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11 May 2009 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

OIF/OEF Casualty Update 11 May 2009 [PDF]
U.S. Soldier killed by IED (Basra)
UPDATE: Five dead in shooting (Baghdad)
DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty

Transcript: Press Conference with Secretary Gates and Adm. Mullen on Leadership Changes in Afghanistan From the Pentagon DoD 11 May 2009 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen

DETAINEE OPERATIONS OPERATIONAL UPDATE: Media Roundtable: Maj. Gen. Swan; Brig. Gen. Quantock; Maj. Gen. Qadir, May 11, 2009 MNF-I 11 May 2009 -- Brig. Gen. David Quantock, deputy CG of MNF-I Detainee Operations and CG of Task Force 134; Maj. Gen. Guy Swan, Chief of Staff, MNF-I; and Maj. Gen. Aiden Khaled Qadir, Director of Iraqi Police Security, Iraqi Ministry of Interior, speak with the press
Troops in Iraq Capture Suspect, Weapons AFPS 11 May 2009 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces detained one suspect and uncovered a weapons cache in operations last week, military officials said.
US Urges Syria to Cut Flow of Foreign Fighters to Iraq VOA 11 May 2009 -- The United States publicly called on Syria to do more to curb the traffic of foreign fighters to Iraq through Syrian territory.
Al-Basrah Graduates Final Class Of Prison Guards RFE/RL 11 May 2009 -- Ceremonies have been held for the final 200 graduates of an Iraqi corrections-officer training program led by US forces at Camp Bucca.

Forces Kill One Militant, Detain Seven in Afghanistan AFPS 11 May 2009 -- Afghan and coalition forces killed one militant and detained 7 suspects in operations to disrupt Taliban networks.
U.S. helicopter responds in self-defense AFNS 11 May 2009 -- Members of the 129th Rescue Squadron responded when they came under hostile fire May 10 during a flying mission out of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.
U.S. Denies Using White Phosphorous in Afghanistan, Gates Pledges More Investigation AFPS 11 May 2009 -- The US military denies using white phosphorous during recent fighting with Taliban militants.
US Military Accuses Taliban of Using White Phosphorus Weapons VOA 11 May 2009 -- The U.S. military has accused Taliban militants of using white phosphorus in attacks in eastern Afghanistan.
Top U.S. General in Southern Afghanistan Optimistic More Forces Will Turn Tide AFPS 11 May 2009 -- US general "Unapologetically optimistic" about difference incoming US troops will make to the security situation.
Bombings in Afghanistan Kill 18 VOA 11 May 2009 -- Afghan officials say a series of bomb and suicide attacks Sunday killed at least 18 people, including 11 construction workers.

Exodus From Northwest Pakistan Continues as Fighting Rages VOA 11 May 2009 -- Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis continue to flee a military offensive against the Taliban in the northwest.
Pakistan Fighting Sparks Fears Of Massive Humanitarian Crisis RFE/RL 11 May 2009 -- As Pakistan's military continues operation against Taliban, use of air strikes and artillery has civilians to flee.
Thousands flee Pakistan war zone as curfew relaxes after week IRNA 11 May 2009 -- Thousands of people fled the insurgency-hit Swat Valley as security forces relaxed curfew for the first time in a week.
Pakistanis Fleeing Clashes Scramble for Shelter VOA 11 May 2009 -- Hundreds of thousands of people in northwest Pakistan continue to flee the ongoing army offensive against Taliban militants.
Suicide bomber kills 10 civilianan and soldier in Pakistan IRNA 11 May 2009 -- A suicide bomber blew up his explosives-packed car in a Pakistani tribal region and killed nine civilians and a soldier.
700 militants killed in Pakistan's anti-Taliban operation IRNA 11 May 2009 -- Pakistan's Interior Minister: Around 700 militants have been killed in a major offensive launched last week in the country's northwest.
Upto 200 militants killed in Pakistan's northwest in 24 hours: army IRNA 11 May 2009 -- The security forces have killed up to 200 miscreants in 24 hours in the insurgency-hit Swat and Shangla areas.

