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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 21 Jul 2009 [PDF]
• July 20 airpower summary: C-130s transport troops, cargo AFNS 21 Jul 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Bolger from Iraq DoD 21 Jul 2009 -- Presenter: Commander, Multi-National Division Baghdad Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger
• Iraqi Authority Proceeding After Initial Frustrations, Commander Says AFPS 21 Jul 2009 -- Top US commander in the Iraqi capital: Friction is giving way to a smoother transition of power.
• Iraqi Military: No Need for US Troops' Help in Security Mission VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- Iraqi military and security forces are saying they have not needed to call upon US troops since their pullback from Iraqi cities.
• Iraqi Air Force rides with Air Cav on joint air assault Army News 21 Jul 2009 -- As the Iraqi military continues to take control, the ongoing joint training between themselves and the U.S. Army is more critical than ever.
• Portland Soldiers participate in new MRAP training, prepare for Iraq roads Army News 21 Jul 2009 -- Soldiers from the A/2-218th Field Artillery participating in a special drivers training in Kuwait.
• U.S. Military Says Iraqis Ready To Take Over Detention Facility RFE/RL 21 Jul 2009 -- US military official in Baghdad says Iraqi prison personnel are preparing to take over the Camp Cropper detention facility.
• Old Hickory Soldiers receive combat patch Army News 21 Jul 2009 -- Soldiers of 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, received the coveted combat patch.
• 11 Killed in Iraq Bombings VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- Iraqi officials: Series of bombings killed at least 11 people in Baghdad and Ramadi, 3 weeks after Iraqi forces formally assumed security responsibilities in urban areas.
• AFGHANISTAN: UN urges more funds for NGOs IRIN 21 Jul 2009 -- The UN is urging increased donor funding for humanitarian projects proposed by international and local NGOs in the Afghanistan Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP) 2009.
• Suicide Attackers Hit Government, Military Buildings in 2 Afghan Cities VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- Taliban militants strapped with explosives attacked government and military buildings in two Afghan cities.
• Suicide bombers in eastern Afghanistan kill six in two attacks RIA Novosti 21 Jul 2009 -- Taliban suicide bombers killed at least 6 people in two cities in eastern Afghanistan.
• EU Foreign Policy Chief in Afghanistan for Talks VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana visiting Afghanistan for talks with the country's political leaders on the upcoming presidential election.
• Pakistan Military: 50 Militants Killed in Northwest VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- Security forces in Pakistan: Killed more than 50 Taliban militants in clashes this week in one of the several northwestern districts.

Defense Policy / Programs

• The significance of the F-22 vote Council for a Livable World 21 Jul 2009 -- The Senate voted to approve an amendment to eliminate the $1.75 billion the Senate Armed Services Committee added for the F-22 aircraft.
• US Senate Ends F-22 Fighter Jet Program VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- US Senate voted to end funding for the most sophisticated US fighter jet, supporting President Barack Obama on controversial issue.
• 'Subdue the enemy without fighting' USMC News 21 Jul 2009 -- Newly appointed staff of the Marine Corps Information Operations Center was recognized during ribbon cutting ceremony.
• Digital University helps keep Soldiers aware on battlefield Army News 21 Jul 2009 -- Sgt. Joshua A. Blazonis, a truck driver with the 41st Transportation Co. here, has located several threats of chemical attacks.
• Tinker refurbishes F-22 air turbines AFNS 21 Jul 2009 -- As part of a new cooperative agreement, air turbines and more than 30 other components from the F-22 Raptor now undergo maintenance here.
• Disassembly project to provide data to F-15 maintainers AFNS 21 Jul 2009 -- Five people are working on a painstaking project that could significantly impact the future of the F-15 Eagle.
• Air Force to hire civilians to manage unit programs AFNS 21 Jul 2009 -- Squadrons with more than 50 military and civilian members could start seeing relief in managing their additional duties.
• USS Chung-Hoon Returns Home from 6-Month Western Pacific Deployment Navy NewsStand 21 Jul 2009 -- USS Chung-Hoon home following a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific.
• Naval Postgraduate School Team Tests Multimission Tracking System Navy NewsStand 21 Jul 2009 -- The U.S. Navy recently selected the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) to be the operational test agent (OTA) for a new, tunable, multimission-capable, multi-sensor intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system that could cut costs while improving the way the military identifies and tracks targets on land and at sea.
