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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 19 Nov 2008 [PDF]
• Nov. 18 airpower summary: F-15Es support coalition forces AFNS 19 Nov 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 18, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Iraqis Arrest Local Official, Coalition Captures Terror Suspects AFPS 19 Nov 2008 -- Iraqi security forces arrested a local government official in Iraq’s Diyala province yesterday, one of 11 suspects captured this week in ongoing efforts to break up terrorist cells throughout the country, military officials reported.
• McKiernan Discusses Challenges in Afghanistan AFPS 19 Nov 2008 -- Afghanistan’s complex environment colors military operations in the nation, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan told the Atlantic Council of the United States here yesterday.
• Pakistan Says NATO Afghan Supply Lines Will Stay Open VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- Pakistan's army chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, has assured NATO commanders meeting in Brussels that he will keep supply lines to their troops in Afghanistan open after a surge in attacks along the Afghan-Pakistani border.
• Training Turns Afghan Civilians into Soldiers AFPS 19 Nov 2008 -- Afghan civilians are transformed into soldiers on a daily basis at the Kabul Military Training Center.
• Analysis: The Road Ahead in Afghanistan cfr.org 19 Nov 2008-- As the war in Iraq appears to wind down, U.S. strategists are zeroing in on the "good war" (Stratfor), as the seven-year struggle for Afghanistan has been called
• Interview: Broader Approach Needed to Resolve Afghanistan Crisis cfr.org 19 Nov 2008-- Barnett R. Rubin, Director of Studies and Senior Fellow, Center on International Cooperation of NYU
• US Commander Hopes To Have More Troops to Afghanistan VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- The U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan says he hopes President-elect Barack Obama moves quickly to send more troops to Afghanistan, because he does not have enough force to provide security in some parts of the country.
• Pakistan Says Al-Qaida Operative Killed in US Missile Strike VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- Authorities in Pakistan say a suspected U.S. missile strike has killed at least six al-Qaida-linked militants in a remote northwestern village.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Barksdale officials complete Nuclear Surety Inspection AFNS 19 Nov 2008 -- Officials of the 2nd Bomb Wing here completed the first no-notice Nuclear Surety Inspection in mid-November, the first inspection without prior warning conducted in more than 15 years according to Air Combat Command officials.
• Agreement Respects Iraqi Sovereignty, Allows U.S. Operations AFPS 19 Nov 2008 -- The status of forces agreement that U.S. and Iraqi leaders initialed earlier this week respects Iraqi sovereignty while allowing U.S. servicemembers to continue operations, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said here today.
• Al-Maliki Calls For Parliament To Approve U.S.-Iraq Security Pact RFE/RL 19 Nov 2008-- Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has gone on national television to assure the Iraqi people that the terms of a newly signed security pact with the United States will not be changed under any circumstances
• Sadrists Block Debate on Iraq-US Pact VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- Iraqi lawmakers loyal to Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have disrupted a parliamentary debate on the U.S.-Iraq security agreement.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Geoff Morrell from the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. DoD 19 Nov 2008 -- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell
• New program for DOD moves rolls out AFNS 19 Nov 2008 -- Officials from U.S. Transportation Command here and the Army's Military Surface Distribution and Deployment Command announced that Phase II of the Defense Personal Property System will begin live operations Nov. 19.
• New Effort Taps Best Commercial Practices for Defense Acquisition AFPS 19 Nov 2008 -- When a shopper goes online to make a purchase, a click of the mouse will identify which retailers offer the product and at what price, and how much they’ll charge to deliver it to the buyer’s doorstep.
• Military, Shippers Must Work Together to Deter Pirates, Official Says AFPS 19 Nov 2008 -- Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell today defended the military effort to deter piracy in the Gulf of Aden and called on commercial ships to do more against this scourge of the sea.
• Multinational Conference Focuses on Joint Solutions AFPS 19 Nov 2008 -- Representatives of the United States and its allies are meeting in Oslo, Norway, this week in an effort to develop joint solutions to common defense challenges.
