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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 12 Nov 2008 [PDF]
• CF attacked by SAF in Mosul
• Nov. 11 airpower summary: B-1B bombs enemy forces AFNS 12 Nov 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 11, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• PRESS CONFERENCE: Reconstruction: Dr. Jafar, Lt. Col. Purdue, Maj. Guinan, Nov. 12, 2008 MNF-I 12 Nov 2008 -- Dr. Jafar, Iraqi MoH, Lt. Col. Purdue & Maj. Guinan, USACE, discuss Corps of Engineers' progress
• Coalition Kills, Captures Multiple Suspects in Terrorist Sweep AFPS 12 Nov 2008 -- Coalition forces in Iraq have degraded terrorist networks in several days of operations that have killed at least four militants and led to the capture of more than two dozen suspects, military officials reported.
• F-16 destroyed in fire in Southwest Asia AFNS 12 Nov 2008 -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon caught fire after the pilot aborted the takeoff at about 5:40 a.m. Baghdad time Nov. 12 at an air base in Southwest Asia.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Cone from Afghanistan DoD 12 Nov 2008 -- Presenter: Commanding General, Combined Security Transition Command, Maj. Gen. Robert Cone
• Troops Kill Four Enemy Fighters Following Ambush AFPS 12 Nov 2008 -- Afghan and coalition forces today killed four militants after being ambushed in an area near Afghanistan’s western border, where a Norwegian provincial reconstruction team was ambushed last week, military officials said.
• Afghan Forces Increase Footprint in Afghanistan, General Says AFPS 12 Nov 2008 -- Afghan national security forces are larger, fully engaged and leading the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan, the U.S. general in charge of training them said today.
• Pentagon: Afghan Army Growing at Record Pace VOA 12 Nov 2008 -- Afghanistan's Army is growing at a record rate, and now leads and helps plan nearly two-thirds of the country's military operations.
• Kandahar Attack Targets Government Officials VOA 12 Nov 2008 -- A vehicle bomb has detonated in Afghanistan's southern city Kandahar, killing at least six people and wounding 25 others.
• American servicemembers take reconstruction to new level AFNS 12 Nov 2008 -- American military members helped with about $8 million worth of construction projects in the Nangarhar Province in the last two years here to improve security and to help rebuild the region in Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Gates Rejects Russian Opposition to its Former Allies Integrating with West VOA 12 Nov 2008 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates made a point of showing solidarity with the Baltic States during a visit to Estonia Wednesday, which his spokesman says was aimed in part at reassuring the former Soviet satellite nations of continued U.S. and NATO support.
• Operation Southern Partner ends AFNS 12 Nov 2008 -- Operation Southern Partner ended after two weeks in South America as 70 Airmen aboard a C-17 Globemaster III touched down at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base at about 10 p.m Nov. 7 here.
• Secretary of Air Force visits San Antonio military hospitals AFNS 12 Nov 2008 -- Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley visited the San Antonio Military Medical Center South and North campuses Nov. 8.
• U.S., Estonian Leaders Discuss Security Challenges AFPS 12 Nov 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip discussed Russian behavior and new cooperation on cyber security during meetings here today.
• Troop Support Group Launches New Web Site AFPS 12 Nov 2008 -- A troop-support group that provides education on the brain’s and body’s natural responses to stress launched its redesigned Web site yesterday.
• Edwards test squadron test drives Global Hawk AFNS 12 Nov 2008 -- Members of the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron here test drives the Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system and ensures the aircraft is up to par with advertised specifications.
• Strategic planners give glimpse of tomorrow's mobility force AFNS 12 Nov 2008 -- Air Mobility Command strategic planners gave an insider's view into the future of air mobility at the 40th annual Airlift/Tanker Association Conference Nov. 10 here.
• Black Sea Partnership Cruise Launches Aboard USS Mount Whitney Navy NewsStand 12 Nov 2008 -- The multinational Black Sea Partnership Cruise (BSPC) commenced Nov. 10 aboard the U.S. Sixth Fleet flagship USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) after the ship departed Varna, Bulgaria.
• McClellan officials transfer land to local community AFNS 12 Nov 2008 -- In a ceremony, McClellan officials transferred the 314-acre Davis Global Communications Site, an annex of the former McClellan Air Force Base, to Yolo County, Calif, recently.
