Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 15 Dec 2009 [PDF]
• Dec. 14 airpower summary AFNS 15 Dec 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in operations.
• Iraqi Forces Arrest 9 Terrorism Suspects AFPS 15 Dec 2009 -- Iraqi security forces arrested nine suspected terrorists in four operations today, military officials reported.
• Bombings in Baghdad, Mosul Kill 8; Many Wounded VOA 15 Dec 2009 -- Iraq police say three blasts in Baghdad have killed four people and wounded 14 others.
• 15th Sust. Bde. gives Iraqi Army 26th Inf. Bde. helping hand Army News 15 Dec 2009 -- Mechanics of the 15th Special Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), helped the train mechanics of the Iraqi Army's 26th Infantry Brigade.
• Conway Notes Importance of Iraq Mission AFPS 15 Dec 2009 -- Despite new US strategy for Afghanistan that entails sending 30,000 additional American forces, the more important operation for the Marine Corps is Iraq.
• Community gathers to open season, wish 1st AD well on its way to Iraq Army News 15 Dec 2009 -- Community members gathered to wish Soldiers of the 1st Armored Division well as they prepare to deploy for 12 months to Iraq.
• Mississippians inoculate against H1N1 flu virus at Q-West Army News 15 Dec 2009 -- Mississippi Army National Guard members began receiving vaccinations for the H1N1 flu virus at Contingency Operating Location Q-West, Iraq
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Gen. Conway at the Pentagon DoD 15 Dec 2009-- Presenter: Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway
• Forces Detain Taliban Commander, Kill Militants AFPS 15 Dec 2009 -- A combined Afghan-international security force detained a Taliban commander and other militants in Afghanistan.
• Squadron highlights capabilities during Afghan rescue mission AFNS 15 Dec 2009 -- A soldier is wounded during a joint British and Afghanistan National Army patrol in Helmand Province.
• Commanders Look to Boost Security Force Training AFPS 15 Dec 2009 -- Preparations are under way for the arrival of soldiers to focus on the other key goal of the surge: recruiting, equipping and training Afghan security forces.
• Program officials empower Afghan citizens to protect against threat of IED attacks AFNS 15 Dec 2009 -- A new program backed by Afghan National Security Forces and CJTF-82 empowers Afghan citizens to take a stand against improvised explosive device attacks.
• At Least Eight Killed, 40 Injured In Kabul In Suicide Car Blast RFE/RL 15 Dec 2009 -- A suicide car bomber has killed at least eight people and injured 40 in central Kabul.
• Suicide Car Bomb in Afghanistan Kills 8 VOA 15 Dec 2009 -- Afghan police say a suicide car bomb attack near the home of a former vice president in Kabul has killed at least eight people and wounded 40 others.
• Eight killed, 40 injured in Kabul blast RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- Eight people were killed and 40 injured when a car exploded in the fashionable northeast part of Afghanistan's capital Kabul.
• Blast in Kabul diplomatic district kills one, injures 16 RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- A bomb-laden car went off in the fashionable northeast part of Afghanistan's capital Kabul, killing one person and injuring 16.
• Powerful blast in Afghan capital leaves at least 5 dead, 10 injured RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- A powerful explosion occurred in Afghanistan's capital of Kabul on Tuesday, a RIA Novosti correspondent has reported.
• Experts Tell Senate Panel that Central Asia is Vital to US Security Interests VOA 15 Dec 2009 -- Experts have told a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee the Obama administration places a high priority on building partnerships with Central Asian countries.
• Biden: Stabilizing Pakistan Long-Term Goal of Afghan Troop Surge VOA 15 Dec 2009 -- US VP Biden says the Obama administration is focused on improving Pakistan's stability.
• Mullen Stresses Building U.S.-Pakistan Trust AFPS 15 Dec 2009 -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the students of Pakistan’s National Defense University he is not interested in revisiting the history between Pakistan and the US.
• Centcom chief, Pakistani leader discuss security IRNA 15 Dec 2009 -- General Petraeus held talks with PM Gilani and army chief General Kayani and discussed security matters.
