• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 23 Oct 2008 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• Oct. 22 airpower summary: B-1B bombs bad bikers AFPN 23 Oct 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Kelly from Iraq US Dept. of Defense 23 Oct 2008 -- Presenter: Commander, Multinational Force-West Maj. Gen. John Kelly
• Coalition Forces Capture Suspects, Weapons Caches in Iraq AFPS 23 Oct 2008 -- Coalition forces captured 5 terrorism suspects today during separate operations in and around Baghdad.
• Baghdad Car Bombing Kills 11 VOA 23 Oct 2008 -- Iraqi officials say a suicide car bomber has struck a government convoy in the capital, Baghdad, killing at least 11 people and wounding 21 others.
• Security Responsibility Returns to Iraqis in Babil Province AFPS 23 Oct 2008 -- Coalition forces turned over primary security responsibility for Iraq's Babil province to the Iraqis.
• Iraq Takes Over 12th Province From US VOA 23 Oct 2008 -- The US military handed over Iraq's once-violent Babil province to Iraqi security forces, making it the 12th of 18 provinces returned to Iraqi control.
• General Says Economic Progress Now Tops Anbar Priorities AFPS 23 Oct 2008 -- With life returning to normal in Iraq's Anbar province, the way forward now is driven more by the economy than security.
• NMCB 7 On Station to Support Coalition Forces in Iraq Navy Newsstand 23 Oct 2008 -- Transfer of authority ceremony marked end of NMCB 3's 6-month deployment to Iraq and start of NMCB 7's deployment.
• Iran's President Urges Iraqis to Reject US Security Pact VOA 23 Oct 2008 -- Iran's President Ahmadinejad: Iraqis should provide their own security and reject the US-Iraqi pact that would allow U.S. troops to remain.
• Backgrounder: India-Afghanistan Relations cfr.org 23 Oct 2008
• Analysis: The 'Unthinkable' in Afghanistan cfr.org 23 Oct 2008 -- When the U.S.-backed Northern Alliance drove the Taliban from Kabul in late 2001, the idea of talking with the Taliban was unthinkable.
• AFGHANISTAN: Security concerns over voter registration process IRIN 23 Oct 2008 -- The decision by the Afghan government to use hundreds of medical and educational facilities as voter registration centres has sparked concern about potential security risks to aid workers, students and other civilians
• Interview: Prospects in Afghanistan 'Not Looking Good' cfr.org 23 Oct 2008
• Afghanistan Planning Second Round of Talks with Ex-Taliban VOA 23 Oct 2008 -- Afghanistan's foreign minister says a second round of talks is likely with former top officials of the fundamentalist Taliban.
• Suspected US Missile Strike Kills 5 in Pakistan VOA 23 Oct 2008 -- Pakistani officials say suspected US drone fired missiles into a tribal region in the country's northwest, killing at least five people.
• Pentagon Cautious on Reported Pakistani Plan to Arm Tribal Militias VOA 23 Oct 2008 -- US defense officials responded cautiously to a report that Pakistan plans to give weapons to men so they fight militants.
• Pakistan Plan to Arm Tribal Militias Poses Risks VOA 23 Oct 2008 -- Pakistan is enlisting local tribal militias in the fight against Islamic militants.
• Pakistan Parliament Passes Vague Terrorism Resolution VOA 23 Oct 2008 -- Pak parliament pass unanimous resolution that militancy threatens integrity of country and dialogue is best option for addressing it.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Student pilot gets first UAS assignment at Vance AFPN 23 Oct 2008 -- As part increased ISR demands, student pilots in the AETC have a new potential assignment: unmanned aircraft systems.
• ACC team effort vital to nuclear evaluation mission AFPN 23 Oct 2008 -- 3-month process, planned a year in advance, involving hundreds of man-hours of coordination with people at more than 4 Air Force bases.
• Experts in Russian Language, Culture Join Threat Reduction Agency AFPS 23 Oct 2008 -- The DoD agency tasked with securing and dismantling WMDs in the former USSR added new crop of experts.
