• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 31 Jul 2008 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• U.S. Soldier killed in non-combat related incident
• July 30 Airpower Summary: KC-10s 'extend' air ops AFPN 31 Jul 2008
• Coalition Forces in Iraq Capture Suspected Terrorists AFPS 31 Jul 2008 -- Coalition forces in Iraq detained 12 suspected terrorists, including a suspect linked to the planning of al-Qaida suicide bombings.
• Bush Hails Security Progress in Iraq VOA 31 Jul 2008 -- U.S. President George Bush: Progress is being made in Iraq to enable the Pentagon to consider further reductions in force levels and cut troop tours.
• Camp Lejeune Marines slated for 2009 deployment to Iraq USMC News 31 Jul 2008 -- The II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) was established to spearhead Marine efforts in Iraq in 2009.
• AFGHANISTAN: Insurgents increasingly attacking power stations, bridges IRIN 31 Jul 2008 -- "Anti-government elements" have been trying to blow up a major hydro-electric power plant, the Naghlu Dam, to the east of Kabul.
• Prime minister sees no spy ties with Taliban IRNA 31 Jul 2008 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani: US concerns about collusion between his nation's intelligence agency and terrorists are being taken seriously.
• Afghan Journalists Complain Of Government Pressure RFE/RL 31 Jul 2008 -- Afghan television journalist Nasir Fayaz was freed on July 30 after spending three days in detention for allegedly insulting two government ministers on his weekly show "Haqiqat" (Truth).
• Afghanistan: UN agency welcomes new law on combating terrorism UN News Centre 31 Jul 2008 -- A new anti-terrorism law in Afghanistan has been welcomed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which says the legislation brings the country in line with international conventions.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Trancript: DoD News Briefing with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Adm. Mullen from the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 31 Jul 2008 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen
• Conditions in Iraq Improving; Results 'Mixed' in Afghanistan AFPS 31 Jul 2008 -- While some troops will deploy to Afghanistan in the near future, large units must wait until an assessment of needs in Iraq is completed, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today.
• Department of Defense Releases the National Defense Strategy 31 Jul 2008 -- The DoD released the 2008 National Defense Strategy today
• New US Defense Strategy Stresses Terrorism and Small Wars VOA 31 Jul 2008 -- The Pentagon issued a new U.S. National Defense Strategy Thursday, emphasizing the need for the U.S. military, and the entire government, to be prepared to fight global terrorism and related small-scale conflicts like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Mullen Discusses Importance of Integrated Force AFPS 31 Jul 2008 -- A racially integrated U.S. military is a national strength, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today.
• Balance at Heart of New Defense Strategy, Gates Says AFPS 31 Jul 2008 -- Balance is the key word of the new National Defense Strategy, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a news conference today.
• Memorandum Ensures Redeploying Troops Get Access to Airports AFPS 31 Jul 2008 -- The Defense Department, the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration have signed a memorandum of understanding that will give servicemembers access to commercial airports as they are transiting to and from combat zones.
• Multinational Students Study Civil Security at Marshall Center AFPS 31 Jul 2008 -- The George C. Marshall European Center, a German-American defense and security studies institute here, graduated the first class of its new course on trans-Atlantic civil security yesterday.
• New Mexico Flood Victims Look to Skies for Help AFPS 31 Jul 2008 -- New Mexico Army National Guard aviators put their hoist training to the test not once, not twice, but 57 times July 27 after Tropical Depression Dolly caused flooding in the high desert environment of Ruidoso, N.M.
• Top Enlisted Sailor Urges Continued Progress in Diversity AFPS 31 Jul 2008 -- Though 60 years have passed since an executive order ended segregation in the U.S. military, today's servicemembers still have work to do to make the most of diversity in the ranks, the Navy's top enlisted sailor said.
• Jointness key to command afloat during JTFEX 08-4 AFPN 31 Jul 2008 -- Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen exercised jointness aboard a Navy ship along the eastern U.S. coast from Virginia to Florida July 21-31 for Joint Task Force Exercise 08-4 "Operation Brimstone."
• Forecasters afloat support multinational training exercise AFPN 31 Jul 2008 -- Air Force weather teams are used to jointness, providing weather support operations for both the Army and Air Force on land or in the air. However, Joint Task Force Exercise 08-4, a multinational exercise hosted by U.S. Joint Forces Command, would require them to truly go above and beyond -- and out to sea.
