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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 31 Aug 2009 [PDF]
• Aug. 30 airpower summary: F-15Es deter enemy attack AFNS 31 Aug 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Iraqi Forces Arrest 10 Terrorism Suspects AFPS 31 Aug 2009 -- Iraqi forces, with U.S. forces advisors, arrested 10 terrorism suspects.
• "Dragons" move to Taji, prepare for tough mission Army News 31 Aug 2009 -- Troops of 1-82nd Field Artillery once again proved their versatility.
• Syria Dismisses Iraqi Charges it Shelters Bombers VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- Syrian President al-Assad dismissed allegations that Syria has been sheltering people suspected of planting deadly bombs in Iraq.
• GRD builds new facilities for Iraqi Air Force (Baghdad) MNF-I 31 Aug 2009 -- The Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq is managing several projects to improve the quality of life for the Iraqi air force
• McChrystal Delivers Afghan Assessment to U.S., NATO Leaders AFPS 31 Aug 2009 -- Commander of NATO and US forces in Afghanistan has completed his assessment of the situation there.
• US, NATO Military Commander Offers Review on Afghanistan VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- Commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan has completed a months-long strategy review and delivered assessment.
• Forces in Afghanistan Capture Key Taliban Leaders AFPS 31 Aug 2009 -- Afghan forces and NATO-led ISAF troops captured 2 key Taliban leaders, including a commander, during joint operation.
• Karzai leads Afghan vote with nearly half ballots counted RIA Novosti 31 Aug 2009 -- Afghanistan's incumbent president, Hamid Karzai ahead with 1,317,121 votes.
• Strike Eagles surpass 8,000 combat hours, support unique missions AFNS 31 Aug 2009 -- Airmen from the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron surpassed 8,000 combat hours in the F-15E Strike Eagle.
• 30th Naval Construction Regiment Deploys in Support of OEF Navy NewsStand 31 Aug 2009 -- Seabees from the 30th Naval Construction Regiment departed beginning an Afghanistan deployment.
• C-130 crew delivers humanitarian supplies to Afghan village AFNS 31 Aug 2009 -- Airmen from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron dropped humanitarian aid to a remote village in northern Afghanistan.
• Pakistan Blast Sets NATO Fuel Convoy Ablaze VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- Pakistani officials investigating explosion at a border crossing that set ablaze supply trucks and fuel tankers bound for NATO troops.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: Media Availability with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at Lockheed Martin Factory, Fort Worth, Texas DoD 31 Aug 2009 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• Secretary Gates Interview with Peter Cook, Bloomberg News DoD 31 Aug 2009 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• DoD News: DoD Establishes Suicide Prevention Task Force DoD 31 Aug 2009 -- The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs announced today the names of 14 members who will serve on the Department of Defense Task Force on the Prevention of Suicide by Members of the Armed Forces
• US says it Will Not Renegotiate Okinawa Troop Accord with New Japanese Government VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- US said it would not renegotiate a deal on US military bases in Japan.
• Doyle Begins Second Half of Southern Seas 2009 Navy NewsStand 31 Aug 2009 -- USS Doyle arrived in Santa Marta for a port visit Aug. 23-26 as part of Southern Seas 2009.
• Newest Biodiesel Ferry Boat Samuel G. Fuqua Arrives Navy NewsStand 31 Aug 2009 -- USS Arizona Ferry Boat #39-2, "Samuel G. Fuqua," welcomed visitors on its maiden run Aug. 18.
• E-3 damaged while landing at Nellis AFNS 31 Aug 2009 -- An E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft was damaged while landing Aug. 28 at Nellis Air Force Base.
• Airmen enhance Ugandan humanitarian airlift capability AFNS 31 Aug 2009 -- Airmen arrived in Uganda Aug. 25 to participate in a C-130 Hercules familiarization event with the Uganda peoples defense air force.
• Defense Program Addresses Contaminants, Health Risks AFPS 31 Aug 2009 -- DoD program being recognized for identifying chemicals DoD uses that have emerging environmental and health risks.
• AF general thanks Coast Guard for continuous shuttle support AFNS 31 Aug 2009 -- Air Forces Northern commander visited Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral to express thanks for support of JTF-STS mission.
• US Army South prepares for PANAMAX 09 Army News 31 Aug 2009 -- Soldiers of US Army South built the command and control infrastructure for "Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX 2009."
• Elmendorf Airmen support Army's Operation Arctic Response AFNS 31 Aug 2009 -- Active and Air National Guard Airmen provided assistance to Army Soldiers Aug. 24 and 26 during Operation Arctic Response.
• California Guard Helps to Save Forests From Marijuana Growers AFPS 31 Aug 2009 -- The California National Guard part of endeavor to protect the state’s forests from destructive marijuana growers.
