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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 09 Dec 2009 [PDF]
• Dec. 8 airpower summary AFNS 09 Dec 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 8 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
• Iraqis Arrest 8, Including Terrorist Leader AFPS 09 Dec 2009 -- A senior leader of the Promised Day Brigade terrorist group was among eight people Iraqi security forces arrested in three operations today, military officials reported.
• Providers, civilian contractors work together to drawdown from Iraq Army News 09 Dec 2009 -- Civilian contractors have come together with 49th Transportation Battalion Soldiers to provide assistance to the countless units reducing personnel and equipment in country, as the drawdown from Iraq approaches.
• 264th CSSB Takes Alternative Approach To Feed Its Flock Army News 09 Dec 2009 -- The 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), unit ministry team at Contingency Operating Base Speicher offers constructive ways for troops to cope with life issues and remain resilient during adversity.
• Iraqis Say Al-Qaeda Suspected After Bombs Kill 127 RFE/RL 09 Dec 2009 -- Iraqi officials say Al-Qaeda militants are suspected of involvement in a series of up to five vehicle bomb attacks in the capital, Baghdad, that are reported to have killed at least 127 people and wounded more than 500 others.
• Afghanistan Success Attainable, Petraeus Says AFPS 09 Dec 2009 -- Achieving success against extremists in Afghanistan is a challenging, yet attainable mission, the commander of U.S. Central Command said at a Capitol Hill hearing here today.
• Incentives Show Promise for Afghan Forces AFPS 09 Dec 2009 -- Better pay for Afghan national security forces and a government-led emphasis on national service appear to be paying off in stronger recruiting, the commander responsible for recruiting and training them told reporters here today.
• Gates Reviews Support Ops in Afghanistan AFPS 09 Dec 2009 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates spent the day today checking out operations supporting President Barack Obama’s new strategy for Afghanistan, including a new joint headquarters overseeing the tactical fight.
• Program Rewards Afghans in Anti-IED Effort AFPS 09 Dec 2009 -- A new program backed by Afghan national security forces and Combined Joint Task Force 82 empowers Afghan citizens to take a stand against improvised explosive devices.
• McChrystal Calls Guard’s Effort ‘Extraordinary’ AFPS 09 Dec 2009 -- The National Guard’s contribution in Afghanistan has been “extraordinary,” the commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan told Congress yesterday.
• Logisticians Ready for Afghan Transportation Task AFPS 09 Dec 2009 -- U.S. military logisticians are up to the challenge of getting 30,000 more American troops into Afghanistan and moving troops and equipment from Iraq, the commander of U.S. Transportation Command said today.
• Senior UN envoy urges more coordinated assistance for Afghanistan’s development UN News Centre 09 Dec 2009 -- The top United Nations envoy in Afghanistan today called for the country’s key partners to ensure they work together in a more coordinated and streamlined way to move forward with supporting national development efforts.
• Petraeus Praises Pakistan’s Anti-insurgent Efforts AFPS 09 Dec 2009 -- Pakistan’s months-long military offensive against internal insurgent threats is assisting the campaign in Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. Central Command said at a Capitol Hill hearing here today.
• Afghan Forces Could Start to Lead Soon, Big Challenges Remain VOA 09 Dec 2009 -- Senior U.S. and NATO commanders in Kabul say Afghan forces will soon begin to take the lead in some combat operations, but will continue to need substantial allied support. And the head of training for the international effort says he faces a substantial challenge in the plan to recruit and train tens of thousands more Afghan soldiers and police officers.
• U.S. will be successful in Afghanistan - Gen. Stanley McChrystal RIA Novosti 09 Dec 2009 -- The United States be successful in Afghanistan although it will be difficult, the top U.S. military commander in the war-ravaged Central Asian country said Tuesday.
• Gates Visits New NATO Afghan Command Center VOA 09 Dec 2009 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the new Afghan strategy announced by President Barack Obama will give NATO and U.S. forces what they need to successfully defeat the Taliban.