• Tongan-U.S. Biomedical Repair Team Supports Niu'ui Hospital Navy NewsStand 21 Jul 2009 -- Pacific Partnership 2009 (PP09) biomedical repair technicians worked with Niu'ui Hospital's only biomedical equipment repair technician in Lifuka, Tonga, July 20 as part of a two-week medical civic action program (MEDCAP).
• Stout Improves Maritime Partnership in Batumi, Georgia Navy NewsStand 21 Jul 2009 -- USS Stout (DDG 55) pulled into port in Batumi, Georgia, July 14 while on deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Operations.
• San Diego-based Deep Submergence Unit Holds Change of Command Navy NewsStand 21 Jul 2009 -- Cmdr. David Lemly relieved Cmdr. Jay Spencer as commanding officer of Deep Submergence Unit (DSU) July 17 during a ceremony held at the DSU facility.
• U.S. Army Medical Research in Africa Army News 21 Jul 2009 -- Officers serving with the U.S. Army Medical Research Unit - Kenya working to combat diseases in East Africa.
• Humanitarian assistance team completes evaluation at Andersen AFNS 21 Jul 2009 -- Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team successfully completed its first operational utility evaluation.
• ARRA Funds Project to Reduce Energy Costs at MCAS New River Navy NewsStand 21 Jul 2009 -- Officer In Charge of Construction Marine Corps Installations East awarded $4,587,471 to provide for major interior and exterior repairs at Marine Corps Air Station New River.
• Recovery Act Funds Energy Saving Advanced Metering Infrastructure Contracts Navy NewsStand 21 Jul 2009 -- The Navy has awarded three contracts for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) energy projects in Washington State.
• Royal Navy Tanker Provides Replenishment For Bataan Navy NewsStand 21 Jul 2009 -- USS Bataan conducted a replenishment at sea with RFA Wave Knight (A 389), a Royal Navy fast fleet tanker, while conducting maritime security operations in the 5th Fleet Area of Operations.
• Top US Diplomat Concerned About North Korea-Burma Military Link VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton: Military cooperation between North Korea and Burma would be destabilizing for the region.
• NATO Chief says Alliance is Essential to World Peace VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- NATO's outgoing Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer says the alliance's mission in Afghanistan is essential to international security and that leaving the country would leave the way open for a return of al Qaida.
• U.S. supports Ukraine's NATO membership bid - Biden RIA Novosti 21 Jul 2009 -- US Vice President Joe Biden: The United States supports Ukraine's plans to join NATO.
• U.S. Vice President Biden Says 'Reset' Will Not Come At Ukraine's Expense RFE/RL 21 Jul 2009 -- US Vice President Joe Biden delivered a positive message to a beleaguered Ukraine.
• Biden: US Committed to 'Strong and Prosperous' Ukraine VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- US Vice President Joe Biden: US moves to reset relations with Russia will not come at Ukraine's expense.
• Russia against arms race in Arctic - foreign ministry RIA Novosti 21 Jul 2009 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman: Russia is against any arms race in the Arctic.
• Russia to draft 320,000 conscripts in fall 2009 - General Staff RIA Novosti 21 Jul 2009 -- About 320,000 young men are to be drafted into the Russian Armed Forces in the fall of 2009.
• CSTO members may decide on Kyrgyz military base in August RIA Novosti 21 Jul 2009 -- Members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization could agree on military base in Kyrgyzstan during informal summit.
• Australia Accepts First Block II Super Hornet Navy NewsStand 21 Jul 2009 -- The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) accepted its first F/A-18F Super Hornet during a roll-out ceremony at Boeing's manufacturing facility in St. Louis July 8.
• Taiwan donates four navy patrol boats to Gambia CNA 21 Jul 2009 -- Republic of China's donation of navy patrol boats to Gambia serves as a good example of close cooperation between Taiwan and its diplomatic allies.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 21 Jul 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 21, 2009
• U.S. BUYS 62 MORE BAE SYSTEMS M777 GUNS BAE Systems 21 Jul 2009 -- The U.S, Department of Defense has ordered 62 more M777 howitzers from BAE Systems in a deal worth $117 million (£71m).