• FCS launcher to protect new class of Navy ship Army News 19 Nov 2008 -- The Non-Line of Sight Launch System, being developed as part of the Army's Future Combat Systems, has been selected for use aboard the first of the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ships, the USS Freedom.
• Interagency Fire Drill Increases MCM, Gulf Coast Shipyard Interoperability Navy NewsStand 19 Nov 2008 -- The crew of the USS Defender (MCM 2) conducted a shipboard-shipyard-local fire department fire drill at Gulf Coast Copper Shipyard Nov. 5 during the ship's planned maintenance availability (PMA) period.
• Storekeeper, Postal Clerk Ratings to Merge into Logistic Specialist Rating Navy NewsStand 19 Nov 2008 -- Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Gary Roughead, has approved the merger of the storekeeper (SK) and postal clerk (PC) ratings to the logistics specialist (LS) rating, according to a Navy message released Nov. 17.
• Login changes to bolster AKO security Army News 19 Nov 2008 -- Operators of the Army's Web-based information portal "Army Knowledge Online" plan to implement new security procedures on the system as early as January.
• Chief of staff visits Brooke Army Medical Center Army News 19 Nov 2008 -- Warrior Care Month allows us to restate our commitment to the Soldier's life, said Gen. George W. Casey Jr., chief of staff of the Army, during a Purple Heart Ceremony Nov. 17 at the Center for the Intrepid.
• From civilian to Navy: CBIRF corpsman continues to defend homeland USMC News 19 Nov 2008
• Stennis Ready for Deployment After Successful Training with Coalition, Joint Partners Navy NewsStand 19 Nov 2008 -- The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCSCSG) successfully completed Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) off the coast of Southern California Nov. 16.
• USS Albany Returns from Deployment Navy NewsStand 19 Nov 2008 -- The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Albany (SSN 753) returned to Naval Station Norfolk Nov. 18 following a seven-month deployment in support of the maritime strategy.
• Project Hope Delivers on Continuing Promise Navy NewsStand 19 Nov 2008 -- Project Hope, with the assistance of USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), delivered seven pallets of medical supplies to Guyanese Ministry of Health officials during a ceremony Nov. 17 as part of the humanitarian/civic assistance (HCA) mission Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.
• USS John S. McCain Awarded U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation Navy NewsStand 19 Nov 2008 -- Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) received the Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation Oct. 27 for the ship's efforts in responding to a downed Air Force B-52 bomber off the coast of Apra Harbor, Guam.
• Japan/U.S. Missile Defense Flight Test Completed MDA 19 Nov 2008 -- Rear Admiral Tomohisa Takei, Director General of Operations and Plans, for the Japanese Maritime Staff Office (MSO), Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF), and Lt. General Henry "Trey" Obering, United States Missile Defense Agency director, announced the completion today of a cooperative sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense intercept flight test off the coast of Kauai in Hawaii
• Russian Navy to receive Severodvinsk nuclear submarine in 2010 RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2008 -- A new nuclear-powered attack submarine will be delivered to the Russian Navy in 2010, a Russian shipyard said on Wednesday.
• Russian military to be fully rearmed by 2020 RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2008 -- Around 80-100% of the Russian Armed Forces will be equipped with modern weapons and military hardware by 2018-2020, the Russian General Staff chief said on Wednesday.
• Russia ready to deploy Iskander missiles at any time - Gen. Staff RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2008 -- Russia is ready to deploy Iskander missile systems to its Kaliningrad Region at any time, the chief of the General Staff said Wednesday.
• Russia fully staffs bases in Abkhazia, S.Ossetia RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2008 -- Russian military bases in Georgia's disputed republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been fully staffed with 3,700 personnel each, the chief of the Russian General Staff said on Wednesday.
• NATO countries should resume military ties with Russia - assembly RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2008 -- NATO member countries should restore relations with Russia, including in the military sphere, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly has said in a resolution.
• Rights Advocates Tell Russia to Halt Warplane Sales to Sudan VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- A New York-based human rights group is asking the Russian Federation to suspend all arms sales to Sudan following media reports that Moscow recently sold 12 MiG-29 fighter jets to Khartoum.
