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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 22 Apr 2009 [PDF]
• MND-B Soldier combat death
• April 21 airpower summary: F-16 takes out armed boat AFNS 22 Apr 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and ISAF troops in Afghanistan during operations.
• Petraeus Notes Differences Between Iraq, Afghanistan Strategies AFPS 22 Apr 2009 -- Commander, USCENTCOM: Success achievable, but not using the exact strategies that sparked turnaround in Iraq.
• Iraqi Security Forces ensure safety in Sab Al Bour with help from Coalition forces Army News 22 Apr 2009 -- Iraqi Security Forces have taken the lead to ensure the safety in a place known as the "City of Peace."
• Iraqi General Visits Riverine Squadron One Headquarters Navy NewsStand 22 Apr 2009 -- Sailors from Riverine Squadron 1 walked senior Iraqi officer through inspection of engines slated for Iraqi river-patrol craft.
• Transcript: DoD Briefing with Maj. Gen. Tucker From Afghanistan DoD 22 Apr 2009 -- Presenter: Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, International Security Assistance Force and Deputy Commander for Operations, U.S. Forces Afghanistan, Maj. Gen. Michael S. Tucker
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Insurgent, Detain Six Suspects AFPS 22 Apr 2009 -- Afghan and coalition forces killed an insurgent and detained six suspects following an operation in Konar province.
• U.S. Troop Focus on Southern Afghanistan, General Says AFPS 22 Apr 2009 -- Senior U.S. military officer: Southern Afghanistan is now the focus of the anti-insurgent campaign there.
• Coalition Shifts Afghan Focus to South VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- American commander in Afghanistan: More effort is needed in the south, where Taliban forces have fought Afghan and coalition troops to a "stalemate."
• Success in Afghanistan, Pakistan Linked, Official Says AFPS 22 Apr 2009 -- US cannot afford to ignore the challenges in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and success or failure in one likely means the same for the other.
• Soldiers Build Relationships in Eastern Afghanistan AFPS 22 Apr 2009 -- Afghan National Army and U.S. servicemembers conducted meetings with local elders and villagers in Afghanistan's province of Paktia.
• U.S. Envoy: Tajik Base Not Alternative To Manas RFE/RL 22 Apr 2009 -- US Assistant Secretary Of State Boucher: Agreement for a US base in Tajikistan is not an "alternate" to base in Kyrgyzstan.
• US Secretary of State Has Harsh Criticism for Pakistan VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- Clinton criticized Pakistan's government saying it has abdicated to the Taliban, adding collapse of state would pose mortal threat.
• Pakistan Taliban Expanding Beyond Swat Valley VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- Pakistani officials: Taliban militants have increased their presence in a district next to their Swat Valley stronghold.
• USNS Comfort Arrives in Dominican Republic Navy NewsStand 22 Apr 2009 -- Ceremonies were held in Santo Domingo to celebrate the arrival of hospital ship USNS Comfort as part of Continuing Promise 2009.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Navy To Commission Guided-Missile Destroyer Truxtun DoD 22 Apr 2009 -- The Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, Truxtun, will be commissioned Saturday, April 25, 2009, during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony at Charleston, S.C.
• Security team provides safety net for Airmen AFNS 22 Apr 2009 -- 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's security escort team out there making sure Airmen get to where they need to be safely.
• Navy To Commission Guided Missile Destroyer Truxtun Navy NewsStand 22 Apr 2009 -- The Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, Truxtun, will be commissioned Saturday, April 25.
• USS Stockdale Commissioned in Port Hueneme Navy NewsStand 22 Apr 2009 -- USS Stockdale (DDG 106) was commissioned at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme April 18.
• USS San Francisco Returns to Fleet Navy NewsStand 22 Apr 2009 -- USS San Francisco (SSN 711) sailed into San Diego harbor April 17, where it arrived at its new homeport at Naval Submarine Base Point Loma.
• Airmen, Marines work together to test-load helicopters AFNS 22 Apr 2009 -- Playing a game of inches, a team of Airmen and Marines worked together April 20 to test-load two Marine helicopters into a C-5C Galaxy.
• F-22s, B-2s fly together over Pacific Ocean AFNS 22 Apr 2009 -- Twelve F-22 Raptors departed following a deployment marking the first time F-22s and B-2 Spirits deployed together outside the continental US.
• Ward leads Africa Command delegation to Rwanda Army News 22 Apr 2009 -- roughly 3,000 -- US AFRICOM delegation led by Gen. William E. Ward, met with Rwandan defense leaders and watched displays of Rwandan Defense Force capabilities.
• General Provides Insight into Joint, Bilateral Exercise AFPS 22 Apr 2009 -- US military is building relationships as well as local infrastructure as it participates in Balikatan in the Philippines.
• Gates Presses to Boost Computer Network Security AFPS 22 Apr 2009 -- Gates: DoD officials working to reduce vulnerability to cyber-attack attempts that occur regularly and are likely to continue.
• Flight Deck Cleaning "Zamboni" Gives Aircraft Carriers a Cleaner Wake Navy NewsStand 22 Apr 2009 -- The Navy's newest flight deck cleaning technology is powerful and environmentally safe.
