Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 14 Dec 2009 [PDF]
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD News: DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Dec. 13 airpower summary AFNS 14 Dec 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in operations.
• Iraqis Arrest 4 Terrorism Suspects AFPS 14 Dec 2009 -- Iraqi soldiers and police arrested four terrorism suspects in two operations.
• U.S.-Iraqi partnership halts smuggling across Syrian border Army News 14 Dec 2009 -- US advise and assist forces began partnering with Iraqi border patrols along the Syrian border in mid-November.
• Maintenance Bn Marines stay behind to help with drawdown USMC News 14 Dec 2009 -- Detachment of Marines remained in Iraq in order to support retrograding gear and equipment from Iraq.
• Transcript: Press Conference with Maj. Gen. Mart de Kruif of the Royal Netherlands Army DoD 14 Dec 2009 -- Presenter: Royal Netherlands Army Maj. Gen. Mart de Kruif, Former Commander of Regional Command South, Afghanistan
• Top US Commanders Discuss Strategy with Afghan and Pakistani Leaders VOA 14 Dec 2009 -- Top US military commander met with Afghan leaders in Kabul to discuss the upcoming U.S troop buildup and training of local security forces.
• Forces Kill Militants in Eastern Afghanistan AFPS 14 Dec 2009 -- A combined Afghan and international security force killed five enemy militants and detained another in Afghanistan’s Laghman province.
• Sixteen policemen killed in Taliban attacks in Afghanistan RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- Taliban militants attacked checkpoints in northern and southern Afghanistan on Monday, killing 16 Afghan policemen.
• 16 Afghan Police Killed at 2 Checkpoints VOA 14 Dec 2009 -- Afghan officials say gunmen have killed 16 Afghan policemen in two attacks on checkpoints in the country's north and south.
• Marines Send Taliban Into Hiding AFPS 14 Dec 2009 -- When the Marines and sailors came to the Now Zad region in Afghanistan, the message they received from outgoing units was simple: Beware of the village of Changwalak.
• Marine Offense Gives Afghan City Second Chance USMC News 14 Dec 2009 -- A battalion of Marines in southern Afghanistan now has the upper hand in a city they believed to be a Taliban stronghold.
• First new U.S. troops to arrive in Afghanistan this week RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- The first of a total of 30,000 extra U.S. soldiers to be deployed to Afghanistan will arrive in the country this week.
• Key to Afghanistan Success Lies in Southern Provinces AFPS 14 Dec 2009 -- The road to success in Afghanistan goes through the south, a former commander of international forces there said today.
• Afghan Insurgency More Pervasive, Mullen Says AFPS 14 Dec 2009 -- The insurgency in Afghanistan has become more pervasive, more sophisticated and more violent, said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• General Wants Troops Ready for 'Complex Human Terrain' AFPS 14 Dec 2009 -- US troops need to be prepared to operate in a “complex human terrain” when they arrive in Afghanistan.
• Afghan army to stand alone in 4 years - Defense Ministry RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- Afghanistan's army and security forces will be able to maintain security in the country within four years.
• German gov't stalls media questions on Kunduz bombing scandal IRNA 14 Dec 2009 -- The German government has stonewalled media questions about the role of the chancellery in the tragic airstrike in Kunduz on September 4.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD News: DoD Announces Recruiting And Retention Numbers for November 2009 DoD 14 Dec 2009 -- The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of November 2009
• South Korea on Track to Assume Defense Lead AFPS 14 Dec 2009 -- South Korea’s military is on track to assume the lead for its nation’s defense as scheduled a little more than two years from now.
• AFGSC missile wings conduct limited inspections AFNS 14 Dec 2009 -- AFGSC's missile wings successfully passed a no-notice limited nuclear surety inspection, the first such inspections launched by the new command.
• Army Trains and Tests Increment 1 Capabilities Army News 14 Dec 2009 -- Brigade Combat Team (BCT) Modernization Increment 1 is the initial roll out of BCT modernization capabilities to seven brigades starting in 2011.
• Services Meet November Active-duty Recruiting Goals AFPS 14 Dec 2009 -- The active-duty services met or exceeded their November recruiting goals, Defense Department officials announced today.
