Further Reading

News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 28 Sep 2009 [PDF]
• Sept. 27 airpower summary: Predator missile strike destroys enemy position AFNS 28 Sep 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• Forces Arrest Tae Kwon Do Murder Suspect, Others in Iraq AFPS 28 Sep 2009 -- Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. troops, arrested multiple terrorism suspects, including one accused in a 2006 Tae Kwon Do kidnapping.
• Iraqi MPs Push For U.S. Troops To Protect Elections RFE/RL 28 Sep 2009 -- Some Iraqi politicians are urging PM al-Maliki to invite US forces to play an active role in upcoming elections.
• At Least 16 Dead in Bombings in Iraq VOA 28 Sep 2009 -- Police in Iraq say at least 16 people were killed and dozens wounded in a series of bombings across the country.
• 10th Mountain Division 'Commandos' Set to Return to Dramatically Improved Iraq AFPS 28 Sep 2009 -- New 10th Mountain Division commander told his soldiers preparing to deploy that they’ll play a critical role in “one of the most challenging and dynamic deployments” to Iraq.
• Engineers team up with robot at NTC to clear IEDs Army News 28 Sep 2009 -- Soldiers from 1st HBCT, 1st Armored Division, just ended two weeks in the box at the National Training Center preparing for an upcoming deployment to Iraq.
• 'Broncos' return home to Hawaii Army News 28 Sep 2009 -- 1,050 "Broncos" from the 3rd IBCT, 25th Infantry Division return from Iraq after a successful yearlong deployment.
• Iraqi, U.S. Air Force work hand in hand to support drawdown of forces AFNS 28 Sep 2009 -- Iraqi air force commander and the director of the Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force visited Ali Base to speak with members of the media about the future of the base.
• Iraqi military police learn crowd control techniques from U.S. forces Army News 28 Sep 2009 -- "Erjaa'a! Erjaa'a!" shouted Iraqi Army soldiers as they displayed their batons hard from right to left.
• Taking over: Iraqi police station validated, ready for action Army News 28 Sep 2009 -- Once known as a hub of insurgent activity and violence, the city of Hawijah, Iraq eceived a ray of hope as another one of the city's police stations was validated.
• Afghan, NATO Troops Disrupt Insurgency in Afghanistan AFPS 28 Sep 2009 -- Afghan and international forces have captured several militant fighters in southern Afghanistan in the past three days.
• Marines investigate insurgents' underground highway USMC News 28 Sep 2009 -- 2/3rd Marines are searching tunnels ranging from 40 to 100 feet underground.
• Unique convoy reaches Marines at remote outposts USMC News 28 Sep 2009 -- When Marines and sailors are deployed in remote locations, they don't take much for granted.
• Cavalry unit, garrison team up ahead of deployment Army News 28 Sep 2009 -- The Soldiers, joined by staff members from several garrison agencies, loaded their equipment in the Installation Staging Area, an early step in the upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.
• New NATO Chief Says America's Allies Stand Firm Against Taliban VOA 28 Sep 2009 -- New head of NATO is expected to respond to President Obama's concerns that the US is doing the lion's share of the fighting in Afghanistan.
• Two Perspectives On Resolving The Afghan Postelection Crisis RFE/RL 28 Sep 2009 -- What's the best way forward for Afghanistan?
• Afghanistan, at UN, calls for revitalizing relations with international community UN News Centre 28 Sep 2009 -- Afghan FM Spanta called for revitalizing the sense of partnership and cooperation between Afghanistan and the international community.
• UN Expects S. Waziristan Fighting to Result in Large Influx of Fleeing Civilians VOA 28 Sep 2009 -- Head coordinator for UN Humanitarian Affairs in Pakistan ready to handle expected number of families fleeing.
• Air Force officials release F-16 accident report AFNS 28 Sep 2009 -- A pilot's failure to recognize his altitude during night, low altitude high-angle strafing training caused the crash of an F-16 Fighting Falcon at the Utah Test and Training Range June 22.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Corps' M2C2 transforms battlefield communication USMC News 28 Sep 2009 -- Officials with the Department of the Navy announced and displayed the first combat-ready Mobile Modular Command and Control vehicle.
