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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 17 Apr 2009 [PDF]
• MNF-W Marine dies in non-combat related incident MNF-W Marine dies in non-combat related incident
• April 14 airpower summary: F-15Es protect coalition forces AFNS 17 Apr 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Gates Cites Need to Learn From Past Drawdowns AFPS 17 Apr 2009 -- Gates: As the US military winds down from Iraq and Afghanistan in the future, leaders must learn the lessons of past drawdowns.
• Iraqi Minister Says Some U.S. Troops Might Stay Past Deadline RFE/RL 17 Apr 2009 -- Iraqi Defense Minister Jasim: Conference will be held this month to decide if US forces should stay in Iraq past the June 30.
• Sunni Leaders Urge Maliki To Integrate Former Insurgents RFE/RL 17 Apr 2009 -- Sunni tribal leaders and politicians have warned of antagonizing former insurgents who had turned against Al-Qaeda.
• Iraqi Police Training Focuses on Sustainable Approach AFPS 17 Apr 2009 -- 772nd Military Police Company and the Iraqi police advisor team are starting a new approach to police training in Iraq's Wasit province.
• U.S., Afghan Forces Kill Eight, Detain Five AFPS 17 Apr 2009 -- Coalition and Afghan forces killed eight militants and detained five in recent operations throughout Afghanistan.
• Extra 2,000 British troops on standby to go to Afghanistan IRNA 17 Apr 2009 -- 2,000 troops have been designated for possible deployment to Afghanistan to boost Britain's military presence to over 10,000.
• Afghan Cabinet Minister Survives Suicide Bombing VOA 17 Apr 2009 -- An Afghan Cabinet minister has survived an apparent suicide bombing attack in southern Afghanistan's Nimroz province that killed 3.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Sixth Fleet Flagship Changes Command Navy NewsStand 17 Apr 2009 -- USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20), welcomed a new commanding officer during a ceremony aboard April 17.
• First Sea Lord Embarks USS Ronald Reagan Navy NewsStand 17 Apr 2009 -- Adm. Sir Jonathon Band, First Sea Lord and Chief of Staff of the Royal Navy visited the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) as the ship conducted routine training off of Southern California April 16.
• Security Squadron Conducts AT/FP Exercise Navy NewsStand 17 Apr 2009 -- Reservists assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 10, headquartered at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, completed an anti-terrorism and force protection (AT/FP) exercise April 5 at Naval Station (NS) Mayport.
• New Procurement Program Advances Navy 'Green' Initiatives Navy NewsStand 17 Apr 2009 -- The new Department of the Navy Green Procurement Program Implementation Guide is harnessing the fleet's purchasing power in support environmentally friendly and energy-efficient technologies and products.
• U.S., Jamaica Forces Rehabilitate School Navy NewsStand 17 Apr 2009 -- Sailors and Marines from Southern Partnership Station (SPS), along with Jamaica Defense Force servicemembers and Soldiers and Marines from Beyond the Horizon 2009, spent April 17 scraping and painting a school building to prepare it for classes resuming next week.
• Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Makin Island Navy NewsStand 17 Apr 2009 -- The Navy officially accepted delivery of the amphibious assault ship Makin Island (LHD 8) on April 16 from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) in Pascagoula, Miss.
• DOD's eye in the sky supporting troops on the ground AFNS 17 Apr 2009 -- For the troops on the ground in hot zones all around the world, there are many items they rely on that are vital in their day-to-day operations: their weapons, their wingmen, their body armor. But what about their space assets?
• Air Force officials modernize mentoring program AFNS 17 Apr 2009 -- As Air Force officials continue to modernize the processes to meet 21st century mission requirements, manpower and personnel force development officials have taken a hard look at the service's mentoring program to increase its effectiveness.
• Next-Generation Navy Destroyer Set for Construction in Maine AFPS 17 Apr 2009 -- A recent agreement among the Defense Department, the Navy and shipbuilders will enable more efficient construction of the next-generation destroyer at one shipyard instead of two, a senior Defense Department official announced here today.
