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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Marine, Soldier attacked by SAF (Biaj)
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• Nov. 25 airpower summary: A-10s deter anti-Afghan attacks AFNS 26 Nov 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Troops in Iraq Capture 14 Suspected Terrorists AFPS 26 Nov 2008 -- Coalition forces captured 14 suspected terrorists today during operations targeting al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist networks, military officials said.
• FOB Delta preps for emergencies Army News 26 Nov 2008 -- Soldiers at Forward Operating Base Delta worked together to save lives and restore calm during a mass casualty exercise here Nov. 21
• Afghan President Says He's Powerless to Stop US Airstrikes VOA 26 Nov 2008 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he is powerless to halt U.S. airstrikes in his country and he would stop American warplanes if he could. The president has sharply criticized international rebuilding and military operations in Afghanistan in recent meetings with U.N. officials.
• Coalition Kills 32 Militants, Captures 10 Others in Afghanistan AFPS 26 Nov 2008 -- Coalition and Afghan forces killed 32 militants and captured 10 suspected militants today and yesterday during operations to disrupt terrorist networks in Afghanistan, military officials said.
• Cooperation Grows Between Afghan, U.S. Forces AFPS 26 Nov 2008 -- Whether it is a routine patrol or a weapons search, U.S. and Afghan forces increasingly are working together to halt the violence that has haunted Afghanistan for more than 30 years.
• Two Services Work Towards One Mission in Afghanistan Navy NewsStand 26 Nov 2008 -- Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 and Soldiers of the 62nd Combat Service Engineering Battalion (CSE) are working together along Afghanistan's eastern border to provide construction for NATO allies at forward operating bases (FOB) throughout the region.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Iraqi Parliament Delays Vote on Security Pact until Thursday VOA 26 Nov 2008 -- Iraq's speaker of parliament says lawmakers have delayed a vote on a long-awaited security pact with the United States until Thursday.
• Obama Asks Gates To Stay On As U.S. Defense Secretary RFE/RL 26 Nov 2008 -- Reports from the United States say Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been asked by President-elect Barack Obama to continue at his Pentagon post when Obama's administration is sworn into office on January 20
• ABL Successfully Fires Complete Weapon System From Aircraft MDA 26 Nov 2008 -- Army Lieutenant General Patrick J. O'Reilly, Missile Defense Agency director, announced today the successful firing and propagation of the Airborne Laser (ABL) megawatt-class weapons system through the aircraft turret during ground tests at Edwards Air Force Base, California
• Checkerboards touch down USMC News 26 Nov 2008 -- More than 100 members of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 visited Naval Station Norfolk, Va. to board the USS Eisenhower for a pre-deployment work-up in the northern Atlantic Ocean Nov. 17-22
• New aircraft boasts new, improved capabilities USMC News 26 Nov 2008 -- Military helicopters over Quantico, are a common sight, yet many individuals watching do not automatically assume there is no one inside
• Department of Defense Information Assurance Leader Wins Prestigious Executive Alliance Award DoD 26 Nov 2008 -- On Nov. 17, 2008, the Executive Alliance awarded Robert Lentz, deputy assistant secretary of defense for information and identity assurance (DASD-IIA) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Networks and Information Integration /Chief Information Office, its "Government Information Security Executive of the Year" award for North America
• Air Force civilian earns award for plasma research AFNS 26 Nov 2008 -- The Plasma Science and Applications Committee of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers selected an Air Force Office of Scientific Research program manager for the 2009 Plasma Science and Applications award.
• Chief of staff visits Barksdale AFNS 26 Nov 2008 -- The Air Force chief of staff visited Barksdale Air Force Base Nov. 25 to familiarize himself with the base's mission.
• 386th Airmen clear hazards, keep locals safe AFNS 26 Nov 2008 -- Beyond the wire of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing spans an area covered not only in sand but potential explosive hazards, aging from as far back as the Gulf War fighting that took place here in the early 90s.
