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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 05 Mar 2009 [PDF]
• 8th IA Div. assumes responsibility of COP 4 MNF-I 05 Mar 2009 -- The 8th Iraqi Army Division received responsibility for Combat Outpost 4 from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Warhorse Brigade during a transfer of authority ceremony at the outpost Mar. 3
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Air Force partner to improve facilities at Iraq’s air force academy MNF-I 05 Mar 2009 -- A joint effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the U.S. Air Force is improving the training facilities for Iraq's air force cadets
• New UN report highlights worsening human rights situation in Afghanistan UN News Centre 05 Mar 2009 -- The human rights situation in Afghanistan is marked by a rise in civilian casualties, setbacks for women, mounting attacks on freedom of expression and a culture of impunity when it comes to punishing perpetrators of abuses, the United Nations says in a new report.
• 4th Brigade's deployment adjusted for early autumn Army News 05 Mar 2009 -- The Defense Department announced that the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division will return to Iraq in the early autumn.
• Iraqi, U.S. Soldiers Work Together Toward Future AFPS 05 Mar 2009 -- Combat Outpost al-Gharraf, formerly named Joint Security Station Jenkins, signifies transition from coalition to Iraqi control.
• Iraq Market Blast Kills 12 VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- Iraqi police said a car bomb attack south of Baghdad has killed at least 12 people and wounded at least 40 others.
• Army, Air Force partner to improve facilities for Iraqi military AFNS 05 Mar 2009 -- Air Force and Army Corps of Engineers members joined forces to improve the training facilities for Iraq's air force cadets.
• Coalition, Afghans Kill One, Detain Four Taliban Bomb Suspects AFPS 05 Mar 2009 -- Afghan and coalition forces killed one militant and detained 4 others during operations to disrupt terrorist group networks.
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Target Bomb Networks VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- Afghan and coalition forces killed one suspected militant and detained four others during operations in southern and eastern Afghanistan.
• Afghan Security Forces Shoulder More Responsibility AFPS 05 Mar 2009 -- US commander in charge of the training effort: The Afghan National Army continues to improve as it assumes more security responsibility.
• Guard aviators gear up for Afghanistan deployment AFNS 05 Mar 2009 -- Four New York Army National Guard aviators got a taste of high-altitude flying in Afghanistan on Feb. 25 without leaving the United States.
• Soldiers Train Afghan Army for Mission Readiness AFPS 05 Mar 2009 -- Soldiers improving the Afghan National Army’s ability to respond to enemy activities through various joint training exercises.
• Kyrgyz President Open to US Proposals on Afghanistan VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- Krygyz President Bakiyev: Ready for any new proposals from the US government to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan.
• Kyrgyzstan says U.S. ready for airbase pullout RIA Novosti 05 Mar 2009 -- Washington has informed Kyrgyz officials of its readiness to start withdrawing its military contingent from the Manas airbase.
• AFGHANISTAN: Tempted by a Taliban job offer IRIN 05 Mar 2009 -- Offer of “work” from a Taliban agent: 500 Afghanis (about US$10) a day for carrying out attacks on government offices in southwestern Afghanistan.
• NATO Commander Notes 'Warming of Relations' Between Pakistan, Afghanistan AFPS 05 Mar 2009 -- NATO’s top military officer noted improving relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Germany, Iran stress importance of Afghan neighborhood initiative IRNA 05 Mar 2009 -- Germany and Iran highlighted the significance of a regional approach geared at stabilizing Afghanistan.
• Bomb Explodes at Sufi Shrine in Pakistan VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- Suspected Islamist militants in Pakistan have bombed the mausoleum of a 17th century poet revered in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Hospital Ship Prepares for Humanitarian Assistance Mission AFPS 05 Mar 2009 -- Preparations under way aboard USNS Comfort as it prepares to leave for a 4-month humanitarian assistance mission.
• USS Underwood Assists Stranded Colombian Fishermen Navy NewsStand 05 Mar 2009 -- The guided-missile frigate USS Underwood provided assistance to Colombian fishermen stranded in the Pacific Ocean.

