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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 10 Dec 2008 [PDF]
• Coalition Forces Kill Attacker, Capture 18 in Iraq AFPS 10 Dec 2008 -- Coalition forces killed an armed attacker and detained 18 suspected terrorists while targeting al-Qaida in Iraq leadership and bombing networks in Iraq today and yesterday.
• Coalition Troops Provide Water, Electricity, Befriend Iraqis AFPS 10 Dec 2008 -- Coalition troops have newfound friends in the town of Ishtar near here, thanks to the re-opening of a water and electric substation that has brought basic services to people who have long gone without them on any regular basis.
• Dec. 9 airpower summary: A-10s escort convoy AFNS 10 Dec 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 9, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Airmen show Iraqi army leaders base operations AFNS 10 Dec 2008 -- A handful of American Airmen are helping the Iraqi army turn a run down military base into an operational military hub.
• Britain to Begin Iraq Troop Withdrawal in March VOA 10 Dec 2008 -- British officials say the country's forces could begin pulling out of Iraq next March - six years after the U.S-led invasion.
• Top US Military Officer Expects No Big Change in Afghan Strategy VOA 10 Dec 2008 -- The top U.S. military officer said he does not expect three current strategy reviews to recommend any major change in the U.S. approach to Afghanistan.
• Coalition Assault Mistakenly Kills 6 Afghan Police, Wounds 13 VOA 10 Dec 2008 -- The U.S. military in Afghanistan says coalition troops accidentally killed six Afghan National Police and wounded 13 others in an apparent case of mistaken identity.
• AFGHANISTAN: Drug producers, smugglers under pressure? IRIN 10 Dec 2008 -- A senior official in the Interior Ministry has told IRIN that “unprecedented progress” has been made in the fight against drugs, with at least 500 drug traffickers arrested in the past eight months.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Adm. Mullen From the Pentagon DoD 10 Dec 2008 -- Presenter: Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen
• Mullen Says He’s Relieved, Disturbed by Trip to Pakistan, India AFPS 10 Dec 2008 -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today he came away from his recent trip to Pakistan and India relieved that the two countries showed restraint in wake of the recent attacks in Mumbai, India, but disturbed by the way a handful of terrorists held a city of 18 million people hostage.
• Mullen Says Mumbai Attacks Demonstrate Safe-Haven Dangers AFPS 10 Dec 2008 -- The recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, India, is just the latest evidence of the danger that terrorist safe havens present to the world, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.
• Top US Military Officer Concerned Economic Crisis Could Cause More Terrorism VOA 10 Dec 2008 -- The top U.S. military officer says he is concerned that the global economic crisis could create instability and, potentially, more terrorism around the world, particularly in African countries and other relatively poor areas.
• DoD News: DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for November 2008 DoD 10 Dec 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of November
• All Military Services Meet or Exceed November Recruiting Goals AFPS 10 Dec 2008 -- All active-duty and reserve-component U.S. military services met or exceeded their November recruiting goals, according to a Defense Department news release issued today.
• Southern Command, AF South leaders visit deployed troops AFNS 10 Dec 2008 -- Senior leaders from Southern Command and Air Forces Southern kicked off a week-long tour Dec. 8 to visit forward-deployed personnel and assist nearby communities in seven Latin American countries during the holiday season.
• Air Guard to host three KC-135 associate wings AFNS 10 Dec 2008 -- Three Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker wings will become active associate units beginning this summer, Air Force officials here announced Dec. 10
• Some Tour Lengths in South Korea to Increase AFPS 10 Dec 2008 -- Tour lengths for some family-accompanied assignments in South Korea will be extended to three years, Pentagon officials announced today.
• Army Announces Modeling and Simulation Awards Winners Army News Release 10 Dec 2008 -- The Department of the Army announced Dec. 5 that 14 winners have been selected for the annual Department of the Army Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Awards
• Yama Sakura kicks off in Japan Army News 10 Dec 2008 -- More than 1,000 U.S. and Japanese servicemembers are training together during the Yama Sakura exercise, Dec. 8-14.
