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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 10 Mar 2009 [PDF]
• U.S. Marine dies in non-combat related incident
• Teaching the art of war Army News 10 Mar 2009 -- Not long after the announcement that American forces would end their combat mission in Iraq in August of 2010, Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers returned to training the troops who will remain on the streets of Baghdad long after the departure of Coalition Soldiers
• U.S., Iraqi Soldiers Detain Suspect, Seize Explosives AFPS 10 Mar 2009 -- US and Iraqi soldiers detained a criminal suspect and seized a large cache of illegal explosives.
• Iraqis work closely with 56th SBCT engineers Army News 10 Mar 2009 -- National Guardsmen from Pennsylvania are providing expertise and assistance for the Iraqi Army and civil engineers.
• Suicide Bomb in Iraq Kills More Than 30 VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- Iraqi officials say a suicide bomber west of Baghdad has killed more than 30 people, including tribal leaders, security officials and journalists.
• Iraqi Vice Chief of Staff: Air component top priority AFNS 10 Mar 2009 -- Iraqi joint forces vice chief of staff discussed his country's top military priorities during a visit to Air Education and Training Command.
• Romanian 'Red Scorpions' assume authority from 'White Sharks' Army News 10 Mar 2009 -- Romanian Army's 26th Infantry Battalion, assumed authority from the 341st Infantry Battalion at Camp Dracula.
• Afghan, U.S. Forces Capture Bombing Suspects, Seize Taliban Supplies AFPS 10 Mar 2009 -- Afghan and coalition forces captured 10 suspects during operations to degrade terrorist networks in eastern Afghanistan.
• Attacks on Afghan Security Forces Triple in Year VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- A U.S. government report says attacks on security forces in Afghanistan nearly tripled over the past year.
• Reconciliation With Taliban Worth Trying, Biden Says AFPS 10 Mar 2009 -- Though reconciliation with the Taliban is worth exploring, decisions in that regard should be left to Afghanistan’s people and government.
• Biden Cites Mounting Problems In Afghanistan, But Says War 'Far From Lost' RFE/RL 10 Mar 2009 -- US Vice President Biden spoke grimly of what he called the "deteriorating situation" in the South Asia region.
• Biden says NATO Unity Needed to Fight Terrorists in Afghanistan VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- US Vice President Biden is calling for a strong and united NATO to fight terrorist threats coming from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Biden Consults NATO Allies on Afghanistan AFPS 10 Mar 2009 -- NATO is not winning the war in Afghanistan, but it is far from lost, Vice President Joe Biden said today in Brussels, Belgium.
• US Vice President to Discuss Afghanistan with NATO Allies VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- US Vice President Biden heading to Brussels for talks with NATO allies as Washington seeks greater support in Afghanistan.
• F-15E pilots protect ground forces in massive firefight AFNS 10 Mar 2009 -- Soldiers might not be alive if it were not for Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Airmen providing crucial close-air support.
• Key Pakistani Tribe Signs Peace Deal with Government VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- Leaders of key tribe in northwestern Pakistan signed deal with the government, agreeing to stop sheltering foreign militants.
• Rescue unit to support space shuttle launch AFNS 10 Mar 2009 -- Members of the 943rd Rescue Group deployed to Patrick Air Force Base to support the upcoming Space Shuttle Discovery launch mission.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Intelligence Official Says China Adopting More Aggressive Military Posture VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- Director of National Intelligence: US-China dispute in the S China Sea most serious since a plane collision 8 years ago.
• U.S. Will Continue to Sail in International Waters, Official Says AFPS 10 Mar 2009 -- The United States will continue to sail ships on missions in international waters.
• China Accuses US Ship of Violating Chinese, International Law VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- China: US naval vessel that had an encounter with Chinese ships in the S China Sea violated Chinese and international law.
• Army Contacts Soldiers About Potential Information Release Army News Release 10 Mar 2009 -- The Army recently discovered a potential penetration of Soldier information that occurred on a password-protected, secure web-based database of almost 1600 Soldiers
• Out West, Wyche visits Hawthorne Army Depot Army News 10 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
• DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for February 2009 DoD 10 Mar 2009 -- The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of February
• Navy Changes Speicher Status To ‘Missing-In-Action’ DoD 10 Mar 2009 -- Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter determined today that the status of Capt. Michael Scott Speicher is changed from "Missing/Captured" to "Missing-In-Action" (MIA).
