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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 21 May 2009 [PDF]
• MND-B Soldiers die in IED explosion (Baghdad)
• Iraq Attacks Are Escalating VOA 21 May 2009 -- In Iraq, at least 23 people have been killed in three separate attacks.
• Iraqi Leaders Listen to 'Sons of Iraq' Concerns AFPS 21 May 2009 -- Government representatives gathered with leaders of the "Sons of Iraq" civilian security group to field questions and respond to their concerns.
• Coalition, Afghan Forces Kill 25 Militants, Detain Seven AFPS 21 May 2009 -- Coalition and Afghan operations in the past 24 hours have left 25 enemy fighters dead and seven in custody.
• US Says 9 Militants Killed in Afghanistan VOA 21 May 2009 -- US military: Nine suspected militants have been killed in separate operations in southern and central Afghanistan.
• Karzai Maneuvers Secure Grip Ahead Of Election Campaign RFE/RL 21 May 2009 -- Weeks before campaign for Afghanistan's presidential vote, incumbent Hamid Karzai is using his political savvy to convince the international community that he remains an indispensible ally.
• Navy Helicopter Crewmembers Identified Navy NewsStand 21 May 2009 -- 5 HS 6 aircrew involved in the crash of a Navy HH-60 Seahawk helicopter the evening of May 19 released.
• Navy Continues Search Efforts for Crewmembers, Helo Navy NewsStand 21 May 2009 -- US Navy continued search efforts for 2 crewmembers and the HH-60 Seahawk helicopter that went down May 19.
• Search Efforts Underway For Downed Helo Navy NewsStand 21 May 2009 -- US Navy supporting search efforts to locate the HH-60 Seahawk helicopter that went down off the coast of Mexico and Southern California.
• San Jacinto Assists with Rescue at Sea Navy NewsStand 21 May 2009 -- USS San Jacinto assisted with a rescue and recovery effort of a boat in the Chesapeake Bay.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Protecting Our Security and Our Values The White House 21 May 2009 -- Remarks of President Barack Obama at the National Archives Museum
• Former Vice President Cheney - Remarks at the American Enterprise Institute 21 May 2009
• Miliband acknowledges backlash caused by Iraq war IRNA 21 May 2009 -- Foreign Secretary Miliband placing the war alongside the Crusades and colonialism in a list of "prejudices that British history generates."
• US Military Official Alarmed By Growing al-Qaida - Taliban Ties VOA 21 May 2009 -- Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff expressing concern about growing ties between Taliban and al-Qaida.
• Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflicts Tied to U.S. Security, Mullen Tells Senators AFPS 21 May 2009 -- Helping the Afghan and Pakistani governments defeat Taliban and al-Qaida tied to US national security interests.
• Pentagon Chiefs Suggest Afghan War Strategy Evaluation in 2010 VOA 21 May 2009 -- Top defense official: Obama administration should evaluate its policy early next year even as the US sends additional troops.
• Pakistan Aid Bill Clears House Committee VOA 21 May 2009 -- US congressional committee approved legislation that would provide Pakistan with billions of dollars in economic aid over the next five years.
• Poland to host Patriot missiles, U.S. troops by yearend RIA Novosti 21 May 2009 -- US Patriot air defense missiles and US personnel will be deployed in Poland by the end of this year.
• DoD News: DoD Launches Program to Fight Stigma of Seeking Psychological Health Care DoD 21 May 2009 -- The Department of Defense today launched the Real Warriors Campaign, a multimedia public education effort designed to combat the stigma keeping some service members veterans and their families from seeking needed psychological health care
• First Virginia Class Payload Tube Increases Force's Versatility Navy NewsStand 21 May 2009 -- PEO Submarines' Virginia-class PO marked a substantial milestone with the delivery of first Virginia payload tube.
• What Marines value, enemies fear USMC News 21 May 2009 -- By April 2010 the Marine Corps plans to own its first set of EFV, intended to complement amphibious capabilities and replace its predecessor, the AAV.
• PEO Soldier unveils lighter, more lethal weapons systems Army News 21 May 2009 -- Two weapons in development are expected to be more precision-oriented, lighter and lethal.
• Army's first Tactical Interpreter Company welcomes first Soldiers Army News 21 May 2009 -- The 51st Tactical Interpreter Company "Jackals" welcomed home five of their Soldiers during celebration at Fort Irwin.
• Air Force unit settles into Knox to support 3rd Brigade combat team Army News 21 May 2009 -- Most recent addition to Fort Knox a new Air Support Operations Squadron.
• SDDC gains Rapid Port Opening Elements Army News 21 May 2009 -- Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command welcomed two units into its family in a patch changing ceremony.
