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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 25 Aug 2009 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Al-Qaida Claims Responsibility for Baghdad Blasts VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- Al-Qaida has claimed responsibility for two truck bombs that hit government ministries in Baghdad last week, killing more than 100 people and wounding 500 others.
• 8th Theater Sustainment Command employs capabilities of USARJ Command Center Army News 25 Aug 2009 -- Maj. Erik Jablonski spent a year and a half in Kirkush, Iraq, near the Iranian border on a Military Transition Team. Living and working conditions were far from ideal for him and his Soldiers. He has one word to describe working in his forward tactical operations center there - crowded
• Reduction in force means reduction in ammo Army News 25 Aug 2009 -- The 23rd Ordnance Company out of Grafenwoehr, Germany, continues to assist with the withdrawal of Class V ammunition at Joint Base Balad, as MNC-I prepares to make reductions for the responsible drawdown of personnel and equipment in Iraq
• 377th Theater Sustainment Command commander visits JBB Army News 25 Aug 2009 -- Maj. Gen. Luis R. Visot, commanding general of the 377th Theater Sustainment Command out of New Orleans, toured the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) logistic facilities and talked to leaders and Soldiers Aug. 20 at Joint Base Balad
• Army, Air Force Save $50 million for Taxpayers Army News 25 Aug 2009 -- As most U.S. forces in Iraq prepare for the largest strategic reposturing of forces in 40 years, Task Force 586 has already started the process
• Casualty liaison team to leave Ibn Sina Hospital Army News 25 Aug 2009 -- Six Soldiers with second platoon, 623rd Casualty Liaison Team, 10th Sustainment Brigade, at the 10th Combat Support Hospital in Ibn Sina Hospital here are scheduled to move with the 10th CSH to Sather Air Base, Iraq, in September after the U.S. gives control of Ibn Sina to the Iraqi government
• ACB maintainers keep Apaches in air Army News 25 Aug 2009 -- AH-64D Apache attack helicopter pilots are usually the ones that get all the glory in an attack aviation unit
• Al Asad Air Base tests mass casualty response USMC News 25 Aug 2009 -- Marines wearing torn, discarded Army camouflage uniforms helped each other apply imitation blood and severed limbs as they were briefed on a scenario they were expected to bring to life
• USS Thach Helps Protect Iraqi Infrastructure in North Arabian Gulf Navy NewsStand 25 Aug 2009 -- The guided-missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 43) is providing a vital security presence in the North Arabian Gulf, helping to protect Iraq's critical infrastructure since arriving on station mid-July.
• Powerful Bomb Kills 40 in Southern Afghanistan VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- Police in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar say 40 people are dead and 64 injured after an apparent truck bomb exploded.
• US Trying to Match Military Drive in Afghanistan with Socio-Economic Development VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- As Afghans wait for results from last Thursday's disputed presidential and provincial election, the Obama administration is pressing for non-military efforts that would strengthen the new government.
• Karzai Holds Slim Lead As Partial Afghan Election Results Announced RFE/RL 25 Aug 2009 -- After days of confusion and claims of outright victory by each of the top two contenders in the August 20 presidential election, the Afghan election authorities have announced the first partial results
• Incumbent Afghan president leads presidential vote - first results RIA Novosti 25 Aug 2009 -- Incumbent Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, is leading slightly in the presidential vote after 10% of ballots have been counted, the country's Independent Election Commission said on Tuesday.
• Initial Afghan Election Results Show Incumbent President with Slight Lead VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai is leading by just two percent, according to official, partial election results five days after millions of voters braved Taliban threats to cast ballots. Mr. Karzai has 40.6 percent of votes tabulated, while his closest challenger has 38.7 percent.
• Four NATO Deaths Make 2009 Deadliest Year in Afghanistan VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- NATO officials say a bomb blast has killed four U.S. service members in southern Afghanistan, making 2009 the deadliest year for coalition forces in the country since the U.S.-led invasion eight years ago.
• UN agencies discuss early recovery efforts with Pakistani authorities UN News Centre 25 Aug 2009 -- United Nations officials have wrapped up a mission to Swat district in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP) to discuss the strengthening of humanitarian assistance to those uprooted by military operations in the region, as well as early recovery efforts.
