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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 18 Nov 2009 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Soldiers Improve Remote Station in Iraq AFPS 18 Nov 2009 -- Soldiers here have taken the adage “Improve your foxhole” to heart as they strive to improve this small security station in southern Iraq.
• Adder Soldiers sharpen weapons skills Army News 18 Nov 2009 -- Soldiers with 36th Sustainment Brigade fired their weapons at Lightning Memorial Range to qualify and zero their weapons.
• Forces in Afghanistan Kill Militants, Detain Suspects AFPS 18 Nov 2009 -- Afghan and international forces killed several enemy militants and detained numerous terrorism suspects in Afghanistan.
• Decisions Will Pave Path to End War, Obama Says AFPS 18 Nov 2009 -- A range of decisions still remain for President Barack Obama and his administration to finalize the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan.
• Obama: Afghanistan Decision Due in Next Several Weeks VOA 18 Nov 2009 -- President Obama says he will announce his highly anticipated decision on US strategy in Afghanistan over the next several weeks.
• U.S. Troops Process Cargo Trucks at Busy Airfield AFPS 18 Nov 2009 -- Supplies and equipment to sustain servicemembers and civilians from 15 different nations at the world’s busiest military airfield arrive here daily.
• C-27s to provide Afghanistan modern airlift capability Army News 18 Nov 2009 -- The first two of 20 planned C-27 aircraft became part of the Afghan National Army Air Corps.
• Obama: US Presenting Benchmarks for Afghan Government VOA 18 Nov 2009 -- US President Obama: Administration is presenting "very clear benchmarks" for the Afghan government to secure the war-torn country.
• AFGHANISTAN: New report highlights people's thirst for peace IRIN 18 Nov 2009 -- Over two million Afghans have been killed or wounded in armed conflicts and violence over the past three decades.
• Report: Afghan Minister Accepted $30 Million Bribe VOA 18 Nov 2009 -- A news report published Wednesday says Afghanistan's minister of mines is accused of accepting an approximately $30 million bribe.
• Report: Afghan Conflict Driven by Poverty VOA 18 Nov 2009 -- A Britain-based charity has found a majority of Afghans see poverty and unemployment as the major cause of conflict in their country.
• Karzai Inauguration Brings Anticipation Of Change RFE/RL 18 Nov 2009 -- Like millions of Afghans, Izharul Haq dreams of seeing peace and security restored to his homeland.
• Clinton in Afghanistan for Karzai Inauguration VOA 18 Nov 2009 -- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Afghanistan ahead of President Hamid Karzai's inauguration.
• Pakistan Says 6 Militants Killed in South Waziristan VOA 18 Nov 2009 -- Military officials in Pakistan say six alleged militants have been killed after they shot at Pakistani forces in South Waziristan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD News: Navy Announces Decision On Marine Mammal Use To Protect Washington Navy Base DoD 18 Nov 2009 -- The Navy announced today its decision to install a swimmer interdiction security system at Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) Bangor, Wash., that will employ teams of security personnel and specially-trained marine mammals to protect waterside assets and sailors
• Command officials work toward seamless transition with mission transfer AFNS 18 Nov 2009 -- Air Force Global Strike Command officials will gain missile wings when it assumes control of 20th Air Force.
• Army developing global network Army News 18 Nov 2009 -- In the future, Soldiers should be able to access the Army's global network anywhere in the world using capabilities similar to a Blackberry or iPhone.
• U.S., Bavarian leaders meet to discuss challenges, cooperation Army News 18 Nov 2009 -- Of the 41,000 U.S. Soldiers stationed in Germany, half are stationed at six locations throughout Bavaria.
• Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group Enters 5th Fleet Navy NewsStand 18 Nov 2009 -- After transiting the western Pacific, the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group entered the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations.
• USS Decatur Returns from Deployment Navy NewsStand 18 Nov 2009 -- USS Decatur will return to San Diego Nov. 23 after its second six-month deployment in 18 months to the 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility.
• USS John Paul Jones Returns to San Diego from Deployment Navy NewsStand 18 Nov 2009 -- USS John Paul Jones will return to San Diego Nov. 24 after an independent 7-month deployment to the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility.
