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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 16 Dec 2008 [PDF]
• Coalition, Iraqi Forces Kill Three, Capture 31 in Iraq AFPS 16 Dec 2008 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces killed three insurgents and captured 31 others, including a key Iranian-backed suspect, in operations in Iraq today and yesterday, military officials reported.
• Dec. 15 airpower summary: F-16s watch over ground forces AFNS 16 Dec 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 15, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Water Facility Reopens South of Baghdad AFPS 16 Dec 2008 -- Local Iraqi leaders and U.S. soldiers celebrated the reopening of the Bawi water pump and filter facility Dec. 13 in Salman Pak, south of Baghdad.
• Iraqi Army achieves milestone at Bayji National Ammo Depot MNF-I 16 Dec 2008 -- The Iraqi Army achieved a new milestone in their path towards self-sufficiency on Dec. 14 when Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq's Coalition Army Advisory Training Team - Logistics Military Advisory Team contingent departed Bayji National Ammunition Depot
• Solar power helping light streets of Iraq Army News 16 Dec 2008 -- Mostly desert and a lot of sun, it makes sense there's a place for solar power in Iraq.
• US Military: Civilian Deaths Probed in Afghanistan VOA 16 Dec 2008 -- The U.S. military says it is working with Afghan officials to investigate clashes last week that may have led to the deaths of three civilians.
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Capture Taliban Commanders, Associate AFPS 16 Dec 2008 -- Afghan army commandos assisted by coalition forces detained two Taliban commanders and an additional suspect during a security patrol yesterday in Jalalabad City in eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, military officials reported.
• Convoy of supplies trucks, fuel for NATO leaves for Afghanistan IRNA 16 Dec 2008 -- A convoy of oil tankers and trucks, carrying supplies for US-led NATO troops in Afghanistan, left for Afghanistan Monday under tight security after a week-long suspension due to attacks on vehicles, officials said
• Airmen Combat Explosive Threats in Afghanistan AFPS 16 Dec 2008 -- The phone rings. A three-person team grabs pre-packed gear and jumps into a truck or a waiting helicopter. The airmen don't always know where they are going or what they will encounter, but they do know there is a bomb somewhere, and they need to make it safe.
• NATO Supply Route Imperiled As Pakistani Truckers Refuse To Carry Goods RFE/RL 16 Dec 2008
• Afghan Bonn Architect Says People's Needs Have Been Forgotten RFE/RL 16 Dec 2008 -- In December 2001, as the Taliban regime was collapsing, a number of prominent Afghans met under UN auspices in Bonn, Germany, to decide on a plan for governing Afghanistan