• Pakistan main party concerns at U.S. use of air bases IRNA 09 Dec 2009 -- Pakistan’s main religio-political party Wednesday expressed concern over Defence Minister’s statement that the Unites States is using two Pakistani air bases without any agreement.
• PAKISTAN: Tough times for returning IDPs IRIN 09 Dec 2009 -- Tens of thousands internally displaced persons (IDPs) from northwestern Pakistan who have returned home over the past few months are finding it difficult to resume their former lives, despite the fact that some aid is now reaching them, according to aid agencies.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD News: NORAD Flight Exercise Planned for Washington, D.C. Has Been Postponed DoD 09 Dec 2009 -- The North American Aerospace Defense Command and its geographical component, the Continental United States NORAD Region (CONR) exercise scheduled to begin later tonight in the Washington D.C. area will be postponed 24 hours due to weather.
• DoD News: Norad Flight Exercise Planned for Washington, D.C. DoD 09 Dec 2009 -- North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct exercise flights Dec. 10 in the skies over the National Capital Region (Washington, D.C.). The flights will take place beginning around midnight and continue into the early morning hours.
• DoD News: DoD Highlights Open Government Initiatives DoD 09 Dec 2009 -- The Department of Defense is undertaking broad efforts to increase the transparency of DoD operations and to make DoD information more easily accessible to the public as it implements the White House Open Government Directive issued yesterday.
• Dilbert Dunker Inventor Visits Whiting Field Navy NewsStand 09 Dec 2009 -- The inventor of a device dubbed the "Dilbert Dunker, credited with possibly saving thousands of aviators' lives, visted Whiting Field Dec. 3 to see one of only four dunkers created.
• Surgeon General Discusses Humanitarian Assistance in Botswana Navy NewsStand 09 Dec 2009 -- International government officials, military officers, and health industry leaders gathered at the University of Botswana Dec. 7-10 for a first of its kind Medical Ethics Conference hosted in the country and developed in partnership with the U.S. Navy.
• Building on Bold Quest, airborne network moves forward AFNS 09 Dec 2009 -- A team from the Electronic Systems Center here is now building on some encouraging airborne networking results achieved during Bold Quest 2009, the Joint Forces Command-led exercise conducted in November.
• General Discusses Exercise in Africa AFPS 09 Dec 2009 -- The largest U.S. Defense Department-sponsored exercise in Africa this year yielded many important lessons, the commander of U.S. Army Africa said yesterday.
• Training for success: 409th CSB trains National Guard team Army News 09 Dec 2009 -- The 409th Contracting Support Brigade might as well spell training with a capital T because it is such an essential factor to their success.
• 405th AFSB unfurls its colors in Kaiserslautern Army News 09 Dec 2009 -- BCold weather and overcast skies didn't keep the crowd away as the 405th Army Field Support Brigade unfurled its colors on Daenner Kaserne and officially began operations in the Kaiserslautern Military Community
• Battalion commander leads from the front Army News 09 Dec 2009 -- The commander of a Mississippi Army National Guard battalion accompanied his Soldiers on a convoy security mission from Contingency Operating Location Q-West to Forward Operating Base Warrior Nov. 24 and 25.
• U.S. military docs treat nearly 3,000 people in storm ravaged El Salvador Army News 09 Dec 2009 -- The Joint Task Force-Bravo Medical Element performed a Medical Civil Action Program, or MEDCAP, from Nov. 19 to 23 treating 2,987 people in several different cities affected by the El Salvador mudslides.
• Counter Bomber Test helps Washington Army News 09 Dec 2009 -- A recent software upgrade in counter bombing testing led to a new two week test period at White Sands Missile Range beginning on Nov. 5 in order to more effectively locate suicide bombers.
• Soldiers train for route clearance missions Army News 09 Dec 2009 -- Soldiers with the 2nd Engineer Battalion trained for a life saving mission the week of Nov. 12 at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.
• Air Force test data used to help warfighter Army News 09 Dec 2009 -- Unmanned aircraft performance data collected at White Sands Missile Range has gone straight to the warfighter to help fight the war in Afghanistan.