• NEX Oceana Opens Flex-Fuel Alternative Gas Pump Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2009 -- Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., Navy Exchange (NEX) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its E85 flex-fuel gas pump March 13.
• ATG Ingleside Disestablishes Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2009 -- Afloat Training Group (ATG) Ingleside held a disestablishment ceremony March 6 on the Naval Station Ingleside waterfront.
• Wasp Loads 950 Tons of Ordnance Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2009 -- Despite a late-winter storm that dropped approximately eight inches of snow on Weapons Station Earle, N.J., USS Wasp (LHD 1) completed a massive ordnance on load March 6 in preparation for an upcoming surge to support operations in the Central Command area of responsibility.
• USS Shiloh Sailors Participate in Helicopter Qualifications Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2009 -- Sailors from the guided missile cruiser USS Shiloh(CG 67) participated in the ship's helicopter qualifications Feb. 24 while deployed in the Western Pacific Ocean.
• Inaugural Change of Command Held On Mesa Verde Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2009 -- Service members and civilians alike gathered aboard USS Mesa Verde's (LPD 19) flight deck to welcome aboard the ship's new commanding officer (CO) during a change of command ceremony March 6.
• USS Boxer Becomes Flagship for CTF 151 Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2009 -- USS Boxer (LHD 4), homeported in San Diego, assumed the role as flagship for Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 March 8 after arriving in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations as part of a regularly-scheduled deployment.
• Klakring Actively Engaged in Loyal Mariner 09 Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2009 -- USS Klakring (FFG 42), currently assigned to Commander, Standing NATO Maritime Group 1, is fully engaged in conducting maritime warfare scenarios as part of NATO's Loyal Mariner (LM) 09 exercise series.
• Reports Suggest Danish PM Front-Runner For NATO Seat RFE/RL 10 Mar 2009 -- Danish PM Fogh Rasmussen eportedly emerged as the front-runner in the race to become NATO's next secretary-general.
• US says no decision yet on next NATO secretary general IRNA 10 Mar 2009 -- Biden: US has yet to make a decision as to whom it will support as the next NATO secretary genera.
• US Intelligence Chief: Economic Crisis, Population Growth Threaten Global Stability VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- Top US intelligence officials: financial crisis, population growth, and potential conflict pose the greatest threats.
• Multinational exercise Cope Tiger 2009 kicks off AFNS 10 Mar 2009 -- First flights of Cope Tiger 2009 launched March 9, filling the sky above Thailand with fighter aircraft.
• Swift and Southern Partnership Station Returns to Barbados Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2009 -- High speed vessel Swift returned to Barbados March 9 to begin a 10-day training mission.
• Coast Guard Trains Partner Nations in Exercise Tradewinds AFPS 10 Mar 2009 -- Coast Guardsmen from District 7, Tactical Law Enforcement Detachment, are taking part in Tradewinds 2009 exercise.
• Grand Forks refueling squadron to deactivate AFNS 10 Mar 2009 -- Grand Forks Air Force Base officials are scheduled to deactivate the 912th Air Refueling Squadron March 20 here as part of the Base Realignment and Closure law of 2005.
• February Statistics Show Solid Recruiting, Retention Success AFPS 10 Mar 2009 -- Defense Department officials today announced across-the-board recruiting and retention successes in February, with every service meeting or exceeding its active-duty, reserve and National Guard goals.
• Engineers save nearly $300 million in engine repairs AFNS 10 Mar 2009 -- Engineers at the Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate saved nearly $300 million.
• Medvedev to talk nonproliferation, ties at talks with Obama RIA Novosti 10 Mar 2009 -- Russia's president: Would discuss all issues on bilateral agenda, including nonproliferation, with US president when they meet.
• U.S., Korean troops train to rescue downed aviators Army News 10 Mar 2009 -- An F-16 is gunned down north of the Demilitarized Zone, and the pilot is forced to eject.
• 'Key Resolve' begins in Korea Army News 10 Mar 2009 -- Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2009 began Monday and will continue through March 20 across the Republic of Korea.
• UN Urges North Korea to Retract Plane Threat VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- UN aviation safety agency has called on North Korea to retract its threat against passenger planes flying near its airspace.
• New mobile Topol-M battalion put on combat duty in Russia RIA Novosti 10 Mar 2009 -- A missile battalion equipped with mobile Topol-M ICBMs has been put on combat duty in central Russia.
