Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 18 Apr 2008 [PDF]
• MND-B Soldier attacked by IED (Baghdad)
• MND-N Soldier attacked in Salah ad Din
• April 17 airpower summary: B-1B deters enemy AFPN 18 Apr 2008
• Coalition Troops in Iraq Capture Special Groups Leader AFPS 18 Apr 2008 -- U.S. soldiers captured a man suspected of leading an Iranian-backed Special Groups cell in southern Baghdad's Rashid District yesterday, military officials reported.
• Coalition Team Helps Streamline Iraqi Army Development AFPS 18 Apr 2008 -- Iraqi army units are being fielded more quickly thanks to coordination and a streamlined process, a U.S. Army official told military analysts during a conference call from Baghdad today.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Cone at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 18 Apr 2008 -- Presenter: Commanding General, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan Maj. Gen. Robert Cone
• Afghan Police Training Program Targets Corruption AFPS 18 Apr 2008 -- A new Afghan constabulary training program addresses reports of corruption committed by some members of the country's national police, the U.S. commander in charge of training and equipping Afghan soldiers and police said today.
• Afghan Army Making Progress; Police Force Needs Work, U.S. General Says AFPS 18 Apr 2008 -- Afghanistan's growing army is starting to take the lead in battles against Taliban insurgents, but the country's constabulary still requires work, the U.S. commander in charge of training and equipping those forces said today.
• Coalition Troops in Afghanistan Detain Suspected Roadside Bomber AFPS 18 Apr 2008 -- Coalition forces detained a suspected militant yesterday during a joint U.S./Afghan security-force operation to disrupt roadside bombings in Afghanistan's Khowst province, military officials reported.
• U.S. 'turned blind eye' to torture of Afghan prisoners RIA Novosti 18 Apr 2008 -- A U.S. civil rights group said it has obtained documents from the defense department that confirm the U.S. ignored the use of torture by special forces in the interrogation of Afghani prisoners.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Three Firms to Vie for LOGCAP Services in Theater Army News 22 Apr 2008 -- Logistics-support services in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan will now be split among three companies: DynCorp, KBR and Fluor Intercontinental Inc.
• Officials award $194.5 million consolidation contract AFPN 18 Apr 2008 -- The Army Corps of Engineers district office in Louisville, Ky., announced April 16 the construction contract award that will house the bulk of missions consolidating here as a result of Base Realignment and Closure 2005 decisions.
• Ellsworth first in Air Force to receive EPA incentives AFPN 18 Apr 2008 -- Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., is the first Air Force installation to receive special incentives from the Environmental Protection Agency based on its exceptional example as a steward of the environment.
• Medics deliver superior care, Air Force leaders testify AFPN 18 Apr 2008 -- Two Air Force medical leaders told the Senate Subcommittee of Defense April 16 in Washington that the Air Force's state of medical readiness is aligned with the service's top priorities.
• Reserve, active-duty Airmen fly late season Antarctica mission AFPN 18 Apr 2008 -- A total force aircrew from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., made history April 17 during the last Operation Deep Freeze mission of the 2007-2008 season.
• First Recruits Enlist Using Biometric Technology AFPS 18 Apr 2008 -- When 20 recruits gathered yesterday at the Baltimore Military Entrance Processing Station to sign their enlistment contracts, none needed a pen.
• Gates Salutes Fallon for "Unparalleled" Energy AFPS 18 Apr 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates praised Navy Adm. William J. Fallon during his retirement ceremony today for bringing "unparalleled energy, ideas and diplomatic skill" to U.S. Central Command and for 41 years of service that has left the United States stronger and safer.
• Los Angeles Joins 'Conversation' on New Maritime Strategy Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2008 -- The Navy's latest "Conversation with the Country" brought its discussion of the new national maritime strategy to an appropriate venue - Los Angeles - the home of the fifth-busiest seaport complex in the world on April 17.
• USS Gonzalez Supports NATO Force Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2008 -- On March 6, less than three weeks after departing Norfolk for a routine six month deployment, guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) sailed over the Mediterranean horizon south of Crete and joined the other ships of Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG) 2.
• Air Department Inspects LHD 8's Flight Deck Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2008 -- Pre-commissioning Unit (PCU) Makin Island's (LHD 8) air department personnel began a series of quality assurance (QA) inspections on the installation of the flight deck non-skid March 28 at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB).
• HSL-43 Holds Change of Command Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2008 -- Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 43 "Battlecats" held a change of command ceremony April 15 at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI).
• Naval Station Great Lakes Restores Clock Tower Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2008 -- Naval Station Great Lakes announced the renovation of an historic clock tower, part of Building 1, was completed April 8.
• MTF/EMF Holds Change of Command Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2008 -- Medical Task Force Kuwait and the Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) Kuwait held a change of command cermony at a chapel on Camp Arifjan, April 17.
• Adm. Fallon Says Final Farewell Navy NewsStand 18 Apr 2008 -- Adm. William J. Fallon said his final goodbyes to his fellow Sailors and friends during a retirement ceremony aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) at Naval Station Norfolk, April 18.
• Excerpts From Press Gaggle by Tony Fratto and Dan Fisk, NSC Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs on the North American Leaders' Summit The White House 18 Apr 2008
• Press Briefing by Tony Fratto The White House 18 Apr 2008
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 18 Apr 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 18, 2008
• General Tactical Vehicles Low-Risk JLTV Solution Uses High-Level Systems Maturity AM General 18 Apr 2008 -- Leveraging more than 120 years of combined experience in the design, production and support of more than one million combat and tactical vehicles, General Tactical Vehicles has submitted its proposal for the Technology Development phase of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program.
• General Tactical Vehicles Low-Risk JLTV Solution Uses High-Level Systems Maturity General Dynamics 18 Apr 2008 -- Leveraging over 120 years of combined experience in the design, production and support of more than one million combat and tactical vehicles, General Tactical Vehicles has submitted its proposal for the Technology Development phase of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program.
• BAE SYSTEMS STARTS MANUFACTURE OF THE FIRST F-35 LIGHTNING II PRODUCTION AIRCRAFT BAE Systems 18 Apr 2008 -- BAE Systems has cut metal on its first component for the F-35 Lightning II production aircraft.
• DCNS FINALISES CONTRACT FOR MULTIMISSION FRIGATE FOR MOROCCO DCNS 18 Apr 2008 -- French Prime Minister François Fillon has confirmed at a seminar in Rabat that DCNS has finalised the contract for a multimission frigate for the Royal Moroccan Navy.