• Top military leaders visit Airmen in Southwest Asia AFNS 23 Oct 2008 -- The Air Force chief of staff and chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Airmen of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Oct. 22 during their visit to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
• Chief of staff tours Bagram, addresses Airmen's questions AFNS 23 Oct 2008 -- The 19th Air Force chief of staff accompanied by the chief master sergeant of the Air Force made his first official trip to Bagram Airfield Oct. 21.
• 2nd Air Force transformation driven by warfighter's needs AFNS 23 Oct 2008 -- Transformation is underway at 2nd Air Force here beginning with construction on a 2,000-square foot operations floor designed to support the new technical training operations center.
• Navy Recognizes Outstanding Energy Programs Navy NewsStand 23 Oct 2008 -- The Department of the Navy (DoN) recognized six Navy and Marine Corps organizations Oct. 22 that have made notable progress toward DoN and federal goals to reduce energy and water consumption at its annual Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Awards ceremony at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington.
• More Naval Vessels Heading for Somali Coast to Ward Off Pirates VOA 23 Oct 2008 -- A flotilla of NATO warships expected soon off Somali coast to protect ships from pirates.
• Russia wants freedom to tackle Somali pirates RIA Novosti 23 Oct 2008 -- Russia has asked Somalia for freedom to tackle the country's pirate problem amid growing concern for the fate of a captured ship's crew.
• Russia's Pacific Fleet completes anti-submarine drills RIA Novosti 23 Oct 2008 -- Surface ships and submarines from Russia's Pacific Fleet completed 3-day anti-submarine exercise.
• Russia's top security official discusses cooperation with India RIA Novosti 23 Oct 2008 -- Russia's Security Council chief, Nikolai Patrushev, said in New Delhi that Russia is India's most important strategic partner.
• Ex-Soviet states hold joint air defense drills RIA Novosti 23 Oct 2008 -- Members of the CIS successfully conducted a joint command-and-staff air defense exercise as part of the integrated air defense network.
• Thailand spurns U.S., buys Russian helicopters RIA Novosti 23 Oct 2008 -- In a break with tradition, the Thai government has decided to buy several transport helicopters from Russia.
• Barzani: We will never allow any action against Iran from Iraq IRNA 23 Oct 2008 -- Iraq Kurdish Regional Government President Barzani: "We will never allow any action to take place against Iran from Iraq territory."
• Iran ready for signing security pacts with Persian Gulf littoral countries - Larijani IRNA 23 Oct 2008 -- Iran's Parliament Speaker Larijani: Iran ready for signing security pacts with entire Persian Gulf littoral countries.
• Black box of ill-fated IDF fighter recovered CNA 23 Oct 2008 -- The flight recorder of an Air Force indigenous defense fighter that crashed during a training mission recovered from waters near an uninhabited islet.
• President has not changed position on China missile threat: official CNA 23 Oct 2008 -- President Ma has never given up demand for China to remove its missiles targeting Taiwan.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 23 Oct 2008
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Dana Perino The White House 23 Oct 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 23, 2008
• Boeing Team Conducts Successful Test of Fuze for Heavy Bombs Boeing 23 Oct 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has successfully tested a fuze well (the area where the fuze is installed) and fuze for high-speed penetrator warheads along with its partners Applied Research Associates (ARA), L-3 KDI Precision Products and Ellwood National Forge Co.
• Lockheed Martin F-35 Successfully Wraps Up Testing At Edwards FB, Validates Readiness For Future Test Deployment Lockheed Martin 23 Oct 2008 -- The first Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II fighter has finished all planned testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., demonstrating that the aircraft, the support crews, and contractor and military service personnel are ready for the dramatically expanded flight testing on the program's horizon.
• Northrop Grumman Awarded Combined Tactical Training Range Contract Northrop Grumman 23 Oct 2008 -- The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) has exercised a third option for Northrop Grumman to continue to provide operations, maintenance and engineering support to its Combined Tactical Training Range (CTTR).
