Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 10 Jul 2008 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Oates and Maj. Gen. OOothman From Iraq 10 Jul 2008 -- Presenter: Commander, 10th Mountain Division Multinational Division Center and Maj. Gen. Ali Salih Farhood OOothman
• Operation Iron Round-up uncovers caches, detains suspected terrorists MNF-I 10 Jul 2008 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces discovered weapons caches and detained three suspected terrorists as part of Operation Iron Round-up II, a Multi-National Division-North operation in pursuit of al-Qaeda in Iraq.
• Coalition Forces in Iraq Detain 30 Suspected Terrorists AFPS 10 Jul 2008 -- Coalition forces in Iraq detained 30 suspected terrorists during anti al-Qaida operations conducted over the past three days across central and northern Iraq, military officials said.
• Insurgents Using New Homemade Rocket Weapon in Iraq VOA 10 Jul 2008 -- U.S. commanders in Iraq are concerned that Shiite insurgents are using a new type of high-powered homemade weapon that uses rockets made in Iran and elsewhere
• July 9 airpower summary: F-16s perform shows of force AFPN 10 Jul 2008
• First 'Sky Soldiers' of 173rd Airborne Brigade return from deployment in Afghanistan Army News 10 Jul 2008 -- Advance elements from the six battalions of U.S. Army Europe's 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team began the unit's return home from a 14-month deployment to Afghanistan this month.
• U.S., Afghan Forces Focus on Pakistani Border AFPS 10 Jul 2008 -- The U.S. military's senior officer and the commander of international forces in Afghanistan met with reporters here today to discuss the situation and threats coalition and Afghan forces are facing.
• Pakistani Government Strikes New Truce Deal With Militants VOA 10 Jul 2008 -- Pakistan's government has reached a new peace agreement aimed at stopping a militant group from threatening the northwestern city Peshawar

