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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 14 Nov 2008 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• Nov. 13 airpower summary: A-10s protect ground forces AFNS 14 Nov 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 13, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Troops Detain 11 Suspected Terrorists in Iraq AFPS 14 Nov 2008 -- Coalition forces in Iraq detained 11 suspected terrorists today and yesterday as they continued operations to expel al-Qaida in Iraq from the country, military officials reported.
• Airmen clear away the 'debris of war,' improve airport safety AFNS 14 Nov 2008 -- Today, airlift operations are an integral part of Iraq's military and economic future, and the men and women of the 447th Air Expeditionary Group, working along-side the Iraqi military and civilian contractors, are developing Baghdad International Airport into a modern aerial hub that will be a driving force in building a free and independent country.
• Soldiers Build Up Infrastructure in Iraq AFPS 14 Nov 2008 -- In addition to their mission of restoring and improving Iraq’s infrastructure, civil-military operations soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division’s 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, also are adjusting to the changing dynamics of operations as U.S. forces turn more areas over to Iraqi control.
• Coalition Kills Four in Afghanistan Bomb Network AFPS 14 Nov 2008 -- Coalition forces killed four al-Qaida insurgents during fighting yesterday in eastern Afghanistan’s Paktika province, military officials said.
• UN refugee chief heads to Afghanistan to assess repatriation operation UN News Centre 14 Nov 2008 -- The top United Nations refugee official will be visiting Afghanistan next week to assess the progress and challenges in the world’s largest voluntary repatriation programme, which has already assisted some 4.3 million people in returning to their homeland.
• 24th MEU transfers authority to 3rd Marine Regiment in Afghanistan USMC News 14 Nov 2008 -- Colonel Duffy W. White, 3rd Marine Regiment commander, assumed command of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Afghanistan from Col. Peter Petronzio, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit commander, during a transfer of authority ceremony here Nov. 14
• Airmen respond to buried threat in Afghanistan AFNS 14 Nov 2008 -- When the Soviet Union pulled out of Afghanistan, they left thousands of mines and other explosive remnants of the war behind. At Bagram Airfield, with constant civil engineering projects to expand the flightline and other facilities, it's a daily occurrence to find small explosives in the soft sand.
• Acid Attack Shows Nature of Taliban, Pentagon Spokesman Says AFPS 14 Nov 2008 -- It’s a measure of the enemy in Afghanistan that Taliban terrorists attacked girls walking to school in Afghanistan on Nov. 12 by throwing acid in their faces, a senior Defense Department official said today.
• U.S missile strike in Pakistan's tribal region kills 12:witnesses IRNA 14 Nov 2008 -- At least 12 people - several of whom appeared to be foreigners, were killed in Pakistan's Waziristan tribal region in an overnight U.S missile strike, witnesses said Friday
• Pakistani Officials Say 12 Killed in US Missile Strike VOA 14 Nov 2008 -- Officials and witnesses in Pakistan say a suspected U.S. missile strike has killed at least 12 people, including foreign militants, in a remote tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Supreme Court Rules For Navy Navy NewsStand 14 Nov 2008 -- On Nov. 12 the Supreme Court ruled for the Navy on the challenge to Navy's use of sonar for the 14 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) combat certification training exercises off the coast of Southern California (SOCAL).
• Special operations enablers ready for combat USMC News 14 Nov 2008 -- Coming in the same month the Marine Corps authorized Rifle Combat Optics for range qualification, Marines from Marine Special Operations Support Group, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, participated in the Trainer's Course of Instruction with the RCO and other optical devices at Stone Bay here recently
• 15th MEU remains ready, nearing home USMC News 14 Nov 2008 -- The Marines of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-165 (REIN), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, have been maintaining their operational readiness aboard USS Peleliu (LHA 5), even as the 15th MEU heads east on the final leg of its deployment
• Transcript: Press Conference with Gen. Dunwoody and Col. Brotchie DoD 14 Nov 2008 -- Presenter: U.S. Army Materiel Command Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody and U.S. Air Force, Retired Col. Craig Brotchie
• Dunwoody Becomes First Woman Four-Star General AFPS 14 Nov 2008 -- For the first time in U.S. history, a woman military officer today pinned on the rank of four-star general.
