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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 06 Mar 2009 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• March 5 airpower summary: A-10s provide aerial security AFNS 06 Mar 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Straight Arrow hands battle space to Vanguard Army News 06 Mar 2009 -- In a transfer of authority ceremony, the 1st Combined Arms "Vanguard" Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad replaced the 4th "Straight Arrow" Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regt., attached to the 2nd HBCT at Forward Operating Base Prosperity March 4.
• Making gains in Mahmudiyah Army News 06 Mar 2009 -- Leaders from the 2nd "Iron" Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division met with nine Mahmudiyah sheiks at a residence here Feb. 25 to discuss security and infrastructure progress in the area
• U.S. and Iraqi representatives meet to discuss M1A1 Tank proposal MNF-I 06 Mar 2009 -- Program managers from the United States and Iraq, along with representatives from the General Dynamics Contract Logistics Support group, met on Mar. 4 to discuss the fielding of M1A1SA Abrams tanks for the Iraqi Army
• 1st BCT transfer authority of Rashid to 2nd BCT MNF-I 06 Mar 2009 -- The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, said farewell to Multi-National Division - Baghdad leaders, Iraqi Security Forces counterparts and local leaders of the Rashid district during a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Falcon March 4
• Under U.S. Eye, Iraqis Blend Intelligence With Rule of Law AFPS 06 Mar 2009 -- Iraq’s internal intelligence community is gradually making the transition from wartime to peacetime operations.
• Analysts Say Obama's Iraq Timeline Well-Considered, But Call For Flexibility RFE/RL 06 Mar 2009 -- US President Obama: US combat forces out of Iraq in less than 18 months, and rest will be gone by end of 2011.
• Iraqi Prime Minister Urges Reconciliation with Ba'athists VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki calling for reconciliation with former Saddam Hussein supporters, during reconciliation conference in Baghdad.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Colonel Johnson at the Pentagon Briefing room via Teleconference from Afghanistan DoD 06 Mar 2009 -- Presenter: Commander, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Army Colonel John P. Johnson
• U.S., Afghan forces unite to open fuel depot AFNS 06 Mar 2009 -- The Afghan assistant defense minister and other senior Afghanistan national army officials inaugurated Afghanistan's most modern Class III fuels depot Feb. 28 at Khuja Rawash in Kabul.
• U.S., NATO Have 'Unity of Purpose' in Afghan Mission, Clinton Says AFPS 06 Mar 2009 -- U.S. and NATO allies showed “unity of purpose” during discussions about their shared mission in Afghanistan.
• Afghanistan Fight Turns to Economy, Governance AFPS 06 Mar 2009 -- It’s hard to find a good, old-fashioned combat fight in Afghanistan right now.
• Securing Afghanistan-Pakistan Border is High Priority, Officer Says AFPS 06 Mar 2009 -- Key strategy of enemy efforts in Afghanistan taking advantage of the porous border region between that country and Pakistan.
• U.S. Commander Decries 'Barbaric' Enemy Actions in Afghanistan AFPS 06 Mar 2009 -- Senior US military officer: Insurgents in Afghanistan employ intimidation and barbaric acts to cow Afghan civilians.
• U.S., Canadian Defense Leaders Meet in Washington, Discuss Afghanistan AFPS 06 Mar 2009 -- SecDef Gates and Canadian Defense Minister MacKay met to discuss the allies’ commitments in NATO effort.
• Kyrgyzstan Cancels Remaining Air-Base Agreements RFE/RL 06 Mar 2009 -- Kyrgyz parliament revoked all agreements it made with countries from the US-led antiterrorist coalition in relation to use of Manas air base.
• Kyrgyz parliament approves foreign troop pullout from Manas RIA Novosti 06 Mar 2009 -- Kyrgyzstan's parliament has approved the termination of agreements with 11 countries on deployment at Manas airbase.
• Iran Considering US Invite to Afghan Talks VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- Iran said it is weighing a U.S. invitation to participate in an international conference on Afghanistan.
• Kouchner, Clinton urge Iran's attendance at Afghan security confab IRNA 06 Mar 2009 -- French FM Kouchner and American counterpart Clinton called on Iran to take part in planned stabilization conference.