Defense Policy / Programs

• Bush Signs Expanded Wiretap Law VOA 10 Jul 2008 -- U.S. President George Bush has signed legislation expanding the government's surveillance powers
• U. S. Installation Realignment In Italy Announced 10 Jul 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the decision to inactivate and return eight communication sites to Italy.
• Senate Confirms Petraeus, Odierno AFPS 10 Jul 2008 -- The Senate has confirmed Army Gen. David H. Petraeus as commander of U.S. Central Command and Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno to receive his fourth star and succeed Petraeus as commander of Multinational Force Iraq.
• DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for June 2008 10 Jul 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of June.
• Latest Recruiting Numbers Underscore Strength of All-Volunteer Force AFPS 10 Jul 2008 -- Defense officials today pointed to the 13th consecutive month of recruiting success as a sign that the all-volunteer force, now 35 years old, remains solid.
• Army Reserve, D.C. Police sign partnership Army News 10 Jul 2008 -- The Army Reserve and the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department formally signed a partnership yesterday that will allow both organizations to recruit, train and employ men and women desiring to serve the nation and the district.
• Guard units receive more high-tech Lakota helicopters Army News 10 Jul 2008 -- Louisiana's Aviation Command last week became the latest National Guard unit to receive the new light utility UH-72A Lakota helicopter.
• Satellite's instrumentation providing scintillation forecast data AFPN 10 Jul 2008 -- Whether it's static interrupting a radio station, or crackling noises interfering with a theater commander's attempt to contact a deployed unit, scintillation can cause communication chaos.
• AFOTEC officials hold first space summit AFPN 10 Jul 2008 -- Maj. Gen. Stephen T. Sargeant, commander of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center here, hosted the organization's first space summit July 1 and 2.
• Joint Team Builds up Base in Cuba Navy NewsStand 10 Jul 2008 -- There are more than 2,000 Joint Task Force (JTF)Guantanamo troopers
• HS-2 Changes Command While Underway Navy NewsStand 10 Jul 2008 -- Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 2, held a change of command ceremony aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), July 1.
• HSL-47 Leaders Change Command In-Flight Navy NewsStand 10 Jul 2008 -- An air lead change took place within Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 47 for the first time in the command's history aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), July 2.
• VAW-116 'Sun Kings' Change Hands While Deployed Navy NewsStand 10 Jul 2008 -- Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116 changed hands during a change of command ceremony conducted aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) July 3.
• Guidelines for Wearing New PT Uniform Announced Navy NewsStand 10 Jul 2008 -- Sailors now have the regulation and manner of wear for the Navy's new Physical Training uniform (PTU) with the release of NAVADMIN 191/08, July 9.
• Sasebo Munitions Team Keeps Flint Ready Navy NewsStand 10 Jul 2008 -- The Navy Munitions Command (NMC) East Asia Detachment at Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo safely completed an ammunition on-load aboard the Military Sealift Command ammunition ship USNS Flint (T-AE 32) July 9.
• Seabee Divers Deploy to Support Multinational Training Exercise Navy NewsStand 10 Jul 2008 -- Seabee divers -- 17 in all -- from Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 1, based at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, departed July 9 for the Black Sea to take part in a multinational training exercise.
• Air Force to honor international contributions AFPN 10 Jul 2008 -- The secretary of the Air Force has established an annual award to honor outstanding and innovative contributions to international affairs.
• Spinning electrons research could enhance AF computers AFPN 10 Jul 2008 -- Scientists funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research have used a single photon technique to observe the evolution of individual electron spins in semiconductor nanostructures.
• Defense Department Travelers Gear Up for November Travel Card Switch AFPS 10 Jul 2008 -- For Defense Department travelers, the more things change, the more they stay the same when it comes to the travel charge cards switch coming in November.
• JTF-E training kicks off in Romania Army News 10 Jul 2008 -- A June 30 ceremony marked the official beginning of Joint Task Force-East's second annual rotation.
• MAG-41 gains aircraft, squadron colors following MAG-42 decommissioning USMC News 10 Jul 2008 -- Fort Worth, Texas-based Marine Aircraft Group 41 on June 24 received two fixed-wing aircraft and the squadron colors of a cadred unit following the June 21 decommissioning of its Atlanta-based higher headquarters.
• Helicopters bring new training to MCAS Cherry Point USMC News 10 Jul 2008 -- Cherry Point personnel are beginning to get a brief glimpse of things to come with the arrival this week of a small group of helicopters on the air station - one of the first visible signs of a new squadron due here later this year.
• MCAS Cherry Point receives 'green' award USMC News 10 Jul 2008 -- Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point was awarded the Secretary of the Navy's Pollution Prevention Award and the Secretary of Defense's Industrial Installation Award for Environmental Restoration in a ceremony in Washington, D.C., June 3.
• Combined Task Force 158 Changes Hands Navy NewsStand 10 Jul 2008 -- Rear Adm. Kendall Card relieved Royal Navy Commodore Duncan Potts as commander of Combined Task Force (CTF) 158 during a ceremony held on Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) July 9.
• Navy Leads Research Funding on Effects of Sound on Marine Mammals Navy NewsStand 10 Jul 2008 -- The Navy is leading the United States in funding research to determine the effects of sound on marine mammals, according to Rear Adm. Frank M. Drennan, commander, Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command.
• Iran Test Fires Second Round of Missiles VOA 10 Jul 2008 -- Iran has fired another round of long-range missiles, the second such test in the past two days
• FM spokesman lambasts West's hostile approach to IRGC missile test fire IRNA 10 Jul 2008 -- Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said on Thursday that the western countries have adopted one-sided and hostile approach to missile test fires of the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps.
• IRGC commander: Armed forces in full combat readiness IRNA 10 Jul 2008 -- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Mohammad-Ali Ja'fari said on Thursday that the current military wargames code-named "The Great Prophet" (PBUH) will bring dignity for the country and give an unforgettable lesson to the enemies.
• U.S. Air Force General Sees Iranian Missiles Threatening All Of Europe RFE/RL 10 Jul 2008 -- As Iran test-fired more long-range missiles for the second time this week, the U.S. Air Force general who heads the U.S. Missile Defense Agency tells RFE/RL he expects Iranian missiles will soon have a range to target all of Europe.
• Iranian missile tests 'warning to enemies' RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2008 -- Ongoing Iranian military exercises in the Persian Gulf are a warning for any nation considering an attack on the Islamic Republic, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps commander said on Thursday.
• Iran carries out new long-range missile tests in Gulf RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2008 -- Iran test-fired a series of long and medium-range missiles in the Persian Gulf on Thursday, a day after drawing international criticism for missile exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, state media reported.
• Israel Concerned as Iran Conducts War Games VOA 10 Jul 2008 -- A second day of military exercises in Iran is causing anxiety in nearby Israel
• US Increases Security in Persian Gulf as Iran Tests More Missiles VOA 10 Jul 2008 -- The United States says it has increased its security presence in the Persian Gulf, as Iran tests a barrage of missiles.
• US missiles in Czech will heighten tension with Russia, UK MPs fear IRNA 10 Jul 2008 -- British MPs have expressed regret in parliament at the initial agreement to begin basing part of the controversial US intercontinental ballistic missile shield in the Czech republic.
• U.S. may secretly deploy ballistic missiles in Poland - expert RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2008 -- The U.S. may station intermediary and shorter-range ballistic missiles in Poland under the guise of interceptors, a Russian expert said Thursday.
• Russia may scrap missile deal over U.S. shield - military expert RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2008 -- Russia may respond to U.S. plans for missile defense bases in Central Europe with a host of measures, including the withdrawal from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a senior military expert said on Thursday.
• Russia 'able to ensure security' despite U.S. missile shield RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2008 -- Russia has the means to ensure national security despite any potential threats posed by the planned United States missile shield in Central Europe, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
• Russia's new main battle tank to enter service 'after 2010' RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2008 -- Russia's armed forces will start receiving new-generation tanks superior to the famed T-90 main battle tank (MBT) "after 2010," a government official said on Thursday.
• Ammo depot blows up in Uzbekistan, fatalities reported - agency RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2008 -- Several people have been killed in a series of explosions at an ammunition depot in central Uzbekistan, independent news agency Fergana reported on Thursday.
• Pakistan Air Force aircraft crashes in northwest IRNA 10 Jul 2008 -- An aircraft of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) crashed in northwest Pakistan on Thursday, the PAF said.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 10 Jul 2008
• Press Briefing by Tony Fratto The White House 10 Jul 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 10, 2008
• Nation's First Littoral Combat Ship Propulsion Plant Operational Lockheed Martin 10 Jul 2008 -- Freedom (LCS 1) Begins Final Dockside Testing in Preparation for Underway Trials
• General Dynamics Ships GeoEye-1 Satellite to Launch Site General Dynamics 10 Jul 2008 -- General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems announced today that it has shipped GeoEye-1, a next-generation earth imaging satellite, to its launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif
• Zumwalt Team Achieves Software Certification Milestone Raytheon 10 Jul 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has achieved another significant program milestone for the Zumwalt-class destroyer.
• EADS Defence & Security continues its UAV successes in France EADS 10 Jul 2008 -- The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has ordered 35 additional DRAC mini-UAV close-range reconnaissance systems for the French Armed Forces from EADS Defence & Security (DS).

