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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 18 Sep 2008 [PDF]
• UPDATE: Seven killed in CH-47 crash west of Basra
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Sept. 17 airpower summary: F-15Es deter enemy activity AFPN 18 Sep 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations.
• Sept. 16 airpower summary: A-10s perform shows of force AFPN 18 Sep 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations.
• Company F keeps hunter mentality USMC News 18 Sep 2008 -- Marines boarded the helicopters Sept. 16 as the sun slowly peaked over the horizon, ready to execute the mission they had rehearsed
• 7 Killed as US Military Helicopter Crashes in Iraq VOA 18 Sep 2008 -- The U.S. military says one its helicopters has crashed in southern Iraq, killing seven American soldiers.
• Coalition Forces Strike al-Qaida Networks in Iraq AFPS 18 Sep 2008 -- Coalition forces captured 3 wanted men and detained 9 suspected terrorists during operations to disrupt the al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist network.
• Coalition Forces in Afghanistan Kill, Detain Militants AFPS 18 Sep 2008 -- Coalition forces detained a suspected militant while targeting an improvised explosive device network in Afghanistan's Khowst province.
• Afghan Police: Foreign Forces Kill Afghan Leader VOA 18 Sep 2008 -- Afghan police say international troops have killed a district governor and two of his bodyguards in southern Afghanistan.
• Gates Calls Afghanistan Situation Complicated, Dynamic AFPS 18 Sep 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates: Situation in Afghanistan complicated, and the United States continually assess the strategy in the country.
• Pakistani troops capture town in northwest as Taliban quit under peace deal IRNA 18 Sep 2008 -- Pakistani security forces took control of a town in the restive swat valley after elders brokered a deal for Taliban withdrawal.
• Pakistani tribesmen warn U.S against any border violation IRNA 18 Sep 2008 -- Pakistani tribesmen warned of severe action against the American troops if they tried to attack the tribal regions.
• Pakistani FM says US Gave No Warning of Suspected Missile Strike VOA 18 Sep 2008 -- Officials not warned about missile strike after the US commander said the US would respect Pakistan's sovereignty.
• U.S. 'spy' ship leaves Sevastopol for Greece RIA Novosti 18 Sep 2008 -- A U.S. research ship with alleged intelligence gathering capabilities left Ukrainian territorial waters heading toward the Mediterranean.
• Texas National Guardsmen distribute basic necessities to Gulf Coast area Army News 18 Sep 2008 -- For National Guard Soldiers here, shouts, thumps, beeps and the growl of hundreds of idling engines combined to produce a steady soundtrack for emergency point-of-distribution operations in a grocery store parking lot.
• Galveston Mayor, USS Nassau Coordinating Hurricane Ike Relief Efforts Navy NewsStand 18 Sep 2008 -- Galveston, Texas Mayor arrived aboard USS Nassau (LHA 4) to help coordinate with Hurricane Ike relief efforts.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Rice: Current Russian Policies Leading to Isolation, Irrelevance VOA 18 Sep 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: Current Russian policies have put Moscow on path to self-imposed isolation.
• Army activating its second Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Army News 18 Sep 2008 -- A new type of deployable brigade is activating at Fort Leonard Wood in October.
• Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Freedom Navy NewsStand 18 Sep 2008 -- Supervisor of Shipbuilding Gulf Coast officially accepted delivery of Freedom (LCS 1) from the Lockheed Martin/Marinette Marine/Gibbs-Cox.
• Chiefs discuss issues at AFA symposium AFPN 18 Sep 2008 -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley and five command chief master sergeants from the major commands answered a variety questions during a Command Chief Master Sergeant Forum Sept. 16 at the 24th Annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition.
• 31st MEU molds unit cohesion during island-wide exercise USMC News 18 Sep 2008 -- As the Marine Corps' only forward deployed Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), the Marines and sailors of the 31st MEU concluded MEU Exercise (MEUEX) 08-2 with plenty of success and lessons learned, Sept. 11.
• New guidance addresses heavily inked Marines USMC News 18 Sep 2008 -- The Marine Corps amplified its tattoo policy Sept. 4 by excluding Marines with sleeve tattoos from recruiting and Marine Security Guard duty.
• General discusses role of Reserve AFPN 18 Sep 2008 -- The Air Force Reserve Command's vice commander addressed a gathering of service members and civilians Sept. 16 during a presentation at the 24th Annual Air Force Association Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here.
