• 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 26 Mar 2009 [PDF]
• MND-B Soldier death (Baghdad)
• Baghdad Blast Kills At Least 20 VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- Iraqi officials say a car bomb explosion has killed at least 20 people in northern Baghdad.
• Joint, dual mission paves road for future Army News 26 Mar 2009 -- 6th Iraqi Army engineers and 277th Engineer Company Soldiers toiled together during training class at FOB Constitution.
• Obama to Announce New Afghanistan Strategy VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- US President Obama has decided on a new Afghan strategy that includes a greater emphasis on regional diplomacy.
• NATO's Afghan Strategy Under Review VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- When the US launched Operation "Enduring Freedom" there was little question about the mission: remove the Taliban government.
• Taliban Attack Police Post, Convoy in Southern Afghanistan VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- Separate attacks on a police post and on a police convoy in southern Afghanistan have left 9 policemen dead.
• Coalition Mentors Afghan Army, Police on Jurisprudence AFPS 26 Mar 2009 -- Coalition forces have placed an emphasis on the rule of law as they serve as mentors for the Afghan army’s military justice system.
• Eikenberry Pledges to Work Toward Afghanistan's Long-term Success AFPS 26 Mar 2009 -- Eikenberry: He'll assume the ambassadorship with a clear recognition that success is vital to US national security.
• Nominee to Be US Ambassador to Afghanistan Calls for More Aid to War-Torn Nation VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- Nominee: More resources are needed for the war and the civilian rebuilding effort in that country.
• Iran to Attend Afghanistan Meeting with US VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- Iran said it will attend a UN-sponsored conference on Afghanistan next week that was proposed by the United States.
• Russia hopes to boost international effectiveness in Afghanistan RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2009 -- Russia hopes to increase international effectiveness in assisting the Afghan government in the fight against terrorism.
• AFGHANISTAN: Dozens of schools reopen in volatile south IRIN 26 Mar 2009 -- 81 primary and secondary schools previously closed in Afghanistan owing to insecurity have reopened in 3 months.
• Official: Kyrgyzstan Not Reconsidering Closure of US Base VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- Kyrgyz FM Sarbayev: Country is not reconsidering its decision to close a key U.S. base in northern Kyrgyzstan.
• U.S. return to Kyrgyzstan not on agenda - foreign minister RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2009 -- Kyrgyz FM: Kyrgyzstan is not considering the possibility of US troops returning to the Manas airbase.
• UN report calls for end to arbitrary detention in Afghanistan UN News Centre 26 Mar 2009 -- A new United Nations report, revealing that Afghans are often detained without lawful reason, recommends a range of changes to laws and procedures of the criminal justice system in the country.
• Pakistan's Tribal Areas Pose Test for New US Strategy VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- One of the most difficult issues facing the Obama administration is what to do in western Pakistan's Taliban-dominated tribal region.
• Pakistani cleric warns of quitting peace move IRNA 26 Mar 2009 -- A top Pakistani cleric, who brokered a peace deal in the country's northwest, warned to quit the peace process if the deal was not fully implemented.
• New York Times: Widening Taliban Insurgency Aided by Pakistan VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- A published report says Pakistan's military intelligence operatives providing support to Taliban in southern Afghanistan.
• Pakistan Urges Halt to US Missile Strikes in Tribal Areas VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- Pakistani officials are calling on the US to reconsider its use of unmanned aircraft in Pakistan's border region.
• Pakistan says in serious talks with US on drone attacks IRNA 26 Mar 2009 -- Pakistan is in serious negotiations with the US over its drone aircraft attacks on the country’s tribal regions.
• Pakistan forcefully takes up drone attacks with US: spokesman IRNA 26 Mar 2009 -- Pakistan has taken up the issue of American drone attacks inside the tribal regions very forcefully with the US.
• US drone strike kills 4 in Pakistan's tribal region: witnesses IRNA 26 Mar 2009 -- At least six people have been killed in a US drone attack in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region.
• Suicide bomb attack kills 11 near Pakistan tribal region: witnesses IRNA 26 Mar 2009 -- A suicide bomber blew himself up among the people in a restaurant near a Pakistani tribal region, killing at least 11.
• Suicide Bomber Strikes Pakistan's South Waziristan Region VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- Officials said a suicide bomber struck a restaurant in northwestern Pakistan Thursday, killing 11 people.
• U.S. Northern Command assists with North Dakota Flooding Army News 26 Mar 2009 -- USNORTHCOM coordinating DoD's support to FEMA, state and local agencies in response to flooding in North Dakota.
