Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Oct. 11 airpower summary: Strike Eagles fly armed overwatch AFNS 12 Oct 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and ISAF troops in Afghanistan during operations.
• PRESS CONFERENCE: Brig. Gen. Lanza, MNF-I, Oct. 12, 2009 MNF-I 12 Oct 2009
• US Under Political, Military Pressure to Act on Afghanistan VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- Pressure is building on battleground and in Washington as President Obama considers whether to meet a request for tens of thousands more troops.
• 20 Militants Killed in Afghanistan Operations VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- Afghan and international forces say they have killed 20 suspected militants during operations in southern Afghanistan.
• Clinton Says US Committed to Success in Afghanistan VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton: Washington is committed to the goals set out for Afghanistan.
• NMCB-74 KAF Detail Completes Mission in Kandahar Navy NewsStand 12 Oct 2009 -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 successfully completed their mission in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
• NMCB-74 Seabees Build Ammo Supply Point Critical to Afghanistan Navy NewsStand 12 Oct 2009 -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 began construction of an Ammo Supply Point in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
• UN envoy admits Afghan elections marred by fraud but denies cover-up UN News Centre 12 Oct 2009 -- Top UN envoy to Afghanistan has acknowledged that “widespread” fraud took place during the August elections.
• US 'Confident' in Pakistan's Nuclear Security VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton expressed confidence in Pakistan's government following a predawn raid on militants holding hostages.
• 41 Killed in Blast Near Pakistan's Swat Valley VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- Pakistani police say a suicide bombing near the country's troubled Swat Valley has killed 41 people.
• Suicide bomb attack claims 28 lives in northwest Pakistan RIA Novosti 12 Oct 2009 -- At least 28 people were killed and more than 40 injured in a suicide bomb attack in northwest Pakistan's Malakand region.
• US, Indonesian Militaries Join Together to Assist in Humanitarian Efforts Navy NewsStand 12 Oct 2009 -- All four branches of the US military are working closely together, and with their Indonesian military counterparts.

Defense Policy / Programs

• India, U.S. start large-scale military exercises RIA Novosti 12 Oct 2009 -- India and the US launched large-scale military exercises.
• India tests nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missiles RIA Novosti 12 Oct 2009 -- India on Monday successfully test fired two nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missiles.
• India Tests Nuclear-Capable Missiles VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- India says it has successfully test-fired two nuclear-capable missiles.
• NATO week in Armenia opens in Yerevan RIA Novosti 12 Oct 2009 -- The NATO week in Armenia opens on Monday in Yerevan, the capital of the South Caucasus country.
• Turkey Denies Cancelling Military Drill over Israeli Participation VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- Turkey's Foreign Ministry has denied it canceled international air force exercise over opposition to Israel's participation.

