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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 08 Jun 2009 [PDF]
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Milano at the Pentagon Briefing Room via Teleconference from Iraq DoD 08 Jun 2009 -- Presenter: Deputy Commanding General, Directorate of Interior Affairs, Multi-National Security and Transition Command-Iraq, Maj. Gen. James Milano
• DoD News Briefing with Geoff Morrell from the Pentagon Briefing Room, Arlington, Va. DoD 08 Jun 2009 -- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell
• Iraqi, U.S. Forces Destroy Weapons Cache Near Taji AFPS 08 Jun 2009 -- Iraqi and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers uncovered a large weapons cache June 5 southwest of Taji, Iraq.
• Bomb in Baghdad Kills 7 VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- Iraqi officials say a bomb blast in Baghdad killed at least seven people and wounded 24 others.
• 60 Taliban Killed in Afghanistan as US Deploys More Troops VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- Authorities in southern Afghanistan: Local and foreign troops have killed as many as 60 Taliban militants in the past week.
• Soldiers Disrupt Timber Smuggling in Afghan Province AFPS 08 Jun 2009 -- Task Force Chosin soldiers have been making a difference in disrupting timber smuggling in this lush area near the Pakistan border.
• UN agency office in northern Afghanistan attacked by grenade UN News Centre 08 Jun 2009 -- Office of the United Nations agriculture agency attacked in northern Afghanistan with a rocket-propelled grenade.
• Report Points to Irregularities in Farah Air Strike Incident AFPS 08 Jun 2009 -- The investigation into a May 4 close-air support incident in Afghanistan’s Farah province that caused civilian casualties has pointed to some deviations from established tactics, techniques and procedures, but those involved showed extraordinary care in the incident.
• Pentagon Reports Mistakes by Bomber Crew in Afghan Incident VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- US DoD: One of the aircraft involved in bombing an Afghan village a month ago violated rules designed to protect civilians.
• Mobility Airmen, aircraft begin moving Strykers into Afghanistan AFNS 08 Jun 2009 -- Members of Air Mobility Command's hub for global airlift efforts to airlift more than 300 Stryker vehicles to Afghanistan.
• RED HORSE team serves as 'backbone' of Afghanistan construction AFNS 08 Jun 2009 -- Air Force's RED HORSE unit uniquely situated to deploy anywhere in the world and conduct base build-up operations.
• 3/8 welcomed home from Afghanistan USMC News 08 Jun 2009 -- 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines returned home, June 4, after leaving for Afghanistan in November, where they played a key role in renewed OEF effort.
• Pakistani Tribesmen Rise Up Against Taliban VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- Top Pakistani and US officials have repeatedly declared there is a major change in the public mood against Taliban militants in Pakistan.
• Pakistani Villagers Kill 9 Taliban After Mosque Blast VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- Officials: Villagers attacking suspected Taliban militants in the Upper Dir district, aimed at avenging suicide bombing at a local mosque.
• Pakistan forces kill 21 more militants: spokesman IRNA 08 Jun 2009 -- Pakistani security forces have killed 21 in various areas of Malakand in the northwest during last twenty four hours.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Security Transition Command Makes Progress in Iraq AFPS 08 Jun 2009 -- MSTC-I working toward mission to assist Iraqi Interior Ministry in generating professional and credible police force.
• Bearish Oil Market Prompts Shift in Iraqi Security Agenda AFPS 08 Jun 2009 -- Oil prices and a reduced budget prompted the US command responsible for overseeing Iraqi security forces to re-evaluate priorities.
• Kyrgyz President Confirms Exchange With Karzai On Manas RFE/RL 08 Jun 2009 -- Kyrgyz President Bakiev signaled that he received a letter from his Afghan counterpart regarding the use of the Manas air base.
• Afghanistan asks Kyrgyzstan to extend lease on anti-terror base RIA Novosti 08 Jun 2009 -- Afghan President Karzai requesting an extension to the Manas lease used by international anti-terror coalition.
• Joint U.S., S.Korea forces can repel North's aggression RIA Novosti 08 Jun 2009 -- President Lee: S. Korea confident that any military aggression will be repelled by joint US-South Korean forces.
• Chemical companies from U.S., R.O.K. compare techniques Army News 08 Jun 2009 -- Soldiers from 4th Chemical Company and Republic of Korea's 16th Chemical Battalion conducted a joint training exercise.