• Project to merge Army, Air Force hospitals in San Antonio Army News 10 Dec 2008 -- Military leaders, construction officials and wounded warriors joined up Monday to break ground for construction of the San Antonio Military Medical Center, a $724-million construction and renovation project at Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Medical Center.
• Soldiers intercept, destroy ballistic missile in space Army News 10 Dec 2008 -- Alaska Army National Guard troops from the 49th Missile Defense Battalion launched and directed a ground-based interceptor Friday that destroyed a target ballistic missile in space, miles above the Pacific Ocean
• MCAS Miramar Marines among first to respond after crash USMC News 10 Dec 2008 -- Marines from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar's Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting quickly responded and were among the first to arrive on the scene when an F/A-18D went down Monday
• New Communication Balloon Capabilites Tested Aboard USS Boxer Navy NewsStand 10 Dec 2008 -- Members of the Arizona Air National Guard embarked aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4) demonstrated an advanced communication platform, the Combat SkySat balloon Dec. 5.
• Virtual training for real-world missions AFNS 10 Dec 2008 -- A $1.5 million virtual training environment housed in a hangar at the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center here offers security forces personnel and other Airmen realistic fire team convoy training.
• Navy to Christen Submarine New Mexico DoD 10 Dec 2008 -- The Navy will christen its newest attack submarine, New Mexico, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008, during a 10 a.m. EST ceremony at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Newport News, Va. Rep. Heather A. Wilsonof New Mexico will deliver the ceremony's principal address.
• MDSU 2, MSC Use Real-Life Scenarios to Prep for Salvage Ops Navy NewsStand 10 Dec 2008 -- Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 along with the crews of rescue and salvage ships USNS Grapple (T-ARS 53) and USNS Grasp (T-ARS 51) participated in a two-week de-beaching exercise that ended Nov. 26 from Anzio Beach at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va.
• Submarine Wraps up 15-Month Deployment, Celebrates Milestones Navy NewsStand 10 Dec 2008 -- USS Ohio (SSGN 726), the first operational Trident guided-missile submarine, pulled into Naval Station Pearl Harbor Dec. 8, before returning to its homeport of Bangor, Wash., from its maiden deployment.
• USS Samuel B. Roberts Recovers More Than One Ton of Cocaine Navy NewsStand 10 Dec 2008 -- While on patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, units assigned U.S. 4th Fleet and the U.S. Coast Guard recovered more than one ton of cocaine Dec. 2.
• NMCB 4 Seabees Ensure Safety of Mail Call Navy NewsStand 10 Dec 2008 -- Five Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 based out of Naval Base Ventura County, Calif., completed the construction of a Mail Cage Reinforcement project Oct. 11.
• Seabees Exceed Retention Goals, Earn Fleet Recognition Navy NewsStand 10 Dec 2008 -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4, currently on a six-month deployment, received the annual Commander, Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) Retention Excellence Award Nov. 26 for exceeding annual retention benchmarks.
• Analysis: Beginning of Iraq Endgame cfr.org 10 Dec 2008 -- When Secretary of Defense Robert Gates accepted President-elect Barack Obama's invitation to stay on as Pentagon chief, the lifelong Republican pointed to a pair of freshly inked security accords with Iraq as influencing his decision
• Russia's General Staff announces strategic drills with Belarus RIA Novosti 10 Dec 2008 -- Russia's Defense Ministry has decided to intensify combat training in the Armed Forces and to hold joint military exercises with Belarus in 2009, the chief of Russia's General Staff said on Wednesday.
• Russia and NATO to resume informal talks RIA Novosti 10 Dec 2008 -- An informal meeting between NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Russia's NATO envoy, Dmitry Rogozin, is planned for next week, Moscow's mission to the alliance said on Wednesday.
• Russia, China to strengthen ties in military aircraft production RIA Novosti 10 Dec 2008 -- Russia and China are set to boost cooperation in the sphere of combat aircraft production, the director general of Russia's Sukhoi aircraft manufacturer said on Wednesday.
• Russian, Chinese defense ministers to meet in Beijing RIA Novosti 10 Dec 2008 -- The Russian and Chinese defense ministers will meet in Beijing on Wednesday to discuss military cooperation, U.S. plans for a Central European missile shield, and North Korea's nuclear program.
