Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Oct. 23 airpower summary: F-16s escort convoy in Afghanistan AFNS 24 Oct 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 23, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Port of Entry Ar Ar prepares to open for Hajj pilgrims USMC News 24 Oct 2009 -- In the Islamic faith, all able-bodied Muslims are expected to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at least once in their lifetime
• Holbrooke Says He Expects Afghan Runoff Vote Will Go More Smoothly RFE/RL 24 Oct 2009 -- Richard Holbrooke, the special U.S. envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, has said that he expects the runoff election for Afghan president will go more smoothly than the original vote, and with fewer fraudulent votes cast
• Afghan Election Campaign Begins, As Taliban Calls For Boycott RFE/RL 24 Oct 2009 -- Official campaigning by incumbent President Hamid Karzai and his main challenger, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, has begun, but there are serious doubts about whether the process will resolve Afghanistan's latest political crisis.
• NATO Ministers Endorse McChrystal Afghanistan Strategy VOA 24 Oct 2009 -- As NATO troops engage Taliban insurgents throughout Afghanistan, the top commander's recommendation for additional troops has earned a key endorsement.
• Afghan Campaign for Presidential Runoff Starts Under Taliban Threats VOA 24 Oct 2009 -- Taliban insurgents are threatening to target Afghans who vote in the country's November 7 presidential runoff. Afghan election officials are working to improve security while minimizing fraud.
• UN appeals to combatants in Pakistan to ensure safety of civilians fleeing conflict UN News Centre 24 Oct 2009 -- Amid mounting numbers of Pakistanis crossing inhospitable mountain terrain to escape fighting between Government forces and militants, aid agencies have urged the warring parties to observe international humanitarian law ensuring safety for civilians, the United Nations humanitarian arm said today.
• PAKISTAN: Harrowing tales of flight from Waziristan IRIN 22 Oct 2009 -- Many internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have fled South Waziristan tell harrowing tales of rockets hitting roads or houses as they tried to leave areas where Taliban militants are fighting government forces.
• UN prepares for new flood of Pakistani civilians fleeing fighting with militants UN News Centre 23 Oct 2009 -- United Nations aid agencies and their partners in north-western Pakistan are preparing emergency relief, including food, water and health services, for up to 250,000 civilians fleeing an intensification of fighting between the Government and militants.
• Pakistan Military Captures Taliban Leader's Hometown VOA 24 Oct 2009 -- Pakistani military officials say they have captured the hometown of Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud and one of his top deputies, Qari Hussain. The announcement comes at the start of the second week of the army's offensive in Mehsud's stronghold of South Waziristan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Chairman Calls U.S.-Japan Relationship ?Vital’ AFPS 24 Oct 2009 -- U.S. basing in Japan, Japanese help in Afghanistan and regional and global challenges were among the issues the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed during a news conference yesterday in Tokyo.
• USS City of Corpus Christi Arrives in Laem Chabang Navy NewsStand 24 Oct 2009 -- USS City Of Corpus Christi (SSN 705), one of the U.S. Navy's three forward deployed fast attack nuclear powered submarines, arrived in Laem Chabang, Thailand on Oct. 24 for a scheduled port visit.
• USS Nimitz Makes Port Visit to Bahrain Navy NewsStand 24 Oct 2009 -- The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) arrived in Bahrain for a liberty port visit Oct. 24, while on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.
• FISC Pearl Harbor Improves Fuel Operations, Maintains Readiness Navy NewsStand 24 Oct 2009 -- Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC) Pearl Harbor celebrated the completion of a comprehensive fuel supply and storage system project Oct. 7 that will enhance efficiency and accountability within FISC Pearl Harbor's expansive fuel terminal operation.
• Logisticians Assume the Watch Navy NewsStand 24 Oct 2009 -- A new rating has emerged onboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Two weeks after the official merger of the Storekeeper (SK) and Postal Clerk (PC) ratings, Sailors in the new Logistics Specialist (LS) rating have quietly assumed the watch on the deployed big deck.
• Lincoln Fired Up To Be Test Bed for New Ovens Navy NewsStand 24 Oct 2009 -- Commander Naval Air Forces (CNAF) has chosen USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) to be the test bed for brand new technologically advanced ovens that could potentially be used onboard all U. S. aircraft carriers.
• Damage Control Academy Provides Vital Training Navy NewsStand 24 Oct 2009 -- Aboard any Navy ship, one of the most important skills that all Sailors must learn is damage control in case of an emergency. To that end, USS Wasp's (LHD 1) Damage Control Academy (DCA) teaches the methods that lead to success in the fight against potential catastrophe.
• Everett Focuses on Saving Energy Navy NewsStand 24 Oct 2009 -- Naval Station, (NAVSTA), Everett held an on base Energy Awareness Fair to show personnel how to conserve, save and recycle energy Oct. 22.
• Medvedev, Obama hope for new nuclear arms pact by early December RIA Novosti 24 Oct 2009 -- The presidents of Russia and the United States hope that a treaty on nuclear arms cuts to replace START 1 will be ready by early December, the Kremlin said on Saturday.
• Joint US-Georgia military exercises to begin on Monday RIA Novosti 24 Oct 2009 -- The United States and Georgia will begin military exercises on October 26 in preparation for sending troops to Afghanistan, a foreign liaison officer in the US embassy in Tbilisi said on Saturday.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Abbas's Call for Elections Deepens Palestinian Divisions VOA 24 Oct 2009 -- The Palestinian Authority has announced a date for elections, throwing a wrench into national unity talks with its Islamic militant rivals.
• Hamas refuses to take part in Palestinian elections RIA Novosti 24 Oct 2009 -- Islamist movement Hamas will not take part in the Palestinian elections set for January 24 and will ban them in the Gaza Strip it controls, an advisor to the enclave's head of government said Friday.
• Senior UN official deplores latest kidnapping of aid worker in Darfur UN News Centre 24 Oct 2009 -- The top United Nations humanitarian official in Sudan today condemned the kidnapping of a staff member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the latest in a series of aid worker abductions in the country's war-scarred region of Darfur.
• Uganda, Burundi Condemn Threats By Somali Insurgents VOA 24 Oct 2009 -- Uganda and Burundi have condemned threats made by Somalia's Islamist Al Shabaab insurgents to strike Kampala and Bujumbura. The threats come in response to a firefight Thursday between peacekeepers and insurgents in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, killing at least 30 people.

News Reports

• Read-out of President Obama’s Call with French President Sarkozy The White House 24 Oct 2009
• Read-out of President Obama’s Call with Russian President Medvedev The White House 24 Oct 2009
• Obama Declares Swine Flu A 'National Emergency' VOA 24 Oct 2009 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has declared the spreading H1N1 swine flu virus to be a national emergency.
• President Obama Signs Emergency Declaration for H1N1 Flu The White House 24 Oct 2009
• Japan: Burma Could Ease Aung San Suu Kyi's Detention VOA 24 Oct 2009 -- Japanese officials say a top Burmese official has suggested the military regime could ease restrictions on opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest.
• NASA sets Ares I-X launch for October 27 morning RIA Novosti 24 Oct 2009 -- NASA has announced its new rocket Ares I-X will be launched on October 27, the agency said on its website.
• North Korean Envoy May Meet with US Official VOA 24 Oct 2009 -- A North Korean envoy in New York on a rare visit to the United States may meet face-to-face with a U.S. negotiator, fueling hopes for progress on stalled nuclear disarmament talks.