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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 12 May 2008 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Col. Paschal from Iraq 12 May 2008 -- Presenter: Commander, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division Col. David Paschal
• May 11 airpower summary: C-130s provide heavy airlift AFPN 12 May 2008
• Forces Capture 20 Terrorism Suspects in Baghdad, Mosul AFPS 12 May 2008 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces nabbed 20 terrorism suspects in operations yesterday in Baghdad and Mosul.
• Commander Says al-Qaida 'Virtually Destroyed' in Kirkuk AFPS 12 May 2008 -- Violence in Iraq's Kirkuk province has dropped by 70 percent, and coalition and Iraqi forces have "virtually destroyed" al-Qaida in Iraq in the region, the commander of the U.S. brigade combat team in the area said today.
• Kazakhstani Troops Keep Water Flowing at Iraq Outpost AFPS 12 May 2008 -- Six Kazakhstani soldiers completed a transfer of operations May 8 at Combat Outpost Murray that will provide U.S. soldiers of 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, with clean, drinkable water.
• Sporadic Clashes Reported in Baghdad's Sadr City Despite Truce Deal VOA 12 May 2008 -- The U.S. military in Iraq says it has killed three gunmen who attacked American patrols in Baghdad's Sadr City district despite a ceasefire deal for the district.
• UN agency suspends returns of Afghan refugees UN News Centre 12 May 2008 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has temporarily suspended the repatriation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan through Peshawar because of concerns over security.
• Colonel Describes Progress With Afghan Army, Police AFPS 12 May 2008 -- A key leader in the effort to build Afghanistan's national army and police force explained the process and marked progress in a conference call with online journalists and "bloggers" May 9.
• AFGHANISTAN: More provinces poppy-free, but opium production still high IRIN 12 May 2008 -- The government's ongoing battle to eliminate opium production has had partial success in 2008 in that there are now about 20 provinces in the north, east and northeast of the country which are poppy-free, up from 16 in 2007, according to the Afghan Ministry of Counter-Narcotics (MCN).
• First C-130 crew provides humanitarian assistance to Burma AFPN 12 May 2008 -- A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules loaded with emergency relief supplies touched down at Rangoon International Airport in Burma May 12 in support of national disaster relief efforts following Tropical Cyclone Nagris that swept through Burma May 2.
• First of Three Planned U.S. Relief Flights Brings Aid to Burma AFPS 12 May 2008 -- The first U.S. military plane loaded with relief supplies arrived in Burma today as members of Joint Task Force Caring Response prepared to dispatch two more relief flights to the cyclone-stricken region.

Defense Policy / Programs

• ODNI and DoD Chief Information Officers Embrace Information Sharing Between Interagency Computer Networks 12 May 2008 -- The chief information officers for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) have announced their intent to better integrate their computer networks to enhance national security.
• DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for April 2008 12 May 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of April.
• Individual deployment information now visible on vMPF AFPN 12 May 2008 -- Air Force Personnel Center officials here have taken another step to support Airmen and ensure all members know their air expeditionary force deployment status. Airmen can now access this information through the center's virtual military personnel flight, or vMPF.
• Services Meet or Exceed April 2008 Recruiting Goals AFPS 12 May 2008 -- All military services met or exceeded their recruiting goals for April, with the Marine Corps recruiting 142 percent of its goal, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said here today.
• Prepositioning weapons at Balad to save $1.3 million AFPN 12 May 2008 -- Balad Air Base has been chosen by Air Force leaders to be the test base for a weapons prepositioning initiative expected to save the Air Force approximately $1.3 million per year in transportation costs.
• Air Force counter-biological warfare reaches milestone AFPN 12 May 2008 -- The Air Force counter-biological warfare concept of operations recently reached a critical milestone, achieving initial operational capability across the service.
• Alaska ANG KC-135s provide 'edge' anytime, anywhere AFPN 12 May 2008 -- Between eight and 12 KC-135 Stratotankers from Eielson Air Force Base depart each day, providing fuel to as many as 18 aircraft in one mission for Northern Edge 2008.
• Airmen participate in Ultimate Caduceus 08 AFPN 12 May 2008 -- When an improvised explosive device "detonated" along Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct on May 1st, the ensuing blast and chemical truck explosion sent deadly methyl isocyanate into the air, causing hundreds of deaths and thousands more injured and sick. At least on paper.
