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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 18 May 2009 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Troops Discover Weapons Cache in Iraq, Detain Six AFPS 18 May 2009 -- Iraqi and coalition forces found a weapons cache and detained six suspects in operations in Iraq the week of May 11.
• Flight Training Squadron prepares Iraqi Air Force MNF-I 18 May 2009 -- The 52nd Expeditionary Flight Training Squadron's primary mission is to prepare new Iraqi Air Force pilots to provide security for the country of Iraq
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Detain 18, Kill Suspect in Afghanistan AFPS 18 May 2009 -- Afghan and coalition forces killed an insurgent and detained 18 others during recent operations in Afghanistan.
• Three civilians killed, one wounded by Afghan soldiers RIA Novosti 18 May 2009 -- Three civilians were killed and another one wounded after troops from Afghan's National Army opened fire in a market.
• AFGHANISTAN: UNAMA calls for access to bombed village IRIN 18 May 2009 -- UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan called for safe passage of convoy to a village where air strikes allegedly killed over 100 civilians.
• Afghan President's Brother Survives Ambush VOA 18 May 2009 -- A brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he survived an attack on his motorcade that killed one of his bodyguards.
• Afghan Army Conference Joins Commandos, Leaders AFPS 18 May 2009 -- The Afghan National Army’s top leaders convened here May 12 and 13 for discussions and teambuilding.
• Most of Pakistani political parties support Swat military operation IRNA 18 May 2009 -- Most political parties attending conference backed counterinsurgency operation in Swat assuring full support for government.
• Pakistani PM: Troops to Stay in NW Until Displaced Return Home VOA 18 May 2009 -- Pakistan's PM: Troops will stay in the northwest until people who have fled fighting between army and Taliban return home.
• US-Pakistani Relations Can Make 'Strategic Hedge' Moot AFPS 18 May 2009 -- SecDef Gates: Pakistan's uncertainty about Afghanistan motivates intelligence service to keep ties to Taliban as strategic hedge.
• Defense Department Prepares to Send Humanitarian Aid to Pakistan AFPS 18 May 2009 -- DoD ready to send aid to help the internally displaced people in Pakistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD News: Army Air Defense Unit to Activate at Fort Sill DoD 18 May 2009 -- The Department of the Army announced today the planned activation of the 4th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment (Patriot) at Fort Sill, Okla
• Pacific Command Strategy Centers on Partnership, Readiness, Presence AFPS 18 May 2009 -- 3 major tenets of the USPACOM strategy having impact in bringing together capabilities to promote stability.
• Guard Bureau Chief Sees Peacekeeping as Likely National Guard Mission AFPS 18 May 2009 -- National Guard can expect peacekeeping roles in Afghanistan and Iraq in the future.
• Navy Engineers Develop New Composite Joint Assault Bridge Navy NewsStand 18 May 2009 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command's Engineering Service Center to develop the Composite Joint Assault Bridge.
• Phalanx CIWS Block 1B Upgrades Contract Navy NewsStand 18 May 2009 -- Raytheon awarded a $259,904,116 modification to previously awarded contract for MK15 Phalanx Close-In-Weapon System Block 1B upgrades and conversions, system overhauls, and associated hardware.
• Social Science Research Assists Navigation of 'Human Terrain' AFPS 18 May 2009 -- DoD funding research to help warfighters learn and adapt to the social and cultural norms in their deployment areas.
• NORAD Officials Reschedule Capital-area Exercise AFPS 18 May 2009 -- North American Aerospace Defense Command exercise rescheduled after inclement weather last week forced its postponement.
• Russia seeks 'acceptable' arms reduction deal with U.S. RIA Novosti 18 May 2009 -- Russian FM Lavrov: Russia intends to reach an "acceptable" arms reduction agreement with the US.
• U.S. missile shield may hamper arms reduction talks in Russia RIA Novosti 18 May 2009 -- Controversy over US plans for a missile shield in Europe may prevent a new strategic arms reduction deal.
• Syria-US Thaw Awaits Concrete Steps VOA 18 May 2009 -- Relations between the United States and Syria remain rocky after a series of recent developments.
