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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 31 Oct 2008 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Oct. 30 airpower summary: F-15Es keep vigilant overwatch AFPN 31 Oct 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Coalition Kills Terrorist Leader, Captures Suspects AFPS 31 Oct 2008 -- Coalition forces in Iraq killed a terrorist leader and captured 10 suspects in ongoing effort to break up terrorist groups across the country.
• 2 Suspected US Missile Strikes in Pakistan Kill 22 VOA 31 Oct 2008 -- Intelligence officials in Pakistan say 2 separate suspected US missile strikes killed at least 22 people.
• Seabees Aid in Rescue of U.S. Ambassador Navy Newsstand 31 Oct 2008 -- Seabees from NMCB 4 answered call Oct. 25, rescuing personnel including the US ambassador to Gabon and Sao Tome.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Petraeus Assumes Leadership of U.S. Central Command AFPS 31 Oct 2008 -- Army Gen. David H. Petraeus assumed leadership of the US military command charged with helping to build peace in a tough and war-torn part of the world today.
• Petraeus Takes Responsibility for Iraq and Afghanistan at Central Command VOA 31 Oct 2008 -- General David Petraeus, widely credited with turning the Iraq conflict around, took command of all US forces in the Middle East and Central Asia.
• General Petraeus Taking Over U.S. Central Command RFE/RL 31 Oct 2008 -- General David Petraeus, the U.S. military commander who oversaw the "surge" operations that have helped to stabilize Iraq, is taking on an even broader assignment
• Speech: U.S. Central Command Change-of-Command Ceremony (Tampa, FL) US Dept. of Defense 31 Oct 2008 -- As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, U.S. Central Command Headquarters, Tampa, FL, Friday, October 31, 2008
• Carl Vinson Combat Systems Begins Wave Guide Testing Navy NewsStand 31 Oct 2008 -- The USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Combat Systems Department is conducting its first wave guide tests in more than three years, as the ship prepares to enter the final phases of its Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding.
• Joint Chiefs chairman highlights keys to defense AFNS 31 Oct 2008 -- The nation's top military adviser completed a whirlwind tour of several Baltic States earlier in the month and addressed an array of topics to Air Force leaders Oct. 28 here.
• New Zealand aircrew assists U.S. Airmen during mission AFNS 31 Oct 2008 -- A Royal New Zealand Air Force aircrew assisted Airmen from the U.S. Pacific Command's Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica by delivering a mission essential part Oct. 27 to a disabled aircraft at Pegasus White Ice Runway, Antarctica.
• AKO recognized by DOD as information delivery standard Army News 31 Oct 2008 -- Army Knowledge Online/Defense Knowledge Online, having just achieved it's one billionth user log on at the end of September, received a third place award for improving information delivery and saving the Department of Defense millions of dollars by providing a portal that will become the standard for all DOD agencies.
• Engaging targets Army News 31 Oct 2008 -- Soldiers train to sharpen their marksmanship skills on a firing range. However, in actual combat, with the enemy shooting at them, hitting their "targets" can be much more difficult
• Soldiers get in the game with DISE Army News 31 Oct 2008 -- Imagine an exercise where Soldiers move around in full body armor, storm into Military Operations on Urban Terrain sites, travel in Humvees or Strykers, fire their weapons at "enemy" combatants, call in support from Army helicopters, encounter improvised explosive devices, conduct convoy operations, and maybe even take a simulated bullet
• JMTC vehicle simulators Army News 31 Oct 2008 -- At the U.S. Army's Joint Multinational Training Command's Training Support Activity-Europe, Soldiers hone their heavy-equipment operating skills using the Mobile-Close Combat Tactical Trainer, and receive enhanced training for light-wheeled vehicles using the Virtual Combat Convoy Trainer
• JMTC Medical Training Facility in Europe Army News 31 Oct 2008 -- At the U.S. Army's Joint Multinational Training Command's Training Support Activity-Europe, Soldiers hone their heavy-equipment operating skills using the Mobile-Close Combat Tactical Trainer, and receive enhanced training for light-wheeled vehicles using the Virtual Combat Convoy Trainer
• I Corps prepares for deployment during Unified Endeavor Army News 31 Oct 2008 -- Soldiers with I Corps Headquarters and its subordinate staff here wrapped up participation in a week-long mission rehearsal exercise meant to prepare them for their upcoming mission as Multinational Corps-Iraq.
• Digital University: Training without sweating Army News 31 Oct 2008 -- Soldiers don't always have to carry a weapon, crawl into an M-1126 Stryker ICV, don their interceptor body armor, or even break a sweat to train
• 2008 Phoenix Award Winner Announced US Dept. of Defense 31 Oct 2008 -- The Department of Defense today announced the 2008 winner of the Phoenix Award, part of 2008 Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards
• 2008 DoD Chief Information Officer Award Winners Announced US Dept. of Defense 31 Oct 2008 -- Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration/Department of Defense Chief Information Officer (CIO) John Grimes announced the recipients of this year's DoD CIO Awards at a Pentagon ceremony yesterday
• Spy Chief Warns US Vulnerable in Next President's First Year VOA 31 Oct 2008 -- Top US intelligence official warning the country will be especially vulnerable to threats during the first months of a new presidency.
• Berlin denies imminent sale of submarines to Pakistan IRNA 31 Oct 2008 -- The German government denied a television report about the imminent sale of three conventional U-214 submarines to Pakistan.
• Libyan Leader Visits Russia To Talk Arms, Energy RFE/RL 31 Oct 2008 -- Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi is in Moscow at the start of a three-day visit to Russia, his first in more than two decades
• Libya 'ready to host Russian naval base' RIA Novosti 31 Oct 2008 -- Libya is willing to host a Russian naval base as a means of security against any possible US attack.
• Libyan leader to discuss arms deals during visit to Russia RIA Novosti 31 Oct 2008 -- Deliveries of air defense systems, combat aircraft and warships key issues to be discussed during visit of Libya's president.
• Russia, Venezuela to hold joint air force drills in 2009 RIA Novosti 31 Oct 2008 -- Venezuela and Russia are planning to conduct joint air force exercises in 2009.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 31 Oct 2008
• Press Briefing by Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto The White House 31 Oct 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 31, 2008
• Oshkosh Defense Awarded $1.2 Billion Contract to Provide Next-Generation Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles Oshkosh 31 Oct 2008 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), will add more than 6,000 upgraded vehicles to the U.S. Army’s Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicle (FHTV) fleet under a new three-year contract from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM). The vehicles include increased horsepower and performance features due to power-train and suspension upgrades. The first order is valued at $1.2 billion and delivery will start in November.
• Fuchs/Fox provides comprehensive protection from mines and IEDs Rheinmetall Defence 31 Oct 2008 -- The tried-and-tested Fuchs/Fox armoured transport vehicle is one of the Bundeswehr's most versatile systems. Rheinmetall now offers a highly effective modernization package that substantially improves the vehicle's protection against landmine blasts and improvised explosive devices.
• ASLAV simulators reach major milestones Thales 31 Oct 2008 -- The nine Crew Procedural Trainers (CPTs) located at Army bases in Darwin, Puckapunyal and Brisbane have now notched up 10,000 hours of operational use.
• Russia may export 15 Ka-52 helicopters annually - designer RIA Novosti 31 Oct 2008 -- Chief Designer of the Kamov Design Bureau: Russia may sell up to 15 Ka-52 helicopters to foreign customers annually.