• HM-15 Launches Final Flight from NAS Corpus Christi Navy NewsStand 14 Dec 2009 -- Members of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 (HM-15) held up cell phone, digital and video cameras to record the departure of the last squadron MH-53 Sea Dragon to depart Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
• NORAD Flight Exercise Planned for Washington, D.C. DoD 14 Dec 2009 -- North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct exercise flights Dec. 15 in the skies over the National Capital Region (Washington, D.C.).
• Makin Island Completes First CSSQT, Harrier and AAV Ops Navy NewsStand 14 Dec 2009 -- Sailors and Marines aboard the Navy's newest Amphibious Assault Ship returned to port Dec. 10 after completing three combat critical training evolutions.
• New Orleans Gets Underway Navy NewsStand 14 Dec 2009 -- USS New Orleans (LPD 18) completed a three-day underway on Dec. 3, its first since returning from deployment in August.
• Refueling is lifeline of U.S., NATO air operations AFNS 14 Dec 2009 -- Royal Danish F-16 Fighting Falcons took to the sky to rendezvous with a Royal Air Force Mildenhall-based KC-135 Stratotanker and perform aerial refueling training.
• Ramstein Airmen train in Israel AFNS 14 Dec 2009 -- Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany participated in an exercise at Nevatim Air Force Base, Israel to accomplish various training requirements.
• U.S. Army, Pacific Contingency Command Post conducts first exercise in Japan Army News 14 Dec 2009 -- US Army, Pacific Contingency Command Post took the operational lead for Exercise Yama Sakura 57, providing the groundwork for a successful bilateral exercise.
• Yama Sakura 57 runs smoothly, thanks to 35th CSSB Army News 14 Dec 2009 -- More than 1,500 U.S. troops descended on northern Japan Dec. 7-13 to participate in Yama Sakura 57, a bilateral, computer-based exercise.
• Japan-U.S. Military Exercise Improves Readiness Army News 14 Dec 2009 -- On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the U.S.-Japan mutual defense treaty, U.S. and Japanese forces have successfully concluded a major exercise here on Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan.
• Air Force officials to begin involuntary phase of retraining for NCOs AFNS 14 Dec 2009 -- In order to rebalance the NCO force, more than 700 Airmen volunteered this fall to retrain through the NCO retraining program.
• 'Stop Loss' payments on way Army News 14 Dec 2009 -- After an initial delay caused by software and manpower issues, the first retroactive payments will be disbursed next week to Soldiers who were retained on active duty involuntarily under the so-called "Stop Loss" program.
• New Photovoltaic Systems to be Constructed with ARRA Funds at PMRF Kauai, Hawaii Navy NewsStand 14 Dec 2009 -- NAVFAC Hawaii awarded an ARRA funded task order Dec. 10 to install photovoltaic systems at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai.
• FORSCOM building receives final structural beam Army News 14 Dec 2009 -- Construction workers at Fort Bragg's newest building placed the final structural beam in place Dec. 3.
• Military Study Expands to Include Families AFPS 14 Dec 2009 -- A Defense Department study that explores the long-term health effects of military service, including deployments, will expand its scope to military families starting in June.
• Cuban leader says U.S.-Colombian military base deal "aggression" RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- US plans to dispatch its troops at military bases in Colombia were an "act of aggression" against all Latin American states.
• Russia, France to hold further warship talks RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- Russian and French delegations will meet later this month to discuss the possible sale of a French warship.
• Medvedev to meet NATO chief on Wednesday - Kremlin RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will meet with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
• UN head urges world to observe North Korea sanctions RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- UN Secretary General Ban urged the observance of sanctions following last week's seizure in Thailand of a plane loaded with weapons.
• Seizure of N. Korean Arms Cargo Shows Strength of Sanctions VOA 14 Dec 2009 -- Thailand will hold the crew of a cargo plane in prison while investigating their role in smuggling weapons from North Korea.
• Thailand Extends Detention of Plane Crew Caught With North Korean Arms Shipment RFE/RL 14 Dec 2009 -- A court in Thailand has extended detention of crew that reportedly landed in Bangkok with DPRK arms shipment.