• Taiwan's security focus should be natural disasters: U.S. expert CNA 10 Dec 2008 -- US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security: Taiwan's critical infrastructure protection policies should focus on threat natural disasters pose to key facilities.
• Demining project on Kinmen halted after protests CNA 10 Dec 2008 -- A project to clear landmines on the Taiwan-controlled outlying island of Kinmen was temporarily halted after local residents complained.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 10 Dec 2008
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Dana Perino and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Joel Kaplan The White House 10 Dec 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 10, 2008
• U.S. Navy Tests Seven Raytheon Standard Missile-2 Block IIIAs During Trials Raytheon 10 Dec 2008 -- The U.S. Navy fired seven Raytheon Company -built Standard Missile-2 Block IIIA anti-air warfare missiles as part of ongoing U.S. Navy shipbuilder trials and operational tests.
• CACI Awarded Prime Contract With $452 Million Ceiling to Continue Support for U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command CACI 10 Dec 2008 -- CACI International Inc (NYSE:CAI) announced today that it has been awarded a prime contract, with a ceiling value of $452 million, to continue providing mission support services to the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM).

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 10 Dec 2008
• Israel To Transfer Cash to Gaza VOA 10 Dec 2008 -- Israel has authorized the transfer of money into the Gaza Strip, where an Israeli blockade has caused a severe cash shortage.
• UN agency for Palestinian refugees ‘running on empty’ due to cash shortfall UN News Centre 10 Dec 2008 -- Cash reserves of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees have plummeted from $60 million in 2006 to just $1 million, enough for less than one day’s average expenditure, a senior official said today, warning of “the very real prospect” of having to make cuts in basic education and health services.
• Former US President Urges Lebanon, Israel to Work Toward Peace VOA 10 Dec 2008 -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has urged Lebanon and Israel to work towards peace.
• Top UN envoy welcomes opposition leader’s return to Somali capital UN News Centre 10 Dec 2008 -- The top United Nations envoy to Somalia today welcomed the return of an opposition leader, who took part in reconciliation talks with the strife-torn Horn of Africa nation’s Government, to the capital Mogadishu.
• AU Pleads for UN Intervention for Somalia VOA 10 Dec 2008 -- Africa's top peace and security official is to begin urgent talks on Thursday at the United Nations in an attempt to save Somalia's fragile U.N.-backed administration from collapse.
• DR Congo: talks between government, rebels making headway, says UN envoy UN News Centre 10 Dec 2008 -- The United Nations envoy tasked with helping to resolve the conflict that has engulfed the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has expressed satisfaction at progress made in talks between the country’s Government and a leading rebel group, but noted that some issues must be resolved to ensure success.
• UN Envoy Says Congo Rebels Delaying Peace Talks VOA 10 Dec 2008 -- The mediator at peace talks to end the conflict in eastern Congo says the negotiations have stalled because the rebel delegation has no power to make decisions.
• CHAD: Insecurity leaves thousands at risk of waterborne disease, aid workers say IRIN 10 Dec 2008 -- Diarrhoea and other deadly waterborne illnesses threaten some 28,000 Chadians in an eastern town, after armed attacks – including the theft of a water pump – forced out the last aid workers running already scaled-down operations.
• International Court seeks more information on arrest warrants for Darfur rebels UN News Centre 10 Dec 2008 -- The pre-trial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) today has asked prosecutors to submit additional information regarding their request for arrest warrants for three rebel commanders for their role in last year’s deadly attack against peacekeepers in the war-ravaged Sudanese region of Darfur.
• UN transports another food shipment to displaced people in war-torn northern Sri Lanka UN News Centre 10 Dec 2008 -- The United Nations has shipped another convoy of emergency food supplies to the Vanni region of northern Sri Lanka, as part of its ongoing humanitarian aid effort assisting thousands of people forced from their homes by violent conflict.
• UN refugee chief urges help for 6 million long-term displaced UN News Centre 10 Dec 2008 -- The top United Nations refugee official has called on the world to do more to help nearly 6 million long-term refugees, who have spent years and sometimes decades in exile, often in the poorest countries in Africa and Asia.
