Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 16 Sep 2009 [PDF]
• Sept. 15 airpower summary: B-1B performs precision attack AFNS 16 Sep 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Militant Group Claims Responsibility for Attack on Iraqi Green Zone VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- Iraqi forces have detained, questioned and released 3 people in connection with deadly rocket attack in Baghdad.
• Joint Statement by Vice President Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki The White House 16 Sep 2009
• Biden: Terrorists Will Fail in Iraq, Democracy Will Prevail AFPS 16 Sep 2009 -- Iraq is well on its way to stability and self-reliance, Vice President Joe Biden said in Baghdad.
• Biden Meets With Iraqi Officials, a Day After Mortar Attack VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- US VP Biden meeting with Iraqi officials on the second day of his visit to Baghdad, where a mortar attack killed two people.
• Iraqi generals say their soldiers ready, well-trained Army News 16 Sep 2009 -- Iraqi soldiers have been well trained and are prepared to defend Iraq, say two of the nation's generals.
• Iraqi medics, engineers improve their skills Army News 16 Sep 2009 -- Sergeants from the 38th Iraqi Army Brigade received instruction on combat casualty assessment from their US counterparts.
• Soldiers Hit the Road to Keep Units Supplied AFPS 16 Sep 2009 -- Forward support companies in Iraq routinely hit the pavement to deliver critical supplies to units remotely stationed in rural Maysan province.
• Obama Urges Patience on Afghan Troop Decision VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- US President Obama is urging patience as his administration considers whether to commit more troops to the conflict in Afghanistan.
• Implementing 'Smart Power' in Afghanistan Poses Challenge for the US VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- Analysts and policy makers call it "smart power," a blend of investment, good deeds and military force.
• Obama Cites Need for Civilian Assistance in Afghanistan AFPS 16 Sep 2009 -- President Barack Obama underscored the need to assert a similar evaluation of the civilian approach there.
• 3 US Service Members Killed in Afghanistan VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- U.S. military officials say three U.S. service members have been killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan.
• RED HORSE Airmen bring combat outpost into fight AFNS 16 Sep 2009 -- Servicemembers were living in a British compound lined with tents and relying solely on supplies brought in from convoys and air drops.
• Karzai Declared Preliminary Winner In Afghan Elections As Crisis Deepens RFE/RL 16 Sep 2009 -- Country's Independent Election Commission declared incumbent President Hamid Karzai the winner.
• Karzai totals 54.62% of vote in Afghan presidential election RIA Novosti 16 Sep 2009 -- Afghan Central Election Commission: Incumbent President Hamid Karzai garnered 54.62% of the vote.
• EU Observers: 1.5 Million Suspicious Votes Cast in Afghan Election VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- EU election observer mission in Afghanistan says it has counted 1.5 million suspicious votes presidential election.
• Kyrgyzstan To Sign New Agreements With NATO Transit Center RFE/RL 16 Sep 2009 -- Kyrgyz parliament delegation discussed new transit agreements to be signed soon.
• Key Taliban Commander Arrested in Swat Valley VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- Pakistani military authorities say they have arrested a key Taliban commander who is accused of slaughtering military personnel.

Defense Policy / Programs

• SecDEF announces return of KC-X program AFNS 16 Sep 2009 -- Secretary of Defense Gates announced the return of the KC-X program to the Air Force Sept. 16.
• Air Force has solid future capabilities, Secretary Gates says AFNS 16 Sep 2009 -- Defense Secretary Gates: Foundation of America's airpower rests on a broad and versatile mix of capabilities.
• Secretary Gates Remarks at the Air Force Association's Annual Conference, National Harbor, Md. DoD 16 Sep 2009 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
• DoD News: Littoral Combat Ship Down Select Announced DoD 16 Sep 2009 -- The Navy announced today it will down select between the two Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) designs in fiscal 2010
• New AFOSR magnetron may help defeat enemy electronics AFNS 16 Sep 2009 -- Researchers at the invented a new type of magnetron that may be used to defeat enemy electronics.
• ADMC destroys Army's last DRAGON missiles Army News 16 Sep 2009 -- History was made with the destruction of the last batch of M47 DRAGON missiles in the Army's inventory.
