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Military


31 July 2009 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

  • OIF/OEF Casualty Update 31 Jul 2009 [PDF]

  • July Worst US Month in Afghanistan, Best in Iraq VOA 31 Jul 2009 -- The month of July had the highest death toll for U.S. troops in Afghanistan since the war began nearly eight years ago, and the lowest death toll in Iraq since that war began six years ago. In Afghanistan, at least 43 Americans were killed, among 75 coalition troops. In Iraq, the U.S. death toll was seven.

  • British Troops Leave Iraq As Mandate Ends RFE/RL 31 Jul 2009 -- There are no longer any British troops in Iraq, as the mandate for their presence has officially expired.
  • Bombs Target Shi'ite Worshippers In Baghdad, 27 Dead RFE/RL 31 Jul 2009 -- A series of powerful bomb blasts has targeted Shi'ite Muslim worshippers as they emerged from mosques across Baghdad, killing at least 27 people and injuring more than 50.
  • Bombs Target Shi'ite Mosques in Baghdad VOA 31 Jul 2009 -- A series of bomb blasts tore through crowds of Shi'ite worshippers as they left mosques after Friday prayers in Baghdad, killing at least 28 people and wounding more than 130. Shi'ite political leaders are accusing the government of negligence in protecting them.
  • Bombings in Baghdad's Shi'ite Mosques Kill 28 VOA 31 Jul 2009 -- Iraqi police say a string of bombings at Shi'ite mosques in Baghdad has killed at least 28 people and wounded more than 130 others.
  • Pennsylvania Guard mission counters attacks from IEDs, IDF Army News 31 Jul 2009 -- An area known as "the big concrete slab" has attracted the interest of a platoon of Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers for its use as a staging area to deter indirect fire (IDF) attacks against Coalition forcese

  • Civilian casualties in Afghanistan keep rising, finds UN report UN News Centre 31 Jul 2009 -- The ongoing conflict in Afghanistan continues to take a heavy toll on the country’s civilians, according to the United Nations mission there, which recorded over 1,000 deaths in the first six months of 2009 – 24 per cent more than during the same period last year.
  • Offensive against Taliban in Full Swing in Afghanistan's South VOA 31 Jul 2009 -- Over 9,000 British and an additional 10,000 American troops have been sent into Afghanistan's Helmand Province to rout the Taliban and establish security ahead of next month's national elections. The fight against the insurgents has been tough as rising casualty figures show and the war against the continued widespread cultivation of poppies and production of opium have proved equally difficult.
  • UN: Civilian Death Toll Rises in Afghanistan VOA 31 Jul 2009 -- A United Nations report says civilian deaths in Afghanistan have jumped by nearly 25 percent compared to last year, with more than 1,000 killed in the first half of 2009.
  • U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense visits Panjshir Army News 31 Jul 2009 -- U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Business Transformation, Mr. Paul A. Brinkley, and a hand-picked team of business development leaders, visited the Panjshir valley and the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team, July 26

  • Pakistan: UN humanitarian arm reports number of displaced returning home tops 600,000 UN News Centre 31 Jul 2009 -- More than 600,000 people forced from their homes by armed clashes between Government forces and militants in north-western Pakistan have now returned, leaving some 1.6 million displaced people in need of aid, the United Nations announced today.