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 10 Jul 2008
• Chad: Ban voices concern over impact of violence on humanitarian situation UN News Centre 10 Jul 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed deep concern over the impact of rebel activity in eastern Chad, which has thwarted access of humanitarian workers to the hundreds of thousands of people uprooted from their homes by violence.
• Security Council lifts arms embargo on Rwanda UN News Centre 10 Jul 2008 -- The United Nations Security Council today lifted an arms embargo originally imposed after the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, and dissolved the committee tasked with monitoring compliance with the sanctions.
• Initial UN probe underway into attack on Darfur peacekeepers UN News Centre 10 Jul 2008 -- The United Nations has launched an initial enquiry into Tuesday's attack on the joint UN-African Union force in Darfur, which resulted in the deaths of seven peacekeepers, a spokesperson for the world body said today.
• Turkish PM: Iraq Supports Ankara's Fight Against Kurdish Rebels VOA 10 Jul 2008 -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says both Baghdad and Iraq's Kurdish regional government have pledged their support in Ankara's fight against Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq.
• BURUNDI: Rebel group slowing peace process, says government IRIN 10 Jul 2008 -- Burundi's government has accused the rebel Palipehutu-Forces for National Liberation (FNL) of recruiting new combatants and delaying the peace process by insisting on political recognition before cantonment.
• UGANDA: Officials head to Sudan for meeting with LRA leaders over stalled talks IRIN 10 Jul 2008 -- A Ugandan government delegation is heading for Ri-Kwangba in southwestern Sudan to meet the leaders of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in a fresh attempt to convince them to sign a peace deal, officials said.
• YEMEN: Emergency EU aid for conflict-hit region IRIN 10 Jul 2008 -- The European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) has approved one million euros [about US$1.57 million] in emergency humanitarian aid to support those affected by conflict in Saada Governorate, northern Yemen.
• UGANDA: Too many guns threaten returnees, say officials IRNA 10 Jul 2008 -- Northern Uganda has enjoyed relative peace following years of clashes between government troops and rebels, but the prevalence of illegal weapons across the region poses a new challenge to displaced civilians returning to their villages, officials said.
• Russia to rotate peacekeepers in Transdnestr by July 24 RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2008 -- A rotation of Russian peacekeepers in the conflict zone of Moldova's breakaway republic of Transdnestr will be conducted between July 17 and 24, the peacekeepers' commander said on Thursday.
• Georgia's NATO bid bodes ill for Abkhazia, S.Ossetia - Lavrov RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2008 -- Putting Georgia on the path to NATO membership would harm the ex-Soviet state's chances of resolving conflicts with its breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russia's foreign minister said Thursday.
• Russia admits military flight over S.Ossetia RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2008 -- Russia admitted on Thursday it had sent aircraft to monitor the situation in the Georgian breakaway republic of South Ossetia earlier this week due to fears of a Georgian invasion of the de facto independent region.
• Rice says Russia should not fuel tensions in Georgia RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday Russia should help Georgia resolve conflicts with its breakaway regions rather than exacerbate them.
• Rice Calls on Russia to Help Resolve Tensions in Georgia VOA 10 Jul 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Russia should help resolve rising tensions in neighboring Georgia rather than contribute to disagreements between the Tbilisi government and its breakaway regions.

News Reports

• PRESS CONFERENCE BY EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR ON LAUNCH OF REVISED APPEAL FOR MYANMAR United Nations 10 Jul 2008
• Red Cross Issues Multi-Million Dollar Appeal For Cyclone Nargis Victims VOA 10 Jul 2008 -- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is appealing for $72.5 million to support a three-year emergency and recovery program for victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma
• Myanmar: UN appeals for $482 million for cyclone recovery UN News Centre 10 Jul 2008 -- The United Nations has appealed for a total of $482 million to assist victims of Cyclone Nargis which devastated large areas of Myanmar in early May, leaving around 140,000 dead or missing and severely affecting an estimated 2.4 million people.