• Kearsarge Sailors Raise the Chain Navy NewsStand 16 Sep 2009 -- Sailors aboard amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge re-installed the ship's anchor chains, after an extensive inspection and refurbishment.
• Security Assistance Command plants its flag Army News 16 Sep 2009 -- New commander of the Army Security Assistance Command: Nation's sacrifices have proven that Americans stand for freedom.
• New site prepares interpreters for BCT Army News 16 Sep 2009 -- A new initiative gives Soldiers aiming to be interpreters/translators a head start on learning military skills before they arrive at Basic Combat Training.
• 303rd Ordnance Battalion (EOD) Activates in Hawaii Army News 16 Sep 2009 -- U.S. Army, Hawaii's newest unit unfurled its colors during an activation ceremony.
• Fort Riley building new railhead expansion to expedite deployments Army News 16 Sep 2009 -- U.S. Army, Hawaii's newest unit unfurled its colors during an activation ceremony here Tuesday.
• JMAST PAC Provides Demonstration for Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Navy NewsStand 16 Sep 2009 -- Joint Maritime Ashore Support Team Pacific (JMAST PAC) demonstrated its capability to provide operational commanders with an ability to command and control assigned forces via secure systems.
• Virtual Warriors Push Envelope at NPS Research Summit Navy NewsStand 16 Sep 2009 -- The Naval Postgraduate School Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulations (MOVES) Institute opened its doors to "virtual warriors" from the military, defense industry and academe at its 9th Annual MOVES Research Summit.
• Infantry Soldiers in Hawaii Execute New EIB Testing Army News 16 Sep 2009 -- Soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, conducted their Expert Infantry Badge testing, leading the way as the first Army unit to execute the new test.
• Enterprise Launches Readiness Preps with Torpedoes Navy NewsStand 16 Sep 2009 -- USS Enterprise's (CVN 65) Weapons Department is preparing for a major drill on Sept. 18 as part of the ship's overall effort of training toward getting underway.
• USS Hopper and USS O'Kane Deploy Navy NewsStand 16 Sep 2009 -- Guided-missile destroyers USS Hopper (DDG 70) and USS O'Kane (DDG 77) departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor for independent deployments to 5th Fleet and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility in the Middle East and Western Pacific Sept. 14.
• Bonhomme Richard ARG Ready to Deploy Navy NewsStand 16 Sep 2009 -- The Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is scheduled to depart Naval Base San Diego Friday, Sept. 18 for a deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East.
• Third Army partners with Kazakhstan Army during Steppe Eagle Army News 16 Sep 2009 -- Soldiers from Third Army/U.S. Army Central working alongside reps from the US, Kazakhstan, and British Armies.
• Military Postal System supports military customers, not humanitarian organizations Army News 16 Sep 2009 -- IMCOM-E postal operations officials advise people who want to send goods intended for the local populations downrange to contact the International Red Cross or other charitable organizations.
• Multimission Capability at Heart of Byrd's PP09 Success Navy NewsStand 16 Sep 2009 -- Mariners are evaluating the effectiveness of the ship that has been carrying Pacific Partnership 2009, an annual humanitarian and civic assistance mission nearing its completion this week.
• AFSPC commander discusses space, cyberspace future at AFA convention AFNS 16 Sep 2009 -- Air Force's lead for integrating space and cyberspace capabilities spoke Sept. 15.
• U.S. Just Starting to Deal With War Wounds, Mullen Says AFPS 16 Sep 2009 -- US just beginning to deal with implications of caring for servicemembers and their families whose lives have been changed by war.
• Army Aims to Improve Soldiers' Mental Well-being AFPS 16 Sep 2009 -- Renewed emphasis is being placed on soldiers’ mental well-being.
• Legislation Could Extend GI Bill to More Guardsmen AFPS 16 Sep 2009 -- More than 30,000 additional National Guard members may become eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
• Report Lists Russia, China As Top US Concerns RFE/RL 16 Sep 2009 -- New report says Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea pose the greatest challenges to US national interests.
• Russia could challenge U.S. interests - intelligence report RIA Novosti 16 Sep 2009 -- Russia is among the countries that could challenge US interests, according to US 2009 National Intelligence Strategy.
• Russia set to finish development of new air defense system RIA Novosti 16 Sep 2009 -- Russia's advanced S-500 air defense system could be developed in the next few years.
