Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 24 Sep 2009 [PDF]
• Sept. 23 airpower summary: A-10s strike enemy positions AFNS 24 Sep 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Iraq requests UN probe deadly terror attacks UN News Centre 24 Sep 2009 -- Iraq's President called on UN to establish independent commission to probe a series of deadly bombings and other attacks.
• Security Worsens As Taliban Move Into Northern Afghanistan RFE/RL 24 Sep 2009 -- Taliban fighters hijacked fuel tankers along the new northern supply route and generated international headlines.
• Inter-militant rivalry leaves 10 dead in Afghanistan RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- At least 10 Afghan militants from 2 opposing rival groups died in a shootout in the country's western province of Herat.
• Militant Ambush in NW Pakistan Kills 9, Including Tribal Elders VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- Pakistani police: Militants ambushed a pro-government citizen's group in Bannu district, killing nine people.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn, Under Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley DoD 24 Sep 2009 -- Presenter: Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn III, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Ashton B. Carter, and Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Michael B. Donley
• Obama Will Not Seek New Legislation on Holding Guantanamo Detainees VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- Obama administration has decided against establishing new system of preventative detention for terror suspects.
• DoD News: Senior Executive Service Appointments and Reassignments DoD 24 Sep 2009 -- Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service, senior leader, and scientific and professional appointments and reassignments
• Gen. Petraeus cites need for critical warfighting specialties AFNS 24 Sep 2009 -- US military needs more people trained in specialties critical to the fight against global extremism.
• Conference Points to Adaptability as Key to Fighting Insurgents AFPS 24 Sep 2009 -- Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have been learning experiences, forcing military leadership to reassess and modify tactics.
• Basic research may lead to revolutionary new devices AFNS 24 Sep 2009 -- Carbon nanostructures that may some day be used in electronic, thermal, mechanical and sensing devices.
• 'Vanguard Swarm' Highlights Multiple Milestones: New Light Infantry Brigade Ready For Any Mission Army News 24 Sep 2009 -- IBCT stood together as a new light-infantry unit dubbed Vanguard Swarm.
• Silver Eagles arrive as Vikings sail away USMC News 24 Sep 2009 -- Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 arrived for a 6-month tour as part of the Unit Deployment Program.
• 5th QM trains on new air delivery system equipment Army News 24 Sep 2009 -- 5th Quartermaster Company became the first regular Army unit to train on the Firefly Joint Precision Air Delivery System.
• U.S. military to begin new Deep Freeze season AFNS 24 Sep 2009 -- US military officials will kick off the 2009-2010 season of Operation Deep Freeze on Sept. 25.
• Coast Guard Coxswain Transports Boarding Teams Navy NewsStand 24 Sep 2009 -- US Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk VBSS team executed a vessel boarding exercise during PANAMAX 2009.
• Weather flight provides mission critical forecasts AFNS 24 Sep 2009 -- Mission's planned, the crew's ready to go, the aircraft waits on the tarmac, but Mother Nature still has her say.
• Navy Adds a Year to NROTC Obligation Navy NewsStand 24 Sep 2009 -- Secretary of the Navy approved a plan to increase the active duty Minimum Service Requirement for Naval ROTC scholarship recipients.
• Board of Advisors meets for BRAC update Army News 24 Sep 2009 -- Fort Belvoir officials hosted area politicians and political appointees for the 10th Board of Advisors meeting Sept.16 at the Officer's Club.
• 'Embracing' BRAC: New public awareness program up and running Army News 24 Sep 2009 -- City of San Antonio's "Embrace BRAC" campaign designed to raise the awareness about the BRAC project.
• Construction, renovation in preparation for IMCOM realignment Army News 24 Sep 2009 -- Realignment of US Army IMCOM to Fort Sam Houston will require renovation of at least 5 historic structures.
• National Weather Service Names Whiting Field 'Storm Ready' Navy NewsStand 24 Sep 2009 -- NAS Whiting Field has the National Weather Service's vote of confidence.
• Fact Sheet on the United Nations Security Council Summit on Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Disarmament UNSC Resolution 1887 The White House 24 Sep 2009
• Statement by George Shultz, William Perry, Henry Kissinger and Sam Nunn Regarding the United Nations Security Council Meeting on Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Disarmament The White House 24 Sep 2009
• UN Adopts Resolution on Nuclear Weapons VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- UN Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution to increase efforts to eventually rid the world of nuclear weapons.
• Resolution 1887, Historic Summit of Security Council Pledges Support for Progress on Stalled Efforts to End Nuclear Weapons Proliferation UN Security Council 24 Sep 2009
• Russia, U.S. to slash nuclear delivery vehicles - Medvedev RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- Russia and the US are discussing the possibility of slashing the number of nuclear weapon delivery vehicles by 3 times.
• Russia, U.S. could prepare arms reduction deal in time - Medvedev RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- A new Russian-U.S. strategic arms reduction treaty is likely to be ready before the current pact expires.
