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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 07 Apr 2009 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• April 6 airpower summary: B-1B provides show of force AFNS 07 Apr 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• President Obama visits Iraq, addresses MNC-I service members and government employees (Baghdad) MNF-I 07 Apr 2009 -- In an unannounced visit, President Barack Obama addressed approximately 1,500 United States service members, government civilians and contractors assembled in the rotunda of Al Faw Palace in Baghdad, the headquarters of Multi-National Corps - Iraq, this evening
• Obama Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq VOA 07 Apr 2009 -- U.S. President Barack Obama is in Iraq. He traveled to the Baghdad area from Istanbul.
• Iraqis Provide New Line of Security at Joint Base Balad AFPS 07 Apr 2009 -- Another layer of outer perimeter security, provided by Iraqis, was added here April 1 to help protect servicemembers.
• Baghdad Car Bomb Kills 8 VOA 07 Apr 2009 -- Iraqi police say a car bomb explosion has killed eight people in a Shiite district of Baghdad.
• Modern Pioneers conduct night sling load training Army News 07 Apr 2009 -- Soldiers of A/47th Forward Support Battalion conducted night-time sling load training at Camp Striker, Iraq.
• Vice President to Visit Fort Bragg, Welcome Home 18th Airborne Corps AFPS 07 Apr 2009 -- Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Fort Bragg to welcome home 18th Airborne Corps soldiers.
• XVIII Airborne Corps wraps up longest deployment in unit history Army News 07 Apr 2009 -- Over the past two weeks, about 900 Soldiers from Fort Bragg's XVIII Airborne Corps returned home from Iraq.
• Turkey Sponsoring Training Missions For Iraqi Forces RFE/RL 07 Apr 2009 -- Iraq's defense minister says Turkey is sponsoring training missions for Iraqi military officers.
• Iraqi Flight Surgeons Step Onto World Stage AFPS 07 Apr 2009 -- After years of sanctions and forced isolation, 2 Iraqi air force officers presented their study at a NATO conference in Germany.
• Draft Law Puts Foreign Companies Under Iraqi Jurisdiction RFE/RL 07 Apr 2009 -- A law giving Iraqi courts jurisdiction over foreign companies such as US security contractor Blackwater being drafted.
• UK in first trade mission to Baghdad since arms-for-Iraq scandal IRNA 07 Apr 2009 -- Britain's Business Secretary Lord Mandelson is urging UK companies to 'seize the opportunity' of investing in Iraq.
• Task Force Soldiers Build Relationships in Central Afghanistan AFPS 07 Apr 2009 -- Task Force Catamount met with village elders to address concerns, build relationships and inform residents about operations.
• US, Pakistani Officials Highlight Need for Trust in Counterterrorism Cooperation VOA 07 Apr 2009 -- US envoy Holbrooke and Pakistani FM Qureshi focusing on trust and a plan for taking on militants.
• Taliban have entered Kashmir: Report IRNA 07 Apr 2009 -- According to reports intelligence agencies have intercepted communications indicating Taliban associated militants managed to enter Kashmir.
• Relief, joy at UN refugee agency over release of colleague abducted in Pakistan UN News Centre 07 Apr 2009 -- UN refugee chief and staff around the world welcomed the safe release of colleague John Solecki.
• Guard F-16s intercept suspicious aircraft AFNS 07 Apr 2009 -- Airmen on Air National Guard fighter aircraft from two states intercepted a suspicious aircraft as it flew into U.S. airspace April 6.
• KC-135 supports F-16 crews tracking stolen Cessna AFNS 07 Apr 2009 -- A KC-135 Stratotanker crew supported and refueled as figher aircraft trailed a stolen Cessna from a Canadian flight school.

Defense Policy / Programs

• New Capabilities Play Vital Role in Budget Recommendations AFPS 07 Apr 2009 -- New capabilities are an integral part of Defense Secretary Gates' recommendations for the FY10 budget request.
• Budget Calls for Growth to Sustain Defense Department Programs AFPS 07 Apr 2009 -- Defense Secretary Gates: Recommendations for FY10 budget include 2-percent growth for DoD to help sustain its programs.
• Secretary of Defense Gates Interview With Judy Woodruff, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer DoD 07 Apr 2009 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
• Department of Defense Conference Call with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Gen. James Cartwright with Internet Security Writers DoD 07 Apr 2009 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright
• Media Roundtable with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and General James Cartwright, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff and Selected Reporters DoD 07 Apr 2009 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright
• Piracy Task Force Welcomes New Commander Navy NewsStand 07 Apr 2009 -- Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2 held a change of command ceremony aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4) April 5.
