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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 17 Jul 2009 [PDF]
• Three Soldiers killed by indirect fire
• July 16 airpower summary: F-16s support warfighters AFNS 17 Jul 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Fort Rucker troops return from deployments Army News 17 Jul 2009 -- Fort Rucker community welcomed home troops of the 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group and 1-58th Airfield Operations Battalion.
• U.S. Soldiers Still In Southern Iraqi City RFE/RL 17 Jul 2009 -- US soldiers continue to work with their Iraqi counterparts in the capital city of the country's southeastern Maysan province, Amarah.
• 130th Engineer Brigade assumes responsibility for Mosul reconstruction MNF-I 17 Jul 2009 -- The 130th Engineer Brigade uncased its colors assuming responsibility of Mosul's reconstruction efforts from the 18th Engineer Brigade during a transfer of authority ceremony at Contingency Operating Station Marez, July 15
• Coalition, Afghan Troops Raid Terrorist Compounds AFPS 17 Jul 2009 -- Coalition and Afghan forces raided several terrorist compounds in eastern and southern Afghanistan in the past two days.
• Roadside Bomb Kills 11, Including 5 Children in Afghanistan VOA 17 Jul 2009 -- Afghan police official: Roadside bomb in southeastern Afghanistan killed 11 civilians, including 5 children.
• Rising British Casualties in Afghanistan Sparks Growing Debate VOA 17 Jul 2009 -- Britain suffered a sharp rise in casualties in Afghanistan with 15 servicemen killed since the beginning of the month.
• 'It Is Impossible Prisoners Were Abused' RFE/RL 17 Jul 2009 -- Abdul Rashid Dostum responds to Sheberghan allegations.
• Afghan Election Panel Worried About Security In South RFE/RL 17 Jul 2009 -- Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission concerned that security forces may not be able to ensure all parts of country are secure.
• Azerbaijani Court Tries Alleged Taliban Supporters RFE/RL 17 Jul 2009 -- A group of 13 Azerbaijanis are on trial in Baku on charges of involvement with the Taliban.
• Suspected US Missile Strike Kills at Least 5 in Pakistan VOA 17 Jul 2009 -- Pakistani intelligence and witnesses say suspected US missile strike has killed at least five suspected militants.
• Navy Concludes Assistance in Search of Air France Flight's Data Recorders Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- After searching more than 3,200 square nautical miles, the U.S. Navy concluded search operations July 13 for the cockpit voice and flight data recorders of Air France Flight 447.

Defense Policy / Programs

• USAFE officials stand up air ground operations wing AFNS 17 Jul 2009 -- Stand up of US Air Forces in Europe's first wing solely dedicated to supporting battlefield Airmen.
• Soldiers praise new .50-cal machine gun Army News 17 Jul 2009 -- More than a dozen Soldiers from Fort Benning test-fired an enhanced .50-caliber machine gun.
• Systems in development handed over to Soldiers Army News 17 Jul 2009 -- Advanced systems in development at White Sands Missile Range have been handed over to Soldiers.
• Media Availability with Secretary Gates at the Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois DoD 17 Jul 2009 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• New UH-72As aid 'Flatiron' at Fort Rucker Army News 17 Jul 2009 -- With new UH-72A Lakota helicopters, Cairns Army Airfield, Air Ambulance Detachment can better assist Fort Rucker and local community.
• Airmen, KC-135s support exercise in Australia AFNS 17 Jul 2009 -- Two KC-135 Stratotankers delivered 140,000 pounds of fuel to two B-52 Stratofortresses participating in Talisman Saber 09, currently underway in Australia, and scheduled through July 25.
• Air Guard flight crews undergo water survival training AFNS 17 Jul 2009 -- Thirty-five F-16 pilots and flight surgeons assigned to the 182nd Fighter Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base participated in required water survival and rescue training here.
• Secretary of Defense Gates Thanks Sailors for their Decision to Serve Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- Secretary of Defense Dr. Robert M. Gates thanked the Navy's newest Sailors and their families for their decision to serve our nation, especially in a time of war.
• Navy's ANDE-2 Launched Aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- The Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) satellite suite, the Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment 2 (ANDE-2), launched aboard NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour July 15.
• LCS 1 Completes Structural Test Firing Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- USS Freedom (LCS 1) successfully completed structural test firing (STF) exercises off the coast of Virginia June 25; the STF exercise was held to test the ship's weapon systems to ensure they operate as installed and integrated with the hull structure.
