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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 21 Aug 2008 [PDF]
• Coalition Forces Detain 15 Suspects in Iraq AFPS 21 Aug 2008 -- Coalition forces detained 15 suspected terrorists during continuing operations targeting al-Qaida in Iraq's influence around the country.
• Reaper drops bomb on anti-Iraqi forces AFPN 21 Aug 2008 -- An MQ-9 Reaper dropped a 500-pound bomb against an anti-Iraqi targetin one of the first weapons engagements for the unmanned system.
• Officials Confirm Stability After Georgia Brigade's Departure AFPS 21 Aug 2008 -- Iraqi security forces and coalition forces leaders held a joint news conference here Aug. 18 to confirm the stable security situation in Iraq's Wasit province after the Georgian government redeployed the 1st Georgian Brigade to help with its domestic crisis.
• Soldiers strive to improve conditions for Iraqis Army News 21 Aug 2008 -- When Army Staff Sgt. David Cox looks at a map of Baghdad and sees the neighborhoods that form a little block in the southern part of the city known as Abu Tshir, he realizes how tenuous a position his platoon and fellow soldiers are in.
• MNC-I Commander visits troops in Ramadi USMC News 21 Aug 2008 -- Lieutenant Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, the Multi National Corps-Iraq commander, visited the Marines, sailors and soldiers of 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, in Ramadi August 21.
• Marines to see improvements in Rawah USMC News 21 Aug 2008 -- The number of forward operating bases occupied by Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Regimental Combat Team 5 is decreasing as the battalion moves toward a state of operational over watch in their area of operations.
• New ambulance arrives for 'Warlords' USMC News 21 Aug 2008 -- A Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle is an armored vehicle designed to transport service members safely through combat zones as they accomplish their missions.
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Disrupt Militants in Laghman Province AFPS 21 Aug 2008 -- Afghan National Army commandos and coalition forces conducted operation an in Laghman province to disrupt Taliban safe havens.
• 14 armed Pakistani militants, 10 civilian killed in military operation IRNA 21 Aug 2008 -- At least 14 militants and 10 civilians have been killed in the ongoing military operation in Bajaur tribal region.
• Taliban Claims Responsibility for Pakistan Bombings VOA 21 Aug 2008 -- Police in Pakistan say two suicide bombers killed at least 60 people outside the nation's main weapons complex.
• Two suicide bombers kill 35 ordnance factory workers in Pakistan IRNA 21 Aug 2008 -- Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at Pakistan's major ordnance factory near the capital Islamabad, killing 35 people.
• PAKISTAN: Restive tribal area faces mass displacements IRIN 21 Aug 2008 -- Thousands of local residents forced to flee villages in the restive Bajaur tribal agency, north of Peshawar.
• Ships Deploy to Support Georgia Humanitarian Assistance Mission AFPS 21 Aug 2008 -- Two Navy ships and a Coast Guard cutter are transporting humanitarian relief supplies to Georgia.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US, Iraq Close to Agreement on US Troop Withdrawal VOA 21 Aug 2008 -- During an unannounced visit to Iraq Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with her Iraqi counterpart and said the two sides are close to agreement on the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country
• US-Iraq Agreement Close on Troops' Future VOA 21 Aug 2008 -- U.S. officials say they are close to an agreement with Iraq on the future of the U.S. troop presence in the country. But they deny reports that an agreement has already been reached
• U.S., Iraq Make Progress on Status of Forces Agreement AFPS 21 Aug 2008 -- Washington and Baghdad are close to reaching a status of forces agreement, but negotiations on the deal to determine the future U.S. military role in Iraq are ongoing, a Defense Department official said today.
• Real-World Experience, Objectives Drive Panamax Exercise AFPS 21 Aug 2008 -- Army Lt. Col. Mike Panko knows what it's like to operate in a joint, combined warfighting environment. Working at the corps level in Baghdad from 2003 to 2004, he interfaced closely with coalition partners and dealt with the day-to-day challenges of different equipment, operating procedures, rules of engagement and communications systems.
• Army releases message announcing new service uniform Army News 21 Aug 2008
• Marines Participate in Exercise Carolina Hornet 08 USMC News 21 Aug 2008 -- More than 200 Marines, Sailors and civilians from across the globe participated in Exercise Carolina Hornet 2008 aboard the USNS Wright, July 13 through Tuesday.
• Team puts travel voucher process under microscope AFPN 21 Aug 2008 -- Air Force Reserve Command officials here hosted a total force team of financial experts from around the Air Force Aug. 11 through 14 to improve delays in processing travel vouchers.
