• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 10 Feb 2009 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Feb. 9 airpower summary: B-1Bs protect ground forces AFNS 10 Feb 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Iraqi, U.S. Forces Detain Suspects in Baghdad AFPS 10 Feb 2009 -- Iraqi and U.S. soldiers detained 12 suspected criminals during operations in Baghdad.
• 1st Cav. takes MND-B reins from 4th Inf. MNF-I 10 Feb 2009 -- The 1st Cavalry Division took over responsibility for the Multi-National Division-Baghdad operational environment from the 4th Infantry Division.
• Fuel, Ammo Specialists Keep Aircraft in Fight AFPS 10 Feb 2009 -- A diverse group of soldiers here helps to ensure aviation crews are ready to conduct patrols throughout Multinational Division Center.
• JASDF redeployment group bids final farewell AFNS 10 Feb 2009 -- Last of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force redeployment group depart for Japan, bringing end to Iraq Reconstruction Support Airlift Wing mission.
• Sarkozy Leads Charge in Europe to Rebuild Ties With Iraq VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- French President Sarkozy urged European nations to rebuild ties with Iraq during an unannounced visit to that country on Tuesday.
• USS O'Kane Returns from Mid-Pacific Surface Combatant Operational Employment Navy NewsStand 10 Feb 2009 -- USS O'Kane arrived at Naval Station Pearl Harbor following a 4-month deployment.
• Obama Could Order More Troops to Afghanistan This Week VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- US SecDef Gates: President Obama will make a decision on additional US troops to Afghanistan in the "next few days."
• Mullen: Troop Increase in Afghanistan Differs from Iraq Surge AFPS 10 Feb 2009 -- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff cautions that it won’t be a carbon copy of the troop surge that proved so successful in Iraq.
• Mullen Cites Governance as No. 1 Challenge in Afghanistan AFPS 10 Feb 2009 -- Weak governance, particularly in light of upcoming elections, poses the most immediate and pressing challenge in Afghanistan.
• Manas closure will not affect Afghan transit RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2009 -- Russia's envoy to NATO: Closure of a US base in Kyrgyzstan unlikely to disrupt shipments by the military alliance to Afghanistan.
• Pakistan Advises Holbrooke To Talk To Taliban Moderates RFE/RL 10 Feb 2009 -- Pakistan has advised US President Obama's special envoy to reach out to reconcilable elements of the Taliban.
• US Envoy, Pakistani Officials Discuss Counterterrorism VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- US special envoy Richard Holbrooke held talks with Pakistani leaders seeking new ways to tackle extremism and al-Qaida.
• USS Vella Gulf Assists Distressed Dhow Navy NewsStand 10 Feb 2009 -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf assisted a fishing vessel in distress while conducting counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Gen. James E. Cartwright at the Pentagon Briefing Room, Arlington, Va. DoD 10 Feb 2009 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright
• DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for January 2009 DoD 10 Feb 2009 -- The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of January
• Officials Face Tough Choices on Budget, Afghanistan, Gates Says AFPS 10 Feb 2009 -- Discussions about the fiscal 2010 defense budget productive, but leaders are prepared to make tough choices.
• Cold War Models Are Obsolete, National Security Advisor Says AFPS 10 Feb 2009 -- National Security Advisor Jones: US NSC and NATO must adapt to 21st century challenges.
• Special Operations Focus Efforts Outside War Zones AFPS 10 Feb 2009 -- Very few US special operations forces actually are engaged in direct combat.
• Obama urges Russia, U.S to lead nuclear nonproliferation efforts RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2009 -- US President Obama has called for joint nuclear non-proliferation efforts led by Russia and the United States.
• Medvedev ready to work closely with US administration RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2009 -- The Russian president is ready for close cooperation with the new US administration on all bilateral issues, including disarmament.
• Officials host first Nuclear Surety Inspector's Course AFNS 10 Feb 2009 -- Inspectors throughout the USAF attended the first Nuclear Surety Inspector's Course at the Air Force Inspection Agency.
• Russia ready for new arms reduction talks with U.S. - Lavrov RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2009 -- Lavrov: Moscow ready to hold talks with the new US administration on cuts in strategic offensive weapons.
• Clinton Counsels Restraint By North Korea VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton: Hopes recent signs of belligerence by North Korea are not a prelude to any deterioration of security in the region.
• US Walks Tightrope Between South Asia Rivals VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- The new U.S. special envoy, Richard Holbrooke, is on his maiden trip to South Asia.
• What Did Biden Really Say In Munich? RFE/RL 10 Feb 2009 -- US Vice President Biden came to Munich to explain what the new US administration intends to do in just about every corner of the world.
• ESC group delivers operational comm need on-time, on-cost AFNS 10 Feb 2009 -- Operators the JSTARS now have the ability to chat, e-mail and browse the DoD's secure Secret Internet from any location.
• Essex Performs Flight Deck Qualifications with Royal Thai Navy Navy NewsStand 10 Feb 2009 -- Sailors assigned amphibious assault ship USS Essex conducted deck landing qualifications with Royal Thai Navy.
