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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 09 Jan 2009 [PDF]
• Jan. 8 airpower summary: A-10s deter anti-Afghan forces AFNS 09 Jan 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Jan. 7 airpower summary: C-130s provide supplies AFNS 09 Jan 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Iraqi, U.S. Forces Seize Weapons Stockpiles AFPS 09 Jan 2009 -- Iraqi and U.S. soldiers, Iraqi police and "Sons of Iraq" civilian security group members seized several weapons caches in Baghdad this week.
• US Studies Withdrawing More Troops from Iraq VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- Top American commander: Could be a further reduction in the US troop presence in Iraq, based on recommendations from field commanders.
• Coalition Ensures Long-term Employment for 'Sons of Iraq' AFPS 09 Jan 2009 -- The coalition will follow through with its commitment to place "Sons of Iraq" civilian security group members into permanent jobs.
• Petraeus Cites US-Iran 'Common Interests' on Afghanistan, Iraq VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- The commander of US forces in the Middle East and Central Asia: May be possible to work with Iran on some issues.
• Coalition Targets Bomb Networks in Afghanistan AFPS 09 Jan 2009 -- Coalition forces killed 37 armed militants and captured four others in operations targeting bomb networks in Zabol and Laghman provinces.
• Petraeus Discusses Way Ahead For Afghanistan AFPS 09 Jan 2009 -- Petraeus: Peace and stability in Afghanistan are incomplete without improving relations among the country and its neighbors.
• Suicide Car Bomber Kills 10 in Afghanistan VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- Afghan officials say a suicide bomber has killed at least 10 people, including two police officers, at a market in the south of the country.
• Pakistani General Says Country Is Terrorist Safe Haven RFE/RL 09 Jan 2009 -- An Afghan police commander says Pakistani General Hedayat Urrahman admitted terrorists safe havens in Pakistan.
• 2 Top Al-Qaida Terrorists Killed in Pakistan VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- Pakistani officials say the head of al-Qaida's operations in Pakistan and his top aide were killed in a US missile strike on New Year's Day.
• 17th Air Force members plan support for Darfur operation AFNS 09 Jan 2009 -- Airmen will soon begin airlifting special equipment for Rwandan peacekeepers in the Darfur region of Sudan.
• Travis Airmen contribute to Darfur airlift operation AFNS 09 Jan 2009 -- Members of the 615th Contingency Response Wing recently deployed to Africa in support of humanitarian airlift missions in Sudan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Obama Announces Intelligence Director, CIA Chief Picks AFPS 09 Jan 2009 -- President-elect Barack Obama announced his choices for the nation's new top intelligence official and CIA chief.
• Obama Names Choices to Lead US Intelligence Agencies VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- President-elect Barack Obama filled out his national security team Friday with the naming of his top intelligence officials.
• NMCB 1 Earns "E" for Effort Navy NewsStand 09 Jan 2009 -- First Naval Construction Division (1 NCD) announced its selection of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 as the Fiscal Year 2008 Atlantic Fleet Naval Construction Force Battle "E" Active Battalion, Dec. 22 adding an exclamation point to an already successful year for the command.
• US Announces International Anti-Piracy Force VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- US Navy officials announced formation of a new international force to fight piracy in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf Aden off the coast of Somalia.
• FISC Puget Sound to Transfer Navy Warehouse Function Navy NewsStand 09 Jan 2009 -- FISC Puget Sound will transfer civilians to Defense Distribution Depot Puget Sound Washington.
• Too early to speculate on anti-piracy naval deployment: lawmaker CNA 09 Jan 2009 -- Too early for talk about dispatching frigates to Gulf of Aden to protect Taiwanese ships from Somali pirates.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 09 Jan 2009
• Press Briefing by Deputy Press Secretary Scott Stanzel The White House 09 Jan 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 09, 2009
• Boeing Completes Apache Longbow Training Upgrade Contract Boeing 09 Jan 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today that its Integrated Defense Systems Training Systems and Services organization has completed a six-year U.S. Army contract to retrofit and upgrade 22 Apache Longbow Crew Trainers, 22 Maintenance Training Devices and a Longbow Collective Training System.
• AIRBUS MILITARY and EADS propose a new approach for the A400M Programme EADS 09 Jan 2009 -- Airbus Military and EADS have proposed a new programme approach for the A400M to the Launch Nations, through OCCAR, with the aim to find a way forward for this programme.