• Naval Expeditionary Task Force Europe and Africa, Task Force 68 Welcomes New Commander Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- Commander, Naval Expeditionary Task Force Europe and Africa, Commander Task Force 68 (CTF 68/368) received a new commander during a change of command ceremony July 16.
• EOD Units Enhance Multimission Capability During Talisman Saber Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- U.S. and Australian Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units are working together during Exercise Talisman Saber 2009 to improve combined operations and readiness.
• Blue Ridge Celebrates 30 Years of Forward Presence Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- Members of the Yokosuka community joined with past and present crew members July 17 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the command ship USS Blue Ridge's (LCC 19) arrival in Japan as part of the Navy's Forward Deployed Naval Force.
• Navy, Marines Land on Australian Beach Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- The combined forces of the U.S. military and Australian Defense Forces landed on Freshwater Bay beach in Queensland to commence the land phase of Talisman Saber 2009. After days of practice and battle preparations, the combined force made the landing.
• Essex Conducts Amphibious Assault Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted a full-scale amphibious assault off the coast of Australia as part of exercise Talisman Saber 2009 (TS09) July 15.
• Course Preps Future Maritime Component Commanders Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- Flag-level officers attended a weeklong Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (JFMCC) course at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I., July 12-17 to prepare future three-star officers to serve effectively as maritime component commanders.
• Agencies Partner to Award More than $26 Million in Valve Contracts Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) partnered with the Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC) and Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to award five contracts June 24-July 14 valued at more than $26 million during a five-year period.
• Crew of New Multimission Destroyer Honors Namesake in Mast Stepping Ceremony Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- The crew of Pre-Commissioning Unit Jason Dunham (DDG 109) conducted a mast stepping ceremony July 11 at Bath Iron Works Shipyard in Bath, Maine.
• Royal Australian Navy Helps 'Take a Load Off' Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- HMA ships Betano and Wewak from Australia have joined Pacific Partnership 2009, a humanitarian civic assistance mission that enables the delivery of vital medical, dental, engineering and veterinary aid to Tonga and the Solomon Islands July 13-August 23.
• Newport Combat Training Pool Dedicated to MOH Recipient Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- Numerous buildings on Naval Station (NAVSTA) Newport are named in honor of Navy heroes - Nimitz, King, Callahan and Ripley to name a few; on July 9 another Navy hero received that distinction as the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Combat Training Pool was dedicated here.
• Thai, U.S Forces Recognize Achievements During Annual Exercise Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- Notable achievements at sea and on land exemplified the cooperation between the armed forces of Thailand and the United States as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2009 concluded July 16.
• Alaska Earns CNO Safety Award Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- The crew of USS Alaska (SSBN 732) was selected as a winner of the 2008 Chief of Naval Operations Afloat Safety Award July 11.
• SECNAV Visits future of Navy at Recruit Training Command Navy NewsStand 17 Jul 2009 -- The secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) visited the Navy's only boot camp, Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, July 16 to see firsthand the training the Navy's newest Sailors receive as they prepare to join the fleet.
• Marines, Army work together on Okinawa USMC News 17 Jul 2009 -- Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 displayed coordination by providing support to 1st Battalion, 1st SFG(A) soldiers during training.
• Marines, sailors, soldiers leap into training with parachute operations on Okinawa USMC News 17 Jul 2009 -- USMC history made in December 1940, when 2nd Lt. Osipoff had honor of making the first Marine jump.
• UAS sensor operator training to begin at Randolph AFNS 17 Jul 2009 -- USAF officials gave Randolph Air Force Base instructors green light to begin training next generation of enlisted sensor operators.
• AFOTEC members put unmanned aircraft through paces AFNS 17 Jul 2009 -- It's no secret that unmanned aircraft are widely used in today's war to provide information, surveillance and armed reconnaissance.
• Revitalized indoor range strengthens military missions Army News 17 Jul 2009 -- The duty day is over, and the noise is deafening, but training continues, thanks to Range 7, Stuttgart's newly improved indoor range on Panzer Kaserne.
• 'Phase One' of new Army C4ISR facility ahead of schedule Army News 17 Jul 2009 -- Just a little more than a year ago, Aberdeen Proving Ground marked the beginning of change on the installation at a groundbreaking ceremony for a nearly $800 million construction project.
