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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 28 Jul 2008 [PDF]
• July 26 Airpower Summary: Tankers ensure global reach AFPN 28 Jul 2008
• Coalition Troops in Iraq Capture 30 Suspected al-Qaida Terrorists AFPS 28 Jul 2008 -- Coalition forces today captured two wanted men and detained 28 additional suspected terrorists while targeting al-Qaida operations in central and northern Iraq, military officials said.
• AFGHANISTAN: US "battlefield damage aid" helps recovery in Helmand Province IRIN 28 Jul 2008 -- About two months after Taliban insurgents were forced out of Garmsir District in Helmand Province, US forces have been helping local people to rebuild their properties and livelihoods.
• 7 killed as missile hits seminary in Pakistan's tribal region IRNA 28 Jul 2008 -- A missile apparently fired at a religious seminary in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal region early Monday killed seven people, a local Taliban leader said.
• Louisiana Guard Black Hawks Respond to Yosemite Fire AFPS 28 Jul 2008 -- Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the Louisiana National Guard departed the Mather Flight Facility here yesterday to support firefighting operations in California's Yosemite Valley.
• State Military Forces Help Texans Recover After Hurricane AFPS 28 Jul 2008 -- Residents of the Rio Grande Valley are still feeling the effects of Hurricane Dolly after the second Atlantic hurricane of the 2008 season tore through south Texas on July 23 with damaging wind and torrential rain.

Defense Policy / Programs

• President Bush Meets with Prime Minister Gillani of Pakistan The White House 28 Jul 2008
• Bush, Pakistani Prime Minister Hold White House Talks AFPS 28 Jul 2008 -- President Bush and Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani discussed greater cooperation in the war on terror and economic matters during a White house meeting today.
• Bush, Pakistan PM Hold Talks Amid Rising Concern Over Afghan Violence VOA 28 Jul 2008 -- President Bush has met at the White House with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani
• Detainee Transfer Announced 29 Jul 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today that it transferred three detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; one detainee was transferred to Afghanistan, one detainee to the United Arab Emirates, and one detainee to Qatar
• VA offers new online resource service AFPN 28 Jul 2008 -- The Department of Veterans Affairs is offering a new online service, My HealtheVet, which is a gateway to veteran health benefits and services.
• Mechanical arm attaches to vehicles for IED clearance Army News 28 Jul 2008 -- A new tool may soon help route clearance teams detect and neutralize potentially deadly improvised explosive devices in Iraq.
• San Antonio Preps for Deployment During JTFEX Navy NewsStand 28 Jul 2008 -- Sailors aboard the amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio (LPD 17) are participating in Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 08-4 off the U.S. eastern seaboard July 21-31.
• Assistant secretary resigns AFPN 28 Jul 2008
• Air Force officials consider applications of 'jamming' model AFPN 28 Jul 2008 -- Granular fluids, like salt or sand, and viscous liquids, like toothpaste or wood glue, can behave like liquids or solids depending on certain conditions
• Alternative energy project under way at Robins AFB AFPN 28 Jul 2008 -- The Defense Logistics Agency kicked off its fuel cell forklift pilot project here July 24 at the Defense Depot Warner Robins. It is part of an effort to find alternative energy sources and reduce America's growing dependence on energy imports.
• 386th ELRS tests new Humvee modification AFPN 28 Jul 2008 -- The 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron's vehicle maintenance section is testing two new modifications for the M1116 up-armored high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles' (Humvee) condenser, hoping the improvement will eventually become standard in all M1116 Humvees throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
• Sixty Years After Integration, Opportunities Abound for Minority Soldiers AFPS 28 Jul 2008 -- By the time the Army was officially desegregated on July 26, 1948, Joe Murchison already was a proud member of the 82nd Airborne Division.
• Former Chairman Discusses Truman's 1948 Integration Order AFPS 28 Jul 2008 -- The opportunities that all Americans in the military now enjoy are the result of people insisting things can be better, the first African-American to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
• Officials Strive to Reduce Preventable MRAP Accidents AFPS 28 Jul 2008 -- Emphasizing that the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles known as MRAPs are the best protection available against roadside bombs and other underbelly explosions, defense safety officials are promoting enhanced training and troop awareness to reduce rollovers and other accidents.
