy's Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships owned and operated by Military Sealift Command (MSC), was launched April 6 during a nighttime ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego.
• Tarawa Makes Landmark Launch From LHA Class Ship Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2008 -- Sailors and Marines aboard amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) successfully launched and retrieved raiding craft combat rubber inflatables (CRRC) for the first time from an LHA class ship, March 29.
• MCPON Visits Sasebo Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2008 -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, MCPON (SW/FMF) Joe R. Campa Jr., visited the Sailors of Fleet Activities Sasebo April 7.
• NMCB 4 Chiefs and Officers Conduct Field Training Exercise Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2008 -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4's officers and chiefs participated in their annual chief and officer field training exercise March 24 through March 28 at Fort Hunter Liggett.
• "Gold Eagle" Medical and Dental Departments Merge Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2008 -- USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) is merging its Medical and Dental departments at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard this April to provide more efficient services for the crew and help produce more well-rounded and flexible Navy corpsman.
• Four U.S. Ships to Participate in Phoenix Express 08 Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2008 -- Four U.S. Navy ships will participate in Phoenix Express 2008 (PE 08), a U.S.-hosted, multinational exercise designed to strengthen regional maritime partnerships and foster the ability to operate jointly, from April 8-22.
• Keating Praises Micronesia's Partnership in Promoting Stability AFPS 08 Apr 2008 -- Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating's visit here today turned personal when, after praising Micronesia as a partner in promoting regional security, he got to personally thank a local soldier severely wounded while serving in the U.S. military in Iraq.
• Senior Executive Service Appointments 08 Apr 2008 -- Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service appointments
• Kearsarge Completes CMAV, Prepares for Certification Cycle at Sea Navy NewsStand 08 Apr 2008 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) began its certification cycle April 1, after a post-deployment, month-long continuous maintenance availability, or CMAV.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 08 Apr 2008
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 08 Apr 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 08, 2008
• General Dynamics Awarded $79 Million Contract to Continue Supporting the U.S. Army Reserve Data Center General Dynamics 08 Apr 2008 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a follow-on contract to provide information technology (IT) support to the U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC).
• U.S. GOVERNMENT REPORT SHOWS DECREASED COSTS FOR F-35 PROGRAM Lockheed Martin 08 Apr 2008 -- newly released report from the U.S. Department of Defense shows that estimated acquisition costs dropped by nearly $1 billion from 2006 to 2007 for the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II program.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN RECEIVES TWELFTH ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR F-2 COMPONENT WORK Lockheed Martin 08 Apr 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received a contract from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) valued at approximately $250 million to manufacture components for eight additional F-2 production aircraft. MHI is the prime contractor for the F-2, Japan's operational support fighter.
• Northrop Grumman Awarded Contract to Support First Air Force Northrop Grumman 08 Apr 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) was awarded a task order under the Communications/Electronics Command (CECOM) Rapid Response (CR2) program to provide analytical, technological and logistics support for the First Air Force at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Rome, N.Y., Salt Lake City and McChord Air Force Base, Wash.
• SAIC Awarded Contract by Defense Security Service SAIC 08 Apr 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a prime contract by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) for the Defense Security Service (DSS) to provide development support to several agency programs.