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 31 Oct 2008
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY COMMISSIONER GENERAL OF UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEES IN NEAR EAST United Nations 31 Oct 2008
• Palestinian militants fire rockets at Israeli patrol RIA Novosti 31 Oct 2008 -- Palestinian militants fired anti-tank rockets at an Israeli patrol near the border fence, in violation of the 4-month-old truce.
• More Syrian Troops Deploy Along Lebanese Border VOA 31 Oct 2008 -- Syria has reportedly deployed more troops along its border with Lebanon, allegedly to "combat smuggling."
• DRC-UGANDA: Facilities overwhelmed as refugees stream to border IRIN 31 Oct 2008 -- Food, water, health and sanitation facilities at several villages on the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border are overstretched as civilians continue to pour into Uganda, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, said on 31 October
• Relative Calm Reported in Goma, But Many in Eastern DRC Need Humanitarian Aid VOA 31 Oct 2008 -- With rebels led by Laurent Nkunda calling a unilateral ceasefire this week, the situation in eastern DRC has calmed.
• Ban calls for continuation of ceasefire in eastern DR Congo UN News 31 Oct 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban issuedcall for continuation to fighting halt announced by rebel militia leader Laurent Nkunda.
• UN Chief Appeals for Congo Rebel Leader to Keep Cease-Fire, Begin Dialogue VOA 31 Oct 2008 -- UN Sec General expressing hope that 2 envoys dispatched can contain "very serious situation" in the region.
• DRC Government Dismisses Rebel Demands For Direct Talks VOA 31 Oct 2008 -- Democratic Republic of Congo President Kabila's government dismissing demands by renegade army General Laurent Nkunda for direct negotiations.
• Negotiations Planned in Cambodia-Thailand Dispute VOA 31 Oct 2008 -- The recent border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand escalated into military clashes that resulted in bloodshed on both sides.
• KENYA: Hundreds injured in Mandera security operation - activist IRIN 31 Oct 2008 -- Hundreds of people have been injured in an operation aimed at restoring calm in the northeastern region of Mandera after a series of clan clashes left at least 20 people dead, a human rights activist has said

News Reports

• Putin's Long-Ended War Enters Its 10th Year RFE/RL 31 Oct 2008 -- Perhaps hoping to emulate the devil's imputed success in convincing much of humanity that he does not exist, Russian propagandists have taken great pains over the past several years to persuade the world that the war in Chechnya is over, and the region is on the fast track to stability and prosperity
• COTE D'IVOIRE: Rights groups warn against "elections at all costs” IRIN 31 Oct 2008 -- As Ivorians wonder how much longer they will have to wait for a long-overdue presidential election, human rights groups warn that failing to ensure a fair election would plunge the country into chaos
• Poll Shows Right Wing Winning Early Elections in Israel VOA 31 Oct 2008 -- Early elections in Israel could bring a change in power and a change in direction for the Middle East peace process.
• EU draft report says Serbia may get candidate status in 2009 RIA Novosti 31 Oct 2008 -- Serbia could obtain EU candidate status in 2009 but it must tackle corruption and create an independent judiciary.