• Army promotes first woman to four-star general Army News 14 Nov 2008 -- Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody became the first female four-star general in the U.S. armed forces at a promotion ceremony Friday morning in the Pentagon
• Army 2007 Sustainability Report released Army News Release 14 Nov 2008 -- Today, Nov. 14, Army officials released the Service's first Annual Sustainability Report highlighting environmental achievements and milestones supporting the Army's sustainability concept and goals
• 17th Air Force Airmen support Africa Command AFNS 14 Nov 2008 -- Airmen from 17th Air Force here received initial operational capability Oct. 1 and are already supporting missions for the U.S. Africa Command.
• The "Hog" drops in on history AFNS 14 Nov 2008 -- The A-10 Thunderbolt II, nicknamed the Warthog and known for its close-air support superiority and the ability to carry large and varied ordnance, is now on its way to delivering a new capability to the warfighter.
• Staying Power: Navy Has No Limits in Helping Wounded, Admiral Says AFPS 14 Nov 2008 -- Navy Rear Adm. Garry White, Director of Total Force Manpower Requirements, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, spoke with American Forces Press Service about the Navy’s wounded warrior care program, known as Safe Harbor, and the service’s policy of allowing seriously injured sailors to return to active duty.
• USS Boxer, Marine Unit Prepare For Integration Exercise AFPS 14 Nov 2008 -- The USS Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit are preparing to deploy in support of unified combatant commanders, the strike group commander said this week.
• Outgoing general: FCS success credit to evaluators Army News 14 Nov 2008 -- The Army Evaluation Task Force at Fort Bliss, Texas, is "making Future Combat Systems happen," said the outgoing FCS program manager.
• USS Gonzalez Again Aids Civilian Mariners in Distress Navy NewsStand 14 Nov 2008 -- For the second time in four days the Norfolk-based guided missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) rendered aid to distressed mariners Nov. 12 when the ship responded to a call for assistance several hundred miles off the East Coast.
• Marines from Boxer Train with State Department, Increase Interoperability Navy NewsStand 14 Nov 2008 -- Forward command element (FCE) Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted simulated training exercises with U.S. Department of State (DOS) officials at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Nov. 3-7.
• CPO8 Engineers Restore Heart of Community in Guyana Navy NewsStand 14 Nov 2008 -- Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202 and U.S. Air Force 5th Civil Engineer Squadron Prime Base Emergency Engineer Force, both embarked aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), began renovation at the East Ruimveldt Community Center Nov. 9 in support of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.
• USS Gary Takes Civilian Leaders To Sea Navy NewsStand 14 Nov 2008 -- The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS GARY (FFG 51) hosted 29 civilian leaders from both the private and public sector from across the country as part of the Leaders to Sea (LTS) program Nov. 3-6.
• Bataan Departs New York After Meaningful Port Visit Navy NewsStand 14 Nov 2008 -- Sailors and Marines from the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) departed New York after completing a seven-day port visit Nov. 12, celebrating Veterans Day and supporting the reopening and re-christening of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.
• Camp Lemonier Helps Maintain African Wildlife Refuge Navy NewsStand 14 Nov 2008 -- U.S. military members and Department of Defense (DoD) contractors from Camp Lemonier, Djibouti (CLDJ), assisted in the conservation efforts at a local wildlife refuge during a community relations event Nov. 9 in Djibouti City, Djibouti as part of the camp's cheetah refuge volunteer program (CRVP).
• Observatory's Master Clock Precision Vital to Current Ops Navy NewsStand 14 Nov 2008 -- The United States Naval Observatory (USNO) formally dedicated its new Master Clock Facility Nov. 7, which will be the repository of the most accurate time-scale available in the world.
• Russia to scrap all decommissioned nuclear submarines by 2012 RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2008 -- Russia will scrap all decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines by the beginning of 2012, a shipyard official said on Friday.
