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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 21 May 2008 [PDF]
• PRESS CONFERENCE: Operational Update: Maj. Gen. Hertling, May 21, 2008 MNF-I 21 May 2008 -- Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, Commander, Multi-National Forces - North and 1st Armored Division provides an operational update focusing on developments in Ninawa Province
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Press Secretary Geoff Morrell from the Pentagon 21 May 2008 -- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell
• May 20 airpower summary: C-17s carry mission to front AFPN 21 May 2008
• Forces Catch Two Terrorists in Iraq, Capture Weapons AFPS 21 May 2008 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces detained two terrorists and seized weapons in recent operations in Iraq, military officials said.
• Operation Marne Piledriver Ends, Projects Continue Army News 21 May 2008 -- Operation Marne Piledriver, the first major operation initiated by Task Force Marne that targeted capacity building through the Mahmudiyah neighborhood, is drawing to a close, though many projects will continue on their own.
• Iraq Operation Offers Alternative to Former Enemy Fighters AFPS 21 May 2008 -- Sheiks, villagers and coalition troops attended a May 18 reconciliation meeting at Forward Operating Base McHenry.
• Foreign Defense Attachés Visit Naval Station Everett Navy NewsStand 21 May 2008 -- Service members from various countries, serving as defense attaches, visited Naval Station Everett May 19 to get a glimpse of Navy Region Northwest's Maritime Strategy as well as see what the newest base in the U.S. Navy's fleet has to offer.
• NATO Allies to Extend Command Lengths in Afghanistan AFPS 21 May 2008 -- Two NATO allies have agreed to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' request to extend their commands of Regional Command South from nine to 12 months, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said today.
• US Will Not Take NATO Command in Southern Afghanistan VOA 21 May 2008 -- The Pentagon has put an end to talk of expanding the U.S. command zone in Afghanistan to the volatile southern region, announcing an agreement for other nations to command the NATO effort in the area for the next 2 1/2 years
• Britain's Miliband Says No Military Solution on Pakistan Border VOA 21 May 2008 -- British Foreign Secretary David Miliband says there is no military solution to the spread of extremism in Pakistan's tribal areas or Afghanistan
• Is a Pakistan Truce Good for the United States? cfr.org 21 May 2008
• Pakistan: Reports Hint At Possible Prisoner Swap With Militants RFE/RL 21 May 2008 -- The Pakistani government has denied local reports claiming that the release of Islamabad's kidnapped ambassador to Afghanistan was part of an exchange for Taliban prisoners
• Pakistan Strikes Deal with Militants in Troubled Swat Province VOA 21 May 2008 -- Pakistani government representatives and a spokesman for a pro-Taliban militant group say they have struck a peace deal aimed at ending months of fighting in the restive Swat valley
• Provincial Reconstruction Teams Strive to Improve Afghan Lives AFPS 21 May 2008 -- Every day, provincial reconstruction teams roll out of bases in Afghanistan with mixed bags of services and skill sets, bound by the necessity of their mission.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Defends Policy Of Detention For Juveniles in Iraq, Afghanistan VOA 21 May 2008 -- The United States has defended its policy of detaining juveniles in prisons in Iraq, and Afghanistan
• US Wary of Pending Treaty Banning Cluster Munitions VOA 21 May 2008 -- The U.S. State Department said Wednesday a pending international treaty banning cluster munitions could have unintended consequences for international military cooperation in such areas as disaster relief
• Coast Guard Essential to Victory Against Terrorism, Cheney Says AFPS 21 May 2008 -- The efforts of the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard are essential to victory in the war against terrorism, Vice President Richard B. Cheney told graduating cadets at their academy commencement today in New London, Conn.
• Guantanamo Differs From Pop Culture Perception, Admiral Says AFPS 21 May 2008 -- The commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo believes two very different Guantanamos exist today.
• Operation Restore Peace VI offers alternative to former fighters in Hawijah, Iraq MNF-I 21 May 2008 -- Sheiks, villagers and Coalition force members attended a reconciliation meeting held at Forward Operating Base McHenry May 18.
• Top leaders unite for senior enlisted summit AFPN 21 May 2008 -- More than 350 of the Air Force's top enlisted leaders converged on Maxwell Air Force Base's Gunter Annex to participate in the 2008 Senior Enlisted Leader Summit May 18 to 23.