• AFSOUTH, AFNORTH host air chiefs conference AFPN 31 Jul 2008 -- Lt. Gen. Norman Seip, the 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) commander, and Maj. Gen. Henry Morrow, the 1st Air Force (Air Forces North) commander, hosted a Central American Air Chiefs Conference here July 25 for six air chiefs from Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.
• Air Force officials reach recruitment program goal AFPN 31 Jul 2008 -- Air Force officials have reached the 2008 goal of hiring 25 people via the Workforce Recruitment Program for summer or permanent jobs.
• Military vehicle tips over on county road AFPN 31 Jul 2008 -- An enclosed missile transport vehicle, assigned to the 91st Missile Wing, en route to a launch facility tipped on its side on a gravel access road this morning between the towns of Makoti and Parshall.
• NSWC Crane Holds Change of Command, Sagamore of the Wabash Award Presented Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC Crane) held a change of command ceremony July 18.
• Wolf Assumes Command of NSWG 4 Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- Naval Special Warfare Group (NSWG) 4 held a change of command ceremony July 31 outside NSWG 4 headquarters.
• New Horizons Team Treats More Than 4,000 in Peru Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- U.S. military doctors in Peru worked long days throughout the Ayacucho region to bring free medical care to the people of Peru July 21 to 31.
• San Antonio Completes Force Protection Certification Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- Sailors aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) completed their force protection certification July 30 while underway with the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group during Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 08-4.
• USNS Mercy Departs Darwin to Continue Pacific Partnership Deployment Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- The naval hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) departed Darwin July 31 after a four-day port visit to allow the crew to rest before continuing on with the humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) mission, Pacific Partnership 2008
• USS Carl Vinson Receives New Computer Network Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- Sailors assigned to the combat systems department aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) will accomplish a significant shipyard milestone this August with the installation of more than 400 unclassified computers throughout the ship.
• Parade of Ships Kicks Off Seattle Seafair Fleet Week Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- Ticonderoga class cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Whidbey Island class amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) kicked off the 59th annual Seattle Seafair Fleet Week July 30 with the parade of ships.
• Bonhomme Richard Completes NEO Exercise Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) (BHR) completed a two-day non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) drill aboard July 28.
• USS Helena Resurfaces in San Diego Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Helena (SSN 725) returned to Naval Base Point Loma July 30 after performing independent operations during a scheduled Western Pacific deployment
• Deputy Secretary of Defense Visits Submarine Sailors at Bangor Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England returned to his Navy roots to thank the Sailors of the Bangor submarine community for their service July 30.
• USCGC Morgenthau Changes Hands Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC 722) shifted hands during a change of command ceremony at Sembawang Wharf, Singapore July 29.
• Bataan Completes 'Operation Brimstone' Support Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) returned to her homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, July 31 after a 10-day underway period to provide support for the Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 08-4 "Operation Brimstone."
• USS John S. McCain Observes "Crossing the Line" Tradition Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) crossed the equator, the dividing line between the Northern and Southern hemispheres, also referred to as "King Neptune's Domain" in the early morning of July 25.
• NNOA Concludes National Leadership Conference Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- The National Naval Officers Association (NNOA) concluded its 36th annual Professional Development and Training Conference in Portsmouth, Va., during a celebratory banquet July 25 which featured Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter as the keynote speaker.
• Surface Warfare Enterprise Dedicated to Warfighter Readiness Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- The Surface Warfare Enterprise (SWE) Board of Directors (BoD) and its supporting teams held their third annual Strategic Planning Conference (SPC) at the end of June at the Coronado Club on Naval Base Coronado.
• USNS Brittin is First of its Kind to Visit Guam Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- USNS Brittin (T-AKR 305) visited Guam July 16-17 to take on cargo - the first ship of its kind to do so.
• NAVSEA Awards University Affiliated Research Center Contract Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), headquartered in Washington D.C., awarded a $26,193,985 University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) contract to the University of Hawaii (UH) Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) July 15.
• Grasp Departs St. Kitts, Continues Partnership Mission Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2008 -- USNS Grasp (T-ARS 51), manned by 26 civil service mariners from Military Sealift Command along with 14 specially-trained Navy rescue and salvage divers, departed St. Kitts July 26.