• Minot Airmen render aid to flood efforts AFNS 26 Mar 2009 -- Eight Airmen on 2 UH-1N Huey helicopters loaded with rescue equipment deployed to support state authorities in flood efforts in Bismarck, ND.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Fort Detrick announces start of landfill Army News 26 Mar 2009 -- Efforts are underway at Fort Detrick to complete restoration actions at several former Area B disposal sites
• Fort Detrick's Journey to Sustainability - looking to the future Army News 26 Mar 2009 -- The U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Detrick, Md., in coordination with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command, met and approved the initial long-term goals and objectives of the five sustainability teams (Workforce, Well-Being and Community Outreach, Business Practices, Services, and Infrastructure and Utilities) that were formed in July 2008.
• Army actively addresses TBI, PTSD, stress on care providers Army News 26 Mar 2009 -- Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder have become known as the "signature wounds" suffered by combat veterans returning from the Global War on Terrorism
• Sailors Discuss Leveraging Surface Electronic Warfare Technology, Capability Navy NewsStand 26 Mar 2009 -- Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet hosted the 2009 Surface Electronic Warfare Symposium at Naval Station Norfolk, March 24-25.
• Picatinny joins forces with employees, engineers to help protect warfighters Army News 26 Mar 2009 -- Tobyhanna partnered with Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., to build a device that will help protect warfighters.
• U.S. 4th Fleet Stands Up Maritime Operations Center Navy NewsStand 26 Mar 2009 -- Commander, U.S. 4th Fleet officially launched the implementation process for the command's new maritime operations center (MOC) March 2.
• Amphib Squadron's Deployment Includes Space Ops Navy NewsStand 26 Mar 2009 -- Amphibious Squadron 4 nearing the end of a 7-month deployment to the Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet Areas of Operation.
• Roosevelt Returns to Mayport after Ops in Two Theaters Navy NewsStand 26 Mar 2009 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt returned home from a 7-month deployment to 5th and 6th Fleet Areas of Operation.
• LRS company jumps hurdles en route to RSLC Army News 26 Mar 2009 -- 38th Long Range Surveillance Company will send 52 of its Soldiers to Fort Benning for the Reconnaissance, Surveillance Leader Course.
• Multinational Program Assists African Maritime Security AFPS 26 Mar 2009 -- A number of African nations are learning how to make their ports, waterways and offshore areas safer and more secure, thanks to partnership program.
• Taiwan seeks advanced U.S. jet fighters RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2009 -- Taiwan looking to buy US "fifth-generation" fighter jets featuring stealth and vertical takeoff capabilities.
• China Blasts Pentagon Report as Distortion of Facts VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- China says an annual Pentagon report on the Chinese military distorts the facts and wrongly presents the Asian giant as a military threat.
• Taiwan proposes law revisions for all-volunteer military system CNA 26 Mar 2009 -- Draft amendments passed to the Conscription Act in preparation for transforming into an all-volunteer military service system.
• Iran, NATO Officials Meet, First Time in 30 Years VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- NATO said an Iranian diplomat has met with a NATO representative for the first direct talks between Tehran and the alliance in 30 years.
• Obama, NATO Chief Agree Ties With Russia Must Improve RFE/RL 26 Mar 2009 -- US President Obama discussed relations with Russia and other key issues with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
• German chancellor rejects global NATO role IRNA 26 Mar 2009 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel dismissed calls for a global role of NATO ahead of next week's summit of the western military alliance.
• Germany to deploy 600 soldiers to protect NATO summit IRNA 26 Mar 2009 -- Germany is to deploy 600 troops to assist in guarding next week's NATO summit, the government announced.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 26, 2009
• Boeing Holds 'Major Join' Ceremony for Qatar's 1st C-17 Boeing 26 Mar 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today celebrated the 'major join' of Qatar's first C-17 Globemaster III advanced airlifter in a ceremony at the company's C-17 final assembly facility in Long Beach. Qatar was the first Middle East nation to order the C-17.
• Northrop Grumman Announces Customer Order for 500th LITENING Advanced Targeting and Sensor Pod Northrop Grumman 26 Mar 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today announced that the LITENING targeting and sensor pod set another milestone by becoming the first 3rd generation system to book customer orders for over 500 pods.
• Thales awarded contract to supply ATM system and radars to NATO-ISAF in Afghanistan Thales 26 Mar 2009 -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) procurement agency: NC3A1, awarded Thales a major contract to supply a comprehensive Air Traffic Management system. The contract includes its latest generation EUROCAT control centre, one co-mounted STAR 2000 - RSM970 Mode S radar, a precision approach radar provided by ITT Corporation, and a series of complementary Communications, Navigation and Surveillance equipment.