• Petraeus Outlines Basic Leadership Tenets AFPS 22 Apr 2009 -- When it comes to strategic leadership, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan boils his philosophy down to four basic tenets: Get the big ideas right.
• President Ma urges U.S. to sell Taiwan more arms CNA 22 Apr 2009 -- President Ma called on US to sell more arms to Taiwan, saying that such a request is justified and the arms sales will help maintain balance.
• Lavrov says Russia does not see NATO as a threat RIA Novosti 22 Apr 2009 -- FM Sergei Lavrov: Russia views NATO as a key factor in Euro-Atlantic security, and not as a threat.
• Russian cruiser to lead foreign ships in China naval parade RIA Novosti 22 Apr 2009 -- Missile cruiser Varyag will lead a fleet of foreign warships participating in a parade to mark anniversary of China's Navy.
• Gaggle by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs aboard Air Force One, 4/22/2009 The White House 22 Apr 2009
• Gaggle with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack aboard Air Force One, 4-22-09 The White House 22 Apr 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 22, 2009
• Lockheed Martin Wins Role On U.S. Army Battle Command System Management Contract Lockheed Martin 22 Apr 2009 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] is one of six companies selected by the U.S. Army to compete for future task orders across the Battle Command Family of Products, an indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract.
• Oshkosh M-ATV Surpasses 3,000 Miles of On- and Off-Road Testing Oshkosh 22 Apr 2009 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced today its MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) has successfully undergone more than 3,000 miles of durability testing, including more than 1,000 miles of accelerated off-road testing. Oshkosh Defense is conducting the testing at the Nevada Automotive Test Center independent of current government testing.
• Thales’s RBE2 AESA radar successfully completes new series of tests Thales 22 Apr 2009 -- Thales announced today that its RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar has successfully completed a new series of tests on the Rafale at the Cazaux flight test centre in Southwest France from February to March. These tests, carried out jointly by Thales and the French defence procurement agency (DGA), provided functional validation of the radar’s operating modes.
• Lockheed Martin And Lakota Teamwork Delivers Small Business Innovation For U.S. Navy’s Aegis Modernization Program Lockheed Martin 22 Apr 2009 -- Following aggressive efforts to support the U.S. Navy by locating and nurturing small, innovative technology businesses, Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has successfully integrated a Lakota Technical Solutions, Inc. software program into the Navy’s Aegis Weapon System.
• Rosoboronexport projects $7 bln in arms exports this year RIA Novosti 22 Apr 2009 -- Russia's state arms exporter expecting $7 billion in foreign sales in 2009 despite the ongoing global economic crisis.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 22 Apr 2009
• Israel 'almost certainly' used UK parts during Gaza operation IRNA 22 Apr 2009 -- Foreign Secretary David Miliband has ordered a review of British military exports to Israel.
• 2 Rebel Leaders Surrender in Sri Lanka as Government Offensive Continues VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- Sri Lanka: 2 rebels leaders have surrendered as the army intensifies an offensive to eliminate the LTTE.
• Sri Lanka to dispatch special emissary to India IRNA 22 Apr 2009 -- Sri Lankan is dispatching a special emissary to India to discuss relief and rehabilitation measures for these people.
• India appeals to Lanka to extend period of cessation of hostilities IRNA 22 Apr 2009 -- India's FM Mukherjee: India already made an appeal to the Sri Lanka government to extend the period of the cessation of hostilities.
• Lankan forces advance further as 80,000 Tamilians flee war zone IRNA 22 Apr 2009 -- Sri Lankan forces pushed deeper, capturing 6 kilometers of the 18 km 'No Fire Zone.'
• Sri Lanka: tens of thousands still trapped in shrinking combat zone, UN says UN News Centre 22 Apr 2009 -- UN voiced deep concern over the safety of civilians trapped in a shrinking pocket where fighting rages between the military and the LTTE.
• Counterterror Regime Reinstated In Southern Chechnya RFE/RL 22 Apr 2009 -- Chechen officials have reinstated a special security regime in two southern districts in Chechnya just one day after Moscow announced it was ending the regime.
• South Ossetia accuses OSCE of 'provocation' in border trespass RIA Novosti 22 Apr 2009 -- S Ossetia accused the OSCE of trying to provoke tensions, following an alleged border violation by observers.
• India Maoists Free Passenger Train, Hostages VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- Police in eastern India say communist rebels have released hundreds of train passengers they took hostage.
• Indian train with 700 passengers seized by Maoists in Jharkhand IRNA 22 Apr 2009 -- Maoists seized a train with nearly 700 passengers on board in Jharkhand's Latehar district and triggered blasts.
• UN mission voices concern over renewed tribal violence in southern Sudan UN News Centre 22 Apr 2009 -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Sudan (UNMIS) today expressed its deep concern over renewed tribal clashes in the country’s southern Jonglei State, where dozens of people reportedly lost their lives over the weekend, with many others injured or forced to flee.
• Ban recommends 'incremental approach' to Somalia peace force UN News Centre 22 Apr 2009 -- ecretary-General Ban Ki-moon has recommended a phased approach to UN peacekeeping support to the faction-torn nation.