• F-15 tests alternative jet engine fuel AFPN 21 Aug 2008 -- An aviation first was accomplished when an F-15E Strike Eagle flew here Aug. 19 using an alternative fuel.
• Early lessons shaped Air Force chief of staff's perspective AFPN 21 Aug 2008 -- The Air Force chief of staff recently shared some insight on the experiences that shaped his career and perspective he carries with him in his new position.
• Maxwell shelters Navy Seahawks from Tropical Storm Fay AFPN 21 Aug 2008 -- Dozens of Navy helicopters evacuated from the Florida coast to Maxwell Air Force Base Aug. 20 in an effort to avoid the destruction of Tropical Storm Fay.
• Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group Departs Malaysia Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2008 -- Three ships and more than 5,000 Sailors of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 7 departed Malaysia Aug. 21 after routine port visits highlighted
• USS Kentucky Returns To The Fleet Early Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2008 -- USS Kentucky (SSBN 737) completed a drydocking for emergent maintenance at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNSY & IMF) Aug. 21, returning to the fleet three days earlier than scheduled.
• Italian Submarine Todaro Visits Groton Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2008 -- The Italian submarine ITS Salvatore Todaro (S 526) arrived at Naval Submarine Base New London Aug. 21 to begin a 14-day visit.
• Pacific Partnership Kicks-Off Final Mission in Micronesia Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2008 -- The naval hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and her crew of U.S. military, partner-nation representatives and non-governmental organizations (NGO) arrived in Chuuk, Micronesia, Aug. 22 for the final mission of Pacific Partnership 2008.
• USS George Washington Departs for Japan Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2008 -- The aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) with her crew of approximately 5,500 Sailors departed San Diego Aug. 21, to begin her journey to Yokosuka, Japan to replace USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as the United States' only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier.
• Sixth Fleet Deploys Ships in Support of Humanitarian Assistance Mission Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2008 -- Two U.S. Navy ships and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter are getting underway to transport humanitarian relief supplies to Georgia. These deployments are part of the larger United States response to the government of Georgia request for humanitarian assistance.
• USS Howard Builds Partnerships in SEACAT Exercise Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2008 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) trained with the navies of Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Republic of the Philippines Aug. 17-20 during the Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) exercise.
• Anticipation Key to Homeland Security, NorthCom Commander Says AFPS 21 Aug 2008 -- Anticipation is key to protecting the United States against threats from air, land, sea, cyberspace and even Mother Nature, the commander of U.S. Northern Command said yesterday.
• Missile Defense Agreement Unrelated to Russia, Rice Says AFPS 21 Aug 2008 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Polish counterpart agreed to place 10 missile defense interceptors in Poland to defend against threats from Iran and North Korea, not to weaken Russia, the secretary said.
• Syrian Leader Highlights Solidarity, Seeks Arms, In Visit To Russia RFE/RL 21 Aug 2008 -- Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, in Russia on a two-day visit, backed Moscow's military action against Georgia at talks with President Dmitry Medvedev that were expected to cover purchases of Russian arms.
• Russia pledges to keep door open to contacts with NATO RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2008 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov: Country's future ties with NATO depend on how the Western military alliance chooses to act.
• Ukraine says Russia should prepare to leave Crimea naval base RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2008 -- Ukraine's foreign minister: Russia should start preparing to withdraw its Black Sea Fleet from the Sevastopol base.
• Russia says ready to supply Syria with defensive weapons RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2008
• Press Briefing by Gordon Johndroe The White House 21 Aug 2008
• Nigerian President Appoints New Military Chiefs VOA 21 Aug 2008 -- Nigeria's President Umaru Yar' Adua has replaced chief of defense staff and heads of the army, navy and air force.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 21, 2008
• UK Troops to benefit from £2 Billion Munitions Partnering Deal BAE Systems 21 Aug 2008 -- A new partnering arrangement between the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) and BAE Systems initially worth £2 billion -- with anticipated growth to more than £3 billion during the next 15 years -- will guarantee secure supplies of ammunition to UK troops while providing value for money for the taxpayer.
• General Dynamics to Produce Advanced Chemical Detection Systems for U.S. Army Ground Vehicles General Dynamics 21 Aug 2008 -- The U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, has awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products approximately $15.7 million for the first year's production on a six-year contract for Joint Service Lightweight Standoff Chemical Agent Detector (JSLSCAD) systems and spare parts
• Lockheed Martin Receives $80 Million U.S. Army Contract for Combat-Proven ATACMS Missiles Lockheed Martin 21 Aug 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received an $80 million contract from the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command for additional Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) Unitary missiles, a move that will bolster the nation's long-range tactical missile reserve.
