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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 10 Sep 2008 [PDF]
• PRESS CONFERENCE: Iraqi Security Forces: Lt. Gen. Helmick, Mr. al-Qadir, Sept. 10, 2008 MNF-I 10 Sep 2008 -- Iraq's Minister of Defense and the commander of Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq and NATO Training Mission - Iraq provide an update on the progress of building ministerial capacity and capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces
• US Military Seeks New Afghanistan Strategy VOA 10 Sep 2008 -- The top U.S. military officer says he has ordered the development of a new, more comprehensive strategy for the war in Afghanistan, including a plan to shift U.S. forces from Iraq to Afghanistan, announced by President Bush on Tuesday
• Mullen Says Afghanistan Needs Interagency, International Approach AFPS 10 Sep 2008 -- A broader international and interagency approach is necessary to solve Afghanistan's problems, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the House Armed Services Committee today.
• Gates: Afghanistan Presents Formidable Problem to U.S., NATO AFPS 10 Sep 2008 -- Though positive developments have taken place in Afghanistan, the United States, the Afghan government and NATO still face a classic insurgency "fueled by ideology, poppy, poverty, crime and corruption," complicated by political upheaval in Pakistan, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today.
• More troops will boost Afghan efforts to take over country's security - UN envoy UN News Centre 10 Sep 2008 -- The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has welcomed a decision to expand the country's national army, calling it an important step as the Government works towards assuming responsibility for security across the strife-torn nation.
• Analysis: Political Tea Leaves in Afghanistan cfr.org 10 Sep 2008 -- On most matters of social development, from health care to literacy, the United States and Afghanistan are worlds apart. But on presidential politics, the disparate democracies both find themselves enmeshed in prolonged electoral contests with potentially transformative results.
• Pakistan Tribal Sources Say Foreign Al-Qaida Operatives Killed in Missile Strike VOA 10 Sep 2008 -- Pakistani tribal sources say Monday's suspected U.S. missile strike in the North Waziristan tribal region killed four foreign al-Qaida operatives
• Florida Guardsmen act fast to keep Key West citizens safe Army News 10 Sep 2008 -- Wading into the waist-deep storm surge from Hurricane Ike Tuesday morning, members of the Florida Army National Guard helped local law-enforcement officers avert what could have been a disaster for some people ignoring safety warnings.
• Texas National Guard evacuates citizens for Hurricane Ike AFPN 10 Sep 2008 -- Nine Air National Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft from three states configured for medical air evacuation began transporting special-needs patients from the Corpus Christi, Texas, area the morning of Sept. 10 in preparation for Hurricane Ike's expected landfall Sept. 13.
• Kearsarge Continues to Support Relief Operations in Haiti Navy NewsStand 10 Sep 2008 -- USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) continued her support of disaster relief efforts in Haiti Sept. 10, providing logistical support to remote areas hit hardest by this season's tropical storms and hurricanes.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD Announces Termination of KC-X Tanker Solicitation 10 Sep 2008 -- Today, the Department of Defense notified the Congress and the two competing contractors, Boeing and Northrop Grumman, that it is terminating the current competition for a U.S. Air Force airborne tanker replacement.
• Gates Cancels Air-Refueling Solicitation AFPS 10 Sep 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has cancelled the competition for the $35 billion Air Force tanker contract.
• Iraq Conflict Enters 'Endgame' Phase, Gates Says AFPS 10 Sep 2008 -- The war in Iraq has entered the "endgame" phase and it is important to get it right, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during testimony on Capitol Hill today.
• Iraqi Military Improvement Sets Conditions for Coalition Reductions AFPS 10 Sep 2008 -- As Iraq's military continues to grow in size and capacity, U.S. and coalition forces are steadily reducing their footprint in Iraq, a senior U.S. military official posted in Iraq said today.
• Bush: US, Iraq Agree US Troops Should Leave Iraq 'On Success' VOA 10 Sep 2008 -- U.S. President George Bush and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani met at the White House Wednesday to talk about Iraq's provincial election law and the need to finish talks on an agreement governing U.S. troops in Iraq
• DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for August 2008 10 Sep 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of August.
• Recruiting Success Puts Year-End Goals Within Reach, Official Says AFPS 10 Sep 2008 -- With less than three weeks left of the fiscal year, all four military services met their active-duty recruiting goals for August and hope to maintain that momentum to reach their year-end goals, Defense Department officials said today.
• F-35 cockpit demonstrator travels to Wright-Patterson AFPN 10 Sep 2008 -- Aeronautical Systems Center personnel connected with the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program are "flying" the jet with the Sept. 8 arrival of the F-35 cockpit demonstrator here.
• Army launches Sexual Assault Prevention Campaign Army News 10 Sep 2008 -- The Army is conducting a Sexual Assault Prevention and Risk Reduction training summit for leaders across the force this week in Alexandria, Va.
• Admiral Calls Haiti Relief Effort 'Core Mission' AFPS 10 Sep 2008 -- The Navy admiral who commands of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and the U.S. 4th Fleet said during a visit to the USS Kearsarge today that relief efforts like the one the amphibious ship is performing here are a core mission for U.S. forces in U.S. Southern Command.