• New Air Force plan targets energy AFNS 09 Dec 2009 -- Air Force officials here released its new energy plan Dec. 9 to serve as the framework for communicating Air Force energy goals and further expands a culture shift "where Airmen make energy a consideration in everything we do."
• Air Force officials announce OTS selection board results AFNS 09 Dec 2009 -- A total of 117 men and women from across America have earned an opportunity to become Air Force leaders following their selection for an officer's commission, officials here announced Dec. 9.
• U.S. hopes to sign new arms cuts accord with Russia by yearend RIA Novosti 09 Dec 2009 -- The United States hopes a new agreement on strategic arms reductions with Russia will be signed by the end of the year, an assistant secretary of state said Tuesday.
• UK cannot afford to replace nuclear weapons, say MPs IRNA 09 Dec 2009 -- The British government is being urged by MPs to scrap its plans to replace the country’s Trident nuclear missiles on the basis of cost as well as the dangers of adding to proliferation.
• Russia to start patrolling Abkhazia's sea border RIA Novosti 09 Dec 2009 -- Russian patrol boats will begin guarding the maritime border of the former Georgian republic of Abkhazia in December, the Russian Federal Security Service said on Wednesday.
• Russian Navy questions whether it needs French warship RIA Novosti 09 Dec 2009 -- The Russian Navy is continuing discussions on whether to purchase a French warship, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
• New European security architecture supplements NATO - diplomat RIA Novosti 09 Dec 2009 -- Russia's initiative on forming a new pan-European security architecture is not aimed against other existing security organizations including NATO, a deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday.
• Warsaw says SOFA pact with U.S. will not be signed Dec. 10 RIA Novosti 09 Dec 2009 -- An agreement on the status of U.S. troops on Polish soil, known as the SOFA deal, will be not signed on December 10 as expected, a Polish Defense Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.
• Pakistani leader seeks accession to Shanghai security group RIA Novosti 09 Dec 2009 -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is seeking his country's accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) regional security bloc, Pakistani state television said on Wednesday.
• India ready with tiny spies in the skies IRNA 09 Dec 2009 -- India ready for what could be termed as tiny spies in the skies.
• Pakistan receives first Airborne Early Warning & Control Aircraft IRNA 09 Dec 2009 -- Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Tuesday received first of its four Saab-2000 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft from Sweden, the PAF said Wednesday.
• Defense Minister: Iran to give crushing response to Zionists' threats IRNA 09 Dec 2009 -- Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said on Wednesday that Iran will give a crushing response to any threats posed by the Zionist forces.
• Iran minister in Syria for defense talks IRNA 09 Dec 2009 -- Iran’s Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi arrived in the capital city of Damascus Tuesday evening to confer on defense cooperation with Syrian officials, it is reported on Wednesday.
• Minister says enhanced Iran-Syria defense ties will deter threats IRNA 09 Dec 2009 -- Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said boosting defense ties with Syria will deter the threats posed by the Zionist regime against regional nations.
• Russia supplies non-military helicopters to Iran IRNA 09 Dec 2009 -- Russian non-military helicopter manufacturere 'Verthalutirussia' signed an agreement with Iranian company 'Fanavaran Aseman Giti' on Tuesday to supply helicopters to Iran.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 09 Dec 2009
• Press Briefing By Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 12/9/2009 The White House 09 Dec 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 09, 2009
• First Prophet Enhanced Electronic Warfare System Rolls Off Production Line at General Dynamics General Dynamics 09 Dec 2009 -- Part of the Army’s initiative to rapidly field signals intelligence capabilities that address the challenge of intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance (ISR) recently rolled off the production line in Scottsdale.
• General Dynamics Awarded $18 Million for Saudi Tank Work General Dynamics 09 Dec 2009 -- General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), was awarded $17.6 million for the purchase of long-lead materials that will be used to convert 15 M1A2 Abrams tanks to M1A2S tanks for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Sikorsky Aerospace Maintenance Hosts Rollout Ceremony for U.S. Customs & Border Protection Agency UH-60 A-A to L Recapitalization Aircraft Sikorsky 09 Dec 2009 -- Sikorsky Aerospace Maintenance, a Sikorsky Aerospace Services company, today rolled out the first U.S. Customs & Border Protection Agency (CBP) UH-60 A-A to L recapitalization aircraft at its Chase Field Operations Center in Texas.