• Thai court detains crew of plane carrying N.Korean arms RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- Court in Bangkok approved 12 days of custody for crew of a plane caught transporting arms from North Korea.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 14 Dec 2009
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 12/14/2009 The White House 14 Dec 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 14, 2009
• BAE SYSTEMS RESPONDS TO U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE'S FAMILY OF MEDIUM TACTICAL VEHICLES PROTEST RULING BAE Systems 14 Dec 2009 -- The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, today informed BAE Systems that it has ruled in favor of a key element of the company's protest to the U.S. Army's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) rebuy contract. In reaching this decision, the GAO said: "Our review of the record led us to conclude that the Army's evaluation was flawed with regard to the evaluation of Oshkosh's proposal under the capability evaluation factor, [...]. "
• Boeing Delivers 500th Combat Track II Airborne Intelligence System to US Air Force Boeing 14 Dec 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has delivered the 500th Combat Track II kit, an airborne intelligence system for U.S. Air Force cargo and bomber aircraft that enhances situational awareness, increases aircrew survivability and improves airframe effectiveness.
• General Dynamics Awarded $110 Million for Procurement of Foundry Services General Dynamics 14 Dec 2009 -- General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems has been awarded a contract by Charles Stark Draper Laboratory to produce integrated circuits for the U.S. Navy’s TRIDENT II (D5) submarine-launched ballistic missile program. This is a three-year contract with a total potential value of $110 million including the pre-priced options. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• ATK Propulsion and Composite Technologies Key to Successful Delta II Launch ATK 14 Dec 2009 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) played a key role in the successful launch of United Launch Alliance's Delta II rocket today from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., carrying the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) satellite for NASA. The company provided solid rocket boosters and the composite payload fairing.
• Boeing Responds to Request for Proposal on Ground-based Midcourse Defense System's Core Completion Contract Boeing 14 Dec 2009 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] on Dec. 11 responded to a U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) request for proposal on the follow-on core completion contract for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program. The contract covers all remaining development and deployment work for the GMD core element. Boeing's response will assist MDA in determining its plan for future GMD work.
• Oshkosh Corporation Believes the Army’s FMTV Award Decision Will Be Maintained Oshkosh 14 Dec 2009 -- Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) today announced it was informed by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of its decision regarding the protest of the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) contract, awarded to Oshkosh on August 26. The majority of the protesters’ claims were denied, including challenges to the evaluation of the Oshkosh Corporation price.
• Raytheon Leases New Green Building at Aberdeen Proving Ground Raytheon 14 Dec 2009 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has signed a lease agreement with St. Johns Properties, Inc. for a new green building at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Md., to improve collaboration with its customers.
• Raytheon BBN Technologies Wins Serious Games Showcase & Challenge with VESSEL Damage Control Trainer Raytheon 14 Dec 2009 -- Raytheon BBN Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), has won the Serious Games Showcase & Challenge in the business category at the Annual Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), the world's largest modeling and simulation conference.
• Armed BLACK HAWK Demonstrator Completes Test Program Sikorsky 14 Dec 2009 -- Sikorsky Military Systems, a business unit of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., and Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESLT) have successfully completed the Armed BLACK HAWK (ABH) demonstrator program, proof-of concept for the development BATTLEHAWKTM helicopter

Other Conflicts

• A Year of Stalemate, Dashed Hopes in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict VOA 14 Dec 2009 -- 2009 saw no resumption of the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.
• Attack on West Bank mosque draws condemnation from UN envoy UN News Centre 14 Dec 2009 -- Senior UN envoy to the Middle East has condemned the burning and desecration of a mosque in the West Bank.
• Captors release two civilian workers of UN mission in Sudan RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- Two civilian staff members of an international peacekeeping mission abducted in Darfur, Sudan, have been released.
• Top UN envoy welcomes peaceful end to voter registration in Sudan UN News Centre 14 Dec 2009 -- Top UN envoy to Sudan today welcomed the peaceful ending of the registration process for next year’s elections.
• UN sends peacekeepers to protect Sudanese refugees in Central African Republic UN News Centre 14 Dec 2009 -- United Nations peacekeepers were sent to protect a camp of refugees from Sudan’s war-ravaged Darfur region in CAR.
