Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 17 Jul 2008 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• July 16 airpower summary: A-10s conduct shows of force AFPN 17 Jul 2008
• Troops in Iraq Capture 14 Suspects, Seize Weapons AFPS 17 Jul 2008 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces caught 14 suspects and seized weapons caches in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said.
• Seabees Build Up Forward Operating Base in Iraq AFPS 17 Jul 2008 -- The Navy's amphibious construction battalions usually build water structures such as piers and bridges.
• U.S. Says Kabul Ready To Handle Aid Directly RFE/RL 17 Jul 2008 -- The U.S. government has signed an agreement that will provide $218 million of health aid directly through the Afghan government during the next five years.
• Coalition Forces Kill 15 Militants in Western Afghanistan VOA 17 Jul 2008 -- U.S.-led coalition forces have killed 15 Taliban militants and freed 15 hostages during an operation in western Afghanistan.
• Pakistani Military Disputes Circumstances of Recent US Airstrike VOA 17 Jul 2008 -- Pakistan disputes U.S. media reports that Washington did not have the coordinates of a Pakistani border checkpoint where 11 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a recent U.S. airstrike.
• 302nd AEG conducts its 21st day of California wild fire support AFPN 17 Jul 2008 -- Aircraft and firefighters from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group began their 21st day of aerial firefighting support missions July 16 in a coordinated effort to control wildfires in California.

Defense Policy / Programs

• AETC first to receive new acquisitions authority AFPN 17 Jul 2008 -- Air Education and Training Command became the first major command authorized to pursue services acquisitions valued at up to $500 million, following the signing of an agreement between the command and Air Force Acquisitions officials.
• Air Force officials buy 'offices in the air' AFPN 17 Jul 2008 -- Air Force officials recently approved the purchase of pallets that will provide work and rest areas for senior leaders traveling aboard mobility aircraft.
• Officials announce major upgrade of AFPC Secure AFPN 17 Jul 2008 -- A new, updated version of AFPC Secure will go live on July 19. All AFPC Secure Web applications will be down from 6 a.m. Central Daylight Time July 19 until 4 p.m. CDT July 20 to support this changeover. After July 20, users should replace any book-marked links for AFPC Secure with the new links.
• Joint Military Demonstration Tests Combat-Identification Technologies AFPS 17 Jul 2008 -- War fighters from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom are testing new battlefield systems that can discern friend from foe during the "Bold Quest Plus" joint military demonstration conducted at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
• Blue Ridge Changes Command Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2008 -- Capt. Thom W. Burke relieved Capt. David A. Lausman as USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) commanding officer at an official change of command ceremony held on board the ship July 15.
• New Army parents to get more time at home Army News 17 Jul 2008 -- Military mothers of newborns, and certain Army parents adopting a child, will be able to stay home longer before deploying or serving overseas, starting Aug. 1.
• Army 'gaming' simulation training Soldiers, coalition partners Army News 17 Jul 2008 -- British and U.S. Soldiers are participating this week in Exercise Safe Passage, via a distributed game environment.
• Bonhomme Richard Sailors Host RIMPAC Cross-Deck Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2008 -- Sailors from USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) (BHR) hosted 10 Australian sailors from HMAS Tobruk (LSH 50) July 14 for a 24-hour cultural cross-deck experiment.
• Raptors set to deploy to Guam AFPN 17 Jul 2008 -- Six F-22 Raptors from the 90th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, are set to deploy to Andersen AFB, Guam, July 18 to Aug. 2.
• Hurricane Hunters deploy to U.S. Virgin Islands AFPN 17 Jul 2008 -- Hurricane Hunters have deployed from the Air Force Reserve Command's 403rd Wing here to a forward operating location on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands to be in position for storm flights.
• 'Send it our way, we'll get the job done!' AFPN 17 Jul 2008 -- Air Mobility Command Airmen in Southwest Asia work around the clock to ensure passengers and cargo move in and out of the U.S. Air Forces Central area of responsibility, proudly proclaiming, "You need it, we move it."
• India sets to test air-to-air 'Aastra' missile within month IRNA 17 Jul 2008 -- India's Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) will test the beyond visual range air-to-air- combat missile 'Aastra' within a month.
