• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 02 Jul 2009 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• Forces Capture Suspected Senior Terrorist, Others in Iraq AFPS 02 Jul 2009 -- Iraqi forces, aided by coalition advisors, detained an alleged senior leader of a terrorist group.
• Bombings Kill at Least 3 in Baghdad VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- Bombings have killed at least three people in the Baghdad area, the first such violence since U.S. troops withdrew from Iraqi cities.
• 63rd Engineer Company headed home after 15 months in Iraq Army News 02 Jul 2009 -- About 90 Soldiers from the 63rd Engineer Company are back on familiar turf after spending almost 15 months in Iraq.
• Marine Maintains Security in Afghanistan USMC News 02 Jul 2009 -- U.S. Marines remain alert around the clock while watching over the city of Delaram.
• US Soldier Believed Captured in Afghanistan VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- U.S. military officials in Afghanistan say a soldier who has been missing since Tuesday is now believed to have been captured by insurgents.
• Marines launch Operation Khanjar in southern Afghanistan USMC News 02 Jul 2009 -- U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers and police launched a major operation in central Helmand Province.
• U.S. Marines, Afghan Forces Launch Major Offensive In Helmand RFE/RL 02 Jul 2009 -- A massive military offensive involving thousands of US Marines has been launched against Taliban strongholds.
• U.S., Afghan Forces Launch Offensive Into Taliban Stronghold AFPS 02 Jul 2009 -- American Marines and Afghan soldiers launched Operation Khanjar to provide security to Helmand River Valley.
• Massive US Offensive Targets Taliban in Southern Afghanistan VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- US military in Afghanistan launched a major offensive in Taliban-controlled parts of southern Afghanistan.
• Aerial gunners provide cover for lifesaving mission AFNS 02 Jul 2009 -- Air Force combat search and rescue crews fly throughout Afghanistan to provide airlift and medical care.
• Innovative maintainers save time, lives of front line troops AFNS 02 Jul 2009 -- Maintainers here have come up with an innovative phase maintenance process to keep as many close-air-support aircraft airborne.
• AFGHANISTAN: Italian NGO faces funding crunch IRIN 02 Jul 2009 -- An Italian NGO called Emergency, which runs three hospitals and 28 healthcare centres for war victims in Afghanistan, is planning to cut back its activities due to shrinking funds.
• Suicide Blast Hits Government Bus Near Pakistani Capital VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- Police in Pakistan: At least one person killed and 29 wounded after a suicide bomber slammed into bus carrying government workers.

Defense Policy / Programs

• 'So Far, So Good' in Iraq, Odierno Says AFPS 02 Jul 2009 -- It’s “so far, so good” in Iraq since U.S. combat forces withdrew from the country’s cities and towns.
• US Troops Drawdown, Iraqis Take Security Lead VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- US forces pulled out of large cities in Iraq June 30, meeting the first major deadline of a security pact.
• Russia to push link between missile defense, strategic arms cuts RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2009 -- Moscow will discuss arms reduction only in connection with US plans for a missile shield in central Europe.
• Will U.S.-Russia Summit Finally Begin 'Reset'? RFE/RL 02 Jul 2009 -- US President Obama hopes to reinvigorate Washington's moribund relations with Moscow.
• Obama to seek strong relationship with Russia at upcoming summit RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2009 -- Washington wants to build stronger ties with Russia, but is not seeking trade-offs on key disputes.
• DoD Announces New Director Of DARPA DoD 02 Jul 2009 -- The Department of Defense (DoD) today announced the appointment of Regina E. Dugan as the 19th director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
• Army 'deadly serious' about replacement ground vehicle Army News 02 Jul 2009 -- Army continues to focus on modernization of the force and a replacement for the canceled Manned Ground Vehicle.
• CCAD Launches Beefed-up Black Hawk Army News 02 Jul 2009 -- Beefier Black Hawks will soon support troops on the ground thanks to the skilled artisans at the Corpus Christi Army Depot.
