Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 21 Oct 2009 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Iraqi Forces Arrest Terrorism, Murder Suspects AFPS 21 Oct 2009 -- Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. forces advisors, arrested two terrorism suspects and a murder suspect in Iraq.
• U.S., Iraqi Troops Conduct Medical Mission AFPS 21 Oct 2009 -- Soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 17th Fires Brigade and the 14th Iraqi Army Division conducted their first joint medical military-civic operations.
• Iraq Drawdown on Track, Policy Chief Says AFPS 21 Oct 2009 -- Pentagon officials told Congress the Defense Department is well on schedule to meet President Obama’s withdrawal timeline.
• 'Welcome home Viper Medics' Army News 21 Oct 2009 -- After 12 months in Iraq, the mission of the 421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment was done.
• First class of IA Strike Soldiers graduates Army News 21 Oct 2009 -- Sixty-nine Iraqi Army Soldiers stood at attention during a graduation ceremony for the first class of the Karkh Area Command Strike Team.
• Refresher training aids Iraqis to take lead Army News 21 Oct 2009 -- 16 Iraqi Army Soldiers assigned to 43rd IA Brigade, 11th IA Division, graduated at Joint Security Station Shield, Oct. 20.
• U.S., Afghans Open Strategic Road AFPS 21 Oct 2009 -- US and Afghan officials officially open a spur connecting the historic Daraband pass to the main road in the Panjshir River valley.
• Collaboration Drives Afghan Strategy Review, Gates Says AFPS 21 Oct 2009 -- Defense Secretary Gates praised a close collaboration between the military and the White House in examining US strategy in Afghanistan.
• Attention Intensifies on Afghan War Strategy VOA 21 Oct 2009 -- Attention will intensify on US President Barack Obama's difficult decision about whether to send more American troops to Afghanistan.
• Australia Eyes Early Afghanistan Withdrawal VOA 21 Oct 2009 -- The Australian government has asked military commanders to find ways to complete their missions in Afghanistan as soon as possible.
• Australia hints at early troop withdrawal from Afghanistan RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2009 -- Australian authorities are studying options of early withdrawal of its 1,500-strong military contingent from Afghanistan.
• Gates Says Afghan Runoff Wont Solve Corruption Problems VOA 21 Oct 2009 -- US defense secretary warns that government corruption is a larger problem that the original fraud-riddled vote.
• Afghan leader's rival calls for improved security for election run-off RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2009 -- President Karzai's nearest rival has urged Afghan authorities to provide sufficient security to ensure a high turnout during run-off vote.
• British Official Thinks Afghan Run-off Election Will Be Credible VOA 21 Oct 2009 -- Both Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his main political opponent Abdullah Abdullah have agreed to a run-off.
• Afghan Election Officials Consider Options to Address Fraud Before Runoff VOA 21 Oct 2009 -- Officials in Afghanistan are working to organize the second round of nationwide presidential voting.
• UN anti-crime chief calls for scaled-up resistance against Afghan drugs trafficking UN News Centre 21 Oct 2009 -- UN drug and crime tsar called for intensified efforts to combat impact of Afghanistan’s opium trade.
• Pakistan Continues Waziristan Offensive, Closes Schools RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2009 -- Pakistani helicopter gunships attacked Taliban strongholds near the Afghan border on the fifth day of offensive in S. Waziristan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Gates, Willard Seek More Engagement With China AFPS 21 Oct 2009 -- Defense Secretary Gates: It’s in the United States’ long-term interest to engage more closely with China.
• New US Pacific Commander Concerned About North Korea, China VOA 21 Oct 2009 -- Commander of US forces in Asia and the Pacific and Indian Oceans: North Korea must be watched very closely.
• Gates Calls on South Korea to Expand Security Role AFPS 21 Oct 2009 -- Defense Secretary Gates called on the longtime US ally to assume a larger security role on the Korean peninsula and beyond.
• US Defense Secretary Urges South Korea to Spend More on Security VOA 21 Oct 2009 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Gates: North Korea remains a real threat to security on the Korean peninsula and in the world.
