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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• PRESS CONFERENCE: Operational Update: Lt. Gen. Austin, MNC-I, Dec. 3, 2008 MNF-I 03 Dec 2008 -- Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, provides an update about security progress, Sons of Iraq, and Iraqi Security Forces
• Dec. 2 airpower summary: F-16s provide top cover AFNS 03 Dec 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 2, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Cooperation Leads to Weapons Seizures in Iraq AFPS 03 Dec 2008 -- Coalition and Iraqi security forces seized multiple weapons caches in Iraq this week in their ongoing effort to remove weapons from insurgents, military officials reported.
• Forces Must Take Advantage of Security Gains, General Says AFPS 03 Dec 2008 -- Violence in Iraq is at an all-time low since the beginning of the war, but challenges remain as a result of the improved security situation, the commander of coalition ground forces said today during a Baghdad news conference.
• Azerbaijanis end mission at Haditha Dam MNF-I 03 Dec 2008 -- Coalition forces thanked soldiers assigned to the 1st Azerbaijani Peacekeeping Company for their service in Iraq at a ceremony held on Al Asad Airbase Dec. 3 as the Azerbaijanis ended their mission in Iraq
• Small country, big mission; Azerbaijanis complete tour in Iraq USMC News 03 Dec 2008 -- For the past five years, service members from a small country approximately the size of South Carolina have been providing vital security for one of Iraq's major source of power, the Haditha Dam
• Azerbaijan Ends Mission to Iraq VOA 03 Dec 2008 -- Azerbaijan ended its small military mission to Iraq Wednesday, the latest coalition country to pull out before a U.N. mandate ends this month.
• Coalition, Afghan Forces Kill 10, Detain Seven AFPS 03 Dec 2008 -- Afghan and coalition troops today detained three militants in Afghanistan’s westernmost province, a day after troops killed 10 and detained four others in separate battles with insurgents, military officials reported.
• U.S. Advisor Praises Progress of Afghan Army’s 205th Corps AFPS 03 Dec 2008 -- With the help of mentors from several countries and every branch of service, the 205th Corps of the Afghan National Army now can plan and execute operations, a senior advisor said yesterday.
• NATO Chief: More Troops Needed in Afghanistan VOA 03 Dec 2008 -- NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer says more troops are needed in order to avoid a stalemate in NATO's fight against a growing insurgency in Afghanistan.
• AFGHANISTAN: UN calls for more action to protect children IRIN 03 Dec 2008 -- The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has called on all warring parties in Afghanistan to consider children as "zones of peace" to help protect them against the ravages of war.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Multiple Kill Vehicle Completes Hover Test MDA 03 Dec 2008 -- Missile Defense Agency Director Lieutenant General Patrick O'Reilly announced that a test of the Multiple Kill Vehicle-L (MKV-L) was conducted Tuesday, Dec. 2 at the National Hover Test Facility at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
• U.S. troops providing flood relief in Panama, Costa Rica Army News 03 Dec 2008 -- Two U.S. military disaster-relief teams from Joint Task Force-Bravo, based at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras, have delivered more than 278,000 pounds of relief supplies to victims in flood-affected communities in Panama and Costa Rica.
• Gates Will Lead New Obama Team at Defense Department AFPS 03 Dec 2008 -- While Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will stay in office in President-elect Barack Obama’s administration, other Bush administration political appointees will move on, a Pentagon spokesman said today.
• CV-22s complete first operational deployment AFNS 03 Dec 2008 -- Four CV-22 Ospreys from the 8th Special Operations Squadron here returned after completing their first operational deployment supporting Exercise Flintlock 2009 in November in Bamako, Mali.
• Lean initiatives in the Portuguese air force AFNS 03 Dec 2008 -- There have been many articles touting the benefits to the Air Force of Lean initiatives and Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, or AFSO 21.
• Air Mobility Command officials set all-time sortie record AFNS 03 Dec 2008 -- Officials from Air Mobility Command's 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center here set a new record for the number of sorties planned in a 24-hour period in November.
• Guard Develops Blast Injury Database AFPS 03 Dec 2008 -- A new National Guard database could improve long-term medical treatment for servicemembers in all branches, and boost research into traumatic brain injury and other health issues.
