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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 29 May 2009 [PDF]
• MND-N Soldier killed during operations
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• May 27 airpower summary: Reaper takes out RPG team AFNS 29 May 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and ISAF troops in Afghanistan during operations.
• 1st ACB readies to run missions in Iraq Army News 29 May 2009 -- A great amount of knowledge of the surrounding area and operational success is gained by a unit when it is deployed to Iraq for a year.
• At Least 4 Killed in Iraq Bombing VOA 29 May 2009 -- Iraqi police said at least four people were killed when a bomb attached to a vehicle exploded in restive Diyala province.
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill 35 Militants, Wound 13 Others AFPS 29 May 2009 -- Afghan soldiers, advised by coalition forces, killed 35 militants and wounded 13 others in Zabul province.
• 35 Militants Killed in Afghanistan VOA 29 May 2009 -- The U.S. military says joint U.S. and Afghan security forces killed 35 militants and wounded 13 others in eastern Afghanistan.
• UK using 'enhanced' US missiles in Afghanistan IRNA 29 May 2009 -- British pilots in Afghanistan are firing an increasing number of "enhanced blast" thermobaric weapons.
• Petraeus: Video Shows Air Strikes Aimed at Taliban Targets AFPS 29 May 2009 -- Footage of a controversial U.S. aerial bombing in Afghanistan this month shows the strike targeted Taliban militants.
• MEB-Afghanistan assumes control of Marine battle space USMC News 29 May 2009 -- Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Afghanistan transferred control of Marine battle space in southern Afghanistan to Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan.
• Pakistan Police Say Taliban Fighters Hiding Among Refugees VOA 29 May 2009 -- Pakistan police: Have arrested 30 suspected Taliban militants who have been hiding among refugees in camps.
• Twin blasts kill five, injure 100 in Peshawar IRNA 29 May 2009 -- An official of district police said that the blasts occurred in the congested Qissa Khwani bazar where large numbers of people were busy shopping.
• Two policemen killed in suicide attack in Pakistan IRNA 29 May 2009 -- Two policemen were killed in a suicide attack on a check post in the outskirts of Peshawar.
• Pakistan: UN agencies join forces to provide shelter to conflict displaced UN News Centre 29 May 2009 -- Two United Nations agencies have joined forces to provide shelter and supplies to hundreds of thousands of people displaced by fighting in Pakistan''s North West Frontier Province.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Author Claims Taliban Funds South Asia Fighting with Poppy Cultivation VOA 29 May 2009 -- Taliban insurgents have carried out nearly daily bombing attacks in Pakistan this week.
• NATO, Afghan, Pakistani Troops Share Workspace to Coordinate Security AFPS 29 May 2009 -- Khyber Border Coordination Center receives a phone call: extremists fleeing from across the border into Pakistan.
• Gates Downplays Rhetoric on North Korea AFPS 29 May 2009 -- Defense Secretary Gates downplayed the swirling rhetoric and said he sees no need to adjust U.S. military forces levels in the region.
• Gates: No Need to Increase Troop Numbers in S. Korea After North's Threats VOA 29 May 2009 -- US Defense Secretary Gates: No need to increase troop numbers in S. Korea, after N. Korea threatened attack.
• US Rejects Newspaper Report on Iraq Prison Photos VOA 29 May 2009 -- The Obama administration is strongly denying a British newspaper report that says images of apparent rape and sexual abuse of Iraqi prisoners are among photographs that the U.S. government is trying to prevent from being made public.
• DoD News: Army Investigates Misconduct Allegations DoD 29 May 2009 -- The Department of the Army announced today that the Army's Criminal Investigation Command and Multi-National Force - Iraq are investigating allegations of serious misconduct involving members of the 266th Military Police Company, Virginia Army National Guard, which allegedly took place during the unit's pre-deployment mobilization training at Fort Dix, N.J., in fall 2008
• Navy Updates Number of Confirmed H1N1 Cases From the Department of the Navy Navy NewsStand 29 May 2009 -- The Navy updated its confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza May 29 to 79 Sailors.
• Nimitz: Missiles 2, Drones 0 Navy NewsStand 29 May 2009 -- Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) fired RIM-162D Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) on moving targets May 27.
• NETg and SkillSoft eLearning Courses to be Removed from NKO Navy NewsStand 29 May 2009 -- Nearly 4,000 eLearning courses intended for personal enrichment from vendors NETg and SkillSoft will no longer be available on Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) as of Oct. 1, 2009.