• National Security Personnel System Goes Under Microscope AFPS 17 Apr 2009 -- The federal government’s largest pay-for-performance system, the National Security Personnel System, is under review at the request of the Defense Department and the Office of Personnel Management.
• Navy Customs Unit Works to Get Troops Home AFPS 17 Apr 2009 -- It’s tempting to want to scoop up a handful of sand to take home as a souvenir after deploying to Iraq, or maybe a rock from the mountains in Afghanistan.
• Chairman Emphasizes Need to “Get It Right” for Soldiers, Families AFPS 17 Apr 2009 -- Making sure "we get it right" for the nation’s soldiers and their families is his top priority, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told about 400 4th Infantry Division soldiers here yesterday.
• DoD Announces Partial Installation Realignment In Germany DoD 17 Apr 2009 -- The Department of Defense announced today the United States will return a vacant portion of the Mark Twain Housing Area in Heidelberg, Germany, to the host nation in 2009
• DoD Announces Winners Of The Secretary Of Defense Environmental Awards DoD 17 Apr 2009 -- The Department of Defense announces the winners of the 2009 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards
• U.S. Representatives Express Concern About Russia In Former Soviet Space RFE/RL 17 Apr 2009 -- Members spoke about Russia, the former Soviet space, and challenges in Afghanistan and Iran.
• Gates Says America Must Protect Conventional Capabilities AFPS 17 Apr 2009 -- Gates: Important for US to maintain its capabilities for conventional warfare dominance.
• Proposed B-1 program aims to speed maintenance AFNS 17 Apr 2009 -- USAF officials in an effort to determine whether to change the way maintenance is performed on the B-1B Lancer strategic bomber.
• Marines train to become the hunters USMC News 17 Apr 2009 -- Marines and civilians from Camp Pendleton going through course designed to help members stay alert and make sound decisions in combat.
• Foreign aircrews train at Altus for multi-national mission AFNS 17 Apr 2009 -- Instructors at the Air Force C-17 Aircrew Training Center are preparing foreign aircrews for a first-of-its-kind mission in Hungary.
• Moscow irked by NATO exercises in Georgia RIA Novosti 17 Apr 2009 -- NATO's decision to hold exercises in Georgia next month threatens to complicate ties with Russia.
• Abkhazia may hold exercises as response to Georgia NATO drills RIA Novosti 17 Apr 2009 -- Former Georgian republic of Abkhazia may hold military exercises in response to NATO's planned drills in Georgia.
• Japan, U.S. pledge financial aid to fight Pakistan extremism RIA Novosti 17 Apr 2009 -- Japan and the US pledged $1 billion each in aid for Pakistan to try prevent the rise of extremism in the country.
• Foreign Donors Pledge $5.2 Billion in Aid for Pakistan VOA 17 Apr 2009 -- International donors have pledged more than $5 billion to help the Pakistani government shrink the pool of militant recruits.
• Press Gaggle By White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Aboard Air Force One, 4/17/2009 The White House 17 Apr 2009
• Press Gaggle By A Senior Administration Official, 4/17/2009 The White House 17 Apr 2009
• Press Gaggle By Senior Administration Official, 4/17/2009 The White House 17 Apr 2009
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 17 Apr 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 17, 2009

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 17 Apr 2009
• US Envoy Meets With Palestinian President in West Bank VOA 17 Apr 2009 -- President Barack Obama's Middle East envoy George Mitchell met Palestinian leaders Friday as he continues his third peace mission to the region.
• US Mideast Envoy: Two States Only Solution VOA 17 Apr 2009 -- US envoy to the Middle East: "Two-state solution is the only solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, contrasting with stance of Israeli government.
• Sri Lanka: UN refugee agency calls for broader protection of displaced persons UN News Centre 17 Apr 2009 -- The United Nations agency, involved in massive shelter support to some 63,000 people who have fled combat in northern Sri Lanka, today called on the island nation’s Government to speed up protection measures for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
• India asks Sri Lanka to mitigate Tamil plight IRNA 17 Apr 2009 -- India appealed to the Rajapaksa Government to respond to the Tamil civilian problem in the war zone but ruled out any mediation on the issue.
