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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 7 Oct 2008 [PDF]
• MND-Soldiers attacked in Mosul
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• Oct. 6 airpower summary: F-16s conduct shows of force AFPN 7 Oct 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations.
• Coalition Forces Apprehend Kataib Hezbollah Suspects AFPS 7 Oct 2008 -- Coalition forces captured an alleged weapons smuggler in Kut, southeast of Baghdad, and 11 other suspects in operations.
• Iraq Says Deal Near on Status of US Troops VOA 7 Oct 2008 -- Iraq's FM says country is "very close" to finalizing a deal with the United States that would allow American troops to remain in the country beyond 2008.
• Iraqi Presidency Finally Approves Provincial Election Law VOA 8 Oct 2008 -- Iraq's presidency council approved a long-delayed provincial election law, paving the way for polls in most regions early next year.
• PRT strives to build relationships in remote village AFNS 07 Oct 2008 -- A 40-person team of Airmen, Sailors and Soldiers from the Kapisa and Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team recently traveled to a remote village to provide medical services.
• Seven Years After First Air Strikes, Afghans Hope For Jobs, Peace RFE/RL 07 Oct 2008 -- Seven years ago, the United States began bombing Taliban-ruled Afghanistan after its refusal to hand over Al-Qaeda leaders who plotted the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Militants, Detain Taliban Commander AFPS 7 Oct 2008 -- Afghan national security forces and coalition forces killed 43 militants in Qalat district of Afghanistan's Zabul province.
• Berlin rejects demands for setting troop withdrawal date from Afghanistan IRNA 7 Oct 2008 -- The German government dismissed mounting public calls for specifying a date for a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
• Pakistani minister says no consent given to US for raids in Pakistan IRNA 7 Oct 2008 -- Pakistan's Information Minister: President Zardari not given any form of consent to US or allied forces to strike inside Pakistan.
• Iranian Reports of Downed U.S. Plane Are Contradictory, Official Says AFPS 7 Oct 2008 -- Senior Defense Department spokesman dismissed Iranian reports that a US military aircraft had been forced down in Iran.
• Pentagon denies Iran forced down U.S. plane RIA Novosti 7 Oct 2008 -- The US Department of Defense denied Tuesday reports that Iran forced a US warplane to land in Tehran.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD News: Armed Forces Retirement Home Receives Prestigious Accreditation US Dept. of Defense 07 Oct 2008 -- For the first time in its history, the Armed Forces Retirement Home has applied for and received accreditation from the prestigious Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)-Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CCAC).
• Air Force senior leaders take up key decisions AFPN 7 Oct 2008 -- The nuclear enterprise, cyber organization, end strength, force shaping, and command and control just some of the topics discussed at CORONA.
• U.S. continues to evaluate Taiwan's other weapon requests: official CNA 7 Oct 2008 -- The US is "faithfully implementing" the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and will continue to evaluate other arms sales to Taiwan.
• China Warns of Consequences for US Weapons Sales to Taiwan VOA 7 Oct 2008 -- China has warned that a US decision to sell weapons to Taiwan will harm Washington's relations with Beijing.
• US, Vietnam Hold First Political-Military Dialogue VOA 7 Oct 2008 -- The US and Vietnam have discussed possible sales of weapons and spare parts to Vietnam, as well as American military help with disaster relief.
• Russian president to promote new security treaty for Europe RIA Novosti 7 Oct 2008 -- Russian President Medvedev will address international forum in France to propose the creation of a new European security system.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 07 Oct 2008
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Dana Perino The White House 07 Oct 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 07, 2008
• BAE SYSTEMS UNVEILS “CAIMAN LIGHT” PROTOTYPE MRAP DURING AUSA BAE Systems 07 Oct 2008 -- BAE Systems has unveiled its new Caiman Light vehicle at the 2008 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C.
• BAE SYSTEMS RECEIVES $9.5 MILLION U.S. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS FOR ARMORED COMMERCIAL VEHICLES BAE Systems 07 Oct 2008 -- BAE Systems has received contracts for a combined value of $9.5 million from the U.S. Government to provide 120 armored commercial vehicles, including Chevrolet Suburbans and Toyota HiLux vehicles
• Boeing Announces New Rotorcraft Program: AH-6 Boeing 07 Oct 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced a new rotorcraft program, the AH-6 light attack/reconnaissance helicopter.