• Army to test Warrior Adventure Quest this week with three BCTs Army News 10 Sep 2008 -- This weekend the Army begins testing a new program designed to help redeploying Soldiers avoid accidents and make the adjustment from a high-paced, high-adrenaline combat environment to garrison or "home" life.
• Kearsarge Hosts Haitian Prime Minister Navy NewsStand 10 Sep 2008 -- The prime minister of Haiti visited the amphibious ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), Sept. 9, to express thanks and gratitude to the Sailors and the Navy for its part in providing disaster relief support to her country and its people.
• USNS Pathfinder Kicks Off Capabilities Demonstration Navy NewsStand 10 Sep 2008 -- Military Sealift Command (MSC) oceanographic survey ship USNS Pathfinder (T-AGS 60) kicked off its scheduled at-sea capabilities demonstration Sept. 7 after departing Sevastopol, Ukraine.
• VP-69 Changes Command Navy NewsStand 10 Sep 2008 -- Patrol Squadron (VP) 69, the "Totems," held a change of command ceremony in Hangar 7 on Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island Sept. 6.
• NAVSTA Rota Housing Duplex Conversion Project Begins Navy NewsStand 10 Sep 2008 -- Fourteen two-bedroom officer and 24 two-bedroom enlisted housing units in Las Palmeras housing are being converted into 19 four-bedroom units beginning in November, as part of a $1.4 million project designed to help meet demand for four-bedroom units on base.
• Adm. Greenert Answers Questions From the Fleet Navy NewsStand 10 Sep 2008 -- Adm. Jonathan Greenert, commander U.S. Fleet Forces Command, recorded a podcast Sept. 5 to answer questions from the fleet about the new sea-shore flow, homeport ashore and individual augmentees (IAs).
• Fourth Fleet Commander Arrives in Haiti Navy NewsStand 10 Sep 2008 -- Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO)/ U.S. 4th Fleet, arrived aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Sept. 10 during the ship's disaster relief operations in Haiti.
• Carl Vinson Approaches CCMA Milestone Navy NewsStand 10 Sep 2008 -- Sailors aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) are making preparations this September to accomplish the final phases of refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News.
• Leadership Prepares Mayport Ships Throughout Hurricane Season Navy NewsStand 10 Sep 2008 -- U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO)/U.S. 4th Fleet helps prepare Mayport ships for tropical storms and hurricanes, which has been especially important this season.
• Transportation, distribution expertise aids Georgian refugees AFPN 10 Sep 2008 -- Members of the U.S. defense transportation system worked to help get more than 22,000 humanitarian daily rations to a relief organization in the area to help feed a growing number of Georgian refugees.
• B-52s roar over Guam during bomber surge AFPN 10 Sep 2008 -- Members of the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron flew surge missions and launched six of its B-52 Stratofortresses on a large scale training flights Sept. 4 and 5 from here.
• When calamities arise, AFPC stands ready to reply AFPN 10 Sep 2008 -- When natural disasters, emergencies or crisis situations overwhelm an Air Force base's communications capabilities, members of the Air Force Personnel Center here provide Airmen and their families instant toll-free accountability.
• Canadian ships arrives to exercise with Indian Navy IRNA 10 Sep 2008 -- Two Canadian warships will be visiting Indian waters for four days from Wednesday and carry out an exercise in the sea off the Chennai coast on Saturday.
• Russia Warns it May Target US Missiles in Europe VOA 10 Sep 2008 -- Russian news reports say a top defense official has warned that Russia may point ballistic weapons at a U.S. missile defense system in Europe.
• Prime Minister Rudd Calls on Australia to Respond to Asian Arms Race VOA 10 Sep 2008 -- Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has warned that Australia must be prepared to respond to an emerging arms race across the Asia-Pacific region
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 10 Sep 2008
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 10 Sep 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for September 10, 2008
• Boeing Completes Mission System Flight Testing for US AWACS Block 40/45 Upgrade Boeing 10 Sep 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has completed mission system flight testing for Block 40/45, the largest upgrade in the history of the U.S. E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet.
• General Dynamics Awarded $70 Million Contract to Equip U.S. Army Stryker Brigade with New Land Warrior System General Dynamics 10 Sep 2008 -- General Dynamics C4 Systems has been awarded a $70 million contract to equip the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division Stryker Brigade Combat Team (5/2 SBCT) with a new, lighter-weight version of the Land Warrior integrated fighting system
• Northrop Grumman Awarded $5.1 Billion Contract for Detail Design and Construction of Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Aircraft Carrier Northrop Grumman 10 Sep 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) received a $5.1 billion, 7-year cost plus incentive fee contract award for detail design and construction of the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
• Northrop Grumman-built Amphibious Transport Dock Ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) Delivered to U.S. Navy Northrop Grumman 10 Sep 2008 -- The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)-built amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) was delivered to the U.S. Navy on Aug. 29, 2008, marking a significant milestone achieved by the company's Shipbuilding sector in partnership with the U.S. Navy.