• Russian warship returns to base after six-month mission RIA Novosti 10 Mar 2009 -- Russia's Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered missile cruiser returned to base in northern Russia after an almost six-month tour-of-duty.
• Belarus, Russia to conduct large-scale war games in fall RIA Novosti 10 Mar 2009 -- Belarus and Russia will stage a large-scale strategic military exercise in the fall.
• Russian-Chinese Su-33 fighter deal collapses - paper RIA Novosti 10 Mar 2009 -- Russia refused to sell Su-33 fighters to China over fears that Beijing could produce cheaper export versions of the aircraft.
• Russia, Libya sign warship contract worth up to $200 mln RIA Novosti 10 Mar 2009 -- Libya has signed with Russia a contract worth up to an estimated $200 million to buy three missile boats.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 10 Mar 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 3/10/09 The White House 10 Mar 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 10, 2009
• Boeing Defence Australia Modernised High Frequency Communications System Component Passes Formal Testing Boeing 10 Mar 2009 -- Boeing Defence Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], has achieved a significant milestone toward delivery of the Modernised High Frequency Communications System (MHFCS) to the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
• Boeing to Offer Super Hornet for Greece's Next-Generation Fighter Program Boeing 10 Mar 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today that it will promote the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as the next-generation fighter for the Hellenic Republic (Greece).
• Boeing Delivers Operational Flight Trainer for Australia's Wedgetail AEW&C Program Boeing 10 Mar 2009 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has delivered an operational flight trainer (OFT) to Australia for the Project Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) program. The OFT, which the customer accepted on Feb. 27, is the first segment of the Wedgetail program to be delivered to Australia.
• EADS Defence & Security wins the contract for the design, production and support of the DETECBIO V1 system lot No.1 “SAMOA” EADS 10 Mar 2009 -- EADS Defence & Security was notified end of January by the DGA (Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (DGA) – the French defence procurement agency) of the contract for the production of the SAMOA (Système d’Alerte MObile Avancée – Advanced Mobile Alert System) lot of the DETECBIO V1 system.
• F-35 Lightning II – Meeting Performance Requirements, On Schedule For Deliveries Lockheed Martin 10 Mar 2009 -- With strong international partnerships firmly established, the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II (also known as the Joint Strike Fighter) continues to meet or exceed its milestones in both performance and schedule.
• C-130J Super Hercules Continues To Be The Tactical Airlifter In Demand Lockheed Martin 10 Mar 2009 -- A Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] official explained to reporters attending the Avalon Air Show today why the C-130J continues to be the platform of choice to meet the growing worldwide demand for tactical air mobility.
• Raytheon Awarded $128 Million for Patriot Engineering Services Raytheon 10 Mar 2009 -- Raytheon Company has been awarded a $128.1 million U.S. Army contract for engineering services for the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System.
• Raytheon Completes Ground Segment Test for the Air Force Weather Agency Raytheon 10 Mar 2009 -- Raytheon Company , Northrop Grumman Corp. and the NPOESS (National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System) Integrated Program Office recently deployed and successfully demonstrated the ground segment's interface data processing segment to the Air Force Weather Agency at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
• BAE SYSTEMS SHOWCASES MANTIS AND HERTI AUTONOMOUS UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AT AVALON 2009 BAE Systems 10 Mar 2009 -- Visitors to Avalon (the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace and Defence Exposition) will see BAE Systems’ vision of the future capability of autonomous Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) on display via its MANTIS and HERTI systems.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 10 Mar 2009
• Palestinian Unity Meeting Opens in Cairo VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- Top Palestinian leaders from the rival Hamas and Fatah factions are meeting in Cairo to try to hammer out an agreement that will pave the way for a unity government in both Gaza and the West Bank.
• 14 Killed in Sri Lanka Suicide Bombing VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- In southern Sri Lanka, at least 14 people have been killed and 35 others wounded in a suicide blast near a mosque.
• 10 dead, ministers injured in Sri Lanka suicide blast IRNA 10 Mar 2009 -- At least 10 people were killed and 20 others injured when a suicide blast took place near a ceremony in southern Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
• Little progress towards lasting peace between Israel, Lebanon, says UN official UN News Centre 10 Mar 2009 -- Little progress made on resolution which helped end fighting between the Israeli Defense Forces and the armed group Hizbollah 2 years ago.
• Congo President Kabila Aims to Resolve Disruptive Challenges in North Kivu Province VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- DRC President Kabila expected meet government of restive North Kivu province to restore peace.