Defense Industry

• TYPHOON AVAILABILITY CONTRACT TO SUPPORT ROYAL SAUDI AIR FORCE OPERATIONS BAE Systems 12 Oct 2009 -- The Royal Saudi Air Force has commenced flying operations following the delivery of the first 4 of 72 Typhoon aircraft to the Royal Saudi Air Force.
• Boeing Small Diameter Bomb II Successfully Engages Target in Flight Test Boeing 12 Oct 2009 -- The Boeing [NYSE: BA] GBU-40 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) II team successfully concluded a 42-month risk reduction program on Sept. 29 with a flight test in which the weapon impacted its target.
• DCNS awarded contracts to maintain French Navy’s front-line fighting ships DCNS 12 Oct 2009 -- DCNS has been awarded three contracts worth over €310 million to provide through-life support services for the French Navy’s front-line fighting ships. The first calls for TLS services for 22 front-line ships including Horizon air defence frigates over a period of six years; the second for TLS services for two amphibious assault vessels and two force projection vessels for four-and-a-half years; and the third for TLS services for missiletracking ship Monge for six years.
• Oshkosh Defense Awarded Additional 923 M-ATVs Valued at $408.5 Million Oshkosh 12 Oct 2009 -- Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) announced today it has received an additional $408.5 million award from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC) for 923 MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV) to be delivered to the U.S. Armed Forces through March 2010.
• Oshkosh Defense Submits Vehicles for Australian Land 121 Phase 4 Oshkosh 12 Oct 2009 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), has submitted its MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) and SandCat vehicle as part of two proposals with Plasan SASA, Ltd., and JLG Australia for the Australian Department of Defence’s (DoD) Land 121 “Overlander” Phase 4.
• Thales to supply Satellite Communication System for Dutch Ocean Patrol Vessels Thales 12 Oct 2009 -- Thales has been awarded a contract by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to supply naval satcom terminals on the four Ocean Patrol Vessels, that are being built for the Royal Navy. The first terminal will be installed on the first ship scheduled to be handed over to the Royal Navy at the end of 2010. The delivery period will last until 2012.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 12 Oct 2009
• Netanyahu: Israel Would Not Cooperate With Gaza War Crimes Tribunal VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- Israeli PM Netanyahu: Israel will never allow its soldiers and war-time leaders to go before an international war-crimes tribunal.
• Egypt doubts soon resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks RIA Novosti 12 Oct 2009 -- Egyptian FM: He doubts that the peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis would be resumed in the nearest future.
• Casualties Reported in Lebanon Explosion VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- An explosion at the home of a Hezbollah official in a small Lebanese village has killed at least two people.
• Al-Shabab Militants Threaten Kenya for Recruiting Allegations VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- Somalia's al-Shabab extremists have renewed their threat to launch attacks on Kenya.
• Somalia: UN envoy sets goal of August 2011 for professional security force UN News Centre 12 Oct 2009 -- A professional, well-organized security force must be established in Somalia by August 2011.
• Yemen Government Claims More Success Against Houthi Rebels VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- Yemeni government forces are claiming they killed another 59 fighters in their battle against Zaidi Shi'ite rebels, near the northern town of Saada.
• NIGERIA: Government steps in to curb farmer-nomad clashes IRIN 12 Oct 2009 -- National government started marking out grazing reserves to curb often deadly clashes between farmers and nomads over pasture.
• Georgia War: Finding The Facts, Losing The Message RFE/RL 12 Oct 2009 -- On 30 September, the European Union released its report on last year's August war in the Caucasus.
• Russia could open trade mission in Abkhazia in early 2010 RIA Novosti 12 Oct 2009 -- Russia could open a trade mission in Abkhazia in early 2010.
• Clinton Lauds Irish Peace Process, Urges More Progress VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton has praised the peace process in Northern Ireland, saying it serves as an example for other conflict areas.
• Clinton in Northern Ireland for Talks VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is meeting with Northern Ireland's political leaders in Belfast Monday.
• Persistent tensions threaten to undermine progress in Timor-Leste, warns Ban UN News Centre 12 Oct 2009 -- The root causes of the community tensions behind the violence that shook Timor-Leste in 2006 remain.

News Reports

• Clinton: Nobel Peace Prize Recognizes Obama's World Vision VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she thinks President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize because of his view of America's role in the world.
• Chavez says Obama does not deserve Nobel Peace Prize RIA Novosti 12 Oct 2009 -- Venezuelan President Chavez: US leader Obama does not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize he was awarded.
• Chinese court sentences 6 to death over Xinjiang riots RIA Novosti 12 Oct 2009 -- Court in China's northwestern Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region sentenced to death 6 convicted of violent crimes in July riots.
• Chinese Court Condemns 6 Ethnic Uighurs to Death for Xinjiang Riots VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- Chinese court has handed down death sentences to six men for their involvement in a riot in the far northwestern region of Xinjiang.
• Ousted Honduran President's Foreign Minister calls for Zelaya's Return to Office VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- Ousted Honduran President Zelaya's FM warns that the standoff between is worsening, not improving.
• Strike Shuts Down Guinea's Capital VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- Guinea's capital has been shut down by a strike called to mourn opposition demonstrators killed by government troops two weeks ago.
• Guinea Trade Unions Begin Two-Day Strike VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- Guinea's trade unions are calling for a two day nationwide strike beginning Monday to mourn the killing of unarmed opposition protesters.
• U.S. Ambassador To Armenia Calls Turkey Deal 'Transformative' RFE/RL 12 Oct 2009 -- US Ambassador to Armenia: Country's rapprochement with Turkey is a "significant step forward" and a "transformative" development for the region.
• Regional Elections Go According To The Kremlin's Script RFE/RL 12 Oct 2009 -- Russia held local elections in more than 75 regions on October 11.
• Opposition claims violations as Russia holds regional elections RIA Novosti 12 Oct 2009 -- Russia's ruling party is widely leading in regional elections in the country, with the authorities saying everything went smoothly.
• Ruling United Russia party sweeps Moscow, regional elections RIA Novosti 12 Oct 2009 -- With almost 90% of votes counted in the elections to the Moscow City Duma, just two parties look set to pass the 7% threshold.
• Yanukovych leads polls ahead of Ukraine's presidential election RIA Novosti 12 Oct 2009 -- Leader of the opposition Party of Regions is leading public opinion polls in Ukraine ahead of presidential election.
• I'm the Legitimate Prime Minister, Says Roindefo VOA 12 Oct 2009 -- Tensions in Madagascar took another dramatic turn after Monja Roindefo refused to give up his post in the transitional government.
• Russian, foreign investigators join forces in Arctic Sea ship case RIA Novosti 12 Oct 2009 -- Russian and foreign investigators have agreed on a unified approach to probing the July seizure of the Arctic Sea dry cargo ship and its crew.