• 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 04 Mar 2009 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
• Bombing in Iraq Kills 3 VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- Iraqi officials say a suicide bomber has killed three people and wounded at least 10 others in central Baghdad.
• Three Injured in Suicide Attack at Bagram Airfield AFPS 04 Mar 2009 -- Three contractors suffered minor injuries in a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack near Bagram Airfield.
• Airmen advise Afghans on Russian-made helicopters AFNS 04 Mar 2009 -- Kadena AB Airmen serving as advisers to Afghan airmen who maintain the Russian-made MI-17 transport helicopter at Kandahar Air Base.
• US Lawmakers Propose Preferential Trade Zones for Pakistan, Afghanistan VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- Legislation to create preferential trade areas in Pakistan and Afghanistan as way to limit violent extremism.
• UN, US, NATO Welcome August Afghan Election Date VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- UN, NATO and US have welcomed the Afghan election commission's decision to hold presidential polls on August 20 as planned.
• Top UN envoy to Afghanistan welcomes August election date UN News Centre 04 Mar 2009 -- UN envoy to Afghanistan welcomed decision reaffirming 20 August as the date of the 2009 elections.
• Afghan Election Commission Rejects Karzai Request for Early Election VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- Afghanistan's election committee has rejected President Karzai's request to move up date for presidential elections.
• Afghan Election Commission Says Early Vote Not Possible VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- Afghanistan's election commission: Presidential polls will be held on August 20 and not earlier as demanded by President Karzai.
• Two Pakistan soldiers killed in Taliban militants' attack: army IRNA 04 Mar 2009 -- Two Pakistani soldiers were killed when Taliban militants attacked a convoy of security forces in Swat valley.
• Somali Nationals Released to Puntland Navy NewsStand 04 Mar 2009 -- Somali nationals suspected of piracy were turned over March 3 to the Puntland Coast Guard from the US Navy.

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S. Committed to European Missile Defense, Gates Says AFPS 03 Mar 2009 -- If Iranian missile programs would cease production, US would not need missile defense capabilities in Eastern Europe.
• ARNORTH focuses on suicide prevention Army News 04 Mar 2009 -- an Army method used to ensure every individual Soldier has been exposed to new material -- during the 120-day period after March 15.
• US soldiers get help as suicide levels soar Army News 04 Mar 2009 -- Suicide attacks, gun battles and roadside bombs have long been among the dangers facing US soldiers in Iraq
• Army publishes first Reserve Retirement Guide Army News 04 Mar 2009 -- The Army has created a Retirement Guide just for Army Reserve Soldiers and their families.
• AFRICOM Commander: Army's diversity example for partner nations Army News 04 Mar 2009 -- one of six unified geographic commands within the Department of Defense -- on Oct. 1, 2007.
• Kansas Army Ammunition Plant ends mission Army News 04 Mar 2009 -- all services, all types of conventional ammunition from 500-pound bombs to rifle rounds.
• Strike Group Commander, Former Marine Addresses New Marine Corporals Navy NewsStand 04 Mar 2009 -- Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26 MEU) held a graduation ceremony March 2 for Marines who successfully completed the Combined Corporal Leadership Course aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7).
• APS, ONR Team with Ghanaians to Research Coastal Erosion Navy NewsStand 04 Mar 2009 -- Scientists with Africa Partnership Station (APS) Nashville, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the University of Ghana (UG) teamed up to develop coastal erosion research in Ghana as part of an ongoing APS mission to improve maritime safety and security.
• USS Ohio Earns Battle "E" Following Remarkable Year Navy NewsStand 04 Mar 2009 -- The guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726) received the Battle Efficiency award, or Battle "E", during ceremonies held in late February aboard Naval Base Kitsap.
• U.S. to Stage Drill for Express Delivery of War Hardware in S. Korea KCNA 04 Mar 2009 -- US mull staging drill for the express delivery of war hardware, prior to the projected Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises.
• APS Nashville Trains African Sailors on VBSS Procedures Navy NewsStand 04 Mar 2009 -- Sailors from Ghana, Mozambique and Cape Verde trained on basic visit, board, search, and seizure methods.
• Successful Deep Freeze season comes to an end AFNS 04 Mar 2009 -- Another season of Department of Defense support to the US Antarctic Program and National Science Foundation activities came to an end.
