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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 09 Mar 2009 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Lt. Gen. Austin III from Iraq DoD 09 Mar 2009 -- Presenter: Commander, Multinational Corps, Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin III
• Leaders Begin Troop Withdrawal in Iraq AFPS 09 Mar 2009 -- Military leaders in Iraq have begun working toward achieving President Obama’s goal of a complete troop withdrawal from Iraq by the end of 2010.
• Most of US Withdrawal From Iraq Planned for 2010 VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- Second-ranking US commander in Iraq expects to keep about 130,000 American troops in the country through the end of this year.
• Sustainers train extensively to safely drive MRAPs Army News 09 Mar 2009 -- MRAP vehicle is used by many 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Soldiers during convoy operations in Iraq.
• Ceremonies add Rashid missions to 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division Army News 09 Mar 2009 -- Soldiers of the 2nd BCT, 1st Armored Division accepted authority for operations in Iraq's Rashid distric.
• Army Reserve Iraq Role to Continue Despite Afghanistan Mission, General Says AFPS 09 Mar 2009 -- As Army Reserve prepares to deploy more troops to Afghanistan, top officer anticipates no decrease in tIraq.
• U.S. to Contribute 'Adequate Force' for Iraq Election Security, General Says AFPS 09 Mar 2009 -- US must provide adequate security forces to ensure Iraq’s national elections proceed smoothly.
• Historic Events Indicate Progress in Iraq, General Says AFPS 09 Mar 2009 -- With provincial elections in Iraq complete and the US-Iraq security agreement in place, the way ahead in Iraq more clearly defined.
• IA Commandos train to lead Army News 09 Mar 2009 -- Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 41st Iraqi Army Brigade 'Commandos' honed their combat edge with the 4th BCT, 1st Cavalry Division in the Maysan Province.
• Iraqi Police 'land' joint training Army News 09 Mar 2009 -- Iraqi police officers jumped out of UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters at Camp Cedar's landing zone during an air assault training exercise.
• Clearing the Tangi: Task Force in Afghanistan Takes Troubled Valley AFPS 09 Mar 2009 -- Coalition forces cleared one of its most troubled insurgent hotspots, sending a forceful message to insurgent fighters.
• Can Talking To The Taliban Help? RFE/RL 09 Mar 2009 -- US President Obama's suggestions that the US might reach out to "moderate" Taliban has been greeted warmly by many, including the Afghan president.
• Pakistani Taliban kill 14 kidnapped soldiers in tribal region IRNA 09 Mar 2009 -- Pakistani Taliban have shot dead 14 security personnel a day after they were kidnapped in a tribal region near the Afghan border.
• Four Killed As Violence Flares On Afghan-Pakistan Border RFE/RL 09 Mar 2009 -- Pakistani forces have killed 3 militants in a strategically important region on the Afghan border.
• Violence Flares near Pakistan, Afghan Border VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- The Pakistani military says troops killed four militants in the Bajaur tribal district, a strategically important region near the Afghan border.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Chinese Vessels Harass US Ships in International Waters VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- US lodged protest with China over an incident in which five Chinese vessels harassed an unarmed US Navy research ship.
• Chinese Vessels Shadow, Harass Unarmed U.S. Survey Ship AFPS 09 Mar 2009 -- Five Chinese vessels shadowed and aggressively maneuvered close to the USNS Impeccable in the South China Sea.
• Depots streamline to save billions Army News 09 Mar 2009 -- The Base Realignment and Closure Commission's 2005 decision to transfer depot-level reparable procurement management and related non-core supply, storage and distribution and support functions from the Army Materiel Command to the Defense Logistics Agency will have a dual benefit.
• Depot produces 12k antenna flex-mount devices Army News 09 Mar 2009 -- Dozens of employees at Tobyhanna have teamed up to fabricate, assemble and ship 12,500 retrofitted and new antenna flex-mount devices to Army and Navy units serving in Southwest Asia.
• 8th Theater Sustainment Command Begins Command Post Exercise Army News 09 Mar 2009 -- The 8th Theater Sustainment Command (TSC) continued its path toward validation as a fully operational capable command, deploying its forward command post (FCP) here for a command post exercise (CPX), which began March 9.
• USS San Juan Holds Change of Command Navy NewsStand 09 Mar 2009 -- USS San Juan (SSN 751) held a change of command ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London's Shepherd of the Sea chapel March 6.
• NMCB 40 Detail Guam Improves Quality of Life for Others Navy NewsStand 09 Mar 2009 -- Members from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 Detail Guam continue to make operational readiness and quality of life improvements throughout Naval Base Guam.