• Russia to equip four Indian subs with new cruise missiles RIA Novosti 16 Sep 2009 -- Zvezdochka shipyard will install Club-S cruise missile systems on 4 Kilo subs in service with the Indian navy.
• Ex-Soviet states to set up 3 joint regional air defense networks RIA Novosti 16 Sep 2009 -- Several members of the Commonwealth of Independent States involved in creating 3 joint regional air defense structures as part of the CIS integrated air defense network.
• CIS members to discuss development of joint air defense network RIA Novosti 16 Sep 2009 -- Members of the CIS will meet to discuss the development of the CIS integrated air defense network.
• Venezuela ready to provide details on arms deal with Russia RIA Novosti 16 Sep 2009 -- The Venezuelan government is ready to provide South American states with full information on its arms deal with Russia.
• Policy on arms sales to Taiwan remains unchanged: U.S. admiral CNA 16 Sep 2009 -- US policy on arms sales to Taiwan will remain unchanged as it is consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act.
• Submarine captain's body recovered off Zuoying naval base CNA 16 Sep 2009 -- The body of sub captain who slipped and fell overboard from his vessel was recovered after an intensive search.
• GLOBAL: Mine Ban Treaty steadily gaining ground IRIN 16 Sep 2009 -- It was both audacious and ambitious, but unlike similar international agreements where the original ire cooled, the Mine Ban Treaty has survived for a decade and remains active, relevant and effective, and is unlikely to go away anytime soon.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 16 Sep 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 9/16/09 The White House 16 Sep 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for September 16, 2009
• Northrop Grumman Signs License Agreement for Chemical and Biological Detection Technology Northrop Grumman 16 Sep 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and Syagen Technology have signed a product development and license agreement to further strengthen their collaboration in the development of the next generation of chemical biological mass spectrometry instrumentation.
• NAVY’S BEST TO GET WORLD CLASS SUPPORT BAE Systems 16 Sep 2009 -- The Royal Navy's newest warships, the Type 45 destroyers, will receive the very best service and support to ensure that they meet the UK's operational requirements, thanks to a deal announced today
• Boeing Flies Harpoon Missile With Updated Guidance Control Boeing 16 Sep 2009 -- A Boeing [NYSE: BA] Harpoon Block II missile equipped with a redesigned Guidance Control Unit (GCU) flew for the first time in a test conducted on Sept. 10. It was launched from the USS Princeton off the coast of California and scored a direct hit on a land-based target on San Nicolas Island, Calif.
• Northrop Grumman Team Demonstrates Distributed Common Ground System Technologies for Maritime Intercept At Empire Challenge 2009 Northrop Grumman 16 Sep 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) successfully demonstrated the capability of the Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) to interact with Navy P-3 aircraft and U.S. Coast Guard vessels for maritime terrorist intercept as part of Empire Challenge 2009 (EC09).
• Second Advanced Military Communications Satellite Completes Major Environmental Test At Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin 16 Sep 2009 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has successfully completed acoustic testing of the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications satellite.
• SAIC Awarded Contract to Support Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization SAIC 16 Sep 2009 -- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (NYSE: SAI) today announced that it has been awarded a prime contract by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) to provide comprehensive technical and operational support services.
• Israel Aerospace Industries Awarded Contract Worth Tens of Millions of Dollars to Supply Self-Protection System for Military and Civilian Planes Israel Aerospace Industries 16 Sep 2009 -- Over 200 military, civilian, and VIP aircraft in more than 15 countries worldwide are currently flying with the protection of the IAI/ELTA system

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Offices of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General and the Spokesperson for the General Assembly President United Nations 16 Sep 2009
• Israel 'dismayed' by UN report on Gaza operation RIA Novosti 16 Sep 2009 -- Israel"shocked and disappointed" by a UN report accusing its military forces of war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
• US Envoy Extends Middle East Peace Mission VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- US President Obama's point man in the Middle East is extending a Middle East peace mission.
• Obama's Mideast envoy fails to reach deal with Israeli PM RIA Novosti 16 Sep 2009 -- The White House Mideast envoy completed a regular round of talks with Israeli PM Netanyahu with no visible signs of progress.