• FTS E-6 Advancements Corrected Following Administrative Error Navy NewsStand 29 May 2009 -- A transcription error in shifting quota information to a spreadsheet resulted in incorrect quotas being generated for Full Time Support (FTS) E-6 advancement, causing 134 FTS Sailors to be listed as selected for E-6 advancement who should not be advanced.
• USS Doyle Conducts Military-to-Military Events, Community Projects in Honduras Navy NewsStand 29 May 2009 -- Sailors aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Doyle (FFG 39) departed La Ceiba, Honduras May 26 following a five-day port visit.
• USS Gunston Hall Completes Sea Trials Navy NewsStand 29 May 2009 -- USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) successfully completed sea trials May 21 and became the Navy's first dock landing ship to complete its comprehensive midlife modernization availability.
• Task Force Lighthorse Kicks off Falcon Focus Army News 29 May 2009 -- A mission's design is dictated by the unique environment of every combat situation. Soldiers, as a result, must be prepared for circumstances on any and all battlefields.
• Sky Dragons jump for first time in 16 months Army News 29 May 2009 -- There was a variety of emotions flowing from Soldiers with the XVIII Airborne Corps Headquarters and Special Troops Battalion as paratroopers make long-awaited jump from a high-performance aircraft.
• Navy Dedicates Premiere Joint Warfare Lab to Honor Sailor Killed by IED Navy NewsStand 29 May 2009 -- The Navy dedicated the latest addition to the nation's premiere Joint Warfare Assessment Laboratory at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Corona May 28 at a ceremony to honor a Sailor killed by an improvised explosive device.
• Top Pacific Commander Embraces Early Leadership Principles Navy NewsStand 29 May 2009 -- As young Tim Keating was growing up just outside Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, his parents taught him to treat other people the way he'd like his children, one day, to be treated, and as if all those other people outranked him.
• SMART Web Site Hits Exceed Ten Million in Ten Years Navy NewsStand 29 May 2009 -- Nearly one million visitors have accessed the Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART) Web site more than 10 million times since the site's creation in 1999.
• NAVSEA Tests Environmentally Friendly Oil Separator Navy NewsStand 29 May 2009 -- Engineers from Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) field activity Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division-Ship Systems Engineering Station in Philadelphia completed certification inspections of the new VS-50 oil water separator (OWS) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).
• Bush Certified for Flight Ops Navy NewsStand 29 May 2009 -- USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) reached another milestone when she successfully completed her first flight deck certification May 26.
• New Commander at Helm of USS Hartford Navy NewsStand 29 May 2009 -- The crew of the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Hartford (SSN 768) held a change of command ceremony May 23 at Naval Submarine Base New London.
• LCS, Legacy Platforms Key to Mine Warfare Navy NewsStand 29 May 2009 -- The commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command was the keynote speaker at the Mine Warfare Association conference in Panama City, Fla., May 18-21.
• Diesel Sub Commander Recalls Historic Soviet Sub Chase Navy NewsStand 29 May 2009 -- The former commanding officer of the Tench-class diesel submarine USS Grenadier (SS 525) recounted the experience of his crew 50 years ago; the events of May 28, 1959 impacted submarine warfare, especially during the Cold War era.
• Global Conditions, Trends Indicate Years of Conflict, Army Chief Says AFPS 29 May 2009 -- Global trends and conditions portend the likelihood "persistent conflict" will occur around the world for some years to come.
• Experiment to Examine Joint Operations Concept AFPS 29 May 2009 -- More than 180 representatives will gather for a war game to test the DoDs recently revised Capstone Concept for Joint Operations.
• Airmen, F-22s support Pacific presence mission AFNS 29 May 2009 -- Airmen and F-22 Raptors from the 94th Fighter Squadron depart this week for an air and space expeditionary force deployment.
• 31st MEU conducted exercise to prepare for Talisman Saber '09 USMC News 29 May 2009 -- 1st Marine Expeditionary Unit's Communications Platoon conducted exercise in preparation for Talisman Saber 2009.
• Russia wants CSTO to be as strong as NATO - paper RIA Novosti 29 May 2009 -- Russia planning to build a strong military contingent in Central Asia within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
• Russia opens chemical weapons destruction facility in Siberia RIA Novosti 29 May 2009 -- Russia opened first unit of a chemical weapons destruction facility in Siberia's Kurgan Region.