• New GI Bill Provides Increased Educational Benefits AFPS 28 Jul 2008 -- The latest GI Bill considerably improves the opportunity for today's servicemembers to obtain their education, a senior Defense Department official said.
• First Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Dies in San Antonio AFPS 28 Jul 2008 -- Retired Air Force Gen. Robert T. Herres, the first vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, died July 24 after a long illness. He was 75.
• USNS Mercy arrives in Darwin for Pacific Partnership Navy NewsStand 28 Jul 2008 -- Hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrived in Darwin, Australia, July 27, at the mid-point of Pacific Partnership 2008 and right after a 13-day humanitarian civic assistance in Dili, Timor-Leste.
• Humanitarian Mission Commanding Officer Briefs Surface Navy Association Navy NewsStand 28 Jul 2008 -- The commanding officer of the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) briefed the Surface Navy Association's (SNA) San Diego Chapter July 24 on the ship's Latin American humanitarian deployment at Naval Base San Diego (NBSD).
• USS Pearl Harbor Commanding Officer Relieved Navy NewsStand 28 Jul 2008 -- Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 3 relieved the commanding officer of the amphibious loading dock ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) July 27.
• Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group Arrives In Japan Navy NewsStand 28 Jul 2008 -- More than 5,500 Sailors of Carrier Strike Group 7 (CSG) and five ships arrived in Japan for a routine port visit July 28.
• Vinson Makes Final Preparations to Reopen Galleys Navy NewsStand 28 Jul 2008 -- USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) is making final preparations to reopen the ship's galley facilities as the aircraft carrier draws closer to her crew move aboard, scheduled for Aug. 18.
• Riverine Sailors Have Bird's-Eye View During JTFEX Operation Brimstone Navy NewsStand 28 Jul 2008 -- U.S. Navy Riverine Squadron 1 Sailors teamed with U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopters above the Cape Fear River in North Carolina to spot hidden dangers during Joint Task Force Exercise 08-4 (JTFEX) Operation Brimstone July 21-28.
• Brown Water Riverine Sailors Cruise through JTFEX Navy NewsStand 28 Jul 2008 -- Riverine Squadron 1 Sailors honed their littoral warfighting skills along the Cape Fear River in North Carolina during Joint Task Force Exercise 8-04 (JTFEX 08-4) "Operation Brimstone" July 21-28.
• Iran still wants to join Shanghai group RIA Novosti 28 Jul 2008 -- Iran's plans to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) remain unchanged, the country's ambassador to Moscow said on Monday.
• Russia, Jordan discuss jointly producing grenade launchers RIA Novosti 28 Jul 2008 -- Russia is negotiating with Jordan to set up a joint venture to make rocket-propelled grenade launchers, a Russian arms manufacturer said Monday.
• Ukraine-NATO exercise successful despite protests - navy chief RIA Novosti 28 Jul 2008 -- Despite protest rallies, the annual Ukraine-NATO Sea Breeze military exercises went according to plan, the Ukrainian navy chief said on Monday.
• Acquiring subs from U.S. a top priority: defense ministry CNA 28 Jul 2008 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) is so far not aware of plans by Taiwan to build submarines locally, and acquiring subs from the United States remains the top priority in Taiwan's submarine fleet development program, the MND spokeswoman said Monday.
• Legislative speaker confident U.S. will proceed with arms sales CNA 28 Jul 2008 -- Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng said in the U.S. capital Sunday that he is fully confident that the Bush administration will proceed with arms sales to Taiwan after the Beijing Olympics.
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 28 Jul 2008
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 28 Jul 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 28, 2008
• Boeing and ATIL Celebrate 10th Anniversary of UK Apache Attack Helicopter Training Venture Boeing 28 Jul 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Aviation Training International Limited (ATIL) recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of a joint venture that provides Apache AH Mk1 attack helicopter training services to the British Army.
• Lockheed Martin Agrees To Acquire Aculight Corporation Lockheed Martin 28 Jul 2008 -- Lockheed Martin Corporation [NYSE: LMT] has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Aculight Corporation based in Bothell, WA. Aculight is a privately held company primarily focused on providing laser- based solutions for national defense and aerospace customers
• Northrop Grumman Successfully Demonstrates Multi-Function Electronic Warfare System as the Basis for U.S. Navy Surface Enterprise EW Solution Northrop Grumman 28 Jul 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) recently completed the land-based test phase of the Multi-Function Electronic Warfare (MFEW) system at the Naval Research Lab's (NRL) Chesapeake Bay Detachment (CBD) in Chesapeake Beach, Md., as part of the Office of Naval Research (ONR) MFEW/ES program.