• Boeing JTRS GMR Engineering Model Enters New Test Phase Boeing 07 Oct 2008 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has begun its final phase of system integration, testing and certification of the Joint Tactical Radio System, Ground Mobile Radios (JTRS GMR) engineering development model (EDM).
• EADS North America Begins Deliveries of U.S. Army UH-72A Helicopters Produced at the Eurocopter facility in Mississippi EADS 07 Oct 2008 -- EADS North America marked a major industrial milestone for the U.S. Army’s UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter program, delivering its first final assembly line (FAL) aircraft from the Eurocopter production facility at Columbus, Mississippi.
• EADS North America delivers the DT35/DT45 jet-powered aerial target drone system for U.S. Army operational demonstration EADS 07 Oct 2008 -- EADS North America has delivered a complete jet-powered target drone system to the U.S. Army for operational evaluation in the training of missile defense crews against aerial threats.
• General Dynamics NASSCO Starts Construction of Tenth T-AKE Ship General Dynamics 07 Oct 2008 -- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today began construction of the tenth ship of the U.S. Navy’s T-AKE program.
• General Dynamics Awarded $13 Million to Continue Developing Maritime Air and Missile Defense Planning System General Dynamics 07 Oct 2008 -- The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems a contract valued at up to $13.5 million for engineering services in support of the Maritime Integrated Air and Missile Defense Planning System (MIPS), a successor to the AADC Area Air Defense Commander Capability (AADC).
• General Dynamics Awarded $66 Million by U.S. Army to Produce MK19 Grenade Machine Guns General Dynamics 07 Oct 2008 -- General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded two contracts valued at $66 million by U.S. Army TACOM-ARDEC for the production of MK19 grenade machine guns.
• General Dynamics Awarded $183 Million Contract for Integrated Logistics Support to Naval Air Systems Command General Dynamics 07 Oct 2008 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a contract for integrated logistics support for foreign military sales.
• Lockheed Martin Wins U.S. Army Competition for M299 Launcher Modernization Lockheed Martin 07 Oct 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] has been awarded a $30 million contract to lead the U.S. Army's modernization of the M299™ launcher family.
• Lockheed Martin Receives Contract For Four C-130J Super Hercules Aircraft For Qatar Lockheed Martin 07 Oct 2008 -- The State of Qatar has signed a $393.6 million contract with Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] for the purchase of four C-130J Super Hercules airlifters plus training and spares with deliveries to begin in 2011.
• Northrop Grumman Tests Airborne Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Minefield Detection System On New Unmanned Helicopter Northrop Grumman 07 Oct 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) flew its new Airborne Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Minefield Detection System (ASTAMIDS) for the first time aboard an unmanned air vehicle.
• Raytheon Reaches Production Milestone on Critical Communications Capability Raytheon 07 Oct 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has reached a key milestone with the production of its 20,000th Enhanced Position Location Reporting System. EPLRS is the most widely deployed, mobile, ad-hoc networking system on the battlefield, providing simultaneous data, video and situational awareness information.
• Oshkosh Defense to Unveil Upgraded Heavy Equipment Transporter at Defendory International 2008 Oshkosh 07 Oct 2008 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), today unveiled its newest Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) vehicle at the Defendory International 2008 show in Athens, Greece, Oct. 7 – 11, 2008. Attendees at Defendory International will have the opportunity to explore the inside of the new vehicle, as well as learn more about its various enhancements over the current HET. Oshkosh executives and program managers will be available to answer questions and discuss the Global HET program.

Other Conflicts

• Russia asks EU to monitor its troop pullout from Georgia RIA Novosti 7 Oct 2008 -- EU observers in Georgia will be monitoring the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the buffer zone next to South Ossetia.
• Russia to play active role in Mideast settlement - Medvedev RIA Novosti 7 Oct 2008 -- Russian President Medvedev told Israeli interim PM Olmert that Russia would continue to play role in the Mid-East peace process.
