01 November 2008 Military News

Oct. 31 airpower summary: A-10s deter enemy activities AFNS 01 Nov 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 31, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
Death Toll Down for US Troops in Iraq VOA 01 Nov 2008 -- A count of US soldiers killed in Iraq shows the month of October tied for the fewest fatalities since the war began.

U.S. Defense Secretary Says 'It's An Afghan War, Not Our War' RFE/RL 01 Nov 2008 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he does not expect NATO allies to commit significant forces to fight the rising Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, and that the Afghan forces need to expand as quickly as possible so that the conflict is not seen as "America's war."
British Special Forces Chief in Afghanistan Resigns in Protest VOA 01 Nov 2008 -- Head of Britain's special forces in Afghanistan resigned to protest equipment failures he believes led to the death of 4 of his troops.
US airstrikes kill 27 civilians at Afghan-Pakistan border IRNA 01 Nov 2008 -- A pair of missile strikes hours apart killed at least 27 civilians at Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
US drone attacks kill 32 in Waziristan IRNA 01 Nov 2008 -- US missiles struck 2 deadly blows killing 32 people and injuring a key Taliban commander in a tribal area near the Afghan border.

Navy Intercepts Ballistic Missile Target in Fleet Exercise Pacific Blitz Third Fleet 01 Nov 2008 -- Vice Adm. Samuel J. Locklear, Commander, U.S. Third Fleet announced today the successful Navy intercept of a ballistic missile target over the Pacific Ocean during Fleet Exercise Pacific Blitz
National Naval Medical Center Conducts Mass Casualty Drill Navy NewsStand 01 Nov 2008 -- Bethesda Hospital's Emergency Preparedness Partnership hosted a training exercise Oct. 30 designed to test the regional disaster response program as well as enhance communication and relationships between federal, state, local and military officials.
Carter Hall Serves as Afloat Staging Base in Gulf Navy NewsStand 01 Nov 2008 -- The amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) is currently serving as an afloat forward staging base (AFSB) in the North Arabian Gulf (NAG) as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 158.

Russian warships to hold drills in Indian Ocean RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2008 -- Russian warships from the Pacific and Northern Fleets will conduct exercises in the Indian Ocean later this year.

Qaddafi holds talks with Medvedev, Putin in Moscow RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2008 -- Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi held separate talks in Moscow on Saturday with Russia's president and prime minister.

Nicaragua to fix ties with S.Ossetia, Abkhazia at later date RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2008 -- Nicaragua will have contact with the republics via Russia and later establish direct diplomatic relations.

DRC, Rwanda Agree to Emergency Summit VOA 01 Nov 2008 -- Leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Rwanda have agreed to meet, as thousands flee the latest fighting along the border.

Russia, EU to sign deal on Chad peacekeeping operation Nov. 5 RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2008 -- Russia will sign agreement with EU on participation in peacekeeping operation in Chad and the Central African Republic.

Rehabilitating ex-combatants most immediate challenge for Nepal – Ban UN News Centre 01 Nov 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday urged Nepal's leaders to forge ahead with rehabilitating thousands of Maoist ex-fighters as part of the ongoing peace process, as he wrapped up his visit to the South Asian nation.
UN Chief Urges Nepalese Leaders to Integrate Former Rebels VOA 01 Nov 2008 -- UN Secretary-General Ban: Nepal's leaders need to hurry the process of rehabilitating thousands of former rebel soldiers.

14 Sea Tigers killed in sea battle with Sri Lankan Navy IRNA 01 Nov 2008 -- At least 14 Tamil Tigers killed and 16 others injured in a fierce sea battle with the Sri Lankan Navy off the northern coast of the island nation.

Lavrov says compromise needed on islands dispute with Japan RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2008 -- Russia wants to reach a compromise with Japan on the territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands.

Thaksin Addresses Supporters in Thailand From Exile VOA 01 Nov 2008 -- Deposed Thai PM Thaksin spoke by telephone to tens of thousands of supporters who filled a stadium in Thailand's capital, Bangkok.

Somali pirates demand $5 mln ransom for Ukrainian ship crew RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2008 -- Pirates holding MV Faina will release the ship with its crew within 2 days if a ransom of at least $5 million is paid.

EU Appears Ready To Return To Talks With Russia, If Not To 'Business As Usual' RFE/RL 01 Nov 2008 -- The European Union appears poised to resume talks with Russia on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement it suspended to protest Moscow's recent military action in Georgia

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