• Aluminum mats bear brunt of C-17s' weight USMC News 21 May 2009 -- 150,000 square feet of AM2 aluminum matting laid down by Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico on one of their taxi runways.
• TACOM celebrates Armed Forces Day with historical groundbreaking ceremony Army News 21 May 2009 -- Construction will include 8 story admin facility, multi-level parking structure and support and training facility.
• NAVFAC SW Awards Contract to Renovate Medical Lab Navy NewsStand 21 May 2009 -- NAVFAC SW awarded American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contract to renovate a lab at NMC San Diego.
• After market uniforms may present risk AFNS 21 May 2009 -- USAF authorized a single all-season version of the Airman's Battle Uniform, making any other version or claims of a summer weight uniform unauthorized.
• Porter Takes Part in Counterpiracy Training During Joint Warrior Navy NewsStand 21 May 2009 -- USS Porter participated in a visit, board, search and seizure counterpiracy scenario during Exercise Joint Warrior.
• Report Gives Obama A Potential Out On Missile Shield RFE/RL 21 May 2009 -- Iran's test of a rocket that it says can reach as far as Europe adds new urgency to US missile defense plan.
• NATO starts Cooperative Lancer field drills in Georgia RIA Novosti 21 May 2009 -- Second stage of NATO's training exercise in Georgia under the Partnership for Peace program started at Vaziani military base.
• Russia hopes barriers to Russia-NATO Council work will be removed RIA Novosti 21 May 2009 -- Russia hopes artificial obstacles for the work of the Russia-NATO Council will be removed soon.
• Russia's defense orders total $35 bln RIA Novosti 21 May 2009 -- Russia's foreign defense orders total $35 billion.
• New Russian helicopter set back by Canadian firm's withdrawal RIA Novosti 21 May 2009 -- Production of a new Russian Mi-38 transport helicopter delayed until 2014 due to expected withdrawal engine maker.
• Iran's counter-piracy efforts "commendable", says IMO chief IRNA 21 May 2009 -- IMO praised Iran's counter-piracy efforts, calling on the Islamic Republic to extend such "commendable" support to other ships.
• Indonesia Investigates Military Plane Crash VOA 21 May 2009 -- Indonesian air investigators are sifting through the charred remains of a military transport plane that crashed killing at least 99 people.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 21 May 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 5-21-09 The White House 21 May 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 21, 2009
• QinetiQ, Boeing to Help Provide Distributed Synthetic Air Land Training for UK Boeing 21 May 2009 -- A QinetiQ-led team that includes Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has received a £26 million (US$37.7 million) contract from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MOD) to provide Distributed Synthetic Air Land Training (DSALT) to Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots and British Army forward air controllers and artillery personnel
• Oshkosh Defense Awarded $28 Million Delivery Order to Provide HEMTTs, PLS Trailers to Army Reserve, Marine Corps Oshkosh 21 May 2009 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), has been awarded a delivery order with the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC) to provide more than 70 next-generation Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTT) and more than 60 Palletized Load System Trailers (PLST) to the U.S. Army Reserve and Marine Corps.
• 6 RAR visit Thales's Bushmaster production facility in Bendigo Thales 21 May 2009 -- The troops - part of 6 RAR's Support Company, equipped with Bushmasters - have extensive operational experience with the vehicle from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. "This visit is part of Support Company's professional development program," said Major John Papalitsas, the Company's Officer Commanding, who arrived in Bendigo with a convoy of Bushmasters from the Army's Puckapunyal base.
• Lockheed Martin GPS III Team Successfully Completes Major Design Review Phase On Schedule Lockheed Martin 21 May 2009 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team developing the U.S. Air Force's next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) spacecraft, known as GPS III, has successfully completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) phase, a major program milestone that allows the team to begin the Critical Design Review (CDR) stage.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 21 May 2009
• Netanyahu: All of Jerusalem to Remain Israeli VOA 21 May 2009 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says all of Jerusalem will always remain under Israeli sovereignty.
• Israel demolishes illegal Jewish settlement in West Bank RIA Novosti 21 May 2009 -- Israeli security forces demolished an illegal Jewish settler outpost in the occupied West Bank.
• Clinton Urges Sri Lanka Reconciliation VOA 21 May 2009 -- Secretary of State Clinton telephoned Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa to appeal for political reconciliation after the government's defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels.
• India seeks political solution to Tamil question IRNA 21 May 2009 -- India has sought a political solution to the Tamil question while offering help in the reconstruction effort.
• SOMALIA: Exodus continues despite lull in Mogadishu fighting IRIN 21 May 2009 -- Hundreds of families are still fleeing the Somali capital, Mogadishu, despite relative calm in the past week following intense fighting between insurgents and government troops.
