Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 19 Oct 2009 [PDF]
• MND-N Soldier killed in vehicle accident Multi-National Division
• Oct.18 airpower summary: F-15s destroy enemy position AFNS 19 Oct 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and ISAF in Afghanistan during operations.
• U-2 exceeds 25,000th hour of flight AFNS 19 Oct 2009 -- U-2 aircraft No. 068-0337 was accepted by Air Force officials in 1968, and exceeded the 25,000th hour of flight Oct. 18, 2009, in a mission out of Southwest Asia.
• Forces in Iraq Arrest Terrorism Suspects AFPS 19 Oct 2009 -- Iraqi forces, with U.S. advisors, arrested suspected terrorist cell leaders, detained other suspected terrorists and seized weapons in Iraq.
• Army Cancels Brigade's Iraq Deployment AFPS 19 Oct 2009 -- An Army brigade slated to deploy to Iraq in January was relieved of its deployment orders this weekend without current plans for a new mission.
• Building progress north of Baghdad Army News 19 Oct 2009 -- The shift of U.S. forces out of Iraqi cities has created a new set of tasks for troops in the Iraqi countryside.
• Forces Disrupt Terrorist Networks in Afghanistan AFPS 19 Oct 2009 -- Afghan and international security forces killed multiple militants and detained several suspects in operations in Afghanistan.
• Strategy Review Will Continue to Move Forward, Gates Says AFPS 19 Oct 2009 -- Gates: President's strategic review doesn't hinge on election outcome.
• Gates to Press Asia, NATO for More Afghanistan Support AFPS 19 Oct 2009 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates expected to ensure the issue of support for Afghanistan remains solidly on front burner.
• Mobility Airmen continue peak pace for Operation Enduring Freedom AFNS 19 Oct 2009 -- When President Obama authorized an additional 17,000 troops to "surge" into Afghanistan for OEF in February, mobility Airmen answered the call.
• 'Push Crews' Ensure On-time Missions AFPS 19 Oct 2009 -- For door gunners and crew chiefs in Company A, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment, the longest days are the ones when they don’t fly.
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Keep Watch in Afghanistan AFPS 19 Oct 2009 -- The Raven is a portable UAV that provides soldiers a live video feed both day and night and also has tracking and still-image capabilities.
• Clinton 'Encouraged' by Afghan Election Developments VOA 19 Oct 2009 -- US Secretary of Hillary Clinton: Encouraged by the direction of efforts in Afghanistan to resolve the country's election controversy.
• Ban urges Afghan President to respect constitutional process UN News Centre 19 Oct 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban and Afghan President Karzai discussed the latest developments concerning recent elections.
• Electoral Fraud Findings Reportedly Point To Afghan Runoff RFE/RL 19 Oct 2009 -- Afghanistan's Electoral Complains Commission has released its final decisions relating to fraud in election.
• Fraud Panel Throws Out Votes in Afghan Election VOA 19 Oct 2009 -- UN-backed commission investigating reports of fraud in the Afghan presidential poll has ordered the country's election officials invalidate results at 210 polling stations.
• Panel Invalidates Some Afghan Election Results VOA 19 Oct 2009 -- UN-backed commission investigating reports of fraud in Afghanistan's presidential election has ordered the country's IEC to invalidate results at 210 polling stations.
• Pakistan Continues Waziristan Offensive VOA 19 Oct 2009 -- Pakistan's military says troops are continuing to hit Taliban targets in South Waziristan as the offensive entered its third day Monday.
• PAKISTAN: Thousands flee South Waziristan as army offensive begins IRIN 19 Oct 2009 -- Thousands of people have fled Pakistan’s South Waziristan territory adjacent to the Afghan border.
• In a Symbolic move, 34 PKK Rebels Surrender in Turkey VOA 19 Oct 2009 -- Surrender heralded in Turkey as a major breakthrough in the 26-year conflict between the Turkish state and Kurdish rebel group the PKK.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Admiral Cites Need to Prepare for All Threats AFPS 19 Oct 2009 -- Senior Navy Officer: Military commanders of the future should be proficient at managing high-tech communications networks.
• Forces Progress in Transition to Operational Reserve AFPS 19 Oct 2009 -- Today’s reserve forces have made tremendous progress transforming from a strategic to an operational reserve.
• Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay Army News 19 Oct 2009 -- Those whose service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss between September 11, 2001 and September 30, 2008 can apply to receive $500 for every month, or portion of a month, they served under Stop Loss.
• LHD8 Completes Certifications Prior to Commissioning Navy NewsStand 19 Oct 2009 -- Sailors and Marines aboard USS Makin Island returned to port Oct. 16 having completed three more critical certifications prior to the ship's commissioning.
• 'Green Ship' Makin Island to be Commissioned Navy NewsStand 19 Oct 2009 -- USS Makin Island will be formally commissioned in a ceremony on Naval Air Station North Island Oct. 24.
• IMT established to focus on new recruits, officers Army News 19 Oct 2009 -- The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command launched a major subordinate organization for Initial Military Training to provide higher-level emphasis on education and leader development from the first day of training to a Soldier's first unit assignment.
