Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 13 Aug 2008 [PDF]
• PRESS CONFERENCE: Security Operations: Iraqi Maj. Gen. al-Askari, Brig. Gen. Perkins, Aug. 13, 2008 MNF-I 13 Aug 2008 -- Iraqi Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Askari, Ministry of Defense spokesman, and Brig. Gen. David Perkins, MNF-I spokesman, provide an update on security operations in Iraq
• Coalition Forces Detain Seven Suspected Terrorists in Iraq AFPS 13 Aug 2008 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces detained seven suspected terrorists and found weapons during recent operations in Iraq, military officials said.
• USS Firebolt Makes Port Visit to Iraq Navy NewsStand 13 Aug 2008 -- As part of Iraq Navy Day celebrations, USS Firebolt (PC 10) made a port visit to Umm Qasr, Iraq Aug. 13, marking the first visit by a U.S. ship to Iraq in more than 15 months.
• Enemy Fighters Killed, Girl Wounded in Afghanistan Operations AFPS 13 Aug 2008 -- Coalition and Afghan troops killed five enemy fighters, detained three suspected terrorists and treated a teenage girl injured by a militant grenade attack during recent operations in Afghanistan, military officials said.
• Top UN envoy speaks out after aid workers killed in Afghan attack UN News Centre 13 Aug 2008 -- The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has voiced his outrage at the deaths of three female international aid workers and their Afghan colleague after their vehicle was attacked.
• AFGHANISTAN: Families of killed police lack support IRIN 13 Aug 2008 -- The Afghan police are suffering increasing casualties as the violence intensifies.
• Missiles Target Pakistani Militants Near Afghan Border VOA 13 Aug 2008 -- Pakistani security officials say a missile strike has killed at least nine people at a militant training camp near the border with Afghanistan.
• Three Aid Workers and Driver Killed In Afghanistan VOA 13 Aug 2008 -- Officials in Afghanistan say suspected Taliban insurgents have killed 3 female international workers and their Afghan driver.
• Air Force Delivers Humanitarian Aid to Georgia AFPS 13 Aug 2008 -- A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft will touch down today in Tbilisi, Georgia, delivering the first of what may turn into many planeloads of humanitarian relief to the nation, Defense Department officials said today.
• Bush Outlines Humanitarian, Diplomatic Intervention in Georgia AFPS 13 Aug 2008 -- The U.S. military will head humanitarian relief operations in Georgia, President Bush said today.
• Rice Calls Military Relief Mission in Georgia 'Continuous, Robust' AFPS 13 Aug 2008 -- The U.S. military-led mission to provide humanitarian aid in Georgia will be "continuous and robust," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said today, calling on Russia to commit to keeping open the lines of communication and transportation during relief efforts.
• U.S. military provides humanitarian aid to Georgia AFPN 13 Aug 2008 -- A C-17 Globemaster III departed Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and landed at Tbilisi International Airport today delivering $1 million in humanitarian aid to reduce the suffering of the people of the Republic of Georgia.
• Air mobility supports Georgia humanitarian relief AFPN 13 Aug 2008 -- Air Force mobility Airmen and aircraft are actively involved in airlift operations to aid the people of Georgia.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Corrected Version: NATO Forces Closer to Attaining C-17s AFPS 13 Aug 2008 -- Affectionately named the "Moose," the C-17 Globemaster III transport jet is only three signatures away from finding a new home at Papa Air Base, Hungary.
• Missile successfully launches from Vandenberg AFPN 13 Aug 2008 -- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, test assembly was launched from North Vandenberg at 1:01 a.m. Aug. 13.
• Officials Break Ground for Joint-Use Intelligence Analysis Facility AFPS 13 Aug 2008 -- Leaders from the U.S. intelligence community, Congress and Army Intelligence hosted a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday for the new Joint-Use Intelligence Analysis Facility at Rivanna Station, Va.
• SECAF, CSAF stress 'back to basics' AFPN 13 Aug 2008 -- The acting secretary and new chief of staff of the Air Force emphasized a "back-to-basics" approach to get the Air Force back on track in areas ranging from the nuclear enterprise to acquisition in an Aug. 12 press conference at the Pentagon.
• Evaluations release highlights vPC-GR evolution AFPN 13 Aug 2008 -- When the new online evaluations process for coordinating performance reports launched in July, it quickly became a shining example of the capabilities of the virtual Personnel Center - Guard and Reserve.