• Military Better Prepared Than Ever for Disaster Relief, Official Says AFPS 21 May 2008 -- The Defense Department and U.S. military are better prepared than ever to aid disaster-relief efforts, and have improved measures for tracking military families affected by catastrophe, a top Pentagon official said yesterday.
• VA Secretary Focuses on Continuum of Care AFPS 21 May 2008 -- Five months after taking the helm of the nation's second-largest Cabinet department, the secretary of veterans affairs laid out his priorities and talked of transitioning the organization to meet the needs of veterans today as well as those of the next generation.
• Army Enterprise Developing Through Process Improvement Army News 21 May 2008 -- The Army's top uniformed budget officer stressed the importance of transforming the service to a capability-focused Army Enterprise during the Army Leader Forum at the Pentagon Tuesday.
• El Salvador Welcomes Continuing Promise 2008 Navy NewsStand 21 May 2008 -- Salvadoran military leaders ceremoniously welcomed USS Boxer (LHD 4) to the country's Sonsonate region, May 19, marking the official beginning of operations in El Salvador as part of the Pacific phase of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.
• Boxer Ends Work in Guatemala, Extends Maritime Strategy to El Salvador Navy NewsStand 21 May 2008 -- United States Ambassador to Guatemala, James M. Derham, visited USS Boxer (LHD 4) May 16 to attend a reception hosted onboard for Guatemalan dignitaries and senior military officers to bring a close to Boxer's Continuing Promise (CP) 2008 operations in the country.
• U.S., Pakistan Forces Complete Exercise Inspired Union 2008 Navy NewsStand 21 May 2008 -- Pakistan and U.S. Naval forces completed Exercise Inspired Union 2008 in the North Arabian Sea May 21, which focused on air, surface and anti-submarine training, as part of regional Maritime Security Operations (MSO).
• Task Force Ramadi Increases Fuel Flow Navy NewsStand 21 May 2008 -- Members of Task Force Ramadi, conducted an Operational and Maintenance inspection on recently installed equipment at the Railway Fuel Platform (RFP) in Ramadi on May 14.
• Ships Parade Through Seattle for Great White Fleet Centennial Navy NewsStand 21 May 2008 -- The Navy and the city of Seattle celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Great White Fleet's visit to the Puget Sound, May 20.
• BUST Course Prepares Seabees for CSE Role in Contingency Environments Navy NewsStand 21 May 2008 -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7's Convoy Security Element (CSE) teams attended the Basic Urban Skills Training (BUST) course given by instructors of the 20th Seabee Readiness Group (SRG), May 12-16.
• Peleliu ESG Crosses International Date Line, Enters U.S. 7th Fleet AOR Navy NewsStand 21 May 2008 -- The San Diego-based Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group (PELESG) entered the second phase of its scheduled deployment May 18, when the group crossed the international date line and entered the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR).
• New Commander NSWC Named Navy NewsStand 21 May 2008 -- Adm. Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations, announced Capt. James J. Shannon's selection for promotion to the rank of rear admiral and assignment as commander, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Washington, May 19.
• UK rationalizes helicopter fleet between Iraq and Afghanistan IRNA 21 May 2008 -- Britain is temporarily deploying more Merlin helicopter to Iraq to free up Sea Kings for Afghanistan as part of a rationalization of the support given to troops in both theaters due to shortages, Defence Secretary Des Browne has announced.
• Ukraine demands closure of Russian base in Crimea in 2017 RIA Novosti 21 May 2008 -- The Ukrainian President has signed a decree ordering the Cabinet to prepare by July 20 a draft law on terminating all international agreements on the presence of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine.
• Russian strategic bombers patrol Arctic, Atlantic oceans RIA Novosti 21 May 2008 -- Two Russian Tu-95MS Bear strategic bombers are carrying out a routine patrol over remote areas of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, a Russian Air Force spokesman said on Wednesday.
• Press Gaggle by Dana Perino and Dan Fisk, NSC Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs The White House 21 May 2008
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino and OMB Director Jim Nussle The White House 21 May 2008
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 21 May 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 21, 2008
• LOCKHEED MARTIN-BUILT TRIDENT II D5 MISSILE ACHIEVES RECORD 122 SUCCESSFUL TEST LAUNCHES IN A ROW Lockheed Martin 21 May 2008 -- The U.S. Navy conducted a successful test launch this month of two Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missiles (FBMs) built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT).