• GW CSG Completes Bilateral Exercise with ROK Navy Navy NewsStand 19 Oct 2009 -- The George Washington Carrier Strike Group (GW CSG) completed a bilateral exercise with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Oct. 16.
• USS Tortuga Conducts Training with Philippine Sailors Navy NewsStand 19 Oct 2009 -- Forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga began Amphibious Landing Exercise Oct. 14.
• Orient Shield provides exchange of tactics, culture Army News 19 Oct 2009 -- Hundreds of U.S. and Japanese troops took to the wood lines this past weekend in a simulated combat field training exercise as a culmination of Exercise Orient Shield.
• USACE division commander visits Israel, strengthens relationships Army News 19 Oct 2009 -- Col. Peter "Duke" DeLuca's first visit to Israel since taking command of the US Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division.
• NAVFAC Northwest Awards Water Distribution System ARRA Contract Navy NewsStand 19 Oct 2009 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest awarded American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contract Sept. 28 to replace the water distribution system at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
• US Army Awards Contract for Facility at Wiesbaden Army News 19 Oct 2009 -- US Army Corps of Engineers Europe District awarded contract for the design and construction of Command and Battle Center at Wiesbaden Army Airfield.
• Vandenberg officials launch Atlas V rocket AFNS 19 Oct 2009 -- Vandenberg Air Force Base officials successfully launched a Atlas V rocket carrying a Defense Meteorological Satellite Program payload.
• Authorities Call Off Search for Missing F-16 Pilot AFPS 19 Oct 2009 -- Authorities are still looking for the wreckage of an Air Force F-16 fighter jet that crashed with its pilot into the Atlantic Ocean off South Carolina’s coast last week.
• USS Georgia Conducts Community Relations Projects in Bahrain Navy NewsStand 19 Oct 2009 -- Sailors from the Ohio-class submarine USS Georgia (Blue) participated in two community relations projects Sept. 27-28, during their recent port visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
• Bonhomme Richard Project Handclasp Reaches out to Timor-Leste Navy NewsStand 19 Oct 2009 -- Sailors from the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard presented four pallets of medical and hygiene supplies from Project Handclasp to local organizations Oct. 17 in Dili, Timor-Leste.
• Gates Heads to Asia to Bolster U.S. Alliances AFPS 19 Oct 2009 -- Defense Secretary Gates is on his way to Japan, where he will discuss a broad range of defense issues.
• Russia to do its best to sign arms cuts deal with U.S. by Dec. RIA Novosti 19 Oct 2009 -- President Medvedev: Russia will do its best to sign a new strategic arms reduction treaty with the United States by December.
• Russian-U.S. nuclear arms talks continue in Geneva RIA Novosti 19 Oct 2009 -- Next round of Russian- US consultations on a replacement for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty will be held on Monday in Geneva.
• Air Force personnel disciplined over faulty fighter maintenance CNA 19 Oct 2009 -- All Taiwanese air force personnel involved in improperly maintaining a Mirage 2000-5 jet fighter last month have been disciplined.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 19 Oct 2009
• Briefing by National Security Advisor Tony Blinken on The Vice President's Upcoming Trip to Central Europe The White House 19 Oct 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 10/19/09 The White House 19 Oct 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 19, 2009
• Northrop Grumman Melts 35 Tons of Steel for Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Propeller Shafts Northrop Grumman 19 Oct 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) used its foundry at the company's Shipbuilding sector in Newport News, Va. to melt 35 tons of steel to cast strut arms needed to support the propeller shafts of the nuclear aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). The pour took place on Oct. 9.
• Northrop Grumman Awarded Two U.S. Transportation Command Contracts Northrop Grumman 19 Oct 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Transportation Command has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a contract for Joint Collaborative Analytic and Adaptive Planning (APEX) support and another contract to provide analytical support for the Joint Distribution Process Analysis Center (JDPAC) both at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
• Northrop Grumman Awarded Navy Seaport-E Task Orders Northrop Grumman 19 Oct 2009 -- The U.S. Navy Seaport-Enhanced contract office has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) four task orders to support several Navy and joint programs. Together, the task orders are valued at more than $80 million.
• Raytheon Selected as Network Systems Integrator for Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment Raytheon 19 Oct 2009 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been selected as the network systems integrator for the Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment. This experiment will integrate more than 25 technologies from more than 20 different companies and government agencies to operate on a single integrated backbone network.
• SAIC Awarded $95 Million Contract to Support the National Guard Bureau SAIC 19 Oct 2009 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a prime contract by the National Guard Bureau (NGB) to provide architectural design and engineering services in support of military structures, roadways and airfields.
• Lockheed Martin Team Conducts Major Compatibility Test Of First Mobile User Objective System Satellite Lockheed Martin 19 Oct 2009 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has demonstrated the interface compatibility of the first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite's dual legacy and next-generation Ultra High Frequency (UHF) communications payloads with ground user test terminals.