• Russian warship arrives in Norway for Northern Eagle 2008 exercise RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2008 -- A Russian ASW ship, the Severomorsk, arrived on Thursday in Norway's main naval base of Haakonsvern on its way to participate in a joint U.S.-Russian naval exercise in the Barents Sea, a Navy spokesman said.
• Taiwan expects U.S. arms sales to Taiwan to proceed as planned CNA 17 Jul 2008 -- The Presidential Office reiterated Thursday Taiwan's desire to procure defensive arms from the United States.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 17 Jul 2008
• Press Gaggle by Scott Stanzel, FEMA Administrator David Paulison, and Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey The White House 17 Jul 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 17, 2008
• Boeing Successfully Completes Flight of 1st AEW&C Peace Eagle Aircraft Modified in Turkey Boeing 17 Jul 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has successfully conducted the first flight test of the first 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft modified by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in Ankara for Turkey's Peace Eagle program.
• General Dynamics Awarded $33 Million U.S. Army Delivery Order to Provide DOIM Support at Fort Rucker General Dynamics 17 Jul 2008 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a task order through the ITES-2S contract by the U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) to provide total information technology (IT) services to Fort Rucker, located in Alabama
• General Dynamics to Supply 773 RG-31 MRAP Vehicles to U.S. Defense Department General Dynamics 17 Jul 2008 -- U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada a delivery order to produce 773 RG-31 Mk5E Category I vehicles for its Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program
• U.S. Marine Corps Awards Lockheed Martin $30 Million Support Services Contract Lockheed Martin 17 Jul 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] was selected by the United States Marine Corps Systems Command to provide program office support services for the Program Manager, Optics and Non-Lethal Systems (PM ONS).
• Raytheon Miniature Air Launched Decoy Set to Enter Low Rate Initial Production Raytheon 17 Jul 2008 -- U.S. and allied aviators will soon have additional protection when flying in harm's way.
• Raytheon Technologies Promise to Improve Radar Affordability Raytheon 17 Jul 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has developed an application for a pair of emerging technologies that dramatically increases radar sensitivity while improving affordability.
• SAIC Awarded $55 Million Contract by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers SAIC 17 Jul 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) announced today that it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- Savannah, Ga., District to design, engineer and construct an Advanced Metal Finishing Facility (AMFF) and a Ground Support Equipment (GSE) facility at Robins Air Force Base (AFB), Ga.
• Wedgetail simulator receives top-level accreditation Thales 17 Jul 2008 -- Zero flight time (Level 5) status is the highest level of accreditation under Australian standards. It allows experienced pilots to undertake training, including tactical training, using a high-quality flight simulator instead of an actual aircraft.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 17 Jul 2008
• PRESS CONFERENCE ON SECURITY COUNCIL DEBATE ON CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT United Nations 17 Jul 2008
• PRESS CONFERENCE ON SURINAME ACCESSION TO INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT United Nations 17 Jul 2008
• PRESS CONFERENCE ON TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF ROME STATUTE OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT United Nations 17 Jul 2008
• International Criminal Court is a legal milestone, Ban says on anniversary UN News Centre 17 Jul 2008 -- The creation of the International Criminal Court represents one of the biggest milestones of international law, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today as he marked the tenth anniversary of the ICC's founding.
• ICC Indictment Of A Head Of State Is 'A Political Act' RFE/RL 17 Jul 2008 -- The decision by the top prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to seek the arrest of Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has elicited a wave of global reaction.
• Attacks on peacekeepers in Darfur will be investigated by ICC, says Prosecutor UN News Centre 17 Jul 2008 -- The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) said today that attacks against peacekeepers in Sudan's strife-torn Darfur region will be investigated by the Court.
• ICC Prosecutor Says He Will Next Go After Darfur Rebels VOA 17 Jul 2008 -- The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court says he will pursue charges against rebel groups that attacked African Union peacekeepers in Darfur last September, killing 10 of them
• Germany The Latest To Step Into Georgian-Abkhaz Fray RFE/RL 17 Jul 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had barely departed Tbilisi last week when speculation began that a "major representative of a major EU state" would be the next to join the wave of shuttle diplomacy to Georgia.
• German FM Pushes Abkhazia Peace Plan During Visit RFE/RL 17 Jul 2008 -- German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is in Tbilisi at the start of a three-day trip intended to jump-start the peace process in breakaway Abkhazia.