• Medvedev, Olmert's Moscow talks to focus on Mideast peace, Iran RIA Novosti 7 Oct 2008 -- Russian President Medvedev and Israel's interim PM Olmert to discuss situation in the Middle East and Iranian nuclear program.
• Syria Massing Troops Along Border with Lebanon VOA 7 Oct 2008 -- Eyewitness reports say that Syria is continuing to mass troops along its border with Lebanon, prompting warning from the United States.
• Gates Meets With Kosovo Leaders, Promises Continued U.S. Support AFPS 7 Oct 2008 -- SecDef Gates congratulated the citizens of Kosovo on their progress in establishing the newest nation on Earth.
• US Defense Secretary, in Kosovo, Pledges US Support VOA 7 Oct 2008 -- The US Defense Secretary has reaffirmed his support for Kosovo, vowing to keep US troops there until at least 2009.
• UN Peacekeeper Killed in Darfur VOA 7 Oct 2008 -- A Nigerian soldier serving with the UN mission in the Darfur region of western Sudan died after gunmen ambushed the convoy he was traveling in.
• Darfur: Ban outlines timetable towards full deployment of peacekeeping force UN News 7 Oct 2008 -- UN-AU force in Darfur should reach 2/3 of full deployment by the end of 2008.
• No Country Will be Allowed to Flout African Union Charter, Says Commissioner VOA 7 Oct 2008 -- AU says it is working with the international community to bring pressure on Mauritania's military junta to return democracy.
• SUDAN: Fears of violence as land tensions increase IRIN 7 Oct 2008 -- Nimule, a Southern Sudanese town has boomed since war ended, but tension is brewing over land between returnees and recent settlers.
• Ugandan Rebels in Congo Force Thousands to Flee VOA 7 Oct 2008 -- The UN refugee agency reports at least 5,000 refugees have fled to South Sudan from the Democratic Republic of Congo in the past 2 weeks.
• UGANDA: Calls for Kony arrest "counter-productive" IRIN 7 Oct 2008 -- Senior Church Leader: Calls for arrest of Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony create more animosity and hamper efforts to conclude peace process.
• At least 5,000 Congolese arrive in Sudan after attacks by rebels - UN UN News 7 Oct 2008 -- Refugees arrived in South Sudan fleeing attacks by the notorious Ugandan rebel group, the Lord's Resistance Army.
• Netherlands plans to send frigate to Somali waters RIA Novosti 7 Oct 2008 -- The Netherlands is to send a missile frigate to fight piracy off the coast of Somali and escort ships carrying UN aid.
• Security Council and Ban call for naval and air action against Somali pirates UN News 7 Oct 2008 -- The UN Security Council and Secretary-General called for more international air and naval forces off Somalia.
• SOMALIA: NGOs urge international community to protect civilians IRIN 07 Oct 2008 -- Insecurity, drought and record-high food prices have led to a rapid escalation of the humanitarian crisis in Somalia, with some 3.25 million people now needing emergency aid, NGOs said
• India lifts curfew in violence-hit Kashmir RIA Novosti 7 Oct 2008 -- Indian authorities lifted a curfew that imposed on Sunday in the troubled Himalayan region to prevent a pro-independence rally.

News Reports

• Zimbabwe Opposition Calls for International Help Over Talks VOA 7 Oct 2008 -- Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change is calling for international help to end the stalemate over the formation of a unity government.
• Recent Belarus Parliamentary Elections Not Up To International Standards VOA 7 Oct 2008 -- What September parliamentary election results mean for the political life in the former Soviet republic, governed by authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko.
• THAILAND: Government turns tough on PAD protesters IRIN 7 Oct 2008 -- An estimated 1,500 police mobilised to disperse demonstrators of the People's Alliance for Democracy, firing tear gas at the protesters.
• Anti-Government Protesters Blockade Thai Parliament Despite Police Intervention VOA 7 Oct 2008 -- Thailand's government faces escalating crisis after police fired tear gas to break up protesters blockading parliament.