• First Oshkosh LVSR Deployed to Afghanistan In Support of U.S. Marine Corps Oshkosh 19 Oct 2009 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced today that the first Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) has been deployed with the U.S. Marine Corps in Afghanistan, with two additional vehicles set to be delivered later in October. All three vehicles being delivered are cargo variants. Oshkosh is also sending two Field Service Representatives (FSR) to Afghanistan this month to provide support services for LVSR users.
• Thales completes major safety installation programme at UK MoD airfields Thales 19 Oct 2009 -- Thales UK today announces that it has successfully installed 25 Instrument Landing Systems (ILS)* and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)** at 23 locations across the UK and at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus and Mount Pleasant Airfield, Falkland Islands under the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) ILS sustainment programme.

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 19 Oct 2009
• US Ambassador to UN to Embark on Mideast Talks VOA 19 Oct 2009 -- US ambassador to the United Nations is traveling to Israel in a bid to advance peace efforts in the Middle East.
• UN: Israeli Spy Devices Caused Lebanon Blasts VOA 19 Oct 2009 -- UN probe into mysterious blasts in S. Lebanon indicates Israel had planted spying devices in the area during its war against Hezbollah.
• UN investigates as more explosions reported in southern Lebanon UN News Centre 19 Oct 2009 -- UNIFIL launched an investigation into explosions that occurred during the weekend in southern part of the country.
• Somali Clan Disputes Giving Boost to al-Shabab VOA 19 Oct 2009 -- Several hundred insurgent fighters in Somalia have reportedly defected to the government in the past week.
• Kenya Muslims Decry Alleged Military Recruitment For Somalia Government VOA 19 Oct 2009 -- Muslim leaders in Kenya say they have evidence that Kenya's government is covertly recruiting ethnic Somali youth.
• Statement of President Barack Obama on Sudan Strategy The White House 19 Oct 2009
• US Announces 'Integrated' Sudan Strategy VOA 19 Oct 2009 -- Obama administration announced a new strategy of incentives and possible punitive actions to restore peace in Darfur.
• UN-African Union operation in Darfur voices concern over build-up of troops, rebels UN News Centre 19 Oct 2009 -- Joint UN-AU mission in Darfur voiced grave concern over a significant surge in the number of troops in western Sudan.
• Chadian-Sudanese tensions halting regional peace efforts, says Ban UN News Centre 19 Oct 2009 -- Continuing tensions between Chad and Sudan have stalled regional peace efforts.
• Ban welcomes release of aid workers held captive in Darfur for months UN News Centre 19 Oct 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban joined other UN officials in welcoming the release of 2 female aid workers.
• Rapes and attacks on civilians continue in eastern DR Congo, UN reports UN News Centre 19 Oct 2009 -- Night-time attacks on civilians and rape by armed men remain widespread in a strife-torn region of eastern DRC.
• PHILIPPINES: Muslim rebels, government seek civilian protection IRIN 19 Oct 2009 -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) says it is working with the government to establish a mechanism to protect civilians in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Mindanao from crossfire or clashes before formal peace talks resume.
• Four Suspected IMU Members Killed In Tajikistan RFE/RL 19 Oct 2009 -- Tajikistan's Interior Ministry has announced that 4 suspected members of the banned Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan were killed.
• ICC opens confirmation hearing on war crimes charges against Darfurian rebel UN News Centre 19 Oct 2009 -- ICC began a hearing into whether to confirm war crimes charges against Sudanese rebel leader.
• Hague Court Considers Sudanese Rebel Leader Case VOA 19 Oct 2009 -- ICC in The Hague has begun a preliminary hearing to determine whether Sudanese rebel leader Abu Garda must stand trial for war crimes.
• International Court Probes Darfur Attack on AU Peacekeepers VOA 19 Oct 2009 -- ICC will open investigations at the Hague of a case that could pave the way for its first trial involving war crimes in Darfur, Sudan.

News Reports

• Guinea Military Ruler Rejects Foreign Intervention Force VOA 19 Oct 2009 -- Facing a regional arms embargo, Guinea's military ruler says he is ready to continue with mediation efforts.
• Guinea: UN advances plans for international probe into deadly crackdown UN News Centre 19 Oct 2009 -- Plans moved ahead for an international commission of inquiry into last month’s violent crackdown on unarmed demonstrators in Guinea.
• Nigeria to Offer Niger Delta Residents Stake in Oil Ventures VOA 19 Oct 2009 -- Nigerian government planning to offer residents of the oil-rich Niger Delta region 10 percent of all oil and gas ventures.
• Niger Security Agents to Vote Ahead of Parliamentary Elections VOA 19 Oct 2009 -- Niger's security agencies will be voting one day ahead of Tuesday's scheduled parliamentary elections.
• EU, Russia Press On With Partnership RFE/RL 19 Oct 2009 -- The European Union's relations with Russia appear to have returned to business as usual -- except that there's not much business in evidence.
• Western Ukraine Could Decide Presidential Election Outcome RFE/RL 19 Oct 2009 -- After what is seen as missed opportunities under incumbent President Yushchenko, Ukraine's election campaign has begun.
• Ukraine begins presidential election campaign RIA Novosti 19 Oct 2009 -- Ukraine officially launched on presidential election campaign, the first since the 2004 "orange revolution."