• Budget to Reflect Key Defense Priorities, OMB Director Says AFPS 04 Mar 2009 -- OMB: 2010 defense budget will maintain priorities such as quality-of-life improvements and acquisition reform.
• Obama Pledges to Ensure Security While Reforming Defense Contracting AFPS 04 Mar 2009 -- President Obama pledged to ensure security of American people while trimming fat from the DoD budget.
• ESC uses new acquisition steps to advance critical program AFNS 04 Mar 2009 -- ESC Team completed first Materiel Development Decision using the new acquisition procedures approved in December.
• Army, Air Guard at Full Strength, Directors Tell Congress AFPS 04 Mar 2009 -- Army National Guard over strength and Air National Guard has met target end strength for the first time since 2002.
• Despite Economic Uncertainties, Coast Guard Looks to Modernize AFPS 04 Mar 2009 -- Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad W. Allen: Pursuit to modernize in the midst of fiscal ambiguity is the real challenge.
• Afghanistan, US-Russia Relations to Top Clinton Talks With North Atlantic Council VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton will attend a ministerial meeting of the North Atlantic Council Thursday.
• NATO Set To Normalize Relations With Russia RFE/RL 04 Mar 2009 -- NATO foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels on March 5, are set to restore the alliance's full diplomatic links with Russia.
• Russia-NATO Council 'could restart this month' RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2009 -- The work of the Russia-NATO Council, frozen after the war with Georgia last August, could resume later this month.
• Ex-Soviet states plan joint air defense drills Aug. 7- Sept. 18 RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2009 -- Commonwealth of Independent States members will conduct joint air defense exercises from August 7 until September 18.
• Kazakhstan, Russia sign contract on S-300 air defense systems RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2009 -- Kazakhstan has signed a contract with Russia on the purchase of S-300 air defense missile systems.
• India successfully test fires 'BrahMos' missile IRNA 04 Mar 2009 -- India successfully test fired the new version of cruise missile 'BrahMos' in Pokhran at the Rajasthan desert.
• India successfully test fires BrahMos supersonic cruise missile RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2009 -- India has successfully tested the latest land attack version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
• China Boosts Military Spending VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- China says it is increasing defense spending, this year, to raise the salaries of the world's largest standing army.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 04 Mar 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 3/4/09 The White House 04 Mar 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 04, 2009
• BAE SYSTEMS REVEALS THE BRAINS BEHIND ITS TECHNOLOGY BAE Systems 04 Mar 2009 -- the world’s most advanced animated robot at the Big Bang science and engineering fair for young people at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, 4-6 March 2009.
• BAE SYSTEMS SECURES £450M TYPHOON AVAILABILITY SERVICE CONTRACT FROM MOD BAE Systems 04 Mar 2009 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a £450 million contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) under a partnering arrangement that will see the RAF's Typhoon aircraft maintained and supported by the Company
• General Dynamics Successfully Completes Test of U.S. Army’s Largest Mobile Broadband Network General Dynamics 04 Mar 2009 -- A General Dynamics-led team recently completed a successful developmental test of the Warfighter Information Network – Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2 on-the-move broadband networking capability.
• General Dynamics NASSCO Delivers USNS Carl Brashear General Dynamics 04 Mar 2009 -- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today delivered USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7) to the U.S. Navy. The ship is named in honor of the first African-American to qualify and serve as a Master Diver. Brashear’s life story was portrayed in the 2000 movie Men of Honor.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 04 Mar 2009
• Clinton Criticizes Israel's Plans to Demolish Arab Homes VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton made her first trip to the West Bank criticizing Israel for plans to demolish Arab homes in East Jerusalem.
• Clinton to Iran: 'Stop Interfering in Palestinian Affairs' VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton accused Iran's supreme leader of interfering in Palestinian affairs.
• Abbas to Iran: Stop Interfering VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- Palestinian Authority President Abbas' harsh criticism of what he calls Iranian interference comes as Tehran hosts a summit on Palestinian issues.
• Iran Denounces US During Gaza Meeting VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- Iran's supreme leader accused US President Obama of following the same wrong policies as the Bush administration with his "unconditional" support of Israel.
• Palestinian Rocket Fire Follows Israeli Airstrikes VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- Palestinian militants fired two rockets into southern Israel late Tuesday, following Israeli airstrikes near the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt.
• Israel carries out airstrikes on Gaza Strip tunnels RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2009 -- Israeli planes have carried out several airstrikes on tunnels in the Gaza Strip in response to rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.