• PAKISTAN: Mass graves found in Swat IRIN 25 Aug 2009 -- Human rights groups and local residents say mass graves have been found in parts of northwestern Pakistan which have seen fierce fighting between government forces and Taliban militants since May 2009.
• Pakistani Taliban: Baitullah Meshud is Dead VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- Pakistani Taliban commanders have acknowledged that their former leader, Baitullah Mehsud, was killed by a U.S. air strike.

Defense Policy / Programs

• White House Appoints Prosecutor To Probe Bush-Era Interrogation Practices RFE/RL 25 Aug 2009 -- The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama is taking steps to review the U.S. government's past and future treatment of terrorism suspects, including the launch of a criminal investigation into CIA questioning of terror suspects during the Bush administration
• Cheney Criticizes Obama Over CIA Probe VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- President Barack Obama for allowing the Justice Department to investigate CIA interrogations of terrorism suspects under the Bush administration.
• UN human rights chief welcomes US investigation into alleged CIA abuses UN News Centre 25 Aug 2009 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has welcomed the decision by the United States Attorney-General to appoint a special prosecutor to look into whether Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officers and contractors broke US laws while conducting interrogations outside the US, including at Guantanamo Bay.
• DoD News: Defense Business Board Issues Final NSPS Report DoD 25 Aug 2009-- The Defense Business Board delivered its final report last Wednesday on the National Security Personnel System to Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn III and Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry, completing an independent review of NSPS, a Department of Defense civilian personnel management system under which more than 200,000 DoD employees currently operate
• Business Board Calls for Changes to Personnel System AFPS 25 Aug 2009 -- In its final report, a Defense Business Board task group has recommended a “reconstruction” of the National Security Personnel System.
• Sailors' Online Records Key for Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer Navy NewsStand 25 Aug 2009 -- With the gate opening Aug. 1 for eligible Sailors to transfer their GI Bill benefits to spouses or children, the Navy has processed about 7,500 applications with priority given to family members attending college this fall.
• SECNAV: Guam Strategically Vital to Navy's Mission Navy NewsStand 25 Aug 2009 -- The secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) visited Guam and Saipan Aug. 23-24 to familiarize himself with Department of the Navy assets, talk with Sailors and Marines, the local business community and senior government and military leadership.
• Rules for Extensions to Change This Fall Navy NewsStand 25 Aug 2009 -- The Navy will change the Short Term Extension (STE) policy Oct. 1, affecting obligated service (OBLISERV) rules for enlisted personnel.
• European Union Counterpiracy Commodore Visits CTF 151 Navy NewsStand 25 Aug 2009 -- The European Union (EU) Counterpiracy Task Group Commander the Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 flagship USS Anzio (CG 68).
• Chief of Naval Personnel Takes Time Out with VFA-136 Navy NewsStand 25 Aug 2009 -- The chief of naval personnel visited Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana to speak with Sailors at Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136 "Knighthawks" about current Navy personnel policies and initiatives Aug. 19.
• Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Dewey Navy NewsStand 25 Aug 2009 -- The Navy officially accepted delivery of the future USS Dewey (DDG 105) Aug. 17 from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) during a ceremony in Pascagoula, Miss.
• USS Chafee Returns Home to Pearl Harbor Navy NewsStand 25 Aug 2009 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) Sailors reunited with families and friends at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Aug. 24, after a Western Pacific deployment.
• Keel Laid for Future USNS Washington Chambers Navy NewsStand 25 Aug 2009 -- The keel for the future USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11) was laid during a ceremony at the General Dynamics-NASSCO shipyard in San Diego Aug. 25.
• Reserve Admiral Makes History, Takes Command of Combined Task Force Navy NewsStand 25 Aug 2009 -- The Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 change of command ceremony held Aug. 13 aboard the CTF 151 flagship USS Anzio (CG 68) in Manama, Bahrain, marked the end of one historic chapter and the start of another as a Reserve admiral took command.
• Reserve Admiral Makes History, Takes Command of Combined Task Force Navy NewsStand 25 Aug 2009 -- The Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 change of command ceremony held Aug. 13 aboard the CTF 151 flagship USS Anzio (CG 68) in Manama, Bahrain, marked the end of one historic chapter and the start of another as a Reserve admiral took command.