• Gates Seeks To Reassure Baltics, Ukraine At NATO Meeting RFE/RL 12 Nov 2008 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, for a NATO meeting on November 13 that originally he was not scheduled to attend but which has now taken on symbolic importance
• Indonesia to buy 6 jet fighters, 18 armored vehicles from Russia RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2008 -- Rosoboronexport has signed deals to sell six Su-30 Flanker-C jet fighters and 18 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles to Indonesia, an official at Russia's arms export monopoly said on Wednesday.
• Russia Expands Its Military Presence In Central Asia RFE/RL 12 Nov 2008 -- The secretary-general of the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Nikolai Bordyuzha, recently announced the planned formation of an international force in Central Asia that "should be prepared to repel any threat."
• Russia to test fire another Bulava ICBM before yearend - Navy RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2008 -- Russia will test fire another Bulava sea-based intercontinental ballistic missile before the end of the year, a source in the Navy headquarters said on Wednesday.
• Russian defense official denies doomed sub meant for India RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2008 -- A Russian defense industry official denied on Wednesday that talks had been held with India on the delivery of the nuclear submarine on board which 20 people died last weekend.
• Russia suspends Iskander missile exports to equip military RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2008 -- Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Wednesday it was not planning to export Iskander tactical missile systems until Russia's Armed Forces have been fully supplied with them.
• India test fires 600 Kms range SSM missile "SHOURYA" IRNA 12 Nov 2008 -- India on Wednesday test fired 600 km range surface-to-surface ballistic missile "SHOURYA".
• India successfully test-fires ballistic missile RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2008 -- India successfully test-fired on Wednesday a medium-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, the Department of Defense Research and Development said.
• MiG-21 plane crashes in India, no casualties RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2008 -- A MiG-21 fighter aircraft belonging to the Indian Air Force crashed on Wednesday in northeast India, but the two pilots ejected safely, the Indian Defense Ministry said.
• New generation of surface-to-surface missiles test fired IRNA 12 Nov 2008 -- New generation of surface-to-surface missiles called 'Sejil' was test fired in the presence of Defense Minister Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, it was reported on Wednesday
• Iran successfully test fires new surface-to-surface missile RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2008 -- Iran has successfully test fired a new surface-to-surface missile, the Fars news agency said Wednesday.
• Iran Reportedly Test-Fires New Generation of Missiles VOA 12 Nov 2008 -- Iran says it has test fired a new generation missile it says has a range that would put Israel and southern Europe in its sights.
• Senior U.S. Diplomat In Moscow For Talks With Lavrov RFE/RL 12 Nov 2008 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is hosting a visit to Moscow by William Burns, the U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs
• Compromise on U.S. missile shield possible - Kremlin source RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2008 -- Russia believes that a compromise on a controversial U.S. missile shield in Europe is still possible, but is waiting for more constructive proposals from the new U.S. administration, a Kremlin source said on Wednesday.
• Russia Rejects US Missile Defense Plan VOA 12 Nov 2008 -- Russian news agencies say Moscow has formally rejected a U.S. plan to build a missile defense system in central Europe.
• Ukraine set to beef up military presence in Sevastopol RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2008 -- Ukraine is increasing its marine group and forming three air defense units in Sevastopol following the conflict between Georgia and Russia in the South Caucasus, a naval officer said on Wednesday.
• Stronger action needed to rid world of landmines, Secretary-General says UN News Centre 12 Nov 2008 -- More efforts are needed to eliminate landmines and other explosive devices, despite the great strides made in ridding the world of the deadly weapons, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 12 Nov 2008
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Dana Perino The White House 12 Nov 2008
• Press Briefing by Daniel Price and David McCormick on the Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy The White House 12 Nov 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 12, 2008
• BAE SYSTEMS AWARDED NEW $1.6 BILLION U.S. ARMY CONTRACT FOR 10,000 ADDITIONAL FAMILY OF MEDIUM TACTICAL VEHICLES BAE Systems 12 Nov 2008 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a $1.6 billion contract from the U.S. Army to build another 10,000 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) and trailers for delivery during 2009 and 2010.
• Lockheed Martin Delivers First Of Four C-130J Airlifters Lockheed Martin 12 Nov 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] delivered the first of four C 130Js to the Royal Norwegian Air Force at a ceremony today with U.S. and Norwegian officials at the company’s Marietta, Ga, facility.