• Senators Disagree on Obama's New Missile Defense Policy in Europe VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- Several US senators have blasted President Barack Obama's decision to change US missile defense policy.
• Leaders Take New Missile Defense Plan to Congress AFPS 24 Sep 2009 -- President Obama's decision to restructure a previous missile defense plan provides a more effective, flexible system.
• Russia ready to cooperate on missile defense with U.S. - Medvedev RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- Russian President Dmitry: Russia ready to continue missile defense cooperation with the U.S. and Europe.
• Ukrainians look to model NCO education after U.S. Army News 24 Sep 2009 -- Lessons learned at the Fires Center of Excellence will help the Ukrainian army develop its noncommissioned officers.
• Russian Air Force to rehearse robotic strikes in defense exercise RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- Russian Air Force units will rehearse air strikes with automated target acquisition, command and control systems.
• US Calls on China for 'Strategic Reassurance' VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- Senior State Department official called on the Beijing government to reassure the US and others of its peaceful and constructive intentions.
• Military Exchange between China and DPRK Called for KCNA 24 Sep 2009 -- Vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission met and had a friendly talk with the military delegation of the Korean People's Army.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 24 Sep 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for September 24, 2009
• Boeing Receives A-10 Modernization Contracts From US Air Force Boeing 24 Sep 2009 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] announced today that it has received two separate contracts from the U.S. Air Force to support modernization of the service's fleet of 365 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft.
• Lockheed Martin Awarded $30 Million Contract to Provide Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods to Royal Moroccan Air Force Lockheed Martin 24 Sep 2009 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has signed a foreign military sales contract to deliver Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs) to the Royal Moroccan Air Force. The $30 million contract includes integration support, product spares and logistics support.
• Northrop Grumman Receives Contract to Supply Integrated Navigation Systems for New Tankers in Brazil Northrop Grumman 24 Sep 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Sperry Marine business unit has been awarded a contract to supply integrated bridge systems (IBS) for four new product tankers being built in Brazil.
• Thales Successfully Trials Advanced Submarine Sonar Processor Thales 24 Sep 2009 -- Thales Australia has successfully trialled an advanced submarine sonar processor aboard HMAS COLLINS. The processor was developed by Thales, utilising skills and technology from both Australia and Europe.

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 24 Sep 2009
• End of Israeli-Palestinian conflict critical for regional peace, Turkey tells UN debate UN News Centre 24 Sep 2009 -- Resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is indispensable to both regional and global peace.
• Ban discusses Mid-east peace process with Israeli, Palestinian leaders UN News Centre 24 Sep 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders ahead meeting of the United Nations.
• Israeli government 'real problem' on peace issues - Abbas RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- Palestinian President Abbas has said the Israeli government is the major stumbling block in peace efforts.
• Palestinian President: No Common Ground for Negotiations With Israel VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- Palestinian President Abbas: there is no common ground for negotiations between the two leaders.
• Lebanon's Hariri Makes 2nd Attempt at Forming Unity Government VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Thursday launched talks with the country's various political parties in his second bid to form a coalition government since a June election.
• Obama to General Assembly: Work for Peace in Sudan VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- US President Obama's call for a new era of engagement among nations had wide implications for several world trouble spots.
• DR Congo Rebels Suspend Involvement in Peace Agreement VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- A group of rebel militias in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) says it has suspended participation in a 2008 cease-fire agreement.
• Rebel Group LRA Seeks New Peace Talks With Ugandan Government VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- Elusive Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony has renewed contact with the Ugandan government, seeking an immediate ceasefire and resumption of peace talks.
• Georgia, addressing UN debate, speaks out against 'new dividing line' UN News Centre 24 Sep 2009 -- Georgia is “a nation with a deep wound running through her” since fighting broke out last year with South Ossetian and Abkhaz separatists and their Russian allies, its President told the General Assembly tonight, vowing that he and his people will never accept “a new dividing line in our country.”
• EU Braces For Release Of Report On Georgia War RFE/RL 24 Sep 2009 -- European diplomats dismissed report that an independent committee of international experts sponsored by the EU will issue a report laying most of the blame for the August 2008 war between Russia and Georgia with Tbilisi.
• Police Implicated in Nigeria Kidnapping VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- The past three years have seen an upsurge in violence perpetrated by armed groups in Nigeria's volatile Niger Delta.
• Reunification must be achieved by Cypriots themselves, President tells UN debate UN News Centre 24 Sep 2009 -- Unification of Cyprus must be brought about by Cypriots themselves, President Demetris Christofias told the General Assembly.
• UN reaches out at police conference to try to recruit more female officers UN News Centre 24 Sep 2009 -- Female police officers serving in UN peacekeeping missions around the world have taken part in a training conference this week.