• CENTCOM chief briefs Pakistani PM on Afghan policy IRNA 15 Dec 2009 -- US Centcom Commander briefed Pakistani PM Gilani about contours of new Afghan Policy announced by President Barack Obama.
• Red Cross Visits Detainees Held by Taliban VOA 15 Dec 2009 -- International Committee of the Red Cross carried out the first visits to 3 members of the Afghan security forces detained by the Taliban in Badghis province.
• Blast kills 22 in Pakistan's Punjab province RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- At least 22 people were killed and more than 60 were injured when a car bomb exploded near the home of a politician in Punjab province.
• Blast kills 22 in Pakistan's Punjab province RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- At least 22 people were killed and more than 60 were injured when a car bomb exploded near the home of a politician in Punjab province.
• Blast Kills 20 in Central Pakistan VOA 15 Dec 2009 -- Pakistani officials say a suspected car bomb has killed at least 20 people and wounded 60 others in central Pakistan.
• Pakistani President for national counter terrorism strategy IRNA 15 Dec 2009 -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari here Monday called for preparation of a national counter terrorism and extremism strategy.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Rural Illinois Prison Expected to House Guantanamo Detainees VOA 15 Dec 2009 -- Top administration officials say the acquisition of the Thomson Correctional Center will help achieve the goal of closing the Guantanamo detention center.
• Some Guantanamo Detainees to Move to Illinois Prison AFPS 15 Dec 2009 -- President Obama's administration plans to transfer a limited number of detainees held at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to a prison in rural western Illinois.
• Some Guantanamo Inmates to Move to Stateside Prison VOA 15 Dec 2009 -- Obama administration official: Federal government is to acquire a state prison in rural northern state of Illinois to house about 100 detainees from US facility at Guantanamo Bay.
• U.S.-South Korean Alliance Gains Strength AFPS 15 Dec 2009 -- With a handover of the security lead looming on the horizon, the US-ROK security alliance has grown tighter this year in the wake of provocations by N. Korea.
• U.S. Army officials meet to discuss 8th Army transformation Army News 15 Dec 2009 -- US Army officials met to discuss the 8th U.S. Army's role in the most significant transformation in the 60-year history of the Republic of Korea-United States Alliance.
• USS Michigan Returns from Its Maiden SSGN Deployment Navy NewsStand 15 Dec 2009 -- Sailors aboard USS Michigan returned to Bangor, Washington after successfully completing the boat's maiden deployment as a guided-missile submarine.
• Improved magazine increases weapons reliability Army News 15 Dec 2009 -- The Army has begun fielding a new 5.56mm 30-round "improved magazine" that delivers a significant increase in reliability for M-16 and M-4 weapons.
• C-27J training operations center opens AFNS 15 Dec 2009 -- Air Force, Army and community officials celebrated the opening of a new cargo plane schoolhouse Dec. 9.
• Patriot 7 exercise teaches ISR skills to enhance situational awareness AFNS 15 Dec 2009 -- About 30 Air Force, joint and coalition trainees participated in ISR an exercise to support irregular warfare missions.
• 16th Sust. Bde. Soldiers trains with new MRAP vehicles Army News 15 Dec 2009 -- Soldiers from the 16th Sustainment Brigade's 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and the 391st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion conducted training on Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.
• Taking a second look at Army-owned manufacturing Army News 15 Dec 2009 -- The Watervliet continues to generate and sustain jobs in New York's Capital District.
• Air Defense Artillery school graduates final classes at Fort Bliss Army News 15 Dec 2009 -- December 15, 2009 marked the last time a United States Army Air Defense Artillery School Soldier will graduate from the school at Fort Bliss, Texas.
• Crime Lab Casts Net Ahead of Cyber Criminals AFNS 15 Dec 2009 -- Public fascination with forensic detectives and virtual reality may be partly responsible for the high level of interest garnered by DoD contest to solve cyber crimes.
• Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Works to Immunize Against Flu Navy NewsStand 15 Dec 2009 -- Beneficiaries have been arriving by the hundreds at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and its branch clinics since the facilities started administering H1N1 flu vaccines.
• Taiwan confers medals on U.S. troops for helping with disaster rescue CNA 15 Dec 2009 -- Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense presented about 600 medals to members of the United States Armed Forces, in recognition of help and support given in the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot.