• Navy Working Uniform Details and Instructional Video Announced Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2008 -- The Chief of Naval Personnel released detailed information about the delivery schedule, manner of wear and occasion for wear for the Navy Working Uniform (NWU) Dec. 2 in NAVADMIN 343/08.
• Rota Fire Department Lights Off New Training Center - Literally Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2008 -- Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota's Fire Department conducted its first burn exercise Nov. 26, officially opening a $450,000 state-of-the-art fire training center, the first of its kind in Navy Region Europe.
• Sigonella FISC Streamlines Camp Lemonier's Logistical Operations Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2008 -- Commander Navy Region Europe (CNRE) and Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC) Sigonella personnel led a Lean Six Sigma (L6S) continuous process improvement (CPI) value stream analysis (VSA) event Oct. 22-24 at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti (CLDJ), to streamline logistical operations in the Horn of Africa (HOA).
• Blue Ridge Builds Relationships Then Departs Hong Kong Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2008 -- USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and embarked U.S. 7th Fleet staff Sailors departed Hong Kong Nov. 30 after a successful five-day port visit.
• Helicopter Squadron Returns from Deployment with Kearsarge Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2008 -- Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 Detachment 5 returned Dec. 2 after a four-month deployment with USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) in support of the humanitarian/civic assistance mission Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.
• Seabees Get Potable Water Flowing in Djibouti Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2008 -- A crew of four Seabees attached to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4, based out of Naval Base Ventura County, Calif., is currently constructing a second reverse osmosis water purification unit (ROWPU), aboard Camp Lemonier to provide additional potable water to meet the camp's demand.
• Mullen, Pakistani Officials Discuss Mumbai Terror Attacks AFPS 03 Dec 2008 -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met with senior Pakistani officials in Islamabad today to thank them for their willingness to work with Indian authorities in a joint investigation into the recent terror attacks in Mumbai, India.
• More Than 100 Countries Sign Cluster Bomb Ban VOA 03 Dec 2008 -- Representatives of more than 100 countries are in Oslo, Norway Wednesday to sign a treaty banning cluster bombs.
• U.S. Commits to Reducing Collateral Damage from Cluster Bombs AFPS 03 Dec 2008 -- U.S. officials share the concerns of some 100 countries that gathered in Norway today to sign a treaty banning cluster bombs, but the United States opted not to sign the treaty, a Pentagon spokesman said.
• Dozens of nations sign up to UN-backed treaty banning use of cluster bombs UN News Centre 03 Dec 2008 -- Representatives of around 100 countries gathered in Oslo, Norway today to sign an historic United Nations-sponsored treaty formally renouncing the use of cluster bombs, a weapon that frequently kills innocent civilians and cripples communities for decades after hostilities have ceased.
• Some 100 States Signing Cluster-Bomb Ban, But Big Powers Absent RFE/RL 03 Dec 2008 -- Representatives from more than 100 governments have begun signing a document binding their countries not to make, stockpile, or use cluster bombs
• UK among over 100 countries to sign cluster bomb ban IRNA 03 Dec 2008 -- Britain Wednesday was among more than 100 countries that to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which effectively outlawing the indiscriminate weapons
• NATO Ministers Affirm Support for US Missile Deployment VOA 03 Dec 2008 -- NATO foreign ministers have confirmed their support for U.S. plans to deploy a missile defense system in central Europe, despite strong protests from Russia.
• Is NATO Expansion Into The Former Soviet Space Dead? RFE/RL 03 Dec 2008 -- Shortly after NATO declined to grant Georgia and Ukraine their coveted Membership Action Plans (MAPs) at a foreign ministers' meeting this week, the firebrand nationalist who is Russia's envoy to the Atlantic alliance was gloating in front of the television cameras
• Georgia, Ukraine upbeat over NATO cooperation decision RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2008 -- Georgian and Ukrainian officials welcomed on Wednesday NATO's decision to boost ties with the countries, despite the alliance's refusal to admit them to the Membership Action Plan (MAP), seen as a vital step toward membership.
• Russia ready to restart dialogue with NATO - envoy RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2008 -- Russia is ready to restart dialogue with NATO, frozen after its brief war in August with Georgia, but will not forget that the alliance backed Tbilisi in the conflict, its NATO envoy said on Wednesday.