• Defense forum highlights need for scientists, engineers AFPN 12 May 2008 -- Air Force and U.S. officials forecast a serious shortage of scientists and engineers.
• General Addresses Misconceptions About Army Individual Ready Reserve AFPS 12 May 2008 -- News reports suggesting that injured former soldiers are being called back to active duty and confusion over what the Individual Ready Reserve is have resulted in misconceptions, a senior Army personnel officer said May 9.
• At-sea Exercise Strengthens American, Argentine Interoperability Navy NewsStand 12 May 2008 -- Sailors from USS Kauffman (FFG 59) completed intense navy-to-navy training exercises including maritime interdiction operations and visit, board, search and seizure (MIO/VBSS) with Argentine forces May 6 during bilateral training along the southeast Atlantic coast of South America.
• USS Momsen Trains With Kenyan Navy Navy NewsStand 12 May 2008 -- During a three-day port visit to Mombasa, USS Momsen (DDG 92) hosted damage control training with a group of ten Kenyan Sailors, May 8.
• Navy Signs Record of Decision to Begin Construction at NNMC Navy NewsStand 12 May 2008 -- The Navy issued a Record of Decision May 8 to address actions necessary to create the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on the campus of the National Naval Medical Center.
• Boxer, Seabees Begin Work on Second Guatemalan School Navy NewsStand 12 May 2008 -- Seabees from Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 303 and Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5, embarked aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4), began construction and repair work to the Aldea Higueral school house, May 9, as part of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.
• CNO Visits UK, Builds Partnerships Navy NewsStand 12 May 2008 -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm. Gary Roughead is currently participating in a counterpart visit hosted by the First Sea Lord in the United Kingdom (UK) following his attendance at the Chiefs of European Navies (CHENS) Symposium in Bulgaria.
• New Containment System Aids Force Protection Navy NewsStand 12 May 2008 -- Port operations Sailors and Japanese employees from Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS) teamed up with Defense Department civilians from the Pacific Northwest to conduct a boat operation training exercise May 8.
• USS Farragut Hosts First International Reception in Montevideo, Uruguay Navy NewsStand 12 May 2008 -- The crew of USS Farragut (DDG 99) hosted the ship's first international reception May 6, just hours after arriving at the Port of Montevideo Terminal, for a port visit.
• Bethesda Supports Troops Through High Quality of Life Navy NewsStand 12 May 2008 -- Poor quality of life issues at Fort Bragg, N.C., were recently brought to light when an angry father of an Army Sergeant posted a video on a popular Web site. The video portrayed poor living conditions inside the barracks where his son was living following a deployment.
• Guard Answers Calls in Weather-Battered States AFPS 12 May 2008 -- National Guard members in four states were called out by their governors to assist civil authorities today after tornadoes crossed the southwestern United States on May 10 and flooding on the Delaware coast left communities in need of emergency assistance.
• Kearsarge Completes CMAV, Prepares for Certification Cycle Navy NewsStand 12 May 2008 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) began its certification cycle April 1, after a post-deployment, month-long continuous maintenance availability (CMAV).
• Farragut Conducts Theater Security Cooperation Activities With Uruguayan Navy Navy NewsStand 12 May 2008 -- The crew of USS Farragut (DDG 99) arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay May 6, where they marked the beginning of theater security cooperation exercises (TSC) with the Uruguayan Navy.
• Continuing Promise Seabees Begin School Renovation in Guatemala Navy NewsStand 12 May 2008 -- Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 303, embarked aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4), began renovations at Guatemala's Aldea Linares School House, May 9, as part of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 12 May 2008
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 12 May 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 12, 2008
• General Dynamics Awarded $27 Million Navy Contract for Performance-Based Logistics Support of Airborne Computers General Dynamics 12 May 2008 -- The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems a five-year, $27 million contract for performance-based logistics support of mission computers in Navy F/A-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier aircraft
• Northrop Grumman KC-45: Why We Won - Development Cost Northrop Grumman 12 May 2008 -- The U.S. Air Force found Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) bid to build the next generation of aerial refueling tankers superior to Boeing's in four of the five most important selection criteria
• The Wexford Group International, a CACI Company, Awarded Prime Position on $453 Million, Multiple-Award Contract to Support Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization CACI 12 May 2008 -- The Wexford Group International, a wholly owned company of CACI International Inc (NYSE: CAI), announced today that the company has been awarded a five-year prime contract to continue its support for the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO).
