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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 21 Aug 2009 [PDF]
• Aug. 20 airpower summary: F-16s cover coalition convoys AFNS 21 Aug 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 20, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Iraqis Arrest 10 on Terrorism Charges AFPS 21 Aug 2009 -- Iraqi forces, working with US advisors, arrested 10 people in Iraq on terrorism charges related to bombings, murder and kidnappings.
• Speicher Soldiers learn to mulititask Army News 21 Aug 2009 -- Transportation Soldiers at Contingency Operating Location Speicher, Iraq, are performing a mission very different from one they originally expected.
• INSTALL Army News 21 Aug 2009 -- A steady flow of vehicles arrive daily at the 402nd Army Field Support Battalion to receive upgrades to the M1151 Humvee through ITT, a civilian contractor.
• WATER Army News 21 Aug 2009 -- Soldiers drink it every day, but how many wonder where it comes from, or how it is processed to make it drinkable?
• Animal Company returns from Iraq USMC News 21 Aug 2009 -- More than 160 Marines and sailors marched onto Victory Field Tuesday, where families sporting custom T-shirts and signs cheered and whistled at the prospect of their loved ones returning home from deployment
• Blast Rocks Baghdad Vegetable Market VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- Iraqi police say two people were killed and 20 others wounded when a bomb attached to a vehicle exploded at a vegetable market in Baghdad.
• Marine engineers construct major fortifications in Helmand’s hostile territory USMC News 21 Aug 2009 -- The mission for Marines here is to seize ground controlled by Taliban insurgents, hold that ground and build on it. Building in this case means fortifying their exposed position on the very front lines of this conflict
• Coordinated Effort Protects Afghan Voters AFPS 21 Aug 2009 -- Authorities worked together to provide security for polling stations across the province.
• Ships, Planes Deliver Stryker Brigade to Afghanistan AFPS 21 Aug 2009 -- Military transportation experts used ships and planes to deploy an Army combat unit that arrived in Afghanistan last month.
• Airdrop fuels troops in austere Afghan locations AFNS 21 Aug 2009 -- Air Force officials from here airdropped 3.3 million pounds of supplies into Afghanistan during the month of July.
• Is The Taliban The Main Loser Of Afghanistan's Elections? RFE/RL 21 Aug 2009 -- Taliban warned that voters' ink-stained fingers would be chopped off to punish them for participating in August 20 elections.
• Afghan Officials Say Claims of Victory Are Premature VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- The campaigns of the two top candidates in Afghanistan's presidential election are both claiming victory.
• Top Candidates Both Claim First-Round Victory In Afghan Poll RFE/RL 21 Aug 2009 -- Top candidates in Afghanistan's poll, incumbent President Karzai and former FM Abdullah, have both claimed outright victory.
• Vote Tally in Three Kabul Precincts Shows Karzai Leading VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- Initial results from three voting districts in presidential election in Afghanistan have incumbent President Karzai in the lead.
• Observer Group Describes Afghan Poll as 'Credible' VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- US-funded group that observed Afghanistan's presidential poll says despite reports of serious fraud, the election has so far been credible.
• Obama: Afghan Election 'Important Step Forward' VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- US President Obama congratulating the people of Afghanistan on completing their presidential election, in the face of violent extremism.
• Obama Congratulates Afghans on Election AFPS 21 Aug 2009 -- President Obama praised the courage of the Afghan people for participating innational election despite threats by the Taliban to disrupt the process.
• Security Council lauds holding of 'historic' Afghan elections UN News Centre 21 Aug 2009 -- UNSC welcomed the holding of Afghanistan’s “historic” presidential and provincial council elections.
• UN Security Council praises Afghanistan elections RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2009 -- UN Security Council on congratulated Afghanistan on holding presidential and provincial elections despite a series of terrorist acts.
• Pakistani returns to north-west top 1 million, reports UN UN News Centre 21 Aug 2009 -- Around 1.6 million of the over 2 million people displaced by conflict in Pakistan’s north-west have returned to their villages, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today, citing Government figures.
• North Pakistan Missile Strike Kills 13 VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- Pakistani officials say at least 13 people are dead in a suspected U.S. missile attack on a militant hideout in Pakistan's North Waziristan region.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Obama, Gates Lead Defense Acquisition Reforms AFPS 21 Aug 2009 -- President Obama threw his weight behind the Defense Department’s acquisition reform efforts earlier this week.