• Gates, Japanese Leaders Vow Continued Cooperation AFPS 21 Oct 2009 -- Defense Secretary Gates re-emphasized the need to move forward with the previously agreed-to realignment plan.
• Transcript: Joint Press Conference with Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates DoD 21 Oct 2009 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• DoD News: DoD To Implement Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay DoD 21 Oct 2009 -- The Defense Department announced today the services' implementation plans to provide retroactive stop loss special pay
• DoD News: Navy to Commission Energy-Efficient Amphibious Assault Ship Makin Island DoD 21 Oct 2009 -- The Navy will commission the amphibious assault ship Makin Island, Saturday, Oct. 24, during a 10 a.m. PDT ceremony at North Island Naval Air Station, Coronado, Calif.
• New Command Center Adds to Collaboration AFPS 21 Oct 2009 -- At the U.S. military nerve center responsible for coordinating the deployment of troops and equipment downrange, the neurons are likely to fire faster with the addition of a new, state-of-the-art facility.
• 'Fighting Fuelers' Close Chapter in Quartermaster History Army News 21 Oct 2009 -- The 58th Quartermaster Company, 240th QM Battalion, 49th QM Group, deactivated Oct. 15 in a ceremony at the Post Field House.
• Defense Department to Compensate 'Stop Loss' Troops AFPS 21 Oct 2009 -- DoD will implement a new program this week to compensate former and current servicemembers for each month they involuntarily served from Sept. 11, 2001 to Sept. 30, 2009.
• Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft gets X-plane designation AFNS 21 Oct 2009 -- Air Force officials have approved X-55A as the new designation for the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft.
• Air Force officials launch ADVENT technology demonstrator phase AFNS 21 Oct 2009 -- Air Force Research Laboratory officials completed its assessment of the two adaptive versatile engine technology Phase I efforts.
• C-17 tests new assault landing strip in Wyoming AFNS 21 Oct 2009 -- A C-17 Globemaster III from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., approached the 5,500-foot-long stretch of paved runway, landed, then rolled to a stop.
• Weapons, tactics conference puts warfighters' needs in focus AFNS 21 Oct 2009 -- Nearly 1,200 Air Force warfighters are meeting here in late October to decide on what's needed to succeed in future battles and missions.
• USS Anzio Seizes Four Tons of Narcotics Navy NewsStand 21 Oct 2009 -- USS Anzio seized approximately four tons of hashish found aboard a skiff in the Gulf of Aden.
• Navy Chaplain School Relocates Navy NewsStand 21 Oct 2009 -- US Navy Chaplain Corps relocated and consolidated its chaplain and enlisted religious program specialist training schools.
• Aeromedical staging facility staff to reach major milestone in warrior care AFNS 21 Oct 2009 -- Members of the 86th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility will soon be reaching a new milestone.
• FISC Yokosuka Fuel Department Upholds High Standards Fueling 7th Fleet Navy NewsStand 21 Oct 2009 -- U.S. Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC) Yokosuka Fuel Department achieved incident-free fuel operations during fiscal year 2009.
• Sacramento District helps Army Reserve unit move toward readiness Army News 21 Oct 2009 -- In just one year, however, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is halfway on building an 180,000 square feet home.
• Recovery Act Will Replace Generators at Point Loma Navy Command Navy NewsStand 21 Oct 2009 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest awarded Recovery Act contract to replace a generator set with new static frequency converters at Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command in San Diego.
• NAS Whidbey Island Opens Convergence Zone Navy NewsStand 21 Oct 2009 -- Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island held a ribbon-cutting to commemorate the grand opening of The Convergence Zone entertainment facility Oct. 16.
• Army's largest dining facility opens at Fort Lee Army News 21 Oct 2009 -- The largest Army-owned dining facility is officially open for business.
• Initial H1N1 vaccine will soon arrive at Fort Riley Army News 21 Oct 2009 -- The initial supply of the H1N1 vaccine is expected to arrive at Irwin Army Community Hospital in the next few weeks.