• BAE SYSTEMS WELCOMES 15 YEAR MoD AGREEMENT BAE Systems 21 Jul 2009 -- BVT Surface Fleet, the maritime joint venture between BAE Systems and VT Group, and the Ministry of Defence have today signed a legally binding 15 year Terms of Business Agreement (ToBA), that will reduce the cost of warship building and support for the Royal Navy, secure the long-term sustainable future of the UK warship building industry and deliver efficiency savings for the UK taxpayer
• Boeing KC-767 Tankers for Italy Complete Military Utility Observation Boeing 21 Jul 2009 -- Two of the KC-767 aerial refueling tankers that Boeing [NYSE: BA] is building for the Italian Air Force recently performed a series of airborne boom contacts and fuel offloads in observation test flights with the U.S. Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base. The flights included KC-767 fuel transfers with a U.S. Air Force F-16 aircraft as well as from one KC-767 to the other.
• Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet for Australia Takes Flight Boeing 21 Jul 2009 -- The first Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18F Super Hornet takes off from Lambert International Airport in St. Louis July 20 to begin its initial flight. Boeing [NYSE: BA] unveiled the aircraft July 8 at the company's Integrated Defense Systems facility in St. Louis.
• General Dynamics Awarded $45 Million for Egyptian Abrams Tank-Related Work General Dynamics 21 Jul 2009 -- The U.S. TACOM Lifecycle Management Command has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), a $45 million contract for the Egyptian tank co-production program.
• Northrop Grumman High-Energy Laser Could Protect U.S. Navy Ships At Sea From Small Attack Boats Northrop Grumman 21 Jul 2009 -- The ultra-precision of high-energy lasers soon may be the pinpoint, measured response that will keep threats a safe distance from U.S. Navy ships.
• Northrop Grumman, Air Force Verify Proper Fit of Massive Penetrator Weapon On B-2 Bomber Northrop Grumman 21 Jul 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has moved the U.S. Air Force a critical step closer to being able to drop a 30,000 pound penetrator weapon from the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber
• Local support for Thales ground surveillance radars in Saudi Arabia Thales 21 Jul 2009 -- Thales is setting up a local facility to provide technical support services for ground surveillance radars BOR-A and Squire, selected for several applications in Saudi Ara-bia. Thales has a long experience in supplying Saudi security forces with ground sur-veillance radar systems.
• CTD funding for cutting edge mine countermeasures Thales 21 Jul 2009 -- The Department of Defence has selected Thales Australia's innovative Infrasonic Advanced Acoustic Generator (IAAG) for development under the Capability and Technology Demonstrator program.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 21 Jul 2009
• Ban outlines steps to turn promise of 'responsibility to protect' into practice UN News Centre 21 Jul 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban outlined a series of measures designed to prevent genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and related crimes against humanity.
• Israel Faces International Pressure Over Settlements VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- Israel is facing international pressure over its settlement activity, with both the European Union and Russia saying such activity threatens the chance for Mideast peace.
• Israel 'to forcibly evacuate' West Bank settlements - paper RIA Novosti 21 Jul 2009 -- Israel plans to evacuate 23 unauthorized settler outposts in the West Bank in a single day amid growing pressure.
• Top UN envoy urges restraint after recent incidents in southern Lebanon UN News Centre 21 Jul 2009 -- Top UN official has called for restraint following recent incidents in southern Lebanon, including the wounding of several of the world body's peacekeepers.
• Insecurity Hampering Aid Efforts in Somalia VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- UN refugee agency said security concerns are making it increasingly difficult for aid workers to gain access and provide assistance to victims of Somalia's civil war.
• UN: Aid Workers 'Not Backing Away' from Somalia VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- Top UN official says the world body is "not backing away" from Somalia following raids by insurgents on UN offices in the country.
• SOMALIA: UN suspends operations in Baidoa, compounds looted IRIN 21 Jul 2009 -- The UN has suspended humanitarian operations in Somalia's southwestern town of Baidoa following the looting of its compound there, an official told IRIN on 21 July.
• SOMALIA: Millions to remain in need of aid, says agency IRIN 21 Jul 2009 -- Somalia's food security situation is not expected to improve over the next six months and the number of people in need of humanitarian aid will remain high through December, the Famine and Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net) says.