• Lockheed Martin Completes First Two Life Extension Upgrades Of Long Range Radars For Romania Lockheed Martin 21 Aug 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has completed upgrading the signal processing and data processing capability on the first two of five AN/FPS-117 long-range, air surveillance radars for the Romanian Air Force.
• SAIC Awarded $31 Million Task Order from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army SAIC 21 Aug 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced that it has been awarded the Professional Support Services task order from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)) to provide a broad range of technical services and analytical support.
• Oshkosh Defense Commemorates Grand Opening of New Manufacturing Facility in Texas Oshkosh 21 Aug 2008 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), today celebrated the grand opening of its newest manufacturing facility in Killeen, Texas. The facility manufactures aftermarket components for the Oshkosh Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT), which is the backbone for the U.S. Army’s logistics fleet. The Killeen site was chosen for its proximity to Fort Hood, the largest Army installation in the country. The 230,000 square-foot facility currently employs 37 and provides the company with additional future production capacity.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICES OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 21 Aug 2008
• Georgian Hostages Swapped For Ossetian Fighters In Gori RFE/RL 21 Aug 2008 -- The past several days have seen exchanges between Russia and Georgia of soldiers taken prisoner during the fighting.
• Russia Pulls Back Some Forces, But Still Holds Key Positions RFE/RL 21 Aug 2008 -- Even as Moscow says it has begun the promised pullback of its forces from inside Georgia, reports indicate Russian forces continue to occupy strategic positions around the country and show little sign of leaving.
• South Ossetia Debacle Could Trigger Political Backlash In Georgia RFE/RL 21 Aug 2008 -- The devastating Russian military retaliation occasioned by President Mikheil Saakashvili's disastrous miscalculation in launching an offensive against South Ossetia during the night of August 7-8 initially impelled the entire nation to close ranks behind the beleaguered leadership
• Abkhazia, South Ossetia Begin Joint Calls For Independence RFE/RL 21 Aug 2008 -- Rallies are being staged in the de facto capitals of Georgia's two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to demonstrate popular support for the territories' independence.
• Russia In Violation Of UN Charter, Says International Law Expert RFE/RL 21 Aug 2008 -- Despite the cease-fire agreement between Russia and Georgia, many Russian troops remain in Georgia, where they have been destroying Georgia's military infrastructure.
• Czech PM Says Georgian Conflict 'Worse' Than '68 Soviet Invasion RFE/RL 21 Aug 2008 -- On the anniversary of the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia, parallels have been made between that event and the current Russia-Georgia conflict
• Georgia: population movements making it difficult to number displaced, UN says UN News Centre 21 Aug 2008 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has noted a substantial movement of populations between South Ossetia in Georgia and Russia's North Ossetia region, making it difficult to establish the exact number of people displaced by recent hostilities.
• Russia Should Return U.S. Humvees, Pentagon Spokesman Says AFPS 21 Aug 2008
• Russia tables its own draft UN resolution on Georgia RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2008 -- Russia has proposed a draft Security Council resolution on peace in Georgia as an alternative to a Western-backed version.
• Russia Sets Firm Troop Withdrawal Date, Georgia Skeptical VOA 21 Aug 2008 -- Russia says its forces in Georgia will be withdrawn by late Friday into 'buffer zone' where Georgian troops will no longer be allowed.
• Russian pullback continues in South Ossetia - source RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2008 -- Russia is continuing to pull back troops from the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone.
• Abkhazia, S.Ossetia send sovereignty appeals to Russia RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2008 -- Georgia's provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia appeal to Russia's president and parliament to recognize their independence.
• India Again Claims Border Cease-Fire Violation by Pakistan VOA 21 Aug 2008 -- India says troops along the Line of Control were shelled from the Pakistani side.
• Bashir Vows Never to Hand Sudanese Over to ICC VOA 21 Aug 2008
• SOMALIA: Fighting forces civilians to flee Kismayo IDP camps IRIN 21 Aug 2008
• Philippines, Muslim Rebels Peace Deal in Jeopardy VOA 21 Aug 2008 -- Muslim rebels reject demands to hand over two renegade commanders blamed for attacking several towns on the island of Mindanao.

News Reports

• Former Pakistani PM Threatens to Quit Ruling Coalition VOA 21 Aug 2008 -- Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has threatened to quit the country's ruling coalition if fired judges are not immediately reinstated.