• UN bomb disposal experts to resume clearing explosives in Nepal UN News Centre 10 Dec 2008 -- The Nepalese army has recommended a resumption of its minefield clearance operation, which it conducts with the assistance of the United Nations Mine Action Team, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters today.
• EU Mission Deploys in Kosovo Amid Protests VOA 10 Dec 2008 -- The European Union has begun deploying its largest justice and police mission ever in Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia earlier this year.
• Indonesia Sends Troops to Quell Sectarian Violence in Maluku Islands VOA 10 Dec 2008 -- Indonesia has sent hundreds of troops to its eastern Maluku Islands to quell violence that broke out between Christians and Muslims, leaving at least six people injured and dozens of buildings torched.
• Russia denies it has plans to invade Georgia RIA Novosti 10 Dec 2008 -- Russia is concerned over Georgian moves to escalate tensions in the Caucasus, but will not under any circumstances invade the country, the chief of the Russian General Staff said on Wednesday.
• CAR: Think-tank warns of heightened risk of violence as key talks open IRIN 10 Dec 2008 -- The Central African Republic (CAR) could return to widespread armed conflict if important talks that began this week stray from the theme of democratisation and transitional justice, the International Crisis Group (ICG) has warned.
• Pakistani PM plays down Indian air force high alert report IRNA 10 Dec 2008 -- The Pakistani prime minister on Wednesday played down reports that India has put its air force on high alert as tension between the two countries over Mumbai attacks still continues

News Reports

• UN Rights Milestone Marks 60th Anniversary RFE/RL 10 Dec 2008 -- In the aftermath of World War II, the international community, still reeling from the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany, agreed on the need to reaffirm the fundamental rights of human beings
• Former Colombian Rebel Seeks French Asylum VOA 10 Dec 2008 -- A former member of Colombia's FARC rebel group is the first person to take advantage of a special French asylum offer.
• Cambodia, UN agree on need to strengthen court trying Khmer Rouge leaders UN News Centre 10 Dec 2008 -- United Nations and Cambodian officials have agreed on the need to strengthen the UN-backed tribunal trying Khmer Rouge leaders accused of mass killings and other crimes in the south-east Asian country by enhancing its human resources management, including anti-corruption measures.
• GHANA: Presidential candidates go to a run-off IRIN 10 Dec 2008 -- Ghanaians will go to the polls again on 28 December to elect a president after the two main candidates fell short of the 50-percent threshold for a first-round victory.
• International Conference on Piracy Opens in Nairobi VOA 10 Dec 2008 -- The two-day conference, sponsored by the United Nations, brings together officials from more than 40 countries, as well as representatives from regional and international organizations.
• Pakistan Confirms Arrests of Terror Suspects VOA 10 Dec 2008 -- Pakistan's prime minister has confirmed that Pakistani police are holding two leaders of a militant group India says was behind last month's attacks in Mumbai.
• India, Pakistan Consider Action Against Charity Group Linked to Mumbai Attack VOA 10 Dec 2008 -- India's government is expressing optimism that the United Nations will respond favorably to its request to outlaw a Pakistani group linked to the recent terror attack on Mumbai.
• Iraq Unveils Plan for Middle East Partnership VOA 10 Dec 2008 -- The Iraqi government has unveiled plans for a new regional economic and security partnership it says will help stabilize the Middle East.
• Interview: Despite Security Improvements, Iraq Remains 'Very Troubled Country' cfr.org 10 Dec 2008 -- Interviewee: Kenneth M. Pollack, Director of Research, Saban Center for Middle East, Brookings Institution
• A New Framework For Better U.S.-Russia Relations RFE/RL 10 Dec 2008 -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has much work ahead of him if he seeks a better dialogue with Russia
• Personnel Appointments Fuel Circassian Demands For Own Republic RFE/RL 10 Dec 2008 -- One hundred days have passed since the September 4 inauguration of former Russian Constitutional Court Justice Boris Ebzeyev as president of the Karachayevo-Cherkessia Republic (KChR).