• SUDAN: Abyei briefing IRIN 21 Jul 2009 -- Legal experts in The Hague make a binding decision on 22 July setting the boundaries of Sudan’s oil- and pasture-rich Abyei region – ruling on a dispute that has threatened the country’s fragile peace accord. The following briefing examines the background to the Abyei Arbitral Tribunal’s decision.
• SUDAN: Abyei timeline IRIN 21 Jul 2009 -- The following is a timeline for the Abyei boundary dispute.
• SUDAN: Assurances and tension ahead of key Abyei ruling IRIN 21 Jul 2009 -- The boundaries of Sudan’s oil- and pasture-rich Abyei region are finally due to be set on 22 July when experts in The Hague rule on a dispute that has threatened the country’s 2005 peace accord.
• SUDAN: The deadly cycle of cattle-raiding IRIN 21 Jul 2009 -- Tutlow Ruot has yet to come to terms with the death of his two children, who drowned in a river as his village fled an attack by cattle raiders from the Murle community.
• Kinshasa Signals Stronger Relations with Rwanda VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo government has vowed to strengthen ties with neighboring Rwanda.
• UN blue helmets train hundreds of DR Congo police officers UN News Centre 21 Jul 2009 -- More than 500 Congolese police officers have received training in ensuring security for upcoming local, urban and municipal elections.
• SRI LANKA: UN calls for clear IDP resettlement plan IRIN 21 Jul 2009 -- A detailed plan to resettle almost 300,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sri Lanka is needed to sustain donor assistance, the UN says.
• Two Tajiks Arrested With Explosives, Suspected Of Supporting Illegal Groups RFE/RL 21 Jul 2009 -- Internal Affairs office in Tajikistan's eastern Badakhshan Province says police and border guards arrested two Tajik citizens for the illegal possession of explosives.

News Reports

• Rafsanjani Reacts To Khamenei's Warning RFE/RL 21 Jul 2009 -- Iran's former President Rafsanjani has posted on his website an excerpt from his memoirs titled: "The word 'fear' doesn't have any meaning for us."
• Iran's Police Chief Accuses Opposition of Provoking Instability VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- Iran's police chief accusing opposition leaders of provoking instability, after they called for referendum.
• China Blames Separatists for Deadly Xinjiang Riots VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- China blames extremists intent on creating an independent Xinjiang for riots that killed nearly 200 people in the region's capital, Urumqi.
• EU freezes financial aid to Honduras due to political situation RIA Novosti 21 Jul 2009 -- European Commission announced it has frozen 65.5 million euros in financial aid to Honduras over the political crisis.
• Sweden Lists Balkans, Russia, Iran As Among Top Foreign Policy Challenges RFE/RL 21 Jul 2009 -- Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has introduced his country's foreign policy priorities as EU president for the next half-year.
• WHO Says Global Swine Flu Deaths Exceed 700 VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- The World Health Organization says H1N1 swine flu has killed more than 700 people across the world since emerging in April.
• Britain Mulls Closing Schools to Curb Swine Flu VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- Medical researchers in Britain are proposing closing public schools this autumn to curb the spread of swine flu.
• Biden to urge Georgian leader 'to leave quietly' - Russian paper RIA Novosti 21 Jul 2009 -- US vice president tours Ukraine and Georgia to persuade the two former Soviet states' embattled presidents not to cling on to power.
• Saakashvili offers opponents reforms, urges unity against Russia RIA Novosti 21 Jul 2009 -- Georgia's president has proposed electoral and economic reforms to the opposition and called for unity in the face of Russia.
• Indonesia says Burma Must Release Democracy Leader for Elections to Be Credible VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- Indonesia's FM: Burma must release democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi if its 2010 elections are to be credible.
• Republicans Ask for Week Delay on Sotomayor Vote VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- Republicans on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee have asked for a one-week delay in the vote on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.
• Japan's Cabinet Dissolves Parliament VOA 21 Jul 2009 -- Japanese PM Aso dissolved parliament's lower house and called for national elections on August 30.
• Japanese PM dissolves parliament, sets race for snap polls RIA Novosti 21 Jul 2009 -- Japanese PM Aso dissolved the lower house of parliament, forcing early elections to be held on August 30.