• District of Washington officials provide fast, safe evacuation for biological attack exercise AFNS 17 Jul 2009 -- Scenario part of an Operational Response Test conducted by the Pentagon Force Protection Agency staff.
• 'Dream team' of researchers to study Army Army News 17 Jul 2009 -- Ground-breaking study of behavioral health in Army may soon provide answers on what causes suicide and what programs best prevent them.
• South Carolina Guard Makes Big Splash With Artificial Reef AFPS 17 Jul 2009 -- South Carolina National Guard dropped 32 armored personnel carriers and M113 track vehicles into the Atlantic Ocean.
• Fidel Castro calls on U.S. to withdraw troops from Honduras RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2009 -- Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has called on the United States to withdraw its troops from Honduras.
• Bulava failure must not stop tests - Russian arms sector official RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2009 -- Russia should continue test launches of the new Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile despite a series of failures.
• Bulava missile self-destructs due to malfunction RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2009 -- The latest test launch of the new Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile has failed.
• Kyrgyz Deny Second Russian Base Is In The Works RFE/RL 17 Jul 2009 -- Kyrgyz President Bakiev denied reports suggesting that Russia will open a second military base on Kyrgyz territory.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 17 Jul 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 17, 2009
• Boeing Statement on FCS Staffing Reductions Boeing 17 Jul 2009 -- The Boeing Company today issued the following statement regarding work force reductions on the Future Combat Systems (FCS) program

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 17 Jul 2009
• Palestinian militants hit Israel for first time in month RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2009 -- Palestinian militants based in the Gaza Strip fired rockets at Israel for the first time in just over a month.
• Ultra-Orthodox Jews Clash with Israeli Police in Jerusalem VOA 17 Jul 2009 -- There have been more religious riots in Jerusalem, pitting ultra-Orthodox Jews against the secular Israeli government.
• India Rules Out Resumption of Peace Dialogue With Pakistan VOA 17 Jul 2009 -- Indian PM Singh has ruled out resumption of formal peace talks with Pakistan until Islamabad clamps down on terrorist groups.
• Somali Insurgent Group Now Said to be Holding Both French Hostages VOA 17 Jul 2009 -- Somalia's transitional government has called for the unconditional release of two French military advisors kidnapped in the Somali capital Mogadishu.
• KENYA-SOMALIA: Warning over conditions at Dadaab camp IRIN 17 Jul 2009 -- The process of decongesting chronically overcrowded camps hosting Somali refugees in Dadaab, northeastern Kenya, should be speeded up to check disease outbreaks and rising tensions with the local community, an official of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warned.
• Security Council calls on all sides to respect ruling on disputed Sudanese town UN News Centre 17 Jul 2009 -- UNSC called on the parties to the dispute over the oil-rich Sudanese town of Abyei to abide by the decision to be rendered next week on the matter.
• Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders discuss conflict settlement in Moscow RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2009 -- The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev, met in Moscow to discuss the Nagorny Karabakh conflict.
• Armenia, Azerbaijan should make concessions on territory - OSCE chief RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2009 -- OSCE secretary general: Armenia and Azerbaijan should make concessions based on Minsk Group principles.
• Tajik Forces Continue Operation Against Insurgents RFE/RL 17 Jul 2009 -- Tajik officials claim they have stabilized the situation in the eastern Tavil-Dara district where fighting between security forces and Islamic insurgents has raged in recent weeks.
• Greater efforts needed to end displacement in northern Uganda, says UN expert UN News Centre 17 Jul 2009 -- Stepped up efforts are needed to ensure that the last of the people uprooted by the long-running conflict are able to return to their homes.
• DRC-UGANDA: LRA torture of civilians continues IRIN 17 Jul 2009 -- Lord’s Resistance Army continuing to kill and kidnap civilians in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Chadian tribal groups end feud after support of UN peacekeeping mission UN News Centre 17 Jul 2009 -- Another two tribal communities in eastern Chad have agreed to end their feud and reconcile under a joint initiative of the United Nations peacekeeping mission.
• Joint African Union-UN envoy speaks out amid renewed Sudanese-Chadian tensions UN News Centre 17 Jul 2009 -- The head of the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur today called on Sudan and Chad to end any hostile activities along their border amid fresh accusations of air strikes in the troubled region.