• Pratt & Whitney Begins Production of the Next Generation of F100 Series Engines Pratt & Whitney 26 Mar 2009 -- Pratt & Whitney, maker of the F100 engine family that powers the F-16 and F-15 military fighter jets operated by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and the Air Forces of 22 allied nations, have begun production of the first F100-PW-229 Engine Enhancement Package (EEP) engines.
• Pratt & Whitney’s F135 STOVL Engine Begins Hover Pit Testing Pratt & Whitney 26 Mar 2009 -- The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II has begun two weeks of hover pit testing powered by Pratt & Whitney’s F135 propulsion system.
• Pratt & Whitney’s F135 Engine Achieves Major Benchmark of 100 Hours of Flight Testing Pratt & Whitney 26 Mar 2009 -- Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine, the only engine powering the F-35 Lightning II flight test program, has surpassed 100 hours of flight testing, a significant milestone in the development and testing of the world’s most powerful fighter engine.
• Royal Netherlands Air Force Expands Contract with Pratt & Whitney Belgium Engine Center Pratt & Whitney 26 Mar 2009 -- The Royal Netherlands Air Force has expanded the scope of a three year contract with the Pratt & Whitney Belgium Engine Center to include repair of F100-PW-220 engine airseals
• Raytheon Awarded Phase 3 Contract for Stand-Off Radiation Detection System Raytheon 26 Mar 2009 -- The Department of Homeland Security has awarded Raytheon Company a phase 3 contract to continue development of a Stand-Off Radiation Detection System (SORDS).

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 26 Mar 2009
• Hamas, Israel Resume Talks on Prisoner Exchange VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- Hamas officials say they have resumed indirect negotiations with Israel on exchanging a captured Israeli soldier for Palestinian prisoners.
• UK catalogues long list of Israeli human rights abuses IRNA 26 Mar 2009 -- The British government Thursday catalogued a long list of human rights abuses and international law violations by Israel against the Palestinians.
• OPT: Tough times for university students in Gaza IRIN 26 Mar 2009 -- Many university students who lost relatives or whose homes were destroyed during the recent 23-day Israeli offensive are finding it difficult to cope, according to university officials and students.
• SOMALIA: Thousands need aid to return home from Somaliland IRIN 26 Mar 2009 -- At least 15,000 Somalis, who had fled to the self-declared republic of Somaliland to escape violence in Mogadishu, want to return home following the recent change of government but lack the means to do so, aid workers said.
• Identifying and filling critical gaps priority in Darfur aid effort – UN relief chief UN News Centre 26 Mar 2009 -- The international community must continue to work together to identify and fill the most immediately life-threatening gaps in Darfur in the wake of the ouster of 13 aid groups by the Sudanese Government, the top United Nations relief official said today.
• Sri Lanka: UN relief chief reiterates concerns over civilians trapped by fighting UN News Centre 26 Mar 2009 -- The top United Nations relief official today repeated the world body’s concerns over the safety of civilians – numbering as high as 190,000 – trapped by fighting in northern Sri Lanka between Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
• South Ossetia Accuses Georgia Of Shelling Village RFE/RL 26 Mar 2009 -- Leadership of South Ossetia has accused Tbilisi of launching repeated attacks against a border village.
• Darfur Envoy Says ICC Indictment has Compromised Political Solution VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- Chief AU-UN mediator for Darfur: Indictment of Sudan's president likely "significantly slowed and even compromised" efforts to find a political solution to the conflict.
• Sudanese Official Says Foreign Aircraft Attacked Arms Convoy VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- A Sudanese official says foreign warplanes carried out a deadly attack on weapons smugglers as they drove through Sudan earlier this year.
• SUDAN: Violence scaring off returnees in Jonglei IRIN 26 Mar 2009 -- An upsurge of violence in South Sudan’s Jonglei State has slowed the repatriation of displaced civilians and affected the delivery of aid, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said.
• UN Urges 'Humanitarian Pause' in Sri Lankan Fighting VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- The United Nations is urging the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels to temporarily stop fighting in order to allow civilians trapped in the conflict zone to safely leave.
• Thirty Tamil Tigers killed as Sri Lankan army repulses LTTE attack IRNA 26 Mar 2009 -- Thirty Tamil Tigers killed as Sri Lankan troops beat back a massive Tamil Tiger counter attack in Pudukudiyirippu, the last town held by them in the embattled north.