News Reports

• Obama Leads Security Council Session on Sidelines of UN General Assembly VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- President Obama chaired a summit level-session of the Security Council Thursday that unanimously adopted a resolution committing to work toward a nuclear weapons-free world.
• Medvedev urges faster reform of Security Council RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- Russian President Medvedev called for faster progress in the search for a mutually acceptable solution.
• No veto rights for permanent security council members - Iran RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- Iranian President Ahmadinejad: Dominance of several states in global affairs was "unacceptable.".
• Obama, Gadhafi, Ahmadinejad Address UN General Assembly VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- World leaders addressing the UN General Assembly underscored issues of domestic and international concern.
• Revolution is sweeping Latin America and the Caribbean, Venezuela tells UN UN News Centre 24 Sep 2009 -- Chavez: ountries of Latin America and the Caribbean are undergoing a revolution that is "comprehensive and necessary."
• Merkel Leads Polls Ahead of German National Elections Sunday VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- Germans are voting September 27 for a new parliament and with it a new government. Incumbent Chancellor Angela Merkel has been leading in pre-election polls.
• Honduran coup has repercussions for all of Central America, General Assembly hears UN News Centre 24 Sep 2009 -- Leaders of Guatemala and Panama: Recent coup d’état in Honduras affects all of Central America.
• Honduras lifts curfew, demands ousted president's arrest RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- The de-facto Honduran government suspended a curfew put in place after ousted President Zelaya returned to the country and took refuge in the Brazilian embassy.
• Brazilian president urges Zelaya's return to power RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- Brazilian President: International community demands that deposed Honduran President Zelaya is reinstated.
• Myanmar must act now to promote democracy or face years of instability - Ban UN News Centre 24 Sep 2009 -- Ban: Time has come for Myanmar’s leaders to make “clear and fundamental choices” or else face generations of instability and poverty.
• Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi Welcomes US Talks With Government VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- The lawyer for Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi says she welcomes US plans to engage diplomatically with the country's military rulers to promote democratic reform.
• Exile Government, Rights Group Cautiously Welcome US Engagement with Burma VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- Burma's government in exile has welcomed Washington's plans to engage with the country's military rulers.
• US Changes Track on Burma; Pursues Engagement VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the Obama administration has decided to engage directly with Burma's military government, in an effort to push its military leaders toward democratic reform.
• UN should deal with attempts to rewrite WWII results - Medvedev RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- The UN should firmly act against the rise of neo-Nazism and attempts to rewrite the results of the WWII.
• Moscow says Polish resolution on Soviet 'aggression' harms ties RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- Russia protested on Thursday a decision by the Polish parliament to condemn the Soviet "invasion" of Poland in 1939.
• H1N1 Swine Flu Keeps Hospitals in Northern Hemisphere Busy VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- The World Health Organization says the H1N1 swine flu virus should be part of next year's seasonal flu vaccine.
• Russia removed from WHO swine flu death list RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- WHO removed Russia from its list of countries with swine flu fatalities, saying that Russia was mistakenly included.
• Moscow objects to inclusion in WHO list of A/H1N1 deaths RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- Russia's Health Ministry: Inclusion in WHO's list of countries with swine flu fatalities was based on unverified information.
• MACH announces seasonal flu vaccination schedule Army News 24 Sep 2009 -- From Oct. 5 until March, seasonal flu shots will be given at the Solomon Center on the following days and times.
• US Targets Senior Kenyan Officials for Impeding Reforms VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- The US government says it sent warning letters to 15 senior Kenyan officials who are viewed as impeding the implementation of key governance reforms.
• Military Supporters in Guinea Reject African Union Sanctions VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- Supporters of Guinea's ruling military council say sanctions threatened by the African Union are unfair.
• Niger Cabinet Ministers Resign Ahead of Parliamentary Election VOA 24 Sep 2009 -- In Niger, the resignation of some cabinet ministers to contest in the October 20 parliamentary election is escalating debate.
• Colombia appeals to Thai court in 'merchant of death' case RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- Colombia has appealed to Thailand over its decision not to extradite alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to the U.S.
• Pirates attack Russian tanker in Gulf of Aden RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- A Russian tanker has come under pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden.
• Arctic Sea vessel 'leaves Canaries' - port source RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2009 -- The Arctic Sea cargo vessel and the Russian warship escorting it are believed to have left the Canary Islands.
• Thor 6 ready to be shipped to Kourou Thales 24 Sep 2009 -- The Thor 6 satellite, of Telenor Satellite Broadcasting AS, a subsidiary of Norway’s telecommunication provider Telenor, is ready to be shipped to Kourou in French Guyana by an Ariane 5. The launch is scheduled on October 29, 2009. Thales Alenia Space is the prime contractor of the spacecraft which will be launched by Arianespace for service over Nordics and Central European regions from 1 degree West Longitude orbital location. Thor 6 is scheduled to leave the Thales Alenia Space Cannes plant on September 28.