• EU Foreign Ministers To Discuss Russia Summit, Moldova, Georgia RFE/RL 18 May 2009 -- "Rhetoric versus reality" how some diplomats describe choice facing EU as it weighs future of relationship with Russia.
• Brazil aims to build first nuclear sub within 12 years - agency RIA Novosti 18 May 2009 -- Brazil may build its first nuclear-powered submarine in 12 years.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 18 May 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 5/18/2009 The White House 18 May 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 18, 2009
• General Dynamics Completes “Military Operations on Urban Terrain” Instrumentation for King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center General Dynamics 18 May 2009 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has completed the Military Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT) instrumentation at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) under a contract awarded by the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) in 2006.
• Lockheed Martin Awarded Technology Development Contract for F/A-18E/F Infrared Search and Track Program Lockheed Martin 18 May 2009 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] was awarded a $4 million contract by the Boeing Company for the technology development phase of the F/A-18E/F Infrared Search and Track (IRST) program.
• Pratt & Whitney F135 STOVL Exceeds and Completes Vertical Thrust Requirement Pratt & Whitney 18 May 2009 -- The Pratt & Whitney F135 short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant propulsion system, which includes the Rolls-Royce LiftSystem®, has exceeded thrust performance expectations in recently completed tests, providing more vertical power than required by the F-35 Lightning II STOVL aircraft.
• Boeing, Denmark’s Systematic Pursuing Missile Defense Collaboration Boeing 18 May 2009 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Danish systems integration and software development company Systematic today announced that they are jointly exploring opportunities in global ballistic missile defense, including potential collaboration on NATO projects

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 18 May 2009
• Iran May Prove Divisive Issue As Obama, Netanyahu Meet RFE/RL 18 May 2009 -- When Israeli PM Netanyahu meets with US President Obama at the White House, there will be public handshakes and smiles.
• Obama, Netanyahu to Discuss Iran, Israeli-Palestinian Peace Prospects VOA 18 May 2009 -- US President Obama and Israeli PM Netanyahu are meeting at the White House for the first time since they took office.
• Israel Moves Ahead With West Bank Settlements VOA 18 May 2009 -- Israeli developers announced they are moving ahead with plans to expand a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank.
• US Welcomes End of Sri Lanka War, Urges Reconciliation VOA 18 May 2009 -- The United States welcomed the reported end of hostilities in Sri Lanka after more than two decades of fighting between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels.
• Sri Lankan Rebel Leader Built Up Ruthless Insurgency VOA 18 May 2009 -- Tamil rebel leader Prabhakaran spent most of his life waging war against the Sri Lankan government, and turning a small band of rebels into one of the world's most highly disciplined and ruthless insurgencies.
• LTTE Leader Killed, Sri Lanka Claims Total Control of Island Nation VOA 18 May 2009 -- The quarter-century civil war in Sri Lanka has come to a dramatic end.
• Sri Lanka's military says separatist leader dead, battle over RIA Novosti 18 May 2009 -- Sri Lankan military: Tamil Tiger separatists have been defeated and their leader killed in a battle in the northeast.
• New Somali Government Says Unfazed by Insurgent Attacks VOA 18 May 2009 -- President Sheik Ahmed's new Somali government will soon take back a town taken by hard line Islamic insurgents.
• Somali Insurgents Take Another Town North of Capital VOA 18 May 2009 -- Islamist insurgents in Somalia have captured another town to the north of the capital, Mogadishu.
• Somalia: humanitarian needs on upswing due to drought, violence - UN UN News Centre 18 May 2009 -- Drought and continuing violence are driving Somalia’s humanitarian needs upward.
• South Ossetia follows Abkhazia out of Geneva talks RIA Novosti 18 May 2009 -- South Ossetia has joined Abkhazia in pulling out of the fifth round of Geneva talks on security in the Caucasus.
• Georgia angered by Russian lawmakers' visit to Abkhazia RIA Novosti 18 May 2009 -- Georgia will protest against a visit by a delegation of Russian lawmakers to Abkhazia aimed at strengthening ties.