• Al-Shabab Asks Foreign Fighters to Come to Somalia VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- A senior commander of radical Islamist militant group al-Shabab in Somalia has issued a public call for foreign fighters from around the world to come to Somalia and join its fight against the Western-backed Mogadishu government.
• DRC: Insecurity continues to bedevil aid work in northeast IRIN 16 Sep 2009 -- Militia attacks in parts of northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the past few months are worsening the humanitarian situation there and preventing access to affected populations, says a UN official.
• Nigeria Urges Rebel Group to Accept Amnesty VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- The Nigerian government has welcomed the extension of a truce declared by the main armed group in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
• UN political chief arrives in Sri Lanka for talks on displaced, reconciliation UN News Centre 16 Sep 2009 -- Top UN political official arrived in Sri Lanka to discuss resettlement, political reconciliation and accountability for alleged human rights violations.
• PHILIPPINES: Humanitarian community welcomes peace talks breakthrough IRIN 16 Sep 2009 -- Aid workers have welcomed a breakthrough in discussions between the Philippine government and Muslim rebels on the island of Mindanao.
• Kyrgyz Village Stops Uzbeks From Digging Border Trench RFE/RL 16 Sep 2009 -- Residents and officials in the western Kyrgyz village of Bay-Kyshtak stopped Uzbek excavators from digging a trench along the disputed Kyrgyz-Uzbek border.
• US Envoy in Lebanon for Talks VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- US Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell arrived in Lebanon for talks with President Michel Suleiman.

News Reports

• Clinton Relaxed, Optimistic About Ties With New Japanese Government VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- Secretary of State Clintonrelaxed and optimistic about the future of US relations with the new Japanese government.
• Russian academic expects better relations with Japan under new PM RIA Novosti 16 Sep 2009 -- Russia's relations with Japan are likely to improve under the country's new prime minister.
• New Japanese PM Wants to Build Trust with President Obama VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- Japan's new prime minister says he wants to build a relationship of trust with U.S. President Barack Obama.
• New Japanese Prime Minister Takes Office, Names Cabinet VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- Japan's long-time opposition leader, Yukio Hatoyama, has taken office as the country's new prime minister.
• Political Dynasty Heir Hatoyama Becomes Japan's New Prime Minister VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- Japan's new PM personal story is not that different from other past Japanese prime ministers.
• Japan's parliament votes in new premier RIA Novosti 16 Sep 2009 -- Japanese lawmakers elected center-left former opposition leader Yukio Hatoyama as PM.
• Japan's Taro Aso government resigns RIA Novosti 16 Sep 2009 -- The Japanese government, led by PM Aso, resigned at an emergency session of the country's parliament, which began in Tokyo on Wednesday.
• EU-Central Asia Cooperation Gathers Pace RFE/RL 16 Sep 2009 -- The European Union's long-stuttering relationship with Central Asia seems finally to have taken off.
• Rights Group Says Burma Has Intensified Political Arrests VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- Human Rights Watch says Burma's military government has doubled the number of political prisoners over the past two years.
• Top State Department Official Affirms U.S. Commitment to Africa VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- The Obama administration's top official for Africa says the United States intends to have a stronger partnership with the continent.
• Zimbabweans Blame Mugabe Over Unity Government Stalemate VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- Zimbabweans say President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party are to blame for the ongoing stalemate in the country's coalition government.
• Niger Opposition Rejects Calls for Negotiations With President Tandja VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- Niger opposition parties have unanimously rejected calls for negotiations with embattled President Mamadou Tandja to resolve the escalating political crisis.
• Moldovan Communists Might Support Liberal Candidate RFE/RL 16 Sep 2009 -- Moldova's Communist Party could agree to vote for a presidential candidate proposed by the four pro-Western parties if they adhere to the Communists' social program and don't pursue NATO membership.
• Ivory Coast Election Could Be Delayed Again VOA 16 Sep 2009 -- Ivory Coast has missed the deadline for publishing provisional voter lists for the country's long-delayed presidential elections, now scheduled for November.
• Russian investigators to leave Arctic Sea ship by Friday RIA Novosti 16 Sep 2009 -- A team of Russian investigators probing a recent incident involving the Arctic Sea cargo ship will leave the vessel by Friday.