• 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 07 Aug 2009 [PDF]
• Commander Highlights Wing's Combat Support AFPS 07 Aug 2009 -- Commander highlighted the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing’s contributions to operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
• Airmen keep airlift mission moving AFNS 07 Aug 2009 -- Air Mobility Command Airmen and aircraft have flown nearly 74,000 sorties and delivered about 251,000 tons of cargo in the US CENTCOM AOR.
• NATO Training Mission-Iraq Celebrates its Fifth Anniversary MNF-I 07 Aug 2009 -- BUG: the source does not exist in description file
• At least 37 killed, over 100 wounded in Iraq bombings RIA Novosti 07 Aug 2009 -- At least 37 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in a series of attacks in Iraq.
• Bombers Kill 35 Shi'ites in Iraq VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- Iraqi police say a series of bomb blasts targeting Shi'ite pilgrims in the capital and worshippers in the northern city Mosul has killed at least 35 people.
• Security Council extends UN mission in Iraq for one more year UN News Centre 07 Aug 2009 -- The Security Council extended the mandate and decided that it should continue to pursue expanded role.
• Marines return captured weapons to Iraqi government USMC News 07 Aug 2009 -- Marines delivered roughly 900 captured enemy weapons to the Taji National Maintenance Depot.
• New NATO Chief Calls for More Troops in Afghanistan VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- New NATO Secretary-General Rasmussen: More troops are needed in Afghanistan to defeat a resurgent Taliban movement.
• Hickam Airmen deploy to Afghanistan AFNS 07 Aug 2009 -- Fifty-four reservists from the 624th Civil Engineer Squadron left Hickam Air Force Base for a deployment to Afghanistan Aug. 5.
• Lack of access hampering aid efforts in Afghanistan, UN official warns UN News Centre 07 Aug 2009 -- Senior UN official: Number of humanitarian issues still facing the country.
• 60 percent of Afghanistan Insecure for Aid Workers, UN Says VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- UN reports tens-of-thousands of civilians in Afghanistan are missing out on crucial humanitarian assistance.
• Pakistani Taliban Chief's Death Would Have Broad Implications RFE/RL 07 Aug 2009 -- Authorities heading to tribal district "to be one 100 percent sure" of intelligence indicating Mehsud was among those killed.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Global Strike Command Will Stress Nuclear Mission AFPS 07 Aug 2009 -- Key step in reinvigorating the USAF’s nuclear deterrence mission made with the activation of Global Strike Command.
• Air Force Global Strike Command activated AFNS 07 Aug 2009 -- USAF officials stood up a new major command to oversee all of its nuclear forces at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
• Geren Stays as Senate Delays Successor's Confirmation AFPS 07 Aug 2009 -- Senate adjourned without voting to confirm New York Rep. John M. McHugh as Army secretary.
• Speicher Search Details Announced DoD 07 Aug 2009 -- Navy announced today additional details regarding the recent discovery of the remains of Navy Capt. Michael "Scott" Speicher in Iraq
• DoD News: DoD to Award $14.1 Million for Science and Engineering Research DoD 07 Aug 2009 -- The Department of Defense announced today the awarding of 28 grants totaling $14.1 million as part of the fiscal 2009 Defense Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR).
• DoD News: Army Completes Staff Sgt. Maseth Death Investigation (Revision) DoD 07 Aug 2009 -- The Army announced today that the investigation into the tragic death of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth has been completed
• Carrier Air Wing 1 Changes Command Navy NewsStand 07 Aug 2009 -- Commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 held a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana Aug 6.
• Newly Named HSC 12 Carries on Rich Tradition Navy NewsStand 07 Aug 2009 -- After 57 years of service, the longest standing helicopter squadron in Navy history, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 2 (HS-2), became the most recent squadron to transition to the MH-60S Seahawk Helicopter and changed its name to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 (HSC-12) during a ceremony on Naval Air Station North Island, Aug. 6.
• Laser Image Aimed at Achieving 85 Percent Reduction in Costs Navy NewsStand 07 Aug 2009 -- An innovative laser imaging technique, developed with funding from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), could cut more than 7,700 man hours from the manufacturing cycle of Virginia-Class Submarines (VCS).
• Future USNS Wally Schirra Completes Acceptance Trials Navy NewsStand 07 Aug 2009 -- The future USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8) completed Acceptance Trials Aug. 6, sailing from and returning to the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego.
• Total Force Completes USS Buffalo Availability Ahead of Schedule Navy NewsStand 07 Aug 2009 -- Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (PHNS) completed a dry-dock selected restricted availability (DSRA) on USS Buffalo (SSN 715) July 22, seven days before the chief of naval operations' (CNO) completion date.
