Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 22 Jul 2008 [PDF]
• Coalition, Iraqi Forces Detain 14, Find Weapons AFPS 22 Jul 2008 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 14 suspected terrorists and found weapon caches during recent operations in Iraq, military officials said.
• MQ-9 Reaper enhances Air Force capabilities in Iraq AFPN 22 Jul 2008 -- The Air Force flew its first operational MQ-9 Reaper mission from here July 18, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Afghan Security Forces Hold Key to Success, General Says AFPS 22 Jul 2008 -- Training Afghan security forces is the key to success in the country, but the effort continues to be plagued by a shortage of trainers, the general in charge of that training said today.
• Predator crashes in Afghanistan AFPN 22 Jul 2008
• Pakistani Network Broadcasts Rare Interview of Al-Qaida Commander in Afghanistan VOA 22 Jul 2008 -- A Pakistani television network has broadcast a rare interview with the top al-Qaida commander in Afghanistan.
• Team Supports Reconstruction of Afghan Health System AFPS 22 Jul 2008 -- Like most of Afghanistan's provinces, Konar has historically been unable to meet the medical needs of its 381,000 residents. But the Konar Provincial Reconstruction Team is working to meet those needs.
• AFGHANISTAN: Increasing attacks on aid workers could provoke "humanitarian crisis" - NGOs IRIN 22 Jul 2008 -- The increasing number of attacks on aid agencies is reducing their ability to deliver life-saving assistance to vulnerable communities; the consequences are "serious" and could lead to a "humanitarian crisis", aid workers have warned.
• National Guard prepares for Hurricane Dolly AFPN 22 Jul 2008 -- National Guardsmen from Texas are being pre-positioned here, ready to respond to the Texas coast, to help citizens affected by Hurricane Dolly which is scheduled to make landfall July 23.
• Northern Command Sends Coordinating Cell to Texas for Storm Response AFPS 22 Jul 2008 -- U.S. Northern Command has deployed a defense coordination unit to the Joint Operations Center in Austin, Texas, in anticipation of the landfall of Tropical Storm Dolly in southern Texas.
• 'Operation Lily Pad' aims to save lives in hurricane Army News 22 Jul 2008 -- The Louisiana National Guard's 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted an exercise Sunday aimed at evacuating refugees in the event of a hurricane striking the state.