• Germany Seeks To Kick-Start Georgian-Abkhaz Peace Talks RFE/RL 17 Jul 2008 -- Prominent on the agenda of visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier's talks in Tbilisi on July 17, Sukhumi on July 18, and Moscow on July 19 will be the new three-stage Abkhaz peace proposal drafted by Germany in its capacity as one of the five members of the Friends of the UN Secretary-General for Georgia group of countries
• Restless Neighbors: A Georgian-Abkhaz Dialogue RFE/RL 17 Jul 2008 -- Georgia's dispute with its breakaway region of Abkhazia is often seen as part of Tbilisi's larger dispute with Moscow
• Georgia says non-violence pact with Abkhazia unnecessary RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2008 -- Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said on Thursday that there was no need for Georgia and its breakaway republic of Abkhazia to sign a non-aggression pact proposed by Russia as the Caucasus state had no plans for an invasion of the region.
• Russia says West is blocking UN resolution on Georgia peace deal RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2008 -- Russia's foreign minister said on Thursday that Western nations are blocking Moscow's plans for a non-violence pact between Georgia and its rebel region of Abkhazia by insisting on the return of Georgian refugees.
• Israel mourns soldiers returned in 'prisoner swap' RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2008 -- Thousands of mourners gathered at a military cemetery in the north Israeli town of Nahariya on Thursday for the first of two funerals for Israeli soldiers returned by Lebanese militants, Haaretz daily reported.
• Israel Buries Soldiers Returned in Prisoner Exchange With Hezbollah VOA 17 Jul 2008 -- Thousands of mourners gathered in Israel Thursday for the military burials of two slain Israeli soldiers returned in a prisoner exchange with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
• UN peacebuilding funding approved for Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone UN News Centre 17 Jul 2008 -- New projects and financing from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) - which seeks to help countries emerging from conflict to avoid slipping back into war - have been approved for both Côte d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone, it was announced today.
• UN calls for launching of identification process ahead of Ivorian polls UN News Centre 17 Jul 2008 -- The top United Nations official in Côte d'Ivoire has called for the identification process ahead of November's presidential election to be launched quickly, and reaffirmed the world body's pledge to assist the West African nation conduct the long-delayed polls.
• UN mission has to adjust to 'profoundly new reality' in Kosovo, says Ban UN News Centre 17 Jul 2008 -- In light of developments since Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in February, the United Nations mission there is unable to perform its usual functions and must adjust to the new reality on the ground, says Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
• Nigerian Armed Group Denies Targeting Navy Vessel VOA 17 Jul 2008 -- The most high-profile armed group in Nigeria's oil-rich but volatile Niger Delta says it did not carry out Wednesday's attack on a naval vessel that killed five people

News Reports

• Zimbabwe Crisis Talks Pause Pending Clarification Of AU Mediation Role VOA 17 Jul 2008 -- Talks between Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF and opposition Movement for Democratic Change preliminary to power-sharing negotiations have been suspended pending the outcome of consultations between President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping in Pretoria Friday as to the composition of the mediation team.
• US National Security Adviser Hadley Visits Turkey VOA 17 Jul 2008 -- U.S. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley is meeting Thursday with Turkish officials to reportedly discuss the standoff over Iran's disputed nuclear program
• Lawyers for Israeli PM to Cross-Exam Witness in Corruption Case VOA 17 Jul 2008 -- Lawyers for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have begun cross examining the U.S businessman at the center of corruption allegations against the embattled leader.
• Diplomats Say EU Will Widen Sanctions Against Zimbabwe VOA 17 Jul 2008 -- Diplomats say the European Union has agreed in principle to widen sanctions against Zimbabwe when the bloc's foreign ministers meet in Brussels on Tuesday.
• Zimbabwe Opposition Holds Out for Second Mediator in Talks VOA 17 Jul 2008 -- Morgan Tsvangirai, the founding president of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change, has put on hold a preliminary agreement that would pave the way for formal talks with President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF.
• AFGHANISTAN: 1.5 million "severely" hit by drought - minister IRIN 17 Jul 2008 -- At least 1.5 million people in 19 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces - mostly farming communities in the north - have been severely affected by drought and are in need of urgent humanitarian relief, an Afghan minister told IRIN.