• Engineer team plans Bagram's future AFPN 13 Aug 2008 -- The combined talents of 21 servicemembers and civilians compose a facility engineer team, whose task is to prepare plans and specifications, provide inspections on construction, and offer expertise for the steady flow of projects designed to improve and expand Bagram Airfield.
• WWII ammunition finds new life in war on terrorism AFPN 13 Aug 2008 -- A team of Air Force weapons specialist turned to ammunition first introduced into service in 1942 to provide lower cost training ammo for the AC-130 Gunship's 40mm cannon.
• AFPC officials testing fix for electronic forms AFPN 13 Aug 2008 -- Air Force Personnel Center officials here are confident the developer of the Air Force's electronic forms program/viewer will have a final solution in the next few weeks to fix the blank line issue with electronic evaluations forms.
• Army announces critical language incentive-pay program Army News Release 13 Aug 2008 -- The U.S. Army announced Aug. 13 a financial incentive pilot program for recruiting new college Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets who take courses in critical foreign languages, such as Arabic, Persian-Farsi, and Chinese-Mandarin, as well as commit to entering the regular Army, the Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard as a commissioned officer.
• U.S. Coast Guard Celebrates 218 Year Anniversary Navy NewsStand 13 Aug 2008 -- The U.S. Coast Guard celebrated their 218-year anniversary Aug. 4.
• USS Sterett Commissioned in Special Ceremony Navy NewsStand 13 Aug 2008 -- The U.S. Navy's commissioned the latest guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) at Baltimore's Locust Point Cruise terminals Aug. 9 - the fourth time in naval history that a ship bears this name.
• CENTRIXS Online for CARAT and Naval Engagement Activity Navy NewsStand 13 Aug 2008 -- Indonesian Navy Sailors trained on the Combined Enterprise Network Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS) aboard USS Tortuga (LSD 46), July 21 as part of an annual Naval Engagement Activity (NEA).
• New Horizons Brings Medical Care to More than Twelve Thousand in Peru Navy NewsStand 13 Aug 2008 -- After three months of performing nine medical missions, New Horizons medical readiness training exercises (MEDRETE) came to a close Aug. 7 with a total of 12,414 Peruvians treated by Air Force and Navy medical members.
• Twenty Nations Kick Off Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX 2008 Navy NewsStand 13 Aug 2008 -- A formal opening ceremony for Fuerzas Aliadas (FA) PANAMAX 2008, a U.S. Southern Command joint and multinational training exercise cosponsored with the government of Panama, was held in Panama City Aug. 11.
• Squadron Commanding Officer Relieved of Command Navy NewsStand 13 Aug 2008 -- The commanding officer of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 3 was relieved of his duties Aug. 11.
• Continuing Promise Arrives in Nicaragua Navy NewsStand 13 Aug 2008 -- Regional leaders welcomed personnel from USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) to Puerto Cabezas Aug. 12 marking the official beginning of operations in Nicaragua as part of the Caribbean phase of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.
• First Live Fire for PCU Bush Small Arms Qualifications Navy NewsStand 13 Aug 2008 -- Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) has completed its first command Navy handgun qualification course (NHQC) at the outdoor pistol range on Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek July 23.
• Russian ship joins NATO anti-terror operation in Mediterranean RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2008 -- A Russian Black Sea Fleet warship joined a NATO-led counter-terror operation in the Mediterranean.
• US Cancels Joint Naval Exercise with Russia VOA 13 Aug 2008 -- A senior U.S. defense official says the United States canceled a joint naval exercise with Russia, scheduled for this week.
• India's indigenously developed 'Pinaka" successfully tested IRNA 13 Aug 2008 -- India's 'Pinaka' multi-barrel Rocket Launcher was successfully tested jointly by the army and scientists from a base at Chandipur-on-sea.
• 2nd Sino-Indian military drill to begin from December IRNA 13 Aug 2008 -- Indian and Chinese armies are likely to hold their second joint exercise in December on Indian territory to enhance improving ties.
• India allows Singapore to train ground forces in India IRNA 13 Aug 2008
• India Assures UN It Will Punish Errant Peacekeepers VOA 13 Aug 2008 -- India is assuring the United Nations that it will severely punish peacekeepers found to have engaged in sexual abuse while serving in Africa.
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 13 Aug 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 13, 2008
• Boeing Tests Entire Weapon System on Advanced Tactical Laser Aircraft Boeing 13 Aug 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has successfully completed the first ground test of the entire weapon system integrated aboard the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) aircraft, achieving a key milestone in the ATL Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration program.
• Boeing Receives Contract for C-17 Aircrew Training System Boeing 13 Aug 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a U.S. Air Force contract to provide a C-17 Aircrew Training System (ATS) to Dover Air Force Base (AFB), Del.