• Virtual Route Clearance Trainer gives realistic training to units at Fort McCoy Army News 28 Sep 2009 -- "We would rather have you die a thousand times with us than die once over there."
• 1st, 338th provides training, support at Fort McCoy to deploying units Army News 28 Sep 2009 -- 1-338th Training Support Battalion (TSBN) at Fort McCoy has provided training and support for units deploying to Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
• AMC testing for semi prepared runway ops increases C-17's deployed capabilities AFNS 28 Sep 2009 -- AMC airlifters are landing on dirt runways bringing much-needed cargo to forward-deployed Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and coalition partners.
• UAS mission enters new chapter with graduation AFNS 28 Sep 2009 -- Pilots and sensor operators graduated from initial qualification training at Creech Air Force Base.
• 7th Signal Command provides Army Enterprise Network capabilities in CONUS Army News 28 Sep 2009 -- 7th Signal Command (Theater) is the Army's newest theater level signal organization.
• Pacific Fleet Changes Leadership Navy NewsStand 28 Sep 2009 -- The US Pacific Fleet held a change command during a ceremony Sept. 25, on board Naval Station Pearl Harbor.
• Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea Changes Hands Navy NewsStand 28 Sep 2009 -- U.S. Naval Forces Korea held a change of command during a ceremony held at Knight Field on Sept. 23.
• Integrated Swimmer Defense Team Completes Second Test Navy NewsStand 28 Sep 2009 -- Naval Sea Systems Command personnel completed a week-long test of the second Integrated Swimmer Defense User Operational Evaluation System.
• 31st MEU commences fall patrol of the Asia-Pacific region USMC News 28 Sep 2009 -- Approximately 2000 Marines and sailors from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit kicked off their Fall Patrol of the Asia-Pacific Region.
• Air Force leaders emphasize AFSO21 AFNS 28 Sep 2009 -- In a joint June 2009 memorandum, the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force pointed out the importance of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, or AFSO21.
• ARRA Funded Modernization of Administrative Building at NAS Pensacola Navy NewsStand 28 Sep 2009 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast awarded American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contract to repair and modernize administrative building 1500 at Naval Air Station Pensacola.
• ARRA Funded Child Development Center at Naval Station Mayport Navy NewsStand 28 Sep 2009 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast awarded a American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contract at Naval Station Mayport for construction of a child development center.
• Panama agrees to host two U.S. naval bases RIA Novosti 28 Sep 2009 -- Panama will sign before October 2009 a treaty with the United States on the opening of two U.S. naval bases on its territory.
• AFRICOM Begins Training in Gabon VOA 28 Sep 2009 -- Members of the U.S. Africa Command are in Gabon for the start of a military communications exercise involving more than two dozen African armies.
• Medvedev pledges to recreate strong Navy in 10 years RIA Novosti 28 Sep 2009 -- President Dmitry Medvedev: Russia will recreate a powerful Navy in the next ten years.
• Russia-Belarus military drills 'defensive' - Medvedev RIA Novosti 28 Sep 2009 -- Large-scale joint military exercises being held by Russian and Belarus are not aimed at anyone and are purely of a defense nature.
• Russian bombers test high-precision weaponry during drills RIA Novosti 28 Sep 2009 -- Russian strategic and tactical bombers equipped with new high-precision weapons systems have successfully conducted live-firing drills at a practice range in Belarus.
• Russian navy to rehearse landing, coast defense operations RIA Novosti 28 Sep 2009 -- Russian Navy landing craft will join the final stage of a Russian-Belarusian defense exercise, code-named Zapad 2009.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 28 Sep 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs The White House 28 Sep 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for September 28, 2009
• BAE SYSTEMS EXPANDS READINESS AND SUSTAINMENT TOOL FOR MANAGING OBSOLETE PARTS BAE Systems 28 Sep 2009 -- BAE Systems has unveiled a new set of products to help government and commercial customers manage obsolete parts for aircraft, ships, vehicles, and other platforms
• General Dynamics Awarded $86 Million for Sustainment of U.S. Marine Corps’ Mobile Combat Operations Centers General Dynamics 28 Sep 2009 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a five-year, $86.2 million contract to provide field-level sustainment services and technical support for equipment and networks for the U.S. Marine Corps’ critical Combat Operations Center (COC) program.