• USACE conducts emergency preparedness exercises around New York City Army News 31 Aug 2009 -- Soldiers spent two weeks performing assessments of the power needs at critical facilities.
• U.S., Jamaican Forces Join in Maritime Security Seminar Navy NewsStand 31 Aug 2009 -- Participants from Jamaican and US naval forces participated in a maritime security seminar.
• ARRA: Corps of Engineers accelerates Garrison Dam powerhouse rehabilitation Army News 31 Aug 2009 -- Major rehabilitation of the hydropower generation capabilities at Garrison Dam, N.D., has been accelerated with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.
• Navy Historian Traces Rise of Piracy Navy NewsStand 31 Aug 2009 -- Pirates are often in the news for their criminal activities at sea, but their antics are rooted in history.
• More than 170 Cases of Aerial Espionage Perpetrated against DPRK KCNA 31 Aug 2009 -- US and South Korean forces perpetrated more than 170 cases of aerial espionage against the DPRK in August.
• Russia: building a nuclear deterrent for the sake of peace RIA Novosti 31 Aug 2009 -- It took the Soviet Union less than two years to make its first plutonium bomb.
• Russia offers Belarus help in probing crash at Polish air show RIA Novosti 31 Aug 2009 -- Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi ready to help Belarus investigate causes of a fatal accident.
• President respects MND's plan to go through with Blackhawk purchase CNA 31 Aug 2009 -- President Ma fully understands and respects the Ministry of National Defense's decision to stick to its plan.
• Is New Georgian Defense Minister A Psychopath? RFE/RL 31 Aug 2009 -- Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has incurred harsh criticism by naming as his new defense minister Bacho Akhalaya.
• French Servicemen Questioned In Dushanbe Fight RFE/RL 31 Aug 2009 -- Three French servicemen have been involved in a fracas at a restaurant in the capital, Dushanbe.
• Turkmenistan faces difficulties in opening Caspian naval base RIA Novosti 31 Aug 2009 -- Turkmenistan will find that opening a military base on the Caspian Sea is easier said than done.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 31 Aug 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 8/31/09 The White House 31 Aug 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 31, 2009
• General Dynamics Adds Networking Waveform to Radios for Critical Soldier Connectivity; Four Manufacturers Make Ready for Production General Dynamics 31 Aug 2009 -- BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Rockwell Collins and Thales Communications - have successfully built and delivered HMS radios to the government for testing and use during military exercises.
• U.S. Defense Secretary Underscores F-35 Importance During Lockheed Martin Visit Lockheed Martin 31 Aug 2009 -- United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates visited Lockheed Martin’s [NYSE: LMT] final assembly operation for the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter today, conveying optimism for the program’s future and emphasizing the F-35’s importance to global security.
• Raytheon's Gallium Nitride Establishes Radar Technology Standard Raytheon 31 Aug 2009 -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) innovative gallium nitride (GaN) chips have achieved 1,000 hours of reliable operation, positioning this technology as the standard for next generation radar capability.
• Boeing to Provide Network for US Air Force C-17 Training Boeing 31 Aug 2009 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has received a contract from the U.S. Air Force to deliver a C-17 Distributed Training Center (DTC) to Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Boeing will provide the ability to network 10 existing C-17 training sites in the United States, using Scott Air Force Base as the hub.
• Oshkosh Defense to Demonstrate Advanced Unmanned Ground Vehicle Technology at U.S. Army Robotics Rodeo Oshkosh 31 Aug 2009 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), will demonstrate the latest in unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) technology at the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and Fort Hood III Corps Robotics Rodeo, today through Sept. 3, in Fort Hood, Texas.
• World leaders Thales and Plasan partner for next generation vehicles bid Thales 31 Aug 2009 -- Israeli company Plasan Sasa -- the world leader in armour and survivability systems for military vehicles - is partnering with Thales - a global technology leader for the defence market - to develop a new Light Protected Vehicle for the Australian Army and the international market.
• Boeing joins Thales's bid for Australian Army vehicle program Thales 31 Aug 2009 -- Thales today announced that it has secured Boeing to provide Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) to Thales's bid for the Australian Army's LAND 121 Phase 4 program

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 31 Aug 2009
• Germany assumes control of UN coastal fleet in Lebanon UN News Centre 31 Aug 2009 -- Germany took the helm of UN peacekeeping’s first-ever maritime task force.
• Ethiopian Troops Reported to Leave Somali Town VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- Residents in the Somali town of Beledweyne are reporting that Ethiopian soldiers have partially withdrawn from the formerly rebel-held western part of town.
• Restoration of DRC-Uganda Ties Shows New Regional Cooperation VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- Reinstatement of full diplomatic ties last week between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo is the latest development signaling a new era in the region's politics.
• Nigerian Amnesty Plan Facing Critical Challenges VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- Hundreds of Nigerian militants from the oil rich Niger Delta are turning in their weapons nearly four weeks after a 60-day amnesty period began.
