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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 04 Sep 2008 [PDF]
• 2 MND-B Soldiers killed in terrorist attack (Baghdad)
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• ROUNTABLE DISCUSSION: Media Roundtable: Gen. David H. Petraeus, Sept. 4, 2008 MNF-I 04 Sep 2008 -- General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force - Iraq, conducts a Media Roundtable from Iraq
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Col. McBride from Iraq 04 Sep 2008 -- Presenter: Commander, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Col. Scott McBride
• US Defense Leaders Propose Cutting Combat Troops in Iraq in Early '09 VOA 04 Sep 2008 -- U.S. officials say President George Bush's top defense aides are advising him to withdraw one combat brigade from Iraq, but not until next February.
• Petraeus Says US Combat Troops Could Exit Baghdad by July VOA 04 Sep 2008 -- The top U.S. commander in Iraq says American combat troops could be withdrawn from Baghdad by next July if security gains hold.
• Coalition Forces Kill Enemy Fighter, Detain 15 in Iraq AFPS 04 Sep 2008 -- Coalition forces killed one enemy fighter and detained 15 suspects during operations today targeting al-Qaida in Iraq bombing cells and their supporting networks in Baghdad and the Tigris River Valley, military officials reported.
• Seabees Build Command Outpost Navy NewsStand 04 Sep 2008 -- Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 17 homeported at Fort Carson, Colo. are working on a multi-phase construction project to expand a Marine Combat Outpost (COP).
• IEDs 'Largely Ineffective' in Iraqi Province, U.S. Officer Says AFPS 04 Sep 2008 -- The enemy's use of improvised explosive devices continues to decline in northern Iraq's Salahuddin province, a senior U.S. officer posted there said today.
• Afghan President Promises 'Justice' to Villagers Hit by US Strike VOA 04 Sep 2008 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai has promised "to bring justice" to villagers hit by a U.S. airstrike that Afghan officials say killed more than 90 civilians.
• Pakistan Furious Over U.S.-Led Border Raid RFE/RL 04 Sep 2008 -- Pakistan has angrily condemned a raid on a tribal region village that officials say killed at least 15 people, including women and children.
• Coalition Identifies Taliban Leaders Killed in Recent Strikes AFPS 04 Sep 2008 -- Coalition forces have positively identified five Taliban subcommanders killed during operations over the past month in Afghanistan's Kapisa province.
• Pakistani parliament accuses U.S-led forces of undermining international law IRNA 04 Sep 2008 -- Pakistani Senate Thursday adopted a unanimous resolution, strongly condemning the attack of Afghanistan-based Coalition troops on a Pakistani border region, which resulted into the killing of some 20 people.
• Pakistan-ISAF Attack Pakistan condemns attack in tribal region by Coalition/ISAF forces IRNA 04 Sep 2008 -- Pakistan Wednesday strongly condemned assault by Coalition/ISAF troops at a village in its territory, which has resulted in immense loss of civilian life.
• Pakistan Warns Cross-Border Raid Could Provoke Backlash VOA 04 Sep 2008 -- Pakistani lawmakers have denounced Wednesday's raid by foreign troops in Pakistani territory, passing a resolution condemning the operation and vowing to repel similar attacks in the future
• Citizen Airmen return to Keesler, chase Hanna, Ike AFPN 04 Sep 2008 -- Aircraft and people assigned to the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing began returning here Sept. 3 from forward operating locations where aircrews continued their missions of airlift and hurricane reconnaissance.
• National Guard in four states prepare for Hanna AFPN 04 Sep 2008 -- Officials in four states along the East Coast are employing their National Guard units as Tropical Storm Hanna nears.
• Rescue squadrons provide support for Hurricane Gustav AFPN 04 Sep 2008 -- Airmen from rescue helicopter squadrons from across the Air Force came together here to provide personnel recovery support in the event it was needed for Hurricane Gustav that stormed through Louisiana Sept. 1.
• Commander praises Gustav preparations, response AFPN 04 Sep 2008 -- In the wake of Hurricane Gustav, residents of Louisiana are slowly heading to their homes and beginning to pick up the pieces left by the storm.
• National Guard Troops in Four States Prepare for Hanna AFPN 04 Sep 2008 -- Four states along the East Coast are employing their National Guards as Tropical Storm Hanna nears.
• Louisiana Guard's Focus Shifts to Food, Water Distribution AFPS 04 Sep 2008 -- With the majority of the state without electricity and in need of food, water and basic necessities, the Louisiana National Guard has shifted its post-Hurricane Gustav focus.
• Louisiana Guardsmen Patrol New Orleans, Provide Security AFPS 04 Sep 2008 -- Louisiana National Guardsmen troops here are conducting presence patrols, providing security for returning Hurricane Gustav evacuees and letting them know the city is safe.