• Program Aims to Deliver Unprecedented Surveillance Capability AFPS 02 Jul 2009 -- A giant, unmanned airship capable of hovering at 70,000 feet promises to give warfighters unprecedented eye on the battlefield.
• USS Anzio Relieves USS Gettysburg as CTF 151 Flagship Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2009 -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) relieved USS Gettysburg (CG 64) as the flagship for Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 June 28.
• VAQ-138 Completes 2009 Deployment Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2009 -- The "Yellow Jackets" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138 completed their 2009 Western Pacific deployment when USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) pulled into Naval Station Everett, Wash., June 29.
• International Special Training Center and NATO celebrate 30 years of teaching special forces Army News 02 Jul 2009 -- The U.S. military and other contributing NATO members celebrated the 30-year anniversary of the International Special Training Center (ISTC), June 25.
• Air Defense Exercise Ensures Skies Above Truman Strike Group Remain Safe Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2009 -- USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and Carrier Strike Group 10 conducted an air defense exercise (ADEX), one part of their composite training unit exercise June 29.
• 5th QM Co. cross trains with Navy EOD in Sicily Army News 02 Jul 2009 -- Group from 5th Quartermaster Company traveled to cross train with Navy's explosive ordnance disposal team, Mobile Unit 8.
• 3rd ID MRX tests combat readiness Army News 02 Jul 2009 -- Division Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division conducted a Mission Rehearsal Exercise to prepare for an October deployment, June 14-26.
• Quartermasters Take Flight On Evac Ops Army News 02 Jul 2009 -- Training for the 109th Quartermaster Company, 240th QM Battalion, 49th QM Group, was anything but typical June 25 at McLaney Drop Zone.
• 4IBCT Soldiers sharpen battlefield skills, prepare for combat through virtual simulator Army News 02 Jul 2009 -- While most people view video games as a form of entertainment, field artilleryman with the Vanguard Brigade are using one virtual game system as a training tool.
• Pacific Partnership Starts Mission in Samoa Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2009 -- Pacific Partnership 2009 began its mission in Apia, Samoa as part of a four-month mission when USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) arrived July 1.
• ARRA Contract to Provide Major Repairs to Camp Lejeune Building Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2009 -- Officer In Charge of Construction Marine Corps Installations East awarded a contract to provide major interior and exterior repairs at Building 118, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
• ARRA Contract will Provide for Repairs to Building 417 at Camp Lejeune Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2009 -- Officer In Charge of Construction Marine Corps Installations East awarded a contract to provide major interior and exterior repairs at Building 417, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
• Hurricane Hunters prep for upcoming storm season AFNS 02 Jul 2009 -- Members of 53rd WRS deployed to their detachment to fly training missions in preparation for the 2009 hurricane season.
• Female World War II Pilots Receive Overdue Honors AFPS 02 Jul 2009 -- President Obama signed a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots of World War II.
• U.S. Limits Contact with Honduran Military AFPS 02 Jul 2009 -- American military contingent in Honduras has limited its contact with Honduran forces as the US government evaluates the situation in the Central American country.
• Medvedev urges completion of aircraft carrier for India RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2009 -- Russian president: Modernization of Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier should be completed as soon as possible.
• Ukraine sold arms worth $800 mln in 2008 RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2009 -- Ukraine sold $800 mln worth of weaponry to foreign states in 2008, 14% more than the previous year.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 02 Jul 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 7-2-09 The White House 02 Jul 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 02, 2009
• New York (LPD 21), With World Trade Center Steel Leading the Way, Reaches Significant Milestone With Successful Builder's Sea Trial Northrop Grumman 02 Jul 2009 -- The Northrop Grumman Corporation-built (NYSE:NOC) New York (LPD 21) successfully accomplished builder's sea trials this week in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Northrop Grumman Completes USS Carl Vinson Sea Trials Northrop Grumman 02 Jul 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) completed initial sea trials of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) yesterday. The trials follow the completion of a successful three and a half-year evolution known as a refueling and complex overhaul.