• Russia Opens Chemical Weapons Destruction Plant VOA 29 May 2009 -- A massive plant designed to destroy two million chemical weapons opened Friday in Siberia.
• Russia to upgrade military transport fleet, buy new planes RIA Novosti 29 May 2009 -- The acquisition of new aircraft for Russia's military transport aviation will begin in 2012.
• Russian Navy accidentally hits farm during live-firing exercises RIA Novosti 29 May 2009 -- A Russian Baltic Fleet anti-submarine vessel accidentally shot at a farm during live-firing exercises.
• India expresses concern over reports of Pak increasing Nuke warheads IRNA 29 May 2009 -- India asked International Community to ensure that Pakistan reduces its nuclear arsenal.
• Pakistan air chief says India's of AWACS has triggered arms race IRNA 29 May 2009 -- Pakistan Air Chief Air Marshal Qamar Suleman: Purchase of airborne warning and control systemby India has triggered a new arms race in the region.
• India conveys 'anguished' over delay in supply of military equipment IRNA 29 May 2009 -- India's Defence Minister A.K. Antony urged foreign vendors, including those from Russia and Israel, to stick to deadlines.
• India plans to replace AWACS with 'modern aircraft' in future IRNA 29 May 2009 -- After inducting its first Airborne Warning and Control System, Indian Air Force planning to replace the aircraft.
• Somali pirates earned $150 mln in 2008 - Russian prosecutor RIA Novosti 29 May 2009 -- Pirates operating in waters off the Somali coast earned up to $150 million in ransom payments.
• Indian Navy thwarts piracy attempt IRNA 29 May 2009 -- An Indian Naval Ship currently in the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy surveillance and patrol operations foiled a daring piracy attempt.
• International Day spotlights need for more women in UN peacekeeping UN News Centre 29 May 2009 -- UN marking the annual International Day of Peacekeepers by stressing the unique role played by women and the need to deploy more of them.
• Cluster Munitions Ban Taking Hold VOA 29 May 2009 -- A new report says several states that have signed the international treaty banning cluster munitions have started to destroy their stockpiles even before the treaty comes into force.
• Ban welcomes disarmament conference''s adoption of work programme UN News Centre 29 May 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed today''s adoption by the Conference on Disarmament – the world''s sole multilateral forum for disarmament negotiations – of a Programme of Work for its 2009 session.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 29 May 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 5-29-09 The White House 29 May 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 29, 2009
• Boeing Team Rebuilds B-1 'Backbone' for US Air Force Boeing 29 May 2009 -- A U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber returned to flight last week after a team led by The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] replaced its catastrophically damaged upper-center boron longeron - the aircraft's "backbone."
• Thales celebrates final FFG provisional acceptance Thales 29 May 2009 -- Chris Lloyd, Thales Australia's Naval Division Vice President, said it was a momentous day for the FFG Upgrade program. "The FFG Upgrade has been one of the most complex undertakings in Australian defence history," he said.
• General Dynamics NASSCO Begins Construction of Fifth Product Carrier Ship General Dynamics 29 May 2009 -- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today began construction of the fifth ship in its series of product carriers.
• U.S. Air Force-Navy-Raytheon AIM-120D AMRAAM Completes Seventh Test Flight Raytheon 29 May 2009 -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) newest variant of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile continued to demonstrate its advanced warfighting capabilities when it completed its seventh test flight.
• Northrop Grumman-Developed U.S. Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout Shines At Sea Northrop Grumman 29 May 2009 -- The Northrop Grumman Corporation-developed (NYSE:NOC) MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) successfully completed the latest set of fully autonomous flight operations onboard the USS McInerney (FFG-8) in support of dynamic interface testing.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 29 May 2009
• Members of UN human rights probe head to Gaza UN News Centre 29 May 2009 -- Team of investigators tasked with examining alleged rights abuses during the recent conflict in Gaza will begin a week-long trip to area.
• Abbas in Egypt Following White House Talks VOA 29 May 2009 -- Egyptian state media report Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has arrived in Cairo for talks with his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak.
• Obama backs Palestinian statehood at meeting with Abbas RIA Novosti 29 May 2009 -- US president reiterated his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
• UN, partners step up efforts to help uprooted in Sri Lanka UN News Centre 29 May 2009 -- The United Nations, along with dozens of partner agencies, are working to improve basic conditions in camps housing people who fled the recently-ended conflict in northern Sri Lanka, it was announced today.