• Crane Engineers Discuss Future Force during Industry Conference Navy NewsStand 25 Aug 2009 -- Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) engineers offered presentations at the 46th annual IEEE Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects Conference (NSREC) held July 20-24 in Quebec City, Canada.
• CTF 151 Flagship Marks Deployment Milestone Navy NewsStand 25 Aug 2009 -- The crew aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) took a break in its busy schedule at sea to mark the middle of the ship's deployment in support of counterpiracy operations off the coast of Somalia Aug. 24.
• Air ground operations school helps NATO train Estonian, Swedish troops for deployment AFNS 25 Aug 2009 -- Two Estonian air force members and a Swedish army ranger spent a week in pre-deployment briefings, computer simulation, and field training as forward air controllers thanks to the joint efforts of the staff at the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Air Ground Operations School and the International Security Assistance Force Cell at NATO Allied Air Component Command Headquarters Ramstein Aug. 17- 21.
• New ergonomic seats installed in E-3 fleet AFNS 25 Aug 2009 -- For operators occupying the 19 control stations aboard E-3 Sentrys, 12-to-14-hour missions will become a bit more comfortable after new ergonomically designed seats are installed on the U.S. fleet.
• Mullen Cites Need for New Thinking, Strategies AFPS 25 Aug 2009 -- Today’s wars need a new type of thinking and new strategies, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today.
• Doctors, Scientists Team Up to Improve Wound Care AFPS 25 Aug 2009
• Main Command Post provides 'reach back' capability for 8th Theater Sustainment Command Army News 25 Aug 2009 -- The Soldiers of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command (TSC) are once again refining their craft to conduct operations in the Pacific Theater with a command post exercise August 17 through 30 here
• 1st AD prepares for Iraq mission: Thanks German leaders for support during deployment Army News 25 Aug 2009 -- Two new agreements between the United States and Iraq governments have changed the combat rules for American troops
• Transformation: Wiesbaden construction projects in full swing Army News 25 Aug 2009 -- Change is coming to the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden in the form of big projects with big price tags
• Navy Reservists Gain Valuable Experience with Crane Army Army News 25 Aug 2009 -- One of the biggest challenges facing a Reservist is getting away from the Reserve Center in order to get the training needed to ensure they are ready to perform on Active Duty
• Leaders use battlefield incidents to train for Joint operations Army News 25 Aug 2009 -- A new integrated training that targets decision making and planning skills in crisis situations was demonstrated during the TRADOC Senior Leaders Conference here Wednesday
• U.S. Army Commander in Europe: We have to build alliances Army News 25 Aug 2009 -- During the opening speech of the LandWarNet 2009 conference, Gen. Carter F. Ham harked back to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and drew parallels between it and walls that exist in the governance of the Army's network.
• 100th MDB Completes Army Warrior Training with Team Building Exercise Army News 25 Aug 2009 -- Although no tents were pitched or shower points constructed, the 100th Missile Defense Brigade (Ground-based Midcourse Defense) went to minimum manning on their city-saving consoles to conduct an Army Warrior Training exercise here August 22.
• DoD News: Senior Executive Service Appointments and Reassignments DoD 25 Aug 2009-- Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced the following Department of Defense senior executive service, senior leader appointments and reassignments
• New munitions units advance nuclear weapons center role AFNS 25 Aug 2009 -- With the activation and assumption of command for the 798th Munitions Maintenance Group at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Aug. 18, Air Force officials significantly advanced one of their top goals: reinvigorating the service's nuclear enterprise.
• Motor T always delivers USMC News 25 Aug 2009 -- Despite the many obstacles that motor transport operators face each day on the road, in the end, they always deliver the goods
• Vice Chairman Addresses Defense Program Reviews AFPS 25 Aug 2009 -- The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff stressed relevance, adaptability and affordability as top concerns for programs ranging from nuclear weapons to satellites during the Space and Missile Defense Conference here Aug. 19.
• Collaboration key to success in cyber operations AFNS 25 Aug 2009 -- The Air Force Information Technology Conference opened Aug. 24 in Montgomery, Ala., with keynote addresses from the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the Air Force chief of staff and the CEO of McAfee, Inc.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 25 Aug 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 25, 2009
• Boeing SLAM ER Modified to Engage Moving Targets on Land Boeing 25 Aug 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has modified the Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM ER) to engage land-based moving targets (LMT). The U.S. Navy declared the missile system, with its enhanced targeting software, operationally effective against LMTs on July 2 following a successful Operational Evaluation.