• Northrop Grumman's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Program Demonstrating Continued Success Northrop Grumman 09 Dec 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Jim Culmo, vice president of Airborne Early Warning & Battle Management Command and Control Programs, said today that the company's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Program is on track for initial operational test and evaluation in 2011. Culmo provided a program overview at the Airborne Early Warning and Battle Management 2009 Conference in Amsterdam.
• Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder Demonstrates Air-To-Surface Capability Raytheon 09 Dec 2009 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) demonstrated the capability to employ the AIM-9X Sidewinder advanced infrared-guided air-to-air missile to attack surface targets.
• Lockheed Martin Receives Trident II D5 Missile System Production And Support Contract Lockheed Martin 08 Dec 2009 -- The U.S. Navy is awarding Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) a contract with a value not to exceed $851 million for production and deployed system support for the Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) program for fiscal year 2010.

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 09 Dec 2009
• Iran Warns Against 'Interference' in Yemen's Affairs VOA 09 Dec 2009 -- Iran is calling on other nations not to interfere in Yemen's affairs, as Saudi Arabia continues a cross-border offensive against Yemeni rebels.
• Darfur blue helmets committed to staying the course, despite attacks – UN UN News Centre 09 Dec 2009 -- Morale among peacekeepers in the war-torn Sudanese region of Darfur remains high, despite the recent attacks that have claimed the lives of five blue helmets, a top United Nations official said today.
• UN official voices cautious optimism on progress of Cyprus reunification talks UN News Centre 09 Dec 2009 -- The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders are finding “growing convergence” on many of the issues that have divided the two sides on the Mediterranean island, a United Nations official said today as he expressed cautious optimism that UN-backed talks aimed at reunifying Cyprus will succeed.
• UN-backed appeal for nearly $700 million launched to help Palestinians UN News Centre 09 Dec 2009 -- The United Nations and partner aid organizations today issued a call for $664 million to respond to humanitarian needs in the occupied Palestinian territory, with the top humanitarian official in the region underscoring how Palestinians are becoming increasingly dependent on aid.
• UN crisis relief fund raises record $424 million in pledges as humanitarian needs mount UN News Centre 09 Dec 2009 -- The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) raised a record $424 million at its annual pledging session today as top officials warned of rising needs in 2010 for one of the world’s leading tools in disaster response, whether for sudden-onset crises such as earthquakes or ongoing but neglected emergencies.
• EU: Parliament Members Denied Access to Gaza VOA 09 Dec 2009 -- A European Parliament delegation is demanding that Israel explain why it prevented European lawmakers from visiting the Gaza Strip, despite earlier Israeli assurances that the delegation would be allowed to visit Gaza.
• Nepal: UN, foreign envoys call for investigation into disappearances UN News Centre 09 Dec 2009 -- Foreign envoys to Nepal today called for an end to impunity for those responsible for a series of disappearances during the decade-long civil war in Nepal, one year after the United Nations issued a report calling for justice and redress.
• Philippine Police Seek 161 Suspects in Massacre VOA 09 Dec 2009 -- Philippine police say they have identified and are seeking 161 people, including government militiamen, for involvement in last month's gruesome massacre of 57 people.
• YEMEN: Population of biggest IDP camp doubles IRIN 09 Dec 2009 -- The population of Yemen’s main camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) has doubled over the past few weeks as fighting between Houthi-led rebels and government forces continues, according to officials.
• SIERRA LEONE: Compensating war victims IRIN 09 Dec 2009 -- Sierra Leone has made a strong start in compensating war victims but only early steps have been made in a long process that needs long-term government commitment and funding, says an NGO monitoring reparations progress.
