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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Oct. 16 airpower summary: Tankers continue to fuel the fight AFPN 17 Oct 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Troops Well-Protected Under U.S.-Iraq Agreement, Gates Says AFPS 17 Oct 2008 -- SecDef Gates: Servicemembers should not be concerned about agreement between the United States and Iraq.
• Coalition Captures Suspects, Seizes Weapons AFPS 17 Oct 2008 -- Coalition forces in Iraq captured 2 wanted men and one additional suspect during operations targeting terrorist networks.
• Bomb Near Baghdad Mosque Kills at Least 1 Civilian VOA 17 Oct 2008 -- Iraqi police say a bomb planted near a mosque in Baghdad has killed at least one civilian and wounded 4 others.
• UN: Thousands of Iraqi Christians Flee Mosul VOA 17 Oct 2008 -- The UN refugee agency says almost half of the Christian population in the Iraqi city of Mosul has fled after attacks and threats.
• Enemy Engagements Decrease for Marines in Afghanistan AFPS 17 Oct 2008 -- 2-7th Marine Regiment continues to enhance security in Afghanistan, Marines experiencing decreased enemy engagements.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD Press Briefing with Secretary Gates and Minister of National Defense Lee Sang-hee from the Pentagon Briefing Room, Arlington, VA US Dept. of Defense 17 Oct 2008 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Minister of National Defense, Republic of Korea Lee Sang-hee
• U.S., Korean Leaders Reaffirm Mutual Defense Treaty AFPS 17 Oct 2008 -- US and South Korean defense officials reaffirmed commitment to strong defense alliance.
• Korea-U.S. Security Meeting Joint Communique Announced US Dept. of Defense 17 Oct 2008 -- Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Lee Sang-hee issued a joint communiqué today following the 40th Republic of Korea U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM).
• DoD News: Navy Christens Guided Missile Destroyer Wayne E. Meyer US Dept. of Defense 17 Oct 2008 -- The Navy will christen the newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, Wayne E. Meyer, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008, during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
• Donley officially sworn in as Secretary of the Air Force AFPN 17 Oct 2008 -- Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates officially swore in Michael B. Donley as the Secretary of the Air Force Oct. 17.
• AfriCom Officials Notes Milestones, Challenges Ahead AFPS 17 Oct 2008 -- Army General Ward praised those who came together to stand AFRICOM up and urged them to continue working.
• Officials outline challenges, needs at logistics conference AFNS 17 Oct 2008 -- About 1,200 logisticians gathered at the National Logistics Officer Association Conference Oct. 13 through 16 to learn Air Force priorities, urgent warfighter needs and sustainment initiatives that will affect their profession.
• Hawgsmoke A-10s dazzle local visitors AFNS 17 Oct 2008 -- The Hawgsmoke 2008 bombing and gunnery portion of the competition took place Oct.16 as A-10 Thunderbolt IIs attacked targets on the nearby Smoky Hill Range, dazzling the spectators who gathered to observe.
• F-35 environmental impact statement released AFNS 17 Oct 2008 -- Air Force officials have announced that the final environmental impact statement addressing the beddown of the Joint Strike Fighter and 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is available for public review.
• Army terminates Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program Army News 17 Oct 2008 -- The Army announced Thursday night that the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program, which had been awarded to Bell Helicopter, has been scrapped because development costs had almost tripled from $359 million to $942 million
• New AFRICOM faces challenges, says Army analyst Army News 17 Oct 2008 -- As the newly formed U.S. Africa Command prepares to do business, the military must change the way it thinks about security there says a senior Army analyst.
• Speech: Swearing-In of Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley (Arlington, VA) US Dept. of Defense 17 Oct 2008 -- As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Air Force Memorial, Arlington, VA, Friday, October 17, 2008
• CNO Participates in Seapower Symposium in Italy Navy NewsStand 17 Oct 2008 -- The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) participated in the 7th Regional Seapower Symposium for the Mediterranean and Black Sea Countries Oct. 15-17 in Venice.
• U.S., Italian Ties Strengthened Aboard Submarine During Great White Fleet Festivities Navy NewsStand 17 Oct 2008 -- The commander of the U.S. 2nd Fleet visited the Italian submarine ITS Salvatore Todaro (S 526) Oct. 11 while the U212A class submarine was in New York City as part of Columbus Day celebrations.
• Bonhomme Richard Wraps Up San Francisco Fleet Week Navy NewsStand 17 Oct 2008 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) departed San Francisco Oct. 15 after participating in the city's annual Fleet Week celebration.
• Sailors Participate in Jagalchi Festival Navy NewsStand 17 Oct 2008 -- Sailors from USS George Washington (CVN 73), USS Cowpens (CG 63) and USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) participated in the annual Jagalchi Festival parade in Busan Oct. 9.
• Boxer Sailors Train to Expand ESG Capability via Refueling Evolution Navy NewsStand 17 Oct 2008 -- USS Boxer's (LHD 4) Deck Department Sailors carried out a rare evolution Oct. 15, as USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) pulled alongside Boxer to receive fuel in an underway replenishment (UNREP) as part of Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group's (BOXESG) integration exercise.
• GW Wraps Up First Port Visit as Forward-Deployed Unit Navy NewsStand 17 Oct 2008 -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW), the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, wrapped up its first port visit Oct. 10, in Busan, South Korea, where Sailors participated in this year's International Fleet Review.
• SECNAV Speaks on Marine Terminal, Encroachment Navy NewsStand 17 Oct 2008 -- Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter addressed the Fleet Week Foundation, the San Diego Military Advisory Council, and community leaders including San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, and Coronado Mayor Tom Smisek in San Diego during the Fleet Week Foundation's annual breakfast Oct. 15.
• GW Sailors Earn Weapons Safety Certification Navy NewsStand 17 Oct 2008 -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) Sailors completed the Conventional Ordnance Safety Review (COSR) Sept. 30, which certifies that GW handles weapons safely and efficiently as the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier.
• US Army Chief to visit Kashmir Friday IRNA 17 Oct 2008 -- As tensions heighten on the Pakistan-Afghan border, India is cozying upto the US in Kashmir, another tense theater in the region.
• India, US army chiefs discuss regional security situation IRNA 17 Oct 2008 -- The Army Chiefs of India and US held extensive discussions over regional security situation.
• Japan concerned over Chinese submarines near maritime borders RIA Novosti 17 Oct 2008 -- Chinese submarines have recently increased their activity near Japan's maritime borders in the East China Sea.
• Russian fighter crashes in Siberia, pilot survives RIA Novosti 17 Oct 2008 -- The pilot of a MiG-29 fighter that crashed in East Siberia has ejected safely.
• Abkhazia, S.Ossetia get observer status in Russia-Belarus union RIA Novosti 17 Oct 2008 -- The parliaments of S Ossetia and Abkhazia given observer status in sessions of the Russia-Belarus Union State.
• Iranian pilots show off dogfighting skills in war games RIA Novosti 17 Oct 2008 -- The Iranian Air Force started on Friday large scale combat drills in the northwest of the country with simulated dogfights.
• WEST AFRICA: Train the soldiers, protect the children IRIN 17 Oct 2008 -- An international NGO is using cartoons to spell out to African soldiers the rights and wrongs of how to treat a child
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 17 Oct 2008
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Dana Perino The White House 17 Oct 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 17, 2008
• U.S. Army and Northrop Grumman Announce AKO/DKO Achieves One-Billionth Logon Northrop Grumman 17 Oct 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the Army Knowledge Online/Defense Knowledge Online (AKO/DKO) Program Office recently achieved a major milestone with the one-billionth logon to the AKO/DKO portal.
• Sagem Défense Sécurité selects Thales Minie D night vision binoculars for the FELIN program headgear Sagem (Safran group) 17 Oct 2008 -- For the visit of Hervé Morin, French Minister of Defense, on the Thales Angénieux site, the two companies announced that Sagem Défense Sécurité, prime contractor of the FELIN program, has selected the Minie D night vision binoculars made by Thales for the headgear of French Land Forces infantrymen.