• Raytheon Teams with Swift Engineering to Offer 'KillerBee' Unmanned Aircraft System to U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Raytheon 12 May 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has teamed with Swift Engineering, Inc. to provide the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps with an unmanned aircraft system for their respective Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Tier 2 missions.
• Boeing's 1st Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite Now Operational Boeing 12 May 2008 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that the U.S. Air Force has placed the first Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite into operation over the Pacific region.
• Oshkosh Defense and U.S. Marine Corps Demonstrate On-Board Vehicle Power Capabilities Oshkosh 12 May 2008 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), and the U.S. Marine Corps proved the capabilities of Oshkosh’s Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) with on-board vehicle power (OBVP) during a recent demonstration at the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Test Center.
• China starts producing Russian Mi-171 helicopters - paper RIA Novosti 12 May 2008 -- A manufacturing plant in southwest China has started to assemble Russian-designed Mi-171 transport helicopters, one of Russia's key arms exports, the Russian business daily Vedomosti said on Monday.

Other Conflicts

• 'Prolonged Crisis' in Lebanon Reflects 'Cold War' in Region cfr.org 12 May 2008
• Backgrounder: Somalia's Transitional Government cfr.org 12 May 2008
• US Slams Hezbollah Influence in Lebanon VOA 12 May 2008 -- The Bush administration is urging Iranian-backed militants to cease hostilities in Lebanon and respect the country's democracy
• LEBANON: Aid agencies hampered by threat of further violence IRIN 12 May 2008 -- Sporadic clashes between pro- and anti-government forces continued on 12 May in areas around the northern port city of Tripoli and the eastern Bekaa Valley as the Arab League announced mediators would arrive in Beirut on 14 May.
• Lebanese parties must resume dialogue, Secretary-General says UN News Centre 12 May 2008 -- Deploring the violence that has engulfed Lebanon over the past week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on all parties in the fractured country to resume dialogue as part of a process that should culminate in the election of a president and a solution to the prolonged political crisis.
• Lebanon's Army to Crack Down on Sectarian Violence VOA 12 May 2008 -- Lebanon's army says it will use force, beginning Tuesday, to stop the country's worst sectarian fighting since the civil war that ended in 1990.
• Heavy Fighting Erupts Again in Northern Lebanon VOA 12 May 2008 -- Lebanese security officials say heavy fighting has erupted for a second time in the northern port city of Tripoli between supporters of the Western-backed government and pro-Hezbollah militants.
• LEBANON: Political, sectarian crisis entrenched - analysts IRIN 12 May 2008 -- Hezbollah and its allies may have achieved a swift military victory in Beirut and the Druze mountains, but the political battle for Lebanon will be tougher and the consequences long-term, say analysts.
• US has built militia in Lebanon: Los Angeles Times IRNA 12 May 2008 -- For a year, the main Lebanese political faction backed by the United States built a militia here under the guise of private security companies, Los Angeles Times said quoting Lebanese security experts and officials.
• Middle East: Are Iran, Syria Playing Any Roles In Lebanon Fighting? RFE/RL 12 May 2008 -- The resurgence of violence in Lebanon has again raised the question of the motives and aims of Iran and Syria, which support Hizballah, one of the groups involved in the fighting
• CHAD: Govt denies involvement in Khartoum attack IRIN 12 May 2008 -- Chad's government has denied allegations made by neighbouring Sudan that it backed rebels who raided the Sudanese capital Khartoum on 10 May.
• Chad Closes Border With Sudan After Khartoum Cuts Diplomatic Relations VOA 12 May 2008 -- Chad has closed its border with Sudan, in response to Khartoum's decision to break diplomatic relations with N'Djamena following a rebel attack on the Sudanese capital.
• SOMALIA: Peace talks to begin in Djibouti IRIN 12 May 2008 -- Representatives of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and an Eritrea-based opposition alliance were gathered in Djibouti on 12 May for peace talks, with the government expressing optimism about the outcome.