• Defense Wraps Up First Week in Charles Taylor War Crimes Trial VOA 17 Jul 2009 -- Lawyers for former Liberian President Charles Taylor have wrapped up the first week of the defense case at his war crimes trial in The Hague.
• More work remains to ensure justice for war crimes victims, says head of ICC UN News Centre 17 Jul 2009 -- Creation of the International Criminal Court and its achievements to date are vital to ensuring justice for millions around the world.
• Amidst Pressure, Bashir to Avoid Ugandan Trip VOA 17 Jul 2009 -- Indicted Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir will not be traveling to Uganda to attend a regional conference after receiving mixed signals from the Ugandan government on his possible arrest.
• Nepal: UN welcomes decision to discharge thousands of child soldiers UN News Centre 17 Jul 2009 -- UN welcomed the decision to begin discharging and rehabilitating more than 4,000 Maoist army personnel in Nepal.
• UN emergency fund gives $7 million to aid eastern DR Congo’s displaced UN News Centre 17 Jul 2009 -- United Nations agencies and their partners will be able to provide urgent humanitarian relief to some 250,000 people in the strife-torn eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) thanks to $7 million in emergency funding.
• Cyprus leaders discuss security during latest round of UN-backed talks UN News Centre 17 Jul 2009 -- Security was again the focus during the latest round of United Nations-backed talks today between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders as they try to reach a solution that will unify the Mediterranean island.
• Top UN official urges immediate publication of timetable for Ivorian polls UN News Centre 17 Jul 2009 -- The top United Nations official in Côte d’Ivoire has called for the immediate publication of a timetable for the long-awaited presidential elections, which are now set for 29 November.

News Reports

• Rafsanjani Acknowledges Opposition 'Doubts' Over Election, Calls For Unity RFE/RL 17 Jul 2009 -- Former President Rafsanjani used opportunity to call for calm and unity to save Islamic establishment from danger.
• Iran's Rafsanjani challenges election results RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2009 -- Thousands of Mousavi supporters demonstrated after a powerful cleric delivered a sermon casting doubt on the recent election.
• Former Iranian President Criticizes Hard-Liners in Sermon VOA 17 Jul 2009 -- Former Iranian President Rafsanjani delivered a blistering Friday prayer sermon at Tehran University.
• Pakistan Court Tosses Out Sharif Conviction VOA 17 Jul 2009 -- Pakistan's Supreme Court overturned hijacking conviction against former PM Sharif, clearing the way for the politician to run for public office again.
• The Pragmatist: Georgia's Irakli Alasania Emerges As Political Alternative RFE/RL 17 Jul 2009 -- Alasania resigned as Georgia's ambassador to the United Nations in December to enter politics back home.
• Three new swine flu cases registered in Russia RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2009 -- Three new swine flu cases have been confirmed in Russia, bringing the total number to seven.
• Supporters, Opponents of Sotomayor Testify on Supreme Court Nominee VOA 17 Jul 2009 -- After concluding its hearing on the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard from 31 witnesses speaking for and against her judicial record.
• Doctors say Ingush President Yevkurov will return to his duties RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2009 -- The president of the south Russian republic of Ingushetia, who was seriously injured in an assassination attempt, will be able to return to his duties after his recovery.
• Ingush sports minister, his deputy 'alive" - security chief RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2009 -- The head of Ingushetia's Security Council has told RIA Novosti media reports that either the republic's sports minister or his deputy were assassinated on Friday are false.
• Ingush sports and tourism minister 'alive and well' - spokeswoman RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2009 -- An Ingush government spokeswoman refuted media reports on Friday that the Russian North Caucasus republic's sports and tourism minister had been killed in an attack.
• ZIMBABWE: How to get donor funds to the needy - analysis IRIN 17 Jul 2009 -- That Zimbabwe needs aid is a given - its battered population has experienced widespread food shortages, hyperinflation and a devastating cholera epidemic - but so far the stumbling block of trust in the institutions responsible for handling money has proved bigger than need.
• ZIMBABWE: Widespread food shortages looming IRIN 17 Jul 2009 -- Large-scale food assistance to Zimbabweans could start in the next few weeks, according to a USAID situation report released on 16 July.
• Voters in Mauritania Prepare for Saturday Election VOA 17 Jul 2009 -- Voters in Mauritania go to the polls Saturday to choose a new president. It is an election to restore constitutional order following last year's military coup.