• General Dynamics NASSCO Lays Keel of the Future USNS Washington Chambers General Dynamics 25 Aug 2009 -- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today laid the keel for USNS Washington Chambers, the eleventh ship of the Lewis and Clark class of dry cargo-ammunition ships (T-AKE). Construction of the Washington Chambers began in March.
• Lockheed Martin Delivers Final C-5B Galaxy Transport Modified Under Avionics Modernization Program Lockheed Martin 25 Aug 2009 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] delivered the 50th C-5B Galaxy strategic transport modified under the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) back to the Air Force in ceremonies here today. This completes the AMP modifications to the C-5B fleet.
• Two Northrop Grumman-built Ships -- Dewey (DDG 105) and New York (LPD 21) -- Delivered On Gulf Coast in the Same Week Northrop Grumman 25 Aug 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) delivered two ships to the U.S. Navy this week at its Gulf Coast shipyards in Pascagoula, Miss. and Avondale, La. Company and Navy officials signed documents officially transferring custody of the Aegis guided missile destroyer Dewey (DDG 105) in Pascagoula on Monday, Aug. 17 and the amphibious transport dock ship New York (LPD 21) at the New Orleans facility on Friday, Aug. 21.
• Raytheon Delivers 1000th Evolved SeaSparrow Missile Raytheon 25 Aug 2009 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) delivered the 1000th Evolved SeaSparrow Missile to a multinational consortium during a ceremony at the Raytheon Missile Systems Weapon Integration Center - Camden.
• Thales announces WARTHOG contract with ST Kinetics Thales 25 Aug 2009 -- Following the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) announcement in December 2008 of its purchase of more than 100 WARTHOG all-terrain tracked armoured vehicles, Thales today announces a £20m contract with WARTHOG manufacturer Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd (ST Kinetics). Under the terms of contract, Thales will equip these vehicles with key mission systems as part of an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) programme.
• New Dutch Bushmasters destined for Afghanistan Thales 25 Aug 2009 -- Thales is to supply the Netherlands with 14 new Bushmaster vehicles, bringing total Dutch orders to 86. The standard troop carrier variants will be delivered to the customer in October and November, with nine destined for Afghanistan and five to be kept in reserve.

Other Conflicts

• Former Congolese leader facing trial should remain in ICC custody – Prosecutor UN News Centre 25 Aug 2009 -- Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo should remain in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) until the start of his trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity, the Court’s Prosecutor stated as he appealed the decision to the former Congolese leader a temporary release.
• UNICEF head speaks out against violence in northern Yemen UN News Centre 25 Aug 2009 -- The head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for “immediate and secure” access to people uprooted by escalating clashes – mostly children and women – between Government forces and rebels in northern Yemen.
• Officials from joint African Union-UN mission bid farewell to Darfur UN News Centre 25 Aug 2009 -- The head of the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur and its military chief are meeting with colleagues and local government officials as they wrap up their tours of duty in the strife-torn Sudanese region.
• Half of Somalia’s population could go hungry, UN warns UN News Centre 25 Aug 2009 -- Half of Somalia’s population is in need of humanitarian assistance, according to a new United Nations report which finds that the conflict engulfing the Horn of Africa nation is pushing increasing numbers of people into hunger.
• SOMALIA: Humanitarian situation “worst in 18 years” IRIN 25 Aug 2009 -- Somalia is facing the worst humanitarian crisis of the past 18 years, with an estimated 3.76 million people - half the population - needing aid as security deteriorates, officials say.
• Kenya: UN agency sounds alarm on dire food situation UN News Centre 25 Aug 2009 -- The United Nations food agency today issued a warning that Kenya faces a dire hunger crisis due to failed rains, appealing today for $230 million to feed nearly 4 million Kenyans – nearly one-tenth of the African nation’s population – over the next six months.
• Israeli PM Says Settlement Building to Continue During Peace Talks VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- Israel's prime minister says his country is working to reach a compromise with the United States that will allow Israelis to continue building controversial settlements while restarting peace talks with Palestinians.