Defense Policy / Programs

  • CNO Visits Everett, Seafair, Participates in P-8 Roll Out Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2009 -- The chief of naval operations (CNO) visited Naval Air Station Everett, participated in the Seattle Seafair and delivered remarks at the P-8A Poseidon rollout ceremony July 29-30.
  • USS Gettysburg Returns to Naval Station Mayport Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2009 -- Sailors aboard USS Gettysburg (CG 64) and embarked Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 46 Detachment 9 returned to Naval Station Mayport July 28.
  • Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Test Successful Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2009 -- In conjunction with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), U.S. Pacific Fleet ships and crews successfully conducted the latest Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) at-sea firing event on July 30.
  • USS Bunker Hill Completes Critical Quals Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2009 -- USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), the first of 22 Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers to undergo an extensive capability upgrade as part of the Cruiser Modernization Program, completed Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT) July 29 off the coast of Southern California.
  • Bonhomme Richard Ready for Any Contingency Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2009 -- Sailors aboard amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard conducted a non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO) drill with Marines of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) July 29.
  • Nimitz Strike Group Underway in Support of Maritime Strategy Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2009 -- USS Nimitz (CVN 68) departed her homeport of San Diego July 31 on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment.
  • APS Arleigh Burke Arrives in Mauritius Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2009 -- USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) arrived July 30 to kick off several days of in-port and at-sea training with the Mauritius National Coast Guard as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS).
  • SEALs Reach Peak of Personal, Fitness Aims on Kilimanjaro Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2009 -- As part of their individual culture of fitness and SEAL Ethos, nine U.S. Navy SEALs completed a successful eight-day climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, July 26, which proved to be a very personal experience for one of the participants.
  • Navy Charts Way Ahead in Arctic Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2009 -- The chief of naval operations created a task force, headed by the Navy's senior oceanographer, to better understand and evaluate the changing climate and its implications for maritime security.
  • Rapidly Deployable Reservists Gets Ready for Global Security Ops Navy NewsStand 31 Jul 2009 -- Reserve Sailors from Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 9 are conducting their annual training on Whidbey Island by honing their skills on shore, in the classroom and on the water during a training exercise held July 18-31.
  • Air Force officials release F-22 accident report AFNS 31 Jul 2009 -- Air Force Materiel Command officials here July 31 released an accident investigation report that determined that human factors associated with high gravitational forces caused the March 25 crash of an F-22 test aircraft 35 miles outside of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
  • Sheppard, AF officials retire workhorse of pilot training AFNS 31 Jul 2009 -- More than 50 years of dependable service is a lot to ask, especially from a tool used to train thousands of people in a critical and sometimes dangerous business.
  • Vice chief of staff testifies to lawmakers about suicide prevention programs AFNS 31 Jul 2009 -- The Air Force continues to closely monitor suicide trends and heighten awareness with modern preventative tools that address the total psychological health of Airmen and civilians, the Air Force's second-highest ranking military officer said on Capitol Hill July 29.
  • F-16s scramble to unresponsive pilot over West Virginia AFNS 31 Jul 2009 -- Officials from the 601st Air and Space Operations Center here responded to a call from Federal Aviation Administration officials at approximately 8 p.m. Eastern time July 30 when radio calls to a civilian pilot went unanswered.
  • Special Ops Command opens new headquarters AFNS 31 Jul 2009 -- Special Operations Command Central officials opened a new home with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new building July 29 here.
  • Contract awarded to clean up former Castle and Norton Air Force bases AFNS 31 Jul 2009 -- Air Force officials have awarded a multi-year performance-based contract to CH2M HILL, Inc. to perform environmental activities at the former Castle Air Force Base near Atwater, Calif., and the former Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, Calif. This $8.18 million contract runs through 2015.
  • Army launches new officer recruitment campaign Army News 31 Jul 2009 -- A new multimedia recruiting campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the opportunities and professional paths available to those who want to become Army officers. The campaign kicks off Monday.
  • Tank removal program is methodical detective work Army News 31 Jul 2009 -- Charles Appleby scrutinizes old documents, conducts field excavations and uses ground-penetrating radar among other techniques in methodical pursuit of his prize.
  • Army looks to refine initial officer training Army News 31 Jul 2009 -- Initial officer training will see changes later this year as part of the Army's ongoing effort to improve force generation and make better use of personnel and training resources.
  • Chief of Staff previews new Army program aimed at combating stress Army News 31 Jul 2009 -- The Army is looking to improve the resiliency of its Soldiers through a new program, which will be launched in October, said Gen. George Casey, Army chief of staff, during a visit to Fort Jackson today.
  • Flight test shows small antenna can do big things AFNS 31 Jul 2009 -- Electronic Systems Center and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory personnel demonstrated the powerful capabilities of a small antenna during a flight test conducted earlier this summer here.
  • Navy Task Force Assesses Changing Climate AFPS 31 Jul 2009 -- Rapidly diminishing sea ice, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, increased storm severity -- all are possible consequences of a climate that mounting evidence suggests is changing significantly.
  • GI Bill Transferability Set to Begin AFPS 31 Jul 2009 -- With the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s option to transfer unused educational benefits to eligible family members taking effect tomorrow, it’s no surprise that more than 25,000 servicemembers have pre-applied, a Pentagon official said today.
  • Space Fence program awards contracts for concept development AFNS 31 Jul 2009 -- Last month's award of three $30-million concept development contracts for the Space Fence program will yield an outcropping of risk reduction activities designed to improve the overall space surveillance network.