• General Dynamics NASSCO Delivers First-of-Class Product Carrier General Dynamics 09 Jan 2009 -- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today delivered the first ship of its new line of product carriers to U.S. Shipping Partners. The ship will be christened and named the Golden State in a 6 p.m. ceremony tomorrow at the NASSCO shipyard.
• U.S. Navy Awards Lockheed Martin Non-Guard Services Contract Lockheed Martin 09 Jan 2009 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has been awarded an indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to provide non-guard security support services to the Commander, Naval Installations Command (CNIC).
• Lockheed Martin Completes Acquisition Of Universal Systems & Technology, Inc. (UNITECH) Lockheed Martin 09 Jan 2009 -- Lockheed Martin Corporation [NYSE: LMT] has completed its acquisition of Universal Systems & Technology, Inc. (UNITECH).
• First Production VH-71 Presidential Helicopter Arrives at Lockheed Martin to Start Final Production Phase Lockheed Martin 09 Jan 2009 -- The first Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] pilot production VH-71 presidential helicopter to begin the integration and final production process arrived at the company’s Owego, NY, facility today.

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 09 Jan 2009
• Rice Defends US Abstention on Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is defending the U.S. decision to abstain on the U.N. Security Council resolution approved late Thursday calling for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
• Fierce Fighting Erupts in Gaza Despite UN Call for Cease-fire VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- Israeli and Hamas forces fought fierce battles in the Gaza Strip, both sides defying a United Nations demand for a cease-fire.
• UN rights chief suggests mission to assess possible war crimes in Gaza conflict UN News Centre 09 Jan 2009 -- The top United Nations human rights official today proposed a mission to assess violations and possible war crimes.
• UN Emergency Session Deals With Gaza Crisis VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- The UN's top human rights official, Navi Pillay, is calling for an independent investigation into possible war crimes in both Gaza and Israel.
• UN Aid Agency to Resume Full Services in Gaza 'Soon' VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- The Director of the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees John Ging said UNRWA will soon resume its work in the Gaza Strip.
• UN agency to resume suspended aid distributions in Gaza after Israeli assurances UN News Centre 09 Jan 2009 -- The United Nations will resume suspended aid distribution for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza as soon as possible after receiving credible security assurances from Israel.
• Lebanese leaders, UN envoy meet on rocket firing; old weapons cache found UN News Centre 09 Jan 2009 -- The top United Nations envoy there met with Lebanese leaders to discuss measures to keep tensions from Gaza from spreading to that country.
• Top Hamas Leaders Reject UN Cease-Fire VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- Top leaders of the militant Hamas group based in Damascus, are calling the UN cease-fire resolution "unacceptable."
• Hamas missile reaches close Tel Aviv IRNA 09 Jan 2009 -- Missiles from Ezzeddin Qassam Battalion reached Friday t 20 kilometers from Tel Aviv.
• Israel hits Gaza 50 times overnight despite UN calls for truce IRNA 09 Jan 2009 -- Israeli warplanes bombed Gaza 50 times overnight despite a United Nations Security Council resolution.
• Olmert: Israel to Continue Gaza Offensive VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- Fighting continued in Gaza Friday despite a U.N. resolution calling for an immediate end to hostilities.
• Israel says UN resolution on Gaza ceasefire 'unworkable' RIA Novosti 09 Jan 2009 -- Israeli PM: Israel would continue military offensive despite the UN Security Council's resolution.
• UNSC urges immediate ceasefire in Gaza IRNA 09 Jan 2009 -- The UN Security Council adopted resolution 1860 (2009) by 14 votes in favor with the US abstention in connection with Gaza events.
• UN approves resolution on Gaza ceasefire RIA Novosti 09 Jan 2009 -- The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution urging an immediate and durable Gaza ceasefire.
• ISRAEL-OPT: Tens of thousands flee Rafah IRIN 09 Jan 2009 -- Independent confirmation of situation in Gaza is difficult as Israel's ban on journalists entering the Strip remains in place.
• Citing increasing attacks, UN urges Sri Lanka to ensure safety for returnees UN News Centre 09 Jan 2009 -- The United Nations refugee agency has called on the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure security for civilians in the eastern part of the strife-torn nation, citing a significant increase in the number of killings, abductions and injuries in areas of return, including 24 civilian deaths recorded in November alone in the Batticaloa district.