• DoD News: Army Announces Force Structure Actions DoD 21 Aug 2009 -- The Department of the Army announced today a series of planned unit activations, inactivations, relocations and conversions at four installations
• Naval Surface Warfare Center Dam Neck Welcomes New Commanding Officer Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2009 -- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dam Neck held a change of command ceremony Aug. 13 on the Dam Neck Annex of Naval Air Station Oceana.
• Oak Hill Returns Home After Southern Partnership Station 2009 Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2009 -- More than 300 Sailors and embarked Marines aboard the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) returned home Aug. 21 after nearly three months of operations in support of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2009.
• USACE uses Quality Management System website to standardize business processes Army News 21 Aug 2009 -- Geographic diversity, customer variety, organizational structure differences and a presence worldwide have led to varying business practices established across the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Patton 'Bested' at the Battle of Bermuda Bridge Army News 21 Aug 2009
• Electronic Warfare - a new way of fighting Army News 21 Aug 2009
• Black Hawk Helicopter Headed for the Border Army News 21 Aug 2009 -- The two members of the official party exchanged handshakes and passed the log book and keys between them. This moment signified the official transfer of a UH-60M from the Utility Helicopter Project Office to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency
• General Officers on Target in Missile Firing Army News 21 Aug 2009 -- AMCOM commander Maj. Gen. Jim Myles and program executive officer for missiles and space Brig. Gen. Genaro Dellarocco each fired a Javelin missile as part of the normally scheduled Javelin Stockpile Reliability Program testing.
• Blackhorse stays ready and relevant for future combat Army News 21 Aug 2009 -- The battlefield of the future will be different compared to the battles being waged now in Iraq and Afghanistan; they will be different from the Cold War battles our nation\'s leaders envisioned
• Ushering in a New Era of Testing at Redstone Army News 21 Aug 2009 -- Missile and aviation testing will make history simultaneously at Redstone Arsenal this week
• Mobile Construction Battalion 74 Meets Maintenance, Management, Material Mission Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2009 -- The Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 remain successful at performing their maintenance, management and material (3M) mission, a mission which relies heavily on communication, with the support of a small detachment of 3M experts at Camp Morrell, Kuwait.
• New Construction Battalion has the Reins in Guam Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2009 -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1, officially took charge of Camp Covington during a ceremony Aug. 14 on U.S. Naval Base Guam.
• Bonhomme Richard Celebrates 11th Birthday Underway Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2009 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) celebrated its 11th birthday Aug. 15 while at sea for its final certification exercise.
• Peleliu Qualifies Weapons Handlers by the Hundreds Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2009 -- USS Peleliu (LHA 5) recently prepared for future operations by qualifying more than 1,550 Sailors in various weapons December 2008-July 2009 in San Diego.
• Indonesian School Project Caps Seabees' CARAT Experience Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2009 -- The dedication and turnover of a new school building and playground for Pusaka Rakyat Primary School in Bekasi, Indonesia, Aug. 14 represented the conclusion of a summer's worth of projects throughout Southeast Asia supporting Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2009.
• Navy to Transfer Decommissioned Destroyer for Artificial Reefing Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2009 -- The Navy announced Aug. 20 that it will transfer the decommissioned destroyer ex-Arthur W. Radford to the state of Delaware for use as an artificial reef.
• Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS New York Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2009 -- The Navy officially accepted delivery of the future USS New York (LPD 21) from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) during a ceremony Aug. 21 at the company's Avondale shipyard in New Orleans.
• SEACAT Shows Benefits of Cooperation Ashore, At Sea Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2009 -- The eighth annual Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) exercise ended on a successful note Aug. 20, with Sailors from five Southeast Asian nations tracking three mock 'vessels of interest,' and conducting nine successful at-sea boardings.
• SECNAV Stresses Importance of Pacific While Visiting Hawaii Navy NewsStand 21 Aug 2009 -- The secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) visited Hawaii Aug. 19-22 to meet with military and senior government leadership, to speak with Sailors and to familiarize himself with Department of the Navy assets in the region.
• Naval Research Lab Pushes Technological Edge AFPS 21 Aug 2009 -- About a mile south of the US Capitol some of the nation’s top scientists and engineers explore the boundaries of science and technology.