• Momsen, Shoup Shine in Seafair Navy NewsStand 07 Aug 2009 -- Sailors from USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Shoup (DDG 86) got to show Seattle-area civilians a little bit about life aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer July 29 to Aug. 2 during Seattle's Seafair Fleet Week.
• Laboon Hosts Croatian Officers During NATO Deployment Navy NewsStand 07 Aug 2009 -- USS Laboon (DDG 58) participated in an international officer exchange program June 6-9 while deployed in support of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2) in the Mediterranean Sea.
• Naval Research Laboratory's ANDE-2 Deployed from Space Shuttle Endeavour Navy NewsStand 07 Aug 2009 -- The Naval Research Laboratory's satellite suite, the Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment 2 (ANDE-2), was deployed from NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour July 30.
• Exercise tests joint cargo operations AFNS 07 Aug 2009 -- Airmen and Soldiers assigned to US Transportation Command's Joint Task Force-Port Opening are participating in Eagle Flag 2009.
• Air Force, academic community come together for future of unmanned aircraft systems AFNS 07 Aug 2009 -- Officials of the Air Force and national academic community attended an unmanned aircraft symposium.
• Marines, sailors gear up for BIP '09 USMC News 07 Aug 2009 -- Marine engineers and sailors began preparations for the Bangladesh Interoperability Program.
• Defense Department Seeks to Expand Telework Program AFPS 07 Aug 2009 -- Updated DoD policy expected to be released next month will encourage more managers to adopt telework arrangements.
• Russia to spend $15 bln on armed forces in 2010 RIA Novosti 07 Aug 2009 -- Russia will spend 470 billion rubles ($15 billion) on arms, equipment and maintenance of its Armed Forces in 2010.
• Ukraine adopts national program to move towards NATO accession RIA Novosti 07 Aug 2009 -- Ukrainian Pres Yushchenko signed a decree approving a national program aimed at preparing the country to join NATO.
• U.S. help with Taiwan's arms procurement helps cross-strait ties CNA 07 Aug 2009 -- MAC chairwoman: US assistance in helping Taiwan acquire defensive weapons important to cross-Taiwan Strait ties.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 07 Aug 2009
• Press Briefing on the President's Upcoming Trip to Guadalajara, 8-6-09 The White House 07 Aug 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 8/7/09 The White House 07 Aug 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 07, 2009
• Lockheed Martin Demonstrates Tactical Smartphone Applications Lockheed Martin 07 Aug 2009 -- Warfighters operating in theatre may soon have greater situational awareness with the added ability to download high-value tactical data anywhere in the field on smartphones loaded with new applications from Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT].

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 07 Aug 2009
• Will Rapport with Georgia, Ukraine, Damage US-Russian Ties? VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- US VP Biden's trip to Ukraine and Georgia came several weeks after President Obama held a Moscow summit with his Russian counterpart, Dmitri Medvedev.
• U.S. Official Calls For Calm Between Russia, Georgia RFE/RL 07 Aug 2009 -- One year ago, Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war over the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia.
• EU must hold talks with ex-Georgian republics - Russian envoy RIA Novosti 07 Aug 2009 -- EU can not turn its back on direct dialogue with the former Georgian republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
• Russia continues investigation into South Ossetia 'genocide' RIA Novosti 07 Aug 2009 -- Criminal investigation into the alleged genocide and mass murder of civilians has been extended until February 2010.
• Russia never made plans to take Tbilisi last August - Nogovitsyn RIA Novosti 07 Aug 2009 -- At no point during the August 2008 conflict with Georgia did Russia make plans to seize Tbilisi, a deputy chief of the General Staff said Friday.
• Russia's Medvedev says 'no regrets' on S. Ossetia decision RIA Novosti 07 Aug 2009 -- Russian President Medvedev: No regrets about giving the go ahead for Russian troops to move into South Ossetia.
• Russia increases death toll in S. Ossetia conflict to 67 soldiers RIA Novosti 07 Aug 2009 -- Russia's top investigation committee: Number of Russian service personnel killed during conflict with Georgia now at 67.
• Amendments To Citizenship Law Compound Political Tensions In Abkhazia RFE/RL 07 Aug 2009 -- Abkhaz parliament voted unanimously to ask President Bagapsh not to sign amendments to the law on citizenship.
• Tensions Simmer On Anniversary Of Georgia-Russia War RFE/RL 07 Aug 2009 -- Students in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, in a series of ceremonies marking what one student recalls as Moscow's aggression against her country.
• Georgia, Russia Mark First Anniversary of War VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- Georgia and Russia are marking the first anniversary of their conflict over the breakaway Georgian territory of South Ossetia.
• Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers Confirm Leader's Arrest VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- Sri Lankan officials: New leader of the vanquished Tamil Tiger rebels in custody following his arrest in an undisclosed South East Asian country.