• Russian military considers buying aerial drones from Israel RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2008 -- The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed on Friday that Russia was looking at purchasing pilotless aircraft from Israel, but a spokesman said a final decision had not been made.
• Russia, U.S. to hold talks on new START treaty by end of 2008 RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2008 -- Russia and the United States are planning to hold the next round of talks on replacing the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty by the end of the year, a Russian deputy foreign minister said on Friday.
• US Calls Proposed Deployment of Russian Missiles in Belarus Unhelpful VOA 14 Nov 2008 -- The United States said Friday a proposed deployment of Russian short-range missiles in Belarus would not be helpful to regional security.
• Sarkozy offers talks before Russia deploys missiles near Poland RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2008 -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy proposed on Friday holding a meeting on European security involving Russia and the United States before Moscow deploys missiles near Poland.
• EU, Russia Resume Security Talks VOA 14 Nov 2008 -- The European Union and Russia have agreed to resume strategic partnership talks next month that had been frozen over the conflict with Georgia.
• Sudan confirms purchase of Russian MiG-29 jet fighters RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2008 -- Sudan has bought an undisclosed number of MiG-29 fighters from Russia, the northeast African state's defense minister said on Friday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 14 Nov 2008
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Dana Perino The White House 14 Nov 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 14, 2008
• Boeing Delivers 1st Production Laser JDAM Kits to US Navy Boeing 14 Nov 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has delivered the first production Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM) guidance kits to the U.S. Navy, addressing the service's need to engage fast-moving land targets.
• Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Flies Supersonic Lockheed Martin 14 Nov 2008 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Joint Strike Fighter flew supersonic for the first time yesterday, achieving another milestone. The aircraft accelerated to Mach 1.05, or about 680 miles per hour.
• ATK Successfully Test Fires First Stage of Kinetic Energy Interceptors ATK 14 Nov 2008 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) successfully test-fired a Kinetic Energy Interceptors (KEI) first stage solid rocket motor at its Promontory, Utah facility.
• Northrop Grumman, Kinetic Energy Interceptors Team Verify Flight Configuration of First Stage Rocket Motor Components Northrop Grumman 14 Nov 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), industry teammates and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) yesterday conducted a successful static fire test of the Kinetic Energy Interceptors (KEI) first stage rocket motor that verified performance of key components in their flight configuration.
• Kinetic Energy Interceptors Team Completes Key Missile Defense Rocket Motor Test Raytheon 14 Nov 2008 -- The Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) Kinetic Energy Interceptors team fired a powerful first-stage rocket motor, keeping the KEI program on schedule for a 2009 booster flight test.
• BAE SYSTEMS INVENTS NEW LAUNCHER FOR SMALL-UAV’S BAE Systems 14 Nov 2008 -- A team from BAE Systems has developed a much-needed capability for use on the front line - a compact mortar-based launcher for small Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs).
• Boeing to Acquire Digital Receiver Technology to Enhance Capabilities in Intelligence Market Boeing 14 Nov 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced an agreement to acquire Digital Receiver Technology, Inc. (DRT), a Germantown, Md.-based company that develops hardware and software products for wireless surveillance and tracking equipment for federal government and law enforcement customers.
• Raytheon Submits Proposal for Air Force Global Broadcast Service Transition Contract Raytheon 14 Nov 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has submitted its proposal for the Air Force Global Broadcast Service (GBS) Satellite Broadcast Manager Defense Enterprise Computing Center (DECC) Transition contract.

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 14 Nov 2008
• Gaza militants continue rocket attacks against Israel RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2008 -- Palestinian militants in Gaza continued rocket attacks on Israel on Friday, striking Ashkelon in the country's south, the Israeli Army said.
• Israel responds to Palestinian rocket barrages with airstrikes RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2008 -- Israeli aircraft fired missiles on Friday at militants in the Gaza Strip in response to continued Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli territories along the border.
• Israeli-Palestinian Fighting Tests Gaza Truce VOA 14 Nov 2008 -- There has been more fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian gunmen in and around the Gaza Strip. Robert Berger reports from the VOA bureau in Jerusalem.