• Leaders issue joint message, define cyber mission AFNS 21 Aug 2009 -- The secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force chief of staff focus on the alignment of the service's cyberspace mission.
• Pacific Airlift Rally 2009 kicks off AFNS 21 Aug 2009 -- A biennial symposium involving Pacific Rim nations to enhance military airlift interoperability with a focus in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations kicked off Aug. 17.
• U.S. Marine Corps delegation in Georgia to discuss military ties RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2009 -- A delegation of the United States Marine Corps arrived in Georgia on Friday to discuss military cooperation between the countries.
• Taiwan still needs U.S. to supply weapons: envoy CNA 21 Aug 2009 -- Taiwan needs the United States to continue supplying it defensive weapons to beef up its strength as it engages and negotiates with China.
• Russian Air Force signs $190 mln contract to buy new missiles RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2009 -- Russian Air Force signed a 6 billion ruble ($190 mln) contract for modern air-launched missiles.
• Russian warships escort another convoy in the Gulf of Aden RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2009 -- A Russian Pacific Fleet task force escorting its third convoy in the Gulf of Aden since its arrival in the area in late July.
• MAKS-2009: Ilyushin has a big future RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2009 -- Interview with high-ranking Russian aviation official.
• India Begins Trials to Select Air Force Combat Jets VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- In India, trials have begun to select a fighter aircraft for the country's air force.
• Russia to deliver engines for Indian MiG fighters RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2009 -- Rosoboronexport and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd signed a contract on the delivery of 26 RD-33 series 3 engines to India.
• Moscow says regional security drills to go ahead as planned RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2009 -- Joint exercise by member states of a post-Soviet regional security grouping will go ahead as planned.
• S.Ossetia wants to join Russia-Belarus union - leader RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2009 -- South Ossetia will seek to join the union being formed by Russia and Belarus.
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 8/21/09 The White House 21 Aug 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 21, 2009
• Oshkosh Defense Brings History of Collaboration With U.S. Army to FMTV Competitive Rebuy Bid Oshkosh 21 Aug 2009 -- As a manufacturer and supplier of Department of Defense (DoD) tactical wheeled vehicles for more than four decades, Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), brings a successful and celebrated history of collaboration with the U.S. Army to its bid for the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) competitive rebuy.
• Thales improves eye of the Tiger Thales 21 Aug 2009 -- Thales has successfully secured an order from prime contractor Australian Aerospace to upgrade the TopOwl® Helmet-Mounted Sight Display (HMSD) Display Modules fitted to the Australian Army's fleet of Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 21 Aug 2009
• Israel, Palestinians Trade Blame for Stalled Peace Talks VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- US President Barack Obama made a fresh appeal for Israel and the Palestinians to jump-start stalled peace negotiations.
• Egypt's Role Critical Whether or Not Accord Is Reached VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and US President Barack Obama expressed optimism about attaining Middle East peace.
• Former U.S. Statesmen Say U.S. Role Critical to Securing Middle East Peace VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- Meeting between President Obama and Egyptian president Mubarak latest in a series of meetings aimed at exploring new avenues for peace.
• US Africa Command Chief Vows Support for Somali Government VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- Top general from US military's Africa Command: Rise of radical Islamist militant group al-Shabab in Somalia makes East Africa a central focus of the US military on the continent.
• Somalia's Government to Soon Sign State of Emergency Law VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- Somali President Sheikh Ahmed is expected to soon sign into law a state of emergency approved by parliament.
• More Than 20 Killed in Fighting in Somali Capital VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- Islamist militants in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, launched a pre-dawn raid on African Union peacekeepers Friday, triggering fierce fighting that killed more than 20 people.
• UN continues providing humanitarian aid to Somalia UN News Centre 21 Aug 2009 -- The United Nations is continuing its efforts to ameliorate the dire humanitarian situation in Somalia, rushing food and other vital items to the war-wracked Horn of Africa nation.
• US Envoy Gathers Darfur Rebels for Unity Attempt VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- President Obama's special envoy to Sudan is expressing confidence that Darfur rebel groups can unite to send a single message in talks with the Khartoum government.
• Southern Sudanese Government Hails Call for Lifting Sanctions VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- Southern Sudanese government has welcomed calls by USspecial envoy Scott Gration for a partial lifting of sanctions against Sudan.