• Northrop Grumman Awarded Defense Energy Support Center Task Order Northrop Grumman 23 Oct 2008 -- The Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a task order to provide support for the Facilities Energy Program and for the privatization of electric, gas, water and wastewater systems at U.S. Air Force, Army and Defense Logistics Agency installations all over the United States including Alaska and Hawaii.
• Northrop Grumman Awarded $206 Million Support and Sustainment Contract for Defense Support Program Northrop Grumman 23 Oct 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) was awarded a contract by the United States Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center to provide technical support for the operational Defense Support Program (DSP) spacecraft, primary infrared sensor and mission analysis.
• U.S. Navy Awards $27 Million Contract to SAIC SAIC 23 Oct 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a prime contract by the U.S. Navy to provide the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station -- Atlantic with OCONUS (outside continental U.S.) Naval Enterprise Network (ONE-NET) information technology support services for the Europe and Middle East regions.
• SAIC Awarded $37 Million Contract to Support U.S. Army Program Executive Office - Enterprise Information Systems SAIC 23 Oct 2008 -- Company to Maintain and Enhance the Biometrics Automated Toolset - Army System

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 23 Oct 2008
• Russia, Georgia Take War To Rights Court RFE/RL 23 Oct 2008 -- Since the first rocket hit South Ossetia on the night of August 7, a steady stream of complaints has been flowing from Georgia's separatist region to the French city of Strasbourg
• Georgia Says Russia Massing Troops in South Ossetia VOA 23 Oct 2008 -- Georgia says Russia has deployed 2,000 additional troops in the pro-Russian breakaway region of South Ossetia, a move Russia denies.
• Russia urges donors to check how Georgia spends aid RIA Novosti 23 Oct 2008 -- Moscow hopes that countries pledging funds to rebuild Georgia will ensure aid not spent rearming the state.
• Georgia fails to fulfill redeployment commitment - Lavrov RIA Novosti 23 Oct 2008 -- Russia's foreign minister: Georgia has not lived up to its commitment to return troops to their bases.
• Senior intelligence officer killed in Abkhazia RIA Novosti 23 Oct 2008 -- A senior Abkhazian counterintelligence officer was found dead in Abkhazia.
• Bangladeshi officers enhance UN troops' logistical support in Darfur UN News 23 Oct 2008 -- Some 163 Bangladeshi officers arrived to serve with the hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping mission in Darfur.
• Rebels in Eastern Congo Reject UN Call for Ceasefire VOA 23 Oct 2008 -- The leader of a rebel group in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo has rejected a call by the United Nations to stop all hostilities.
• Security Council discusses border tensions between Djibouti and Eritrea UN News 23 Oct 2008 -- The Security Council heard calls for peaceful resolution of border dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea, which flared into fighting in June.
• Russian Air Force ready to send helicopters to Chad - commander RIA Novosti 23 Oct 2008 -- Russia's Air Force is ready to send a helicopter group with more than 100 servicemen to Chad.

News Reports

• PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR United Nations 23 Oct 2008
• Zimbabweans Sympathetic to Tsvangirai's Passport Issue VOA 23 Oct 2008 -- Some Zimbabwe government supporters say President Mugabe should form a government without the opposition.
• ZIMBABWE: Military seed merchants IRIN 23 Oct 2008 -- The distribution of agricultural inputs for the 2008/09 season has become the domain of Zimbabwe's military and ZANU-PF party.
• MEPs recognize Ukraine's famine as crime against humanity RIA Novosti 23 Oct 2008 -- The European Parliament adopted a resolution declaring the Ukrainian famine of 1932-1933 a crime against humanity.
• Israeli PM-Designate: New Coalition by Sunday or Elections VOA 23 Oct 2008 -- Israeli Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni says she will form a new coalition government by Sunday or call for elections.
• Iran's 'leniency' towards Israel a joke - Larijani IRNA 23 Oct 2008 -- Iran's Parliament speaker: Iran's 'leniency' towards Israel resemble a joke, since Iran pursues a certain policy regarding Israel.
• Guinea-Bissau Military Pledges No Interference in Elections VOA 23 Oct 2008 -- Guinea-Bissau's armed forces chief has pledged that the military will not interfere with legislative elections set for next month.