• APS, Ghanaian Sailors Team Up For Hospital Restoration Project Navy NewsStand 09 Mar 2009 -- Since Feb. 21, Africa Partnership Station (APS) Nashville Sailors have been working alongside Ghanaian Sailors to refurbish a wing of the Effia Nkwanta Hospital for a community relations (COMREL) project which will continue through USS Nashville's (LPD 13) 18-day port visit.
• Navy-Led Arctic Care Returns to Western Alaska Navy NewsStand 09 Mar 2009 -- Joint teams of Navy, Army and Air Force medical and dental personnel are deploying to 11 of Western Alaska's most remote villages March 6-15, bringing no-cost health care and veterinary support to underserved populations in the Yukon-Kuskokwin Delta region as part of the 15th annual Operation Arctic Care.
• 'Diplomats' Strengthen Partnership in Ghana Navy NewsStand 09 Mar 2009 -- Commander, Naval Forces Europe subset band 'The Diplomats' continued their support of Africa Partnership Station (APS) Nashville during a recent port visit to Sekondi, Ghana, performing a grueling schedule to help spread the APS theme of international cooperation through music.
• Bonhomme Richard Completes Ammo Onload Highlights Training, Teamwork Navy NewsStand 09 Mar 2009 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) took on more than 1,000 pallets of ordnance while underway March 2-5, in preparation for a Western Pacific deployment later this year.
• U.S., Israel Navies Exchange Invaluable Insight During Haifa Port Visit Navy NewsStand 09 Mar 2009 -- The commander of Haifa Naval Base visited the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf.
• Chairman, President Discuss U.S. Support to Mexico AFPS 09 Mar 2009 -- Chairman of the JCS and President Obama discussed situation in Mexico and military capabilities that could assist the country.
• AFMC focuses on nuclear sustainment, command priorities AFNS 09 Mar 2009 -- Commander of Air Force Materiel Command called for maximum focus on the command priorities during senior leaders conference.
• Air Force officials release F-16 accident report AFNS 09 Mar 2009 -- Catastrophic engine failure caused an F-16 Fighting Falcon to crash on the flightline of Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Nov. 12, 2008.
• Air Force officials release Predator accident report AFNS 09 Mar 2009 -- Short circuit caused electrical fluctuations to primary control module and critical components, thus causing the crash of an MQ-1 Predator.
• U.S. Navy, Coast Guard Ships Participate in Exercise Aman 2009 Navy NewsStand 09 Mar 2009 -- USCGC Boutwell departed Karachi, Pakistan after a 4-day port visit to participate in internationalexercise Aman 2009.
• 25th CAB improves Pohakuloa Training Area Army News 09 Mar 2009 -- The 25th Combat Aviation Brigade recently invested $1.5 million to complete a series of range improvement projects at Pohakuloa Training Area in Hawaii.
• Training Aids Production Center Opens in Grafenwoehr Army News 09 Mar 2009 -- The Training Aids Production Center at Grafenwoehr has opened its doors, after its move from the Frankfur.
• North Korea Warns of War as US, S. Korean Drills Begin VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- Several-hundred S Koreans remain stranded in N Korea after the North's decision to cut a military hotline and seal its border to the South.
• Lee Myung Bak Group and U.S. and Japanese Aggressors Urged to Act with Discretion KCNA 09 Mar 2009 -- General Staff of the KPA issued statement in connection with Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises.
• KPA Supreme Command Orders All Its Servicepersons to Be Fully Combat Ready KCNA 09 Mar 2009 -- The Supreme Command of the KPA released report as regards the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises.
• North Korea puts armed forces on full combat readiness RIA Novosti 09 Mar 2009 -- North Korea has put its armed forces on full combat readiness and cut off the only direct hotline with South Korea's military.
• UK withdraws Nimrod surveillance planes from overseas operations IRNA 09 Mar 2009 -- Britain's fleet of Nimrod surveillance planes are to be withdrawn from operations overseas to undergo safety modifications.
• UK war costs more than double in less than a year IRNA 09 Mar 2009 -- British MPs are calling on the Ministry of Defense to detail the sudden rise in the military cost of the country's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 09 Mar 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 3/9/09 The White House 09 Mar 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 09, 2009
• General Dynamics Canada awarded $341 Million Support Contract for Canadian Army Communications System General Dynamics 09 Mar 2009 -- General Dynamics Canada has been awarded the Long Term Support Contract (LTSC) for the Canadian Army’s Land Command Support System (LCSS), ensuring troops will continue to have access to advanced communications services critical to the flow of vital information in rapidly changing combat environments.
• General Dynamics NASSCO Launches USNS Wally Schirra General Dynamics 09 Mar 2009 -- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), yesterday launched the U.S. Navy’s newest supply ship, USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8), during a christening ceremony at the shipyard.
