Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 29 Apr 2008 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• MND-B Soldier attacked by IED (Baghdad)
• MND-B Soldier attacked by small arms fire (Baghdad)
• April 28 airpower summary: F-15s fly support missions AFPN 29 Apr 2008
• Coalition Forces Kill Three Terrorists, Detain 12 AFPS 29 Apr 2008 -- Coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained 12 suspects today during operations in the northern half of Iraq.
• US Military: 28 Militants Killed in Fresh Clashes in Baghdad VOA 29 Apr 2008 -- The U.S. military says 28 militants have been killed in fighting between Shi'ite militiamen and U.S. and Iraqi forces in the Sadr City area of east Baghdad.
• New UN Envoy to Afghanistan Concerned Over Weak Kabul Government VOA 29 Apr 2008 -- The new United Nations envoy to Afghanistan says the weak government in Kabul and a poorly coordinated international aid effort is threatening the future of the country more than six years after the Taliban regime was ousted
• Bush Underscores Support for Afghanistan VOA 29 Apr 2008 -- U.S. President George Bush says progress is being made in Afghanistan, despite a recent increase in violence
• Two Terrorists Killed, Four Detained in Afghanistan AFPS 29 Apr 2008 -- Coalition and Afghan forces killed two terrorists and detained four in operations April 27 targeting a known suicide-bomb and homemade-bomb handler in the Bati Kowt district ofAfghanistan's Nangarhar province.
• President Foresees Tough Fight Ahead in Afghanistan AFPS 29 Apr 2008 -- The United States and its allies are making progress in Afghanistan, but there is a long, tough road ahead, President Bush said during a White House Rose Garden news conference today.
• Suspected Taliban Suicide Bomb Targets Afghan Anti-Drug Workers VOA 29 Apr 2008 -- Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan have killed 19 people and injured many others in a suicide bomb blast followed by a deadly assault on Afghan security forces stationed nearby
• 15 Dead in Afghan Suicide Bombing VOA 29 Apr 2008 -- NATO officials in Afghanistan say a suicide bomber has killed 15 people and wounded 14 others in the eastern part of the country.
• Afghanistan: Key Road Toward Pakistan To Improve Trade, Security RFE/RL 29 Apr 2008 -- A contract has been signed for a $100 million highway project in Afghanistan intended to dramatically reduce travel time from Kabul to border areas near Pakistan's volatile tribal region of North Waziristan.
• AFGHANISTAN: Food insecurity prompts hundreds to leave their homes IRIN 29 Apr 2008 -- Hundreds of people have abandoned their homes and moved to urban areas in different parts of Afghanistan, and some have reportedly migrated to neighbouring Pakistan, due to worsening food insecurity, largely resulting from soaring food prices and low cereal supplies, provincial officials said.
• Pakistani Taliban suspend peace talks with government: spokesman IRNA 29 Apr 2008 -- Pakistani Taliban Monday said they have suspended peace talks with the government as 'the government has refused to accept their demand of troops withdrawal from the tribal regions', a spokesman for the group said.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Press Conference by the President The White House 29 Apr 2008
• Transcript: Media Availability with Secretary Gates in Mexico City, Mexico 29 Apr 2008 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• AFCENT command chief discusses wartime operations AFPN 29 Apr 2008 -- The command chief master sergeant of 9th Air Force and United States Air Forces Central closed out a tour through Southwest Asia April 25 with a visit to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing.
• General Acknowledges Shortfall, Pledges Fixes for Fort Bragg Barracks AFPS 29 Apr 2008 -- A senior Army officer responsible for soldiers' housing pledged remedial action in the wake of news reports citing some soldiers living on Fort Bragg, N.C., were housed in substandard quarters.
• SURFOR Represents Navy at National Image Conference Navy NewsStand 29 Apr 2008 -- Three Commander, Naval Surface Forces (SURFOR) officers participated in the 2008 National Image Conference that was held in Las Vegas, April 14-18.
• Port Everglades Welcomes Sailors for Fleet Week 2008 Navy NewsStand 29 Apr 2008 -- More than 2,500 Sailors, Marines and CoastGuardsmen aboard various ships arrived for Fleet Week Port Everglades April 28.
• UNITAS Ships Sail Together Navy NewsStand 29 Apr 2008 -- Ships from three countries participating in UNITAS 49-08 joined together April 27 in a close quarters formation exercise sailing off the coast of Brazil.
• EODMU-3 Recognized for Ordnance Removal at Molokini Island Navy NewsStand 29 Apr 2008 -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 3 was formally recognized by Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their removal of unexploded ordnance from the waters of Molokini Island during a ceremony, April 23, aboard Naval Station Pearl Harbor.
• Kearsarge Force Protection Team Secures Flawless Certification Navy NewsStand 29 Apr 2008 -- Sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) passed a three day Force Protection Initial Assessment (FPIA) with a perfect score, April 17-19.