• Thailand's Use of Civilian Volunteers in Troubled South Raises Concerns VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- Thailand's army has increasingly turned to civilian volunteers to boost security in the troubled southern provinces.
• Burma Refugees in China Head Home as Fighting Dies Down VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- Refugees that fled to escape fighting beginning to head home after authorities said the situation has returned to normal.
• BUKET's captain is sentenced to 24 years in custody RIA Novosti 31 Aug 2009 -- The captain of a Turkish oil tanker seized by Georgia in mid-August has been sentenced by a Georgian court to 24 years in custody for customs violations.
• Fatal Shoot-Out Rocks Uzbek Capital, Despite Tight Security Measures RFE/RL 31 Aug 2009 -- Details remain unclear about a series of reported shooting incidents that rocked the capital Tashkent late on August 29 evening.

News Reports

• Turkey, Armenia agree to start process of forming bilateral ties RIA Novosti 31 Aug 2009 -- Turkey and Armenia have agreed at talks to start "internal political consultations" on establishing diplomatic relations.
• Japanese PM to resign as party leader after election defeat RIA Novosti 31 Aug 2009 -- Japanese PM Taro Aso announced he would resign as chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party following crushing defeat.
• Japanese PM Quits Party After Sweeping Rejection at Polls VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- Japan's prime minister is clearing the way for a new party, and a new leader, to set the nation's political agenda.
• General Elections Held in Japan KCNA 31 Aug 2009 -- General elections took place in Japan on August 30.
• Gadhafi Blames Israel for Africa's Problems VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- Libya is hosting a special session of the African Union Assembly in an effort to resolve conflicts on the continent.
• Historical Disputes Resurface As Poland Marks Anniversary of Nazi Invasion RFE/RL 31 Aug 2009 -- Start of World War II in Europe is generally regarded as September 1, 1939, the date when German Nazi troops invaded Poland.
• Polish ex-PM warns against rejecting Putin's 'hand of friendship' RIA Novosti 31 Aug 2009 -- Former Polish PM: Poland would be harming its own interests if it was to reject Putin's attempts to improve relations.
• Putin Condemns 1939 Soviet Treaty with Nazi Germany VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- Russia's PM condemned 1939 non-aggression treaty between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany that secretly divided Europe.
• Putin to use Poland visit to counter WWII revisionism, boost ties RIA Novosti 31 Aug 2009 -- Russian PM Putin will use his visit to counter attempts to "distort history" and boost ties with Warsaw.
• Putin, Tymoshenko to discuss Russia-Ukraine ties in Poland RIA Novosti 31 Aug 2009 -- Russia's PM will discuss bilateral ties between Moscow and Kiev with his Ukrainian counterpart during visit to Poland.
• Colombia president catches swine flu RIA Novosti 31 Aug 2009 -- Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has contracted swine flu.
• Global swine flu death toll nears 3,000 - Russian regulator RIA Novosti 31 Aug 2009 -- Russia's trade and sanitary inspection authority: Swine flu virus has claimed the lives of over 2,900 people worldwide.
• Ousted Honduras Leader in Washington Tuesday VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- Senior US State Department official: Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya will meet in Washington with members of the Organization of American States.
• ZIMBABWE: Quiet diplomacy replaced with a more direct approach IRIN 31 Aug 2009 -- "Quiet diplomacy", the mantra used by former South African president Thabo Mbeki in his dealings with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, appears to have fallen by the wayside and been replaced with a more no-nonsense approach.
• Rival Claims of Electoral Victory in Gabon VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- Gabon's interim leader is calling for calm as three leading candidates from Sunday's presidential vote are all claiming victory.
• Some Gabon Elections Results Expected Monday VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- Preliminary results of Gabon's presidential election are scheduled to begin trickling in Monday.
• Kenya's Week-Long Census Ends Monday VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- Kenya's week-long census that has generated lots of controversy ends Monday.
• Kyrgyzstan Marks Independence Anniversary RFE/RL 31 Aug 2009 -- Kyrgyzstan has been marking the 18th anniversary of its independence, while also receiving criticism for its failure to adhere to democratic standards.
• Taiwan hoping to avert blow to cross-strait ties: MAC CNA 31 Aug 2009 -- Taiwan will do its utmost to avert a possible blow to the warming cross-Strait relations that might be caused by visit by the Dalai Lama.
• Dalai Lama visits storm-affected areas in southern Taiwan CNA 31 Aug 2009 -- The Dalai Lama drew welcoming crowds in southern Taiwan as he began his tour of areas hard-hit by Typhoon Morakot.
• Dalai Lama Visits Taiwan Typhoon Victims VOA 31 Aug 2009 -- The Dalai Lama is visiting typhoon-devastated villages in southern Taiwan, offering his prayers for villagers killed by mudslides.