• Thales Wins contract to provide Canadian Army with Battlefield Management System Thales 09 Mar 2009 -- Thales has been awarded the Land Command Support System (LCSS) Long-Term Software Support (LTSS) contract by the Government of Canada. This five-year $184 million contract is one of the largest Command and Control support contracts ever let by the Department of National Defence (DND).
• Lockheed Martin GPS III Team Progressing On-Schedule In Preliminary Design Review Stage Lockheed Martin 09 Mar 2009 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team developing the next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) spacecraft, known as GPS III, is progressing on-schedule, achieving key milestones in the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) phase with the U.S. Air Force.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 09 Mar 2009
• SUDAN: NGO expulsion to hit Darfur's displaced IRIN 09 Mar 2009 -- The decision by Sudan to expel or close down 16 relief organisations may trigger a severe humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
• Israel Imposes 3-Day Closure on West Bank VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- The Israeli military is imposing a three-day closure on the West Bank, banning Palestinians from entering Israel during a Jewish festival.
• Recent firing incidents most serious test of UN resolution on Israel, Lebanon UN News Centre 09 Mar 2009 -- Ban: Firing incidents have posed the most serious challenge since the adoption of a resolution which helped end the war between Israel and Hizbollah.
• Scholar Says U.S. Military Met Mladic, But Made No Arrest RFE/RL 09 Mar 2009 -- Serbian President Boris Tadic said last week his country is continuing to gather fresh intelligence on Europe's most wanted man -- war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic -- and will arrest him once it has enough evidence
• Sri Lanka: 150 Tamil Rebels Killed in Weekend Fighting VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- The Sri Lankan military says its troops have killed at least 150 Tamil Tiger rebels during heavy fighting since Friday.
• SRI LANKA: Break-away group disarms, seeks IOM assistance IRIN 09 Mar 2009 -- Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal surrendered its weapons to the Army on 7 March 2009.
• Rebel Groups Hamper DRC Humanitarian Aid Efforts VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- Attacks from two rebel groups continue to disrupt and delay humanitarian aid operations in the DRC.
• UN Official Says More Rwandan Hutus Returning Home From DRC VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- UN official: Number of Rwandan Hutu rebels who have left the Democratic Republic of Congo and gone home has risen substantially since the beginning of the year.
• British Leader says Northern Ireland Peace Remains Unshakable VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has visited Northern Ireland, following the killing of two British soldiers by extremists claiming to be from a splinter group called "the Real IRA".

News Reports

• Syrian Leader Says Peace With Israel May Be Possible VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad: May agree to sign a peace deal with Israel, but the two countries will not have fully normal relations unless the Jewish state also makes peace with the Palestinians.
• Former Hostages to Receive Defense of Freedom Medal AFPS 09 Mar 2009 -- US defense contractors held captive for more than 5 years by Colombian narcoterrorists will receive the civilian equivalent of the Purple Heart.
• China Considers Tibet a Sovereignty Issue VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's flight to India, after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in his homeland, Tibet.
• Security stepped up in Nepal to prevent anti-China protests IRNA 09 Mar 2009 -- Nepal stepped up security to prevent anti-China protests ahead of the 50th anniversary of Tibetan uprising against Communist rule.
• Tsvangirai Returns to Harare VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has returned to Harare after receiving treatment in Botswana for injuries sustained in a car crash that killed his wife.
• Tsvangirai Says Wife's Death Was 'Accident' VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says the road collision that killed his wife and injured him was an accident.
• Venezuela's Chavez Warns Colombia Against Cross-Border Raids VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has warned Colombia against sending troops into Venezuelan territory in pursuit of rebels.
• Hugo Chavez says Venezuela ready for war with Colombia RIA Novosti 09 Mar 2009 -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez: Armed forces are ready for a war with Colombia should the country provoke it.
• Sudan Releases Opposition Leader VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- The Sudanese government has released a leading opposition leader.
• Bashir's Candidacy Will Complicate Matters, Says Analyst VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- An electoral body in Sudan announced that President Omar al-Bashir is eligible to participate in next general election.
• Madagascar Opposition to Press Home Demands for Democratic Reforms VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- In Madagascar, the main opposition is expected to hold a rally today in the capital, Antananarivo to press home its demands for the resignation of embattled President Marc Ravalomanana.
• Two Bangladeshi generals killed in helicopter crash IRNA 09 Mar 2009 -- At least two top Bangladesh Army officers, including a major general were killed Monday after a military helicopter crashed in the country's central Tangail district, officials said.
• Suspects in Alleged Plot against Turkish PM Released VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- Authorities in Turkey have released five people who had been detained since Saturday on suspicion of planning to attack Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
• Bolivia Expels US Diplomat VOA 09 Mar 2009 -- Bolivian President Evo Morales has ordered a U.S. diplomat out of the country in the second such expulsion since September.