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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 14 Oct 2008 [PDF]
• MND-B Soldier dies of wounds from SAF attack
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Oct. 13 airpower summary: C-5s resupply coalition forces AFPN 14 Oct 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• MND-C Soldiers hand over patrol base to IA MNF-I 14 Oct 2008 -- Sheikhs and other community representatives joined Coalition and Iraqi Army leadership as the Iraqi Army assumed control of another patrol base from Coalition forces in Sayifiyah Oct. 9.
• Coalition Forces Kill Two Enemy Fighters, Detain 13 AFPS 14 Oct 2008 -- Coalition forces targeting al-Qaida in Iraq operatives in northern and central Iraq killed 2 enemy fighters and detained 13 terrorism suspects.
• Improved Iraqi Security Forces Will Help Sustain Security, Odierno Says AFPS 14 Oct 2008 -- The United States will help the Iraqi government sustain the country's security gains.
• Iraq Takes Charge of 'Sons of Iraq' Citizen Security Groups AFPS 14 Oct 2008 -- The Iraqi government and Iraqi army officially took over the "Sons of Iraq" citizen security group program on October 12.
• Moldova to pull out of Iraq by year end RIA Novosti 14 Oct 2008 -- Moldova will withdraw its military contingent from the post-conflict reconstruction mission in Iraq in the second half of December.
• US problems no to be solved by accusing Iran: Ambassador IRNA 14 Oct 2008 -- Iran's Ambassador to Iraq Qomi: Washington's problems in Iraq could not be solved by accusing others.
• Iraqi Kurdish Regional President Meets Turkish Officials VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- The leader of Iraq's Kurdish region met with Turkish officials in Baghdad to discuss the sensitive issue of security along their shared border.
• Turkey, Iraq Meet in Baghdad on Border Security VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- Turkish officials met with Iraqi PM and leader of Iraq's Kurdish region to discuss the sensitive issue of security between the 2 countries.
• Three NATO-Led Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan RFE/RL 14 Oct 2008 -- Three soldiers from the NATO-led force were killed by a roadside bomb in eastern Afghanistan, the alliance said
• PRT unit makes 'a difference beyond the berm' AFNS 14 Oct 2008 -- Every group, every mission here in Afghanistan is designed for a purpose. It's no different for the Kapisa and Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team.
• Afghan Official Says Violence at Highest Level Since 2001 VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- Afghanistan's Defense Minister: Violence in his country is at its highest level since 2001, in part because terrorists are being diverted from Iraq.
• EC-130 squadron surpasses 10,000 combat hours AFPN 14 Oct 2008 -- The 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron surpassed 10,000 combat hours while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
• Afghan Provincial Official Assassinated VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- There is continuing violence in southern Afghanistan, where a resurgent Taliban is continuing to carry out strikes against civilians.
• Afghan Government Says It's Ready to Negotiate with Taliban VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- US SecDef Gates: Washington could "ultimately" accept the idea of Afghanistan's government negotiating with the Taliban.
• Muslim Clerics in Pakistan Say Suicide Bombings 'Un-Islamic' VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- A council of Muslim clerics in Pakistan issued an edict declaring suicide bombings to be "un-Islamic."
• UN Says Over 100,000 People Have Fled Fighting in Pakistan's Northwest VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- UN refugee agency: nearly 190,000 people have fled Pakistan's Bajaur region near the Afghan border since August.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 14 Oct 2008
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Dana Perino The White House 14 Oct 2008