• Sri Lankan Army kills 4 senior LTTE leaders IRNA 26 Mar 2009 -- In the fierce offensive which continues in the North, the Army claims to have killed a number of Tamil Tigers including four senior leaders Kadal, Vardhan Anna, Sooriyan and Eelavan during the confrontations.
• Sarkozy Praises Congolese Military Cooperation with Rwanda, Uganda VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy says it is time for new momentum in cooperation between the Democratic Republic of Congo and its eastern neighbors to resolve years of conflict in the troubled Great Lakes region.
• DRC: Kivus move closer to peace - but risks remain IRIN 26 Mar 2009 -- The 23 March deal between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the rebel CNDP could boost peace in the east.
• CAR Refugees Continue to Flee to Chad VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- The U.N. refugee agency says refugees continue to arrive in the remote village of Daha in southeastern Chad fleeing ongoing insecurity in the northern Central African Republic.
• Russia Signals Intent To Wind Down War In Chechnya RFE/RL 26 Mar 2009 -- After 10 years of armed conflict in breakaway Chechnya, is Russia about to declare victory and pull out?
• Russia Considers Major Troop Withdrawal in Chechnya VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- Russia is reported considering the withdrawal of 20,000 Interior Ministry troops and effective end to state of war.
• Chechnya counter-terrorism operation could be discussed in March RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2009 -- Russia's National Antiterrorism Committee could discuss ending operation in Chechnya at a meeting on March 31.
• Chechen Leader Says 'Counterterror Operations' Will End Soon RFE/RL 26 Mar 2009 -- Kadyrov predicted that by the end of this month the "agencies" will issue directive lifting restrictions imposed on Chechnya.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 26 Mar 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 3-26-09 The White House 26 Mar 2009

News Reports

• Information saves lives in humanitarian emergencies, UN official stresses UN News Centre 26 Mar 2009 -- When a crisis or disaster strikes, the victims not only need rapid assistance with food, water, shelter and safety, but fast and effective information describing the situation on the ground, a senior United Nations humanitarian official told a panel discussion in New York today.
• China reminds India of Tibet pledge IRNA 26 Mar 2009 -- While thanking India for providing security to its mission, China Wednesday reminded India of its pledge not to allow Tibetans to indulge in political activities.
• Czech Energy Expert Says Europe, Not Russia, Should Call The Shots RFE/RL 26 Mar 2009 -- 2009 has been a busy year so far for Vaclav Bartuska, the Czech ambassador-at-large for energy security.
• Russian ambassador calls Ukraine-EU gas declaration senseless RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2009 -- Russian ambassador in Ukraine: Recent Ukraine-EU natural gas pipeline declaration does not make any sense.
• Russia's Foreign Ministry criticizes EU-Ukraine gas system deal RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2009 -- Russia's FM: Decision to exclude Russia from the talks was an "unfriendly act."
• Limited Progress Made, 30 Years After Israeli-Egypt Peace Treaty VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- Egypt and Israel marked the 30th anniversary of the signing of a peace accord between the 2 nations.
• Russia prepares request for Georgia to extradite army deserter RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2009 -- Russia is preparing a request for Georgia to extradite a Russian soldier who fled his military unit in South Ossetia.
• Sudanese President Travels to Libya in New Show of Defiance VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir is visiting Libya in a new show of defiance to an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court on charges of Darfur war crimes.
• Sudanese President Travels to Libya VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has arrived in Libya, his third trip abroad this week in defiance of an international warrant for his arrest.
• People in Pakistan have high hopes to reinstated Chief Justice IRNA 26 Mar 2009 -- Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has assumed the office with high hopes of helpless people.
• Petition seeks trial of former President Musharraf on treason charge IRNA 26 Mar 2009 -- A petition, seeking trial of former President Musharraf, was filed in the country's Supreme Court.
• Blast Wounds Somali Interior Minister VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- Somalia's interior minister has been wounded by a roadside bomb blast in Mogadishu that killed at least one other person.
• Madagascar Police Disperse Ravalomanana Supporters VOA 26 Mar 2009 -- Security forces in Madagascar fired bullets into the air Thursday to disperse a rally by supporters of ousted president Marc Ravalomanana.
• Transdniester Travel Ban Surprises EU Diplomats RFE/RL 26 Mar 2009 -- Two European diplomats say they were both surprised and dismayed by a travel ban imposed on them, and on a U.S. diplomat, by the leader of Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniester.
• Fidel Castro says revolution-era leaders stepped down, not fired RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2009 -- Fidel Castro: Revolution-era leaders who were "freed" from their posts stepped down of their own accord.