• Chad Says Military Offensive Against Rebels Inside Sudan Completed VOA 18 May 2009 -- Chad says it has completed a ground and air assault against rebels based in neighboring Sudan, but the Khartoum government calls the bombing raids an act of war.
• SUDAN: Peace in Darfur - one step forward, two steps back IRIN 18 May 2009 -- Rebels in Sudan’s Darfur region are showing signs of unity, but it has not brought their region any closer to a comprehensive peace.
• Darfur rebel leader accused of war crimes appears before ICC UN News Centre 18 May 2009 -- Rebel leader accused of having directed the deadly attack against peacekeepers voluntarily appeared today before the International Criminal Court.
• Nigerian Civilians Trapped as Army Takes on Rebels VOA 18 May 2009 -- Human-rights groups in Nigeria say thousands of villagers are trapped in the Niger Delta as security forces continue their offensive against militants in the region.
• Nigerian Military Rescues More Foreign Hostages Held by Militants VOA 18 May 2009 -- Nigeria's military: Freed 4 more foreign hostages from Niger Delta militants during an operation.
• Security Council Delegation Visits Eastern DRC VOA 18 May 2009 -- The UN Security Council delegation continues its tour of Africa this week and today members stopped in Goma in the eastern DRC.

News Reports

• Iraq Sets Election Date VOA 18 May 2009 -- Iraq's next election will be held January 30, 2010.
• Iran's Supreme Leader Speaks Against Pro-West Candidates VOA 18 May 2009 -- Iran's supreme leader urging Iranians not to vote in presidential election for candidates who could adopt a pro-Western stand.
• Indian Election Results Likely To Boost Regional Stability RFE/RL 18 May 2009 -- The sounds of beating drums and dancing people filled the streets of India this weekend as processions celebrated the Indian National Congress party's victory.
• Security Tight as Burma's Democracy Leader Goes On Trial VOA 18 May 2009 -- In Burma, security is tight outside the prison where authorities have started legal proceedings against detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
• WHO Urges Countries to Prepare for Possible Flu Pandemic VOA 18 May 2009 -- WHO is warning against complacency and urging countries to prepare for a possible pandemic from the Swine Flu A-H1N1 virus.
• Reliable information on new flu critical - WHO chief UN News Centre 18 May 2009 -- Obtaining reliable information on aspects of influenza A(H1N1) infection is critical to make informed decisions.
• Swine Flu Tops Agenda at Annual World Health Assembly Meeting VOA 18 May 2009 -- World Health Organization's annual assembly opened in Geneva, where the new strain of H1N1 swine flu tops the agenda.
• Japanese Health Ministry confirms 130 swine flu cases RIA Novosti 18 May 2009 -- Japan's Health Ministry announced a total of 130 people in the country have been infected with the A/H1N1 influenza virus.
• Moment of history: Taiwan returns to WHA as observer CNA 18 May 2009 -- History was made when Taiwan's health minister took his seat as an observer at the annual meeting of the World Health Organization.
• World Health Assembly Discusses New Health Challenges VOA 18 May 2009 -- Annual World Health Assembly opened with delegatesmember countries discussing how to protect people from diseases.
• Saakashvili again rules out early elections in Georgia RIA Novosti 18 May 2009 -- Georgian President Saakashvili said again that there would be no early presidential or parliamentary elections in the country.
• Georgian opposition plans further protests this week RIA Novosti 18 May 2009 -- Georgian opposition parties are to continue their protests against President Saakashvili this week.
• UN Security Council Reflects On A Tragic Failure: Rwanda VOA 18 May 2009 -- UN Security Council visited a memorial to victims of the Rwanda genocide and pledged support to efforts to end the fighting that has haunted Africa's Great Lakes region for more than a decade.
• Node 3 leaves Thales Alenia Space's plants, heading towards Cape Canaveral Thales 18 May 2009 -- Node 3 left Saturday 16 the Turin plant of Thales Alenia Space, heading towards NASA's Kennedy Space Center, from where it will be launched towards the International Space Station. Node 3 is an additional European-built element which will be permanently attached to the Space Station, contributing to its completion and extension. With Node 3, life in space will be more comfortable: its innovative life support system is the most sophisticated ever to be sent to space.