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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 14 Apr 2009 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• April 13 airpower summary: B-1B provides show of force AFNS 14 Apr 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Airmen synchronize airpower with Soldiers AFNS 14 Apr 2009 -- Airmen in Southwest Asia must work with otherservicemembers to have synchronized forces support a ground commander's mission objectives.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Col. Volesky from Iraq DoD 14 Apr 2009 -- Presenter: Commander, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team 1st Cavalry Division Col. Gary Volesky
• U.S. Troops Could Stay in Mosul Past June Deadline AFPS 14 Apr 2009 -- US soldiers could remain in Mosul past June 30, when Iraqi forces are scheduled to assume full security responsibilities.
• Commander: US Troops Could Remain in Iraqi City Beyond June 30 VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- US military commander: Combat troops might remain in the violent city of Mosul beyond the middle of this year.
• Black Knights, ISF protect community, keep violence down Army News 14 Apr 2009 -- Thousands of people demonstrated in and around Baghdad's Sadr City on the sixth anniversary of the fall of Saddam Hussein.
• Head Hunters add to desert border fort Army News 14 Apr 2009 -- The Head Hunter Squadron's easternmost base, al-Sheeb, has grown from a patch of concrete into a fortified base.
• Wolfpack takes control of Ninewa Province from Highlanders USMC News 14 Apr 2009 -- 1st LAR Battalion, RCT 8, relinquished its operational responsibilities to 3rd LAR Battalion.
• Man's best friend wags tail to security in Mosul Army News 14 Apr 2009 -- The 351st Military Police Company coordinated for Iraqi Army soldiers to participate in a military working dog demonstration.
• Logistics Battalion Keeps Supply Lines Open in Iraq AFPS 14 Apr 2009 -- Logistics soldiers here may not be clearing routes of roadside bombs, but they are taking the fight to the enemy in a different way.
• 49th Trans. Bn. Cases Colors Army News 14 Apr 2009 -- The 49th Transportation Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), cased its colors April 9.
• QRF Marines learn weapons tactics USMC News 14 Apr 2009 -- A pile of expended shells lay in the ground in a cloud of dust, and marked a recent training session at ranges aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.
• 1st Recon Marines teach LZ drills to Iraqi commandos USMC News 14 Apr 2009 -- Iraqi Commandos with the 7th Iraqi Army Division were taught how to properly embark and disembark CH-53E helicopters.
• IPs make progress, improve security in Zaab Army News 14 Apr 2009 -- The Zaab Police Station was validated March 31 at a ceremony in Hawijah, Iraq.
• Iraqi Police graduate from basic training Army News 14 Apr 2009 -- A group of Iraqi policemen completed basic recruit training at the Mosul Public Service Academy in Mosul April 8.
• Iraqi Forces take traffic control point training to the streets Army News 14 Apr 2009 -- Imagine standing in 100 degree heat in an Iraq summer checking every vehicle and pedestrian as they pass through a checkpoint.
• Airman coordinates air ops for Iraqi detainees AFNS 14 Apr 2009 -- There are thousands of Iraqi detainees located in different detention facilities throughout Iraq.
• Civilians killed in air strike by NATO, Afghan official IRNA 14 Apr 2009 -- Airstrike by NATO forces in mountainous eastern Afghanistan killed six civilians, including two children.
• Zardari for early approval of US aid bill IRNA 14 Apr 2009 -- President Zardari emphasized need to expedite US legislation for aid to Pakistan and need for working out a joint strategy to counter terrorism.
• Pakistani PM opposes conditions for US aid, drone attacks IRNA 14 Apr 2009 -- Pakistani PM Gilani urged US not to attach conditionalties to assistance package being presented to US Congress.
• Pakistani forces take control of main tribal town IRNA 14 Apr 2009 -- Pakistani security forces have taken full control of a main city in a troubled tribal region after forcing the Taliban-militants to quit the area.
• Afghanistan Concerned Over Pakistan Sharia Peace Deal VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- Afghanistan said its own security may be threatened by a peace deal to impose Islamic law in northwestern Pakistan.
• Pakistan President Signs Accord for Islamic Law in Northwest VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- Pakistan's president has signed a controversial agreement approving Islamic courts in part of the country's troubled northwest.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Press Conference with Secretary Gates at Ft. Rucker, Alabama DoD 14 Apr 2009 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
• USS Klakring Hosts Congressional Delegation in Istanbul Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2009 -- USS Klakring (FFG 42) welcomed a U.S. Congressional delegation during a port visit to Istanbul, Turkey, April 9.