• Florida Guard Continues Storm Recovery, Preparation AFPS 04 Sep 2008 -- If the Southeast is taking a one-two-three combination punch from tropical storms this month, then Florida is the boxer in the middle trying to dodge the destructive swings.

Defense Policy / Programs

• C-17s evacuate from Charleston AFPN 04 Sep 2008 -- Eleven C-17 Globemaster III aircraft here evacuated Sept. 4 due to the possibility of severe weather caused by Tropical Storm Hanna.
• Air Force halts wing reorganization AFPN 04 Sep 2008 -- Air Force leaders halted plans to perform a global wing restructure which was designed to realign fighter, bomber and rescue airlift maintenance units into flying squadrons.
• US Army Suicides Increase Despite Prevention Programs VOA 04 Sep 2008 -- The U.S. Army reported Thursday that the suicide rate among its soldiers is up this year, compared to last year, and could reach the highest total since at least 2003
• Air Force Reserve to test force support squadron concept AFPN 04 Sep 2008 -- Starting in October, the Air Force Reserve Command will test a new force support structure by merging mission support squadrons and services squadrons at seven locations throughout the United States.
• Edwards F-22 Raptor refuels using synthetic fuel AFPN 04 Sep 2008 -- The F-22 Combined Test Force reached another milestone as an Edwards F-22 Raptor performed aerial refueling using a synthetic fuel
• E-9 accident report released AFPN 04 Sep 2008 -- Pilot error caused the May 1 crash of an E-9 Widget at the Tallahassee Regional Airport in Tallahassee, Fla., according to an Air Combat Command accident investigation board report released today.
• Multinational exercise sustains international readiness AFPN 04 Sep 2008 -- The 2008 Northern Viking exercise, which began with a ceremony here Sept. 1, aims to reinforce the resolve of the U.S. and its NATO partners in assisting in the defense of Iceland.
• With Rising Suicide Rates, Army Urges Soldiers to Act AFPS 04 Sep 2008 -- With 2008 suicide rates expected to exceed last year's all-time-high rate and threatening to top those in the civilian population, the Army is stepping up efforts to get soldiers and their leaders to look out for each other's well-being and to take the stigma out of seeking mental-health help.
• Bataan Sails Into HURREX 08 Training Navy NewsStand 04 Sep 2008 -- USS Bataan (LHD 5) completed its first full day of Hurricane Exercise (HURREX) 08-002 training Sept. 3.
• USNS Grasp Departs Barbados Navy NewsStand 04 Sep 2008 -- Military Sealift Command rescue and salvage ship USNS Grasp (T-ARS 51), crewed by 26 civil service mariners and a detachment of four Navy personnel, along with 14 attached specially-trained rescue and salvage Navy divers, departed Barbados Sept. 2.
• USNS Pathfinder Participates In At-Sea Demonstration Navy NewsStand 04 Sep 2008 -- Military Sealift Command (MSC) oceanographic survey ship USNS Pathfinder (T-AGS 60) arrived in Sevastopol, Ukraine, Sept. 4 to pick up Ukrainian personnel and members of the U.S.-based Institute for Exploration (IFE) for an upcoming at-sea capabilities demonstration.
• USS Abraham Lincoln hosts Chairman, Key Commanders Navy NewsStand 04 Sep 2008 -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and several senior military officials visited USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) while operating in the North Arabian Sea, Aug. 26-27.
• Gates Urges Inter-American Collaboration on Security Challenges AFPS 04 Sep 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called on his fellow defense ministers from across the Americas meeting in Canada yesterday to continue their cooperation and collaboration so they can provide a unified front to security challenges facing the region.
• CVN 70 Air Department Constructs New Arresting Gear Barricade Navy NewsStand 04 Sep 2008 -- More than 50 Sailors assigned USS Carl Vinson's (CVN 70) Air Department, V-2 division, gathered to construct the ship's first new arresting gear barricade Aug. 26 at a designated facility in Suffolk.
• Navy Facilities in New Orleans Weather Storm Navy NewsStand 04 Sep 2008 -- Naval Support Activity New Orleans (NSA) and Naval Air Station (NAS) Joint Reserve Base (JRB) New Orleans incurred only minor wind damage and no flooding from Hurricane Gustav; however, the bases will not reopen to military personnel and their families until base utility services and quality-of-life services are restored.
• Mercy Conducts Final Multinational Expert Exchange Navy NewsStand 04 Sep 2008 -- USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) conducted her final subject matter expert exchange (SMEE) for the Pacific Partnership 2008 mission Aug 30.
• Russia may suspend support for NATO operations in Afghanistan RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2008 -- Russia's NATO envoy has said that Moscow could suspend cooperation with the military alliance on Afghanistan over the recent Georgia crisis.