• Statement of Northrop Grumman on the KC-X Tanker Replacement Program Decision Northrop Grumman 10 Sep 2008 -- The following is the statement of Brandon R. "Randy" Belote, III, Northrop Grumman vice president, Strategic Communications, in response to today's decision terminating the current KC-X tanker competition:
• Oshkosh Defense Awarded $82.6 Million Contract to Recapitalize HEMTTs to the A4 Variant Oshkosh 10 Sep 2008 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), has been awarded a contract valued at more than $82.6 million with the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) to recap 292 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) A4s.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 10 Sep 2008
• US Says Russia Violating Cease-Fire in Georgia VOA 10 Sep 2008 -- The United States is accusing Russia of trying to find excuses to keep thousands of troops in Georgia in violation of a cease-fire Moscow signed last month with the former Soviet republic
• Congress Questions Bush Officials On Georgian Aid, Response To Russia RFE/RL 10 Sep 2008 -- The United States is reviewing how to help Georgia rebuild its military in the wake of that country's devastating war with Russia, according to two senior administration officials who testified before Congress.
• Georgian President Complies With Key Point Of August Cease-Fire Agreement RFE/RL 10 Sep 2008 -- On September 8, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili finally signed a formal statement abjuring the use of military force against the two breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, now firmly under Russian control as a result of the Russian military intervention last month and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's August 26 announcement of their recognition as independent states.
• Volker: Russia Must Do 'What It Has Said It Would Do' RFE/RL 10 Sep 2008 -- In an exclusive interview, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker provides his insights into the crisis in Georgia.
• 'If No Common Values Exist, Then Common Interests Take Precedence' RFE/RL 10 Sep 2008 -- British diplomat Robert Cooper, considered one of Europe's preeminent policy strategists, is the right hand of EU foreign-policy chief Javier Solana and works as the director-general for external and politico-military affairs at the Council of the European Union.
• Zurabishvili: Georgia Is 'Facing A Simple, Yet Tragic, Question' RFE/RL 10 Sep 2008 -- As a high-ranking EU delegation visited Tbilisi after a successful diplomatic visit to Moscow earlier in the day, a key Georgian opposition figure visited the studios of RFE/RL's Georgian Service on September 8 to discuss the world's diplomatic efforts in relation to the crisis in Georgia.
• MALI: Civil society cautiously optimistic about prisoner release IRIN 10 Sep 2008 -- Malian civil society organisations say the 09 September release of 44 military prisoners by the rebel May 23 Alliance for Democratic Change in northern Mali is an important step to move past a year of conflict.
• Is Situation Ripe For Peace Between Turkey And Armenia? RFE/RL 10 Sep 2008 -- If the historic visit by Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Armenia is followed by more diplomatic contacts and negotiations, it may prove to have been truly a far-reaching strategic event for the whole region.
• UN war crimes tribunal approves temporary release of former Serbian president UN News Centre 10 Sep 2008 -- Former Serbian president Milan Milutinovic has been granted temporary release by the United Nations tribunal set up to deal with the worst war crimes committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s so that he can return to his homeland to undergo a medical procedure.
• PHILIPPINES: Aid agencies call for greater access to displaced IRIN 10 Sep 2008 -- Many towns and villages remain beyond the reach of aid agencies in the southern island of Mindanao as additional government forces move into the area to track down Muslim rebels, according to aid agencies.
• SRI LANKA: UN, NGOs to pull out from north IRIN 10 Sep 2008 -- UN and other humanitarian agencies operating in areas under the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the north will relocate staff and assets to government-controlled areas following a state directive.
• DRC: LRA accused of abuses in northeast as army moves in IRIN 10 Sep 2008 -- As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) mounted a military operation against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in northeastern DRC, human rights activists released a list of abuses allegedly committed by the Ugandan rebels there over the last year.
• Sri Lankan asks UN aid workers to leave LTTE-held areas IRNA 10 Sep 2008 -- United Nations on Tuesday said it was withdrawing its staff from rebel-held territory in North Sri Lanka following the Sri Lankan government's decision banning all foreign aid workers from the area.
• PAKISTAN: New plan anticipates worsening IDP crisis IRIN 10 Sep 2008 -- In response to the displacement of civilians due to floods and conflict in parts of Pakistan, a Humanitarian Response Plan has been drawn up under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, Fikret Akcura.

News Reports

• UN appeals for over $100 million to aid Haiti storm-stricken survivors UN News Centre 10 Sep 2008 -- The United Nations appealed today for over $100 million to help with humanitarian relief efforts for the survivors of a series of hurricanes that battered Haiti in the last three weeks, killing at least 328 people and leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
• West Africa: 130,000 still need support following severe floods, says UN UN News Centre 10 Sep 2008 -- The United Nations humanitarian arm said today that continued assistance is needed for an estimated 130,000 people affected by severe flooding in West Africa, where several countries were already suffering from the impact of the global food crisis.
• Zimbabwe Power-Sharing Talks Move Towards Deal VOA 10 Sep 2008 -- Zimbabwe's political leaders say they are hopeful a deal is close following a third day of power-sharing talks.
• Nabucco Gets A Boost In Baku RFE/RL 10 Sep 2008 -- Western hopes for Caspian gas that doesn't arrive via Russia are alive and well.