Defense Policy / Programs

• Bush Signs Fiscal 2009 Defense Budget Into Law AFPS 14 Oct 2008 -- President Bush signed the fiscal 2009 defense budget into law today, authorizing a $512 billion base to support military readiness, as well as $66 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Chief of staff emphasizes logisticians' role AFNS 14 Oct 2008 -- You don't have to sell Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz on the value of logistics.
• Airmen increase mission effectiveness 1 stat at a time AFNS 14 Oct 2008 -- A 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Operations Squadron Maintenance analysis team here helped improve processes and established preventive maintenance procedures to save the Air Force several million dollars since September.
• Negotiations to exchange Tyndall property announced AFNS 14 Oct 2008 -- Air Force officials and Florida Congressman Allen Boyd announced Oct. 14 the selection of Tyndall Development Partners, LLC, as the highest ranked offeror for negotiating a transfer of the Lynn Haven Fuel Depot property in Lynn Haven, Fla., in exchange for performing military construction at Tyndall Air Force Base.
• Secretary visits Airmen in Southwest Asia AFNS 14 Oct 2008 -- The secretary of the Air Force met and spoke to 450 Airmen during an Oct. 11 visit to an air base in Southwest Asia.
• 99th RSC activation marks new era for Reserve transformation Army News 14 Oct 2008 -- "Today marks a major milestone in the mission success of realigning the Army Reserve" said Maj. Gen. William Monk III, Sept. 20 during the activation ceremony for the 99th Regional Support Command at Fort Dix.
• Fleet Surgical Team 8 Supports Iwo Jima ESG Navy NewsStand 14 Oct 2008 -- Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 8 deployed aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) in August as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG).
• U.S. Navy Staff Embarks HMS Ark Royal for Multinational Exercise Navy NewsStand 14 Oct 2008 -- The staff assigned to Commander, Destroyer Squadron (COMDESRON) 24, embarked aboard the HMS Ark Royal (R07) Oct. 6-17 to serve as the task group command and control element during the multinational exercise Joint Warrior.
• Russia to downsize Armed Forces to 1 mln by 2012 RIA Novosti 14 Oct 2008 -- The Russian Armed Forces will total 1 million servicemen, including 150,000 officers by 2012.
• Russian strategic bombers complete week-long drills RIA Novosti 14 Oct 2008 -- Russian strategic bombers have successfully completed a series of large-scale, week-long exercises.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 14, 2008
• Raytheon Completes Integration of Enhanced Paveway™ II on Spanish F/A-18 Raytheon 14 Oct 2008 -- The Spanish military and Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) completed a joint venture that integrated the combat-proven Enhanced Paveway II 1,000 pound GBU-48 on Spain's F/A-18 Hornet strike aircraft.
• Boeing Awarded Contract to Continue Testing Advanced Tactical Laser Boeing 14 Oct 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a U.S. Air Force contract valued at up to $30 million to continue testing the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL).
• Raytheon Nets $17.9 Million Award for Prototype Sensor Raytheon 14 Oct 2008 -- The U.S. Army has awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) a $17.9 million contract to develop a sensor system prototype to give helicopter crews full day or night spherical situational awareness while eliminating visual obstructions caused by the airframe and its contents.
• SAIC Awarded $30 Million Contract by U.S. Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Command - Southwest SAIC 14 Oct 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) - Southwest to provide environmental planning support of Navy and Marine Corps construction, maintenance and training.