• Russian Navy aircraft test new equipment over the Arctic RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2008 -- Tu-142MK aircraft from Russia's Northern Fleet conducted on September 2-3 reconnaissance flights over the Barents and Laptev seas and successfully tested new electronic on-board equipment, the fleet's press service said Thursday.
• Ukraine to hold air defense drills with live firing in September RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2008 -- Ukraine is planning to conduct large-scale air defense exercises with live firing on the Crimean peninsula at the end of September, a Ukrainian navy source said on Thursday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 04 Sep 2008
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 04 Sep 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for September 04, 2008
• Sikorsky Aerospace Services to Support Saudi Arabia’s New MOI Helicopter Fleet Sikorsky 04 Sep 2008 -- Sikorsky Aerospace Services today announced a five-year contract to provide Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior (MOI) with an Operations and Maintenance Support Program for the S-92®, S-76®, and S-434T helicopters purchased by the MOI in 2007
• BAE SYSTEMS RECEIVES U.S. MARINE CORPS ORDER FOR 1,320 HEADBORNE ENERGY ANALYSIS AND DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS BAE Systems 04 Sep 2008 -- BAE Systems has received an order from the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) for 1,320 Headborne Energy Analysis and Diagnostic Systems (HEADS), a sensor system placed inside helmets that will help scientists analyze and understand the forces that Marines sustain during impact and blast events that could lead to brain injury.
• U.S. Navy P-3 Orions To Receive Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin 04 Sep 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received a $129.3 million contract to build a total of 13 new outer wing sets for the U.S. Navy's P-3 Orion fleet
• Raytheon Recognized in Navy Award for Submarine Combat Systems Raytheon 04 Sep 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) was recognized in the presentation of the U.S. Navy's 2008 Team Submarine Excellence Award to the Navy's Submarine Acoustic Systems Program Office (PMS 401) and Submarine Combat System Program Office (PMS 425).
• Javelin Joint Venture Awarded $111.6 Million U.S. Army contract Raytheon 04 Sep 2008 -- The Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN)-Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) Javelin Joint Venture received a $111.6 million U.S. Army Global War on Terror supplemental contract to produce additional Javelin missiles and command launch units.
• SAIC Awarded $20 Million Contract by U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command SAIC 04 Sep 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Acquisition Center -- Natick Contracting Division
• Takeover of a majority stake in RSA's Denel Munitions a done deal Rheinmetall Defence 04 Sep 2008 -- The acquisition, announced on 8 February 2008, of the takeover of a majority stake in South Africa's Denel Munitions (Pty) Ltd of Pretoria by the Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall Group, now comes into effect following approval by the antitrust authorities and prior fulfilment of the terms of the agreement. The company will henceforth be known as Rheinmetall Denel Munition (Pty) Ltd.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 04 Sep 2008
• Cheney Condemns Russia's 'Illegitimate, Unilateral' Aggression AFPS 04 Sep 2008 -- Vice President Richard B. Cheney arrived in Georgia today, delivering "a message of friendship" from the U.S. and condemning Russia's "illegitimate, unilateral" aggression against the former Soviet republic last month.
• Conflict in Georgia: the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, invites his colleagues to an informal ministerial meeting Council of Europe 04 Sep 2008 -- The Council of Europe's Ministers' Deputies met on 3 September to discuss the conflict in Georgia and to take stock of the present situation
• OSCE Monitors patrol road to Tskhinvali OSCE 04 Sep 2008 -- OSCE Military Monitoring Officers today patrolled the road from Karaleti to Megrevekisi, 4 km from Tskhinvali, for the first time since the outbreak of hostilities in Georgia last month.
• Chairman of OSCE's Permanent Council underscores transparency of Organization's activity in Georgia OSCE 04 Sep 2008 -- The Chairman of the OSCE Permanent Council, Ambassador Antti Turunen, underscored today that the Organization had distributed all spot reports submitted by its Mission to Georgia on the recent Georgia-Russia conflict to all 56 OSCE participating States.
• U.S. To Provide $1 Billion In Economic Aid To Georgia RFE/RL 04 Sep 2008 -- The United States has announced that it will be provide at least $1 billion in economic aid to Georgia, following the devastation wrought last month by its conflict with Russia.
• In Tbilisi, Cheney Affirms U.S. Support, Condemns Russia RFE/RL 04 Sep 2008 -- U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, on a visit to Tbilisi, condemned Russia's invasion of Georgia and said the United States is fully committed to its eventual membership in NATO.
• Nicaragua Recognizes Georgian Rebel Regions RFE/RL 04 Sep 2008 -- The president of the Central American state of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, has followed Moscow's lead by recognizing the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
• CSTO backs Russia's actions in S.Ossetia, condemns Georgia RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2008 -- Foreign ministers from the members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization blasted Thursday Georgia's attack on breakaway South Ossetia and supported Russia's contribution to peace in the region.