• URGENT UPGRADES GIVE BRITISH BULLDOG SHARPER TEETH BAE Systems 21 May 2008
• Polish Ministry of Defense Deploys Savi's Wireless Supply Chain Network Solution Lockheed Martin 21 May 2008 -- To support NATO peace keeping objectives in Afghanistan and elsewhere, the Polish Ministry of Defense (PMD) is deploying a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based solution provided by Savi, a Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] company, to automate tracking and management of military supplies
• Boeing Flies A160T Hummingbird Unmanned Rotorcraft for 18 Hours Boeing 21 May 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] successfully flew its A160T Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft for 18.7 hours May 14-15, claiming an unofficial world endurance record for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) weighing between 1,102 and 5,511 pounds (500 to 2,500 kilograms).
• ATK Receives Additional $89 Million in Military Small-Caliber Ammunition Orders and Modernization Funding ATK 21 May 2008 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK), the largest supplier of ammunition to the United States military, has received an additional $89 million in military small-caliber ammunition orders and modernization funding from the U.S. Army Sustainment Command in Rock Island, Ill.
• Raytheon Selected by Defense Information Systems Agency to Provide IT Solutions Raytheon 21 May 2008 -- The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) has awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract to provide information technology services and solutions for military agencies, the Department of Defense and other agencies of the federal government.
• First 'Blades-On' Ground Runs Conducted Successfully For Sikorsky's X2 TECHNOLOGYT Demonstrator Sikorsky 21 May 2008 -- Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. achieved a major milestone on its X2 TECHNOLOGYT Demonstrator program by successfully ground testing the aircraft with rotor blades installed and spinning for the first time.
• The starting shot sounds for a new vehicle family from Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Rheinmetall Defence 21 May 2008 -- Rheinmetall Defence of Düsseldorf and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann of Munich have launched a joint programme to develop a highly protected new vehicle family in the 5 to 9 ton weight class. The first of the four-wheel drive Armoured Multi Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) vehicles should be ready for serial delivery by 2011.
• Thales UK welcomes announcement by government for new aircraft carriers Thales 21 May 2008 -- Industry is now expected to go ahead and form the joint venture company that will help build the carriers.

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 21 May 2008
• Israel in peace talks with Syria RIA Novosti 21 May 2008 -- Israel is holding indirect peace talks with Syria with the mediation of Turkey, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said in a statement Wednesday.
• Israel, Syria Confirm Holding Peace Talks Mediated by Turkey VOA 21 May 2008 -- Both Israel and Syria confirmed on Wednesday they are holding indirect peace talks mediated by Turkish officials
• Georgia: New Video Ups Ante In Abkhaz Dispute RFE/RL 21 May 2008 -- In the latest in the ongoing feud between Moscow and Tbilisi, the Georgian Interior Ministry has released video footage it claims is evidence that Russia is engaged in more than mere peacekeeping in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia.
• Russian, French foreign ministers discuss Georgian rebel regions RIA Novosti 21 May 2008 -- Foreign ministers from Russia and France discussed the ongoing row surrounding Georgia's breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia during their meeting in Moscow on Wednesday.
• Conflicting reports coming from Georgia-Abkhazia conflict zone RIA Novosti 21 May 2008 -- Conflicting information is coming from the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone, following reports of gunfire along the border and bus explosions that left several people injured.
• Lebanese political accord should be prelude to reconciliation - Ban Ki-moon UN News Centre 21 May 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed today's agreement among Lebanon's political leaders on a deal to resolve their prolonged stand-off over the presidency and the direction of the country.
• Factions Negotiate End to Lebanese Political Crisis VOA 21 May 2008 -- The leaders of Lebanon's political factions, meeting in Doha, have reached a deal to end their long-running political crisis, which erupted into sectarian clashes earlier this month, that killed at least 65 people
• UN Hopes for Talks Between Northern, Southern Sudanese Generals VOA 21 May 2008 -- The United Nations says it hopes to chair a meeting between northern and southern generals in Sudan to help end recent violence in the country's disputed Abyei region.
• SENEGAL: Army and rebel fighting leaves causalities on both sides IRIN 21 May 2008 -- Two soldiers were killed and two others injured on 20 May when their army patrol in the Casamance region was attacked by armed men allegedly from the rebel Mouvement des Forces Démocratiques De Casamance (MFDC), an spokesman for the army told IRIN.