• Iran to investigate claims of Israeli war crimes - minister RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2009 -- Iran's intelligence service will conduct its own investigation into claims Israel committed war crimes in Gaza.
• US Supports Accountability for Darfur Crimes VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- US State Department: Those who have committed atrocities in Sudan should be held accountable for their crimes.
• Southern Sudan Government Urges Restraint in Response to Bashir Arrest Warrant VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- The government of Southern Sudan is reacting to the ICC arrest warrant for the Sudanese president.
• Demonstrators in Khartoum Protest Arrest Warrant for Sudan President VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- Thousands protested in Sudanese capital Khartoum after announcement that the ICC issued warrant for the country's president.
• ICC issues arrest warrant for Sudanese President for war crimes in Darfur UN News Centre 04 Mar 2009 -- ICC issued an arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur by Sudanese President Al-Bashir.
• International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Sudan's leader RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2009 -- The International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Sudanese President al-Bashir over war crimes in Darfur.
• War Crimes Court Seeks Arrest of Sudan's Bashir VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
• ICC to Issue Arrest Warrant Against Sudan President Bashir For Darfur War Crimes VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- Judges at International Criminal Court expected to issue warrant against Sudanese Presidental-Bashir.
• Abkhaz Incident Opens Up New Vista In Georgia Conflict RFE/RL 04 Mar 2009 -- Irakli Bigvava, a 24-year-old Georgian, is at the center of a new dimension of the conflict simmering between Georgia and its separatist territories.
• SUDAN: Getting the fighters out of uniform IRIN 04 Mar 2009 -- Sudanese officials have discovered that raising money is tough and getting ex-combatants to hand in arms even tougher.
• CONGO: Weapons recovery a success - government IRIN 04 Mar 2009 -- At least 2,800 weapons recovered from ex-combatants in a 3-week operation in the southern Pool region.
• Rwandan Pullout Leaves DRC Civilians Still Searching for Greater Security VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- Military operation in Democratic Republic of Congo by Rwandan forces and DRC army uprooted violent Hutu groups.
• Bangladesh Makes Arrests in Guard Uprising VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- Police in Bangladesh say they have arrested the suspected ringleader of last week's border guard uprising that left 70 people dead.

News Reports

• British Prime Minister Addresses US Congress VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- In an address to a joint meeting of the US Congress, British PM Brown has urged the United States to seize the opportunity to expand cooperation with Europe .
• New Claims That Chechen Leader Ordered Killings Abroad RFE/RL 04 Mar 2009 -- Video clip posted on YouTube in which a young Chechen man describes how he was tasked to assassinate a Chechen emigre.
• Conflict Between Pakistan's Political Rivals Prompts Protests, Turmoil VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- The rivalry between Pakistan's President Zardari and his former coalition partner Sharif creating more turmoil in country.
• Iraqi Vice President Snubs Visiting Iranian Former President VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi has refused to meet with visiting former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.
• Ukrainian Security Service seizes documents during Naftogaz raid RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2009 -- Ukrainian Security Service agents raided the headquarters of Naftogaz, seizing documentation relating to gas deal.
• Russian military officials face fraud charges over arms disposal RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2009 -- Fraud charges brought against a group of Defense Ministry officials involved in disposal of airplane bombs and missiles.
• Philippines Soldiers Convicted of Aquino Assassination Freed VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- Ten former soldiers convicted of being involved in the Philippines' most prominent assassination case have been released from prison after more than two decades.
• Georgia opposition party touts leader to challenge Saakashvili RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2009 -- Georgia's opposition Labor Party on Wednesday put forward its leader, Shalva Natelashvili, to challenge Mikheil Saakashvili for the presidency.
• Fidel Castro: Two Top Officials Undone by 'Honey of Power' VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- Former Cuban President Fidel Castro: Was consulted on leadership changes in brother Raul Castro's government.
• Somali Parliamentarians to Hold First Meeting in Mogadishu VOA 04 Mar 2009 -- Somalia's parliament will hold its first meeting today in the capital, Mogadishu after relocating and electing new President Sheikh Ahmed.
• SYRIA: Drought exacerbates economic woes IRIN 04 Mar 2009 -- A record three-year drought which has decimated the agriculture sector, which accounts for 23 percent of Syria’s gross domestic product (GDP), is compounding the country’s economic woes, including thousands of job losses.