• Maritime Security Universal Language for BALTOPS Participants Navy NewsStand 08 Jun 2009 -- Forty commanding officers from navies of 12 different countries gathered aboard USS Mount Whitney (JCC/LCC 20) during a reception June 6 to strengthen partnerships and build mutual understanding before Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) Exercise 2009 began.
• Medical Department Prepares Battle Dressing Stations Navy NewsStand 08 Jun 2009 -- Now that USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) is in the final stages of its refueling complex overhaul (RCOH), the medical department is putting the finishing touches on its battle dressing stations (BDSs).
• Oak Hill Begins Deployment With Partner Nation Liaison Officers Navy NewsStand 08 Jun 2009 -- USS Oak Hill departed her homeport at the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek Va., June 3, for Southern Partnership Station (SPS) '09, with nearly 20 foreign liaison naval officers (LNOs) embarked with its crew.
• Thousands Visit Shoup During Rose Festival Navy NewsStand 08 Jun 2009 -- Thousands of Portland residents had an opportunity to tour the guided-missile destroyer, USS Shoup (DDG 86), along with three Royal Canadian Navy ships and two U.S. Coast Guard cutters that were moored in downtown Portland, Ore., as part 2009 Rose Festival festivities June 4-8.
• Coalition Interoperability Demonstrated Navy NewsStand 08 Jun 2009 -- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren, a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) field activity, will host the Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration (CWID) 2009 June 15-25.
• Amphibious Squadron 8 Holds Change of Command Navy NewsStand 08 Jun 2009 -- Commander, Amphibious Squadron (CPR) 8 held a change of command ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk May 29.
• Digital Transfer of Tech Manuals Gives Deployed Sailors Greater Access, Flexibility Navy NewsStand 08 Jun 2009 -- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Port Hueneme, a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), transferred more than 160,000 pages of technical manuals in one hour while aboard USS Ardent (MCM 12) May 24.
• Interagency Initiative Increases Interoperability in Ports Navy NewsStand 08 Jun 2009 -- Several Navy commands, the U.S. Coast Guard and civil authorities participated in a unique maritime homeland security experiment in the port of Corpus Christi that will assist in developing guidance in the event of a underwater improvised explosive device (UWIED) threat in a domestic waterway.
• Research officials study energy harvesting for future unmanned aircraft AFNS 08 Jun 2009 -- University of Washington team working on airborne solar cells expected to power Air Force unmanned aircraft in the future.
• Battery Technology Extends Life of Bomb Disposal Robots Navy NewsStand 08 Jun 2009 -- Team at Penn State University devised, designed and delivered solution to extend the battery life of bomb disposal robots.
• Tobyhanna employees respond to short-notice MICAP repair, overhaul Army News 08 Jun 2009 -- Technicians in the Interrogator Branch "get them in, get them done and get them out," and these Air Force items take precedence over daily requirements.
• 200 leaders work through Aberdeen Proving Ground transformation issues Army News 08 Jun 2009 -- Rehearsal of Concept synchronization drill held in order to spot potential challenges and develop solutions.
• Warfare Center Trains Aussies to Increase Protection of Coalition Warfighters Navy NewsStand 08 Jun 2009 -- NSWC Crane trained a group of Australian coalition forces to operate and maintain US Force protection system.
• Mildenhall tanker crew deploys to Sweden for exercise support AFNS 08 Jun 2009 -- Air and ground crews from USAF in Europe joined military units from 10 other nations for Exercise Loyal Arrow 2009.
• Interagency Initiative Increases Interoperability in Ports Navy NewsStand 08 Jun 2009 -- Navy commands, the US Coast Guard and civil authorities participated in a unique maritime homeland security experiment.
• Continuing Promise Crews Arrive in Colombia to Continue Mission Navy NewsStand 08 Jun 2009 -- Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort arrived June 6 in Tumaco, Colombia to continue Continuing Promise 2009.
• U.S. Crew to Aid in Locating French Airliner's Data Recorders AFPS 08 Jun 2009 -- DoD flying a 19-person crew and Navy equipment to Natal, Brazil, to aid in the search for Air France Flight 447’s data recorders.
• US offers Coast Guard's choppers to India IRNA 08 Jun 2009 -- US has offered to lease out 12 of its Coast Guard's twin-engine helicopters to India.