• Northrop Grumman Delivers Second Demonstration Satellite for Space Tracking and Surveillance System Northrop Grumman 02 Jul 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) completed delivery of both Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites on June 25, 2009, when the second satellite arrived at the U.S. Air Force's Cape Canaveral Air Station for launch preparation. The company delivered the first STSS demonstration satellite on May 1, 2009.
• Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft Continues to Soar With Successful Overseas Operations Support, Next-Generation Payload Flight Testing Northrop Grumman 02 Jul 2009 -- The combat-proven RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS), built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), continues to prove its mettle by exceeding more than 31,000 cumulative flight hours for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy.
• Modernized Canadian Frigates to receive Thales's Smart-S Mk2 Radar in Lockheed Martin Canada Contract Award Thales 02 Jul 2009 -- Thales announced today an agreement with Lockheed Martin for the delivery of 13 Smart-S Mk2 surveillance radars. These radars will be installed on the Canadian Patrol Frigates of the Department of National Defence as part of the Halifax Class Modernization Program. Delivery will begin in Summer 2010 and be complete in 2015.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICES OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT United Nations 02 Jul 2009
• Amnesty Report Accuses Israel of Wanton Destruction in Gaza VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- Amnesty International issued report accusing Israel of inflicting what it describes as "wanton destruction."
• Independent UN rights expert criticizes seizure of aid boat by Israeli forces UN News Centre 02 Jul 2009 -- An independent United Nations human rights expert today denounced what he described as “the unlawful naval seizure” by an Israeli gunboat of a ship carrying medicine and reconstruction material for the people of Gaza.
• OPT: Gaza-Egypt crossing to open three days a month IRIN 02 Jul 2009 -- Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border opened briefly on 25, 26 and 27 June allowing Gaza patients in need of emergency care, students, and foreign visa holders to exit.
• ISRAEL: Refugees, asylum-seekers and protection - analysis IRIN 02 Jul 2009 -- The Israeli Interior Ministry is taking over the process of Refugee Status Determination (RSD) from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on 2 July.
• Georgia Spells Out Conditions For Signing Agreement On Non-Use Of Force RFE/RL 02 Jul 2009 -- Representatives gathered for the sixth round of talks on measures to improve security and humanitarian conditions in Abkhazia and S. Ossetia.
• S. Caucasus security talks to be held July 14 - Georgia ministry RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2009 -- Meeting to develop a system to prevent incidents in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone is to be held on July 14 in Gali.
• Police thwarts attempt on Chechen president life RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2009 -- Police and security forces have prevented assassination of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov.
• Cypriot leaders discuss territory issue during latest round of UN-backed talks UN News Centre 02 Jul 2009 -- Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders discussed the issue of the territory that each of the two constituent States would occupy in a future federation during their latest round of United Nations-backed talks today.
• Ban welcomes deal aimed at ending tensions between Ghana and the Gambia UN News Centre 02 Jul 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the agreement reached by the Gambia and Ghana to end tensions that emerged after the deaths and disappearances of Ghanaian nationals on Gambian territory in 2005.

News Reports

• FBI Releases Details of 2004 Talks with Saddam Hussein VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- US records reveal Saddam Hussein allowed the world to believe he had WMDs because he did not want to appear weak to Iran.
• Iraqi Politicians Concerned By New Kurdish Constitution RFE/RL 02 Jul 2009 -- Sunni and Shi'ite Arab parliamentarians say constitution of Iraqi's Kurdish region runs counter to Iraq's national constitution.
• Crisis Response Hints At Early Stages Of Iranian Power Struggle RFE/RL 02 Jul 2009 -- Over the past month, Iran has experienced some of its worst unrest since the founding of the Islamic Republic.
• Britain Replaces US as Favorite Target of Iran VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- In the aftermath of the disputed Iranian presidential election, Tehran has hurled some of its sharpest rhetoric at Britain.
• Russia opposes sanctions against Iran over protest crackdown RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2009 -- Russia opposed to sanctions against Iran over the crackdown on protest rallies following the disputed presidential election.
• Ex-President Khatami Slams Iran Vote As 'Coup' RFE/RL 02 Jul 2009 -- Former President Mohammad Khatami has characterized the result of Iran's recent presidential election as a "velvet coup."