• IRGC to build up Navy in Persian Gulf IRNA 19 Nov 2008-- The Basij (voluntary forces) under command council of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps will build up its Navy force in the Persian Gulf
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 19 Nov 2008
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Dana Perino The White House 19 Nov 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 19, 2008
• Lockheed Martin Receives $156 Million Contract To Extend Canadian CP-140 Aurora Aircraft Service Life Lockheed Martin 19 Nov 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received a $156 million contract to provide the P-3 Aircraft Service Life Extension Program (ASLEP) for the Canadian Forces’ CP-140 aircraft fleet.
• Boeing JTRS Ground Mobile Radios Team Demonstrates Integrated Communications Boeing 19 Nov 2008 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Program Executive Office, Joint Tactical Radio System (JPEO JTRS) have demonstrated how software-defined Ground Mobile Radios (GMRs) are able to operate with one another in a tactical operational environment.
• Boeing Upgrades, Powers Up 3rd C-130 for Avionics Modernization Program Boeing 19 Nov 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] announced today that it has successfully completed Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) upgrades on C-130 aircraft AMP 3 (H3).
• EADS Military Transport Aircraft delivers the sixth HC-144A Maritime Patrol Aircraft for the US Coast Guard’s Deepwater Programme EADS 19 Nov 2008 -- Military Transport Aircraft of EADS has delivered the sixth HC-144A Ocean Sentry Maritime Patrol Aircraft for the US Coast Guard Deepwater programme.
• Raytheon's JLENS Conducts Successful Design Reviews Raytheon 19 Nov 2008 -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) JLENS (Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System) has successfully conducted critical design readiness reviews (CDRR) on its final two prime items, the surveillance radar (SuR) and the communications and processing group (CPG).
• SAIC Awarded $115 Million Task Order by Naval Sea Systems Command SAIC 19 Nov 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a task order by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Program Office to provide professional services to design and implement an ERP system across the NAVSEA enterprise
• Detailed Design Review for SEA 1442 Phase 3 completed on schedule Thales 19 Nov 2008 -- The project involves the introduction of an Internet Protocol (IP) based Maritime Tactical Wide Area Network (MTWAN) into the Royal Australian Navy, in support of the Australian Defence Force's Network Centric Warfare concept. The MTWAN will provide the foundation for future maritime communication systems integration and implementation.

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 19 Nov 2008
• DR Congo: Ban welcomes rebel pullback and increased aid access in east UN News Centre 19 Nov 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the announcement of a military pullback by a rebel militia and the opening of humanitarian corridors to allow unfettered access to vulnerable people in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where recent conflict has uprooted a quarter of a million people.
• DRC: Rape crisis set to worsen amid Kivu chaos IRIN 19 Nov 2008 -- Soaring insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has raised fears of a new wave of sexual violence in a region termed “the worst place in the world to be a woman” by aid workers.
• Congo Rebels Pull Back From Hot Spots VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- The United Nations says rebel fighters in the Democratic Republic of Congo are pulling back from two volatile spots in the eastern region of the country.
• UN Investigates Reports of Violations in Darfur Cease-Fire VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- The United Nations secretary-general has expressed concern over recent reports of aerial bombings in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region.
• Ban joins concern over fresh reports of bombings and fighting in Darfur UN News Centre 19 Nov 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged all sides to the Darfur conflict to refrain from hostilities as the United Nations tries to verify “troubling reports” of aerial bombings by Sudanese military forces and renewed fighting in recent days across the war-torn region.
• Israel reinstitutes Gaza blockade after brief respite, UN reports UN News Centre 19 Nov 2008 -- Israel reinstituted its blockade of the Gaza Strip today after a brief respite to let humanitarian aid pass through on Tuesday, United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes said today, describing the situation as “desperate” and “unacceptable.”
• Israel Ignores UN Pleas to Ease Gaza Blockade VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- Israel is ignoring pleas by the United Nations to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, standing firm on its blockade of the Palestinian territory.
• ‘Important qualitative leap’ made in Georgia talks, UN reports UN News Centre 19 Nov 2008 -- International talks on the Russian-Georgian conflict in South Ossetia made an “important qualitative leap” today, moving from a sterile procedural debate to a substantive one, a senior United Nations envoy said.