• Iran rules out becoming NATO supply route for Afghanistan IRNA 06 Mar 2009 -- The Islamic Republic of Iran will not allow NATO to use its territory to transit non-military supplies to Afghanistan.
• Afghan Politicians Voice Support For August Election RFE/RL 06 Mar 2009 -- Oppositionand some potential candidates say they support the Election Commission's announcement to hold the election on August 20.
• US Officials: Increased Anti-Piracy Efforts Showing Results in Somalia VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- Increased international cooperation making an impact in combating piracy off the coast of Somalia.
• ESG 2 Demonstrates Flexibility, Highlights Expeditionary Nature Navy NewsStand 06 Mar 2009 -- Expeditionary Strike Group 2 spent months preparing to lead Combined Task Force 151.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Air Force on target with recruiting, retention AFNS 06 Mar 2009 -- Air Force leaders' efforts to have the "right number of people in the right jobs" remains a challenge.
• LeMay Center realigns doctrine development AFNS 06 Mar 2009 -- The commander of the Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education said Feb. 19 that the center is taking a vision "first imagined in 1997," when the Air Force Doctrine Center moved from Langley Air Force Base, Va., to Maxwell, and is moving forward to ensure a direct relationship between doctrine education and warfighting.
• Joint team surveys 7 OEF, OIF bases in less than 30 days AFNS 06 Mar 2009 -- Airmen assigned to the 615th Contingency Response Wing here recently completed a nearly 30-day assessment mission in Afghanistan and Iraq.
• Army Creates Suicide Prevention Task Force During ‘Stand Down’ AFPS 06 Mar 2009 -- The Army has created a suicide prevention task force as part of its month-long “stand-down” to address suicides among soldiers, the service’s vice chief of staff said yesterday.
• Technology, Threats Accelerate Army Focus on Ground Electronic Warfare AFPS 06 Mar 2009 -- Portable electronic devices such as iPods and cell phones have provided U.S. adversaries in Iraq and Afghanistan with lethal capabilities, the Army’s chief of electronic warfare said this week.
• Defense Travel System Expands, Earns Greater Customer Approval AFPS 06 Mar 2009 -- The Defense Travel System has expanded its reach and gained ground in customer satisfaction, the director of the Defense Travel Management Office told a congressional panel yesterday.
• Schweinfurt engineers improve terrain, training area Army News 06 Mar 2009 -- In an effort to improve parts of the training area near here, dubbed Area Mike, the U.S. Army Garrison Schweinfurt Directorate of Public Works (DPW) has partnered with the 500th Engineer Horizontal Company of the 15th Engineer Battalion, which arrived to Schweinfurt in 2008
• Relocation Program Eases Minds of TACOM Employees Facing BRAC Army News 06 Mar 2009 -- For TACOM Life Cycle Management Command employees affected by an upcoming BRAC move, learning of a program that will relieve them of the burden of selling their homes eased their minds during information sessions held here Feb. 24 and 25
• West Point WTU signs Army Warrior Health-Care Covenant Army News 06 Mar 2009
• Army stands up task force to prevent suicides Army News 06 Mar 2009 -- Brig. Gen. Colleen McGuire has been selected to head up a new task force to prevent suicides in the Army
• Army seeks to include Families of Soliders in suicide prevention programs Army News 06 Mar 2009 -- Considered an ongoing battle to decrease the Army's suicide rates, commanders are reaching out to Soldiers' Families to participate in available suicide prevention programs.
• HQDA G-4 Directorates Army News 06 Mar 2009 -- The following is a description of the eight directorates within the Headquarters, Department of the Army, G-4
• First female 4-star credits diversity for strength of Army Army News 06 Mar 2009 -- Diversity is one of the strengths of the Army, and as an organization, it is one of the best at leveraging that diversity, said the service's first four-star female general.