• ATK Propulsion and Composite Technologies Key to Successful Delta II Launch ATK 28 Sep 2009 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) played a key role in the successful launch of a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket for NASA from Space Launch Complex 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., carrying the Missile Defense Agency's Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) Demonstrators Program satellite.
• Boeing Advances Security Upgrade for GPS Ground Control System Boeing 28 Sep 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has completed developmental system testing on the U.S. Air Force's Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite ground control system, known as the Operational Control Segment (OCS), for the addition of a critical new security capability.
• Lockheed Martin Supports Successful International PAC-3 Missile Test at White Sands Missile Range Lockheed Martin 28 Sep 2009 -- Airmen of the Japanese Self Defense Force and Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] successfully conducted the second Japanese PAC-3 Missile flight test recently at White Sands Missile Range, NM.
• SAIC Awarded $49 Million Delivery Order By U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center SAIC 28 Sep 2009 -- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a delivery order by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) to provide technical analysis and risk assessments in support of SMC's Independent Readiness Review Team (IRRT).
• Raytheon Delivers First Joint Standoff Weapon C to Australia Raytheon 28 Sep 2009 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) delivered the first Joint Standoff Weapon C to Australia in July for the Royal Australian Air Force's new F/A-18F Hornet fighter aircraft.
• Raytheon Completes Flight Testing of Key Air Force Intelligence System Raytheon 28 Sep 2009 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has established initial operational capability and has conducted flight tests for a key communications component for the U.S. Air Force DCGS (Distributed Common Ground 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 28 Sep 2009
• At UN, Arab nations call on Israel to seize opportunity for peace UN News Centre 28 Sep 2009 -- Moment has come for Israel to take action to achieve a lasting peace in the Middle East, Arab nations told the General Assembly’s high-level debate.
• Tension Mounting in Kismayo as Somali Islamists Jostle for Power VOA 28 Sep 2009 -- A power struggle between Islamist insurgent groups in Somalia's strategic southern port town of Kismayo is threatening to turn violent and tear the alliance apart.
• South Sudan Leader Predicts A South Break Away From the North VOA 28 Sep 2009 -- President of the semi-autonomous Southern Sudan reportedly said that there is a real chance the results of the 2011 referendum on the future of South Sudan will lead to secession from the north.
• Sudan speaks out during UN debate about renewed tribal clashes in south UN News Centre 28 Sep 2009 -- Upsurge in tribal fighting in southern Sudan this year threatens the stability not just of the country but the entire region.
• Chad deplores slow deployment of UN peacekeeping mission UN News Centre 28 Sep 2009 -- Chad deplored the delay in deploying the full UN peacekeeping mission to its eastern border with Sudan.
• Ban outlines steps to boost 'strategic' UN-African Union peacekeeping partnership UN News Centre 28 Sep 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban outlined steps to boost the AU’s capacity to successfully carry out UN-authorized peacekeeping operations.
• Dialogue vital to resolving Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, Armenia tells UN UN News Centre 28 Sep 2009 -- Ongoing dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region could be settled as long as both sides refrain from taking action that hampers the peace process.
• Fugitive Rwandan ex-mayor goes on trial at UN war crimes court for genocide UN News Centre 28 Sep 2009 -- Former Rwandan mayor went on trial at UN war crimes tribunal on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.
• Nigeria issues call at UN for reinforced fight against illicit small arms trade UN News Centre 28 Sep 2009 -- There is an urgent need for a rejuvenated fight against trafficking in small arms, a top Nigerian official said at the General Assembly today, stressing the ties between that trade and piracy and oil smuggling in the Niger Delta.

News Reports

• China Celebrates 60th Anniversary of Modern State's Founding VOA 28 Sep 2009 -- China celebrates the realization of some significant goals, such as improved living standards.