Defense Policy / Programs

• 18 nations gather for Conference of the American Air Chiefs AFPN 22 Jul 2008 -- Air chiefs and representatives from 18 Western Hemisphere nations arrived July 19 for the 48th annual Conference of the American Air Chiefs in San Antonio.
• Senate committee reviews Air Force nominees AFPN 22 Jul 2008 -- Senate Armed Services Committee members presented a number of questions and challenges to Air Force civilian and military leader nominees July 22 on Capitol Hill.
• Donley Pledges to Restore Air Force's Reputation, Credibility AFPS 22 Jul 2008 -- The acting secretary of the Air Force told Capitol Hill legislators during a confirmation hearing here today that he'll work to restore the Air Force's reputation for excellence.
• Air Force Chief of Staff Nominee Pledges Support to Warfighters AFPS 22 Jul 2008 -- The four-star general nominated to be the Air Force's next chief of staff today told Capitol Hill legislators that if he's confirmed he'll continue to support warfighters deployed around the globe.
• Pentagon Official Calls Integrated Military 'Model of Diversity' AFPS 22 Jul 2008 -- The U.S. armed forces have exemplified racial diversity since integrating 60 years ago, but further efforts are necessary to diversify military leadership, a Pentagon official said today.
• Electronic library kiosk bound for Iraq Army News 22 Jul 2008 -- Camp Victory in Iraq is nearly 2,000 miles from the nearest Army Library in Europe. But soldiers deployed at the sprawling base near Baghdad International Airport will soon have access to a broad spectrum of such resources via an e-Branch kiosk.
• BHR Helps Certify Tripler Army Medical Center Navy NewsStand 22 Jul 2008 -- USS Bonhomme Richard's (LHD 6)(BHR) medical crew worked in conjunction with the crew of USS O'Kane (DDG 77) for the first time during a U.S. 3rd Fleet mass casualty drill aboard BHR to help certify Tripler Army Medical Center in Oahu, Hawaii July 21.
• U.S., Indonesian Navies Begin Naval Engagement Activity Navy NewsStand 22 Jul 2008 -- The U.S. and Indonesian navies kicked off an annual bilateral Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) with an opening ceremony at Indonesia Eastern Fleet Command in Surabaya July 21.
• First Time AADS Used for Support of Ashore Beach Group Navy NewsStand 22 Jul 2008 -- A demonstration of the Amphibious Assault Direction System (AADS) is being held during this year's Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) exercise, now through Aug. 20, at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, Calif.
• French Sailors Experience Flight Operations Aboard Roosevelt Navy NewsStand 22 Jul 2008 -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)(TR) is conducting carrier qualifications with members of the French Navy during Operation Brimstone July 21-31.
• Pacific Partnership Helps Build Futures in Timor-Leste Navy NewsStand 22 Jul 2008 -- Australian Army engineers, Indian Army engineers, U.S. Navy Seabees from USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and other volunteers began renovation of the Bario Pite elementary school in Dili, July 21, as part of a Pacific Partnership 2008 engineering civic action program (ENCAP).
• Search effort continues following B-52 crash AFPN 22 Jul 2008 -- A joint-agency search continues for missing crew members following the crash July 21 of a B-52H Stratofortress bomber 25 miles off the northwest coast of Guam.
• Integration Brought Strength, Credibility to Military, Official Says AFPS 22 Jul 2008 -- Today's military is stronger and has more credibility among the American people in large part due to a presidential decision 60 years ago to integrate the force, the defense undersecretary for personnel and readiness said.
• Surface Combat Systems Center Wallops Island Changes Command Navy NewsStand 22 Jul 2008 -- The Surface Combat Systems Center (SCSC) held a change of command ceremony at Wallops Island, Va., July 11.
• Sun and Sand is No Day at the Beach for 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Golf 2/5 Navy NewsStand 22 Jul 2008 -- The Marines and Sailors of Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, took advantage of the wide-open desert training areas in northern Kuwait July 9 to send some rounds down range and further refine their combat readiness.
• U.S., Indonesia Dive Into Salvage Ops Navy NewsStand 22 Jul 2008 -- Divers from the United States and Indonesian Navies began a six-day diving operation July 21 to survey a wreck in Surabaya harbor as part of joint naval engagement activities (NEA) between the two nations.
• UK armed forces less ready for war than ever, report shows IRNA 22 Jul 2008 -- Britain's armed forces are less ready to deploy troops to the front line to fight a war than at any time on record, according to the latest annual report from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• Former Soviet states boost defense capability in joint drills RIA Novosti 22 Jul 2008 -- The joint Rubezh-2008 command-and-staff exercises of the CSTO bloc of post-Soviet states, which began in Armenia on Tuesday, are aimed at boosting joint defense capabilities, an Armenian security official said.
• Russian bombers to fire live missiles in Siberia drills RIA Novosti 22 Jul 2008 -- Five Russian Tu-22 Blinder bombers will fire live missiles at a test range in East Siberia's Irkutsk Region during tactical exercises starting on Wednesday, the Air Force said on Tuesday.
• Russian missile cruiser begins patrols around Spitsbergen RIA Novosti 22 Jul 2008 -- A Russian missile cruiser started on Tuesday patrols in the area around Norway's Arctic archipelago of Spitsbergen, to ensure security of Russia's maritime navigation in Arctic, a Navy spokesman said.
• Ukraine parliament to discuss Russian fleet pullout preparations RIA Novosti 22 Jul 2008 -- A bill on preparing for the Russian Black Sea Fleet's withdrawal from Ukraine's Crimea by 2017 is ready and will soon be submitted to the Ukrainian parliament, the country's foreign minister said on Tuesday.
• Putin wants closer military ties with Venezuela RIA Novosti 22 Jul 2008 -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday that he hopes military ties between the countries will strengthen.
• Russia questions NATO's ability to ensure global stability RIA Novosti 22 Jul 2008 -- NATO expansion will not lead to greater stability in the world, the head of a post-Soviet security bloc said on Tuesday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 22 Jul 2008
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 22 Jul 2008