• Darfur: UN-African peacekeepers shot, as concern grows over humanitarian aid UN News Centre 10 Mar 2009 -- 4 peacekeepers were shot and wounded in an attack on the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur.
• 4 UN Peacekeepers Wounded in Darfur Attack VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- Four United Nations peacekeepers were wounded when gunmen attacked their vehicle in Western Darfur.
• PHILIPPINES: One IDP camp in Mindanao closed but security remains a concern IRIN 10 Mar 2009 -- At least one camp for internally displaced people is closing on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.
• YEMEN: Fears of renewed conflict in north as tensions rise IRIN 10 Mar 2009 -- Followers of Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of a rebel Shia group in the northern governorate of Saada say tensions have been rising and that the recent conflict with the government may flare up again.
• Nigerian Military Beefs Up Security in Delta Region VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- Nigerian military activity in the troubled oil-producing Niger Delta has intensified following allegations by the army claiming a plot to attack a Chevron oil facility and pipelines in the Niger Delta.
• New killings 'not a return to old days' in N. Ireland, says Brown IRNA 10 Mar 2009 -- British PM Brown insisted that the sudden eruption of killings in Northern Ireland was not a return 'to the old days' of the conflict.
• New Wave of Violence Grips Northern Ireland VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- Tensions are rising in Northern Ireland as a policeman becomes the third murder victim in the province in the past 48 hours.
• Central African Republic: inclusive talks could lead to peace consolidation - UN UN News Centre 10 Mar 2009 -- Long-awaited talks in Central African Republic provided a window of opportunity to make strides towards consolidating peace.

News Reports

• Navy Changes Speicher Status To 'Missing-In-Action' Navy NewsStand 10 Mar 2009 -- Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter determined March 10 that the status of Capt. Michael Scott Speicher is changed from "missing/captured" to "missing-in-action" (MIA).
• North Korea Reopens Border to South VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- Recently heightened tensions between North and South Korea have eased in at least one way.
• Dalai Lama Blames China for Deaths of Tibetans in Past 50 Years VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- The Dalai Lama is blaming Chinese government for the deaths of hundreds of thousands in the past 50 years.
• Tibetan leader accuses China of creating 'hell on earth' in Tibet IRNA 10 Mar 2009 -- The Dalai Lama Accusing China of creating 'hell on earth' in Tibet by launching a 'brutal crackdown'.
• China Braces for Protests on 50th Anniversary of Tibetan Uprising VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- Chinese authorities have deployed police and soldiers throughout Tibet on 50th anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule.
• Georgian Leaders Assess External, Internal Threats RFE/RL 10 Mar 2009 -- In recent weeks, senior Georgian political figures have made a series of public statements in response to persistent media speculation about a possible new Russian military operation against Georgia.
• Somali Council of Ministers to Discuss Implementing Sharia Law VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- Somalia's council of ministers is expected to be meeting Prime Minster Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke today to discuss ways of implementing Sharia law.
• Renewed Call for US Special Envoy for Sudan VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- With the International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Sudanese President al-Bashir and the expulsion of aid agencies, there's a renewed call for a US special envoy for Sudan.
• MADAGASCAR: Army threatens to intervene IRIN 10 Mar 2009 -- Country’s senior military commander warned on that the army will step in and impose order if a solution is not found within 72 hours.
• Madagascar Army Gives Leaders 72 Hours to Solve Crisis VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- Madagascar's army said it will take control of the country's affairs if feuding leaders do not resolve a political crisis within 72 hours.
• UN closely involved in efforts to ease political tensions in Madagascar UN News Centre 10 Mar 2009 -- The United Nations is closely involved with efforts to resolve the political crisis in Madagascar peacefully, the world body said today.
• Conflicting Statements Show Uneasy Start for Zimbabwe's Unity Government VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- The funeral for Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's wife, Susan, who died in a car accident, is to be held Wednesday, one month to the day after the country inaugurated its power-sharing government.
• Mugabe: Saddened By Susan Tsvagirai's Death VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe joined hundreds of people at a Harare church Tuesday to mourn the wife of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who was killed last week in a car crash.
• Slain Guinea-Bissau President's Funeral Raises Questions About Legacy VOA 10 Mar 2009 -- Long-time Guinea-Bissau President Jaoa "Nino" Vieira has been laid to rest in a state funeral in the capital, amid doubts over the future of the country, and the long-time leader's legacy.