  • Global disarmament cannot be postponed any longer, Ban says UN News Centre 31 Jul 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged greater progress towards achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, warning that humanity still faces serious threats from this global scourge nearly 20 years after the end of the Cold War.

  • Russian military plans to resume Bulava missile tests in August RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2009 -- The Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday it would not abandon the development of the troubled Bulava ballistic missile, and that tests could resume in August.
  • Russia's Nerpa nuclear sub starts sea trials in Far East RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2009 -- Russia's Nerpa nuclear attack submarine, damaged in a fatal accident during tests in November last year, started on Friday the second stage of new sea trials, a source involved in the tests said.

  • CSTO Leaders Gather For Informal Summit RFE/RL 31 Jul 2009 -- Presidents of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) have gathered in the Kyrgyz lakeside resort of Cholpon-Ata for what is being billed as an informal summit.

  • Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 7/31/09 The White House 31 Jul 2009
  • U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 31 Jul 2009

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

News Reports

  • North Korea to Investigate Crew of Seized South Korean Fishermen VOA 31 Jul 2009 -- South Korea says North Korea will investigate the crew of a South Korean fishing boat seized Thursday after it apparently strayed into North Korean territorial waters.

  • Iranian President Denies Rift with Supreme Leader VOA 31 Jul 2009 -- Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is denying he has any rift with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, days after their public dispute over the dismissal of the vice president.
  • Tehran's Streets Quiet After Fresh Clashes Around Mourning Ceremony RFE/RL 31 Jul 2009 -- The streets of the Iranian capital are reportedly quiet one day in the wake of clashes that erupted in several neighborhoods after police forcibly dispersed a mourning ceremony to honor those killed in Iran's postelection unrest
  • Hardline Friday Prayer Leader Throws Down Gauntlet to Opposition VOA 31 Jul 2009 -- The leader of Tehran's Friday prayer sermon, hardline Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati threw down the gauntlet to Iran's opposition leaders, demanding that they apologize for inciting unrest in the country. Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister accused foreign powers of contributing to violence.

  • Health Official Says Swine Flu Has Peaked, for Now, in Britain VOA 31 Jul 2009 -- The chief medical officer in Britain says it looks as though the swine flu outbreak may have plateaued in England for now. At least 27 people have died of the disease and the government is continuing its preparations for a possible resurgence in the fall flu season.

  • British Man Accused of Hacking US Computers Loses Extradition Appeal VOA 31 Jul 2009 -- Britain's High Court Friday rejected an appeal by a British man against his extradition to the United States to face charges of hacking into military computers. Gary McKinnon was arrested in 2002 and has been fighting to stay in Britain.

  • Funding gap could ground UN air service for aid workers in Africa UN News Centre 31 Jul 2009 -- The United Nations air service, shuttling aid workers to remote locations to provide life-saving assistance to vulnerable people in Africa, is in danger of being shut down due to a funding shortage, according to the World Food Programme (WFP) which operates the flights.

  • Myanmar: Ban reiterates call for authorities to release opposition figure UN News Centre 31 Jul 2009 -- Myanmar must ensure the immediate release of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is in detention and currently facing trial, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has told an official of the Asian country.
  • Verdict in Trial of Burmese Democracy Leader Postponed VOA 31 Jul 2009 -- The court has postponed issuing a verdict in the trial of Burma's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. It was scheduled to be announced Friday, but her lawyer says the court instead declared an unspecified "legal problem" had to first be decided.

  • Space Shuttle Endeavour Returns Home VOA 31 Jul 2009 -- The U.S. space shuttle Endeavour has returned home, capping a nearly two-week mission to the International Space Station that included a series of spacewalks.
  • Communists win Moldova's election, lose control of parliament RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2009 -- Moldova's dominant Communist Party won this week's general election, but opposition parties will have a majority of seats in the new parliament, according to the latest results.
  • Observers Agree Kyrgyz Election Flawed VOA 31 Jul 2009 -- Analysts and reporters familiar with Kyrgyzstan’s presidential election last week are skeptical of the results giving incumbent President Kurmanbek Bakiyev a landslide victory. Official results showed Bakiyev winning 76 % of the vote.



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