• DoD Joins With VA to Resolve Gulf War Veterans’ Health Issues AFPS 26 Nov 2008 -- The Defense Department continues to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to resolve veterans’ health issues, including maladies associated with the Gulf War, a senior DoD official said here today.
• National Resource Directory Helps Wounded Warriors AFPS 26 Nov 2008 -- A Web-based network of support for wounded warriors, veterans and their families, as well as the families of the fallen, has sprung from a collaborative effort by the departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs.
• EODMU 3 Celebrates 25 Years Navy NewsStand 26 Nov 2008 -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 3 celebrated their 25th anniversary Nov. 21. at Naval Station Coronado.
• Andersen Airmen hear Dragon Thunder AFNS 26 Nov 2008 -- Andersen Air Force Base Airmen sharpened their expeditionary skills during Exercise Dragon Thunder Nov. 17 through 21 here.
• Warrior Care: Army Chief Partners with Civilian Medical Community AFPS 26 Nov 2008 -- As part of November’s Defense Department focus on warrior care, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. and key members of his medical team met this week with independent experts in psychology, mental health and resiliency training.
• Staying Power: Marine Corps’ Call Center Contacts, Assists Wounded Warriors AFPS 26 Nov 2008 -- Wounded warriors who call into the Marine Wounded Warrior Call Center near Quantico, Va., find truth in the motto, “once a Marine, always a Marine.”
• Freedom Cruises St. Lawrence Seaway Navy NewsStand 26 Nov 2008 -- Crew members aboard the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) completed a rather challenging and difficult voyage known as the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System before arriving in Montreal Nov. 20.
• Southern Partnership Station Begins Aboard Swift Navy NewsStand 26 Nov 2008 -- Military Sealift Command-chartered high speed vessel HSV-2 Swift (HSV 2) along with various embarked Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force units departed Louisiana Nov. 25 for a five-month deployment in support of Southern Partnership Station (SPS).
• Naval Base Guam T-AKE Wharf to Enhance Pacific Capabilities Navy NewsStand 26 Nov 2008 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas announced Nov. 24 the award of the second increment of an $83 million firm-fixed price contract to IBC/TOA Corporation Joint Venture based in Barrigada, Guam.
• Navy Supply Corps Conference Emphasizes Maritime Strategy Operations Navy NewsStand 26 Nov 2008 -- Supply Corps flag officers and senior executives discussed the critical role the Navy Supply Corps plays in supporting the Maritime Strategy during a two-day conference held in Washington Nov. 20-21.
• Warfighters Prove Naval Expeditionary Overwatch Collaboration is a Success Navy NewsStand 26 Nov 2008 -- Officials from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), five Navy Warfare Centers and industry collaborating on the Navy Expeditionary Overwatch (NEO) system's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) technology watched warfighters demonstrate the network at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NWSC) Dahlgren Nov. 20.
• Chilean Submarine Completes Engagement Support, Departs Point Loma Navy NewsStand 26 Nov 2008 -- Chilean Submarine (CS) Simpson (SS-21) departed from Naval Base Point Loma on Nov. 18, after spending two and a half months in the Southern California area of operations supporting several U.S. Navy 3rd Fleet joint exercises.
• NR-1 Submarine Dives Into History Navy NewsStand 26 Nov 2008 -- The unique, compact undersea research and ocean engineering submarine NR-1 held its inactivation ceremony Nov. 21 at Naval Submarine Base New London.
• NMCB 1 Air Det. Takes Over 3rd FOB on FTX Navy NewsStand 26 Nov 2008 -- Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 Air Det. prepare to move into their third and final forward operating base (FOB) after arriving at Camp Shelby, Miss., Nov. 2, for the battalion field training exercise "Operation: Desert Justice."
• NAVFAC EURSWA Supports Black Sea Partnership Mission Navy NewsStand 26 Nov 2008 -- The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Europe and Southwest Asia's (NAVFAC EURSWA) provided oil-spill preparedness training aboard USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) during the week of Nov. 10 as part of the multinational 2008 Black Sea Partnership Cruise (BSPC).