• Workshop Focuses on Equipping Warfighter with Latest Technology Navy NewsStand 07 Apr 2009 -- Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) hosted the Electro-Optic (EO) Technology "Road-Mapping" Workshop Feb. 9-13, to better enable rapid technology transition to the warfighter.
• NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Awards its First ARRA Contract Navy NewsStand 07 Apr 2009 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Mid-Atlantic, awarded a contract for approximately $500,000 April 3 to Hampton Roads Mechanical Contractors Inc. of Chesapeake, Va., to replace the underground steam distribution system on Naval Station Norfolk.
• US Defense Secretary Unveils Plan To Reshape Military VOA 07 Apr 2009 -- US Defense Secretary Gates revealed an initiative to shape the American military into a force better suited to unconventional wars.
• Budget Recommendations Provide 'Home' for Warfighters, Gates Says AFPS 07 Apr 2009 -- Defense Secretary Gates: Changes to the budget that he proposed yesterday will provide a “home” for warfighters.
• LMCS Bridges the Gap between Ship and Shore Army News 07 Apr 2009 -- The Lightweight Modular Causeway System (LMCS) introduces the ability to bridge the gap between seafaring vessels and shore when access to a port is unavailable or denied.
• Foal Eagle 2009 comes to a close USMC News 07 Apr 2009 -- Marine Aircraft Group 12 participated in 7th Air Force Air Combat Command's Exercis Foal Eagle 2009 March 30 to April 3 here.
• Officials discuss Air Force role for Africa Command AFNS 07 Apr 2009 -- Officials kicked off a symposium March 31 to foster recommendations for the Air Force's involvement for Africa Command.
• Service demographics offer snapshot of USAF AFNS 07 Apr 2009 -- Air Force Personnel Center officials here have released the current demographics report which offers a snapshot of force.
• Operation Saber Charge puts 'Airborne Cav' leaders to the test Army News 07 Apr 2009 -- The 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) wrapped up a 10-day training exercise called Operation Saber Charge.
• U.S., Indian air forces discuss partnership efforts AFNS 07 Apr 2009 -- Senior air force officials from India and the United States met to discuss operational concepts and to chart the way ahead for future exchanges.
• Combined Maritime Forces Issues New Alert to Mariners Navy NewsStand 07 Apr 2009 -- Following a series of attacks off the eastern coast of Somalia, Combined Maritime Forces issued an updated special maritime advisory message.
• Media Allowed to Report on Return of Fallen US Soldiers VOA 07 Apr 2009 -- A solemn US rite of wartime was held as the body of Staff Sergeant Phillip Myers was returned to the US in pomp and ceremony.
• Learning the NBC's of Toxic Industrial Chemical Protection Equipment Army News 07 Apr 2009 -- Two Soldiers geared up in hazardous material suits ready to identify NBC contaminants.
• New Orleans-Based Leaders Strengthen Preparedness Navy NewsStand 07 Apr 2009 -- NAS, JRB, New Orleans' command met with representatives from Chevron Oronite to discuss emergency preparedness.
• NATO aviation drills begin in Baltics RIA Novosti 07 Apr 2009 -- NATO states have begun a series of air defense exercises in the Baltic states.
• Russia to buy spy drones from Israel RIA Novosti 07 Apr 2009 -- Russia's Defense Ministry has decided to buy three types of unmanned aerial vehicles from Israel for $50 million.
• Brazil could make Russian new-generation fighters under license RIA Novosti 07 Apr 2009 -- Russia may allow Brazil to produce its fifth-generation fighters under a license in the future.
• Pirates Reaching Farther Out to Sea to Hijack Vessels VOA 07 Apr 2009 -- In response to increased naval patrols in the Gulf of Aden, pirates in Somalia are venturing hundreds of kilometers out to sea to seize vessels.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 07 Apr 2009
• Gaggle by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs at Al Faw Palace, Iraq, 4-7-09 The White House 07 Apr 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 07, 2009
• Boeing, Denmark's Systematic Sign 3 Memoranda of Understanding Boeing 07 Apr 2009 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Danish systems integration and software development company Systematic have signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) that outline areas for future business cooperation between the two companies.
• Oshkosh Defense Commemorates Delivery of First HEMTT A4 Vehicles Oshkosh 07 Apr 2009 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced today it has completed the first delivery of the company’s upgraded and more powerful Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTT) to the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga. Oshkosh Defense and the Army commemorated the milestone today with an event at the base.