• Security arrangements dominate UN-backed talks between DR Congo and rebels UN News Centre 09 Jan 2009 -- United Nations-backed talks aimed at bringing an end to the deadly conflict between the Government and rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been focusing on security matters, including a possible ceasefire, since resuming earlier this week in Nairobi, a senior official said today.
• Refugee exodus across perilous Gulf of Aden soars by 70 per cent, UN reports UN News Centre 09 Jan 2009 -- Over 50,000 people fleeing war and poverty made the nearly always perilous and sometimes deadly voyage in smugglers’ boats across the Gulf of Aden from Somalia last year, a 70 per cent increase over 2007, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.
• Tskhinvali says Georgia moves troops to S.Ossetia border RIA Novosti 09 Jan 2009 -- The Defense Ministry of South Ossetia: Georgia moving troops towards its border.
• Sri Lanka Says Troops are Gaining in Elephant Pass VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- Sri Lanka's military says troops fighting are to capture the highly strategic Elephant Pass, the Tamil Tiger rebels' last stronghold in the north.
• UN, African Union Scaling Up For Big Somalia Stabilization Campaign VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- The international community is stepping in to fill the security vacuum in Somalia as Ethiopia wraps up its two-year military involvement in Somalia.
• UN team to explore ways of supporting security in violence-wracked Somalia UN News Centre 09 Jan 2009 -- A United Nations team will head to the Horn of Africa next week to explore how the world body can support the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.
• DRC: Thousands displaced by latest LRA attack IRIN 09 Jan 2009 -- Civilians have been displaced in another deadly attack by suspected Lord's Resistance Army rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Moving Sudanese north-south peace pact forward will require redoubled efforts - UN UN News Centre 09 Jan 2009 -- The United Nations urge parties to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement to redouble their efforts on key goals such as elections and border demarcation.

News Reports

• Somali Pirates Release Saudi Tanker VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- Somali pirates say they have released a Saudi-owned oil tanker hijacked nearly two months ago in exchange for a $3 million ransom.
• Super Tanker Likely to be Released by Pirates Navy NewsStand 09 Jan 2009 -- It appears Somali pirates have received payment for the very large crude tanker Sirius Star Jan. 9.
• ECOWAS Security Council Meets Friday on Military Takeover in Guinea VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- The Mediation and Security Council of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) which comprises foreign ministers of the sub-region meets Friday in Abuja, Nigeria.
• African Union Will Sanction Guinea Unless Elections Held Quickly VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- The African Union says Guinea's military rulers will face international sanctions if they go back on a promise to hold elections within six months.
• US Court Issues 97-Year Prison Sentence for Liberian Ex-Leader's Son VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- A US judge has issued a 97-year prison term against the son of former Liberian leader Charles Taylor for torture in the West African nation.
• Interview: The Business and Politics Behind the Russia-Ukraine Gas Dispute cfr.org 09 Jan 2009 -- Interviewer: Bernard Gwertzman, Consulting Editor, Council on Foreign Relations
• EU Announces Breakthrough In Russia-Ukraine Gas Crisis RFE/RL 09 Jan 2009-- The European Commission says its President Jose Manuel Barroso and Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have agreed terms to end the gas crisis in Europe in the course of a phone call.
• EU Fails To End Gas Crisis Between Ukraine and Russia VOA 09 Jan 2009 -- The European Uninion efforts to resolve a bitter gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine foundered on Thursday when Russia reportedly refused to agree to a EU proposal to send independent monitors to check Russia's gas flow through Ukraine.
• Focus Turns To Gas Monitors In Russia-Ukraine Gas Dispute RFE/RL 09 Jan 2009-- Despite early predictions that natural-gas flows would resume as early as January 9, Russia's Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftohaz remain at odds over a deal to restart shipments to customers in Europe.
• Medvedev says no gas to Ukraine until documents signed RIA Novosti 09 Jan 2009 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev instructed the Russian energy giant Gazprom on Friday that gas supplies to Ukraine should be resumed only after the necessary documents are signed.
• Sagem delivers first of three NIRSpec telescopes for James Webb Space Telescope to EADS Astrium Sagem (Safran group) 09 Jan 2009 -- Sagem (SAFRAN Group) delivered to Astrium, on January 8, the first of three telescopes intended for the NIRSpec instrument (Near Infrared Spectrograph) on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Sagem will deliver the other two telescopes during the first half of 2009.