• Action against Brazilian embassy in Honduras would be disaster - top UN official UN News Centre 28 Sep 2009 -- Any action taken against the Brazilian embassy where ousted Honduran President Zelaya has taken shelter would be a disaster.
• Honduras refuses to allow 4 foreign ambassadors in the country RIA Novosti 28 Sep 2009 -- De-facto Honduran government has refused to allow ambassadors from Argentina, Mexico, Spain and Venezuela to return to the country.
• Honduras Presses Brazil Over Refuge to Ousted President VOA 28 Sep 2009 -- The Honduran de facto government is pressing Brazil about its decision to grant refuge to ousted President Manuel Zelaya at its embassy.
• Merkel's victory unlikely to alter Russian-German ties - expert RIA Novosti 28 Sep 2009 -- It is not in Germany's interests to change its policy towards Russia now that the country's Chancellor Angela Merkel won the general relations.
• Cuba tells Assembly that new US administration must translate words into action UN News Centre 28 Sep 2009 -- Cuba’s FM told the General Assembly that it is still waiting for the global optimism generated by the new US administration to be translated into action.
• Cuba urges Obama to fulfill pledges on bilateral relations RIA Novosti 28 Sep 2009 -- Cuban FM Rodriguez: US President Obama had failed to fulfill his promise to improve relationships with Havana.
• Sanctions against Myanmar 'unjust,' Prime Minister tells General Assembly UN News Centre 28 Sep 2009 -- Sanctions imposed on Myanmar have no moral basis and create an obstacle to development and economic growth.
• Timor-Leste praises UN for critical role in securing sovereignty UN News Centre 28 Sep 2009 -- The Foreign Minister of Timor-Leste today paid tribute to the United Nations for the world body’s role over the past decade and more in supporting the South-East Asian nation on its path to independence.
• US Action Divides Kenya's Leadership VOA 28 Sep 2009 -- The Kenyan government appears torn over the travel ban threats issued to 15 senior Kenyan officials seen as blocking the nation's reform process.
• Africa must have full Security Council representation - DR Congo tells Assembly UN News Centre 28 Sep 2009 -- Security Council must be fully reformed and enlarged to include a proper African representation.
• Namibia urges UN Member States to take harder line against coups d'état UN News Centre 28 Sep 2009 -- Governments that come to power through coups d’état should be banned from participating in all UN institutions.
• Sudanese President Announces End to State Censorship VOA 28 Sep 2009 -- Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has announced an end to state censorship of the media.
• Egyptian Swine Flu Polices Under Scrutiny VOA 28 Sep 2009 -- With the global concern over the H1N1 swine flu virus rising, some tourists are finding themselves inside a quarantine cell.
• Swine flu peak is yet to come - expert RIA Novosti 28 Sep 2009 -- Interviews with Dr. Lobova, Ph.D. (Medicine), Academic Secretary of North-West Department of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.
• UN assisting in delivery of electoral materials for long-awaited polls UN News Centre 28 Sep 2009 -- UN mission in Côte d’Ivoire has begun preparing for the delivery of electoral materials across the country ahead of the long-awaited presidential polls.
• At Least 58 Killed in Guinea Opposition Protest VOA 28 Sep 2009 -- Witnesses and medical officials say at least 58 people have been killed in Guinea in clashes between security forces and opposition activists.
• GUINEA: Timeline since independence IRIN 28 Sep 2009 -- Recently a commercial billboard near Guinea’s presidential palace featured 3 towering question marks on a white background.
• Socialists Win Portugal Election VOA 28 Sep 2009 -- The ruling Socialists have won Portugal's parliamentary election, but failed to earn a majority of seats.
• Socialists in Portugal repeat parliamentary win RIA Novosti 28 Sep 2009 -- Portugal's center-left Socialist Party has won parliamentary elections and will stay in power for another four years.
• Gabon's Opposition Cautious about Vote Recount VOA 28 Sep 2009 -- Gabon's opposition parties have welcomed as vindication a decision by the Constitutional Court to re-count the votes from the August 30th presidential election.