• Talks begin between Somali Government and opposition group - UN UN News Centre 12 May 2008 -- Talks between the Somali Government and an opposition group began today, and the top United Nations envoy to the war-torn Horn of Africa nation said that he was pleased that leaders have made the well-being and safety of their people their priority.
• Georgia: Visiting EU Delegation Offering Support, But Little Else RFE/RL 12 May 2008 -- The foreign ministers of Slovenia, Sweden, Poland, and Lithuania have begun a visit to Tbilisi, the second high-profile EU visit to the Georgian capital in less than a week
• Abkhazia says it shot down two more Georgian drones RIA Novosti 12 May 2008 -- Abkhazia has shot down another two Georgian unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, bringing the total to seven, the defense minister of the breakaway republic said on Monday.
• Egypt's Intelligence Chief in Israel Working on Gaza Truce VOA 12 May 2008 -- Egypt's intelligence chief has held talks with Israeli leaders about a possible truce in the Gaza Strip
• Sudan Reimposes Curfew in Omdurman; Rebels Promise More Attacks VOA 12 May 2008 -- Sudanese authorities have arrested opposition leader Hassan al-Turabi and other members of his party

News Reports

• PRESS CONFERENCE ON MYANMAR BY EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR United Nations 12 May 2008
• UN Chief Criticizes Burma's 'Slow' Response to Cyclone VOA 12 May 2008 -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is frustrated by the Burmese government's handling of the humanitarian crisis in the cyclone-devastated country
• Response to cyclone in Myanmar 'unacceptably slow' - Ban Ki-moon UN News Centre 12 May 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today registered his "immense frustration" with the pace of relief efforts following the cyclone in Myanmar last week, and called on the Government to do everything it could to prevent the disaster from becoming even more serious.
• Pro-Western Coalition Declares Victory In Serbian Elections; Nationalists Defiant RFE/RL 12 May 2008 -- Serbia's pro-European alliance secured a surprisingly strong win in the May 11 parliamentary vote that had been widely expected to be swept by anti-EU nationalists.
• UN humanitarian aid arrives in cyclone-hit Myanmar RIA Novosti 12 May 2008 -- More than 27,000 people in Myanmar affected by the Nargis tropical cyclone, which hit the Southeast Asian country, have received UN humanitarian aid, the UN's press service said.
• Serbian Political Leaders Face Tough Negotiations on Forming New Government VOA 12 May 2008 -- Serbia's political leaders face tough negotiations on forming a new government, after supporters of pro-Western President Boris Tadic emerged as the largest group in parliament in Sunday's elections.
• Zimbabwe Opposition Says Official Crackdown Steps Up With Rural Violence VOA 12 May 2008 -- Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change said Monday that despite a call on Saturday by party leader and presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai for a halt to the allegedly state-sanctioned attacks on opposition members in rural areas, there has been no apparent slowing and official legal sanctions have stepped up.
• Amid Crackdown, Controversy Over Zimbabwe Presidential Runoff Delay VOA 12 May 2008 -- Zimbabwean state media reported Monday that the government rejected the demand by opposition leader and presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai that international observers be in place for the presidential runoff election that authorities have called, saying no invitations would be extended unless Western sanctions are lifted.
• Huge Earthquake Hits Central China VOA 12 May 2008 -- A 7.8 magnitude earthquake has struck the central Chinese province, Sichuan. Initial reports say between 3,000 to 5,000 people are known dead, with official Chinese media predicting the death toll will continue to rise
• Pakistan Coalition Government Shaken by Impasse Over Reinstatement of Judges VOA 12 May 2008 -- The second largest party in Pakistan's ruling political coalition is vowing to quit its federal cabinet posts, threatening the stability of the six-week-old coalition government
• Pakistani Party Quitting Coalition Government VOA 12 May 2008 -- Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says his party is withdrawing from the federal Cabinet because the two leading parties have failed to reach agreement on re-instating deposed judges.
• Putin forms new government, key ministers retain posts IRNA 12 May 2008 -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin formed a new government on Monday, keeping the key ministers in their posts, RIA Novosti says.
• Russia: Prime Minister Putin Names New Cabinet RFE/RL 12 May 2008 -- There were few surprises as newly confirmed Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced his cabinet line-up.
• Prime Minister Putin appoints new government RIA Novosti 12 May 2008 -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced his new government on Monday, keeping the main ministers in their posts and bringing in several former Kremlin aides.