• Ban calls for end to rocket attacks from Gaza, Israeli resumption of fuel, aid flows UN News Centre 14 Nov 2008 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for an end to rocket attacks from Gaza against Israel and called on Israel to allow urgently a steady and sufficient supply of fuel and humanitarian aid to the Strip.
• UN delivering humanitarian aid as ceasefire holds in eastern DR Congo UN News Centre 14 Nov 2008 -- Although the overall situation in the volatile North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is tense and unpredictable, no major ceasefire violations or attacks on civilians and property have been reported, the United Nations reported today.
• DRC: 150,000 children miss school as violence continues in the east IRIN 14 Nov 2008 -- Fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has forced most schools in Rutshuru territory to close, leaving an estimated 150,000 children out of class, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said.
• Eyewitness Accounts Confirm Shelling Of Georgian Villages RFE/RL 14 Nov 2008
• Medvedev says Georgia ceasefire plan 'implemented' RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2008 -- The terms of the so-called Medvedev-Sarkozy ceasefire plan that ended a five-day war between Russia and Georgia in August have been fully implemented, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday.
• Côte d’Ivoire: UN presses ahead with logistical support for future polls UN News Centre 14 Nov 2008 -- The United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) is making taxis available to transport staff and equipment involved in the identification and voter registration process in preparation the West African nation’s elections, which have recently been postponed for a third time.
• Somali Leaders Locked In Internal Dispute While Rebels Advance On Mogadishu VOA 14 Nov 2008 -- The feuding leaders of Somalia's transitional government are deadlocked in a dispute over cabinet appointments as Islamist rebel forces advance to within striking distance of the capital, Mogadishu..
• First Russian peacekeepers leave on EU mission to Chad RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2008 -- The first contingent of Russian peacekeepers will leave Russia for Chad on Friday as part of a joint EU mission to support the UN in the Central African country, a Russian Air Force spokesman said.

News Reports

• ZIMBABWE: The divorce becomes final IRIN 14 Nov 2008 -- Zimbabwe's political crisis deepened on 14 November with the withdrawal of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), led by Morgan Tsvangirai, from the moribund power-sharing deal with President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF.
• Somalia: UN agency ships food aid under naval protection amid bleak forecasts UN News Centre 14 Nov 2008 -- More than 2 million Somalis suffering the combined effects of war, drought, and soaring food and fuel prices will receive deliveries of almost 60,000 tons of food from a United Nations agency this month, thanks to naval protection from the Netherlands and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) against pirate attacks.
• EU-Russia Summit Hints At Geopolitical Rapprochement RFE/RL 14 Nov 2008 -- Russia's drive for recognition as one of the world's major powers took a long step forward as the EU's French presidency publicly backed President Dmitry Medvedev's call for a new "security architecture" for Europe
• Business, As Usual, To Be Focus Of EU-Russia Summit RFE/RL 14 Nov 2008 -- It appears to be back to business as usual for Brussels and Moscow, even if the two sides continue to disagree about the fine print
• Chechen Leader Further Strengthens His Position RFE/RL 14 Nov 2008 -- Two recent developments in Chechnya reflect the extent to which republic head Ramzan Kadyrov can still impose his will on Moscow to rid himself of any figure whom he perceives as a potential threat to his authority
• Will New President Bring 'Kadyrovization' To Ingushetia? RFE/RL 14 Nov 2008 -- Why did Russian President Dmitry Medvedev name Yunus-Bek Yevkurov as president of Ingushetia?
• Baku Summit Looks To Bring Caspian Resources To Europe RFE/RL 14 Nov 2008 -- Top officials from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Turkey, and the United States are in Baku to discuss their options for transiting Caspian energy to Europe
• Russian warship protects trade vessels from pirates off Somalia RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2008 -- With pirate attacks on the rise off the coast of Somalia, Russia's Neustrashimy (Fearless) frigate is currently escorting trade ships in the area, the Russian Navy said on Friday.