• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 08 Dec 2008 [PDF]
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Hertling From Iraq DoD 08 Dec 2008 -- Presenter: Commander, Multinational Division-North, Commander 1st Armored Division Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling
• Troops Capture Iranian-backed Terrorists in Iraq AFPS 08 Dec 2008 -- Coalition forces apprehended three alleged Kataib Hezbollah terrorists in two operations early today in Baghdad's Rusafa district, military officials reported.
• General Leaving Northern Iraq Notes ‘Monumental’ Progress AFPS 08 Dec 2008 -- Citing “monumental” improvements since his soldiers arrived in Iraq last year, the outgoing commander of Multinational Division North today credited his troops, Iraqi security forces and the Iraqi people with creating a historic turnaround.
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Enemy Fighters in Helmand Province AFPS 08 Dec 2008 -- Afghan and coalition forces killed six militants during a security patrol yesterday in the Sangin district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province, military officials reported.
• Taliban Strikes NATO Supply Depot in Pakistan VOA 08 Dec 2008 -- Taliban militants in Pakistan have raided another supply depot used to support international troops in Afghanistan as a new report estimated Taliban fighters have a permanent presence in nearly three-quarters of Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• September 11 Defendants at Guantanamo Say They Want to Confess VOA 08 Dec 2008 -- Five alleged conspirators in the September 11 attacks, who are on trial at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have told the judge they want to confess, and have withdrawn all legal motions filed as part of their defense.
• September 11 Suspects Request Guilty Plea During Pre-Trial Hearing VOA 08 Dec 2008 -- A U.S. military judge at the detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, says the five men accused of plotting the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks have asked to plead guilty.
• US Charges 5 Blackwater Guards With Manslaughter in Baghdad Shooting VOA 08 Dec 2008 -- The U.S. Justice Department has charged five American security contractors with killing 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians and wounding 20 others. The five men worked for the U.S. security company Blackwater Worldwide and are charged with manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and weapons offenses.
• Army farewells Wallace team as TRADOC transitions command Army News 08 Dec 2008 -- Gen. Martin E. Dempsey assumed command Monday from Gen. William S. Wallace at the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command headquarters on Fort Monroe.
• EULEX Set To Launch, But Devil Is In The Details RFE/RL 08 Dec 2008 -- Starting December 9, hundreds of European Union and U.S. personnel will assume responsibility for bringing Kosovo's rule-of-law institutions in line with European standards
• Gaming technology used for interactive military training AFNS 08 Dec 2008 -- Air Force Research Laboratory's researchers at Mesa, Ariz., unveiled the technological potential of its gaming research and development project publicly Dec. 1 during the 2008 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference in Orlando, Fla.
• General Schwartz releases 2009 CSAF Reading List AFNS 08 Dec 2008 -- The chief of staff of the Air Force announced the 2009 CSAF Reading List Dec. 8.
• F-18 Crashes in California Neighborhood AFPS 08 Dec 2008 -- An F/A-18D Hornet jet based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., crashed today into a civilian neighborhood about two miles northwest of the airfield, Marine Corps officials announced.
• R. Lee Ermey Visits 26th MEU USMC News 08 Dec 2008
• Obama Taps Shinseki as Next Veterans Affairs Chief AFPS 08 Dec 2008 -- President-elect Barack Obama has selected retired Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric K. Shinseki as his nominee to be secretary of veterans affairs.
• Retiring General Hands Over Army’s Training Command AFPS 08 Dec 2008 -- Army Gen. William S. Wallace today relinquished the colors of the U.S. Army command responsible for developing soldiers’ skills and doctrine.
• Procurement Initiative Secures DoD Computers, Saves Money AFPS 08 Dec 2008 -- The Pentagon is among dozens of departments and organizations that have improved security for their laptop computers and saved taxpayers more than $92 million by using a new procurement initiative, a senior Defense Department official said here.
• Joint Report Cites Potential Causes for Future Flashpoints AFPS 08 Dec 2008 -- Regional conflicts driven by competition for food, water and energy, increased urbanization and the possibility that nonstate actors could obtain high-tech components for enhancing lower-tech weapons are among the global challenges U.S. joint military leaders likely will face over the next quarter-century, a senior officer said here today.
• SAMS graduates first off-cycle class Army News 08 Dec 2008 -- The Army's School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth graduated 16 officers Dec. 5 in its first "off-cycle" class.
• Marine Corps takes language leap USMC News 08 Dec 2008 -- The Marine Corps Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning recently signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with Rosetta Stone, a language-learning software provider, which will allow Marines to take courses through the MarineNet distant learning portal
• Airmen, Marines join forces during exercise at Kadena AFNS 08 Dec 2008 -- Japan-based Airmen and Marines came together for Exercise Beverly High 09-01 the first week of December at Kadena Air Base.
• Belarus scraps obsolete portable air defense systems RIA Novosti 08 Dec 2008 -- Belarus has destroyed its remaining 15 Strela-2M portable air defense systems under an agreement with a European security body, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 08 Dec 2008
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Dana Perino The White House 08 Dec 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 08, 2008
• BAE SYSTEMS AWARDED ADELAIDE CLASS FRIGATE SUPPORT CONTRACT BAE Systems 08 Dec 2008 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a five-year contract to provide engineering, maintenance and supply support to the Royal Australian Navy's four guided missile frigates (FFGs).
• Sikorsky Aerospace Services and U.S. Army Renew Partnership for Corpus Christi Army Depot BLACK HAWK Helicopter Work Sikorsky 08 Dec 2008 -- Sikorsky Aerospace Services today announced the signing of an $840 million contract with the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) to provide technical, logistical, and engineering expertise through Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Best Practices to the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD).
• Lockheed Martin F-35 Fighter Achieves Another Milestone: In-Flight Operation Of Integrated Avionics Aboard ‘Catbird’ Lockheed Martin 08 Dec 2008 -- Lockheed Martin’s [NYSE: LMT] Cooperative Avionics Test Bed, or “CATBird,” has begun in-flight integration and verification of the F-35 Lightning II mission systems suite, launching another stage of risk reduction for the world’s newest fighter.
• USS Freedom (LCS-1) Littoral Combat Ship Commissioning Highlights Northrop Grumman-Built U.S. Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout VTUAV Northrop Grumman 08 Dec 2008 -- The U.S. Navy's MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV), developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), was prominently displayed on the flight deck of the USS Freedom (LCS-1) littoral combat ship during its commissioning on Nov. 8, 2008 at Milwaukee's Veteran's Park.
• Northrop Grumman Wins Support Contract for Navigation Systems On U.S. Navy Ships and Submarines Northrop Grumman 08 Dec 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a delivery order for the fifth year of a five-year contract to provide technical, logistics and material support for navigation systems installed on U.S. Navy ships and submarines.