• Division, 2nd BCT conduct first post-deployment CPX Army News 06 Mar 2009 -- Members of the 3rd Infantry Division headquarters and its 2nd Brigade Combat Team have spent the last six months re-fitting equipment and ensuring their Soldiers are refreshed. Now they are in their first steps of training to fight again
• Navy Names Littoral Combat Ship USS Fort Worth DoD 06 Mar 2009 -- Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter announced today that the newest littoral combat ship (LCS) will be named USS Fort Worth
• DoD Awards $52.5 Million To Universities For Research Equipment DoD 06 Mar 2009 -- The Department of Defense (DoD) today announced the awarding of $52.5 million to support the purchase of university research equipment
• Diggin’ in: AFL soldiers complete FTX with assistance of U.S. Marines and Soldiers USMC News 06 Mar 2009 -- Soldiers with the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) began their weekend by digging foxholes and getting into defensive positions, waiting to respond to various situations during their field training exercise (FTX) Feb. 21 - 27 at Camp Sandee S. Ware here
• Bengals work hard in Thailand USMC News 06 Mar 2009 -- During their six-month Western Pacific deployment, Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 will conduct air combat training and community relation projects. They are currently deployed to Khorat Air Base, Thailand in support of training a Cope Tiger
• VMFA-115 returns from Panama City after extensive training USMC News 06 Mar 2009 -- After four weeks of conducting air-to-air combat training, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115, also known as the Silver Eagles, returned to the Air Station Feb. 27 from Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla
• Toledo Welcomes New Commander Navy NewsStand 06 Mar 2009 -- The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Toledo (SSN 769) welcomed a new commander during a ceremony March 5 at Naval Station Norfolk.
• New Fitness Center Underway in Gulfport Navy NewsStand 06 Mar 2009 -- Progress is being made on the new 56,600-square-foot fitness center at Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, and the ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for early November.
• Naval Surface Warfare Center Helps Make Coast Guard History Navy NewsStand 06 Mar 2009 -- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Port Hueneme led the first Coast Guard National Security Cutter Combat Systems Ships Qualification Trials (CSSQT) in Coast Guard history aboard Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750) Jan. 20-Feb. 27.
• Essex Sailors Work to Take the Hazard Out of HAZMAT Navy NewsStand 06 Mar 2009 -- With the use of an electronic log and old-fashioned diligence, the USS Essex (LHD 2) Hazardous Material Division ensures the safe handling of 786 different types and more than 100,000 gallons of hazardous material (HAZMAT) on board.
• NMCB 7 Culture of Safety Reduces Command Mishaps in CENTCOM Navy NewsStand 06 Mar 2009 -- Safety is a top priority for the Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7.
• 7th Fleet Ships Complete Multi-Sail Exercise Navy NewsStand 06 Mar 2009 -- Semi-annual Multi-Sail exercise brought 7th Fleet ships together to improve warfare mission readiness March 1-5.
• Kadena Airmen deploy to Thailand for Exercise Cope Tiger AFNS 06 Mar 2009 -- Kadena Air Base Airmen deploying with 12 F-15 Eagles to Thailand to participate in Exercise Cope Tiger 2009.
• Mine Countermeasures Ships Depart 2nd Fleet, Will Call 3rd Fleet Home Navy NewsStand 06 Mar 2009 -- Commander of US 2nd Fleet: First 2 of 8 mine countermeasure ships will begin the transfer to 3rd Fleet.
• Navy Names Littoral Combat Ship USS Fort Worth Navy NewsStand 06 Mar 2009 -- Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter announced March 6 that the newest littoral combat ship will be named USS Fort Worth.
• Mexico's Growing Drug Violence Worries US VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- Mexico's growing drug violence is now considered a "national security threat" by the US, as drug-related attacks in Mexico continues to mount.
• Guard essential at home and abroad, says chief AFNS 06 Mar 2009 -- Gen. Craig McKinley: National Guard playing an essential role domestically and overseas, challenging leaders to do more.
• NAVFAC Southeast Negotiating First Enhanced Use Lease Agreement Navy NewsStand 06 Mar 2009 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast entered into exclusive negotiations for its first Enhanced Use Lease agreement.
• NAVFAC Southwest Begins Construction of Model Field Office for NCIS Navy NewsStand 06 Mar 2009 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest began construction of a $7.2 million model field office.