• Sailors Strengthen Relationships Between U.S. and Palau Navy NewsStand 18 Nov 2009 -- Sailors with Detachment Civic Action Team (DET CAT) Palau completed a construction project at an elementary school in Angaur Nov. 4.
• Navy Boot Camp 'Extreme Makeover' Nearly Complete Navy NewsStand 18 Nov 2009 -- The 12-year, $770-million recapitalization of Recruit Training Command Great Lake is in its final stages.
• Obama Winds Up Asia Tour With South Korea Summit VOA 18 Nov 2009 -- US President Obama is expected to show solidarity in demanding N. Korea move toward ending its nuclear weapons programs.
• India, US Preparing to Finalize Strategic Partnership Framework VOA 18 Nov 2009 -- American and Indian top officials hoping to finalize a framework for the expanding strategic dialogue of the 2 democracies.
• U.S., NATO Officials Tackle Interoperability AFPS 18 Nov 2009 -- U.S. and NATO representatives are gathered in Rome brainstorming for solutions to make their security elements work better together.
• Russia continues to modernize its nuclear triad RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2009 -- Russia's Strategic Missile Forces will put on combat duty a second regiment equipped with Topol-M mobile missile systems by the end of 2009.
• Russian missile forces report results of combat training in 2009 RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2009 -- Russia's Strategic Missile Forces conducted a total of 11 large-scale exercises and two test launches of strategic missiles in 2009.
• Russia will keep fighting piracy - UN envoy RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2009 -- Russia will continue fighting hijackers off Somalia's cost and will support sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council.
• Russia dismisses NATO concerns over military drills with Belarus RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2009 -- There is no reason for NATO to be concerned over recent Russian-Belarusian large-scale military drills near Poland.
• Russia completes delivery of Su-30 fighters to Algeria RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2009 -- Russia has completed the delivery of Su-30MKA Flanker multi-role fighters to Algeria.
• Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine to set up "joint army" RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2009 -- Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine intend to create a combined military unit: a Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade.
• Uzbeks Skip Regional Security Meeting In Kazakhstan RFE/RL 18 Nov 2009 -- Shanghai Cooperation Organization began a third round of discussions in Almaty about upcoming counterterrorism exercises.
• Anti-piracy efforts must deal with its root causes, says UN envoy for Somalia UN News Centre 18 Nov 2009 -- Piracy off Somalia’s coast is a symptom of wider problems ashore.
• Foiled Pirate Attack Encourages Defense Officials AFPS 18 Nov 2009 -- DoD officials are pleased with the Maersk Alabama’s successful defense against suspected pirates today off the coast of Somalia.
• US Welcomes Armed Repulsion of Pirate Attack VOA 18 Nov 2009 -- The United States Wednesday welcomed the repulsion of a band of pirates by gunfire from a private security team on a ship off the northeastern coast of Somalia.
• Maersk Alabama Crew Repels Suspected Pirate Attack AFPS 18 Nov 2009 -- US-flagged Maersk Alabama’s security team repelled an attack from suspected pirates this morning 560 nautical miles off the northeastern coast of Somalia.
• Somali Pirates Attack US-flag Ship Once Again VOA 18 Nov 2009 -- A US-flagged container ship which was hijacked by Somali pirates seven months ago has been attacked again off the coast of Somalia.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 18 Nov 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 18, 2009
• £1BN UPGRADE BID PROMISES MORE PUNCH FOR BRITISH ARMY WARRIORS BAE Systems 18 Nov 2009 -- the gunner crew station is identical - and feature optimised crew stations and large hatches designed to accommodate today’s and tomorrow’s soldier wearing full Osprey body armour. (Soldiers are getting bigger and crew positions in many existing vehicles are becoming too cramped to accommodate them or allow easy exit from the vehicle in an emergency).
• TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SHIPS SAIL AHEAD BAE Systems 18 Nov 2009 -- Two Offshore Patrol Vessels being built by BAE Systems for the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago will this week take a step closer to completion
• Northrop Grumman Marks 45th Anniversary of C-2A Greyhound First Flight Northrop Grumman 18 Nov 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today marked the 45th anniversary of the maiden flight of the C-2A Greyhound -- the U.S. Navy's premier platform for Carrier-on-Board Delivery (COD) to Carrier Strike Groups throughout the U.S. Navy fleet.