• Comfort's Radiology Unit Treats Patients in Haiti Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2009 -- The radiology facility aboard hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is equipped to provide doctors with critical information about patients coming on board for treatment.
• Naval Forces Japan, Navy Region Japan Holds Change of Command Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2009 -- Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ) held a change of command ceremony April 9 aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73).
• Some PCS Moves Delayed Until October Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2009 -- The Navy announced plans April 14 to place a temporary hold on selected permanent change of station (PCS) moves in order to remain within budget.
• Stability Operations Require More U.S. Focus, Gates Says AFPS 14 Apr 2009 -- Gates: US should focus more resources on recognizing problems abroad and assisting governments through nonmilitary means.
• Gates 'On Target' With Defense Procurement Reform, Obama Says AFPS 14 Apr 2009 -- President Obama gave a verbal “high-five” to Defense Secretary Gates’ proposal to reform the Pentagon’s procurement system.
• Harbormaster Transition a Materiel Enterprise Success Story Army News 14 Apr 2009 -- As the Army shifts to the materiel enterprise management model, everyone will be required to think as a stakeholder.
• NAVFAC Midwest Building New Marine Reserve Center on Air Force Base Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2009 -- Representatives from the Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Air Force joined together April 3 to officially begin building a new home for a Marine Reserve unit near Dayton, Ohio.
• USS Hartford Commanding Officer Relieved Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2009 -- The commanding officer of USS Hartford (SSN 768) was relieved of command April 14 due to loss of confidence.
• Beach Group Completes Combat Readiness Exercise Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2009 -- Sailors from Naval Beach Group (NBG) 1 conducted boat operations within a tactical environment.
• SEAL Candidates Prove Survival Techniques in Alaska Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2009 -- SEAL candidates battled all night through deep snow and freezing wind to complete the final exercise of cold weather training April 11, on Kodiak Island.
• Comfort's Radiology Unit Treats Patients in Haiti Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2009 -- Hospital ship USNS Comfort radiology facility equipped to provide doctors with critical information about patients coming on board.
• Communications in Haiti help Comfort stay in Touch Navy NewsStand 14 Apr 2009 -- Hospital ship USNS Comfort Communications team made its way ashore to Haiti, the first stop in Continuing Promise 2009.
• USNS Comfort Delivers Medical Care, Sign of U.S. Commitment to Haiti AFPS 14 Apr 2009 -- A massive white ship anchored off Haiti’s capital city tangible proof of a continued US commitment to Haitian people.
• US Seeking New Approaches to Somali Piracy VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- Senior U.S. officials say they are looking for new approaches to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia.
• Mullen Promises Broad Review of Anti-piracy Operations AFPS 14 Apr 2009 -- US military has initiated a review to look “broadly and widely and deeply” at the overall strategy on piracy.
• New Somali Government Hails Obama's Promised Piracy Fight VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- New Somali government has expressed delight in President Obama's promise to help fight piracy problem.
• Senior U.S. senator sees 'historic' chance for Obama, Medvedev RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2009 -- Russian President Medvedev and US President Obama have an "historic opportunity" to work together.
• Georgia's Saakashvili says Russia unlikely to launch attack RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2009 -- President Mikheil Saakashvili: Georgia is not afraid that Russia will launch a military offensive.
• Russia's NATO envoy accuses alliance of interference in Georgia RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2009 -- Russia's NATO envoy: Plans by the alliance to hold military exercises interference in Georgia's internal affairs.
• Russian Black Sea Fleet Preparing For Maneuvers RFE/RL 14 Apr 2009 -- Russian Black Sea fleet ships based in the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol are preparing for large-scale naval exercises.
• Tajikistan Protests Uzbek Military Maneuvers Near Border RFE/RL 14 Apr 2009 -- The Tajik Defense Ministry has said it was not officially informed about Uzbek counterterrorism exercises near the Tajik border.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 14 Apr 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 4-14-09 The White House 14 Apr 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 14, 2009
• BAE SYSTEMS RECEIVES $64.1 MILLION CONTRACT FOR FMTV 10-TON DUMP TRUCKS BAE Systems 14 Apr 2009 -- BAE Systems received a contract modification from the U.S. Army worth $64.1 million to produce 500 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle (FMTV) 10-ton dump trucks
• BAE Systems, NZ Government reach agreement on acceptance of Inshore Patrol Vessels BAE Systems 14 Apr 2009 -- The first of four new Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) will soon be delivered to the Royal New Zealand Navy after an agreement was reached between BAE Systems and the NZ Government.