• Officials Meet In Geneva For Talks On Russia-Georgia War RFE/RL 19 Nov 2008-- Officials from Russia and Georgia have met in Geneva for talks on the wake of the August armed conflict over the separatist region of South Ossetia
• Georgia, Russia Conclude Talks VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- Russia and Georgia have wrapped up a round of talks aimed at easing tensions after a five-day war in August over Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia.
• Humanitarian situation in Somalia in serious decline as security worsens, warns UN chief UN News Centre 19 Nov 2008 -- The deteriorating security situation in Somalia poses a serious threat to the delivery of humanitarian aid to millions of desperate people in the Horn of Africa country, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned in his latest report to the Security Council today.
• Identifying Chechnya's Dead RFE/RL 19 Nov 2008-- Aslan Chadayev was well-known in his village of Shalazhi, in central Chechnya, for being an avid reader
• UN, EU mark progress at Caucasus security talks in Geneva RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2008 -- International talks in Geneva on security in the Caucasus and the return of refugees in the wake of the August Russia-Georgia conflict produced some progress, the UN and EU mediators said on Wednesday.
• Former Liberian Warring Faction Leader Sues US Group for Defamation VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- The leader of the former Liberian Peace Council, one of the many factions in Liberia's 14-year-old civil war has sued the U.S.-based Advocates for Human Rights group for defamation.

News Reports

• Al-Qaida Insults Obama, Uses Racial Slur in Web Message VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- Al-Qaida is lashing out at U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, referring to him by a derogatory racial term and describing his policies as anti-Islamic.
• Zawahri Insults Obama With Racial Term VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- Al-Qaida's first reaction to Barack Obama's election as U.S. president refers to him by a derogatory racial term and attacks his policies as anti-Islamic.
• US Seeking Better, More Comprehensive Anti-Piracy Approach VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- The Pentagon spokesman says senior U.S. officials are looking for better ways to address the piracy off the east coast of Africa.
• Somali Pirates Talk Ransom for Supertanker VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- Pirates holding an oil tanker off the coast of Somalia have begun negotiations over a ransom with the ship's Saudi Arabian owners, according to Saudi Arabia's foreign minister.
• Secretary-General deplores latest acts of piracy off coast of Somalia UN News Centre 19 Nov 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his concern at new acts of piracy off the Somali coast this week amid reports of a series of attacks or attempting hijackings in recent days in a region already notorious for the practice.
• Indian Navy sinks pirate ship in Gulf of Aden IRNA 19 Nov 2008-- 'INS Tabar', India's Navy ship, which is currently in the Gulf of Aden for Anti-Piracy Surveillance and Patrol Operations, has sunk a pirate mother ship during a fierce battle in the Gulf of Aden near the Horn of Africa
• Somalia wants more Russian warships to fight piracy RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2008 -- Somalia would like to see more Russian warships helping the country fight piracy off its coast, the country's ambassador to Moscow said on Wednesday.
• Indian frigate sinks pirate ship off Somalia coast RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2008 -- An Indian frigate has sunk a pirate "mother ship" in the Gulf of Aden after coming under attack, the Indian Navy said on Wednesday.
• Indian Navy Destroys Pirate Ship in Gulf of Aden VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- For the second time in a week, India's navy has repelled pirates in the Gulf of Aden.
• UN seeks $7 billion in humanitarian aid for 2009, by far its largest ever appeal UN News Centre 19 Nov 2008 -- The United Nations today launched its largest ever annual humanitarian appeal, seeking $7 billion for urgent aid to 30 million people in 31 countries, dwarfing by far last year’s call for $3.8 billion for 25 million people.
• Nigerian Soldiers Jailed for Life for Arms Sales to Rebels VOA 19 Nov 2008 -- Six Nigerian soldiers have been sentenced to life imprisonment for selling guns and other weapons to militants and criminals in the Niger Delta.
• Press Briefing by Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs Daniel Price and Deputy Press Secretary Gordon Johndroe on the President's Trip to APEC Summit The White House 19 Nov 2008