Guard Members Respond to Flooding in Three States AFPS 11 May 2009 -- Adverse weather is affecting Kentucky, West Virginia and Alaska, and the National Guard is helping with relief efforts there.

Defense Policy / Programs

Gates Recommends McChrystal for Top Command in Afghanistan AFPS 11 May 2009 -- Citing the need for new thinking and new ideas in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Gates has recommended Army Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal as the new commander there.
Gates Recommends McChrystal as New U.S. Commander in Afghanistan AFPS 11 May 2009 -- Defense Secretary Gates today recommended Army Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal to replace Army Gen. David D. McKiernan as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan.
US to Replace Top Commander in Afghanistan VOA 11 May 2009 -- The Obama administration is replacing the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General David McKiernan.

DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for April 2009 DoD 11 May 2009 -- The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of April.
Active-Duty, Reserve Components' Recruiting, Retention Numbers Strong AFPS 11 May 2009 -- All 10 active-duty and reserve military components met or exceeded their recruiting goals in April.
Navy Takes Delivery of Aircraft Carrier George H.W. Bush Navy NewsStand 11 May 2009 -- The Navy took delivery of its newest aircraft carrier, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding May 11.
22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit deploys USMC News 11 May 2009 -- After 6 months of intense training the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit will set sail this week on deployment as a theater reserve force.
Essex Completes Successful Spring Patrol Navy NewsStand 11 May 2009 -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex returned to Sasebo, Japan, May 7, following a successful spring patrol.
Air Force officials unveil acquisition improvement plan AFNS 11 May 2009 -- USAF leaders have announced their plan for improving acquisition, which will have far-reaching impacts.
New facility gives junior officers space to learn self-defense AFNS 11 May 2009 -- Instructors and students demonstrated self-defense tactics for a grand opening ceremony May 1 at new Expeditionary Training Center.
Aircrews, maintainers gear up for wildfire season AFNS 11 May 2009 -- Reserve and Air National Guard Airmen earned their certifications on the Military Airborne Firefighting System during training May 3-9.

Russia to start flight tests of 5th-generation fighter by yearend RIA Novosti 11 May 2009 -- Russian deputy PM: Flight tests of a fifth-generation fighter will start in Russia by the end of 2009.

Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 11 May 2009
Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 5-11-09 The White House 11 May 2009

Defense Industry

DoD News: Contracts for May 11, 2009
BAE SYSTEMS AWARDED $81.4 MILLION FOR M88A2 HERCULES VEHICLES BAE Systems 11 May 2009 -- BAE Systems has been awarded an $81.4 million contract to produce 39 M88A2 HERCULES recovery vehicles and spare parts for the U.S. Army.
BAE SYSTEMS RECEIVES $137 MILLION IN ORDERS FOR THERMAL WEAPON SIGHTS BAE Systems 11 May 2009 -- BAE Systems will provide thermal weapon sights to the U.S. Army under a $137 million contract that continues production of the widely used infrared sensors
Boeing Delivers Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Aircrew Training System Boeing 11 May 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has delivered a C-17 Aircrew Training System (ATS) to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), making Australia the first C-17 ATS customer outside the United States.
L-3 Wins B-2 Training System Program L-3 Communications 11 May 2009 -- L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) announced today that its Link Simulation & Training division (L-3 Link) has been awarded a $22.8 million contract to continue as prime contractor on the U.S. Air Force’s B-2 Training System program.
Lockheed Martin Canada’s Halifax Class Combat Systems Integration Team Successfully Completes Key Design Review Lockheed Martin 11 May 2009 -- Lockheed Martin Canada [NYSE: LMT] completed a successful System Design Review (SDR) with the Canadian Navy, marking a major milestone toward modernizing the combat systems on the Navy’s 12 Halifax-class multi-mission frigates.
Northrop Grumman Delivers Final Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carrier to the U.S. Navy Northrop Grumman 11 May 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) delivered the nation's newest and most advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77), today. It is the 10th and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and was constructed by the company's Shipbuilding sector in Newport News, Va.
Royal Australian Air Force Takes Delivery of First F414 Engines GE Aviation 11 May 2009 -- The first F414 engines for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) were shipped from Lynn to Boeing earlier this spring for installation on the F/A-18F Super Hornets.
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICES OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 11 May 2009
Raytheon Supports U.S. Army Exercise Using Portable Training Technology Raytheon 11 May 2009 -- Raytheon Company recently helped bring full-scale combat training technologies to soldiers who would normally be required to travel to one of the U.S. Army's three combat training centers for the same high-quality experience.
Northrop Grumman Space & ISR Systems Joins Raytheon-Led Team IBCS Raytheon 11 May 2009 -- Another industry partner has joined the Raytheon Company-led team for the U.S. Army's Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) program.
CACI Awarded $84 Million Contract to Continue Advertising and Media Support for Army National Guard CACI 11 May 2009 -- CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI) announced today it has been awarded a prime, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract with a ceiling value of $84 million to continue providing advertising, media, and marketing support to the Army National Guard (ARNG) State Media Services Program.

