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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 02 Jan 2009 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Jan. 1 airpower summary: C-130s provide essential airlift AFNS 02 Jan 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Jan.1, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Iraqi, Coalition Forces Detain Suspects, Find Weapons AFPS 02 Jan 2009 -- Iraqi and coalition forces detained numerous terrorism suspects and seized stockpiles of illegal weapons in various operations this week, military officials reported.
• U.S. Deaths in Iraq Decrease in 2008 AFPS 02 Jan 2009 -- The number of U.S. military fatalities in Iraq in 2008 fell two-thirds compared to the previous year, underscoring an improvement in security amid upcoming provincial elections.
• Coalition, Afghan Troops Kill Militants, Capture Suspects AFPS 02 Jan 2009 -- Afghan and coalition forces killed numerous enemy fighters, captured terrorism suspects and repelled two attacks against bases in recent days, military officials reported.
• Pakistani Forces Making ‘Good Progress’ in Khyber Pass Offensive AFPS 02 Jan 2009 -- The Pakistani military is making good progress against militants who have threatened a major supply route running from Pakistan into Afghanistan, U.S. officials said here today.
• Returning refugees to Afghanistan struggle to earn a living wage, say UN agency UN News Centre 02 Jan 2009 -- Many Afghani refugees returning to their homeland in recent years, mostly from Pakistan, are struggling to make a living and to cope with their new surroundings, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Defense Policy / Programs

• Australia Considers US Request to Resettle Guantanamo Inmates VOA 02 Jan 2009 -- Australia is considering a request from the United States to re-settle detainees from Guantanamo Bay. The government in Canberra promised to carefully scrutinize the request, but officials say it is unlikely to be accepted.
• DoD News: P-8A Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft Homebasing Announced DoD 02 Jan 2009-- The Department of the Navy announced today its decision to provide facilities and functions to base five fleet squadrons of the P-8A Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) with a fleet replacement squadron (FRS) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Fla., four fleet squadrons at NAS Whidbey Island, Wash., and three fleet squadrons at Marine Corps Base Hawaii Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, with periodic squadron detachment operations at NAS North Island
• Russian carrier-based aircraft to exercise in Greek airspace RIA Novosti 02 Jan 2009 -- Deck-based aviation of Russia's heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov will hold exercises in the Greek airspace in January, the Greek National Defense General Staff said on Friday.
• Russia's Pacific Fleet warships join anti-piracy mission RIA Novosti 02 Jan 2009 -- A naval task force from Russia's Pacific Fleet led by the Admiral Vinogradov destroyer has joined a Russian frigate on an anti-piracy mission off Somalia, a source in the fleet's headquarters said Friday.
• Press Briefing by Deputy Press Secretary Gordon Johndroe The White House 02 Jan 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 02, 2009
• Oshkosh Corporation Awarded Contract to Provide Replacement Defense Vehicle Parts Oshkosh 02 Jan 2009 -- Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) announced today that Oshkosh Defense has been awarded a sole source contract with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to provide replacement parts for medium and heavy tactical vehicles. This annual contract has a potential duration of 10 years, if all option years are exercised, and a value of up to $1.12 billion. This follows a one-year contract that included seven option years, each of which were exercised, that ended in December 2008.