• US Won't Follow British Lead on Hezbollah Dialogue VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- Two senior U.S. diplomats are due to arrive in Damascus Saturday in a visit upgrading the level of U.S.-Syrian contacts.
• After Meeting Russian Foreign Minister, Clinton Hails Fresh Start RFE/RL 06 Mar 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton hailed a "fresh start" in relations between Moscow and Washington.
• Russia ready to discuss U.S. missile proposals RIA Novosti 06 Mar 2009 -- Russia ready to discuss revised US proposals for missile shield in Europe, as well as ways of dealing with other global problems.
• Lavrov, Clinton meet in Geneva to 'reboot' relations RIA Novosti 06 Mar 2009 -- Russian FM Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Clinton made a symbolic "reboot" to improve relations.
• With 'Reset' In Motion, Clinton And Lavrov To Meet In Geneva RFE/RL 06 Mar 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton and Russian FM Lavrov preparing to meet in Geneva.
• Clinton Meets with Russian Counterpart After NATO Talks VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton has wrapped up talks in Brussels, where she attended a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.
• U.S. Maintains Commitment to South Korean Security AFPS 06 Mar 2009 -- US will provide S Korea missile defense against a “very real threat” from North Korea.
• US Envoy Urges N. Korea to Refrain from Missile Launch VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- The U.S. special envoy on North Korea Stephen Bosworth Friday reiterated his call to North Korea to refrain from firing a rocket.
• U.N. Command, North Korean Officers Meet to Reduce Tensions in Korea AFPS 06 Mar 2009 -- UN officers: Assertions that DPRK could not guarantee safety of aircraft “inappropriate” during meeting with DPRK officers.
• UN, North Korean Officers to Meet for Second Time in a Week VOA 05 Mar 2009 -- US military officers representing UN command in S Korea will hold second meeting with some of their N Korean counterparts.
• India successfully tests indigenous interceptor missile IRNA 06 Mar 2009 -- India successfully tested an indigenous interceptor missile that destroyed an incoming "enemy" ballistic missile at an altitude of 80 km.
• Indian Air Force phases out MiG 23s IRNA 06 Mar 2009 -- The MiG-23 BN aircraft of Indian Air Force retired Friday after 28 years of glorious service to the Nation.
• India decommissions last MiG-23 ground support aircraft RIA Novosti 06 Mar 2009 -- India decommissioned on Friday its last MiG-23 Flogger fighter-bomber.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 06 Mar 2009
• Gaggle with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs en route Columbus, Ohio, 3/6/09 The White House 06 Mar 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 06, 2009
• Oshkosh Defense Awarded Contract for Two Production-Ready M-ATVs for Military Testing Oshkosh 06 Mar 2009 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced today it has been awarded a contract with the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) for government purchase of the two production-ready Oshkosh® MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV) that were delivered on Feb. 23. This contract award is one of the required phases in the U.S. military’s evaluation of M-ATV submissions.
• Thales Alenia Space España wins ESA contract for Launcher Telemetry Acquisition via Satellite kit Thales 06 Mar 2009 -- Thales Alenia Space announced today that its Spanish subsidiary, Thales Alenia Space España, has won a 3.8 million euros contract from the Directorate of Technical and Quality Management of the European Space Agency (ESA) for the development and qualification of an avionics kit to provide Launcher Telemetry Acquisition via Satellite (LTAS).

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 06 Mar 2009
• Israeli bombers strike Gaza smuggling tunnels RIA Novosti 06 Mar 2009 -- The Israeli Air Force has bombed five smuggling tunnels in the Gaza Strip in response to rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.
• Expulsion of aid groups from Darfur will have wide impact, UN agencies warn UN News Centre 06 Mar 2009 -- Adding their voices to the deep concern expressed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon over the ordered departure of at least 13 aid organizations from Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region, UN humanitarian agencies warned today that the effects could shake the region.
• UN Protests Expulsion of Aid Agencies from Darfur VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- UN aid agencies strongly protest the expulsion of 13 leading non-governmental organizations from Sudan's conflict-ridden province of Darfur.