• H1N1 vaccine to arrive in November Army News 21 Oct 2009 -- H1N1 vaccinations are expected to be available in November for active-duty servicemembers and their families.
• Lincoln Protects Sailors Ahead of Flu Season Navy NewsStand 21 Oct 2009 -- USS Abraham Lincoln's Health Services Department inoculated more than 2,000 Sailors Oct. 5-9 with the Flumist (live) vaccination.
• Navy Issues Letter of Censure for Bahrain Military Working Dog Division Incidents Navy NewsStand 21 Oct 2009 -- Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, issued a letter of censure to a senior chief for his involvement in hazing incidents.
• Indian army division leads IED workshop during Exercise Yudh Abhyas 09 Army News 21 Oct 2009 -- The Indian army's 31st Armor Division led an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) workshop and a demonstration.
• Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2009 in Babina, India Army News 21 Oct 2009 -- The exercise Yudh Abhyas is a regularly-scheduled Indian Army/U.S. Army Pacific co-sponsored bilateral exercise hosted by the Indian army.
• EAST AFRICA: US troops help build disaster response capacity IRIN 21 Oct 2009 -- Military contingents from five East African countries have begun field training in disaster and emergency response in northern Uganda.
• Building African logistics capability through partnership Army News 21 Oct 2009 -- U.S. Army Africa Soldiers support Africa Deployment Assistance Partnership Team (ADAPT) events on the African continent.
• AFSOUTH Airmen participate in Exercise SALITRE II AFNS 21 Oct 2009 -- More than 190 Air Forces Southern Airmen are representing the United States during Exercise SALITRE II.
• Havel Expects Biden To Reassure Central Europe On Ties RFE/RL 21 Oct 2009 -- As US VP Biden began his travels through central Europe, arguably the region's loudest voice for strong trans-Atlantic ties was up-front.
• Interview: Vaclav Havel On U.S. Relations With Central Europe RFE/RL 21 Oct 2009 -- Former Czech President Havel talks in a wide-ranging interview about what he expects to hear from US VP Biden.
• Czech Republic expects new U.S. missile defense proposals RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2009 -- Czech Deputy FM Pojar: Prague expects the US to present new specific US missile defense proposals.
• Poland Ready To Participate In New U.S. Missile-Defense Plan RFE/RL 21 Oct 2009 -- Polish PM Tusk: Warsaw is ready to take part in a new, reconfigured U.S. missile-defense system in Europe.
• Poland Pledges Cooperation With New Missile Defense Plan VOA 21 Oct 2009 -- VP Biden visited Poland and received assurances from Polish PM Tusk that Poland will take part in a new missile defense plan.
• Poland ready to join new U.S. missile defense plan RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2009 -- Polish PM: Poland is ready to take part in a reconfigured U.S. missile defense system.
• Russia to lose 'billions' if S-300 missile deal with Iran scrapped RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2009 -- Russia will sustain significant losses if it decides to tear up a contract to deliver S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Iran.
• Russia submits draft UN resolution against arms race in space RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2009 -- Russian delegation to the UN has submitted to the UN 2 draft resolutions on the prevention of arms race in space.
• The goal for 2010 conscripts - to make it to the enrollment office RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2009 -- The 2010 conscripts have a chance to enroll in a college without doing military service first.
• China warns its ships to steer clear of pirate danger zone RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2009 -- China's transport ministry has issued a warning for the country's ships to avoid area of the Indian Ocean.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 21 Oct 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 21, 2009
• Defender makes a splash on the Clyde BAE Systems 21 Oct 2009 -- the team has outfitted the ship to the maximum weight possible ahead of launch and the electrical systems on board are already live. Focus will now turn to completing systems and commissioning power and propulsion and combat systems ahead of her hand over to the Royal Navy on schedule in 2012.
• General Dynamics Awarded Naval Surface Warfare Center Support Contract General Dynamics 21 Oct 2009 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a contract for Hull, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic (HME&E) Systems Alterations Installation Team (AIT) support by the U.S. Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Center. The multiple-award, five-year, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract has a total potential value of $475 million among all six awardees.