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 14 Oct 2008
• French Human Rights Official Says Goal Is To Prevent Destabilization In Georgia RFE/RL 14 Oct 2008 -- France's top human rights official, Rama Yade, recently spoke to RFE/RL correspondent Claire Bigg about the humanitarian crisis in Georgia, the EU decision to lift sanctions against Belarus and Uzbekistan, this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner, and her recent visit to Afghanistan
• Russia's Make-Believe Withdrawal From Georgia RFE/RL 14 Oct 2008
• Russians Pull Back in Georgia But Scars of War Remain VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- Life is returning to normal in parts or northern Georgia, 2 months after open warfare there between Georgian and Russian troops.
• U.S. has no plans to render military assistance to Georgia in 2009 RIA Novosti 14 Oct 2008 -- Congressman Howard Berman: United States has no plans to provide Georgia with military assistance in 2009.
• Rice: 'No Stone Unturned' in Effort for Mideast Peace VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: Will explore every possibility in her quest for a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians before the end of this year.
• Fighting on two fronts in eastern DR Congo uproots over 150,000 - UN UN News 14 Oct 2008 -- People have been driven from their homes by fighting on two fronts, with dissident Congolese and Ugandan rebels.
• Sudan Holds Militia Leader Wanted by International Court VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- Sudan has announced it is detaining a militia leader wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes committed in the country's western Darfur region.
• Somalis Condemn Islamic Insurgent Attacks on AU Forces in Mogadishu VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- Somalis living the capital, Mogadishu condemning Islamist insurgent attacks on AU forces that led to a loss of lives and property.
• LIBERIA: Would you fight again? IRIN 14 Oct 2008 -- Female ex-combatants are twice as likely as men to take up weapons again to escape poverty, based on a recent survey of more than 1,000 former fighters in Liberia.
• Thai Troops Withdraw from Disputed Area in Cambodia VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- Border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have again flared after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen accused Thai troops of entering his country.
• NEPAL: Madhesi armed groups ready for peace talks IRIN 14 Oct 2008 -- Peace talks are likely to be held soon with armed Madhesi groups that have been fighting for a separate province in the Terai, the flat southern region of Nepal, according to senior government officials
• Handover of Russian islands to China seen as effective diplomacy RIA Novosti 14 Oct 2008 -- Chinese FM spokesman: Settlement of the border issue between Russia and China example of using a diplomatic solution.

News Reports

• Syrian President Assad Signs Decree Establishing Diplomatic Relations With Lebanon VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has given final approval to the establishment of diplomatic relations with Lebanon.
• Fresh Zimbabwe Talks With Mbeki Begin VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- Fresh talks are underway in Zimbabwe in hope of salvaging a power-sharing deal between the country's main political parties.
• South African Opposition Leader Says Split in Ruling Party Benefits Country's Young Democracy VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- South Africa's ruling party has suspended a former chairman who is threatening to form a breakaway group.
• Ruling ANC Party Suspends Former South African Defense Minister VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- The South African ruling party's decision to suspend a former defense minister for threatening to form a breakaway opposition party ahead of next year's general elections has reportedly plunged the party deeper into instability.
• US Citizen Arrested for Trying to Enter Pakistan Tribal Area VOA 14 Oct 2008 -- Pakistani authorities are questioning a US citizen arrested Monday in the country's violence-plagued tribal area along the Afghan border.
• Ukraine govt. denies campaign funds, urges to drop snap polls RIA Novosti 14 Oct 2008 -- Ukraine's government again refused to allocate funds and urged President Yushchenko to reverse decision for early polls.
• Ukrainian PM refuses to release funds for snap elections RIA Novosti 14 Oct 2008 -- Ukrainian PM Tymoshenko refused to allocate some 420 million hryvnias to finance early parliamentary elections.
• Yushchenko abolishes court for overturning election decree RIA Novosti 14 Oct 2008 -- President Yushchenko abolished Kiev court thatsuspended his decree to dissolve parliament and call early parliamentary elections.
• ETHIOPIA: Emergency beneficiaries increase to 6.4 million IRIN 14 Oct 2008 -- More than six million people in Ethiopia now require emergency food assistance because of drought and rising food prices, according to the government, revising a June estimate of 4
• KENYA: Worsening food insecurity in the north IRIN 14 Oct 2008 -- Levels of malnutrition are rising in parts of northern Kenya while food insecurity is expected to further deteriorate to high and extreme levels in the region, officials warned
• WEST AFRICA: Region among the world’s hungriest IRIN 14 Oct 2008 -- The 2008 Global Hunger Index (GHI) says sub-Saharan African countries have the highest level of hunger in the world, with Niger, Sierra Leone and Liberia experiencing “extremely alarming levels of hunger,” however, this is still an improvement over 1990 levels