Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 14 Apr 2008 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• MND-B Soldier attacked by IED (Baghdad)
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Col. Malay and Robert Carrington From Iraq 14 Apr 2008 -- Presenter: Commander of Regimental Combat Team 5 Col. Patrick Malay and Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team Leader Robert Carrington
• Coalition Forces Detain 12 Suspects in Iraq Operations AFPS 14 Apr 2008 -- Coalition forces netted nine suspects during operations in Iraq targeting senior al-Qaida leaders today.
• April 13 airpower summary: C-130s provide heavy airlift support AFPN 14 Apr 2008
• Troops Kill Terrorist, Detain 10 in Northern Iraq AFPS 14 Apr 2008 -- Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained 10 suspects in operations across northern Iraq yesterday.
• Operation Charge of Knights continues progress in Basrah MNF-I 14 Apr 2008 -- Operation Sawlat al-Fursan, or Charge of the Knights, entered a new phase of operations in Basrah, April 12.
• AFGHANISTAN: ICRC working to deliver medical aid to volatile south IRIN 14 Apr 2008 -- Taliban insurgents have verbally agreed to allow safe passage to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver medical humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected communities in parts of southern Afghanistan, ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger told IRIN.
• Rice Says Afghanistan Tests Credibility of NATO VOA 14 Apr 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday the conflict in Afghanistan is an important test of the credibility of the NATO alliance.
• Joint Forces in Afghanistan Detain Haqqani Network Commander AFPS 14 Apr 2008 -- A militant network commander was detained during a joint Afghan and coalition operation to disrupt bombing operations in Afghanistan's Khowst province April 12.
• 11 Policemen, 2 NATO Soldiers Killed in Southern Afghanistan VOA 14 Apr 2008 -- Afghan officials say Taliban militants killed 11 policemen late Sunday, while two NATO soldiers died in a separate incident in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Media Availability with Secretary Gates, Secretary Peake and Deputy Secretary Mansfield at the Pentagon 14 Apr 2008 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake and Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon Mansfield
• Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment underway AFPN 14 Apr 2008 -- The Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2008 third quarter event kicked off here April 14 and will run through April 25 after two years of planning and preparation by Air Force officials.
• Eielson intelligence flight supports Red Flag-Alaska AFPN 14 Apr 2008 -- Airmen with the 354th Operations Support Squadron Intelligence Flight here are providing U.S. and allied forces intelligence scenarios and targeting materials to support Exercise Red Flag-Alaska 08-2 running April 3 through 18.
• Joint Task Force Supports Army South in Honduras AFPS 14 Apr 2008 -- A U.S. Army South exercise in Honduras is testing Joint Task Force Bravo's ability to support forward-deployed troops over three months as the number of U.S. military personnel on Soto Cano Air Base nearly doubles.
• 'Austere Challenge' Testing New 7th Army Concept Army News 14 Apr 2008 -- The establishment of early-entry and operational command posts in late March during the deployment phase of Austere Challenge 2008 marked a significant milestone in the merger of U.S. Army Europe and V Corps into a single organization known as 7th Army.
• Army Knowledge Online Upgrades Pave Way for DoD-Wide Net-centricity Army News 14 Apr 2008 -- Army Knowledge Online, the U.S. Army's enterprise portal and the world's largest intranet, is gearing up to support as many as 2.5 million users by the end of April.
• Former MNF-Iraq Spokesman Addresses Joint Public Affairs Community Army News 14 Apr 2008 -- Students at the Defense Information School and Army Public Affairs Center here recently received a senior operator's perspective on the importance of public affairs in supporting mission commanders' objectives, as seen from his perspective as former spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq.
• Warrior Workplace Program Helps Soldiers Face Transition Army News 14 Apr 2008 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England District is assisting the Community Based Health Care Organizations of Massachusetts in a first of its kind program.
• Phoenix Express 2008 Underway Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2008 -- Phoenix Express 2008 (PE 08) wrapped up the inport portion of the exercise on April 13 and began the underway portion of the two-week exercise on April 14 with 12 ships getting underway from Naval Support Activity, Souda Bay, Crete.
• USS Frank Cable Completes Mid-Cycle Assessment Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2008 -- USS Frank Cable (AS 40) successfully completed its Mid-Cycle Assessment by Afloat Training Group (ATG) and Submarine Squadron 15 (SUBRON 15), April 14, proving the crew can safely and correctly train, operate and maintain Frank Cable.