• Transcript: Roundtable with Secretary Gates from London, United Kingdom 18 Sep 2008 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• Navy to Roll Out New Anti-Submarine Warfare Mission Package Navy NewsStand 18 Sep 2008 -- The Navy will roll out its new anti-submarine warfare mission package for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) in a ceremony Sept. 19 at Naval Base Point Loma Naval Mine & ASW Command Complex, San Diego.
• USS Bataan Holds Change of Command Navy NewsStand 18 Sep 2008 -- USS Bataan (LHD 5) held a change of command ceremony in the ship's hangar bay Sept. 18.
• USS Mesa Verde Completes Shock Trials Navy NewsStand 18 Sep 2008 -- USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) completed its third and final shock trial event off the coast of Mayport, Fla., Sept. 13.
• USS Ingraham Successfully Concludes SRA with Sea Trials Navy NewsStand 18 Sep 2008 -- USS Ingraham (FFG 61) and her crew completed sea trials Sept. 11 as part of the last stage of the ship's three-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) period.
• Secretary of the Navy Hosts Japanese Ambassador Aboard Aircraft Carrier Navy NewsStand 18 Sep 2008 -- The Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) hosted the Japanese ambassador to the United States for an overnight embark Sept. 17 on the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), operating off the coast of Virginia.
• Pacific Fleet Commander Launches Blog, Recaps PP08 Navy NewsStand 18 Sep 2008 -- Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, kicked off the second year of the Rat-Pac Report Wednesday, Sept. 17, with a double podcast that seeks feedback on the issues discussed in the past 52 weeks and highlights the completion of Pacific Partnership 2008.
• Russia may sell more air defense systems to Iran RIA Novosti 18 Sep 2008 -- Russia is negotiating the delivery of more air defense systems to Iran despite Western demands for a halt in sales to Tehran.
• Russian strategic bombers leave Venezuela for home base RIA Novosti 18 Sep 2008 -- Two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers have left an airfield near Caracas on a 15-hour flight home.
• Russia scraps another six Topol systems under START-1 treaty RIA Novosti 18 Sep 2008 -- Russia has dismantled another 6 Topol mobile ballistic missile systems under major international treaty on arms reduction.
• Two crew members die in Russian warship fire in Pacific RIA Novosti 18 Sep 2008 -- Two seamen were killed and one was injured after a fire broke out on board a large vessel of Russia's Pacific Fleet.
• Ukraine, Russia to discuss Black Sea Fleet by end of Sep RIA Novosti 18 Sep 2008 -- Moscow and Kiev will discuss the issue of Russia's Black Sea Fleet base in Ukraine by the end of September.
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino 18 Sep 2008
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 18 Sep 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for September 18, 2008
• FIRST UK TRANCHE 2 TWIN-SEAT TYPHOON BEGINS FINAL ASSEMBLY BAE Systems 18 Sep 2008 -- the front fuselage is built at the BAE Systems Samlesbury site in Lancashire. Once delivered to the RAF, in late 2009, the jet will be used to train the next generation of Typhoon pilots.
• Boeing Delivers 200,000th JDAM Tailkit Boeing 18 Sep 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] delivered the 200,000th Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tailkit on Sept. 17, just 10 years after JDAM guidance tailkit deliveries to the United States and allied countries began.
• General Dynamics NASSCO Launches USNS Carl Brashear General Dynamics 18 Sep 2008 -- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today launched the U.S. Navy’s newest resupply ship, USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7), during a christening ceremony.
• Lockheed Martin Team Delivers Nation’s First Littoral Combat Ship To U.S. Navy Lockheed Martin 18 Sep 2008 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]-led industry team delivered the nation’s first Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom (LCS 1), to the U.S. Navy today.
• Lockheed Martin Supports First Successful International PAC-3 Missile Test at White Sands Missile Range Lockheed Martin 18 Sep 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Airmen of the Japanese Self Defense Force successfully supported the first international PAC-3 Missile flight test yesterday at White Sands Missile Range, NM.