• Northrop Grumman Receives Contract to Provide Electronic Combat Systems for Republic of Korea F-15K Aircraft Northrop Grumman 28 Jul 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has won a $74.6 million contract to provide 21 ALQ-135M electronic combat systems for the Republic of Korea Air Force F-15K.
• Military Health System Contract Awarded to General Dynamics General Dynamics 28 Jul 2008 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a TRICARE Evaluation, Analysis and Management Support (TEAMS) contract by the U.S. Department of Defense
• Lockheed Martin Awarded $80 Million Production Contract for GMS2 Lockheed Martin 28 Jul 2008 -- The U.S. Air Force recently awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] an $80 million follow-on contract for the Gunship Multispectral Sensor System (GMS2) the electro-optical/infrared fire control system for the AC-130U Gunship.
• Northrop Grumman One of Several Companies Awarded U.S. Air Force Flexible Acquisition and Sustainment Program Contract With a Ceiling Value of $6.9 Billion Northrop Grumman 28 Jul 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a U.S. Air Force indefinite quantity/indefinite delivery (ID/IQ) contract to provide development, modification and depot maintenance of any U.S. Air Force system, including support systems, subsystems and components.
• Raytheon Acquires Telemus Solutions, Inc. Raytheon 28 Jul 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has acquired Telemus Solutions, Inc., a provider of information security, intelligence and technical services to defense, intelligence and other federal customers
• Boeing Airborne Laser Team Begins Testing Laser with Chemical Fuel Boeing 28 Jul 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], industry teammates and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency have completed installing the high-energy laser aboard the Airborne Laser (ABL) aircraft and have begun testing the laser with its chemical fuel at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
• U.S. Navy Awards Northrop Grumman Contract to Develop Persistent Surveillance Payload for UAVs Northrop Grumman 28 Jul 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Office of Naval Research to develop and demonstrate a signals intelligence (SIGINT) payload for use on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under the Warfighter's Tactical SIGINT Resource (WTSR) program.
• Oshkosh Defense Demonstrates New SandCat™ Vehicle at U.K. Ministry of Defense Event Oshkosh 28 Jul 2008 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), demonstrated the SandCat™, its protected multi-role vehicle, at the Defense Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) 2008 event held at the Millbrook proving ground near Bedford, U.K. on June 25 and 26.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 28 Jul 2008
• Olmert: No Peace Deal With Palestinians in 2008 VOA 28 Jul 2008 -- Israel is lowering expectations for a breakthrough in U.S.-sponsored peace talks with the Palestinians in 2008
• Hamas opposed to foreign peacekeepers in Gaza RIA Novosti 28 Jul 2008 -- Hamas is categorically against the involvement of foreign peacekeepers in Gaza even if they were sent by Arab countries, a Hamas spokesman said Monday.
• The Dilemma of International Justice cfr.org 28 Jul 2008
• Karadzic's Military Documents Turned Over to War Crimes Court VOA 28 Jul 2008 -- Serbia's interior minister says officials found copies of Bosnian Serb government documents in the Belgrade apartment where former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic lived prior to his arrest last week.
• Serbia Burnishes Image In Wake Of Karadzic Arrest RFE/RL 28 Jul 2008 -- A lawyer representing captured war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic believes that a delay tactic will successfully thwart Serbia's attempts to extradite his client to a UN court before an ultranationalist rally scheduled to take place in Belgrade on July 29.
• Rights Groups: Peacekeepers Not Doing Enough for Darfur Civilians VOA 28 Jul 2008 -- A report by a group of African human rights agencies says the joint African Union - United Nations peacekeeping force in Sudan's Darfur region is not providing sufficient protection to civilians there. Tendai Maphosa has more from our Bureau in London.