• Ugandan rebels drive thousands from their homes in southern Sudan - UN UN News Centre 21 Aug 2009 -- Fresh attacks carried out by a notorious Ugandan rebel group have uprooted thousands of people and spreading panic in southern Sudan.
• DRC Fighting Has Effects Far From Conflict Zone VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- World Council of Churches: Any solution to the crisis in eastern DRC must also take into account other regions of the country.
• Suicide Bombers Kill 4 in Chechnya VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- Officials in the Russian republic of Chechnya say suicide bombers have detonated explosives in the capital Grozny, killing at least four police officers.
• Suicide bombers on bicycles kill at least 4 police in Chechnya RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2009 -- Suicide bombers on bicycles carried out four blasts in the capital of Russia's North Caucasus republic of Chechnya on Friday, leaving at least four police dead and two injured.
• Chechen Group's Claim Of Russian Power Plant Attack Dismissed RFE/RL 21 Aug 2009 -- Chechen Islamist group claiming responsibility for the recent explosion at a hydroelectric plant in Siberia.
• Nigeria's Amnesty Program Makes Slow Progress VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- A 60-day amnesty deal by the Nigerian government for rebels in the Niger Delta aimed at reducing unrest in the oil-rich region came into effect two weeks ago.
• Newly-discovered group of displaced Central Africans need urgent aid – UN agency UN News Centre 21 Aug 2009 -- The United Nations refugee agency today highlighted the plight of a group of over 2,000 displaced civilians who are living in a previously inaccessible and remote area of northern Central African Republic (CAR) and are in urgent need of food, water and health care.
• UN assisting civilians trapped amid fighting in northern Yemen UN News Centre 21 Aug 2009 -- The United Nations is helping civilians caught up in violence between Government troops and rebels in the mountains of northern Yemen, with the world body estimating that over 100,000 people have been affected by the upsurge in fighting.
• Humanitarian Situation in War-torn Yemen Worsening VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- UN aid agencies say they are very concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen because of increased fighting between rebels and government forces.

News Reports

• US Calls Iranian Cabinet Choice 'Disturbing' VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- US expressed concern about Iranian President's choice of a suspected international terrorist figure as the country's new defense minister.
• Iran Cleric Wants Opposition Leaders Detained VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- An influential Iranian cleric has called for the arrest of opposition leaders for their role in demonstrations following June's presidential election.
• Otherwise healthy people do not need antivirals for H1N1 UN News Centre 21 Aug 2009 -- WHO: Otherwise healthy people infected with the H1N1 virus do not need to be treated with antiviral drugs.
• Recommended use of antivirals UN WHO 21 Aug 2009 -- WHO is today issuing guidelines for the use of antivirals in the management of patients infected with the H1N1 pandemic virus.
• India's Health Minister Urges States to Contain Swine Flu VOA 21 Aug 2009 -- India's health minister urging state leaders to do more to control the spread of H1N1 swine flu, as the death toll rises to 36 in the country.
• Number of new swine flu cases drops in Russia RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2009 -- New swine flu cases in Russia fallen due to a ban imposed in some Russian regions on schoolchildren visiting foreign countries.
• Preventive Medicine Chief Cites Importance of Vaccinations AFPS 21 Aug 2009 -- August is National Immunization Month, and a senior Navy medical official encouraged servicemembers to be up to date.
• Kazakh Officials Ban Uyghur Photo Exhibit On China Clashes RFE/RL 21 Aug 2009 -- Uyghur activists in Kazakhstan were stopped from holding a press conference and photo exhibition on the ethnic clashes in China's Xinjiang Province.
• Arctic Sea owner appeals for 'reliable' info on crew RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2009 -- The Finnish owner of the Arctic Sea ship, which was missing in the Atlantic for more than two weeks until it was found on Monday, wants reliable information on the crew, the Solchart company said on Friday.
• Russian probe into hijacked ship to involve several countries RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2009 -- Russia's probe into the hijacking of the Arctic Sea cargo vessel is likely to involve the law enforcement agencies of other countries.
• Molotov-Ribbentrop: The Night Stalin And Hitler Redrew The Map Of Europe RFE/RL 21 Aug 2009 -- On August 24, 1939 the shocking news that Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin had signed a nonaggression pact.