• Sudan: unravelling of peace pact could bring humanitarian catastrophe, Ban warns UN News Centre 22 Apr 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban: Should the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement collapse, a humanitarian catastrophe could ensue.
• DR Congo: over 100,000 uprooted in latest wave of rebel attacks, says UN UN News Centre 22 Apr 2009 -- Rebel attacks in recent weeks have forced more than 100,000 people from their homes in the volatile eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Burundi: Ban welcomes political conversion of former militia UN News Centre 22 Apr 2009 -- Secretary-General Banwelcomed the accreditation of a former armed opposition group in Burundi as a political party.
• Ethnic Clashes Hit Southern Sudan VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- More than 170 people were killed in ethnic clashes in southern Sudan, this week - the latest round of the back and forth violence plaguing Jonglei state.
• Cyprus leader says 'no progress' in reunification talks RIA Novosti 22 Apr 2009 -- Talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders on the island's reunification on Wednesday made no progress, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias said.
• Are Predictions That Armenia-Turkey Rapprochement Doomed Overstated? RFE/RL 22 Apr 2009 -- Report that Armenia and Turkey had reached the final stage of drafting conditions for establishing formal diplomatic relations gave rise to widespread euphoria and unrealistic expectations.

News Reports

• US Lawmaker Vows Probe of Bush Administration Detainee Interrogation Policy VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee: Panel will investigate Bush administration detainee interrogation policies if congressional support is lacking for an independent inquiry into the matter.
• Clinton: Cheney 'Not Reliable' on Interrogation Issue VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- Secretary of State Clinton questioned credibility of former VP Cheney who defended use of harsh interrogation methods.
• US Senate Report Details Harsh Interrogation Methods VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- US Senate committee report says Bush administration approved the use of harsh interrogation techniques that led to detainee abuses at US military bases in Iraq and elsewhere.
• Spokesman Cites Pentagon Cooperation in Interrogation Probe AFPS 22 Apr 2009 -- DoD provided full cooperation during a US Senate committee investigation that examined detainee-interrogation operations.
• Senate Confirms Hill as Ambassador to Iraq AFPS 22 Apr 2009 -- The Senate voted yesterday to confirm Christopher R. Hill as the next U.S. ambassador to Iraq.
• U.S. Senate Confirms Hill As New Iraq Envoy RFE/RL 22 Apr 2009 -- The US Senate has overwhelmingly confirmed Christopher Hill as Washington’s new ambassador to Baghdad.
• Summit of Americas Provides Fresh Start for US VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- Western Hemisphere summit being hailed by most participants as a new beginning for relations in the region.
• Castro says Obama misunderstood Havana's statement on dialogue RIA Novosti 22 Apr 2009 -- Fidel Castro: US President misconstrued Cuban leader Raul Castro's comments on willingness for dialogue.
• Fidel Castro Downplays Brother's Overtures Towards US VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- Former Cuban President Fidel CastroL US President Barack Obama has "misinterpreted" statements to suggest a thaw in relations.
• Mother of Somali Pirate Appeals for Mercy for Her Son VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- The mother of the Somali piracy suspect being held for trial in the United States is appealing for mercy for her son.
• 'Do Not Pay Pirate Ransoms', Somalia's Leader Pleads VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- Somalia's prime minister is calling for a halt to ransom payments to pirates and kidnappers.
• Somali President Urges Pirates to Cease Attacks VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has called on pirates to stop attacking ships off the country's coast.
• French Navy Delivers Pirate Suspects to Kenya VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- The French navy has handed over 11 suspected pirates to authorities in Kenya, where they are expected to face trial for attempted hijacking.
• Russian tanker crew fights off Somali pirates with fire hoses RIA Novosti 22 Apr 2009 -- Russian crew of a tanker in the Gulf of Aden prevented Somali pirates from boarding their vessel by using onboard fire hoses.
• Moldova's Constitutional Court approves vote recount result RIA Novosti 22 Apr 2009 -- Moldova's Constitutional Court approved at a meeting on Wednesday the results of the parliamentary election recount, confirming victory for the Communist Party.
• Georgia Protests Resume, But Deadlock Persists RFE/RL 22 Apr 2009 -- Opposition protests resumed in Tbilisi after Easter break, but the number of participants fell far short of the 200,000 that protest leaders hope to mobilize.
• Georgian opposition protests increasing in Tbilisi RIA Novosti 22 Apr 2009 -- The Georgian opposition is beefing up its protests in the country's capital as supporters began arriving on Wednesday in Tbilisi from other Georgian regions.
• South Africa's Zuma Popular, Polarizing VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- The man who is likely to become South Africa's next president is both one of the country's most popular politicians and one of its most polarizing.
• South Africans Vote in National, Provincial Polls VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- South Africans are voting in the country's fourth election since the advent of democracy in 1994.
• South Africans Go to the Polls Wednesday VOA 22 Apr 2009 -- South Africans begin voting Wednesday in a general election in which the ruling African National Congress is expected to win.