Defense Industry

• Russia denies role in warplane deliveries to Sudan RIA Novosti 22 Jul 2008 -- Russian state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport denied on Tuesday any involvement in deliveries of Russian jet fighters to Sudan.
• DoD News: Contracts for July 22, 2008
• Navy's Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration Unmanned Aircraft Supports Northern California Firefighters During Navy Exercises Northrop Grumman 22 Jul 2008 -- The U.S. Navy's RQ-4 Block 10 Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration (GHMD) unmanned aircraft system demonstrated its flexibility and persistence by providing critically needed imagery to firefighters during the recent Northern California wildfires.
• Northrop Grumman KC-45 Tanker Boom Successfully Completes In-flight Contact With AWACS Aircraft Northrop Grumman 22 Jul 2008 -- The advanced Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS) for Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) KC-45 Tanker has performed multiple aerial contacts with an operational Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, confirming its ability to support large aircraft in U.S., NATO, and allied air forces.
• BAE SYSTEMS SECURES ADDITIONAL ORDER FOR 773 SOUTH AFRICAN DESIGNED RG-31 MINE PROTECTED VEHICLES BAE Systems 22 Jul 2008 -- BAE Systems has received an order worth ZAR1.5 billion (£150 million or approximately US$300 million) to produce 773 RG-31 Mk5E Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles for the U.S. Marine Corps' Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle programme.
• Boeing Acquires Insitu to Expand Capabilities in Unmanned Systems Boeing 22 Jul 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced an agreement to acquire Insitu, Inc., a pioneer in the unmanned air systems (UAS) market and leader in the design, development and manufacture of high-performance, low-cost UAS used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).
• U.S. Navy Conducts Flight Test of Tomahawk Block IV Missile Raytheon 22 Jul 2008 -- A U.S. Navy Ticonderoga- class cruiser fired a Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) Tomahawk Block IV missile June 17.
• Raytheon Awarded $5.4 Million APCO P25 Radio System Contract Raytheon 22 Jul 2008 -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) JPS Communications has been awarded a $5.4 million contract to supply Canadian-based ATCO Electric with an APCO Project 25 (P25) radio solution that enables public utility personnel to easily share information in real time.
• General Dynamics Completes Milestone in MUOS Defense Satellite Communications System General Dynamics 22 Jul 2008 -- General Dynamics C4 Systems recently mounted three 18.4-meter satellite antennas on 53-foot-tall pedestals in Wahiawa, Hawaii, as part of the preparations to deploy the new Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), the U.S. military's next-generation narrowband global mobile satellite communications system