• General Dynamics Awarded $60 Million Contract by General Services Administration to Enhance U.S. Navy Base Workplace Safety General Dynamics 13 Aug 2008 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a contract by the General Services Administration in support of the U.S. Navy's Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest Mishap Prevention & Hazard Abatement (MP/HA) program.
• General Dynamics Awarded $37 Million Contract for Reactive Armor Production General Dynamics 13 Aug 2008 -- The U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), in Picatinny, N.J., has awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products a $37 million contract for the qualification and production of reactive armor side skirt tiles for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle System
• Lockheed Martin to Develop Data Sharing Technologies for Office of Naval Research Lockheed Martin 13 Aug 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has been selected by the Office of Naval Research to develop net-centric data distribution, fusion, and visualization technologies to expedite the decision-making process for the Navy's Maritime Headquarters with Maritime Operations Center
• Northrop Grumman Awarded Major Security Delivery Order Northrop Grumman 13 Aug 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has received a $69 million delivery order to provide advanced technologies and systems for protecting military troops, facilities and assets at forward-operating bases throughout U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), its sixty-ninth delivery order under the Integrated Base Defense Security System (IBDSS) contract.
• Thales begins installation of leading-edge systems at HQJOC Thales 13 Aug 2008 -- Leading aerospace, defence and security company Thales has begun installing C4ISR systems at HQJOC; the Australian Defence Force's new Headquarters Joint Operations Command facility in Bungendore, NSW.
• GE to Supply Flight Control, Power Generation Systems to RQ-4 Global Hawk GE Aviation 13 Aug 2008 -- GE Aviation today announced that it is under contract to supply flight control actuation, electrical power generation and control, emergency power and other aircraft systems for use on the RQ-4 'Block 20' Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 13 Aug 2008
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY TOP UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING OFFICERS IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, AFGHANISTAN United Nations 13 Aug 2008
• President Bush Discusses Situation in Georgia, Urges Russia to Cease Military Operations The White House 13 Aug 2008
• Transcript: Recent Events in Georgia US Dept. of State 13 Aug 2008 -- SECRETARY RICE
• West Reassesses Relationship With Russia In Wake Of Georgia Conflict RFE/RL 13 Aug 2008 -- Despite the continued presence of Russian troops in Georgia, Tbilisi looks like anything but the capital of a defeated power.
• Analysis: In Russia-Georgia Conflict, Balkan Shadows cfr.org 13 Aug 2008 -- Circumstances in two separatist Georgian border regions-South Ossetia in the north and Abkhazia in the northwest-brought Russia and Georgia into open conflict (RFE/RL) this month.
• Georgia Crisis Highlights Differences In U.S. Candidates' Foreign-Policy Styles RFE/RL 13 Aug 2008 -- The first major foreign-policy crisis of the U.S. presidential campaign has given American voters a preview of how the presumptive candidates, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, might one day react in similar situations.
• NATO Says Georgia's Membership Prospects Intact RFE/RL 13 Aug 2008 -- NATO has come out strongly in support of Georgia in its conflict with Russia.
• U.S Announces Aid For Georgia, Demands Russia Cease Hostilities RFE/RL 13 Aug 2008 -- The United States on Wednesday demanded that Russia cease all military activities in Georgia immediately and allow humanitarian aid shipments from the United States to flow unobstructed through the country's seaports and roadways.
• Georgia Conflict Offers Central Asia A Chance To Speak Out RFE/RL 13 Aug 2008 -- There was a time when U.S. President George Washington declared that the new country should avoid foreign entanglements and not take on any international obligations.
• Preliminary Conclusions From The War In Georgia RFE/RL 13 Aug 2008
• Georgia Fighting Sparks Major Humanitarian Crisis RFE/RL 13 Aug 2008 -- One week ago, Luisa Dzagoeva was trimming hair in a salon in Tskhinvali, the capital of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia. Now she has lost everything -- her home, her job, and hopes for a stable, peaceful life.
• Russia-Georgia Conflict Raises Concerns About Caspian Energy Exports RFE/RL 13 Aug 2008 -- The conflict between Georgia and Russia appears to be ending, but the questions the hostilities have raised about energy export routes in the Caucasus are just starting to be asked.