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 08 Apr 2008
• Darfur: UN and African Union envoys begin new round of consultations UN News Centre 08 Apr 2008 -- The United Nations and African Union envoys spearheading efforts to bring durable peace to war-wracked Darfur are in Sudan this week for consultations with Government officials as they try to introduce new momentum to the stalled political process.
• Peacekeeping force in DR Congo stretched to the limit - latest UN report UN News Centre 08 Apr 2008 -- The redeployment of United Nations peacekeepers to the far east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where critical steps are being taken to resolve long-standing conflict and instability, risks creating security vacuums and increased tensions in other parts of the country, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says.
• In Chad, UN mission starts training local police UN News Centre 08 Apr 2008 -- The United Nations mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) is launching a programme tomorrow to train 77 Chadian police and gendarmerie commanders in law and order and respect for human rights.
• More money needed to help displaced in Georgia, UN refugee agency says UN News Centre 08 Apr 2008 -- United Nations refugee officials are calling for more humanitarian and development funding in Georgia to help support an estimated 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees living in the Caucasus country.
• Number of Displaced Persons Soars in Mogadishu VOA 08 Apr 2008 -- Fifteen months after Ethiopia led a military intervention to oust Somalia's Islamist movement from power, the poverty-stricken country has been devastated by an Islamist-led insurgency, suffering from worsening insecurity, and is sliding rapidly toward what international aid agencies describe as a humanitarian catastrophe. Worst hit by the crisis is the Somali capital Mogadishu
• UN, AU Envoys Say Chad-Sudan Relations Holding Up Darfur Peace Deal VOA 08 Apr 2008 -- United Nations and African Union envoys say hostilities between Chad and Sudan are standing in the way of a potential peace deal in Darfur
• Jailed Palestinian Leader Urges Peace With Israel VOA 08 Apr 2008 -- Jailed senior Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti says Palestinians are ready for peace with Israel, and he urges both sides to reach a cease-fire agreement as soon as possible.
• OPT: Arab donations boost emergency aid prospects IRIN 08 Apr 2008 -- UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, is cautiously optimistic that international donations for emergency relief work in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) will be more generous this year than last.
• RWANDA: Protect genocide survivors, authorities urged IRIN 08 Apr 2008 -- As Rwanda marks the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide on 8 April, the authorities are being called upon to provide better protection for genocide survivors who receive death threats.
• KENYA: Talks deadlock could slow IDP returns - officials IRIN 08 Apr 2008 -- The suspension of talks between Kenya's key political parties, announced on 8 April, could slow or halt progress made in returning thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes, humanitarian officials said.
• Armenia to send more peacekeepers to Kosovo RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2008 -- Armenia's Constitutional Court has approved an increase in the country's peacekeeping forces in Kosovo.
• UN chief warns against unilateral moves in Kosovo dispute RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2008 -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Serbia and Kosovo on Tuesday to refrain from unilateral steps that could spark violence in the region.

News Reports

• PRESS CONFERENCE BY HEAD OF COMMISSION INVESTIGATING RAFIQ HARIRI ASSASSINATION United Nations 08 Apr 2008
• Head of inquiry into Hariri assassination asks Security Council for time extension UN News Centre 08 Apr 2008 -- The head of the independent probe into the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri today asked the Security Council to extend the inquiry's mandate for another six months so it can continue its investigations into the February 2005 attack and a series of other recent killings in Lebanon.
• Gulf States play vital role in global relief efforts, says UN humanitarian chief UN News Centre 08 Apr 2008 -- The top United Nations humanitarian official has lauded the contributions of Persian Gulf countries to relief efforts around the world, and called for boosting ties between them and the world body to better meet today's growing challenges.
• Deadlock Deepens in Kenya Power-Sharing Deal VOA 08 Apr 2008 -- Kenya's opposition has announced that it is suspending talks about the formation of a power-sharing government until the president's party agrees to conditions on how to implement a plan signed by the two sides in February
• Zimbabwe Opposition Accuses Mugabe Supporters of Sabotage VOA 08 Apr 2008 -- Opposition leaders in Zimbabwe say supporters of President Robert Mugabe have launched a campaign of violence in order to derail elections 10 days ago, which they say they won
• Crew in Somali pirate yacht attack alive and well RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2008 -- All 32 crew members on board a luxury French yacht captured by Somali pirates at the weekend are alive and being well treated, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday citing the country's embassy in France.
• Zimbabwe High Court to Consider Election Petition Urgently VOA 08 Apr 2008 -- Zimbabwe's High Court says it will urgently consider a petition for the release of results from the country's March 29 presidential election.
• Ukraine: EU Official Says Political System Holds Kyiv Back RFE/RL 08 Apr 2008 -- Ukraine's troubles in integrating with the West can be attributed to a lack of "political solidity."