• Lankan Prez says he will devise 'homegrown' political solution IRNA 29 May 2009 -- Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa: Government will devise a "homegrown" political solution to resolve ethnic problem.
• LTTE's women wing chief arrested in Sri Lanka IRNA 29 May 2009 -- Political wing leader of the LTTE women's force was arrested from a refugee camp.
• Sri Lanka Denies Report on Civilian Deaths VOA 29 May 2009 -- The Sri Lankan military is denying a British newspaper report that says more than 20,000 civilians were killed in the final push against Tamil Tiger rebels.
• Sudan in Control of Contested Darfur Towns VOA 29 May 2009 -- Sudanese armed forces have reestablished control in two towns in the country's western Darfur region following clashes with rebels.
• DR Congo: UN fund allocates over $12 million to aid victims of violence UN News Centre 29 May 2009 -- UN humanitarian wing has allocated over $12 million to help nearly 200,000 people in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Sierra Leone: recent violence underscores need for international support - Ban UN News Centre 29 May 2009 -- Recent eruption of political violence in Sierra Leone reinforces the need for the international community’s continued support for the West African nation.
• DRC: Thousands flee LRA attacks in northeast IRIN 29 May 2009 -- Fresh attacks by Ugandan rebels in northeast Democratic Republic of Congo have displaced more than 12,000 civilians, according to aid officials.
• Security Council welcomes setting of date for long-awaited Ivorian elections UN News Centre 29 May 2009 -- The Security Council today welcomed the announcement of a timeline for stalled presidential elections in Côte d'Ivoire, with a first round of voting slated to take place at the end of November.
• Somalia ‘taken hostage’ by continuing fighting, says UN envoy UN News Centre 29 May 2009 -- Somalia has been “taken hostage” by fighting, the top United Nations envoy to the Horn of Africa nation, whose capital has been the scene of clashes between Government forces and opposition militias, said today.
• Security Council renews mandate of UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus UN News Centre 29 May 2009 -- The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus, known as UNFICYP, while urging the leaders of the Mediterranean island’s Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to pick up the pace of their reunification talks.
• BURUNDI: New peace structure to bolster stability IRIN 29 May 2009 -- With the integration of Burundi's last rebel groups into government institutions almost complete, the team that mediated the peace process has set up a structure to monitor the implementation of the pact signed in 2006, officials said.
• UN chief rejects Georgia's claim of 'Russian blackmail' RIA Novosti 29 May 2009 -- Head of the UN has dismissed claim by Georgia that he was forced to amend a report on the UN Caucasus mission due to Russian "blackmail."
• Much Of Kyrgyz-Uzbek Border Still Shut In Wake Of Attacks RFE/RL 29 May 2009 -- All but a single Kyrgyz-Uzbek border crossing remain closed 4 days after 2 deadly attacks in Uzbekistan.

News Reports

• Experts Say in US Outreach to Islamic World, Actions Matter Most VOA 29 May 2009 -- President Obama prepares to address the Muslim world in a scheduled June 4th speech in Cairo, Egypt.
• Survey Finds Most Arabs View President Obama Favorably VOA 29 May 2009 -- As President Barack Obama prepares to address Muslims around the world, questions about the mood and opinions of Arabs are surfacing.
• US Supreme Court Confirmation Battle Could Take Months VOA 29 May 2009 -- Liberal and conservative political groups are bracing for what could be a divisive battle over the confirmation for President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
• Spy Confession a 'Lie', says US Journalist Released from Iran Prison VOA 29 May 2009 -- US journalist Roxana Saberi back home after an Iranian appeals court cut her prison sentence.
• Party Concerned About Aung San Suu Kyi's Health VOA 29 May 2009 -- The party of Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has expressed concern about her health while she is in prison facing charges that she violated the terms of her house arrest.
• North Korean Defectors Puzzled, Moved by Roh Funeral VOA 29 May 2009 -- South Korea's emotional farewell to former President Roh brought much of the country together.
• WHO: Swine Flu Infections Top 15,000 VOA 29 May 2009 -- The World Health Organization said more than 15,000 cases of the swine influenza A-H1N1 have been confirmed worldwide, and 99 people have died.