• Boeing Team Delivers Recommendations on Fires Center of Excellence Integration to US Army Boeing 14 Apr 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and teammate Creative Technologies Inc. (CTI) have given the U.S. Army the team's final report in support of the new Fires Center of Excellence at Fort Sill, Okla.
• Hamilton Sundstrand awarded U.S. Department of Defense contract for chemical detection equipment Hamilton Sundstrand 14 Apr 2009-- The U.S. Department of Defense Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPEO-CBD) has awarded Hamilton Sundstrand an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to provide up to 156 Chemical Biological Mass Spectrometer II (CBMS II) devices
• Northrop Grumman Selected to Supply Navigation System for M-346 Advanced Trainer Aircraft Northrop Grumman 14 Apr 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been selected by Alenia SIA to supply a newly designed navigation system for the M-346 advanced fighter trainer aircraft
• Northrop Grumman Wins Contracts to Supply Integrated Bridge Systems for New Brazil Navy Patrol Boats Northrop Grumman 14 Apr 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today announced that its Sperry Marine business unit has been awarded contracts to supply state-of-the-art navigation systems for two new 500-ton patrol boats for the Brazil navy.
• Second Advanced EHF Military Communications Satellite Built By Lockheed Martin Completes Environmental Testing Lockheed Martin 14 Apr 2009 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has successfully completed thermal vacuum testing of the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) military communications satellite, a major program milestone that proves spacecraft performance and functionality in a complete test-like-you-fly environment.
• Northrop Grumman-Led Kinetic Energy Interceptors Team Completes Booster Flight 'Pathfinder' Operations At Vandenberg Air Force Base Northrop Grumman 14 Apr 2009 -- The Kinetic Energy Interceptors (KEI) industry team, led by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), has completed full-scale "pathfinder" ground operations in preparation for the weapon system's booster flight test scheduled for later this year.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 14 Apr 2009
• Lankan army chief vows to eliminate terrorism from island IRNA 14 Apr 2009 -- Sri Lankan army chief vowed to eliminate terrorism from the island nation and crush the Tigers' 'dream' of a separate state.
• Tamil Tigers seeks 'permanent' ceasefire in Lanka's north IRNA 14 Apr 2009 -- Tamil Tigers sought an an 'unconditional and permanent' ceasefire in the island's north.
• Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers Dismiss Government Truce as Insincere VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- Tamil Tigers: Truce called by the government is insincere and have called for a long-term ceasefire.
• Sri Lanka announces ceasefire thanks to New Delhi efforts IRNA 14 Apr 2009 -- Sri Lanka's announcement for the two-day ceasefire is due to efforts taken by New Delhi.
• Sri Lanka strips Norway of peace broker role IRNA 14 Apr 2009 -- Sri Lanka stripped Norway of its role as its peace broker in nearly three-decade old of ethnic strife.
• SIERRA LEONE: Special Court receives funding reprieve IRIN 14 Apr 2009 -- The Special Court for Sierra Leone has received US$6.5 million in new contributions – enough, court registrar Herman von Hebel says, to avoid a shortfall that could have enabled former Liberian leader and war crimes defendant Charles Taylor to go free.
• Kinshasa Holds Peace Negotiations With Kigali Over Congolese Refugees VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- Kinshasa is to hold peace negotiations with Kigali over the repatriation of Congolese refugees from Rwanda.
• Further talks on Western Sahara need 'careful preparation' - Ban UN News Centre 14 Apr 2009 -- If progress is to be made on the status of Western Sahara, careful preparation is needed before further talks are held between Morocco and the Frente Polisario.

News Reports

• Obama Prepares for Mexico Trip VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- President Obama heads to Mexico City to meet with President Felipe Calderon, before traveling to Trinidad and Tobago for the fifth Summit of the Americas.
• US Envoy Mitchell in Algeria VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell is in Algeria for talks with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on ways to resolve Israeli-Palestinian violence.
• Clinton Urges More International Aid for Haiti VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton urged more international assistance for Haiti, saying the impoverished Caribbean state in jeopardy.
• Somali Pirates Undeterred, Hijack Another Vessel VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- A maritime group says pirates have hijacked another vessel off the coast of Somalia.
• Somali Pirates Seize 4 Ships in 24 Hours VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- Somali pirates have stepped up the seizure of ships along the coast of the lawless country.