• Lockheed Martin’s Proven C-130J Super Hercules Lockheed Martin 07 Apr 2009 -- Today representatives of the U.S. Air Force welcomed the first of 14 new Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] C-130J Super Hercules aircraft that will be permanently based at Ramstein Air Base.
• Raytheon Achieves Critical Dual Band Radar Testing Milestone Raytheon 07 Apr 2009 -- Raytheon Company and the U.S. Navy successfully completed initial "lightoff" testing of the Dual Band Radar.
• Raytheon Meets Critical Milestone as Part of Excalibur Ib Contract Competition Raytheon 07 Apr 2009 -- Raytheon Company completed a contract milestone when it fired eight Excalibur Ib precision-guided artillery projectiles during a Feb. 27 test.
• Improved Arrow Missile Destroys Target in Latest Test of the System Israel Aerospace Industries 07 Apr 2009 -- The following announcement was issued by Israel's Ministry of Defence spokesman on April 7th, 2009

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICES OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 07 Apr 2009
• Palestinian leader Abbas set for Moscow talks with Putin RIA Novosti 07 Apr 2009 -- Palestinian President Abbas is to meet Russian PM Putin in Moscow for talks on Middle East issues.
• Security situation in South Asia deteriorated very sharply: India IRNA 07 Apr 2009 -- Citing violence in neighboring Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, India said the security situation deteriorated sharply.
• Maximum security alert sounded in India's restive Assam state IRNA 07 Apr 2009 -- A maximum security alert was sounded in India's Assam after serial explosions and grenade attacks.
• Assam rocked by series of bomb explosions IRNA 07 Apr 2009 -- Assam was rocked by a series of bomb explosions and grenade attacks Monday, killing eight people and wounding 60 more, officials said.
• ISRAEL-OPT: Over 150,000 Gazans still without tap water IRIN 07 Apr 2009 -- Over 150,000 Palestinians in Gaza (around 10 percent of the population) are struggling without tap water as a result of the damage caused to wells, pipes and waste water facilities during the recent 23-day Israeli offensive which ended on 18 January.
• SRI LANKA: Growing concern over civilians trapped in conflict zone IRIN 07 Apr 2009 -- Tens of thousands of civilians trapped inside rapidly shrinking areas of combat between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in northern Sri Lanka are a major concern for the UN, a visiting top official said.
• Sri Lanka: UN expert calls for 'humanitarian pause' to save trapped civilians UN News Centre 07 Apr 2009 -- The United Nations advocate for displaced persons today called for urgent measures to save civilians trapped in a tiny pocket of northern Sri Lanka by fighting between the Government and Tamil rebels.
• 73 LTTE rebels killed in fresh fighting in Sri Lanka IRNA 07 Apr 2009 -- Sri Lankan troops hunting for elusive top LTTE leadership after overrunning almost all the rebel bases.
• Armed men carjack peacekeeper's vehicle in North Darfur, UN reports UN News Centre 07 Apr 2009 -- Two unidentified gunmen carjacked a vehicle last night from UN-AU peacekeeping operation in Darfur.
• DR Congo: more than 30,000 flee new attacks by splintered rebel factions UN News Centre 07 Apr 2009 -- New fighting between other militias has driven more than 30,000 people from their homes.
• Security Council demands end to violence in Central African Republic UN News Centre 07 Apr 2009 -- UNSC demanded an end to violence by armed groups terrorizing the northern Central African Republic.
• Kadyrov says Putin saved Chechnya RIA Novosti 07 Apr 2009 -- Chechen President Kadyrov: North Caucasus republic owes its very existence to the efforts of Russian PM Putin.
• Banning DRC Conflict Minerals Would be Mistake, says New Report VOA 07 Apr 2009 -- A new report says it would be a mistake to ban the mining of so-called conflict minerals in the eastern DRC.

News Reports

• Ahmadinejad: Tehran welcomes US policy change IRNA 07 Apr 2009 -- IRI President emphasizing that Tehran welcomes fundamental and real changes in US policies, said: "We are waiting for such changes."
• Obama pledges visit to Kazakhstan RIA Novosti 07 Apr 2009 -- US President Obama set to visit Kazakhstan during a tour of the Central Asian region.
• Arabs, Muslims Praise Obama's Remarks VOA 07 Apr 2009 -- Arabs and Muslims are praising U.S. President Barack Obama's pledge to rebuild relations between the United States and the Islamic world.
• Obama says committed to broad engagement with Muslims IRNA 07 Apr 2009 -- US President Barack Obama said he is committed to opening a new chapter in American engagement with the Muslim world.
