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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 23 Jan 2009 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• MND-C Soldier dies in vehicle rollover
• Jan. 22 airpower summary: B-1B bombs enemy compound AFNS 23 Jan 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• II MEF (Fwd) hits the road to Iraq USMC News 23 Jan 2009 -- II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Marines and sailors loaded on buses as they began their journey to Iraq.
• Gunmen Kill Family in Iraq VOA 23 Jan 2009 -- Iraqi officials say gunmen have killed at least eight members of a Sunni Arab family in troubled Diyala province.
• Coalition Forces Disrupt Haqqani Network in Afghan Province AFPS 23 Jan 2009 -- Coalition forces detained nine suspected militants during an operation aimed at the Haqqani terrorist network.
• Leaders Work to Improve Security in Western Afghanistan AFPS 23 Jan 2009 -- US and Afghan officials met to discuss the status of security in the area and future security initiatives at the RC-W headquarters.
• Military to Focus on Shorter-term Goals in Afghanistan, Gates Says AFPS 23 Jan 2009 -- The US military will focus its efforts on achieving shorter-term goals there.
• Russia ready for cooperation with NATO over Afghanistan RIA Novosti 23 Jan 2009 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev: Moscow was ready to cooperate with NATO over Afghanistan.
• Russia Offers Obama Help on Afghanistan VOA 23 Jan 2009 -- President Medvedev seeking to reassert Russian influence in Central Asia offering to help the US in Afghanistan.
• Afghan, Pakistani Officials Welcome Broader Strategy From US Regional Envoy VOA 23 Jan 2009 -- Appointment of Richard Holbrooke has drawn praise from local officials and analysts.
• Suspected US Missile Strike Kills 9 in Pakistan VOA 23 Jan 2009 -- Pakistani intelligence officials: Suspected US missile strike has killed at least nine people in a northwestern village near the Afghan border.
• Largest deployment of F-22s under way AFNS 23 Jan 2009 -- 24 F-22 Raptors and hundreds of Airmen deployed to the Pacific region for a 3-month deployment in support of the Pacific global deterrence mission.
• Helo Squadron's Flexibility Supports Counterpiracy Ops Navy NewsStand 23 Jan 2009 -- HS-3 is embarked aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio in support of Combined Task Force 151.
• MSC Delivers Cargo for Far East Multinational Exercise Navy NewsStand 23 Jan 2009 -- A cargo ship under charter to the US Navy's Military Sealift Command completed delivery of Marine Corps cargo.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Defense Officials Address Detainee Concerns AFPS 23 Jan 2009 -- As the Defense Department prepares plans to close the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, defense officials acknowledge the possibility that released detainees could return to the battlefield.
• Ban welcomes US decision to close Guantánamo Bay detention centre UN News Centre 23 Jan 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the decision by United States President Barack Obama to begin the process of closing the detention facility in Guantánamo Bay.
• Former Guantanamo Detainee Joins Al-Qaida in Yemen VOA 23 Jan 2009 -- U.S. counterterrorism officials say a man released from the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has resurfaced to become the deputy leader of al-Qaida's Yemeni branch.
• Navy Announces Decision on Atlantic Fleet Active Sonar Training Navy NewsStand 23 Jan 2009 -- The Navy completed and released on Jan. 23 the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Atlantic Fleet Active Sonar Training (AFAST) Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS).
• AFPC officials begin health records transfer mission to VA AFNS 23 Jan 2009 -- Air Force Personnel Center officials here will begin to transfer health treatment records of retired and separated active, Guard and Reserve Airmen to the Department of Veterans Affairs Feb. 1.
• Transformation team scores F100 engine savings AFNS 23 Jan 2009 -- In July 2008, Mr. Brian deFonteny, Black Belt Center Transformation Office project facilitation, enlisted Michelle Waggoner, 547th Propulsion Maintenance Squadron industrial engineering technician, and her team -- Joseph Auzenne, Holly Vernon, Mitch Salvo, Shawna Price, Tracy Kudrna and John Manning -- to determine why the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group's F100 engine Fan Blade Shop lost nearly $16 million during an 18-month period.
• Military Service Secretaries Stay On, Help Ensure Smooth Transition AFPS 23 Jan 2009 -- Each U.S. military service secretary has agreed to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’ request to stay in office for at least several weeks to help ensure the Defense Department’s smooth transition under the Obama administration, Pentagon officials said recently.