Other Conflicts

• UN starts airlifting aid to tens of thousands stranded in north-eastern DR Congo UN News Centre 08 Dec 2008 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today began airlifting much-needed relief supplies to the war-torn north-eastern corner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to help tens of thousands of people living in terror of one of Africa's most notorious rebel groups.
• Political talks in Central African Republic could herald reconciliation, says Ban UN News Centre 08 Dec 2008 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today that the long-awaited multi-party talks launched in the Central African Republic (CAR) set the stage to begin a national reconciliation process that is crucial to bringing stability to the land-locked country.
• Ethiopian Army Sets Up New Bases in Somalia VOA 08 Dec 2008 -- The Ethiopian army, which had announced it would pull out of Somalia by the end of the year, is reportedly establishing new bases in central Somalia and has yet to withdraw from key positions in the capital Mogadishu
• Russia sends helicopters, peacekeepers to Chad RIA Novosti 08 Dec 2008 -- A Russian An-124 Condor heavy transport plane has delivered four helicopters along with personnel to Chad to take part in an EU-led mission to support UN peacekeeping efforts in the country, an Air Force spokesman said on Monday.
• Turkish troops bomb Kurdish positions in Iraq RIA Novosti 08 Dec 2008 -- The Turkish Air Force carried out a number of strikes on Kurdish separatist positions in northern Iraq, the NTV channel reported citing defense sources on Monday.
• DRC Rebels, Government Begin Talks VOA 08 Dec 2008 -- Talks aimed at finding a solution to fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have begun in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
• PHILIPPINES: Spread in fighting puts thousands more in danger IRIN 08 Dec 2008 -- Heavy fighting between the army and Muslim separatist rebels has spilled over to the islands of Basilan and Jolo, leading to fresh casualties and threatening to displace tens of thousands more, warned military and local government officials.

News Reports

• EU Calls for Zimbabwe's Mugabe to Step Down VOA 08 Dec 2008 -- The European Union has added its voice to calls by the United States for Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to step down. EU foreign ministers also announced Monday they were tightening sanctions against the Mugabe government..
• US Says Neighbors Hold Key to Ending Zimbabwe Crisis VOA 08 Dec 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says that only a concerted international effort led by Zimbabwe's neighbors can end the political and humanitarian crisis in that country.
• UN to convene global meeting on piracy off Somali coast UN News Centre 08 Dec 2008 -- The United Nations will convene a two-day international conference in Nairobi, Kenya, to discuss the rampant piracy off the coast of Somalia, it was announced today.
• Ukraine MP sues defense chief amid tensions over arms to Georgia RIA Novosti 08 Dec 2008 -- A Ukrainian lawmaker who led a commission investigating arms supplies to Georgia plans to sue the defense minister for removing his military titles, the UNIAN news agency reported on Monday.
• No Clear Reasons For Dismissal of Key Georgian Ministers RFE/RL 08 Dec 2008 -- Just five weeks after his confirmation as Georgia's third prime minister in a year, Grigol Mgaloblishvili announced the dismissal of the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, and education
• French Leader Says Mugabe 'Must Go' VOA 08 Dec 2008 -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the current head of the European Union, says Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe "must go."