• DRC-CONGO: Needs unmet as refugees flee from Congo to Congo IRIN 09 Dec 2009 -- Aid agencies have been unable to fully meet the needs of tens of thousands of people who have fled inter-communal clashes over natural resources in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
• AI asks Saudis to clarify phosphorous bombs against Yemeni civilians IRNA 09 Dec 2009 -- The Amnesty International says Saudi Arabia authorities are yet to clarify the use of phosphorous bombs against Yemeni civilians, as hundreds of people are being killed under Saudi attacks.

News Reports

• Coomentary: The Apocalypse, Messianism Define Ahmadinejad's Policies RFE/RL 09 Dec 2009 -- a divine hand will come soon to root out the tyranny in the world."
• Iran's new nuclear plans forced measure - defense minister RIA Novosti 09 Dec 2009 -- Iran's plans to build 10 new uranium enrichment facilities are a forced measure as the UN nuclear watchdog is not fulfilling its obligations, the Iranian defense minister said on Wednesday.
• UN nuclear watchdog to supply 20%-enriched uranium to Tehran reactor - Salehi RIA Novosti 09 Dec 2009 -- Iran will receive 20%-enriched uranium for its research reactor in Tehran through cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, Iran's nuclear chief said on Wednesday.
• A look at terrorist, suicide attacks in Pakistan in last two months IRNA 09 Dec 2009 -- The list of the terrorist, suicide attacks in Pakistan in last two months:
• Pakistani Supreme Court starts hearing against amnesty law IRNA 09 Dec 2009 -- The Pakistani Supreme Court on Wednesday started hearing of cases pertaining to legality of amnesty law under which top political leaders including President Asif Ali Zardari were given amnesty.
• UN-backed anti-drug centre opens in Central Asia to curb flow of Afghan heroin UN News Centre 09 Dec 2009 -- A United Nations-backed intelligence sharing centre for Central Asian countries on the front line of the battle against drug trafficking from Afghanistan opened in Kazakhstan today, just a day after Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council called for greater global cooperation in the war on narcotics.
• North Korea Confirms Swine Flu Infections, South Vows Speedy Aid VOA 09 Dec 2009 -- North Korea has confirmed for the first time that it has found cases of the H1N1 flu virus. South Korea is treating the issue as a matter above politics, saying it is ready to send unconditional aid to help fight the outbreak.
• Anti-A/H1N1 Flu Campaign Intensified KCNA 09 Dec 2009 -- New Influenza A/H1N1 broke out in some areas of the DPRK amid the growing of its victims worldwide.
• Iraq PM Urges Patience as Lawmakers Call Special Session VOA 09 Dec 2009 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is calling on Iraqis to remain patient and steadfast, as lawmakers and citizens alike criticize Iraqi officials for security failures in the capital.
• Kazakhstan Approves New National Security Committee Chief RFE/RL 09 Dec 2009 -- The Kazakh Senate today approved Adil Shayakhmetov as the new head of the country's National Security Committee (KNB), RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.
• Draft Text At Copenhagen Summit Angers Developing Nations RFE/RL 09 Dec 2009 -- The Copenhagen climate change summit is only a few days into its deliberations but already a serious split is looming over a draft final document meant for issue at the end of the two-week summit.
• Guinea Pulls Out of Mediation Talks VOA 09 Dec 2009 -- The minister for democracy and development, Colonel Moussa Keita, said the government is withdrawing from the negotiations being held in Burkina Faso until Captain Moussa Dadis Camara has recovered enough to return to work in Guinea.
• Zimbabwe’s humanitarian situation remains fragile despite gains, UN official warns UN News Centre 09 Dec 2009 -- The humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe, plagued in recent years by food shortages, an erosion of basic services and an economic downturn due in part to long-running political strife, has significantly improved but continued aid is still needed to maintain the positive gains, a top United Nations official said today.
• Obama Prepares to Accept Nobel Peace Prize VOA 09 Dec 2009 -- Less than one year after he took office, U.S. President Barack Obama is preparing to go to Norway to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. He says he is humbled by the award and not sure he has done enough to warrant such a high honor.
• Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi Meets Government Liaison VOA 09 Dec 2009 -- Burma's detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with the military government's liaison officer at a state guesthouse for 45 minutes Wednesday.