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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 22 May 2008 [PDF]
• May 21 airpower summary: F-15s provide show of force AFPN 22 May 2008
• Troops in Iraq Kill 13 Enemy Fighters, Catch 79 Suspects AFPS 22 May 2008 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces killed 13 enemy fighters, detained 79 suspects, and uncovered makeshift bombs and other weapons in recent operations in Iraq, military officials said.
• Aviation Unit Flies 200th Air Assault Mission in Iraq AFPS 22 May 2008 -- As grand accomplishments go, a Task Force Marne aviation brigade's 200th combat air assault mission during their current deployment to Iraq went off with as little fanfare as possible.
• Riverine Squadron 2 Returns Home Navy NewsStand 22 May 2008 -- Approximately 130 Sailors from the Navy's Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 2 returned home here from its nearly eight-month deployment, May 22.
• 2 Children Among Dead Following US Strike in Iraq VOA 22 May 2008 -- Iraqi police say a U.S. military strike killed eight people, including two children, north of Baghdad.
• NATO Command Extension in Afghanistan Isn't Done Deal, Spokesman Says AFPS 22 May 2008 -- A Pentagon announcement yesterday that NATO command tours will be extended to a year was premature, Defense Department officials said today.
• Afghan National Police Gain More Than 1,600 New NCOs AFPS 22 May 2008 -- The Afghan troops stood at attention, moving only to cheer, as Afghan Interior Minister Ahmad Moqbel Zarar confirmed their status May 19 as noncommissioned officers of the Afghan National Police.
• Pakistan and local Taliban sign peace deal IRNA 22 May 2008 -- Pakistani government in the country's northwest and local Taliban on Wednesday signed agreement, under which Taliban will stop suicide attacks and the army will be gradually withdrawn from the Swat valley, a provincial minister said.
• AFGHANISTAN: UN officials call for more aid, better coordinated IRIN 22 May 2008 -- The international community has neither disbursed enough aid to alleviate poverty, nor coordinated closely enough with the Afghan government to ensure its effectiveness over the past six years, two senior UN officials told a news conference in Kabul on 22 May.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Commander in Iraq Sees Troop Cuts Later This Year VOA 22 May 2008 -- The top U.S. commander in Iraq says another drawdown of U.S. troops is likely later this year because of improved security
• Petraeus Discusses Challenges in Central Command Area AFPS 22 May 2008 -- Army Gen. David H. Petraeus gave senators his view of the U.S. Central Command during confirmation testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee here today.
• Africom Seeks Military-to-Military Relationships cfr.org 22 May 2008 -- Gen. William E. Ward became the first commander of U.S. Africa Command in October 2007
• T-45C Goshawk Crashes Navy NewsStand 22 May 2008 -- At approximately 8:23 p.m. May 20, a T-45C Goshawk from Training Air Wing 1, based on board Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., crashed just south of the runway on Navy property while on a routine training mission.
• Lincoln's Air Department V-4 Division Keeps Aircraft Flying Navy NewsStand 22 May 2008 -- With the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group reaching the one-third completion point of its seven-month deployment May 22, ensuring clean fuel is available for Carrier Air Wing 2 aircraft flying combat mission is crucial.
• 48-year-old KC-135 retires AFPN 22 May 2008 -- One of only two remaining KC-135 E model Stratotankers of the Utah Air National Guard was delivered to its final resting place April 24 to officials of the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
• Soldiers Helping Researchers Study PTSD Army News 22 May 2008 -- A number of Soldiers have volunteered to assist the University of Texas conduct a study to learn more about the emotional and psychological wounds of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• DoD Submits Proposed NSPS Regulations to Federal Register 22 May 2008 -- The Department of Defense and the Office of Personnel Management have issued proposed joint regulations revising the National Security Personnel System, one of DoD's human resources management systems
• Navy Sails into 21st New York Fleet Week VOA 22 May 2008 -- The 21st Fleet Week celebration in New York City began May 21, with the traditional Parade of Ships.
• Missile successfully launches from Vandenberg AFPN 22 May 2008 -- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, joint-test assembly, launched at 3:04 a.m. May 22 from Vandenberg Air Force Base.
• Chief authorizations through 2011 to be downgraded AFPN 22 May 2008 -- A board recently completed a chief master sergeant grade review that will downgrade the number of authorizations in which the top one percent of the enlisted force will serve.
• Gates Says Lack of Patience Could Cost Victory AFPS 22 May 2008 -- U.S. strategic objectives "are within reach" in Afghanistan and Iraq, but a lack of patience could doom those prospects, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said last night.
• U.S., Pakistani Forces Complete 'Inspired Union 2008' AFPS 22 May 2008 -- Pakistani and U.S. naval forces completed Exercise Inspired Union 2008 in the North Arabian Sea yesterday.