• HSC-28 Reaffirms Its Reputation with Battle 'E' Award Navy NewsStand 29 Apr 2008 -- Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, "The Dragon Whales", received Navy Battle 'E' in a ceremony held at Naval Station Norfolk, April 28.
• PaCom Helps Establish Transnational Crime Unit in Micronesia AFPS 29 Apr 2008 -- A new transnational crime unit U.S. Pacific Command is helping to establish in Micronesia will support a multinational crackdown on drug trafficking and other crimes that have the potential to destabilize the region, a senior military official said yesterday.
• Boxer Deploys to Latin America for Continuing Promise 2008 Navy NewsStand 29 Apr 2008 -- USS Boxer (LHD 4) along with various embarked units and non-governmental organizations (NGO) departed Naval Base San Diego April 28 in route to Latin America nations for the Pacific Phase of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.
• Pakistani, Turkish air forces conclude 10-day joint exercise IRNA 29 Apr 2008 -- The air forces of Pakistan and Turkey on Tuesday concluded joint exercises, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said.
• Russian Air Force receives new Tu-160 strategic bomber RIA Novosti 29 Apr 2008 -- A new Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bomber officially entered service with Russia' Air Force during a ceremony at an aircraft manufacturing plant in Kazan on the Volga, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported on Tuesday.
• Russia develops defense program against high-precision strikes RIA Novosti 29 Apr 2008 -- Russia has developed a new concept for unified national defense against high-precision weapons, a first deputy prime minister said on Tuesday.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 29, 2008
• BAE SYSTEMS RECEIVES $25 MILLION U.S. ARMY CONTRACT FOR VEHICLE EMERGENCY ESCAPE WINDOW KITS BAE Systems 29 Apr 2008 -- BAE Systems has an order to provide 2,354 Vehicle Emergency Escape (VEE) window kits and 2,000 spare window panels to the U.S. Army.
• Army Approves Final Design Of On-The-Move Information Network For Warfighters General Dynamics 29 Apr 2008 -- The U.S. Army has approved the final design of Increments 1 and 2 of the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) program, authorizing General Dynamics C4 Systems and partner Lockheed Martin to prepare for field testing in October 2008
• 1-87 dedicates Patrol Base to fallen comrade in Hawijah MNF-I 29 Apr 2008 -- The 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment named their new Patrol Base after Pfc. George Howell during a ribbon cutting ceremony in Riyad, located in the Hawijah district of northeastern, Iraq, April 26.
• General Dynamics Awarded $58 Million for Stryker Work General Dynamics 29 Apr 2008 -- General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a $58 million contract modification to purchase long-lead materials for Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle and Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle variants.
• Pratt & Whitney To Power Korean F-15Ks Pratt & Whitney 29 Apr 2008 -- Pratt & Whitney has been awarded a contract to provide engines to power new F-15K fighter jets for the Republic of Korea Air Force.
• Zumwalt Readies For Production After Successful Navy Review Raytheon 29 Apr 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has successfully completed the mission system design readiness review for the Zumwalt-class destroyer program.
• Boeing-Insitu Achieves ScanEagle Service Milestones for U.S. Marine Corps, Navy Boeing 29 Apr 2008 -- The ScanEagle unmanned aircraft (UA), a joint effort of The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Insitu Inc., this month logged a pair of service milestones as it surpassed 50,000 combat flight hours with the U.S. Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF) in Iraq and 1,000 shipboard recoveries with the U.S. Navy.
• Sagem Défense Sécurité records new order for SITEL information systems, to be deployed by the French army Sagem (Safran group) 29 Apr 2008 -- French defense procurement agency DGA has officially placed an order with Sagem Défense Sécurité (SAFRAN Group) for an additional batch of 500 SITEL information systems, to be deployed by the French army.
• Thales reaches key milestones in its Maritime Surveillance Program for Turkey Thales 29 Apr 2008 -- Thales today announced that the Turkish SSM (Under Secretariat for Defense Industries) has accepted the first Thales Maritime Patrol Mission Equipment Package that will be installed by Alenia on the first of ten ATR-72 within the framework of the Meltem II programme.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 29 Apr 2008
• Israeli PM Voices Regret About Killing of Palestinian Family VOA 29 Apr 2008 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has expressed regret about the killing of a Palestinian woman and her four children and has vowed to investigate the incident.
• Middle East peace must include solution for Palestinian refugees, Ban Ki-moon says UN News Centre 29 Apr 2008 -- A sustainable peace in the Middle East will have to factor in a viable and just solution to the Palestinian refugee issue, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a United Nations meeting convened in Paris to assess the condition of the refugees and examine the role of the world body in alleviating their plight.
• Georgia: 'Most Important To Have Western Unity' In Face Of Russian Moves RFE/RL 29 Apr 2008
• Russia warns of harsh response to Georgian provocations RIA Novosti 29 Apr 2008 -- Russia's Defense Ministry issued a stern warning to Georgia on Tuesday over its actions in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and pledged to deploy more Russian peacekeepers in the area.