• Will Sarkozy Plan Rubber-Stamp Georgia's Loss Of Abkhazia, South Ossetia? RFE/RL 13 Aug 2008 -- The agreement drafted in Moscow on August 12 by the presidents of Russia and France, and which was amended overnight in Tbilisi by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, constitutes a framework for the further de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Georgia
• Press Watchdog: 'Fantastic Lies' Dominate Russian Coverage Of War RFE/RL 13 Aug 2008 -- Oleg Panfilov, the director of the Moscow-based Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations in Moscow, is currently in Tbilisi
• Despite Show Of Unity, Georgian Leader's Future Unclear RFE/RL 13 Aug 2008 -- Tens of thousands of Georgians took to the streets in Tbilisi on August 12 to underline their desire to put aside politics and show unity in the face of Moscow's incursion into their country.
• EU Puts Mediation Above Recriminations Over Georgia Crisis RFE/RL 13 Aug 2008 -- European Union foreign ministers, gathered in Brussels for an extraordinary meeting, have endorsed the cease-fire terms negotiated by French President Nicolas Sarkozy between Russia and Georgia on August 12.
• Ban urges parties to implement proposed Georgia peace plan UN News Centre 13 Aug 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the acceptance by Georgia and Russia of a proposed peace plan to end the conflict that has raged in Georgia for nearly a week and urged the parties to move quickly to halt the fighting.
• Russian peacekeepers remove weapons from Georgian arms depot RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2008 -- Russian peacekeepers are removing equipment and weapons from an arms depot discovered near the town of Gori.
• Georgia Charges Russia Violating Hours-Old Truce VOA 13 Aug 2008 -- Georgia says Russian tanks rolled into a strategic city, seized a military base, violating an EU-mediated agreement to end a six-day conflict.
• Leaders of ex-Communist states show solidarity with Georgia RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2008 -- Leaders of Poland and four post-Soviet countries appeared alongside Georgia's president at a mass rally in Tbilisi.
• Georgia sues Russia over 'ethnic cleansing' RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2008 -- Georgia has filed a lawsuit against Russia at the International Court of Justice over alleged ethnic cleansing.
• S.Ossetia leader backs internationally mediated peace plan RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2008 -- The leader of South Ossetia said he supported a French-brokered plan to resolve the conflict.
• U.S. request not behind Russian ceasefire in S.Ossetia - Lavrov RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2008 -- Russia ended its operation in Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia after fulfilling tasks set by its president.
• Georgia, Russia agree to French-brokered peace plan RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2008
• Sailor says 4 Russian ships return to Crimea from Abkhazia coast RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2008 -- Four Russian ships have returned from waters off Abkhazia to their Black Sea Fleet base in the Crimean port of Sevastopol.
• Moscow says some 70 Russian soldiers killed in S.Ossetia RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2008 -- A top Russian military official said on Wednesday that 74 Russian military personnel died during fighting in South Ossetia.
• Russia accuses Georgia of plotting armed attack against Abkhazia RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2008 -- Moscow called Tbilisi's declaration that Russian troops were occupying Abkhazia an attempt to plot an armed attack.
• Burundi Opposition Welcomes AU Call For Implementing Ceasefire VOA 13 Aug 2008 -- Burundi's main opposition party welcomed calls by the African Union to implement fully a ceasefire agreement signed almost two years ago.
• Rebels Describe New Government Attacks in Darfur VOA 13 Aug 2008 -- The Sudan Liberation Army rebel group says the Sudanese army has launched a new offensive in northern Darfur.
• Security Council, Ban deplore deadly bombing in northern Lebanon UN News Centre 13 Aug 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council today condemned this morning's bombing in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, voicing hope that it will not impede recent political progress in the Middle Eastern nation.
• Senior UN envoy in Somalia welcomes plan to hold key meetings on peace deal UN News Centre 13 Aug 2008 -- The top United Nations envoy to Somalia said today he was encouraged that two key committees set up as a part of a June accord aiming to bring peace to the war-torn country are set to convene this weekend.
• PHILIPPINES: Tens of thousands displaced in fresh fighting IRIN 13 Aug 2008 -- At least 130,000 villagers in the island of Mindanao have been displaced in fighting as troops struggle to flush out Islamic rebels.

News Reports

• Analysis: Pakistan's Governance Challenges cfr.org 13 Aug 2008 -- The political crisis in Pakistan deepened this month when the country's democratically elected government announced its decision to seek impeachment (BBC) for President Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf, the country's army chief until last November, seized power in a 1999 coup and has retained office through two controversial votes
• Zimbabwe Crisis Talks Adjourn to Give Tsvangirai Time to Think VOA 13 Aug 2008 -- South African President Thabo Mbeki: power-sharing talks in Zimbabwe have adjourned to give opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai more time to consider his position.