• US claims about Saberi's case 'ridiculous': Jamshidi IRNA 14 Apr 2009 -- Judiciary spokesman Ali-Reza Jamshidi: US allegations regarding the case of Roxana Saberi is "ridiculous and against international laws".
• Iran Puts US Reporter on Trial for Spying VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- An Iranian judiciary official says American-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi went on trial in Iran this week for allegedly spying for the United States.
• Cuba's Castro will not ask U.S. 'for handout' RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2009 -- Fidel Castro: Cuba wanted an end to the U.S. embargo, imposed some fifty years ago on the country, and has no plans "to ask the U.S. for handouts."
• US eases firms' access to Cuba IRNA 14 Apr 2009 -- The Obama administration said it would allow US telecommunications companies to set up shop in Cuba.
• Caspian littoral states near deal on sea status - Russia's Lavrov RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2009 -- Russian FM: Countries involved in the negotiations over the legal status of the Caspian Sea getting closer to reaching a mutual understanding.
• Conference on Caspian Sea status opens in Moscow IRNA 14 Apr 2009 -- The 25th conference on Caspian Sea status started its work, attended by the deputy foreign ministers of the Caspian Sea littoral states including Iran.
• Thai Government Charges 14 Protest Leaders VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- Thai authorities have issued arrest warrants for 14 opposition protest leaders following two days of street battles with security forces.
• Thai Foreign Ministry says Bangkok back to normal after protests RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2009 -- The situation in Thailand's capital has normalized, and demonstrators have left the area in front of the government building.
• Thai Military Quells Anti-Government Protests VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- Anti-government protesters in Thailand have given up their demonstrations after being confronted with a massive military force.
• More Bloodshed Averted as Thai Protesters Abandon Stronghold in Bangkok VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- Surrounded by hundreds of heavily armed soldiers, anti-government protesters in Thailand's capital have begun to disperse peacefully.
• Thai Protesters Disperse Under Military Pressure, Leaders in Custody VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- Thai protesters are dispersing after the military surrounded their main demonstration camp and four protest leaders turned themselves in to police.
• Georgian Opposition Rejects Coalition Government RFE/RL 14 Apr 2009 -- Parliament speaker Bakradze floated possibility of inviting the opposition to form a coalition government.
• Georgian opposition starts round-the-clock protests at TV station RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2009 -- Georgian opposition launched a "new front" outside the state television headquarters as street protests demanding President Mikheil Saakashvili's resignation continued for a sixth day.
• Georgian protesters erect tents outside presidential residence RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2009 -- Georgian opposition activists, in their sixth day of street protests demanding the resignation of President Mikheil Saakashvili, put up tents in front of his official Tbilisi residence.
• Moldovan Opposition to Boycott Vote Recount VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- Moldovan opposition party leaders say they will boycott a vote recount of parliamentary election returns set for Wednesday in the capital, Chisinau.
• Moldova's opposition dismisses parliamentary vote recount RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2009 -- Moldova's opposition parties said on Tuesday that there is no point to a planned recount of voting in the April 5 parliamentary elections, ordered by the Constitutional Court earlier this week.
• ZIMBABWE: Shops shelves fill up but customers stay away IRIN 14 Apr 2009 -- The demise of Zimbabwe's local currency, the Zimbabwe dollar, and the reappearance of goods on the recently barren shop shelves is an equation that ensures the status quo: ordinary people are unable to feed themselves.
• Pipeline Explosion Raises Tensions Between Turkmenistan, Russia RFE/RL 14 Apr 2009 -- Turkmenistan's President calling for talks with Russia as part of efforts to repair a damaged natural gas pipeline.
• Indonesia Politicians Allege Fraud in Parliamentary Poll VOA 14 Apr 2009 -- Indonesian opposition politicians said last week's parliamentary elections were the worst since autocratic President Suharto stepped down in 1998.
• Bolivian president ends hunger strike as election bill passed RIA Novosti 14 Apr 2009 -- Bolivian President Evo Morales ended a hunger strike on Tuesday after the country's parliament passed an electoral law ratifying a date for general elections in December.
• GOCE satellite payload is activated Thales 14 Apr 2009 -- Following the successful launch of the GOCE satellite on March 17, the sophisticated Electrostatic Gravity Gradiometer for measuring the terrestrial gravitational field and main payload instrument, was gradually activated from April 3 to 7 for in-orbit acceptance tests.