• USS Farragut Makes First International Port Visit Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2008 -- USS Farragut (DDG 99) Sailors marked their ship's first official transit into a foreign port April 11, during a routine refueling visit to this Caribbean island, one of several "firsts" for Farragut since her May 4 commissioning.
• Navy Core Competencies: USS Stethem Flexes Deck Seamanship Skills Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2008 -- In today's Navy, advanced weapons systems and complex command and control architecture often take the spotlight. As guided missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) took to sea, March 18-26, from Yokosuka, her crew demonstrated more traditional Naval heritage - deck seamanship.
• Fleet Activities Sasebo Changes Command Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2008 -- Numerous U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) officers, local government officials and Sailors looked on as Capt. Tilghman D. Payne relinquished command of Fleet Activities Sasebo to Capt. Francis Xavier Martin at a formal ceremony in front of the base headquarters building April 11.
• USS Curts welcomed in Saipan Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2008 -- USS Curts (FFG 38) departed Saipan April 9 after a four-day port visit on the tropical island in the Northern Marianas Islands, where the crew enjoyed the beautiful beaches, historical sites and community relations projects.
• Backgrounder: The U.S.-South Korea Alliance cfr.org 14 Apr 2008
• CIS set to hold air defense exercises in April RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2008 -- The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will hold air defense command and staff exercises on April 22 involving over 100 military aircraft, a spokesman for the Russian Air Force said on Monday.
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 14 Apr 2008
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 14 Apr 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 14, 2008
• Textron Systems and Boeing Add SAIC as Full Team Member for JLTV Program; Ford Joins as Subcontractor Boeing 14 Apr 2008 -- Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) and Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced the addition of SAIC as a full team member and Ford Motor Company as a subcontractor on the team competing for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program.
• CACI Awarded Additional $30.6 Million on Task Order to Support U.S. Army Communications CACI 14 Apr 2008 -- CACI International Inc (NYSE:CAI) announced today that the U.S. Army has awarded the company an additional $30.6 million in new work on a recently won task order to support the Army's Project Manager, Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (PM FBCB2).
• General Dynamics NASSCO Lays Keel of USNS Wally Schirra General Dynamics 14 Apr 2008 -- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today laid the keel for USNS Wally Schirra, the eighth dry cargo-ammunition ship in the U.S. Navy's T-AKE program. Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter recently named the ship in honor of the late Navy captain and original NASA pioneer. AFGHANISTAN: ICRC working to deliver medical aid to volatile south
• LOCKHEED MARTIN PROPOSES AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO JLTV SURVIVABILITY Lockheed Martin 14 Apr 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] submitted its proposal for the Technology Development phase of the competition to build the next-generation Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.
• Northrop Grumman to Consolidate and Protect U.S. Army's IT Networks Throughout European Theater Northrop Grumman 14 Apr 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a contract to consolidate and centrally manage information technology (IT) resources for the U.S. Army's 5th Signal Command in Mannheim, Germany.
• Raytheon Expands International Customer Base for Digital Radar Warning Receiver Raytheon 14 Apr 2008 -- An $85.5 million U.S. Navy contract allows Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) to add Canada and Switzerland to a growing list of international customers for its ALR-67(V)3 digital radar warning receiver.
• Raytheon and Boeing Team for Joint Air to Ground Missile Program Raytheon 14 Apr 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Boeing (NYSE: BA) have signed a teaming agreement to pursue the U.S. Army-U.S. Navy Joint Air to Ground Missile program.
• Russia's Sukhoi to become fourth largest fighter jet maker RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2008 -- Russia's Sukhoi aircraft manufacturer will rank fourth globally in terms of fighter plane production up to 2012, the company's press service said on Monday, citing a market researcher.
• Eurosatory 2008: Thales's response to new defence and security challenges Thales 14 Apr 2008 -- This tradeshow will offer the company a unique opportunity to showcase its latest innovations in the defence and security areas.

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 14 Apr 2008
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL’S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR LIBERIA United Nations 14 Apr 2008
• PRESS CONFERENCE ON CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT IN SRI LANKA United Nations 14 Apr 2008
• UN mission welcomes unveiling of presidential poll date in Côte d'Ivoire UN News Centre 14 Apr 2008 -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) today welcomed the announcement that the country's much delayed presidential elections will now be held on 30 November this year.