• UN agencies say Sudan's Move to Expel Aid Agencies May Be A War Crime VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- UN agencies have warned that move to expel aid agencies may constitute a war crime.
• SUDAN: More aid agencies under "investigation" IRIN 06 Mar 2009 -- More relief organisations are threatened with expulsion from Sudan.
• S.Ossetia says Georgia building new firing positions near border RIA Novosti 06 Mar 2009 -- Georgia's armed forces are building fortified structures near the border with South Ossetia, as well as new firing positions.
• Russia to deploy 3,800 troops in Abkhazia for next 49 years RIA Novosti 06 Mar 2009 -- Russia will have a total of 3,800 troops deployed in Abkhazia for the next 49 years.
• Russia says EU pressures Belarus over S.Ossetia, Abkhazia RIA Novosti 06 Mar 2009 -- Diplomat accused the EU of exerting pressure on Belarus not to recognize former Georgian republics of Abkhazia and S Ossetia.
• Tensions Mounting Between Somali Islamist Groups VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- Tensions between Somalia's moderate Islamist Ahlu-Sunna Wal-Jama'a group and the radical al-Shabab movement are mounting.
• UNHCR Says Security Continues to Deteriorate in North Kivu, DRC VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- The U.N. refugee agency says it is greatly concerned about the rapidly deteriorating security situation in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Upsurge in attacks as militia group returns to North Kivu, UN agency reports UN News Centre 06 Mar 2009 -- UNHCR extremely worried about the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the eastern Congolese province of North Kivu.
• SRI LANKA: Children paying a heavy price in conflict IRIN 06 Mar 2009 -- Children caught in the intensified conflict in the north of the country are paying a severe price in death and injury and being traumatised, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have warned.

News Reports

• South Korea Diverts Flights After N. Korea's Warning VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- South Korea says North Korea must immediately withdraw an implicit threat it made this week to civilian airliners.
• US Faces Challenges As It Tries to Engage Muslim World VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- With a new presidential administration in office, there is renewed discussion in Washington on improving the U.S outreach to the Muslim world.
• Gorbachev Criticizes Russian PM's Party VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- Former Soviet President Gorbachev: Russian PM Putin's United Russia party is similar to the worst of the communists that Mr. Gorbachev once led.
• Russian munitions in smuggling case listed as metal - source RIA Novosti 06 Mar 2009 -- Russian military officials tried to smuggle missiles and aviation bombs under the guise of nonferrous metal deliveries.
• Ukraine's Naftogaz demands security service stop pressuring staff RIA Novosti 06 Mar 2009 -- Naftogaz issued a written statement demanding the country's Security Service stop pressuring staff.
• Values And Interests Clash As EU Looks To Belarus And Beyond RFE/RL 06 Mar 2009 -- Belarus is an undertaking that simultaneously engages and reveals complex mechanics of the EU's emerging "Ostpolitik."
• Somali Government to Name Anti-Corruption Czar Soon VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- President Sheikh Ahmed's government will soon appoint an anti-corruption czar to help root out wrongdoing.
• GUINEA-BISSAU: Military reform more important than ever IRIN 06 Mar 2009 -- Reforming Guinea-Bissau’s army and police units more pressing than ever to avoid instability.
• Morocco Severs Relations With Iran VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- Morocco's state news agency reports that Rabat has cut diplomatic ties with Iran.
• Number of people affected by cholera reaches 88,000 in Zimbabwe, says UN UN News Centre 06 Mar 2009 -- Some 88,000 people have now been affected by cholera in Zimbabwe, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) announced today, noting that the number of new cases reported weekly is dropping.
• Zimbabwe Prime Minister Tsvangirai Injured, Wife Killed in Auto Accident VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- Zimbabwe's main opposition party said the wife of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has been killed and the prime minister injured in a car accident.
• Zimbabwe Judge Arrested in Bennett Case VOA 06 Mar 2009 -- Police in Zimbabwe have arrested a judge who granted bail this week to a jailed senior opposition official and ministerial nominee.
• Zim PM has made his first call for an end to international sanctions IRNA 06 Mar 2009 -- Zimbabwean PM Tsvangirai has made his first call for an end to international sanctions.