• APS Nashville Meets with Top Senegalese Officers Navy NewsStand 10 Feb 2009 -- Commander, Africa Partnership Station Nashville met with a high-ranking delegation of Senegalese naval officers.
• Military Services Meet or Exceed January Recruiting Needs AFPS 10 Feb 2009 -- All active duty US military services and reserve components met or exceeded their January recruiting needs.
• Guard Bureau chief visits Soldiers in Balkans AFNS 10 Feb 2009 -- The National Guard's support of NATO peacekeeping operations in southeastern Europe making an important contribution in helping Kosovo.
• Air Forces Africa officials engage on Nigerian air safety, security AFNS 10 Feb 2009 -- Statistically, traveling by air is often cited at the safest way to travel.
• Russia says new NATO members must ratify adopted CFE treaty RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2009 -- Moscow will lift moratorium on a major arms reduction treaty only after new NATO members ratify document.
• Ukraine at least 15 years away from NATO - Russian envoy RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2009 -- Russia's envoy to NATO: Issue of Ukraine's membership of the military alliance would remain unresolved for at least 15 years.
• Russia's military cooperation priorities unchanged - Medvedev RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2009 -- Medvedev: Ongoing financial crisis will not affect Russia's priorities in military cooperation.
• Russian Air Force to cut officer staff by 30% - commander RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2009 -- The Russian Air Force will reduce the number of officers by 30% under the current military reform.
• Russian-Belarusian network to be part of CIS air defenses RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2009 -- The integrated Russian-Belarusian regional air defense network will be part of the integrated air defense network of the CIS.
• Moldova Says Russian Ties 'Strong,' But Russian Troops Should Go RFE/RL 10 Feb 2009 -- High-ranking Moldovan official: Moldova would appreciate it if Russia would pull its troops from separatist region of Transdniester.
• War Drills to Be Staged in S. Korea KCNA 10 Feb 2009 -- The 8th Division of the south Korean army on Feb. 8 announced that it would stage field mobile exercises from Feb. 9 to 14.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 10 Feb 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 10, 2009
• EADS fully committed to succeed in A400M programme EADS 10 Feb 2009 -- EADS reaffirms its full commitment to deliver on the European A400M Military Transport Aircraft programme and welcomes the public support given by the French Senators today towards making this exceptional aircraft a success – an aircraft that represents a “brickstone of sovereignty” for the European Defence, as the Senators outlined.
• Northrop Grumman Completes Important Shipbuilding Milestone With Successful Makin Island (LHD 8) Builder's Sea Trials Northrop Grumman 10 Feb 2009 -- The Northrop Grumman Corporation-built (NYSE:NOC) amphibious assault ship Makin Island (LHD 8) returned from successful three-day builder's sea trials held in the Gulf of Mexico this week.
• Raytheon Delivers Final Sentinel R Mk 1 Aircraft for U.K. ASTOR System Raytheon 10 Feb 2009 -- Raytheon Company has delivered the fifth and final Sentinel R Mk 1 aircraft to U.K. Royal Air Force at RAF Waddington.
• Three Astrium satellites onboard the next Ariane 5 EADS 10 Feb 2009 -- Astrium is the prime contractor for three satellites that will be placed into orbit by the next Ariane launch: the HOT BIRDTM 10 broadcast satellite for Eutelsat, and the two satellites of the Spirale demonstrator for the French Armament Procurement Agency (DGA).
• Oshkosh M-ATV TAK-4 Independent Suspension System Meets Mission-Ready, Off-Road Requirements Oshkosh 10 Feb 2009 -- Effective and sustainable off-road vehicle mobility is critical to the urgent-need requirements set by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in its recent call for MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) proposals. Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), offers its M-ATV vehicle designed around the company’s successful Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) chassis and TAK-4® independent suspension system. Oshkosh offers a mature, battle-tested chassis and suspension system, resulting in a mission-ready vehicle that provides exceptional mobility in Afghanistan’s most rugged and remote terrain.
• U.S. Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin-Led Team $75 Million Contract To Extend TSAT Risk Reduction/System Definition Phase Lockheed Martin 10 Feb 2009 -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]/Northrop Grumman [NYSE: NOC] Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) Space Segment Team a $75-million, six-month extension to its Risk Reduction and System Definition (RR&SD) contract.
• Boeing Delivers Final Upgraded Minuteman III Guidance Set Boeing 10 Feb 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has delivered the final upgraded missile guidance set (MGS) for the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) to the U.S. Air Force, completing 82 months -- or nearly seven years -- of consecutive on-time or early deliveries.

Other Conflicts

• Sri Lanka: UN agency voices 'outrage' at civilian deaths in conflict with rebels UN News Centre 10 Feb 2009 -- UN refugee agency expressed “outrage” today at the senseless killing of hundreds of civilians caught up in fighting.
• Sri Lankan rebels kill 17 civilians in shooting spree IRNA 10 Feb 2009 -- Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers went on a shooting rampage, killing 17 Tamil civilians and wounded 69 others.
• Sri Lanka adamant to rescue civilians IRNA 10 Feb 2009 -- Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa warned the LTTE that nothing would deter his government from rescuing and rehabilitating the civilians.