• Lack of funding could put half a million in Chad at risk, warn UN aid officials UN News Centre 14 Apr 2008 -- United Nations humanitarian officials have repeated their appeal for funds to support nearly half a million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Chad, noting that less than 20 per cent of the $290 million requested last December has been provided.
• Progress in key areas will impact UN drawdown in Liberia, says top official UN News Centre 14 Apr 2008 -- Challenges related to security, rule of law and economic development must be addressed if Liberia is to solidify the progress made so far and the United Nations is to successfully draw down its presence there, the world body's top official in the West African nation said today.
• Darfur: UN and African Union envoys to hold more consultations in Sudan UN News Centre 14 Apr 2008 -- The United Nations and African Union envoys spearheading international efforts to resolve the five-year conflict wracking Darfur will tomorrow begin a four-day visit to Sudan to hold consultations with the movements that have not signed previous peace agreements in the region.
• 78 Tamil Tigers killed in deadliest clashes in Sri Lanka IRNA 14 Apr 2008 -- At least 78 LTTE militants and 10 Sri Lankan soldiers have been killed in some of the deadliest clashes in the island's embattled north since the scrapping of a tattered ceasefire by the government in January.
• Georgia announces withdrawal of peacekeepers from Kosovo RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2008 -- The Georgian Defense Ministry said on Monday it has decided to withdraw its peacekeeping contingent from Kosovo by the end of this week, and may send additional troops to Afghanistan.
• Russia, Japan to continue dialogue on peace treaty RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2008 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Japanese counterpart Masahiko Komura agreed on Monday to continue negotiations on a bilateral peace treaty to formally end World War II hostilities.
• Ukraine concludes peacekeepers rotation in Kosovo RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2008 -- Ukrainian peacekeepers serving as part of a joint Polish-Ukraine battalion in Kosovo will end their tour of duty Monday and will be replaced by a new rotation, the defense ministry said.

News Reports

• ZIMBABWE: Looking for a knock-out ahead of round two IRIN 14 Apr 2008 -- At least one Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporter has been killed in political violence in Zimbabwe at the weekend, amid reports by human rights groups that ruling ZANU-PF party militants and the army have been deployed in the countryside to snuff out the opposition.
• ZIMBABWE: SADC disappoints civil society IRIN 14 Apr 2008 -- Zimbabwe's civil society and the opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), have expressed disappointment over the outcome of the much vaunted crisis summit held by the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
• Zimbabwe High Court Rejects Demand for Presidential Election Results VOA 14 Apr 2008 -- Zimbabwe's High Court has rejected an opposition request that it order the immediate release of results from last month's presidential election.
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS United Nations 14 Apr 2008
• Berlusconi Wins Italy's Elections, Gets to Govern Again VOA 14 Apr 2008 -- Conservative billionaire Silvio Berlusconi's conservative party clinched a decisive victory in Italy's parliamentary elections
• SUDAN: Census setback as count postponed again IRIN 14 Apr 2008 -- Last-minute objections by Southern Sudanese leaders have forced another postponement of the fifth national census that had been scheduled for take place over two weeks from 15 April, officials said.
• KENYA: Agencies appeal for funds as new government named IRIN 14 Apr 2008 -- Relief agencies are seeking US$189 million for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and others affected by the post-election violence that rocked Kenya in January and February, as well as drought-affected areas.
• BANGLADESH: Rice price stabilises but shortages continue IRIN 14 Apr 2008 -- Over the past week the retail price of rice has held steady, offering a welcome reprieve to anxious consumers and government officials alike, and on 14 April the wholesale price of coarse rice came down by 15-45 US cents per 37.32 kg bag.
• VIETNAM: Rice exports cut in "self-defence" IRIN 14 Apr 2008 -- For decades Vietnam struggled to feed itself but is now the second-largest exporter of rice after Thailand.
• Russia: Ruling Party Opens Key Conference RFE/RL 14 Apr 2008 -- The powerful, pro-Kremlin Unified Russia party opens a two-day congress in Moscow today that is expected to set the tone for how the country will be governed once Vladimir Putin leaves the presidency.
• Ruling United Russia party to offer chairman post to Putin RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2008 -- The Kremlin-backed United Russia party plans to create a new post of party chairman and offer the position to outgoing president Vladimir Putin, party leader Boris Gryzlov said on Monday.