• SUDAN: Abyei still fragile as Darfur conflict spills into Kordofan IRIN 07 Aug 2009 -- Two weeks after a tribunal in The Hague redefined the borders of Sudan's Abyei region concern is growing.
• UN: Thousands of Congolese Flee LRA Attacks VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- The UN refugee agency reports attacks by the Ugandan rebel group Lord's Resistance Army have forced about 12,500 Congolese civilians from their homes in the past month.
• Thousands of Congolese displaced by Ugandan rebels - UN UN News Centre 07 Aug 2009 -- Some 12,500 people in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo have been uprooted from their homes in the past month by attacks by the Lord’s Resistance Army.
• Ban welcomes summit between leaders of DR Congo and Rwanda UN News Centre 07 Aug 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban welcomed summit, the first official bilateral meeting since the neighbouring African nations broke off official ties more than one decade ago.
• Tanzania naturalizes first batch of Burundian refugees, reports UN UN News Centre 07 Aug 2009 -- After living in Tanzania for over 3 decades, thousands of Burundian refugees have been granted citizenship by the host Government.
• Tensions Rising in Somaliland Ahead of Vote VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- Escalating tensions ahead of a presidential vote in the self-declared republic of Somaliland are raising fears that a prolonged political crisis may give al-Shabab opportunity to spread its extremist ideology.
• Ban calls for independent inquiry into use of rape as weapon in African wars UN News Centre 07 Aug 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban called on the Security Council to set up an independent commission of inquiry into abuses in the conflicts in Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan.

News Reports

• Washington Hints It Might Favor Joining International Court RFE/RL 07 Aug 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton signaled a significant shift in Washington in favor of the International Criminal Court.
• Activists Voice Concern Following N. Korea's Release of US Journalists VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee safely back home after more than 4 months imprisonment in N. Korea.
• North American Leaders To Meet in Guadalajara VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- The state of the world's economy will be one of the main topics of discussion when U.S. President Barack Obama meets with the leaders of Canada and Mexico.
• Brent Scowcroft Analyzes Foreign Policy Issues Facing Obama Administration VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- One of America's foremost experts on international affairs says that President Obama's new policy of "opening to the world has been an enormous success."
• Clinton Says US to Cooperate With South Africa on Zimbabwe Reform VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton: US and South Africa will work closely together to push for reform in Zimbabwe.
• Clinton to Push Pretoria On Zimbabwe Crisis VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton: Will push South Africa to do more to counter embattled President Mugabe's negative effect on the Zimbabwe reform process.
• Chavez rejects mediators in dispute with Colombia RIA Novosti 07 Aug 2009 -- President Chavez has ruled out involving mediators in the resolution a diplomatic spat between Venezuela and Colombia.
• US Officials Discourage School Closures for Swine Flu VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- US government officials are discouraging the closure of schools this upcoming school year because of influenza A-H1N1.
• WHO reports 1,550 swine flu deaths worldwide RIA Novosti 07 Aug 2009 -- Official WHO figures record 1,550 deaths from flu worldwide and more than 200,000 confirmed cases.
• Global swine flu cases reach 200,000 RIA Novosti 07 Aug 2009 -- Russia's consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor: Number of people infected with swine flu in the world has exceeded 199,000.
• Madagascar Crisis Talks Focus on Amnesty VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- Madagascar rivals are focusing on the question of amnesty for ousted President Marc Ravalomanana on the third day of mediation talks Friday.
• Court rules against returning Politkovskaya case to prosecutors RIA Novosti 07 Aug 2009 -- Moscow court turned down an application from the relatives of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya that the retrial of defendants in the 2006 murder be halted and the case returned to prosecutors.
• Election Officials: Niger President Wins Bid to Extend Rule VOA 07 Aug 2009 -- Niger's electoral commission says President Mamadou Tandja has easily won a referendum to change the constitution and extend his stay in power.
• Soviet-Era Documents Shed Light On Suppression Of Ukrainian Catholic Church RFE/RL 07 Aug 2009 -- Patriarch Kirill's recent high-profile visit to Ukraine was interrupted by an unwanted visitor from the past.
• Moldovan Communists Could Back Independent President RFE/RL 07 Aug 2009 -- Moldova's ruling Communist Party suggested it may consider an opposition-backed candidate to replace the country's outgoing president, Communist Vladimir Voronin.
• Pause In Moldova Coalition Talks Affords Diplomatic Flurry RFE/RL 07 Aug 2009 -- The four opposition parties that will be represented in Moldova's next parliament have announced a break in coalition talks so their leaders can meet with foreign diplomats.
• U.S. senate approves Sotomayor's appointment to Supreme Court RIA Novosti 07 Aug 2009 -- The U.S. senate confirmed the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the US Supreme Court, the first Hispanic and only the third woman to be appointed to the country's highest court.