• NATO calls on Russia to resume implementation of CFE treaty RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2008 -- Foreign ministers of the 26 NATO member-countries urged Russia on Wednesday to lift its moratorium on a major arms reduction treaty in Europe.
• Russian warship to visit naval base in Panama RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2008 -- A Russian destroyer will visit on December 5-10 a former U.S. naval facility in Panama as part of the task force's current Caribbean tour, a Navy spokesman said on Wednesday.
• Russia to launch two telecoms satellites in February 2009 RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2008 -- Russia will launch two telecoms satellites on February 11, the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) said on Wednesday.
• Ukraine says troop redeployment no threat to Russia RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2008 -- Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov said on Wednesday that the planned redeployment of troops closer to the country's borders did not threaten Russia.
• Ukraine says troops could serve in NATO reaction force in 2011 RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2008 -- Certain units of Ukraine's armed forces could take part in the first rotations of NATO reaction forces and EU tactical units starting in 2011, the chief of the Ukrainian General Staff said Wednesday.
• Iran holds second stage of naval drills in Gulf of Oman RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2008 -- Iran has conducted the second stage of a four-stage, six-day naval exercise in the Gulf of Oman, a top military commander said on Wednesday/li>

• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 03 Dec 2008
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Dana Perino The White House 03 Dec 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 03, 2008
• BRITISH TROOPS COULD GET FIREPOWER BOOST FROM NEW WARRIOR TURRET AND GUN BAE Systems 03 Dec 2008 -- British troops could get a major increase in firepower thanks to a revolutionary gun system and advanced turret destined for their armoured fighting vehicles.
• Boeing-led Team Completes Major Upgrade for NATO AWACS Fleet Boeing 03 Dec 2008 -- A team led by Boeing [NYSE: BA] has completed a major mission-system upgrade for the NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet under the $1.32 billion Mid-Term Modernisation Programme.
• Lockheed Martin Awarded $17 Million for Apache Target Acquisition Designation Sight System Modernization Lockheed Martin 03 Dec 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] has been awarded a $16.9 million contract to begin modernization of the final portion of the U.S. Army’s Apache helicopter Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight (M-TADS) system.
• Charles de Gaulle refit and upgrade DCNS 03 Dec 2008 -- The CVN Charles de Gaulle refit and upgrade was completed on 1 December 2008. Prime contractor DCNS conducted this exceptional shipyard project at a sustained pace to complete it on time in just 15 months. The Group successfully coordinated the efforts of its own teams, subcontractors, the ship's crew and Navy fleet maintenance teams.
• Israel Aerospace Industries Awarded a $20 Million Contract for a Joint Training Capability System Israel Aerospace Industries 03 Dec 2008 -- The MLM Division of the Systems Missiles and Space Group of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has been awarded a contract exceeds $20 million from a foreign customer for an innovative Joint Training Capability (JTC).

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 03 Dec 2008
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY PROSECUTOR OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT United Nations 03 Dec 2008
• ICC Prosecutor Warns of Possible Sudanese Reprisals if Bashir Arrest Warrant Issued VOA 03 Dec 2008 -- The chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court told the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday that the court might soon decide whether to issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of genocide in the war-torn Darfur region.
• Angered India Not Ruling Out Military Response to Mumbai Attack VOA 03 Dec 2008 -- With tensions heightened between India and Pakistan, the top American envoy is calling for Islamabad to show its resolve and to join the international effort to find those responsible for the Mumbai terror attack.
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY UNITED NATIONS HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR SOMALIA United Nations 03 Dec 2008
• Next year is ‘make or break’ for Somalia, UN relief official warns UN News Centre 03 Dec 2008 -- Somalia’s population faces total destitution next year without more effective aid, a United Nations humanitarian official cautioned today, as the many problems in the Horn of Africa country are exacerbated by extremely difficult political and security conditions.
• Ethiopia to Delay Troop Pullout From Somalia VOA 03 Dec 2008 -- Ethiopia has agreed to a brief delay in its troop pullout from Somalia to allow the international community time to organize a replacement force.
• ISRAEL-OPT: How Gaza gets power - analysis IRIN 03 Dec 2008 -- Gaza’s sole power station supplies about 30 percent of Gaza’s electricity; 10 lines from Israel supply about 62 percent; and two lines from Egypt about 8 percent.