• Evo Morales promises U.S. 'second Vietnam' in case of aggression RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- Evo Morales, the president of Bolivia, has promised Washington a "second Vietnam" in case the United States shows military aggression in Latin America.
• Next trial of Russian troubled Bulava missile could be in Jan. RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- The next test launch of Russia's troubled Bulava intercontinental missile could take place in January.
• Russia delays construction of 4th Borey-class nuclear sub RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- The start of construction of Russia's fourth Borey-class nuclear-powered submarine has been postponed.
• Afghanistan To Top NATO Chief's Fence-Mending Visit To Russia RFE/RL 15 Dec 2009 -- Anders Fogh Rasmussen flies to Russia on his first visit to the country since being appointed NATO chief in August.
• NATO Secretary General to discuss high-priority issues in Moscow RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's 12th Secretary General, is to pay his first official visit to Moscow on December 15.
• Rasmussen's visit to benefit NATO, CSTO cooperation RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- NATO Secretary General Fogh Rasmussen's visit to Moscow may improve ties between the alliance and the CSTO.
• Russia clinches contract to sell submarines, warplanes to Vietnam RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- Vietnam has signed a deal with Russia to buy submarines, aircraft and other military hardware.
• No threat to Indian skies from China IRNA 15 Dec 2009 -- The Indian Air Force Tuesday allayed fears of a threat from China in the eastern skies and said it was fully geared to give the necessary protection.
• Mine clearing on Kinmen, Matsu making progress: MND CNA 15 Dec 2009 -- Taiwan Military's efforts to remove landmines on two of Taiwan's outlying islands are making good progress.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 15 Dec 2009

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 15, 2009
• BAE Systems response to UK MOD Defence Budget Review BAE Systems 15 Dec 2009 -- BAE Systems recognises the pressures on the UK’s defence budget and has anticipated changes as a result of this year's planning round
• Boeing 787 Dreamliner Completes First Flight Boeing 15 Dec 2009 -- The Boeing (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliner took to the sky for the first time today, ushering a new era in air travel as it departed before an estimated crowd of more than 12,000 employees and guests from Paine Field in Everett, Wash. The flight marks the beginning of a flight test program that will see six airplanes flying nearly around the clock and around the globe, with the airplane's first delivery scheduled for fourth quarter 2010.
• BAE SYSTEMS, NAVY, AND MARINE CORPS GO 4 FOR 4 IN TESTING OF ADVANCED PRECISION KILL WEAPON SYSTEM BAE Systems 15 Dec 2009 -- BAE Systems, in concert with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, scored four hits in four shots during the final phase of integrated testing of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), a technology that adds low-cost precision laser guidance to 2.75-inch airborne rockets. Integrated testing seeks to confirm the production readiness of the APKWS system against the full spectrum of system requirements specified by the Navy and Marine Corps.
• BAE SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES TO U.S. NAVY UNDERSEA WARFARE UNDER $21 MILLION CONTRACT BAE Systems 15 Dec 2009 -- BAE Systems will provide software engineering and other technical services under a $21 million contract with the U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC). The company will develop, maintain, and test software for sonars and other operational systems on ships and submarines and provide information technology support for Web-based documentation and data storage.
• BAE SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE HANDHELD TARGET LOCATORS FOR U.S. ARMY BAE Systems 15 Dec 2009 -- BAE Systems has received a $41.9 million U.S. Army contract for all-weather, lightweight, handheld laser target locator systems that allow soldiers to accurately identify target locations while on foot, in daylight or at night, and in fog and smoke.
• General Dynamics Awarded $14 Million for Iraqi Abrams Tank Work General Dynamics 15 Dec 2009 -- The U.S. Army Tank and Automotive Command has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), a contract worth $14 million to purchase long-lead materials for the production of 140 M1A1 SA (Situational Awareness) tanks for the Iraq program.
• Hamilton Sundstrand congratulates Airbus on A400M first flight Hamilton Sundstrand 15 Dec 2009-- Hamilton Sundstrand's systems have helped enable the first flight of Airbus Military's A400M transport aircraft. Hamilton Sundstrand is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.