• SRI LANKA: Outrage at suicide attack in Vanni IRIN 10 Feb 2009 -- Suicide attack near an internally displaced persons registration centre has drawn international and local condemnation.
• Georgia wants Abkhazia to be 'weapons-free' zone - minister RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2009 -- Georgia is to demand that Abkhazia be declared an armaments-free zone.
• South Ossetia dismisses Georgian claim of abducted OCSE monitors RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2009 -- The South Ossetian Interior Ministry dismissed Georgian accusations that two OSCE monitors were abducted.
• UN Chief Urges Sudanese President to Cooperate with ICC VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- UN Secretary-General Ban: Sudanese President al-Bashir should cooperate fully with whatever decision the International Criminal Court.
• Darfur Rebel Faction, Khartoum Government Make Bid to Revive Peace Talks VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- Talks on achieving a ceasefire in Sudan's contentious Darfur region get underway in Doha, Qatar.
• UN kicks off campaign to demobilize Sudanese ex-combatants UN News Centre 10 Feb 2009 -- More than a dozen soldiers handed over their weapons at the start of a UN-backed demobilization program.
• Many Congolese Flee to Southern Sudan VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- Thousands of people fleeing rebel attacks in the northeastern DRC are seeking safe haven in South Sudan.
• DRC: Hoping for peace in Ituri IRIN 10 Feb 2009 -- The conflict in Ituri District of north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo officially ended three years ago.
• DR Congo: former Rwandan fighters vanish from disarmament site UN News Centre 10 Feb 2009 -- A group of 150 ethnic Hutu fighters who had agreed to be demobilized and repatriated to Rwanda have disappeared.
• Colombian Rebels Seek Prisoner Swap with Government VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- Rebel group willing to exchange nearly two dozen of the hostages it holds for hundreds of rebels imprisoned by the government.

News Reports

• Israeli Exit Polls Give Livni's Kadima Small Lead VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- Israeli exit polls indicate FM Livni's centrist Kadima Party has a narrow lead over the nationalist Likud Party in Israel's parliamentary election.
• Polls Open in Tight Israeli Election VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- Security is on the minds of voters in Israel as they cast ballots in national elections.
• Israelis go to polls to set path for Palestinian relations RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2009 -- Israelis began voting in parliamentary elections that will decide who replaces Ehud Olmert as prime minister.
• Iran's Khatami Aims To Win Back Skeptics In Presidential Bid RFE/RL 10 Feb 2009 -- Mohammad Khatami finally confirmed his decision to "seriously" compete in Iran's presidential election in June.
• Iran Says It Welcomes 'Real Changes' With United States RFE/RL 10 Feb 2009 -- Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad: Iran ready for talks with US, provided they are based on mutual respect.
• President: Iranians prepared for fair dialogue with US IRNA 10 Feb 2009 -- President Ahmadinejad: Iranian nation is ready for talks with US in a fair atmosphere and mutual respect.
• Iran's president repeats desire for direct talks with U.S. RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2009 -- Iranian President Ahmadinejad reiterated Tehran's readiness for dialogue with Washington under conditions of mutual respect.
• Ahmadinejad Ready for 'Mutual Respect' Talks With US VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- Iranian President Ahmedinejad: Iran ready to begin a dialogue with the United States, provided US is offering "fundamental" change.
• Is PACE A Paper Tiger? RFE/RL 10 Feb 2009 -- The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted 2 separate, controversial resolutions, the first on the Russian-Georgian conflict of August 2008.
• Somali Pirates Extradited to Netherlands VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- Danish naval officials said they have turned over five suspected Somali pirates to officials in the Netherlands.
• Zimbabwe's PM Designate Morgan Tsvangirai Announces Cabinet VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- Zimbabwe's main opposition leader and PM-designate, Morgan Tsvangirai, has named Movement for Democratic Change Secretary-General Tendai Biti to be his finance minister.
• Ukrainian president says PM had no power to make Russia gas deal RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2009 -- Ukrainian President Yushchenko: PM was not authorized to agree a gas contract with Russia in January.
• Somali President Expected to Name New Prime Minister VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- Somalia's newly elected President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is expected in Djibouti today to name a new prime minister to form a government.
• Somalia's New President Continues Push for Insurgent Support VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- Somalia's government continued its efforts to gain the support of Islamist insurgent groups.
• Madagascar Opposition Leader Calls for Another Round of Protests VOA 10 Feb 2009 -- Antananarivo's deposed mayor Andry Rajoelina calling for a protest march to demand the resignation of Madagascar President Ravalomanana.
• Venezuela's army, police to keep order during referendum RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2009 -- More than 140,000 military personnel will keep order in Venezuela during national referendum on changing the country's constitution.
• Timor-Leste: Ban encouraged by progress since 2006 crisis UN News Centre 10 Feb 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban encouraged by the strides made by the leaders and people of Timor-Leste since violence shook the small Asian nation in 2006.
• Russian Army Deserter Prevented From Meeting His Mother RFE/RL 10 Feb 2009 -- Russian Army deserter Aleksandr Glukhov was unable to meet with his mother today.