• China to start large-scale antiterrorism drills June 9 RIA Novosti 08 Jun 2009 -- China will hold a weeklong large-scale exercise to test the country's capability to combat terrorism and deal with emergency situations.
• Global military spending hits almost $1.5 trillion in 2008 - study RIA Novosti 08 Jun 2009 -- Global military spending totaled $1.464 trillion last year, a real-term increase of 45% from a decade ago.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 08 Jun 2009
• Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs with Jared Bernstein, the Vice President's Chief Economist, 6-8-09 The White House 08 Jun 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for June 08, 2009
• BAE SYSTEMS COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF ADVANCED CERAMICS RESEARCH, INC. BAE Systems 08 Jun 2009 -- BAE Systems today completed its acquisition of Advanced Ceramics Research, Inc., a Tucson, Arizona-based producer of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and advanced materials following receipt of regulatory approval.
• GE Completes Rigorous LM2500+G4 Marine Gas Turbine Qualification Testing Program GE Marine 08 Jun 2009 -- GE Marine reports it has completed a gas turbine engine qualification testing program for its LM2500+G4 marine aeroderivative gas turbines. As a result, the engine is now certified by three key organizations: Bureau Veritas, RINA S.p.A., and American Bureau of Shipping (Naval Vessel Rules).
• Thales sonar systems play critical role in anti-submarine exercise Thales 08 Jun 2009 -- A number of Thales UK’s world-leading sonar systems have been playing a critical role in a major underwater exercise as part of the Royal Navy’s (RN’s) largest overseas deployment for a decade.
• General Dynamics Awarded $20 Million Contract by the U.S. Army for Fort Belvoir IT Services General Dynamics 08 Jun 2009 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a five-year, $20 million contract to support the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office-Enterprise Information Systems (PEO-EIS), Installation Management Systems–Army Project Office located at Fort Belvoir, Va.
• General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team Completes Main Propulsion System Testing in Preparation for LCS 2 Sea Trials General Dynamics 08 Jun 2009 -- The General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team, led by Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine, recently completed testing of the main propulsion system for Independence (LCS 2) in preparation for the ship’s upcoming builder’s at-sea trials.
• L-3 Awarded $47 Million by U.S. Navy L-3 Communications 08 Jun 2009 -- L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) announced today that its Command & Control Systems and Software (C2S2) division has been awarded a follow-on contract by the U.S. Navy to support its Aircraft Structural Life Surveillance (ASLS) program.
• Northrop Grumman Makes Delivery of Flight-Ready Integrated CNI System for F-35 Lightning II Northrop Grumman 08 Jun 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has delivered the initial flight-ready integrated communications, navigation and identification (CNI) system for Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter program.
• Raytheon Receives $217 Million for Volume Search Radar for Zumwalt and CVN 78 Raytheon 08 Jun 2009 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) was awarded a $217 million U.S. Navy contract for two Volume Search Radar (VSR) arrays for the Zumwalt-class destroyer program and the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 08 Jun 2009
• Israel must open Gaza, freeze settlements, says Ban UN News Centre 08 Jun 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban called on Israel to allow fuel and building materials into Gaza, freeze settlements in the West Bank and make fundamental changes in its security practices and policies.
• Israeli air raids kill five Palestinians on border with Gaza IRNA 08 Jun 2009 -- Israel carried air raids on Gaza Strip on Monday killing five and wounding at least 10 Palestinians.
• Israeli forces kill 5 militants near border with Gaza RIA Novosti 08 Jun 2009 -- At least five Palestinian militants were killed in a shootout with Israeli troops on the border with the Gaza Strip.
• Somalia Opposition Leader Denies Reports He Was Wounded VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- Hard-line opposition leader Aweys appeared before the media in the Somali capital to dispel rumors that he was gravely wounded last week during a battle in central Somalia.
• SOMALIA: Plea to help IDPs near Kenyan border IRIN 08 Jun 2009 -- Officials in Somalia's border town of Eil Waq, Gedo region, have appealed for urgent help for thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who need food, water and shelter.
• UN, DR Congo agree on strengthening joint operation against armed groups UN News Centre 08 Jun 2009 -- The UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC and the Congolese military have agreed to strengthen their joint operation.
• New fleet of vehicles shipped to UN-African Union peacekeepers in Darfur UN News Centre 08 Jun 2009 -- The joint UN-AU peacekeeping operation in Darfur received a new fleet of vehicles.