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 17 Oct 2008
• Ban unveils senior peacekeeping appointments to Liberia, India and Pakistan UN News 17 Oct 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban announced plans to reassign key military posts involving UN peacekeeping ops in Liberia and in India-Pakistan.
• Geneva Talks On Georgia Get Off To Rocky Start RFE/RL 17 Oct 2008 -- The internationally sponsored talks on the aftermath of the August war between Georgia and Russia broke down at the opening session in Geneva on October 15 as the result of disagreements over procedural issues
• Abkhazia says Russia will not build new army bases in republic RIA Novosti 17 Oct 2008 -- Russia's main military base in Abkhazia will be in Gudauta, and no new bases will be built.
• Russia to outline security proposals at Caucasus talks Nov.18 RIA Novosti 17 Oct 2008 -- Foreign Minister Lavrov: Russia would set out specific security proposals at international talks on the Georgian conflict.
• Sudan Launches Darfur Peace Initiative VOA 17 Oct 2008 -- The Sudanese government launched a peace initiative for the Darfur region supported by the country's main political parties, but rejected by rebel groups.
• SUDAN: Darfur peace conference opens without rebels IRIN 17 Oct 2008 -- The US, Darfuri rebels and Sudanese opposition parties have greeted initiative to solve the Darfur crisis with scepticism and boycotts.
• Sri Lanka to keep in mind Indian PM's observations while dealing with the situation IRNA 17 Oct 2008 -- Sri Lanka has made it clear that it will keep in mind India's observations while dealing with the situation.
• KENYA: Clan clashes add to plight of displaced in northeast IRIN 17 Oct 2008 -- At least two people have been killed and scores wounded amid fresh inter-clan fighting in the northeastern region of Mandera, a month after clashes there over water displaced hundreds

News Reports

• Five Countries Elected to UN Security Council VOA 17 Oct 2008 -- Austria, Japan, Mexico, Turkey and Uganda won non-permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council.
• UN experts explore mercenary activity in Eastern Europe and Central Asia UN News 17 Oct 2008 -- A group of UN experts gathered to begin discussions on current practices relating to the use of mercenaries and private military and security companies.
• Private Contractors May Protect Against Somali Pirates VOA 17 Oct 2008 -- Blackwater, a firm providing thousands of private contractors in Iraq, is offering its services to battle pirates.
• Zimbabwe Power Sharing Talks Begin for Fourth Day VOA 17 Oct 2008 -- Zimbabwe's political rivals have begun a fourth day of talks in hopes of salvaging a power-sharing deal to form a unity government.
• Thai PM Resists Resignation Calls Despite Pressure By Army Chiefs VOA 17 Oct 2008 -- Thailand's prime minister says he will not resign, despite calls by the Thai military to step down following bloodshed at an anti-government demonstration last week.
• South Africa Ruling Party Leader Calls For Unity Amid Potential Split VOA 17 Oct 2008 -- The leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress calling for unity after several members loyal to deposed President Thabo Mbeki resigned.