• Africom Commander Pledges Support to African Nations AFPS 23 Jan 2009 -- The commander of U.S. Africa Command delivered an unwavering message of assistance during his recent travels to African nations.
• Iwo Jima Floats New Technology While Deployed Navy NewsStand 23 Jan 2009 -- Airmen and Marines aboard multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) launched a weather balloon, outfitted with new technology, from the ship Jan. 19.
• Partnership Key to Joint Forces Command Experimentation Success AFPS 23 Jan 2009 -- US Joint Forces Command pursues capability improvements, its chief is keeping one eye focused on current needs.
• Pearl Harbor Destroyers Deploy Under Enhanced Employment Planning Navy NewsStand 23 Jan 2009 -- More than 1,000 Sailors aboard 3 Pearl Harbor-based ships departed for a Western Pacific deployment.
• Obama Moves Quickly To Open Government To Scrutiny, Close Guantanamo RFE/RL 23 Jan 2009 -- President Obama's decisions to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center to signal the start of a new era.
• Obama to Close Guantanamo, Selects Envoys for Mideast and South Asia VOA 23 Jan 2009 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has ordered the closure of the detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
• U.S. 'Super Envoy' Appointment Sends Strong Signal To Afghanistan, Pakistan RFE/RL 23 Jan 2009 -- Veteran U.S. diplomat Richard Holbrooke sees his new assignment as "daunting."
• US Panel Hears from Experts on Terrorism, Proliferation Challenges Facing Obama VOA 23 Jan 2009 -- Congressional lawmakers heard from experts about preventing terrorists from obtaining WMDs.
• Russian Navy denies Neustrashimy frigate has technical problems RIA Novosti 23 Jan 2009 -- The Russian Navy rejected reports that the Neustrashimy missile frigate in an unsatisfactory technical condition.
• Time now to ensure success, viability of UN missions UN News Centre 23 Jan 2009 -- UN peacekeeping chief: now is the time to make sure ongoing missions are successful and fully supported.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 23 Jan 2009
• Press Briefing 1/23/09 The White House 23 Jan 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 23, 2009
• EADS not envisaging to withdraw from A400M programme EADS 23 Jan 2009 -- There is no discussion within EADS about a scenario to withdraw from the A400M programme, contrarily to what has been circulated in the press.
• L-3 Wins F-16 Mission Training Center Program L-3 Communications 23 Jan 2009 -- L-3 Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) announced today it has been awarded a $68.2 million multiple year contract to develop the U.S. Air Force's F-16 Mission Training Center (MTC) program
• First Avionics-Equipped F-35 Rolls Out Lockheed Martin 23 Jan 2009 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has completed the first F-35 Lightning II equipped with mission systems, a milestone that will lead to the first avionics testing on board an F-35 aircraft.
• Raytheon-Led Team IBCS Completes Major Phase One Milestone Raytheon 23 Jan 2009 -- The Raytheon Company -led Team IBCS recently completed a major milestone during phase one of the U.S. Army's Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) program.
• Sagem wins French army order for JIM LR multifunction infrared binoculars Sagem (Safran group) 23 Jan 2009 -- French defense procurement agency DGA has awarded Sagem (SAFRAN Group) an initial order for 155 JIM LR (long-range) multifunction infrared binoculars. This order is part of the 2006 framework contract won by Sagem, covering more than 850 JIM LR binoculars for the French armed forces.
• MoD Minister announces missile support contract to Thales in Belfast Thales 23 Jan 2009 -- The Minister of State for Defence Equipment & Support (Min DE&S), Quentin Davies MP, has today announced that Thales UK has been awarded a contract worth more than £200m from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to deliver the Air Defence Availability Project (ADAPT) in support of the Starstreak high velocity missile (HVM) system.

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 23 Jan 2009
• UN official urges steps to ensure Gaza crisis does not lead to further extremism UN News Centre 23 Jan 2009 -- There is growing anger in Gaza over the recent Israeli military operation that inflicted death, damage and destruction in the territory, a senior United Nations official warned today, stressing that ensuring accountability and restoring the local economy are the main ways to make certain the conflict does not create more extremists.
• Ban calls on regional and international leaders to help sustain Gaza truce UN News Centre 23 Jan 2009 -- Calling the halt to fighting in Gaza “fragile,” United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on leaders in the region and around the globe to help sustain it and allow the recovery of its devastated population.