• BAE SYSTEMS RECEIVES $17 MILLION U.S. ARMY CONTRACT FOR VEHICLE EMERGENCY ESCAPE WINDOW KITS BAE Systems 12 Nov 2008 -- BAE Systems has received an order worth $17 million for 4,702 Vehicle Emergency Escape (VEE) Window kits from the U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command
• CACI Awarded Three Contracts Worth $30 Million to Support Defense Medical Logistics Development CACI 12 Nov 2008 -- CACI International Inc (NYSE:CAI) announced today that it has been awarded three prime task order contracts, totaling $30 million, to continue the company's support for the Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support system (DMLSS) at the Joint Medical Logistics Functional Development Center (JMLFDC) at Fort Detrick, Md.
• Bulgarian Border Police choose TETRA terminals from EADS Defence & Security EADS 12 Nov 2008 -- EADS Secure Networks (SN), an integrated activity of EADS Defence & Security, has been awarded by the Bulgarian Ministry of Finance a contract to procure TETRA radios to the Bulgarian Border Police.
• Lockheed Martin’s Pathfinder System Completes First Flight on HH-60L Black Hawk MEDEVAC Helicopter Lockheed Martin 12 Nov 2008 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] Pathfinder flight team has successfully completed the first flight of its fully integrated Pathfinder advanced pilotage system on an Army HH-60L Black Hawk MEDEVAC helicopter at Felker Army Airfield, Fort Eustis, VA.
• Raytheon Delivers 300th Raid Tower to the U.S. Army Raytheon 12 Nov 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) delivered the 300th Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment tower to the U.S. Army during a celebration marking the occasion in Huntsville, Ala.
• Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)'s ELTA Systems Group and Subsidiary Awarded $40 million in Contracts for SAR Payload and Airborne Maritime Surveillance Radars Israel Aerospace Industries 12 Nov 2008 -- ELTA Systems Ltd., a Group and wholly-owned subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) was recently awarded two contracts from a customer in the Far East. The total value of these contracts is almost $40 million.

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 12 Nov 2008
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT, FOREIGN MINISTER, AMBASSADOR OF ISRAEL United Nations 12 Nov 2008
• Gaza power plant will close by weekend without more fuel from Israel – UN UN News Centre 12 Nov 2008 -- Israel opened its fuel crossing point with the Gaza Strip today but closed it again after less than 230,000 litres were delivered, citing ongoing clashes on the Gaza side, United Nations officials reported.
• Islamist Militants Capture Key Somali Port VOA 12 Nov 2008 -- Islamist insurgents have seized the Somali port of Merka, located about 90 kilometers south of the capital, Mogadishu.
• Fighting lessens in DR Congo but humanitarian situation remains worrying – UN UN News Centre 12 Nov 2008 -- Fighting appears to have abated in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) but tension continues and the humanitarian situation remains very worrying, with 250,000 newly displaced people in urgent need of aid, United Nations officials said today.
• DRC: Agencies cannot reach IDPs trapped by fighting IRIN 12 Nov 2008 -- Tens of thousands of civilians forced from their homes by fresh fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are still beyond the reach of international aid, two weeks after the launch of a rebel offensive.
• Angola Volunteers Troops for UN Mission in Congo VOA 12 Nov 2008 -- As the U.N. Security Council considers a request for additional peacekeepers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola said it would send troops to the country.
• UN undecided on sending extra peacekeepers to Congo RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2008 -- The United Nations Security Council held a meeting on Tuesday on the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but failed to reach a decision on sending additional peacekeepers.
• UN Security Council Weighs Troop Request for Congo VOA 12 Nov 2008 -- The U.N. Security Council is continuing to weigh whether to authorize a request from the secretary-general for an additional 3,000 peacekeepers to reinforce the U.N.'s overstretched peacekeeping mission in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Darfur: Ban welcomes Sudanese ceasefire, plan to disarm militias UN News Centre 12 Nov 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the Sudanese Government’s declaration today of an immediate ceasefire between its forces and the rebel movements in Darfur and also Khartoum’s stated plan to disarm allied militias operating in the war-torn region.
• Sudanese Rebels Dismiss President's Cease-Fire Call VOA 12 Nov 2008 -- Rebels in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region have dismissed a call for a cease-fire by President Omar al-Bashir.