Defense Policy / Programs

• ARMY RELEASES FEBRUARY SUICIDE DATA; UPDATES PREVENTION EFFORTS Army News Release 05 Mar 2009 -- The Army today released suicide data for February and provided an update on its Suicide Prevention program, reporting that two Soldiers committed suicide in February, and 16 cases of death are pending a determination
• New Family Readiness Center opens its doors Army News 05 Mar 2009 -- The Camp Darby Army Community Service's Service member and Family Readiness Center opened its doors on Feb. 27 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony
• AER Gives More Than It Gets Army News 05 Mar 2009
• Army's SA/ED M1 variant built at Anniston Army News 05 Mar 2009 -- A new high-tech variant of the Army's M1A1 combat vehicle was introduced into the depot's production schedule in January, and the assembly of the first of 156 ordered by TACOM Life Cycle Management Command was completed here March 2
• Garrison Builds Toward Future Work Force Army News 05 Mar 2009 -- With an aging work force headed toward retirement, work force development is on the minds of many organizations at Redstone
• CRDAMC opens West Fort Hood Health Clinic Army News 05 Mar 2009 -- The cutting of a ceremonial yellow ribbon at the new Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center's West Fort Hood Health Clinic Tuesday, March 3 is the realization of a dream discussed ten years ago, according to guest speaker Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, III Corps and Fort Hood commander
• Fort Lewis suicide prevention training prepares facilitators Army News 05 Mar 2009 -- Specialist Norton received a "Dear John" e-mail from his fiancee. Then he watched his best friend die in a firefight. Now, he's contemplating suicide.
• ARMY RELEASES FEBRUARY SUICIDE DATA; UPDATES PREVENTION EFFORTS Army News 05 Mar 2009 -- The Army today released suicide data for February and provided an update on its Suicide Prevention program, reporting that two Soldiers committed suicide in February, and 16 cases of death are pending a determination
• Media Stakeout with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Canadian Minister of Defense Peter Mackay outside the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. DoD 05 Mar 2009 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Canadian Minister of Defense Peter Mackay
• Navy To Christen USNS Wally Schirra DoD 05 Mar 2009 -- The Navy will launch and christen dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Wally Schirra, Sunday, March 8, 2009, during a 7 a.m. PDT ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, Calif
• USS Underwood Assists Stranded Colombian Fishermen Navy NewsStand 05 Mar 2009 -- The guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) provided assistance to five Colombian fishermen who were stranded in the eastern Pacific Ocean Feb. 27.
• San Antonio Visits Egypt to Celebrate Great White Fleet 100th Anniversary Navy NewsStand 05 Mar 2009 -- Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Great White Fleet while in port Alexandria, Egypt, Feb. 23-24.
• Emergency Response Team Trains with Bahrainis During Desert Sailor 2009 Navy NewsStand 05 Mar 2009 -- Sailors assigned to Naval Support Activity Bahrain Emergency Response Team (ERT) participated in the 11th annual Desert Sailor training course Feb. 15-26.
• Chairman Drops in on Navy Medical Research Lab in Peru Navy NewsStand 05 Mar 2009 -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited an unheralded Navy medical research unit that is working with Peruvian military and civilian leaders and agencies to benefit the country, the region and the globe.
• Defense Leaders to Congress: Piracy Begins On Land AFPS 05 Mar 2009 -- The root cause of maritime piracy resides on land, and halting it requires an international solution.
• Russia to monitor U.S. naval drills off Alaska coast RIA Novosti 05 Mar 2009 -- Russia's Pacific Fleet will closely monitor US naval drills involving nuclear-powered submarines off the Alaska coast.
• 7th Fleet Flagship Arrives in Korea for Joint Exercise Navy NewsStand 05 Mar 2009 -- USS Blue Ridge, arrived in support of the commander of US 7th Fleet, participating in exercise Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2009.
• Mullen: Lessons of Colombia Can Be Applied Elsewhere AFPS 05 Mar 2009 -- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Ongoing struggle against narcoterrorists holds lessons for nations around the world.