• DR Congo: UN has suspended cooperation with army units accused of rights abuses UN News Centre 14 Dec 2009 -- UN peacekeepers in the DRC have suspended logistical or other support for units of the National Armed Forces when there are sufficient grounds to believe their operations would violate human rights.
• Congo Minister Warns Ex-Rebels Against Fomenting Trouble VOA 14 Dec 2009 -- A DRC cabinet minister warned armed groups of stiff punishment if they join forces with the rebel Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda to fight government against troops.
• Tbilisi calls Abkhazia's presidential elections 'illegitimate' RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- Georgian Foreign Ministry declared that the presidential elections held in its former republic of Abkhazia were "illegitimate and illegal."
• Medvedev, Putin congratulate Abkhazia's Bagapsh on reelection RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- Russian President Medvedev and PM Putin congratulated Abkhazia's president, Sergei Bagapsh, on his reelection.
• Tiny Nauru In $50 Million Russia Gamble RFE/RL 14 Dec 2009 -- The tiny Pacific island-state of Nauru has expressed a willingness to recognize the independence of two breakaway regions of Georgia with Moscow considering some $50 million in aid.
• Pacific island offers to recognize ex-Georgian states for cash RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- Nauru, the world's smallest country, has offered to join Russia in recognizing two Georgia's two former republics as independent states if paid $50 million.
• Saudi Arabia attacks Yemen upon a US-Zionist plan: Houthi official IRNA 14 Dec 2009 -- Spokesman for Yemen’s Houthi: Attacks of the Saudi army against the Yemeni people were taking place based on a US-Zionist plan.
• Houthis conditions for exchange of captives announced IRNA 14 Dec 2009 -- Al-Houthi Shias of Yemen have announced their conditions for exchange of Saudi military personnel captured during the Sadaa war.
• UN envoy begins official visit to Nepal to try to obtain release of child soldiers UN News Centre 14 Dec 2009 -- Top UN human rights official in Nepal to help accelerate the release of nearly 3,000 child soldiers who served in the Maoist army during the country’s civil war.
• Major manhunt underway for escaped prisoners in Philippines RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- A huge manhunt has been launched in the Philippines for 31 prisoners who were broken out of jail by gunmen.
• Cyprus: UN peacekeeping mission extended for another six months UN News Centre 14 Dec 2009 -- The Security Council renewed for another six months the 45-year-old United Nations peacekeeping mission in Cyprus.

News Reports

• Clinton Rejects Iranian Spy Charges Against American Hikers VOA 14 Dec 2009 -- Secretary of State Clinton rejected spy charges against 3 Americans held in Iran.
• Mottaki: Three US hikers will go on trial IRNA 14 Dec 2009 -- Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Monday that the three American nationals who illegally entered Iran’s territory would face trial.
• Iran: 3 American Hikers to Go on Trial VOA 14 Dec 2009 -- Manouchehr Mottaki did not say when the proceedings would begin during a news conference Monday in Tehran.
• Cuba's Castro hits out at U.S. over Latin America policies RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- Cuban President Raul Castro criticized the U.S. over its Latin American policies on Monday.
• Chavez says Clinton threatens Venezuela over ties with Iran RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said a recent statement by the U.S. secretary of state on ties with Iran was "a clear threat" against his country and Bolivia.
• Talks between ousted Honduran leader and successor cancelled RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- A meeting between Manuel Zelaya and his elected successor, has been cancelled.
• Chile to hold presidential run-off on January 17 RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- Chile will hold a second round of voting in its presidential election on January 17, after none of the candidates garnered more than 50% in the first round.
• Pinera leads presidential vote in Chile as 12% of ballots counted RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- With more than 12% of ballots counted, a center-right leader Sebastian Pinera leads the presidential vote in Chile.
• Attack on Berlusconi could have been fatal - interior minister RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- Italy's interior minister: Attack on Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi could have been fatal and pledged measures to improve his security.
• Berlusconi still in hospital after rally attack RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will spend at least one more night in a Milan hospital after being attacked during a rally.
• Berlusconi Hospitalized After Attack VOA 14 Dec 2009 -- Police say Berlusconi was struck with a statuette by a man with mental problems who was immediately taken into custody.
• Berlusconi in hospital after Milan attack RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2009 -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was attacked after his party meeting in Milan on Sunday and was taken to hospital with blood on his face.