• UN Calls for Accountability of Death and Destruction in Gaza VOA 23 Jan 2009 -- The U.N. Relief and Works Agency says a process of accountability must take place to achieve justice for all the death and destruction that occurred as a consequence of the Israeli military incursion into Gaza.
• Israel, Palestinian Authority Welcome Obama Plans for Peace VOA 23 Jan 2009 -- Israel and the Palestinian Authority welcomed announcement that he will "aggressively" pursue peace in the Middle East.
• Israel to Defend Itself Against Gaza War Crimes Charges VOA 23 Jan 2009 -- Israel's PM has assembled a team to defend the country against charges of war crimes in its recent offensive in the Gaza Strip.
• Israel sets up commission to deal with lawsuits over Gaza RIA Novosti 23 Jan 2009 -- Israeli PM Olmert has set up a commission to deal with possible international lawsuits over Israel's military operation in Gaza.
• Israel opens Gaza border crossing for journalists RIA Novosti 23 Jan 2009 -- Israel's Defense Ministry: International journalists will be allowed into Gaza on Friday for their first independent look.
• HRW Accuses Both Sides Of War Crimes In Russia-Georgia Conflict RFE/RL 23 Jan 2009 -- The advocacy group Human Rights Watch, in a new report on the August war between Russia and Georgia, has concluded that both Moscow and Tbilisi are guilty of "numerous violations of the laws of war."
• SRI LANKA: UNICEF urges Tigers to ensure free movement out of conflict areas IRIN 23 Jan 2009 -- The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has called on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to guarantee the free movement of hundreds of thousands of civilians - including as many as 75,000 children - out of conflict areas in the north.
• Moscow worried by Georgian buildup near South Ossetia, Abkhazia RIA Novosti 23 Jan 2009 -- Russian FM: Georgia expanding military presence on the borders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
• Top UN envoy appeals to Congolese rebels to seek peace after arrest of leader UN News Centre 23 Jan 2009 -- The top United Nations official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo appealed to the main rebel group to end its rebellion and engage in peace.
• DRC Rebel Chief Arrested in Rwanda VOA 23 Jan 2009 -- Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo say Congolese Tutsi rebel leader Laurent Nkunda has been arrested in neighboring Rwanda.
• Sudan Army Clashes With Darfur Rebels VOA 23 Jan 2009 -- Sudanese government troops have clashed with Darfur rebels in southern Darfur.
• Khartoum Ready to Work with New Obama Administration VOA 23 Jan 2009 -- Sudan says it is ready to work with President Barack Obama's administration despite being classified as a state sponsor of terrorism.
• Killings at Darfur displaced persons camp were unlawful - UN report UN News Centre 23 Jan 2009 -- Sudanese forces violated international human rights law by using lethal force in a displaced persons camp in Darfur last August.
• Security Council extends UN presence in Nepal for further six months UN News Centre 23 Jan 2009 -- The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) for a further 6 months.

News Reports

• In Long Term, Moscow-Kyiv Gas Dispute Could Re-Draw Europe's Energy Map RFE/RL 23 Jan 2009 -- There is no quick way for the European Union to penalize Russia and Ukraine for the gas dispute that led to a frosty two-week cutoff in gas supplies this month.
• In Short Term, The One With The Gas Wins RFE/RL 23 Jan 2009 -- If one hard truth emerged from the January gas dispute, it's this: Europe cannot get by without Russian energy supplies.
• Russia, Ukraine to resume maritime border talks in June RIA Novosti 23 Jan 2009 -- Ukraine and Russia will hold a further talks on demarcating maritime boundaries between the two countries.
• Bulgaria seeks gas compensation from Gazprom RIA Novosti 23 Jan 2009 -- Bulgaria estimates its losses from recent cuts in gas supplies at $320 million and is demanding compensation from Russia's Gazprom.
• Fidel Castro primes Cuba for life without him RIA Novosti 23 Jan 2009 -- Cuba's former president Fidel Castro urged the Cuban leadership and government not to consider him in their work.
• Southern African Leaders Prepare for Zimbabwe Crisis Summit VOA 23 Jan 2009 -- Southern African leaders are to hold a summit in South Africa Monday aimed at reviving deadlocked negotiations over a unity government in Zimbabwe.
• Turkmenistan's 'Gray Cardinal' Leaves Government RFE/RL 23 Jan 2009 -- With the resignation this week of a cabinet minister widely regarded as the "gray cardinal" behind its current president, Turkmenistan has lost the last of the old guard installed by the late strongman Sapamurat Niyazov.