• Nigerian Military Tells People to Ignore Latest Militants Threat VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- Nigerian military asking all foreign and local oil workers to disregard the latest threat from the region's main armed group.
• UN envoy to Liberia honours Mongolian peacekeepers in Sierra Leone UN News Centre 08 Jun 2009 -- Top UN envoy to Liberia today paid tribute to the Mongolian blue helmets, tasked with protecting the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone.
• Indian Police Open Fire on Protesters in Kashmir VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- In Indian Kashmir, at least 4 people were injured when security forces opened fire to disperse demonstrators.

News Reports

• Clinton Urges 'Clemency' for US Journalists in North Korea VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton urged N. Korea to grant clemency for two American journalists sentenced to 12 years in prison.
• American Journalists Sentenced to Reform through Labor KCNA 08 Jun 2009 -- The Central Court of the DPRK staged a trial of American journalists Laura Ling and Seung-eun Lee from June 4 to 8.
• U.S. journalists get 12 years hard labor in North Korea RIA Novosti 08 Jun 2009 -- A North Korean high court has sentenced two U.S. journalists to 12 years of hard labor for illegally crossing the country's border.
• N. Korea Sentences US Journalists to 12 Years Labor VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- North Korea has handed a harsh sentence to 2 US journalists, more than 2 months after it captured them for illegally crossing border.
• Poll Shows Ahmadinejad Leading in Iran's Presidential Election VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- New public opinion survey shows that incumbent President Ahmadinejad is the leading candidate in presidential election.
• US Welcomes 'March 14' Coalition Victory in Lebanon VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- Both the White House and State Department congratulated the Lebanese people for carrying out a peaceful election.
• Lebanon's Pro-Western Coalition Wins Surprise Victory in Elections RFE/RL 08 Jun 2009 -- Lebanon's pro-Western coalition has claimed a surprise victory in parliamentary elections on June 7 against the Iranian and Syrian-backed Hizballah and its allies.
• Ruling Lebanese coalition wins parliamentary elections RIA Novosti 08 Jun 2009 -- West-backed "March 14" coalition won parliamentary elections in Lebanon.
• Cuba Formally Rejects OAS Membership VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- Cuba has formally rejected re-joining the Organization of American States, days after the group revoked Cuba's expulsion.
• Cuba reiterates refusal to seek return to OAS RIA Novosti 08 Jun 2009 -- Cuba's FM: Country has no plans to return to Organization of American States despite the organization's vote to revoke Havana's suspension.
• Egypt Quarantines Dormitory After US Students Contract Swine Flu VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- Egyptian authorities quarantined dormitory of the American University in Cairo after US students tested positive for swine flu.
• Over 25,000 diagnosed with A/H1N1 worldwide, 139 dead RIA Novosti 08 Jun 2009 -- WHO: 25,288 cases of swine flu resulting in 139 deaths have been officially confirmed in 73 countries.
• WHO: More than 25,000 Swine Flu Cases VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- WHO: Swine flu has now spread to 73 countries, with 139 deaths from the disease since it was first detected in April.
• Gunmen in Southern Thailand Open Fire Inside Mosque VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- Officials in southern Thailand say gunmen opened fire inside a mosque during evening prayers, killing at least 11 people and wounding at least 12 others.
• Eleven killed, 12 injured in Thai mosque attack RIA Novosti 08 Jun 2009 -- Eleven people were killed and another 12 wounded in an attack at a mosque in southern Thailand on Monday, the Bangkok Post reported.
• Guinea Military Wants Vote Delayed VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- Guinea's army leaders say Conakry's military ruler should delay elections scheduled for later this year.
• Gabon's Longtime President Dead at 73 VOA 08 Jun 2009 -- Africa's longest-serving leader, Gabon's President Omar Bongo, has died in a Spanish hospital at age 73.
• Thales Alenia Space ETCA will supply 50% of the electronics for the next 35 Ariane 5's Thales 08 Jun 2009 -- Thales Alenia Space ETCA has just signed a contract with the Astrium company to provide electronic equipment and services for the Ariane 5 launchers (PB batch) which will be launched between 2011 and 2015. This batch will include 35 ECA-type launchers (with cryogenic upper stage) capable of putting a mass of up to 10 tonnes into geostationary orbit.