Defense Policy / Programs

• Detainee Transfer Announced DoD 16 Dec 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of three detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Recruiting Still Challenging Despite Job Market, Official Says AFPS 16 Dec 2008 -- Although military recruiting is less difficult in a waning economy and low job market, attracting recruits remains an ongoing challenge, a Defense Department official said here today during an interview with the Pentagon Channel.
• Army releases new training manual Army News 16 Dec 2008 -- The Army released the new field manual FM 7-0, Training for Full Spectrum Operations, at the Training General Officer Steering Committee conference at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Dec. 15
• F-22s scheduled to deploy to Japan, Guam AFNS 16 Dec 2008 -- Air Force officials have scheduled to deploy two contingents of F-22 Raptors to the Pacific theater in January 2009 for approximately three months.
• UAS beta program underway; officials seek more applicants AFNS 16 Dec 2008 -- Air Force officials selected 10 Air Force officers to begin the first-ever unmanned aircraft systems beta test program to produce operators of the MQ-1 Predator. The 10 selectees will begin training Jan. 5 at Pueblo, Colo.
• Foreign Language Training Now Available on NMCI Computers Navy NewsStand 16 Dec 2008 -- The Center for Language, Regional Expertise and Culture (CLREC) headquartered at the Center for Information Dominance (CID) Corry Station has announced that self-paced foreign language training software is now being made available on NMCI-approved computers and workstations.
• Second Fleet Commander Praises PC Crews during NAVCENT Visit Navy NewsStand 16 Dec 2008 -- During his visit to the U. S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) Area of Operations (AOO) Nov. 21-26, Commander, U.S. Second Fleet, Vice Adm. Mel Williams Jr., gave praise to the patrol craft crews of Commander Task Force (CTF) 55 during a brief stop to USS Chinook (PC 9) and USS Typhoon (PC 5) pierside in Bahrain.
• Officials announce Reserve colonel promotions AFNS 16 Dec 2008 -- Air Reserve Personnel Center officials here announced the fiscal 2009 Air Force Reserve Line and Nonline Colonel Promotion Selection Board results Dec. 16.
• Gates: U.S. Must Maintain Conventional Dominance AFPS 16 Dec 2008 -- As the military institutionalizes new and unconventional warfighting skills, it also must work to maintain its conventional dominance, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates wrote in the January/February issue of Foreign Affairs magazine.
• Southern Partnership Station Arrives in Panama Navy NewsStand 16 Dec 2008 -- High speed vessel Swift (HSV 2) arrived in Panama Dec. 15 to begin the first of two instructional evolutions here as part of Southern Partnership Station (SPS).
• Navy Christens Sixth Virginia Class Submarine New Mexico Navy NewsStand 16 Dec 2008 -- The Navy's newest Virginia-class attack submarine USS New Mexico (SSN 779) was christened Dec. 13 during a ceremony at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va.
• Russia's Military In The Throes Of Change RFE/RL 16 Dec 2008 -- From the Russian military standpoint, the war in Georgia in August was a disaster
• Russian carrier-based fighters exercise over Atlantic RIA Novosti 16 Dec 2008 -- A Russian naval group led by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, en route to the Mediterranean, conducted a series of training flights over the Celtic Sea, a Navy spokesman said on Tuesday.
• Russia to 'donate' 10 MiG-29 jet fighters to Lebanon RIA Novosti 16 Dec 2008 -- Russia will supply Lebanon with 10 MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters, Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr said on Tuesday after a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Anatoly Serdyukov.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 16 Dec 2008
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Dana Perino The White House 16 Dec 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 16, 2008
• BAE SYSTEMS ACCREDITED BY PENTAGON AS TRUSTED CIRCUIT SUPPLIER BAE Systems 16 Dec 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Defense has named BAE Systems an accredited DoD Category 1A Trusted Integrated Circuit Supplier
• General Dynamics Completes Successful Flight Demonstration of Air-Dropped Guided Mortar General Dynamics 16 Dec 2008 -- General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems announced today that it has successfully demonstrated the ability to maneuver and guide 81mm air-dropped mortars to a stationary ground target after release from an aircraft.
• BAE SYSTEMS SECURES $112 MILLION FOR ARMORED VEHICLE UPGRADES AND SUPPORT BAE Systems 16 Dec 2008 -- BAE Systems will provide engineering upgrades, spare parts, maintenance documentation and logistical support to RG33 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles under a dozen separate contracts from the U.S. Army. The total value of the contracts is $112.9 million.
• Northrop Grumman Reveals First Navy Unmanned Combat Aircraft Northrop Grumman 16 Dec 2008 -- Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) today unveiled the first of the U.S. Navy's new unmanned combat aircraft at a ceremony here attended by Navy officials, state and local government representatives, suppliers and Northrop Grumman employees.
• L-3 Delivers Multi-INT Configured EP-3E to U.S. Navy in Support of Operational Surge L-3 Communications 16 Dec 2008 -- L-3 Communications (NYSE:LLL) announced today that its Integrated Systems Group has delivered the first of eight EP-3E aircraft configured with new multiple-intelligence (multi-INT) capabilities to the U.S. Navy. Additional aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2008.
• DCNS and Thales to design and demonstrate UAV deck landing system Thales 16 Dec 2008 -- The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has awarded DCNS and Thales an advanced study contract for a deck landing system for unmanned aerial vehicles. The three-year contract calls for the design and demonstration of an automatic take-off, landing and deck landing system for rotorcraft UAVs.
• Russian arms exports exceed $8 bln in 2008 RIA Novosti 16 Dec 2008 -- Russian arms exports in 2008 have been worth over $8 billion, a deputy prime minister said on Tuesday.
• Sagem VAMPIR NG infrared search & track system chosen for Australia’s new-generation Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD) Sagem (Safran group) 16 Dec 2008 -- Sagem Défense Sécurité (SAFRAN Group) has won a contract from Raytheon Australia, acting on behalf of Australia’s Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance in an international call for tenders, to supply VAMPIR NG* infrared surveillance systems for three Air Warfare Destroyers to be deployed by the Royal Australian Navy.
• World first for Thales as combat helicopter simulator gains high-level accreditation Thales 16 Dec 2008 -- It follows last year's accreditation and delivery by Australian Aerospace Limited to the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) of one of the world's most sophisticated aircrew training systems - a twin-domed Full Flight & Mission Simulator (FFMS).