• Cheney hails 'courageous' Georgia, condemns Russian 'invasion' RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2008 -- U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney urged the "free world" on Thursday to rally with Georgia against what he called Russia's invasion, and pledged to bring Georgia into NATO.
• Israel says stopped arms supplies to Georgia prior to conflict RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2008 -- Israel imposed an embargo on arms supplies to Tbilisi a week before Georgia attacked its breakaway region of South Ossetia, the Israeli ambassador to Russia said on Thursday.
• Security Council welcomes Somali peace and reconciliation accord UN News Centre 04 Sep 2008 -- The Security Council today welcomed the recent signing of a peace and reconciliation agreement by Somalia's warring political groups and urged the two sides in the troubled Horn of Africa nation to fully implement their commitments under the accord.
• International Criminal Court rejects appeal to start trial of Congolese militiaman UN News Centre 04 Sep 2008 -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) has dismissed an appeal by prosecutors against its earlier decision to suspend the trial of the Congolese rebel leader Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, accused of recruiting child soldiers to serve in his militia.
• YEMEN: Aid pledge for war-affected families in north IRIN 04 Sep 2008 -- Thousands of people affected by the fighting in May between army units and Shia rebels in Harf Sufian District of the northern governorate of Amran will receive aid, a senior official has said.
• SOMALIA: IDPs plead for help in southern town IRIN 04 Sep 2008 -- Displaced Somalis living on the outskirts of the southern coastal town of Merka, 100km south of Mogadishu, held a demonstration on 3 September to call attention to their plight.
• DRC: Civilians displaced as army and rebels clash again in Rutshuru IRIN 04 Sep 2008 -- Fresh clashes broke out on 3 September between government troops and rebel forces in Rutshuru district in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, prompting civilians to flee their homes.

News Reports

• Has Ukraine's Orange Coalition Reached Point Of No Return? RFE/RL 05 Sep 2008 -- In announcing the collapse of the coalition government formed by the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and the Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defense bloc, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko accused his Orange Revolution ally of joining forces with rival parties, while some of his aides suggested that Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko might have even betrayed national interests.
• Remains of 17 dead found at DR Congo plane crash site, UN says UN News Centre 04 Sep 2008 -- The United Nations has confirmed that the remains of the 17 passengers on board an aid flight that went down in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Monday have been located in the vicinity of the crash site.
• Syrian President Assad Hosts Four-Party Summit VOA 04 Sep 2008 -- The leaders of France, Syria, Turkey and Qatar met in Damascus Thursday to discuss the burning issues of peace between Israel and Syria, Iran's nuclear program, and the situation in Lebanon
• Mystery Shrouds Case of Pakistani Scientist Linked to Terrorists VOA 04 Sep 2008 -- A Pakistani woman who is charged with trying to murder U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan refused to appear for her arraignment in New York City Thursday
• Sarkozy seeks Syrian help in Iran nuclear standoff RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2008 -- The French president has asked his Syrian counterpart to use his country's ties with Iran to ensure the Islamic Republic does not produce nuclear weapons, and urged Syria to seek direct peace talks with Israel.
• BANGLADESH: Two million people marooned by floods IRIN 04 Sep 2008 -- More than two million people have been marooned by late monsoon floods in 15 of the country's 64 districts, according to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).
• MYANMAR: Government cuts currency red tape for donors? IRIN 04 Sep 2008 -- The UN is calling on donors to give more generously to an international appeal for victims of Cyclone Nargis, and a senior official says donors are now getting a fair exchange rate.
• Thai Prime Minister Snubs Calls to Resign, Dissolve Parliament VOA 04 Sep 2008 -- Thailand's prime minister vows to stay in office, despite thousands of protesters around the country demanding his resignation
• Zimbabwe's President Gives Opposition Deadline on Deal VOA 04 Sep 2008 -- Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe says he will begin forming a new government unless the opposition agrees to sign a power-sharing agreement Thursday.
• Ukraine parliament speaker says ruling coalition dead RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2008 -- The Ukrainian parliamentary speaker said on Thursday the Our Ukraine party, headed by the country's president was pulling out of the pro-western ruling coalition after just nine months in power.
• US Vice President in Ukraine VOA 04 Sep 2008 -- U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney has arrived in Ukraine as part of a tour of several former Soviet republics, amid an escalating standoff with Russia over its operations in Georgia.
• Moscow Seeking Alliances in Energy-Rich Central Asia RFE/RL 04 Sep 2008 -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Tashkent was seen by many as part of Moscow's renewed drive to secure regional alliances and establish control over Central Asian energy export to the West.