• Russia to Boost Troop Presence in Georgia VOA 29 Apr 2008 -- Russia says it is deploying extra peacekeeping troops in two of Georgia's breakaway regions to offset what it calls aggressive moves by the Georgian military.
• ICC Arrest Warrant Out for Fourth Congolese War Crimes Suspect VOA 29 Apr 2008 -- The International Criminal Court has unsealed a warrant for the arrest of a fourth Congolese militia leader on war crimes charges
• ICC Seeks Arrest of Congolese Militia Leader VOA 29 Apr 2008 -- The International Criminal Court has made public an arrest warrant for a Congolese militia leader wanted for recruiting child soldiers.
• UK to send 600 troops to Kosovo next month IRNA 29 Apr 2008 -- The British government is to send a battalion of 600 troops to Kosovo to help maintain public order in the newly independent state, Defense Secretary Des Browne announced Tuesday.
• Britain to send 600 troops to Kosovo RIA Novosti 29 Apr 2008 -- Britain will send 600 troops in late May to meet NATO's request to beef up the international peacekeeping force in Kosovo, the defense secretary said on Tuesday.
• COMOROS: Anjouan road to recovery now open IRIN 29 Apr 2008 -- COMOROS: Anjouan road to recovery now openOver half a million dollars of much-needed emergency funding will help Anjouan, one of three islands in the Comoros archipelago, to address humanitarian needs and re-establish basic administrative structures after a recent military operation backed by the African Union (AU) allowed the central government regain control of the renegade island.
• Security Council welcomes steps toward holding of Ivorian presidential polls UN News Centre 29 Apr 2008 -- The Security Council today welcomed the news that Côte d'Ivoire will be holding previously delayed presidential elections on 30 November, and urged the West African nation to redouble its efforts to meet that vital goal on the path to peace.
• Security Council extends mandate of group monitoring flow of arms in Somalia UN News Centre 29 Apr 2008 -- The Security Council today extended the mandate of an expert group monitoring the arms flow to Somalia.
• East Timor Rebel Leader Surrenders VOA 29 Apr 2008 -- A leader of a rebel group blamed for an attempted assassination of East Timor's president has surrendered
• LEBANON: Fatah says it will take over security at all Palestinian refugee camps IRIN 29 Apr 2008 -- Fatah's security chief in Lebanon says his faction will extend security control over all Palestinian camps in order to prevent the rise of Islamist radical groups such as the Al-Qaeda-inspired Fatah Islam, whose conflict with the army last summer destroyed the northern Nahr al-Bared camp.
• SUDAN: Census headaches IRIN 29 Apr 2008 -- Almost halfway into Sudan's crucial national census, security problems, lingering mistrust between Northern and Southern authorities, logistics and heavy rain continue to beset the exercise across states in the South.

News Reports

• ZIMBABWE: I'll show you mine if you show me yours IRIN 29 Apr 2008 -- A month after Zimbabweans went to the polls, a recount of 23 disputed constituencies revealed no major changes and has served to confirm the status quo that, for the first time since independence in 1980, President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF has lost control of parliament.
• UN experts condemn 'intimidation, violence and torture' in Zimbabwe UN News Centre 29 Apr 2008 -- Intimidation, violence and torture are being used to take retribution against supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) after last month's presidential elections in Zimbabwe, according a statement issued today by a group of United Nations human rights rapporteurs.
• UN offers to help to resolve political crisis in Zimbabwe UN News Centre 29 Apr 2008 -- The United Nations stands ready to support regional diplomacy to help end the political crisis in Zimbabwe, where violence has flared after last month's presidential elections, the world body's political chief, B. Lynn Pascoe, said today.
• Death Toll Mounts In Zimbabwe As UN Security Council Mulls Action VOA 29 Apr 2008 -- Mounting and increasingly deadly post-election political violence in Zimbabwe, alleged to be organized by the governing ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe, came under scrutiny Tuesday in the United Nations Security Council which considered appeals for the U.N. to dispatch a special envoy to intervene in the crisis.
• Zimbabwe Opposition Calls on UN to Intervene in Crisis VOA 29 Apr 2008 -- Zimbabwe's political opposition is calling on the United Nations to intervene to help end the post-election crisis gripping the nation
• China Denies Foreign Pressure Led to Talks With Dalai Lama's Envoy VOA 29 Apr 2008 -- China's Foreign Ministry denies foreign pressure led to Beijing's decision to revive talks with a representative of the Dalai Lama
• UN Announces Food Crisis Task Force VOA 29 Apr 2008 -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he will head a new task force to tackle the global food crisis that is plunging tens of millions of people into poverty and hunger
• China ready for dialogue with Dalai Lama RIA Novosti 29 Apr 2008 -- Chinese officials are ready to meet "in the coming days" with representatives of Tibet's exiled spiritual leader who they blame for last month's riots in the Tibetan capital, the Xinhua news agency said Tuesday.
• UN Security Council to Discuss Zimbabwe Crisis VOA 29 Apr 2008 -- The United Nations Security Council meets Tuesday to discuss the post-election crisis in Zimbabwe.