• Senior military official in Chad for talks on future of UN mission UN News Centre 12 Nov 2008 -- A top United Nations military official is in Chad today for consultations with Government officials on the next stage of operations to bring stability to strife-ridden eastern Chad and the northeast of the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR).
• TIMOR-LESTE: Security concerns over guns in civilian hands IRIN 12 Nov 2008 -- Poor management of government weapon stockpiles and an unknown number of small arms in the hands of civilians were potential triggers for violence in the fledgling nation, according to a new report.
• SRI LANKA: Smooth resettlement of IDPs in east IRIN 12 Nov 2008 -- More than 150,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to their former villages in the east over the past year, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

News Reports

• Is Medvedev Preparing Putin's Return To The Presidency? RFE/RL 11 Nov 2008 -- Anyone who thought the suspense over Russia's tense and long-anticipated transition of power was over when Dmitry Medvedev moved into the Kremlin six months ago should think again
• Putin backs Medvedev on extending presidential, parliament terms RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2008 -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin supports President Dmitry Medvedev's suggestion that presidential and parliamentary terms should be increased to six and five years, respectively.
• Russian parliament to put presidential term bill on fast track RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2008 -- A Russian parliamentary committee proposed on Wednesday that consideration of amendments to the constitution that would extend the presidential and parliamentary terms be fast-tracked.
• Russia's upper house ratifies treaties with Abkhazia, S.Ossetia RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2008 -- The upper house of the Russian parliament ratified friendship treaties with South Ossetia and Abkhazia on Wednesday.
• Former president taken to detention center CNA 12 Nov 2008 -- Former President Chen Shui-bian was taken directly to a detention center Wednesday after the Taipei District Court consented to a request by prosecutors earlier that day that he be held incommunicado
• Former president detained CNA 12 Nov 2008 -- The Taipei District Court granted a request by prosecutors Wednesday to detain former President Chen Shui-bian on charges of corruption, document concealment and money laundering
• Taiwan Court Orders Detention of Ex-President VOA 12 Nov 2008 -- A judge in Taiwan has ordered Chen Shui-bian jailed while money-laundering charges against him are investigated. The former president, who says he is the victim of political persecution, denies any wrongdoing.
• American Aid Official Gunned Down in Pakistan VOA 12 Nov 2008 -- Militants have stepped up attacks in northwestern Pakistan, where authorities say at least five people - including an American aid official - were killed in two separate attacks.
• Ukrainian parliament approves speaker's resignation RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2008 -- Ukraine's parliament approved on Wednesday the resignation of pro-presidential Speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a move that analysts say could pave the way for the dismissal of the prime minister and her cabinet.
• EU Launches Closer Ties with Libya VOA 12 Nov 2008 -- The European Union is launching its first agreement with Libya to establish closer political, social and economic ties.
• US Condemns Harsh Sentences for Burmese Dissidents VOA 12 Nov 2008 -- The United States has joined human rights advocates in condemning long prison terms handed down against at least 30 Burmese dissidents on Tuesday.
• Zimbabwe Ruling Party Urges Mugabe To Unilaterally Form Government VOA 12 Nov 2008 -- Zimbabwe's troubled power-sharing process remained in limbo Wednesday three days after a Southern African Development Community summit controversially urged the parties to form a government immediately sharing control of the disputed Home Affairs Ministry.
• Russian, British navies prevent Danish ship seizure by pirates RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2008 -- The Russian frigate Neustrashimy (Fearless) and Britain's HMS Cumberland frigate have prevented the seizure of a Danish merchant vessel by pirates off Somalia's coast, a Russian Navy spokesman said on Wednesday.
• Rwandan President Warns of Reprisals Against France VOA 12 Nov 2008 -- Rwanda's President Paul Kagame warns of reprisals if France goes ahead with its indictment of his chief of protocol for alleged involvement in the assassination of former Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana in 1994
• Ingushetia Killings Continue Despite New President RFE/RL 12 Nov 2008 -- The Ingush opposition reacted with jubilation to the dismissal on October 30 of the republic's ineffective and discredited president, Murat Zyazikov
• Russia, Iran, Qatar Holding Gas Talks In Doha RFE/RL 12 Nov 2008 -- A Russian delegation led by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is in Doha, Qatar, for talks with Qatari and Iranian officials on cooperation in natural gas exports