Other Conflicts

Urgent need to generate momentum in Israeli-Palestinian peace process - Ban UN News Centre 11 May 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban stressed the need to generate momentum in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Israel to Hold Talks With Palestinians Soon, says Netanyahu VOA 11 May 2009 -- Israeli PM Netanyahu met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Sinai resort town of Sharm el Sheikh.
Miliband to attend Mid East talks at UN IRNA 11 May 2009 -- Foreign Secretary Miliband to attend talks on the Middle East peace process at the UN.
Pope supports establishment of Palestinian state IRNA 11 May 2009 -- Pope Benedict XVI arrived in the occupied territories calling for a solution that would yield a “homeland of their own” for the Palestinians.
Pope Calls for Palestinian Homeland VOA 11 May 2009 -- Pope Benedict has called for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict - a position that could put him at odds with Israel's new government.

UN chief 'appalled' by weekend death toll in Sri Lankan conflict UN News Centre 11 May 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban: Appalled at the killing of hundreds of Sri Lankan civilians caught in the middle of hostilities between the army and separatist Tamil rebels.
UN Calls Killings in Sri Lanka a 'Bloodbath' VOA 11 May 2009 -- UN condemned the killing of hundreds of Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil civilians from repeated shelling, calling the violence in country's north a "bloodbath."

Saakashvili denies Georgia attacked Russian troops in S.Ossetia RIA Novosti 11 May 2009 -- Georgian troops did not attack Russians in S Ossetia during Tbilisi's assault on the separatist republic in August 2008.

Heavy Fighting Resumes in Mogadishu VOA 11 May 2009 -- Fighting has resumed in the Somali capital Mogadishu, where Islamist insurgents fired mortars at the presidential palace.
Dozens Killed in Mogadishu Clashes VOA 11 May 2009 -- Somali capital returned to relative calm following 4 days of fighting between Islamist insurgents and pro-government forces that left at least 50 people dead.
AU Mission Blames Weekend Somalia Fighting on Anti-Peace Forces VOA 11 May 2009 -- Weekend fighting in Somalia's capital described by some accounts as the worst in weeks has reportedly killed 35 people.

Chad, Sudan Trade Accusations of Backing Rival Rebellions VOA 11 May 2009 -- Chad is threatening to sever diplomatic relations with Sudan after the military says it beat back an assault by rebels based in Sudan.
Top UN envoy deplores raid on Congolese village by Rwandan rebels UN News Centre 11 May 2009 -- Top United Nations envoy in the DRC condemned the raid carried out by Rwandan rebels on a village in the north-eastern part of the country.
Top UN official calls for greater collaboration to deliver aid to Darfur UN News Centre 11 May 2009 -- UN emergency relief chief urged increased cooperation in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
OSCE welcomes Minsk Group efforts to settle Karabakh conflict RIA Novosti 11 May 2009 -- OSCE chairperson-in-office hailed the efforts of OSCE Minsk Group in settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict.

News Reports

Gates Expresses Horror, Regret Over Base Slayings AFPS 11 May 2009 -- Defense Secretary Gates: DoD will devote its “highest-priority attention” to the slaying today of five U.S. servicemembers in Baghdad.
US Soldier in Custody Following Slaying of 5 Americans in Iraq AFPS 11 May 2009 -- An American soldier suspected in involvement in the shooting deaths of five US servicemembers today in Baghdad is in US custody.
Media: US Soldier in Iraq Kills Fellow Soldiers VOA 11 May 2009 -- US media quote an American military source as saying a US soldier has shot and killed at least 4 of his fellow soldiers at a US base in Baghdad.