• Chavez backs Obama's call to resolve conflicts peacefully RIA Novosti 07 Apr 2009 -- Venezuela's president has backed US leader's call to avoid conflicts and resolve all disagreements through peaceful means.
• Iraqi Court Cuts Shoe Thrower's Sentence VOA 07 Apr 2009 -- A court in Baghdad has reduced the sentence of the Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at former US President Bush from 3 years to one.
• Cuban Leader Ready to Talk with US VOA 07 Apr 2009 -- Cuban President Castro ready to talk with the US "on any matter," as long as Washington acknowledges Cuba's sovereignty and right to self-determination.
• Cuba's Fidel Castro welcomes U.S. congress visit to Havana RIA Novosti 07 Apr 2009 -- Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro "valued the gesture" by members of US congress to explore improving bilateral ties.
• Dubai police confident of Chechen politician's role in killing RIA Novosti 07 Apr 2009 -- Dubai police: Conclusive proof that a senior Chechen politician was involved in last weekend's assassination of a Russian army commander.
• Wrap: Anti-communist protests in Moldova turn violent RIA Novosti 07 Apr 2009 -- Protests against the ruling Communist Party's election victory turned violent in Moldova's capital on Tuesday with rioters taking control of the presidential residence and nearby parliament.
• Moldova, Facing Violent Protests, Agrees to Vote Recount VOA 07 Apr 2009 -- Moldovan authorities, facing violent student protests in the capital, have agreed to hold a recount of disputed parliamentary election returns.
• Moldovan President Vows To Repel 'Coup' After Protests Turn Violent RFE/RL 07 Apr 2009 -- A political standoff continues between disgruntled opposition leaders and the Moldovan government following multiparty talks convened when antigovernment street protests turned violent in the capital.
• Moldovan authorities to review parliamentary election results RIA Novosti 07 Apr 2009 -- The Moldovan government and opposition agreed on Tuesday to a recount of parliamentary election votes amid violent protests in Chisinau, the presidential administration said.
• Anti-communist rioters seize Moldovan presidential palace RIA Novosti 07 Apr 2009 -- Rioters in the Moldovan capital took complete control of the presidential residence as protests against the ruling communists' victory spiraled out of control.
• Anti-communist street protests turn violent in Moldova RIA Novosti 07 Apr 2009 -- Thousands of anti-communist protesters surrounded the presidential residence in Moldova's capital, hurling stones and smashing windows, and stormed the nearby parliament building.
• Belarus president tells officials not to grovel to Russia RIA Novosti 07 Apr 2009 -- Belarusian President Lukashenko accused Russia of failing to fulfill bilateral economic agreements.
• Madagascar: dialogue necessary to end ‘untenable’ situation, says UN official UN News Centre 07 Apr 2009 -- A top United Nations official today called for dialogue in Madagascar to bring an end to the “untenable” situation in the island nation, as several UN agencies appealed for $36 million to prevent a deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country, which has been hit this year by drought, cyclones and political unrest.
• AFGHANISTAN: Growing number of Afghans lack health care - Ministry IRIN 07 Apr 2009 -- Over 600,000 Afghans lack basic healthcare services due to attacks on healthcare facilities and health workers - a figure that has doubled since 2007, Abdullah Fahim, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), has said.
• MADAGASCAR: Appeal launched despite political uncertainty IRIN 07 Apr 2009 -- A violent political crisis, a series of destructive cyclones and a crippling drought more than impoverished Madagascar can handle alone.
• UN and partners seek $36 million to aid Madagascar amid multiple crises UN News Centre 07 Apr 2009 -- 6 UN agencies and 3 non-governmental partners in Madagascar appealed for $35.7 million to help prevent a deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
• UN Launches Appeal for Crisis-Ridden Madagascar VOA 07 Apr 2009 -- The United Nations is launching a $35 million emergency appeal for Madagascar, which is suffering from multiple crises, including cyclones, drought and political instability.
• Zuma Applauds Dismissal of Corruption Charges VOA 07 Apr 2009 -- South Africa's ruling party leader Jacob Zuma says he was a victim of abuse of power but has been vindicated as a court formally withdrew corruption charges against him.
• Former Peruvian President Fujimori Found Guilty in Murder, Kidnapping Trial VOA 07 Apr 2009 --A court in Peru has convicted former president Alberto Fujimori for rights violations committed by his government's security forces in the 1990s.
• Indonesian Legislative Elections Spotlight Presidential Hopefuls VOA 07 Apr 2009 -- ndonesians are preparing to go to the polls on Thursday to elect their national legislative members.