• ZAMBIA: Ugandan refugees return home IRIN 21 May 2008 -- The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has begun the voluntary repatriation of Ugandan refugees in Zambia, some of whom have lived in the southern African country for over two decades.
• SOUTH AFRICA: The army is called in IRIN 21 May 2008 -- The South African army has been called in to bolster police efforts to end the xenophobic clashes that have gripped the country's richest province.
• Former Rwandan official transferred back to UN war crimes tribunal UN News Centre 21 May 2008 -- A former senior Rwandan official who stands accused of involvement in the 1994 genocide has been transferred from The Hague back to Arusha, Tanzania - where the United Nations war crimes tribunal to deal with the mass killings is based - after the Netherlands ruled that it did not have jurisdiction in trying his case.
• DR Congo: UN submits report on February violence in far west to authorities UN News Centre 21 May 2008 -- The United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) said today that it has sent a report on the February 2008 violence in the Bas-Congo province to the Congolese authorities.
• SUDAN: Fighting could hamper Abyei aid operation - UN IRIN 21 May 2008 -- Renewed hostilities between the Sudanese army and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Abyei are likely to worsen the humanitarian needs in the region and could affect aid operations, the UN warned.
• Backgrounder: IRA Splinter Groups (U.K., separatists) (Continuity Irish Republican Army, Real IRA, Irish National Liberation Army) cfr.org 21 May 2008
• 59 Tamil Tigers, 2 security personnel killed in north Sri Lanka IRNA 21 May 2008 -- At least 59 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres and two security personnel were killed amidst air attacks by Air Force fighter jets on the rebel stronghold in Sri Lanka's embattled north, officials said here Wednesday.
• Ethiopia PM Charges 'Smear Campaign' Against Troops in Somalia VOA 21 May 2008 -- Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has accused international media and human rights groups of conducting a smear campaign against Ethiopian troops in Somalia

News Reports

• Cooperation in Asia Paying Off in Fight Against Maritime Piracy VOA 21 May 2008 -- Unprecedented cooperation among Asian government maritime authorities is beginning to pay off, with serious acts of piracy declining in part of the region
• En route to Myanmar, Ban Ki-moon says he will meet leader in effort to boost aid UN News Centre 21 May 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is en route to cyclone-devastated Myanmar, will meet with the country's Senior General Than Shwe in an effort to accelerate relief efforts for the estimated 2.4 million people in need of help since the disaster struck on 2 May.
• MYANMAR: Holmes "cautious" on greater humanitarian access IRIN 21 May 2008 -- John Holmes, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, has expressed caution over the prospects of greater humanitarian access to cyclone-affected Myanmar.
• Analysis: Linking Venezuela and the FARC cfr.org 21 May 2008 -- Roughly two months after Colombian forces crossed into Ecuador to kill a FARC guerilla leader, INTERPOL certified the authenticity of eight FARC laptops seized by the Colombian government
• UN Secretary-General Talks Relief in Burma VOA 21 May 2008 -- The United Nations secretary-general hopes to persuade Burma's leaders to allow the free movement of relief workers and supplies to areas hit by a devastating cyclone
• MYANMAR: Local agency staff step into the breach IRIN 21 May 2008 -- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has developed an extensive health-care programme in Myanmar over the past decade, with more than 1,000, mainly local, employees working on HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria
• CONGO: Mobile Ebola labs on the way IRIN 21 May 2008 -- The Republic of Congo will soon be much better placed to fight outbreaks of Ebola thanks to mobile laboratories that can detect the deadly virus in situ within two hours, according to health officials
• Military personnel to be cut to 200,000: new defense minister CNA 21 May 2008 -- New Minister of National Defense Chen Chao-min confirmed Wednesday that his ministry will continue streamlining the military, with the ultimate goal of reducing the number of military personnel to 200,000.
• Taiwan to review submarine-purchasing policy CNA 21 May 2008 -- Taiwan's new Defense Minister Chen Chao-min said Wednesday that the Ministry of National Defense (MND) will review the country's submarine purchasing policy as such procurements are currently too "time and effort consuming."
• Taiwan not to engage in arms race with China: president CNA 21 May 2008 -- President Ma Ying-jeou said Wednesday that Taiwan will not engage in an arms race with China and will never purchase or develop weapons of mass destruction (WMD).