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 22 Jul 2008
• Serbian Judge Orders Extradition of Former Fugitive Radovan Karadzic VOA 22 Jul 2008 -- A Serbian judge has ordered war-crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader, extradited to the United Nations war crimes tribunal to face charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.
• Europe Hails Karadzic Arrest in Belgrade VOA 22 Jul 2008 -- European politicians have welcomed the arrest of former Bosnian-Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, who is wanted for war crimes committed in Bosnia during the 1990's.
• From Humble Beginnings, The 'Butcher Of Bosnia' Rose To Infamy RFE/RL 22 Jul 2008 -- It has been nearly 13 years since Radovan Karadzic, the Bosnian Serb wartime president, went into hiding and became the target of one of the most fevered manhunts in contemporary history.
• It's Time To Test The Karadzic Myth RFE/RL 22 Jul 2008 -- In Sarajevo, Radovan Karadzic lived in a building across from my high school. I only found that out recently, as I don't remember ever seeing him in those days
• A Master Manipulator Whose End Has Come RFE/RL 22 Jul 2008 -- In the autumn of 1991, Radovan Karadzic was invited to appear in a live broadcast of Bosnian television's main news program in Sarajevo.
• War Crimes Suspect Karadzic Arrested In Serbia, Now Faces Extradition RFE/RL 22 Jul 2008 -- Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic, wanted for planning and ordering Europe's worst atrocities since the Holocaust, has been arrested after more than a decade on the run.
• Karadzic hid in Belgrade, worked in clinic under false identity RIA Novosti 22 Jul 2008 -- Arrested war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic was hiding in Belgrade and worked in a private clinic using a false identity, Serbian officials said on Tuesday.
• Russia hopes for fair UN tribunal trial for Karadzic RIA Novosti 22 Jul 2008 -- Russia hopes former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic will receive a fair trial at the UN tribunal, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
• Karadžic arrest 'decisive step' toward ending impunity, says Ban UN News Centre 22 Jul 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the arrest of former Bosnian Serb leader and fugitive war crimes suspect Radovan Karadžic, who had evaded capture for over a decade after being indicted by the United Nations tribunal set up to try those responsible for atrocities committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s.
• Serbia announces arrest of war crimes suspect Karadzic RIA Novosti 22 Jul 2008 -- Former Bosnia Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, on the run for over a decade after being charged with war crimes, has been arrested in Serbia, the country's president has announced.
• KENYA: Hundreds still displaced in Nairobi IRIN 22 Jul 2008 -- Hundreds of Kenyans displaced during post-election violence in early 2008 in the capital, Nairobi, are still in camps more than two months after the government launched a countrywide resettlement programme.
• Karadzic Arrest In Serbia Shows Power Of Elections RFE/RL 22 Jul 2008 -- Analysts and Balkan-watchers say the surprise arrest on July 21 of Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic came about as a direct result of a pro-Western government coming to power in Belgrade following elections in May -- and previous power brokers falling out of favor.
• Georgians, Russians Exchange Angry Words At Security Council Debate RFE/RL 22 Jul 2008 -- Georgian and Russian diplomats traded harsh words at a UN Security Council session on July 21 amid escalating tension over Georgia's Moscow-backed breakaway regions.
• Darfur: AU-UN mission condemns attack on security officer by Sudanese military UN News Centre 22 Jul 2008 -- A security officer working with the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) today condemned an assault on one of its security officers in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.
• Middle East: top UN official 'heartened' by positive steps towards peace UN News Centre 22 Jul 2008 -- The top United Nations political official today welcomed recent positive moves towards peace that have been made in the Middle East, but sounded the alarm on the lack of progress in the West Bank.
• Sri Lanka not ready to accept unilateral LTTE cease-fire agreement IRNA 22 Jul 2008 -- Sri Lankan government has stated that it is not bound by the unilateral cease-fire agreement announced by the Tamil Tigers Monday night.
• Lankan rebels announce 10-day cease-fire in view of SAARC Summit IRNA 22 Jul 2008 -- The Sri Lankan rebels, Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) has announced a 10-day unilateral cease-fire in view of the 15th South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit slated to begin in Colombo on July 27.

News Reports

• ZIMBABWE: Public downbeat about political agreement IRIN 22 Jul 2008 -- An agreement between Zimbabwe's political parties to pursue negotiations to establish a new constitution and bring an end to political violence has been met with scepticism by ordinary Zimbabweans trying to survive the country's 2.2 million percent annual inflation rate.
• MYANMAR: Cyclone losses top US$4 billion IRIN 22 Jul 2008 -- Cyclone Nargis, which battered Myanmar's Ayeyarwady Delta on 2 and 3 May, left an estimated US$4 billion worth of damage, on a par with the devastation caused by the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia, according to a new assessment.
• EU Debates Ukraine's Credentials RFE/RL 22 Jul 2008