• Ban calls for improved reality on the ground for Middle East peace process to succeed UN News Centre 03 Dec 2008 -- The ongoing talks between Israel and the Palestinians aimed at ending the long-standing conflict in the Middle East must be accompanied by improvements in living conditions and security on the ground, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has told a seminar on peace in the region today.
• Blair Says Conditions Must Change for Israelis and Palestinians to Make Peace VOA 03 Dec 2008 -- Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians will not succeed until the reality on the ground improves for both sides.
• Security Council must act if arrest warrant is issued for Sudan leader – prosecutor UN News Centre 03 Dec 2008 -- The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) today called for concerted action by the Security Council to enforce any arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for allegedly committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur if the judges issue one.
• UN food agency extends relief efforts in DR Congo amid spreading violence UN News Centre 03 Dec 2008 -- The United Nations food agency is ramping up its humanitarian operations in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in response to deadly fighting between Government forces and armed rebel groups that has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.
• UNICEF Calls for End to Forced Recruitment of Child Soldiers in DRC VOA 03 Dec 2008 -- The United Nations Children's Fund is calling for a halt to the forced recruitment of child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It says all warring parties in North Kivu Province forcibly recruit children into their armies.
• SUDAN: Civilian disarmament remains elusive as government rethinks process IRIN 03 Dec 2008 -- Efforts by Southern Sudanese states to forcefully collect arms from civilians have been poorly planned, leading to violence, deaths and increased insecurity in some areas, sources said.
• Clinton Asked to Take Quick Action on Darfur As Secretary of State VOA 03 Dec 2008 -- Even before Hillary Clinton is confirmed by the Senate as the next secretary of state, she's being called on to quickly deal with Darfur.
• Russia sends more peacekeepers to Chad RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2008 -- A third military plane carrying personnel and goods has left Russia en route to Chad to take part in a joint EU mission to support the UN in the Central African country, an Air Force spokesman said on Wednesday.

News Reports

• US Commission Warns of Possible WMD Attack VOA 03 Dec 2008 -- A congressionally-mandated U.S. commission has released a report warning of a possible nuclear or biological attack somewhere in the world within five years.
• Rice In India In Effort To Ease South Asia Tensions RFE/RL 03 Dec 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in New Delhi for talks aimed at defusing tensions between Pakistan and India over last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai
• US asks Pak to show transparency in tackling terrorism IRNA 03 Dec 2008 -- BVisiting US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice Wednesday asked Pakistan to show transparency and urgency in implementing its commitment to tackle terrorism in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks
• Pakistan proposes joint commission to probe Mumbai attacks: FM IRNA 03 Dec 2008 -- Pakistan has proposed to India that a Pakistan-India joint commission, suitably composed, be set up to work together on the Mumbai incident, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Tuesday
• Pakistani parties back government to tackle post-Mumbai attacks situation IRNA 03 Dec 2008 -- Political and religious parties have extended their unconditional and fullest support to the Government and the armed forces in tackling the situation arising out of Mumbai incident, a participant of the meeting said Tuesday
• Pakistan refuses to extradite terrorists to India RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2008 -- Pakistan refuses to turn over suspected terrorists to India, but could try them in its own courts, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said.
• Pakistani Officials Still Waiting for Evidence in India Attack VOA 03 Dec 2008 -- The top U.S. military official is in Pakistan in an effort to reduce tensions with India following last week's terrorist attack in Mumbai.
• Rice Calls on Pakistan to Cooperate With Mumbai Terror Probe VOA 03 Dec 2008 -- With tensions heightened between India and Pakistan, the top American envoy is calling for Islamabad to show its resolve and to join the international effort to find those responsible for the Mumbai terror attack.
• MAURITANIA: Prisoner confessions extracted through torture says Amnesty International IRIN 03 Dec 2008 -- Mauritanian security forces have until recently been extracting prisoner confessions through torture - including sleep deprivation, cigarette burns, suspension from a metal bar, electric shocks, sexual violence, physical blows and psychological abuse – according to Amnesty International.
• Anti-Government Protests End in Bangkok, but Uncertainty Remains VOA 03 Dec 2008 -- Anti-government protesters have ended their occupation of the airports in Bangkok after a court ruling removed Thailand's prime minister.