• Tradewinds Exercise Begins in Bahamas AFPS 05 Mar 2009 -- More than 400 US servicemembers on hand for the opening ceremonies of the 25th annual Tradewinds exercise.
• Emergency Response Team Trains with Bahrainis During Desert Sailor 2009 Navy NewsStand 05 Mar 2009 -- Sailors assigned to Naval Support Activity Bahrain ERT participated in Desert Sailor training course.
• Navy To Christen USNS Wally Schirra Navy NewsStand 05 Mar 2009 -- The Navy will launch and christen dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Wally Schirra March 8 during ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard.
• War Exercises Go On in S. Korea KCNA 05 Mar 2009 -- The US and the south Koreans staging large-scale war exercises in various parts of south Korea.
• US Criticizes 'Unhelpful, Unwelcome' North Korean Rhetoric VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- US criticizing as "distinctly unhelpful" and "unwelcome" an implicit North Korean threat to South Korean civil aviation.
• North Korea unable to guarantee safety of South's civilian planes RIA Novosti 05 Mar 2009 -- North Korea cannot guarantee the safety of South Korean civilian aircraft during joint US-South Korean military exercises.
• NATO Resumes Formal Ties With Russia RFE/RL 05 Mar 2009 -- Administration of new U.S. President Obama looking to "reset" relations with Russia.
• US Proposes Afghanistan Conference VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- NATO foreign ministers agreed to resume high-level talks with Russia, despite remaining differences.
• Afghanistan, Russia Top Clinton's European Agenda RFE/RL 05 Mar 2009 -- After spending part of week in Middle East diplomacy, Hillary Clinton in Brussels for her first visit to Europe as US secretary of state.
• Russia, Afghanistan Top Agenda at NATO Meeting VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- Foreign ministers of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) member countries are meeting Thursday in Brussels.
• Russia welcomes NATO's willingness to resume cooperation RIA Novosti 05 Mar 2009 -- Russia's Foreign Ministry welcomed on NATO's willingness to resume cooperation.
• Russia to put into service Bulava ballistic missiles in 2009 RIA Novosti 05 Mar 2009 -- Russia's Defense Ministry planning to complete tests and put into service Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles in 2009.
• Russia to beef up military capability in south, Black Sea fleet RIA Novosti 05 Mar 2009 -- Russia will enhance the capabilities of troops deployed in the country's "southern region," including the Black Sea Fleet.
• France to open new military base in U.A.E in May RIA Novosti 05 Mar 2009 -- France plans to open a military base in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on May 27.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 05 Mar 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 3/5/09 The White House 05 Mar 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 05, 2009
• Northrop Grumman Takes Delivery of First F-35 Parts From Key Turkish Supplier Northrop Grumman 05 Mar 2009 -- Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI), a major supplier to Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) on the F-35 Lightning II aircraft program, has produced and delivered its first composite parts for the jet
• Oshkosh M-ATV Showcased as Survivable, Mobile Solution for U.S. Services in Afghanistan Oshkosh 05 Mar 2009 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced today a successful showing of the Oshkosh® MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) at last week’s Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Winter Symposium and Exposition before embarking on a multi-city vehicle demonstration tour.
• SAIC Awarded $900 Million Contract by U.S. Strategic Command SAIC 05 Mar 2009 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) to provide technical assistance and selected support services.
• Raytheon Awarded $11 Million Option for Patriot Missile Facilities Raytheon 05 Mar 2009 -- Raytheon Company has been awarded $11.4 million to support Patriot missile facilities during 2009.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 05 Mar 2009
• Two Gaza militants killed by Israeli airstrike RIA Novosti 05 Mar 2009 -- At least two Palestinian militants were killed and another one wounded in an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip.
• US Lawmakers Renew Effort for More Accountability on UN Aid to Palestinians VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- UN aid agency came under sharp criticism on from group of US lawmakers who assert it violated requirements for neutrality.