• F-15 crashes in Nevada during training flight, one pilot killed RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2008 -- An U.S. F-15 fighter has crashed over the Nevada desert during a training flight, killing one pilot and injuring another.
• Shi'ite Cleric Urges Iraqi Govt to Reject US Troop Deal VOA 31 Jul 2008 -- Radical Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is urging the Iraqi government to reject a deal that would allow U.S. troops to remain in Iraq.
• Iran FM Rejects Deadline for Nuclear Incentive Package VOA 31 Jul 2008 -- Iran has signaled it does not intend to meet the latest deadline in ongoing negotiations with world powers over its controversial nuclear program.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 31 Jul 2008
• Press Gaggle by Dana Perino The White House 31 Jul 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 31, 2008
• Raytheon Solipsys C2 Software Deployed in Iraq Raytheon 31 Jul 2008 -- Two software products developed by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) subsidiary Raytheon Solipsys are key components of a recently fielded system managing airspace in Iraq.
• Submarine New Hampshire Completes First Voyage General Dynamics 31 Jul 2008 -- New Hampshire (SSN 778), the nation’s newest and most advanced nuclear-powered attack submarine, returned to the Electric Boat shipyard here today following the successful completion of its first voyage in open seas, called alpha sea trials.
• Boeing Team to Design New Spacecraft Power Generation System for DARPA Boeing 31 Jul 2008 -- A team led by Boeing [NYSE: BA] Advanced Systems has been awarded a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contract for the first phase of the Fast Access Spacecraft Testbed (FAST) program.
• Defense Support Program Satellite Decommissioned Northrop Grumman 31 Jul 2008 -- The United States Air Force's Defense Support Program (DSP) Flight 19 satellite, built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), was decommissioned today following nine years of service.
• General Dynamics Awarded $16 Million for RG-31 MRAP Spare Parts General Dynamics 31 Jul 2008 -- The U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada a $15.8 million contract for spare parts in support of RG-31 Mk5E vehicles under the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) program.
• U.S. Government Releases $1 Billion In Funding For Production Of Six Lockheed Martin F-35B Stovl Aircraft Lockheed Martin 31 Jul 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Defense has released $1 billion of funding to acquire six Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft as part of the second Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract for the F-35.
• Northrop Grumman to Upgrade Portuguese Air Force F-16s With LITENING Advanced Targeting System Northrop Grumman 31 Jul 2008 -- The Portuguese Air Force today announced the selection of Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) third-generation LITENING Advanced Targeting (AT) system for their F-16 Advanced Targeting Pod upgrade program.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 31 Jul 2008
• UN border assessment team wraps up two-week mission to Lebanon UN News 31 Jul 2008 -- The team dispatched by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to assess the monitoring of the Lebanese border with Syria wrapped up its two-week mission.
• Karadzic Set to Face War Crimes Tribunal VOA 31 Jul 2008 -- Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic set to appear before the U.N. war crimes tribunal in the Hague.
• Karadzic Makes First Appearance At Hague Tribunal RFE/RL 31 Jul 2008 -- The man once known as the "Butcher of Bosnia" faced a judge for the first time at the UN court dealing with Yugoslav war crimes.
• Karadzic To Face Judge After First Night In The Hague RFE/RL 31 Jul 2008 -- The man once known as the "Butcher of Bosnia" is to face a judge for the first time at the UN court dealing with Yugoslav war crimes.
• Abkhaz leader says no direct talks with Georgia in Berlin for now RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2008 -- Abkhaz President: No direct talks between Georgian and Abkhaz representatives at an upcoming meeting in Berlin.
• SUDAN: Helicopters top list of "shameful" missing equipment IRIN 31 Jul 2008 -- A year after the establishment of a force for the Darfur region, not one of the 18 helicopters required has been offered.
• US Lawmakers Urge Support for Darfur Peacekeepers VOA 31 Jul 2008 -- Members of the U.S. Congress debate measure calling on governments to step up assistance to the United Nations/African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur.
• SLAF fighter Jets destroy training camp of LTTE suicide bombers IRNA 31 Jul 2008

News Reports

• New Executive Order to Overhaul US Intelligence Powers VOA 31 Jul 2008 -- U.S. President George Bush signed an executive order revising rules for intelligence agencies.