• Thai Army Hopes Economic Projects Ease Insurgency in South VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- Thailand's armed forces have turned to economic development programs to win over Muslim communities and ease the insurgency in the country's southern provinces.
• Turkish Military: No Negotiations with Kurdish Rebels VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- Turkey's military has ruled out any negotiation with Kurdish rebels, but says it will back government efforts to expand the rights of the Kurdish minority.
• Humanitarian Situation in N. Yemen Worsening VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- U.N. aid agencies report the humanitarian situation in Northern Yemen is worsening. They say fighting between Yemeni government forces and al Houthi rebels is continuing to escalate and approximately 119,000 people have been displaced.
• YEMEN: Tough challenges for aid workers in Saada IRIN 25 Aug 2009 -- Aid organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to help civilians in the northern Yemeni governorate of Saada after renewed clashes there between the army and the al-Houthi Shia rebels.
• Israeli Forces Kill at Least 2 Palestinians in Raid on Gaza Tunnel VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- Medical workers in Gaza say an Israeli air raid on smuggling tunnels between the Gaza Strip and Egypt has killed three Palestinians and wounded at least seven others.

News Reports

• US Resists Direct Talks with N. Korea VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- The Obama administration reaffirmed Tuesday it is not interested in talks with North Korea outside the framework of Chinese-sponsored six-party negotiations on that country's nuclear program. South Korean news reports say Pyongyang has invited two U.S. senior diplomats to visit next month.
• Reports: North Korea Invites US Envoy for Nuclear Talks VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- Reports from South Korea say North Korea has invited the U.S. special envoy for the communist nation to visit next month for talks on its nuclear arms program.
• Politicians in Guinea Oppose Military Ruler Running for President VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- Civilian politicians in Guinea oppose a push to have the country's military ruler run for president in elections that he has postponed until next year.
• Russian Soyuz-ST rocket launch from Kourou set for April 2010 RIA Novosti 25 Aug 2009 -- The first launch of Russia's Soyuz-ST carrier rocket from the Kourou space center in French Guiana has been scheduled for the beginning of April 2010, general director of the Progress design bureau said on Tuesday.
• South Korea Fails to Put Satellite In Orbit VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- South Korea has launched a rocket that was intended to place a satellite into space. However, the satellite has failed to go into orbit.
• S.Korea's first self-launched satellite fails to reach set orbit RIA Novosti 25 Aug 2009 -- The first satellite launched by South Korea failed to reach its designated orbit pattern on Tuesday, the Yonhap news agency has reported.
• Brown: Britain Played No Part in Lockerbie Bomber Release VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- For the first time since the release last week of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi from a Scottish prison and his return to Libya, Britain's prime minister has addressed the issue publicly.
• NASA Again Postpones Shuttle Discovery Launch VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- The U.S. space agency NASA says it has postponed the launch of the space shuttle Discovery for the second time this week - this time because of a bad fuel valve.
• NASA postpones Discovery liftoff until Wednesday RIA Novosti 25 Aug 2009 -- NASA called off the Discovery shuttle's launch to the International Space Station on Tuesday due to thundershowers near Cape Canaveral.
• Panel Warns of 90,000 Possible US Flu Deaths VOA 24 Aug 2009 -- U.S. President Barack Obama's science advisers say swine flu could kill up to 90,000 Americans during the winter flu season in the United States.
• Iran Prosecutes Top Reform Figures in Mass Trial VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- Iranian judiciary officials have put several top reformers on trial, including a man considered to be a key leader of the pro-democracy movement.
• Iran Puts More Protesters on Trial VOA 25 Aug 2009 -- Iranian media say Iran has started its fourth mass trial for detainees with charges related to the unrest that followed the June 12 re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
• Iraqi PM, Shi'ite Bloc Prepare To Face Off In Parliamentary Elections RFE/RL 25 Aug 2009 -- The United States has invested a lot in supporting Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, and now he may face his greatest political test
• SOMALIA: Election ruling rings alarm bells in Somaliland IRIN 25 Aug 2009 -- A ruling that Somaliland will hold its oft-postponed presidential election without a voters’ list has prompted demonstrations, a boycott threat and warnings that the secessionist state’s relative stability is in jeopardy.