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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• MND-B Soldier death
• Feb. 20 Airpower Summary: A-10s destroy anti-Afghan positions AFNS 21 Feb 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations Feb. 20, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Obama Backs Bush on Afghanistan Detainees VOA 21 Feb 2009 -- The Obama administration says detainees at the U.S. air base in Bagram, Afghanistan cannot use U.S. courts to challenge their detention.
• US refuses Afghan detainees right to seek compensation IRNA 21 Feb 2009 -- The US justice department ruled that some 600 detainees at Bagram have no rights to seek compensation from the US government for keeping them in custody without substantive charges.
• Investigation Confirms Civilian Casualties in Afghanistan Strike AFPS 21 Feb 2009 -- An investigation into a Feb. 17 coalition air strike in Afghanistan’s Heart province has confirmed that 13 noncombatants and three enemy fighters were killed, military officials reported.
• Afghan President, Top US Lawmaker Meet in Kabul VOA 21 Feb 2009 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai met with a top U.S. lawmaker in Kabul Saturday to discuss a new American strategy to confront a Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan.
• Pakistani Taliban to Review Cease-Fire VOA 21 Feb 2009 -- Taliban militants in northwest Pakistan say they are considering extending their ceasefire, but deny they reached a permanent agreement as local government officials had claimed.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Soldier Gets Life for Iraqi Slayings VOA 21 Feb 2009 -- A U.S. soldier has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for his role in the execution-style slayings of four Iraqi prisoners.
• Fort Campbell Center Represents Benchmark in Treatment AFPS 21 Feb 2009 -- A tour of the Traumatic Brain Injury Warrior Resiliency and Recovery Center here yesterday made a favorable impression on the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• Soldier, Family Center Underscores Nation’s Commitment, Chairman Says AFPS 21 Feb 2009 -- The construction of a new Soldier and Family Assistance Center here underscores the nation’s commitment to those who sacrifice so much, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday.
• Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Visits USS Donald Cook Navy NewsStand 21 Feb 2009 -- Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF), visited Sailors stationed aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), at Naval Station Norfolk Feb. 19 as part of his ongoing face-to-face visits with the waterfront.
• Project Office Managing $422M in Katrina Recapitalization Effort Navy NewsStand 21 Feb 2009 -- Public Works Department (PWD) Gulfport continues to execute the Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport Katrina Recapitalization Program which encompasses over 35 Military Construction (MILCON) and Operations and Maintenance, Navy (O&MN) projects valued at over $422 million.
• Command Strike Force Training Atlantic Changes Leadership Navy NewsStand 21 Feb 2009 -- Commander, Strike Force Training Atlantic (CSFTL) held a change of command ceremony at Norfolk Naval Station Feb. 2.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Sri Lanka: UN official urges Government, rebels to put an end to civilian deaths UN News Centre 21 Feb 2009 -- The top United Nations humanitarian official today urged combatants on both sides of the battle ravaging the northern Vanni region of Sri Lanka to make greater efforts to stop the rising toll of civilian casualties and to protect the people trapped in a small pocket of land held by rebel fighters.
• Top UN official in the DR Congo welcomes release of two hostages UN News Centre 21 Feb 2009 -- The two Congolese men, Georges Shanyungu and Célestin Bamwisho, who were kidnapped while working in the eastern province of South Kivu on the UN-supported Amani disarmament programme, were released yesterday in good health.
• Tamil Tigers Claim Successful Strike on Sri Lankan Capital VOA 21 Feb 2009 -- Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka say their suicide air raid on the capital, Colombo, Friday was a success, though both pilots missed their intended targets.
• Tamil Tigers Launch Suicide Air Raid on Sri Lankan Capital VOA 21 Feb 2009 -- At least three people are dead and 48 injured in an air raid on the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo Friday night carried out by Tamil Tiger rebels who appear to be on the brink of defeat in their 25 year war for a separate homeland.
• India expresses concern over LTTE air raids over Colombo IRNA 21 Feb 2009 -- Expressing concern over the latest turn of events in Sri Lanka, particularly the air raids by LTTE over Colombo, India Saturday appealed to the government and the militant organization to come to a peaceful negotiated settlement.
• Sri Lanka air strikes were suicide attacks: LTTE IRNA 21 Feb 2009 -- Sri Lankan rebels, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Saturday said that the air strikes carried out by it over capital Colombo killing two people and injuring 54 others were suicide attacks by its elite 'Black Air Tiger' squad.
• LTTE planes bomb Sri Lankan capital IRNA 21 Feb 2009 -- Two LTTE aircraft reportedly attacked the Sri Lankan Army's headquarters and a government building in the high security zone, forcing the authorities in Colombo to activate air defense systems and shut down power supply in national capital.
  One of the planes was shot down by the counter-fire by Lankan Air Force.
• 64 Russian soldiers killed, 283 wounded in last year's Georgia war RIA Novosti 21 Feb 2009 -- A total of 64 Russian soldiers were killed and 283 wounded in the war with Georgia in 2008, a deputy Russian defense minister said Saturday.
• Lebanese Rocket Fire Raises Tension on Israeli Border VOA 21 Feb 2009 -- Lebanese security sources say Israel has fired artillery shells into southern Lebanon, after three rockets were fired toward Israel from Lebanon. Israeli sources say one of those rockets landed in northern Israel and wounded three people. Lebanese rocket fire is raising tension on the border with Israel.

News Reports

• Clinton Lays Groundwork for Obama, Hu Talks in April VOA 21 Feb 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will meet in Washington next month to work out details for talks between the presidents of their two countries in April.
• US Senator Meets With Syrian President VOA 21 Feb 2009 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry Saturday. This is the latest in a series of contacts between the two countries.
• Madagascar Opposition Leader, President Meet VOA 21 Feb 2009 -- Madagascar's opposition leader Andry Rajoelina and President Marc Ravalomanana have met for the first time since the political crisis began in that country last month.
• Ex-president's hunger strike not to affect court's schedule CNA 21 Feb 2009 -- Former President Chen Shui-bian's hunger strike is not expected to affect a three-day pretrial session scheduled to start Feb
• New approaches to global security needed - Russia's Medvedev RIA Novosti 21 Feb 2009 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday that the events in South Ossetia have conditioned the necessity to work out new approaches to ensuring global security.
• Putin holds economic meeting on Russian budget changes RIA Novosti 21 Feb 2009 -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin held an economic meeting on Saturday to work on changes to the 2009 budget, the government press secretary said.