• Somalia Vindicated By IGAD Proposed Sanctions on Eritrea, Says Minister VOA 21 May 2009 -- Somalia's new government has welcomed calls by neighboring countries for UN blockade.
• CHAD: Insecurity hampers access to refugees, displaced in east IRIN 21 May 2009 -- Growing insecurity in eastern Chad is limiting aid workers’ access to refugees and displaced Chadians, aid workers say.
• Sudan-Chad Tensions Escalate VOA 21 May 2009 -- Tensions between Khartoum and Ndjamena took a dramatic turn after Sudan Threatened to destroy Chadian forces if they invade its territory.
• UN-mandated group suggests screening rights records of Congolese soldiers UN News Centre 21 May 2009 -- Panel monitoring UN sanctions imposed on the DRC underscored the need for a vetting mechanism to screen the human rights records of officers in the national army.
• ETHIOPIA: Giving peace a chance in South Omo IRIN 21 May 2009 -- Zuga Sherdo grew up in a community that was constantly fighting its neighbours in southern Ethiopia.
• Reports Of Clampdown In Tajik East Kindle Lingering Fears RFE/RL 21 May 2009 -- A sweeping antidrug operation launched in eastern Tajikistan has fueled speculation of a crackdown on Islamic strongmen.
• Moldova-Transdnestr talks unlikely to resume in full - minister RIA Novosti 21 May 2009 -- Full-fledged dialogue between Moldova and Transdnestr is unlikely to resume.
• Thousands Welcome US VP Biden to Kosovo VOA 21 May 2009 -- Thousands of flag-waving ethnic Albanians jammed the streets of Kosovo's capital, where they welcomed US VP Biden.

News Reports

• Somali Pirate Suspect Pleads Not Guilty in New York VOA 21 May 2009 -- A Somali teenager accused of leading last month's hijacking of an American cargo ship has pleaded not guilty to piracy charges.
• Veteran Nepalese Gurkha Soldiers Win Right to Settle in Britain VOA 21 May 2009 -- Bowing to public and political pressure, PM Brown's government announced a major policy u-turn.
• Georgian troop mutiny suspect killed in police operation - TV RIA Novosti 21 May 2009 -- A former army officer suspected of involvement in a mutiny at a Georgian tank base on May 5 was killed and two others wounded in a police operation.
• Georgian opposition extends protests until June 26 RIA Novosti 21 May 2009 -- Georgian opposition notified Tbilisi city hall that it was intending to carry on demonstrations to demand President Saakashvili's resignation until June 26.
• India's Singh to Be Sworn In as PM Friday VOA 21 May 2009 -- Indian PM Singh will be sworn in for a second consecutive term Friday.
• Burma Again Bars Access to Aung San Suu Kyi's Trial VOA 21 May 2009 -- Burmese authorities have again barred observers from the trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a day after opening doors to foreign diplomats and several journalists.
• Swine flu suspected in over 40 schoolchildren in north China RIA Novosti 21 May 2009 -- Cases of suspected flu infection among schoolchildren in northern China's Inner Mongolia have reached 46.
• Third swine flu case confirmed in Taiwan CNA 21 May 2009 -- A third case of swine flu, officially known as influenza A(H1N1), was confirmed in Taiwan.
• Swine Flu Cases Surge Above 11,000 VOA 21 May 2009 -- WHO: The number of swine influenza A-H1N1 cases around the world has surged above 11,000, including 85 deaths.
• Confirmed A/H1N1 swine flu cases worldwide top 11,000, with 80 deaths RIA Novosti 21 May 2009 -- WHO: 11,034 people in 41 countries worldwide have been officially diagnosed with the A/H1N1 viruswith 85 deaths.
• Moldovan Communists renominate Greceanii for president RIA Novosti 21 May 2009 -- Moldovan Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanii has been renominated by the Communist Party as the country's new president.
• Belarus set to boost ties with Abkhazia, South Ossetia RIA Novosti 21 May 2009 -- Belarus is set to boost economic, social and cultural ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
• Southern Sudanese Reject Official Census Results VOA 21 May 2009 -- The Sudanese government has released results from a national census that will be a crucial component in organizing elections for next year.
• Former Military Ruler Delays Start of Mauritanian Presidential Campaign VOA 21 May 2009 -- Presidential campaigning is under way in Mauritania.
• ZIMBABWE: The unity government's 100 days in the doldrums IRIN 21 May 2009 -- The first hundred days of Zimbabwe's unity government were given the seal of approval by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which dismissed any notion that the fledgling government was facing difficulties - a view not shared by Western donors.