Other Conflicts

• Security Cabinet decision on continuation of IDF operation in Gaza Office of the Prime Minister of Israel 02 Sep 2008 -- The Ministerial Committee on National Security Affairs (the Security Cabinet) met yesterday (Friday), 2 January 2009, in order to discuss the continuation of IDF operations in the Gaza Strip
• Gaza conflict threatens regional peace and stability, UN official cautions UN News Centre 02 Jan 2009 -- The future of the Middle-East peace process, the stability of the region and the safety of ordinary people in the Gaza Strip have been seriously jeopardized by the “irresponsibility of Hamas rocket attacks” and the “excessiveness of Israel’s response,” a senior United Nations envoy warned today, as diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict intensify.
• US Seeks Gaza Cease-Fire But No Return to 'Status Quo' of Hamas Attacks VOA 02 Jan 2009 -- The Bush administration said Friday it wants to see a Gaza cease-fire as soon as possible but not a return to the previous truce arrangement violated by Hamas. U.S. officials denied giving Israel a "green light" for continued air attacks in Gaza.
• ISRAEL-OPT: Gaza rockets cause shock, fear in southern Israel IRIN 02 Jan 2009 -- Zulfira has been living in Sderot near the border with Gaza for 14 years. For the past eight years she endured Kassam rockets fired from Gaza. “I just pray,” she said.
• Israel Presses on With Military Offensive Against Hamas VOA 02 Jan 2009 -- It's day seven into Israel's offensive against targets in the Gaza Strip and Israeli warplanes have carried out more air strikes while Palestinian militants have launched further rocket attacks into Israel.
• Rice Urges Gaza Truce, But No Return to 'Status Quo Ante' of Hamas Rocketing VOA 02 Jan 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday the United States wants a Gaza cease-fire as soon as possible, but she made clear the Bush administration does not want to see a return to the situation of last month, when an Egyptian-mediated truce was routinely broken by Hamas rocket fire into Israel.
• Protests Against Israel's Gaza Bombardment Spread VOA 02 Jan 2009 -- Massive protests are erupting across capitals in the Middle East and around the world in condemnation of Israel's deadly bombardment of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
• Top UN envoy speaks out against killings of prominent Somalis UN News Centre 02 Jan 2009 -- Denouncing the recent killings of several prominent Somalis, the top United Nations envoy to Somalia today called for an end to impunity and “lawlessness” in the strife-torn Horn of Africa nation.
• DR Congo: UN calls on rebels to resume talks with Government UN News Centre 02 Jan 2009 -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today called on the main rebel group in the east of the vast country to resume talks with the Government next week in a bid to end fighting that has forced over 250,000 from their homes since August.
• Congo Claims LRA Rebels Fleeing to Central African Republic VOA 02 Jan 2009 -- Congolese officials say Ugandan rebels are fleeing toward the Central African Republic in the face of a joint operation by Congo, Uganda and Sudan.
• Ethiopia: Troops Withdrawing from Somalia VOA 02 Jan 2009 -- Ethiopia said it has begun pulling its troops out of Somalia, where they have been stationed for two years to back the transitional government.
• UN: Recruitment of Child Soldiers in Congo on Rise VOA 02 Jan 2009 -- The United Nations Children's Fund says the recruitment of child soldiers is on the rise in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Sri Lankan Army Captures Key Tamil Tiger Stronghold VOA 02 Jan 2009 -- Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse says goverment forces have taken control of the capital of the Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the country for the first time in a decade.

News Reports

• In The Balkans, The Newspapers Tell The Story RFE/RL 02 Jan 2009
• Turkmenistan Redenominates Currency, Further Dismantles Niyazov Personality Cult RFE/RL 02 Jan 2009 -- Turkmenistan has redenominated its national currency, the manat, cutting off three zeroes while also removing the image of its autocratic former leader, Saparmurat Niyazov, from all coins and all but one banknote
• Mugabe Moves Hint At Unilateral Formation Of New Zimbabwe Government VOA 02 Jan 2009 -- Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has told his ministers that he is dissolving the cabinet, signaling his intention to name a new slate of ministers in defiance of international pressure for him to share power with the opposition, as such a government will not be joined by either formation of the Movement for Democratic Change, political sources said Friday.
• US Backs Democracy in Burma Ahead of Independence Observance VOA 02 Jan 2009 -- The United States Friday expressed hope for an early transition to democracy in Burma, also called Myanmar, marks the 61st anniversary of its independence from Britain on Sunday. The State Department said nearly four decades of military rule has impeded the country's development.
• Challenging The Assumptions About Russia's Future RFE/RL 02 Jan 2009 -- When setting goals for the future, it is important to question one's assumptions.