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 16 Dec 2008
• India's Defense Minister Rules Out War with Pakistan VOA 16 Dec 2008 -- Seeking to dampen persistent media speculation a retaliatory strike is in the works against Pakistan, India's defense minister is declaring no military action is being planned. But he warns Islamabad to act against terrorists on its soil, if it wants normal relations with India.
• Pentagon India prepared for attack on Pakistan, Pentagon officials think IRNA 16 Dec 2008 -- United States believes that India's air force began preliminary preparations for a possible attack against Pakistan in immediate aftermath of recent massacre in Mumbai, a US news channel reported here Monday
• Pakistan-PM-National Defense War imposed, whole nation will rise up to defend: PM IRNA 16 Dec 2008 -- Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that if the war was imposed on Pakistan, then all the Pakistanis would rise up
• Rebels reportedly pressuring displaced Congolese to return home – UN UN News Centre 16 Dec 2008 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today said it is very concerned about reports that rebels are putting pressure on those displaced by the deadly fighting in the far east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to return to their villages.
• Security Council calls on Israel, Palestinians to fulfil pledges for two-State peace UN News Centre 16 Dec 2008 -- The United Nations Security Council today called on Israel and the Palestinians to fulfil their obligations under the so-called Roadmap peace plan seeking a two-State solution to the Middle East conflict, and to refrain from any steps that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations.
• Israel’s detention of UN expert ‘unprecedented’ – rights chief UN News Centre 16 Dec 2008 -- Israel’s refusal to allow a United Nations expert to transit to carry out his officially mandated functions in the occupied Palestinian territory, his detention and subsequent expulsion is “unprecedented and deeply regrettable,” the world body’s top human rights official said today.
• SRI LANKA: Breakaway Tamil Tiger faction to stop child recruitment IRIN 16 Dec 2008 -- A breakaway faction of the Tamil Tigers is to stop underage recruitments completely, the group's leader told IRIN.
• Leaders of Britain, Israel Discuss Jewish Settlements VOA 16 Dec 2008 -- Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown has held talks with outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on the issue of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

News Reports

• UN Security Council Approves Anti-Piracy Measure VOA 16 Dec 2008 -- The U.N. Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing member states to fight pirates in Somali territory by land, sea and air.
• Somali President Names New Prime Minister VOA 16 Dec 2008 -- Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf appointed a new prime minister Tuesday despite parliament's rejection of his decision to dismiss the current prime minister.
• Thousands Of Iraqis Demand Release Of 'Shoe' Journalist RFE/RL 16 Dec 2008 -- Thousands of Iraqis have been protesting to demand the release of a reporter who threw his shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush in anger
• Explosives Found at Paris Store VOA 16 Dec 2008 -- Police found sticks of dynamite tied together in a bathroom of French department store Printemps in downtown Paris. A previously unknown group reportedly claimed responsibility.