• Rheinmetall wins contract for high-tech infantry system: "Future Soldier – Expanded System" goes into preproduction Rheinmetall Defence 15 Dec 2009 -- The German government has contracted with Rheinmetall Defence of Düsseldorf to manufacture a preproduction version of the company's "Future Soldier – Expanded System", or IdZ-ES. The order represents a major milestone on the path to equipping the Bundeswehr with this state-of-the-art infantry system. A contract covering the multi-million euro order has now been signed at the Federal Agency for Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) in Koblenz.

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 15 Dec 2009
• International community must act against Israeli settlements - UN committee UN News Centre 15 Dec 2009 -- UN committee called on the international community "to take urgent and decisive action against the continued illegal Israeli actions."
• Israel will suffer fresh blow if ventures to attack Gaza, Leader IRNA 15 Dec 2009 -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei: Israel will suffer fresh critical blows if it ventures to attack in Gaza Strip.
• Palestine needs Iran's support to survive: Mashal IRNA 15 Dec 2009 -- Head of Hamas Khalid Mashal: "We are all threatened by Israel and we should defend ourselves against this enemy."
• Central African Republic faces critical moment in bid to recover from conflicts - UN UN News Centre 15 Dec 2009 -- Top UN Official: International assistance is vital to prevent the CAR from falling back into political crisis and potential new fighting.
• More Civilians Flee Violence in DRC VOA 15 Dec 2009 -- UN refugee agency reports more Congolese civilians are fleeing the troubled Equateur province in northwest Democratic Republic of Congo.
• More than 80,000 people driven out by clashes in north-west DR Congo - UN agency UN News Centre 15 Dec 2009 -- Tribal violence in the north-west of the DRC has sent 84,000 people fleeing across the border into the Republic of the Congo since last month.
• International Mediators Fear Guinea Could Destabilize Region VOA 15 Dec 2009 -- International mediators say insecurity in Guinea could destabilize still unsteady neighbors, including Liberia and Sierra Leone.
• GUINEA: Ripe for international "protection" force? IRIN 15 Dec 2009 -- Diplomats and African leaders are calling for an international civil-military force in Guinea to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian assistance.
• GUINEA: Timeline IRIN 15 Dec 2009 -- The international community has renewed calls for a transition to civilian rule, accompanied by an international observation and security force to ensure civilians' security.
• Washington calls presidential elections in Abkhazia illegitimate RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- US Department of State: Presidential elections held in former Georgian republic of Abkhazia on Saturday were illegitimate.
• Georgia mocks Nauru's recognition of Abkhazia RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- Georgian minister for reintegration: Recognition of Abkhaz independence by Nauru, the world's smallest island state, is utterly irrelevant.
• Pacific island recognizes Abkhazia's independence RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- Nauru, the world's smallest island state, has recognized the independence of the former Georgian republic of Abkhazia.
• OSCE to monitor ceasefire on Armenian-Azerbaijani border again RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- Officials from the OSCE will conduct ceasefire monitoring along a disputed stretch of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
• Report Calls for Sri Lanka to Urgently Address Governance Issues VOA 15 Dec 2009 -- An anti-corruption civic organization says graft and violence are marring Sri Lanka's recovery after the end of its civil war.

News Reports

• Clinton Calls On Iran To Release Three Americans RFE/RL 15 Dec 2009 -- US Secretary of State Clinton has called Iran's allegations of spying against 3 detained Americans "totally unfounded."
• Government, Kenya Human Rights Commission Disagree over ICC Investigation of Election Violence VOA 15 Dec 2009 -- In the agonizing months following the disputed December 2007 elections, more than 1,200 Kenyans lost their lives.
• Boeing's New 787 Makes 1st Test Flight VOA 15 Dec 2009 -- The new Boeing 787 took off for its first test flight.
• Berlusconi attacker sends Italian PM letter of apology RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- Massimo Tartaglia sent Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi a letter apologizing for his 'villainous' Sunday attack on the premier.
• Italian PM feeling better after attack RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2009 -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was hospitalized with a broken nose following an attack in Milan, is already feeling better.