Other Conflicts

• Secretary-General Ban deplores deadly fighting around Burundi's capital UN News Centre 18 Apr 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced grave concern at the deadly fighting between Government forces in Burundi and the Palipehutu-FNL rebel group over the past two days in and around Bujumbura, the capital of the struggling African country.
• Thousands of refugees from Darfur remain along volatile border - UN agency UN News Centre 18 Apr 2008 -- About 8,000 Sudanese remain scattered in a handful of villages along the volatile border with Chad, more than two months after a major round of fighting erupted in West Darfur, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.
• UNDP sounds alarm on danger of cluster munitions to civilians, development UN News Centre 18 Apr 2008 -- Urging the international community to adopt a comprehensive treaty banning the use of cluster munitions, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warned today in a new report that the deadly devices deal a blow to development.
• Ban Ki-moon welcomes imminent census in Sudan to bolster north-south peace UN News Centre 18 Apr 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the intention of Sudan's Government of National Unity to proceed with a delayed national census as from 22 April in preparation for elections next year.
• UNHCR Moves Thousands of Sudanese Refugees to New Camps in Chad VOA 18 Apr 2008 -- The U.N. refugee agency says it has transferred more than 5,000 new Sudanese refugees to two Chadian camps more than two months after fighting erupted in the northern part of Sudan's West Darfur region
• UGANDA: Optimism prevails, despite setback in peace talks IRIN 18 Apr 2008 -- Josephine Akello had hoped the peace talks between the Ugandan government and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) would finally end with rebel leader Joseph Kony signing a peace accord on 10 April.
• Georgia/Russia: Examining Moscow Motives In Georgia's Frozen Conflicts RFE/RL 18 Apr 2008 -- The timing of Russia's move this week to forge closer links with two Georgian separatist regions has raised more than a few eyebrows in Tbilisi and the West.

News Reports

• ZIMBABWE: What now from SADC? IRIN 18 Apr 2008 -- South African President Thabo Mbeki has been lampooned and condemned across the world for saying there is "no crisis" in Zimbabwe on his brief stopover in the capital, Harare, on the way to an emergency summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Zambia to discuss Zimbabwe's disputed 29 March elections.
• Mugabe Says Zimbabwe Will Not Change Course VOA 18 Apr 2008 -- On the occasion of Zimbabwe's anniversary of independence, President Robert Mugabe has indicated that both he and his Zanu PF party intend to continue running the country
• France to Double Food Aid VOA 18 Apr 2008 -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy says his country will double emergency food aid to meet a crisis sparked in several developing countries over sharply rising food prices
• Mugabe Denounces Britain in Zimbabwe Independence Day Speech VOA 18 Apr 2008 -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe marked the country's independence day Friday with a speech denouncing former colonial ruler Britain.
• Bangladesh Rice Harvest Could Ease Famine Concerns VOA 18 Apr 2008 -- Some good news from one of the world's most impoverished countries, which struggles to feed its people in the best of times