• ISRAEL-OPT: Doctors struggling to treat Gaza war wounded IRIN 05 Mar 2009 -- Mohammed Abu Shabah, aged 22, lies in al-Wafa rehabilitation centre in northern Gaza, paralyzed from the waist down after a missile fired by an Israeli drone on 11 January left pieces of shrapnel near his spine. Doctors at the centre, Gaza’s only rehabilitation hospital, fear removing them could lead to complete paralysis.
• AU Wants UN to Suspend Bashir Indictments VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- AU sending high-level delegation to UN Security Council to plead for suspension of the war crimes indictments against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
• Ban launches urgent appeal to Sudan to reverse expulsion of aid groups UN News Centre 05 Mar 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban appealed to the Government of Sudan to urgently reconsider its decision to expel 13 aid groups.
• Aid Agencies Seek Reversal of Sudanese Expulsion Order VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- Aid agencies in Sudan are trying to reverse an expulsion order announced Wednesday after ICC issued warrant for President al-Bashir.
• SUDAN: Aid agencies react to expulsions IRIN 05 Mar 2009 -- The expulsion of 10 relief organisations from Sudan will leave hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable civilians at risk.
• Khartoum Orders Aid Agencies to Leave Northern Sudan VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- The fortunes of at least 2.5 million Sudanese may be at added risk due to expulsion order of major foreign-based aid agencies.
• Khartoum Rejects ICC Arrest Warrant Against President Bashir VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- Khartoum has sharply rejected the international arrest warrant against President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.
• Uganda's LRA Rebel Spokesman Skeptical of Top Rebel Commander's Capture VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- Spokesman for Lord's Resistance Army denying Ugandan government captured a top LRA commander.
• SRI LANKA: Civilian circumstances "dire" IRIN 05 Mar 2009 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) organised the eighth sea evacuation of sick and wounded civilians and their dependents from combat areas on 4 March, but officials warned the situation was dire.
• Sri Lanka: Ban deplores rising civilian death toll from ongoing fighting UN News Centre 05 Mar 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly deplored the mounting civilian death toll in areas of fighting between Sri Lankan Government forces and Tamil rebels, and called for an immediate halt to the fighting.

News Reports

• Russia Publishes Soviet Famine Documents VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- Russia has issued the first of three volumes of documents on the Soviet Union's catastrophic famine of the early 1930s.
• Naftogaz Raid Raises Concern About New Round Of Gas War RFE/RL 05 Mar 2009 -- Concerns about the flow of Russian natural gas to Europe have been raised once again.
• Russia could cut gas supplies if Ukraine fails to pay - Putin RIA Novosti 05 Mar 2009 -- Putin: Russia may have to cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine, and via Ukraine to Europe, if Kiev fails to pay.
• Russia's Putin Threatens New Cut-Off in Gas Supplies to Ukraine VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- Russian PM Putin has questioned Ukraine's reliability in paying Moscow for supplies of Russian natural gas.
• Ukraine parliament sets up commission to look into Naftogaz raid RIA Novosti 05 Mar 2009 -- Ukraine's parliament voted to set up a commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding raid of Naftogaz.
• Ukraine's security service halts Naftogaz probe RIA Novosti 05 Mar 2009 -- Ukrainian security service stopped a probe into the natural gas dealings of energy company Naftogaz, following a court ruling.
• US Rejects Early Lifting of Zimbabwe Sanctions VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- Obama administration ruled out an early lifting of U.S. sanctions in Zimbabwe, despite an appeal from the country's PM and former opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
• Madagascar Security Forces Try to Quell Protests VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- Security forces have been deployed in Madagascar's capital to prevent further anti-government protests, one day after two demonstrators were killed in clashes with police.
• Cypriot leaders move on with UN-led reunification negotiations UN News Centre 05 Mar 2009 -- Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders held talks in the latest bout of UN-backed negotiations aimed at reunifying island of Cyprus.
• Fired Cuban Officials Admit Mistakes, Resign All Posts VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- Two top officials ousted in Cuba's political shakeup have acknowledged their "mistakes" and resigned from all posts.