• Dozen Venezuelan warships to join drills with Russian navy RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2008 -- Twelve Venezuelan warships will take part in a joint exercise with a Russian naval group due to start on December 1, a senior Venezuelan military official said on Wednesday.
• UK cost of Iraq, Afghan wars tops Pnds 13 bn IRNA 26 Nov 2008 -- The net additional cost for the UK wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is set to reach more than Pnds 13 billion (Dlrs 20 bn) by the end of the current financial year in March, according to the latest figures released by Defence Secretary John Hutton
• Indian pilot killed as Army chopper crashes IRNA 26 Nov 2008 -- An Indian Army helicopter crashed into a river, killing its pilot and injuring another near Uchna-gaon in Uttar Pradesh state on Wednesday, police said
• Navy to take delivery of Ghadir class submarine IRNA 26 Nov 2008 -- Commander of the Islamic Republic Army's Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said here Wednesday that in next 15 days another Ghadir class submarine will be delivered to the Navy
• Russia test-launches new-generation RS-24 ballistic missile RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2008 -- Russia successfully test launched on Wednesday a new-generation intercontinental ballistic missile bearing multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) warheads.
• Press Briefing by Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto The White House 26 Nov 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 26, 2008
• Israel Aerospace Industries Awarded an IMOD Contract Valued at $28 Million for Command and Control (C2) Systems Israel Aerospace Industries 26 Nov 2008 -- The MLM Division of the Systems Missiles and Space Group of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has been awarded a $28 million contract from Israel’s Ministry of Defense for advanced Command -and-Control (C2) Systems.
• Oshkosh Defense Awarded $51 Million Contract to Provide the U.S. Army With Armor ‘B’ Kits for the HEMTT A4 Oshkosh 26 Nov 2008 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), has been awarded a contract with the U.S. Army’s Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) for more than 660 armor “B” kits for the A4 version of the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT).
• Two upgraded frigates accepted Thales 26 Nov 2008 -- In what was described by leading defence writer Ian McPhedran as ‘one of the biggest comebacks in defence project history', the two ships will now undergo sea trials before being declared ready for operational deployment, likely in mid 2009.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 26 Nov 2008
• PRESS CONFERENCE ON DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO HUMANITARIAN SITUATION United Nations 26 Nov 2008
• Extra blue helmets will aid political efforts to bring peace to DR Congo – UN UN News Centre 26 Nov 2008 -- The additional blue helmets that will be deployed to help quell the violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will create space for political and diplomatic peace efforts to press ahead, the top United Nations envoy to the vast African nation said today as he stressed the fragility of the situation.
• UN Says New Fighting in Eastern Congo Causing Panic VOA 26 Nov 2008 -- The United Nations says new fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has caused panic among civilians.
• MONUC Hopeful of Solution to Congo’s Security Instability VOA 26 Nov 2008 -- The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) says it is hopeful peace can be restored in the restive North Kivu province. MONUC said the UN Special Envoy to the country is working hard to end the fierce clashes between the national army and the National Congress for the Defense of People (CNDP) rebel group.
• DRC-ZAMBIA: Kivu fighting slows refugee repatriation IRIN 26 Nov 2008 -- Fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is jeopardising a voluntary repatriation programme for Congolese refugees in neighbouring Zambia, a senior UN refugee agency (UNHCR) official has said.
• Palestinians in Gaza paying ‘heavy price’ as conditions worsen, says UN official UN News Centre 26 Nov 2008 -- The top United Nations relief official in the occupied Palestinian territory today appealed to donors to provide urgent funds to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation there, particularly in Gaza, where continued border closures in recent weeks have prevented the delivery of vital food, medicine and fuel supplies.
• Top UN envoy welcomes recent progress in Somali peace talks UN News Centre 26 Nov 2008 -- The senior United Nations envoy to Somalia today welcomed the latest round of talks on critical issues – such as justice and reconciliation, the unity government and security issues – to further the peace process in the war-ravaged Horn of Africa nation.