• Truman Pulls into Marseille, France Navy NewsStand 22 May 2008 -- USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) arrived in Marseille, May 16, for a goodwill port visit as part of the ship's routine deployment in the region.
• Chilean Admiral Gets Bird's Eye View of Cooperation Navy NewsStand 22 May 2008 -- The George Washington Carrier Strike Group hosted the Chief of Naval Air Forces for Chile and provided him an opportunity to fly in an S-3B Viking during his May 19 visit to USS George Washington (CVN 73).
• NAVCENT Deputy Commander Visits USS Abraham Lincoln Navy NewsStand 22 May 2008 -- The Deputy Commander, U.S. Navy Central Forces Command (NAVCENT), visited Sailors of the Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG), May 14-15.
• Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Changes Command Navy NewsStand 22 May 2008 -- The leadership of Military Sealift Command's (MSC) 6th Fleet-based Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron (MPSRON) 1 changed hands May 22, in Corfu.
• USS Carr Celebrates Caribbean Navy Days in Curacao Navy NewsStand 22 May 2008 -- USS Carr (FFG 52) participated in Caribbean Navy Days 2008 in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, May 18, to celebrate naval heritage in the region with the British, Dutch, French, Colombian and Trinidadian navies in addition to the Netherlands Antilles Coast Guard and Dutch Royal Marines.
• India eyes U.S. F-18s for its Russian-built aircraft carrier RIA Novosti 22 May 2008 -- The Indian Navy has asked Boeing for the use of its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet supersonic carrier-based fighter aircraft on board a Russian-made carrier, Russian daily Izvestia said on Thursday.
• Russia ready for more talks on U.S. missile shield in Europe RIA Novosti 22 May 2008 -- Russia is ready to continue comprehensive consultations with the United States on its plans to deploy a missile shield in Central Europe, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday.
• Press Gaggle by Dana Perino The White House 22 May 2008 22 May 2008
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 22 May 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 22, 2008
• BAE SYSTEMS RECEIVES $54 MILLION U.S. ARMY FOLLOW-ON ORDER FOR FAMILY OF MEDIUM TACTICAL VEHICLES BAE Systems 22 May 2008 -- BAE Systems has received a $54 million contract from the U.S. Army to manufacture approximately 370 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV).
• Pratt & Whitney and Seven Q Seven Sign Contract with Northrop Grumman to Re-engine the U.S. Air Force Joint STARS Fleet Pratt & Whitney 22 May 2008 -- Pratt & Whitney, in a joint venture with Seven Q Seven, has signed a $210 million contract with Northrop Grumman to initiate the re-engining of the U.S. Air Force's fleet of Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) aircraft.
• Boeing KC-767 Tanker: Capability Where it Counts Boeing 22 May 2008 -- With advantages identified by the U.S. Air Force in the areas of mission capability, survivability, aerial refueling technology, operational utility and ability to respond to real-world mission scenarios, the Boeing [NYSE: BA] KC-767 is the best tanker for the future conflicts anticipated by the U.S. Defense Department.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN RECEIVES $2.2 BILLION FOR F-35 LOT 2 PRODUCTION, $197 MILLION FOR LOT 3 LONG-LEAD FUNDING Lockheed Martin 22 May 2008 -- The United States Department of Defense has authorized the release of funds to buy six conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A Lightning IIs for the U.S. Air Force, with provisional approval to purchase six short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) F-35Bs for the U.S. Marine Corps following a senior leadership review and the inaugural flight of that variant
• Lockheed Martin Wins Navy Information Assurance Technical Support Services Contract Lockheed Martin 22 May 2008 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has been selected by the Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center - Charleston to provide information assurance technical support services for the Joint Medical Information System
• SAIC Awarded $243 Million Task Order by Naval Surface Warfare Center - Crane Division SAIC 22 May 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a task order by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane, Ind. Under the task order, SAIC will provide engineering and technical services in support of the Joint Special Missions Focus Area

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 22 May 2008
• PRESS CONFERENCE ON GENERAL ASSEMBLY THEMATIC DEBATE ON HUMAN SECURITY United Nations 22 May 2008
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN NEPAL United Nations 22 May 2008
• Armed men ambush peacekeepers serving with UN force in Darfur UN News Centre 22 May 2008 -- A Nigerian battalion serving with the hybrid United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has been ambushed by dozens of men armed with machine guns, rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, the mission reported today.
• Security Council welcomes accord to end Lebanese political crisis UN News Centre 22 May 2008 -- The Security Council has welcomed this week's accord to resolve the long-running political stand-off in Lebanon and called for the agreement, which paves the way for a president to finally be elected and a national unity cabinet to be established, to be implemented fully.