• Analysis: Peace, Justice, and Darfur cfr.org 28 Jul 2008 -- On July 14, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court took the first steps toward indicting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. Bashir is accused of genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur, where an estimated 200,000 have died and more than 2.5 million have been displaced from their homes
• Rights Group Alarmed by Alleged Abuses During Kenya Security Operation VOA 28 Jul 2008 -- An international human rights organization is calling for Kenya's government to provide information on dozens of people who have been reported missing during a security operation against a militia in the country's west
• KENYA: Investigate "torture" in Mt Elgon operation, government urged IRIN 28 Jul 2008 -- A public inquiry should be set up into "torture and war crimes" committed by the Sabaot Land Defence Forces (SLDF) militia and the military in Mt Elgon District, human rights activists said.
• Militants Blow Up 2 Oil Pipelines in Nigerian Overnight Attack VOA 28 Jul 2008 -- Nigeria's main militant group says it has blown up two more oil pipelines in an overnight attack. Militant attacks repeatedly force oil companies to cut production in Nigeria, pushing up oil prices on international markets
• Nigerian militants free 5 hostages, including 2 Russians RIA Novosti 28 Jul 2008 -- Five hostages, including two Russians, were released unharmed Monday by militants who kidnapped them after seizing their vessel in Port Harcourt in southern Nigeria, a Russian diplomat said.
• Secretary-General urges all sides to preserve Georgian-Abkhaz ceasefire UN News Centre 28 Jul 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the Georgian and Abkhaz sides to preserve the integrity of their ceasefire regime, noting that the last four months have witnessed a resurgence of tensions between the two sides.
• Indian separatist group in N-E region undertakes massive recruitment drive IRNA 28 Jul 2008 -- A frontline Indian separatist group in the restive northeastern state of Assam has undertaken a massive recruitment drive, a month after the outfit suffered a revolt with two potent striking units declaring a unilateral ceasefire, officials said.
• CAMBODIA-THAILAND: Communities hoard food as border dispute continues IRIN 28 Jul 2008 -- Communities along the Thai-Cambodian border are hoarding food and basic necessities as an ongoing border dispute between the two countries continues.
• YEMEN: Thousands of IDPs unable to return home IRIN 28 Jul 2008 -- Thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Saada Governorate, northern Yemen, have not been able to return home after their houses were destroyed in recent fighting between government forces and Shia rebels, local sources have said.
• BURUNDI: Government questions lack of weapons as FNL fighters assemble IRIN 28 Jul 2008 -- Several thousand combatants of the Forces for National Liberation (FNL) have assembled at Rugazi in northwestern Bubanza Province but only a few weapons have been handed in, according to observers.

News Reports

• Istanbul explosions kill 16, injure over 150 RIA Novosti 28 Jul 2008 -- The death toll from Sunday evening's explosions in a busy area of central Istanbul rose to 16 on Monday, with more than 150 injured, several of them critically, the government said.
• Istanbul Hit by Deadly Bombings VOA 28 Jul 2008 -- On Sunday night at least 17 people were killed and over 150 injured in 2 deadly bombings in Turkey's largest city Istanbul
• PRESS CONFERENCE ON MYANMAR BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS United Nations 28 Jul 2008
• Progress being made on Myanmar aid effort, says UN's top relief official UN News Centre 28 Jul 2008 -- A degree of normality has returned to some areas affected by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, and there are visible signs of progress in reconstruction, the United Nations' top relief official said today after returning from a three-day visit, though he cautioned that there was no room for complacency.
• Former U.S. Ambassador Enjoys Macedonian Homecoming RFE/RL 28 Jul 2008 -- The United States' chief negotiator in the ongoing talks over North Korea's nuclear program, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill, made a homecoming of sorts this week when he traveled to Macedonia to be decorated as an honorary citizen of its capital, Skopje.
• Extradition hearing for Russian 'merchant of death' adjourned RIA Novosti 28 Jul 2008 -- A Thai court postponed on Monday for a second time an extradition hearing for a Russian businessman charged with arms smuggling after his new Thai lawyer was unable to attend court, national media said.
• Bush's 'Sprint To The Finish' Could Offer Surprises RFE/RL 28 Jul 2008 -- On the very day when most eyes were on presumptive Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama, making what was billed as a major speech in Berlin, U.S. President George W. Bush delivered a lofty address in Washington that reasserted his "freedom agenda."