• Somalia Government, Opposition Agree on Power-Sharing VOA 26 Nov 2008 -- Negotiators say Somalia's interim government has signed a power-sharing agreement with a moderate wing of the nation's Islamist-led opposition.
• SOMALIA: Power-sharing deal reached in Djibouti as TFG split widens IRIN 26 Nov 2008 -- The parties to the peace talks aimed at ending the conflict in Somalia have reached a power-sharing deal in Djibouti that doubles the size of parliament, observers said.
• UN peacebuilding arm stresses need for political stability in Guinea-Bissau after failed coup UN News Centre 26 Nov 2008 -- The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission has called on Guinea-Bissau’s Government and other senior national figures to do all they can to maintain political stability and avoid violence in the wake of last weekend’s unsuccessful coup attempt by dissident elements of the military.
• Mediators: Ugandan Rebel Leader to Sign Peace Deal VOA 26 Nov 2008 -- The chief mediator in Ugandan peace talks said rebel leader Joseph Kony is set to sign a final peace agreement.
• MAURITANIA: Thousands of returnees await legal status IRIN 26 Nov 2008 -- The Mauritanian government has promised thousands of repatriated citizens waiting for their residency papers for nearly a year that they will receive identity cards by year’s end.
• Ban hails Sudan’s election body as major progress in north-south peace accord UN News Centre 26 Nov 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the decree signed yesterday by Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir appointing the National Electoral Commission, calling it a major step towards implementing the accords that ended a two-decade-long civil war in the south of Africa’s largest country.
• Sri Lankan Army Reportedly on Verge of Taking Rebel Headquarters in North VOA 26 Nov 2008 -- The Sri Lankan government is optimistic that its troops will soon capture the Tamil rebel headquarters in the north of the country.

News Reports

• Nearly 80 Confirmed Dead in Mumbai Siege VOA 26 Nov 2008 -- India's financial capital, Mumbai, is under siege, as heavily armed attackers have targeted numerous locations throughout the city in an unprecedented, ongoing assault.
• Indian Police Suspect Terrorism in Mumbai Attacks VOA 26 Nov 2008 -- Indian police suspect terrorists are responsible for a series of attacks late Wednesday in the southern city of Mumbai.
• PRESS CONFERENCE, ON ZIMBABWE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION, BY DEPUTY EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR United Nations 26 Nov 2008
• Zimbabwe’s humanitarian crisis likely to worsen, warns senior UN relief official UN News Centre 26 Nov 2008 -- A senior United Nations relief official has urged donors to generously support the $550 million appeal launched earlier this week to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe, which she warned will get much worse without “massive” international assistance.
• Thai Prime Minister Refuses to Step Down, Protests Continue VOA 26 Nov 2008 -- Thailand's prime minister has rejected demands by the country's top military leader for him to dissolve parliament and call new elections.
• Indian Navy Insists Destroyed Ship in Gulf of Aden Was Controlled by Pirates VOA 26 Nov 2008 -- India's navy says its warship, which sank a pirate-controlled vessel in the Gulf of Aden, had no indication the ship it encountered at sea may have been a Thai fishing boat with hostages on board.
• Thai Army Chief Calls for New Elections VOA 26 Nov 2008 -- Thailand's army commander has urged the government of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to step aside and call a new election to resolve the country's political crisis.
• Medvedev In Caracas To Build Ties With U.S. Critic Chavez RFE/RL 26 Nov 2008 -- BRussian President Dmitry Medvedev is due to arrive in Caracas, for the first-ever visit to Venezuela by a Russian leader. He is being hosted by the hard-line leftist president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez
• Russia's upper house approves presidential, parliamentary terms RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2008 -- Russia's upper house of parliament has approved amendments to the Constitution extending the presidential term from four to six years and the lower house term from four to five years.