• Security Council voices concern at renewed clashes in Burundi UN News Centre 22 May 2008 -- The Security Council today expressed concern at the recent confrontation between rebels and Government forces in Burundi and called for both parties in the small African country to end their hostilities and fully implement the 2006 comprehensive ceasefire agreement.
• ISRAEL-OPT: First ever Palestinian investment conference under way in Bethlehem IRIN 22 May 2008 -- Palestinian businesses have put over 100 projects on display at a first ever Palestine Investment Conference (PIC) in Bethlehem, hoping to raise nearly US$2 billion from the private sector.
• Sudan Fighting Results in Widespread Displacement VOA 22 May 2008 -- International agencies are still assessing the humanitarian situation around the disputed Sudanese town of Abyei, following days of fighting between northern and southern Sudanese forces
• Somalia Reconciliation Talks Break Down VOA 22 May 2008 -- U.N.-sponsored talks in Djibouti aimed at starting a reconciliation process between Somalia's secular government and Islamist-led rivals ended last week without a breakthrough
• Suicide Bomber Attacks Crossing Between Gaza, Israel VOA 22 May 2008 -- A suicide bomber has blown up his truck at a border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel, but only the attacker was killed in the blast.
• Russia to rotate peacekeepers in Georgia on May 25-30 RIA Novosti 22 May 2008 -- A scheduled rotation of Russian peacekeepers deployed in the conflict zone between Georgia and its breakaway republic of Abkhazia will be conducted on May 25-30, the peacekeepers said on Thursday.
• Moscow welcomes start of Syria-Israel peace talks RIA Novosti 22 May 2008 -- Moscow welcomes the launch of peace talks between Syria and Israel mediated by Turkey, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

News Reports

• Ban Ki-moon visits cyclone-devastated areas in Myanmar UN News Centre 22 May 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has seen first-hand today the devastation in Myanmar left by Cyclone Nargis, which has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted the lives of 2.4 million others since it struck the country earlier this month.
• Burma Admits US Aid Coordinator, But Still Bars Team Members VOA 22 May 2008 -- The State Department said Thursday Burma has granted a visa to the head of the U.S. assessment team assigned for duty in that country's cyclone disaster
• ASEAN Warns Burma to Boost Confidence Ahead of Donors Meeting VOA 22 May 2008 -- The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) says that claims by Burma's government that rescue efforts from cyclone Nargis were over was undermining international confidence with the total death toll still unknown
• European Lawmakers Condemn Burmese Officials' Response to Humanitarian Crisis VOA 22 May 2008 -- European lawmakers have strongly condemned Burma's military rulers for their response to the humanitarian crisis in the country's cyclone-ravaged areas.
• US Relief Supplies, Troops Wait Offshore as Burma Rebuffs American Overture VOA 22 May 2008 -- Burma is refusing deliveries of humanitarian aid from U.S. Navy ships, standing by off the Burmese coast.
• Laura Bush Makes Another Appeal to Burmese Government VOA 22 May 2008 -- First lady Laura Bush is appealing to the military government of Burma to allow U.S. relief planes and ships to bring aid to that nation, ravaged by a cyclone May 2.
• MYANMAR: First helicopters boost logistics effort IRIN 22 May 2008 -- The first helicopters contracted by the UN World Food Programme (WFP), offering a vital humanitarian lifeline to scores of cyclone survivors in the Ayeyarwady Delta, arrived in Yangon, the former capital, on 22 May.
• Georgia: Opposition Disputes President's Claim Of Party Victory RFE/RL 22 May 2008 -- Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has been quoted as saying that his United National Movement is poised to win two-thirds of the 150 seats that were up for grabs in the May 21 parliamentary elections, but the main opposition bloc is already calling for the results to be overturned and new elections held.
• China Denies Zimbabwe Received Arms Shipment VOA 22 May 2008 -- China's foreign ministry has denied reports that a Chinese arms shipment meant for Zimbabwe has reached the country
• China Quake Death Toll Jumps to 51,000 VOA 22 May 2008 -- The official number of people dead from a powerful earthquake in southwestern China has risen to more than 51,000
• Experts Say High Prices of Oil Are Here to Stay VOA 22 May 2008 -- The continuing rise of oil prices on the world market is affecting everything from transportation to agriculture and manufacturing
• Another Day, Another Record: Oil Tops $135 a Barrel VOA 22 May 2008 -- The price of crude oil hit another record high Thursday of more than $135 a barrel, fueled by worries about supplies and growing demand.
• PRESS CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF ALL PERSONS FROM ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE United Nations 22 May 2008