Influenza A(H1N1) cases nearly double over weekend – UN health agency UN News Centre 11 May 2009 -- The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said today that the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of the influenza A(H1N1) virus has increased to 4,694 – nearly double the figure reported last Friday – including 53 deaths.
Swine Flu Death Toll in Mexico Rises to 56 VOA 11 May 2009 -- Tens of thousands of Mexican primary school children have returned to freshly-scrubbed classrooms following a nationwide shutdown.
WHO officially confirms 4,694 A/H1N1 cases worldwide with 53 deaths RIA Novosti 11 May 2009 -- World Health Organization officially confirmed 4,694 cases of A/H1N1 influenza with 53 deaths in 30 countries.
Taiwan receives A(H1N1) virus samples from U.S. for vaccine CNA 11 May 2009 -- Taiwan Centers for Disease Control expressed appreciation to US for its timely supply of influenza A(H1N1) samples.
CONGO: Boost for flu preparedness IRIN 11 May 2009 -- The Republic of Congo has set up a national emergency management committee to step up swine flu monitoring and detection.
China Confirms First Swine Flu H1N1 Case VOA 11 May 2009 -- China has confirmed its first mainland case of swine influenza, H1N1.
Navy Revises Number of H1N1 Cases Navy NewsStand 11 May 2009 -- The Navy updated its confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza May 11 to 23 Sailors.

Saberi's Jail Sentence Suspended, Allowed To Leave Iran RFE/RL 11 May 2009 -- Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi has been freed from a Tehran prison.
Iran Frees American Journalist Roxana Saberi VOA 11 May 2009 -- U.S. journalist Roxana Saberi walked free from a Tehran prison, one day after her sentence on spy charges was cut to a suspended two-year term.
Roxana Saberi released IRNA 11 May 2009 -- 32 year-old Roxana Saberi arrested on charges of espionage for the US and sentenced to eight years in jail was released on Monday afternoon.
Judiciary spokesman: Roxana Saberi to be freed soon IRNA 11 May 2009 -- Judiciary spokesman Jamshidi: Verdict of the previous court on Roxana Saberi reversed in the appeal court and she is to be freed.

Pope Visits Israel Amid Resentment Over Vatican's Response to Holocaust VOA 11 May 2009 -- One of the most difficult issues between the Vatican and Israel is the allegation by many Jews that Pope Pius XII did not do enough to prevent the Nazis from killing millions of Jews during World War II.

Talks with Saakashvili end in vain - Georgian opposition leader RIA Novosti 11 May 2009 -- Talks in Tbilisi between President Saakashvili and the Georgian opposition have ended without any results.
Georgia arrests 2 senior commanders over coup plot RIA Novosti 11 May 2009 -- Georgia has detained the commanders of the 1st and 3rd infantry brigades over the mutiny at the Mukhrovani military base last week.
Saakashvili talks with opposition in Georgian capital RIA Novosti 11 May 2009 -- President Mikheil Saakashvili is holding talks in Tbilisi with the Georgian opposition, which is demanding his resignation.

Resigned Nepal PM Assures Multinational Donors VOA 11 May 2009 -- Nearly one week after the resignation of Nepal's Maoist Prime Minister, the international donor community is questioning the effectiveness of continuing to fund Nepal's unstable peace process.
State Media: UAE Detains Sheikh in Torture Case VOA 11 May 2009 -- A United Arab Emirates state news agency reports that a member of the royal family has been detained on suspicion of torturing a man.
Dalai Lama Gets Hope From Western Concern About Tibet VOA 11 May 2009 -- Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama gets hope from Western concern about Chinese-ruled Tibet, even though the situation seems hopeless when viewed from inside the region.
Madagascar Leadership to Begin Compiling First 50 Days in Government VOA 11 May 2009 -- Madagascar's new government will begin compiling a report of its first 50 days in government.

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