• Lockheed Martin Delivers First Set Of U.S. Customs & Border Protection P-3 Orion New Production Wings Lockheed Martin 18 Nov 2009 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officials marked the delivery of the first CBP set of new production P-3 Orion wings from the company's Marietta, Ga., production facility today.
• SAIC Awarded Task Order to Support U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Research, Development & Engineering Center SAIC 18 Nov 2009 -- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a follow on task order from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) to provide professional and engineering support services to the Army Aviation & Missile Research, Development & Engineering Center (AMRDEC) Software Engineering Directorate (SED).
• Boeing Laser Systems Destroy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Tests Boeing 18 Nov 2009 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] in May demonstrated the ability of mobile laser weapon systems to perform a unique mission: track and destroy small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
• Thales selected by the French Ministries of the Interior and of Immigration for its biometric identification system Thales 18 Nov 2009 -- Following an international bid, Thales has been selected by the French Ministries of the Interior and of Immigration for the AGDREF II project. It aims at upgrading the system that manages the records of foreign nationals in France.

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 18 Nov 2009
• Palestinians Say Israeli Move Could Kill Peace Process VOA 18 Nov 2009 -- Palestinian leaders are warning Israel that its approval of 900 new housing units in a disputed area of Jerusalem may kill the peace process.
• Obama: Israeli Settlement Construction Could be 'Dangerous' VOA 18 Nov 2009 -- US President Barack Obama: Israel's latest decision to authorize the construction of new settlements in occupied east Jerusalem does not make Israel safer.
• Israeli settlement plans 'unacceptable' - Foreign Ministry RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2009 -- Moscow expressed deep concern over Israel's plan to build a large number of new housing complexes on the West Bank.
• UN secretary general deplores Israel's new settlements decision RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2009 -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has deplored Tuesday's decision by Israel to expand an East Jerusalem settlement.
• Potential Israeli settler violence threatens 250,000 Palestinians - UN report UN News Centre 18 Nov 2009 -- Nearly 250,000 Palestinians in 83 communities on the West Bank are at risk of heightened violence in so-called "price tag" revenge attacks.
• Darfur: UN-African Union official highlights role of civil society in peace talks UN News Centre 18 Nov 2009 -- Top UN-AU official for Darfur has highlighted the role of civil society groups in the search for a solution to the strife.
• Some Niger Delta Residents Call for Troops Withdrawal VOA 18 Nov 2009 -- Growing number of residents of Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta are demanding the immediate withdrawal of government troops.
• Security Council extends mandate of European peacekeepers in Bosnia UN News Centre 18 Nov 2009 -- UN Security Council extended for another year the European Union stabilization force in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• International Council Meets In Sarajevo to Discuss Future Of OHR RFE/RL 18 Nov 2009 -- The 55-member international body that supervises Bosnia's peace process is gathering in Sarajevo to discuss whether to extend mandate.
• Rwanda Praises German Arrest of Hutu Rebel Leader VOA 18 Nov 2009 -- The Rwandan government is praising the arrest Tuesday of a Hutu rebel leader and his deputy who were living in Germany.

News Reports

• Chinese premier plays down talk of 'G2' alliance with U.S. RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2009 -- Chinese premier stressed the importance of ties with America at a meeting with the US president.
• Honduras parliament to decide Zelaya's fate after election RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2009 -- Honduran parliament will decide on December 2 whether ousted President Zelaya should be reinstated.
• International inquiry into deadly Guinea crackdown begins work - UN UN News Centre 18 Nov 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban met with the members of the International Commission of Inquiry set up to probe crackdownin Guinea.
• West African Mediator to Meet Rivals in Guinea Political Crisis VOA 18 Nov 2009 -- Burkina Faso's president will meet again with members of Guinea's military government and its political opponents as part of regional mediation to end the crisis.
• EU-Russia Relationship No Longer Worsening RFE/RL 18 Nov 2009 -- President of the European Commission emerged today from the 24th EU-Russia summit in the Swedish capital describing it as "one of the best meetings we have had."