• Orbital Awarded New Minotaur IV Mission By U.S. Air Force Orbital Sciences Corp. 18 Sep 2008 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) today announced that the U.S. Air Force Space and Missiles Systems Center (SMC) recently placed an order for a new Minotaur IV launch vehicle under the company's Orbital/Suborbital Program-2 (OSP-2) contract
• Raytheon Awarded $10 million to Develop New Missile Defense Interceptor Raytheon 18 Sep 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $10 million Missile Defense Agency contract to continue research and development of the Network Centric Airborne Defense Element.
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• Lockheed Martin Wins $122 Million Technology Development Contract for Joint Air-To-Ground Missile Program Lockheed Martin 18 Sep 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has been awarded a $122 million technology development contract for the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) system.
• Northrop Grumman Achieves Key Technology Readiness Level for Navy's Next-Generation Surface Electronic Warfare Initiative Northrop Grumman 18 Sep 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has successfully established the required baseline for the U.S. Navy to begin the Systems Design and Development (SDD) phase of its next generation Surface Electronic Warfare (EW) Improvement Program (SEWIP).
• Raytheon AIM-9X Block II Missile Completes First Captive Carry Flight Raytheon 18 Sep 2008 -- A U.S. Air Force F-15C completed the first captive carry test of Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) AIM-9X Block II air-to-air missile.
• SAIC Awarded $11 Million Task Order from the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization SAIC 18 Sep 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) announced today announced it has been awarded a task order by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) to support the design, implementation, operation, and maintenance of the JIEDDO Enterprise Management System (JEMS).

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 18 Sep 2008
• PRESS CONFERENCE ON HEADQUARTERS TREATY EVENT United Nations 18 Sep 2008
• Gates Urges NATO Unity on Russia Problem AFPS 18 Sep 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates: NATO must take a middle ground in response to Russia's actions against Georgia.
• UN to extend mandate for military observer mission in Georgia RIA Novosti 18 Sep 2008 -- The UN military observer force in Georgia will get a new mandate for several months from October 15.
• Abkhazia, S.Ossetia no precedent for other rebel regions - Lavrov RIA Novosti 18 Sep 2008 -- The recognition of Georgia's Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent does not set a precedent for other breakaway regions.
• Russia says hopes for dialogue with Georgia at PACE RIA Novosti 18 Sep 2008 -- Russia hopes to hold talks with Georgia during an upcoming session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
• OSCE Says Talks with Russia on Monitors in Georgia at Impasse VOA 18 Sep 2008 -- Talks with Russia on sending more monitors to Georgia have broken down over disagreements about access to South Ossetia.
• Russia troubled by halt of OSCE talks on Georgia observers RIA Novosti 18 Sep 2008 -- Moscow concerned by the refusal of certain OSCE members to continue talks on the mission of observers to be deployed in Georgia.
• India deploys Sukhoi Jets in Kashmir amid growing tension with Pakistan IRNA 18 Sep 2008
• Djibouti-Eritrea border tension could escalate, warns UN team UN News 18 Sep 2008 -- The situation on the Djibouti-Eritrean border remains volatile after a flaring of tensions on the border in June left over 35 dead and dozens wounded.
• UN Peacekeeping Chief: Half of UN Forces Expected in Darfur This Year VOA 18 Sep 2008 -- New United Nations peacekeeping chief: half of the 26,000 peacekeepers assigned to Sudan's Darfur region will be deployed by the end of the year.
• 40 Tamil Tigers killed by Sri Lankan army IRNA 18 Sep 2008 -- At least 40 Tamil Tigers were killed and 30 wounded as intense hostilities erupted between Sri Lankan army and the LTTE in Kilinochchi, East Sri Lanka.
• UN-backed talks on reunification of Cyprus to resume next month UN News 18 Sep 2008 -- Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders today continued their United Nations-backed negotiations aimed at reunifying the island of Cyprus and announced plans to resume the talks next month.

News Reports

• US Lawmakers Say Iraq Needs to Spend More on Reconstruction VOA 18 Sep 2008 -- There is growing frustration in Washington that Iraq is not spending more of its own money to stabilize and rebuild the country.
• Analysis: Pakistan's All Weather Ally cfr.org 18 Sep 2008 -- As the controversial nuclear deal between India and the United States moves toward a final review in the U.S. Congress, Pakistan appears to be pushing for a similar deal (IANS) with China
• Despite Political Pact, Zimbabwe Police Arrest Union Leader, Students VOA 18 Sep 2008 -- Days after the signing of a power-sharing accord police arrested the president of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe.