Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Airpower Summary: December 1 AFNS 02 Dec 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 1 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Iraqi Police Arrest 8 Terror Suspects AFPS 02 Dec 2009 -- Iraqi police arrested eight terrorism suspects today, and an air strike during one of the operations killed an enemy fighter.
• Convoy 911: Joint unit extends battlespace communication AFNS 02 Dec 2009 -- As coalition convoys travel through Iraq, aircraft circle overhead, listening to ground radio traffic, ready to respond.
• Spartan Brigade Assumes Authority of Ninewa Province Army News 02 Dec 2009 -- Transfer of authority ceremony signify'ing 2nd HBCT, 3rd ID's assumption of authority of Ninewa province from 3rd HBCT, 1st Cav. Div.
• Troops building joint security stations in Iraq Army News 02 Dec 2009 -- As efforts in Iraq are shifting to a smaller U.S. presence, more things are being disassembled than erected.
• UK navy personnel back in Iraqi waters IRNA 02 Dec 2009 -- British naval personnel have returned to Iraq to help train local forces following the ratification of an agreement by the Iraqi Presidential Council.
• Combined Force in Afghanistan Detains Suspected Militants AFPS 02 Dec 2009 -- A combined Afghan-international security force detained several suspected militants in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.
• 3rd CAB Arrives in Afghanistan Army News 02 Dec 2009 -- Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division's Combat Aviation Brigade made history as they uncased their Colors in a transfer of authority ceremony at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Nov. 24.
• NMCB 74 Shop Supports Self-Sustainability Navy NewsStand 02 Dec 2009 -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74's '5,000 Shop' has consistently been successful in providing support services to NMCB 74 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
• Gates Gives More Details of Afghan Transition Strategy AFPS 02 Dec 2009 -- Defense Secretary Gates: Training Afghan forces to take security responsibility for their own country is the transition strategy for U.S. forces in the country.
• Gates Explains July 2011 Milestone at Senate Hearing AFPS 02 Dec 2009 -- Defense Secretary Gates: Setting July 2011 for the beginning of a U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan was intended for two primary audiences: the Afghan government in Kabul and war-weary Americans.
• Lynn Cites Aerospace Role in Afghanistan Strategy AFPS 02 Dec 2009 -- Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn: Aerospace assets will be critical to the success of stepped-up operations in Afghanistan.
• Clinton Cites Civilian Effort as Vital in Afghanistan AFPS 02 Dec 2009 -- Secretary of State Clinton: Civilian partnerships, in combination with military efforts, are crucial to success in Afghanistan.
• Afghanistan Troop Increase 'To Start In 2-3 Weeks' RFE/RL 02 Dec 2009 -- US Defense Secretary Gates: First deployments of a 30,000-strong "surge" announced by President Barack Obama will start arriving in Afghanistan in 2-3 weeks.
• More US Troops to Arrive in Afghanistan Within Weeks VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- US Defense Secretary Gates: First of the additional forces ordered to Afghanistan by President Barack Obama will arrive before the end of this month.
• Gates: Afghan-Pakistan Border Jihad 'Epicenter' VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is the "epicenter of extremist jihadism."
• Afghan lawmaker criticizes Obama's new strategy RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- An Afghan lawmaker has criticized U.S. President Barack Obama's new strategy on Afghanistan outlined in his address to the nation.
• Afghan Expert Says Obama Plan For Security Transfer May Work VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- President Obama’s plan to turn over Afghan security to the Afghans themselves by mid 2011 is getting support as well as criticism.
• Afghans Express Mixed Reactions To Obama's New Afghan Strategy RFE/RL 02 Dec 2009 -- Afghans are expressing mixed feelings about a new strategy announced by US President Barack Obama.
• Afghan Reaction Toward New US Strategy Mixed VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has announced his new strategy for Afghanistan, which has military and civilian goals.
• Remarks by Ambassador of Afghanistan to the United States Said Jawad to the Atlantic Partnership Embassy of Afghanistan 02 Dec 2009
• Afghan Government Welcomes New US Strategy VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- The Afghan government is welcoming the new U.S. strategy for the war in its country, but not all Afghans are convinced that a U.S. troop surge will defeat the Taliban.
• McChrystal Says Obama Decision 'Changes Everything' VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- Commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, has welcomed President Obama's revised strategy.
• McChrystal Sends Message to Troops AFPS 02 Dec 2009 -- Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, has posted a message to the troops on the way ahead.
• McChrystal: Surge Marks Turning Point in Conflict AFPS 02 Dec 2009 -- Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal: President Barack Obama's decision signifies a dramatic turning point for the US and coalition mission.
• Strategy Can Reverse Enemy Gains Quickly, Mullen Says AFPS 02 Dec 2009 -- A new U.S. strategy for Afghanistan that entails adding 30,000 more troops by summer enables commanders there to take the lead within a year.
• Strategy Offers Best Chance for Success, Gates Says AFPS 02 Dec 2009 -- Defense Secretary Gates: President Barack Obama's decision on the Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy offers the best possibility to decisively change the momentum in Afghanistan.
• Troops to Focus on Reversing Taliban's Momentum AFPS 02 Dec 2009 -- The 30,000 additional troops President Barack Obama is sending to Afghanistan will focus on reversing the Taliban’s momentum.
• Petraeus: Afghan 'Surge' to Target Terrorist Leaders AFPS 02 Dec 2009 -- Tens of thousands of additional U.S. forces slated for deployment to Afghanistan will be employed to target and eliminate terrorist leaders.
• New U.S. Afghanistan-Pakistan Strategy Aims To Take Fight To Al-Qaeda RFE/RL 02 Dec 2009 -- US President Barack Obama reiterated his administration's key goal in Afghanistan and Pakistan during a high-profile speech.
• Pentagon: Failure in Afghanistan Would Mean Taliban 'Takeover' VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says failure of the international military effort in Afghanistan would mean a Taliban "takeover" of much of the country.
• Pakistan to closely engage with US on new Afghan strategy: FO IRNA 02 Dec 2009 -- Pakistan would closely engage with US in understanding the full importance of its new strategy on Afghanistan.
• NATO Struggles To Match Obama's Afghanistan Strategy RFE/RL 02 Dec 2009 -- NATO's secretary-general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to send 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan and he pledged that other NATO allies would add at least 5,000.
• Clinton Expects Significant Afghan Troop Pledges from NATO VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- Secretary of State Clinton told Congress the Obama administration expects significant commitments of additional troops for Afghanistan from NATO allies.
• NATO Chief: US Allies Pledge 5,000 More Troops to Fight in Afghanistan VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- NATO Secretary-General Fogh Rasmussen: NATO countries are throwing their support behind US President Obama's new Afghan strategy.
• NATO Leader Expects Partners to Boost Contributions AFPS 02 Dec 2009 -- NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen today welcomed President Barack Obama’s announcement of a new U.S. Afghanistan strategy and said he expects the alliance and its partners will make a “substantial increase” in their contributions.
• Poland to send 1,000 additional troops to Afghanistan RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- The Polish defense minister said on Wednesday Poland will send 1,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
• US asking Germany for 2,000 more troops in Afghanistan: report IRNA 02 Dec 2009 -- US President Obama reportedly asked Germany to send 2,000 more soldiers to Afghanistan.
• NATO backs Obama's Afghan troop surge RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- NATO welcomed on Wednesday U.S. President Obama's decision to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
• Europe-NATO React Positively to Obama Troop Surge VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- There has been initial positive reaction from Europe and NATO to President Barack Obama's announcement that he will send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
• Afghanistan Tops NATO Agenda VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- NATO foreign ministers are meeting Thursday and Friday in Brussels for talks that are expected to be dominated by Afghanistan.
• Moscow sees Obama's new Afghan strategy as positive RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- Moscow sees the basic points of the U.S. new strategy on Afghanistan outlined by President Barack Obama as being positive.
• Secretary-General welcomes new United States plan for Afghanistan UN News Centre 02 Dec 2009 -- Secretary-General Ban welcomed the new US plan for Afghanistan announced by President Barack Obama.
• US Lawmakers Debate New Strategy for Afghanistan VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- Obama administration officials testified before Congress, urging lawmakers from both major political parties to support President Barack Obama's Afghanistan strategy.
• Obama Faces Divided US Public, Congress on Afghanistan VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- President Barack Obama's decision on to Afghanistan comes at a time when the American public appears increasingly skeptical.
• New US Afghan Strategy Raises Questions VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- President Obama hopes to eventually bring to a close a low-level conflict that has been going on for eight years.
• Obama's address to nation: 30,000 troops to go to Afghanistan RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- US President Obama outlined a new strategy on Afghanistan in his address to the nation, saying 30,000 troops would be additionally deployed by next summer.
• President visits West Point to announce Afghanistan strategy Army News 02 Dec 2009 -- President Obama made a prime-time speech to officially announce his strategy for Afghanistan to the nation at the U.S. Military Academy.
• No Afghanistan power transfer date in Obama's address to nation RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- US President Obama will not name a specific date to end the transfer of power to Afghanistan's authorities in his address to the nation.
• U.S. losses in Afghanistan in 2009 rise to 300 servicemen RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- US serviceman was killed in a militant attack on an ISAF convoy in Afghanistan on Tuesday night, bringing the total U.S. losses in the country to 300 this year.
• Marines battle Taliban, IEDs and the flu USMC News 02 Dec 2009 -- Aside from the constant threat of enemy contact and roadside bombs, Marines throughout Afghanistan are taking an offensive posture against another potentially deadly enemy - the flu.
• 600 terrorists killed in South Waziristan, Pakistan says IRNA 02 Dec 2009 -- Pakistan: Operation in S. Waziristan going on according to the timeline and targets given to the security forces.
• Suicide Bomber Targets Navy Headquarters in Pakistani Capital VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- Pakistani police say a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the entrance of the country's navy headquarters in Islamabad.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD News: Army Announces Force Structure Actions DoD 02 Dec 2009 -- The Army announced today the decision to relocate the Translator/Interpreter Military Occupation Specialty (09L) Advanced Individual Training (AIT) Course from Fort Jackson, S.C. to the proponent school at the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
• Commander outlines Global Strike Command mission, vision, values AFNS 02 Dec 2009 -- The men and women of 20th Air Force and the 90th Missile Wing hosted the commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.
• New spray may help stop battlefield bleeding Army News 02 Dec 2009 -- Researchers are developing a new, sprayable liquid wound dressing that an injured warrior could apply one-handed in a combat setting.
• East Coast SEALs Offer Aquatics Enhancement Program for Fleet Sailors Navy NewsStand 02 Dec 2009 -- Members of the East Coast Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Motivating Team have established an Aquatics Outreach Program.
• Yokota operations commander discusses importance of worldwide mobility presence AFNS 02 Dec 2009 -- Since Col. Mark Baker took command of the 515th Air Mobility Operations Group at Yokota Air Base, Japan, in June 2008, he's seen the unit take its mission to new levels.
• 3-year South Korea option opens up to federal employees AFNS 02 Dec 2009 -- A 36-month tour option has been approved for federal employees accepting accompanied tours to select bases in South Korea.
• USNS Henson Locates Aircraft Wreckage in Caribbean Navy NewsStand 02 Dec 2009 -- USNS Henson located the sunken wreckage of an aircraft Nov. 30 in the waters of the Netherland Antilles that had been missing since late October.
• Demolition of Fort Stewart's Oldest Housing Area Begins Army News 02 Dec 2009 -- Marne Terrace, the oldest remaining housing area on Fort Stewart, began its final phase of demolition as the excavator raised its bucket and sent it crashing through the roof of the empty building.
• Officials break ground on addition to commissary Army News 02 Dec 2009 -- Something big is happening at the Fort Riley Commissary - a new 40,000-square-foot addition.
• S. Korean Troops Hold Maneuvers KCNA 02 Dec 2009 -- South Korean army staging maneuversin the area along the forefront.
• Russia's military reform still faces major problems RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- The first phase of the ongoing military reform to overhaul the structure of the Russian Armed Forces officially ended by December 1, 2009.
• Russian missile cruiser arrives in Vladivostok RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- Task force from the Russian Pacific Fleet led by the missile cruiser Varyag has returned to Russia's Far Eastern port of Vladivostok.
• Russia-NATO Council to meet as planned RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- Russian FM: The Russia-NATO Council will go ahead with its ministerial-level meeting on December 4.
• NATO head, Russian envoy hold 'constructive' talks - source RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- The Russian envoy to NATO held a constructive meeting with the alliance's secretary generali.
• U.S. studying Russia's draft European security treaty - Kelly RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- The United States is studying Russia's draft European security treaty.
• Partners show interest in Russia's security proposals - envoy RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- Russia's European partners have shown interest in the key points of the country's new European security pact draft.
• India, Bangladesh finalise three treaties IRNA 02 Dec 2009 -- India and Bangladesh have finalised three treaties including the one on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, after three days of parleys in New Delhi.
• Chinese military team visiting to boost ties IRNA 02 Dec 2009 -- Chinese Army delegation will be in India for five days beginning Wednesday to explore opportunities to take forward the defence ties.
• India suspends flights of Russian-made fighters over accident RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- India has suspended flights by Russian-made SU-30 MKI Flanker-H multirole fighters after a plane crash.
• Indian Air Force grounds all Sukhoi fighter planes IRNA 02 Dec 2009 -- Two days after a Sukhoi fighter jet crashed, the second this year, the Indian Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of 100 SU-30 aircraft.
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 12/2/09 The White House 02 Dec 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 02, 2009
• Boeing Team Installs Radar Antenna on P-8A Poseidon Boeing 02 Dec 2009 -- A Boeing [NYSE: BA] and a Raytheon employee complete installation of an APY-10 radar antenna on P-8A Poseidon test aircraft T2 last month at the Boeing Developmental Center in Seattle. T2 is the P-8A program's primary mission system test article.
• General Dynamics Awarded $16 Million to Support the Defense Acquisition University General Dynamics 02 Dec 2009 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a $15.6 million, five-year contract to support the Department of Defense’s Defense Acquisition University (DAU) at Fort Belvoir, Va.
• Boeing Statement on Competitive Contract for Missile Defense System Boeing 02 Dec 2009 -- The Boeing Company today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's intention to pursue a competitive development and sustainment contract for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program:
• Northrop Grumman to Work With U.S. Air Force on Designing "Plug and Play" Capability for Future Spacecraft Northrop Grumman 02 Dec 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) will help the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) design a spacecraft "bus" with plug-and-play capability to reduce cost and schedule in developing future space systems.
• General Dynamics Awarded Consolidated Product-line Management Contract from U.S. Army General Dynamics 02 Dec 2009 -- A General Dynamics C4 Systems-led team has been awarded the Consolidated Product-line Management (CPM) contract by the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) Program Manager for Training Devices (PM TRADE).
• Northrop Grumman Offers Proven Open-Architecture Solutions to Meet the Navy's Cost and Performance Goals Northrop Grumman 02 Dec 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) detailed several existing, proven open-architecture solutions that can be leveraged by U.S. Navy to achieve significant cost, performance and schedule savings during the second annual Open Architecture Summit.
• Northrop Grumman-Built Submarine New Mexico (SSN 779) Returns From Successful Sea Trials Northrop Grumman 02 Dec 2009 -- New Mexico (SSN 779), the nation's newest and most advanced nuclear-powered submarine, returned to Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Shipbuilding sector in Newport News, Va. after completing the ship's first round of successful sea trials on Nov. 26.
• Northrop Grumman Announces $171 Million Advance Procurement Contract for DDG 51 Destroyer Continuation Northrop Grumman 02 Dec 2009 -- The U.S. Navy awarded a $171 million fixed-price advance procurement contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) to provide long lead materials for a continuation in the company's Aegis-class DDG 51 destroyer program. The materials purchased will be used in the construction of DDG 113.
• Sagem acquires optics specialist Optics 1 to bolster U.S. presence Sagem (Safran group) 02 Dec 2009 -- Continuing its development in the United States, Sagem (Safran group), has finalized the acquisition of the company Optics 1, Inc., after receiving the necessary approvals from American authorities.

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 02 Dec 2009
• Lebanon Government Lets Hezbollah Keep Weapons VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- Lebanon's government has endorsed Hezbollah's right to keep its weapons for defense against Israel.
• Lebanon: UN-backed probe into Hariri killings 'proceeding at full pace'- prosecutor UN News Centre 02 Dec 2009 -- Prosecutor of UN-backed court set up to try suspects in the assassination of former Lebanese PM Hariri and others has arrived in Lebanon on a 7-day visit.
• Islamist Ally Turns on Somalia's al-Shabab VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- In Somalia, an Islamist faction says it considers its former ally, al-Shabab, to be the greatest threat to the country.
• SUDAN: Take traditional route to peace in south, urge analysts IRIN 02 Dec 2009 -- An ancient tradition of community governance in Southern Sudan could encourage peace-building among warring communities.
• Ugandan Rebel Attacks Causing Food Problems in Central African Republic VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- Attacks by Ugandan rebels in the Central African Republic are leading to food shortages as local farmers are driven off their lands.
• Azerbaijan Insists On 'Self-Rule' For Karabakh RFE/RL 02 Dec 2009 -- Azerbaijani FM Mammadyarov says Baku insists on restoring control over Nagorno-Karabakh despite accepting the right to self-determination.
• Turkey says Nagorny Karabakh issue key to deals with Armenia RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu: Turkish-Armenian deals can only be ratified after the Nagorny Karabakh issue is resolved.
• 2,700 Unmarked Graves Reported in Kashmir VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- A human-rights group in Indian-controlled Kashmir says it has found 2,700 unmarked graves in the region, containing nearly 3,000 bodies.
• UN efforts to boost military confidence in Cyprus have not borne fruit, says Ban UN News Centre 02 Dec 2009 -- Ban: Efforts by the UN peacekeeping mission on Cyprus to further talks on military confidence-building measures have not borne fruit.

News Reports

• African Union Darfur Panel Shifts Focus to Sudanese Elections VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- AU panel on Darfur is taking on a new mission: trying to foster a transition to democracy in Sudan.
• Mauritania Launches Mission to Rescue Kidnapped Workers VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- Mauritanian authorities have launched an operation to find 3 Spanish aid workers kidnapped by armed gunmen.
• ECOWAS Backs EU Ultimatum to Niger's Leaders VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- ECOWAS political director Abdel Fatau Musah said there is close cooperation between his organization and the European Union to resolve the political crisis in Niger.
• Initial Returns Indicate Namibia's SWAPO Headed for Landslide Win VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- Early returns from lelections in Namibia show with about one-third of the votes counted the ruling South West Africa People's Party appears headed for a landslide victory with three-fourths of the vote.
• Munich trial of 'Nazi guard' delayed over illness RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- The trial in Germany of John Demjanjuk, charged with involvement in the murder of 27,900 people as a death camp guard during WWII, was delayed on Wednesday due to his illness.
• Iran Releases Detained British Yacht Crew RFE/RL 02 Dec 2009 -- Iran has released five British yachtsmen detained in the Gulf after their boat apparently strayed into Iranian waters.
• Iran Releases 5 Detained Britons VOA 02 Dec 2009 -- Iranian authorities have released five British yachtsmen who were detained last week in the Persian Gulf.
• Iran releases five detained British yachtsmen RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2009 -- Iranian authorities have released five British sailors who were detained on November 25.
• Five detained British sailors released IRNA 02 Dec 2009 -- 5 British sailors recently arrested for illegal entry into the Iranian waters were released moring.