• US Senator Kerry Visits Sudan's Darfur Region VOA 17 Apr 2009 -- John Kerry was expected to meet with regional officials, representatives of the UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur, and to visit a camp for internally displaced people.
• Al-Shabab Militants Blamed for Recent Somalia Murders VOA 17 Apr 2009 -- Somalia's pro-government Islamic Courts Union says militant al-Shabab fighters carried out the assassinations of a Somali lawmaker and a senior Islamist military commander this week.
• Top UN envoy deplores latest attacks on elected Somali leaders UN News Centre 17 Apr 2009 -- UN envoy to Somalia condemned violence aimed at members of nation's fledgling Government after unidentified gunmen shot dead a lawmaker .
• DR Congo, Rwanda take first steps to repatriate 150,000 refugees UN News Centre 17 Apr 2009 -- Neighbouring nations Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have begun talks on the return home nationals taking refuge in each other's country.
• Nigerian Police Deny Claims of Torture and Illegal Killings in Niger Delta VOA 17 Apr 2009 -- Nigerian police are denying reports that they are using increasingly violent means in their fight against militants.
• Threats to quasi-State economy jeopardizes Ivorian stability, warn UN experts UN News Centre 17 Apr 2009 -- The fragile political stability in Côte d’Ivoire is at significant risk of collapsing into armed conflict if the economic interests of various factions are threatened.

News Reports

• Somali Pirate Could be Charged in United States VOA 17 Apr 2009 -- News reports say one of the four pirates will be brought to the United States to face charges.
• Rescued American Hostage Heads Home VOA 17 Apr 2009 -- American captain Richard Phillips boarded a plane in Kenya and headed home after surviving his five-day ordeal with pirates.
• Raul Castro Signals Thaw in US-Cuba Relationship VOA 17 Apr 2009 -- Cuban President Castro ready to enter into negotiations with the United States.
• Obama wants Cuba to make next move to improve ties RIA Novosti 17 Apr 2009 -- US President Obama waiting for Havana to make the next step to improve relations.
• Obama Defends Cuba Measures, Urges Reciprocation from Havana VOA 17 Apr 2009 -- President Obama: Decision to relax restrictions on travel and remittances merit reciprocal steps.
• Makeup of new Moldovan parliament unchanged after vote recount RIA Novosti 17 Apr 2009 -- The makeup of the new Moldovan parliament was unchanged following a recount of votes from the April 5 poll.
• Russian president calls riots in Moldova 'monstrous' RIA Novosti 17 Apr 2009 -- Russian President Medvedev: Mass public disorder in Moldova "monstrous," adding "color revolutions" result only in poverty.
• Moldova accuses businessman of attempted coup RIA Novosti 17 Apr 2009 -- Moldova's Prosecutor General's Office has remanded Moldovan businessman Gabriel Stati on suspicion of inciting mass riots and an attempted coup.
• EU Envoy Urges Government-Opposition Dialogue In Georgia RFE/RL 17 Apr 2009 -- In an effort to facilitate a peaceful end to antigovernment protests in Georgia, EU special envoy Peter Semneby traveled to Tbilisi.
• Georgian Opposition Pledges To Renew Protests, Denies Reports Of Disunity RFE/RL 17 Apr 2009 -- Georgian opposition leaders announced on that they will suspend mass public rallies for a period of 4 days.
• Thai 'Yellow Shirt' Founder Survives Attack VOA 17 Apr 2009 -- The founder of a Thai political group which helped remove former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from power has narrowly survived an attack by gunmen.
• South Africa's Former President De Klerk Under Fire Over ANC Remarks Ahead of Election VOA 17 Apr 2009 -- Former President Frederick W. De Klerk is coming under intense criticism after calling on South Africans not to vote for the ruling African National Congress in next week's general election.
• Lukashenko says Belarus committed to cooperation with EU RIA Novosti 17 Apr 2009 -- President of Belarus: Committed to cooperation with the EU, but refused to engage the country's opposition to improve relations.
• Togo: President's Brother Treated Humanely Following Arrest VOA 17 Apr 2009 -- Authorities in Togo say the president's brother is being well treated during his detention in connection with an alleged plot to take power in a military coup.