• Human rights experts join chorus of UN condemnation over coup in Honduras UN News Centre 02 Jul 2009 -- Four independent United Nations human rights experts today voiced serious concern over the situation in Honduras following last weekend’s coup d’état, calling for the immediate restoring of democracy in the Central American country and the lifting of curbs on fundamental freedoms.
• Coup D'etat in Honduras Highlights Zelaya's Relationship with Chavez VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- The coup in Honduras that ousted President Manuel Zelaya has been widely condemned by the international community.
• Diplomats, OAS Press for Resolution of Crisis in Honduras VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- Diplomats are pushing for compromise in Honduras to resolve a tense standoff between the deposed president and the interim government.
• US Puts Honduras Aid on Hold Following Coup VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- State Department has put much of the US aid program to Honduras on hold pending a legal determination as to whether the overthrow of elected President requires an aid cut-off.
• New Honduran Government Defies OAS Ultimatum VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- The interim Honduran president has rejected an ultimatum from American governments to reinstate ousted leader Manuel Zelaya to the presidency.
• US Warns Honduras of Cascade of Consequences if Coup is Not Reversed VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- US warning Honduras that there will be a cascade of negative consequences if coup is not reversed.
• Britain Rolls Out New Flu Strategy VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- Containing the H1N1 virus in Britain is no longer an option and the country is moving to a new treatment phase.
• EAST AFRICA/HORN: Preparedness gaps evident as first flu cases diagnosed IRIN 02 Jul 2009 -- Pandemic preparedness within East Africa and the Horn region remains "relatively inactive."
• Uganda Confirms First Swine Flu Case VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- Uganda's Health Ministry says the country has confirmed its first case of H1N1 swine flu.
• AU Summit Stumbles over Gadhafi Proposal VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- AU summit mired in disagreement over a move to transform the AU bureaucracy into a continental authority with broad powers.
• UN tribunal finds former Rwandan investigator guilty of leaking information UN News Centre 02 Jul 2009 -- Former Rwandan investigator for UN tribunal was found guilty today by the same court of leaking protected information.
• Is the G8 Still Relevant? VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- Next week, G8 leaders meet in L'Aquila, Italy, amid the global economic crisis and some unfulfilled promises to the developing world.
• U.S. Appoints First-Ever Special Representative To Muslim Communities RFE/RL 02 Jul 2009 -- Farah Pandith is a Muslim-American who was born in Kashmir, India, and immigrated to the United States with her parents when she was an infant.
• Russia says holding talks with Georgia on deserter return RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2009 -- Russia's Defense Ministry holding talks with Georgia on the return of a soldier who requested political asylum.
• Russian Soldier Requests Political Asylum In Georgia RFE/RL 02 Jul 2009 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed that a Russian soldier is seeking political asylum in Georgia.
• Second Russian soldier seeks asylum in Georgia RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2009 -- A second Russian soldier has requested asylum in Georgia.
• Trial of Somali pirates opens in Yemen RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2009 -- A Yemeni court has begun the trial of 22 suspected Somali pirates.
• Niger Endures Week of Media Crackdown, Opposition Arrests, and Protests VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- Recent moves by Niger's President Mamadou Tandja to extend his rule have resulted in an order to ban a top radio and television station from the airwaves.
• NIGER: Timeline of constitution controversy IRIN 02 Jul 2009 -- Calls to change Niger’s constitution to allow President Mamadou Tandja to stay in office have been met with protests from parts of Niger’s civil society, a negative ruling from the country’s highest court and a regional sanctions threat. Against the backdrop of the onset of the rainy season - and attendant concerns of heightened flooding and malnutrition - preparation continues to hold a constitutional referendum on 4 August. Below is a timeline of events that may affect Niger’s governance, regional trade and aid.
  
• Guinea-Bissau Presidential Vote Moves to 2nd Round VOA 02 Jul 2009 -- Guinea-Bissau's presidential election is heading toward a second round as no candidate won more than 50 percent of the ballots in last Sunday's voting.