• General Dynamics' Littoral Combat Ship Independence Completes Builder's Trials General Dynamics 21 Oct 2009 -- Independence (LCS 2), the innovative high-speed trimaran combatant ship being constructed by shipbuilder Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., as part of the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team, successfully completed a series of tests known as builder's trials on October 18 in the Gulf of Mexico.
• U.S. Navy Awards Lockheed Martin $17 Million for P-3 Orion Aircraft Acoustic Anti-submarine Warfare System Upgrades Lockheed Martin 21 Oct 2009 -- The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a $17.5 million contract to upgrade existing anti-submarine warfare systems aboard the P-3C Orion aircraft to improve current acoustic capabilities and significantly reduce parts obsolescence.
• Northrop Grumman Begins Full Rate Production of New Radar for B-2 Bomber Northrop Grumman 21 Oct 2009 -- The nation's fleet of B-2 stealth bombers will all receive a new Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)-developed radar system following the U.S. Air Force's decision to authorize full-rate production of the units by the company's Radar Modernization Program (RMP).
• Raytheon Gets $19.8 Million Contract for ALR-69A(V) Radar Warning Receiver Program Raytheon 21 Oct 2009 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $19.8 million contract for the continued production of ALR-69A(V) radar warning receiver systems for the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.
• Lockheed Martin-Built Trident II D5 Missile Achieves Record 129 Successful Test Flights In A Row Over 20 Years Lockheed Martin 21 Oct 2009 -- The U.S. Navy conducted successful test flights Sept. 3 and 4 of two Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missiles (FBMs) built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT).
• Oshkosh Defense to Deliver 102 HEMTT A4s to the National Guard Oshkosh 21 Oct 2009 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), has received a contract modification valued at $35 million from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC) for 102 next-generation Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTT A4). The trucks will be delivered by March 2010.

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 21 Oct 2009
• UN envoy discusses recent incidents in southern Lebanon with Arab League official UN News Centre 21 Oct 2009 -- UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon met with the head of the Arab League to discuss several recent incidents.
• SOMALIA: Shift aid base to "safe" areas in-country, urges UN official IRIN 21 Oct 2009 -- Humanitarian agencies should move from Nairobi to "relatively safe" areas of Somalia to be able to better serve internally displaced people.
• SPLM Parliament Boycott Draws Criticism VOA 21 Oct 2009 -- The Government of Southern Sudan is coming under intense criticism after boycotting parliament one day after Washington unveiled a new Sudan strategy.
• Top Nigerian Ruling Party Official Pledges Fast Reconstruction of Niger Delta VOA 21 Oct 2009 -- In Nigeria, top leaders in the Niger Delta are welcoming new peace initiatives by the government to end years of fighting.
• Georgian fuel-laden train hit by bomb attack RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2009 -- Twelve cars of a freight train carrying fuel oil blew up in western Georgia after unknown attackers detonated a bomb.

News Reports

• Egypt's Opposition Muslim Brotherhood Denies Reports of Dissension VOA 21 Oct 2009 -- Reports of dissension in Egypt's opposition Muslim Brotherhood were swiftly denied by the group's top leader.
• Guinea: UN plan for probe into bloody crackdown gets green light UN News Centre 21 Oct 2009 -- Proposed international probe into deadly crackdown in Guinea has received the green light from local and regional stakeholders.
• UN Security Council Members Support Independent Inquiry on Guinea VOA 21 Oct 2009 -- UN Security Council expressed broad support for establishing an independent commission of inquiry to investigate alleged human rights violations in Guinea.
• US Pleased Burmese Official Meeting With Opposition Leader VOA 21 Oct 2009 -- US official: US pleased Burma's labor minister has met with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi twice in recent weeks.
• Kyrgyz parliament approves president's ally as new premier RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2009 -- Kyrgyzstan's parliament approved on Wednesday the president's ally as the Central Asian state's new prime minister.
• Communists to return to State Duma after walkout RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2009 -- Lawmakers of Russia's Communist party announced they would return on Wednesday.