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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 23 Dec 2009 [PDF]
• Soldiers Work Toward Iraqi Province’s Future AFPS 23 Dec 2009 -- The soldiers of “A” Company, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, are leading the way in the “advise and assist” mission of the 1st Armored Division’s 4th Brigade.
• Bombings in Iraq Target Christians, Shi'ite Muslims VOA 23 Dec 2009 -- At least eight people have been killed in attacks targeting Christians and Shi'ite Muslims as they prepare to observe coinciding holidays.
• Q-West quick reaction force stays sharp on patrol Army News 23 Dec 2009 -- Members of a Mississippi Army National Guard unit conducted a routine presence patrol around Contingency Operating Location Q-West Dec. 15, demonstrating their strategies for combating complacency.
• Air Cav undertakes chemical training Army News 23 Dec 2009 -- For a brief moment it appeared heavy snow had taken a Christmas- like effect at one of the many desolate scrap yards, here.
• MESF Command and Control Division 24 Set to Deploy Navy NewsStand 23 Dec 2009 -- Reserve Sailors from Maritime Expeditionary Command and Control Division 24 received a farewell from the commander of Navy Reserve Forces Dec. 18 as they prepare for deployment to Kuwait.
• Iraqi Forces Arrest 7 Terrorism Suspects AFPS 23 Dec 2009 -- Iraqi security forces working with U.S. advisors arrested seven terrorism suspects today during two security operations, military officials reported.
• Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Visits Al Asad USMC News 23 Dec 2009 -- In what he referred to as quite possibly the last time he would ever have the chance to visit Marines in Iraq, Gen. James F. Amos, the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, brought a message of gratitude to Marines, sailors, soldiers and airmen aboard Al Asad Air Base, Dec. 21-22.
• Former ministers, including Blair, to give Iraq evidence IRNA 23 Dec 2009 -- Former prime minister Tony Blair and other members of his government were named Wednesday to give evidence in Britain’s inquiry into the Iraq war during January and in early February.
• Afghan Senator Killed in Police Shooting VOA 23 Dec 2009 -- Police in northeastern Baghlan province say Senator Mohammad Yunos was driving home early Wednesday when his car entered an area of the provincial capital that had experienced heavy fighting the day before.
• Forces in Afghanistan Kill, Detain Militants AFPS 23 Dec 2009 -- Afghan and international forces in Afghanistan killed or detained numerous militants today in various operations, military officials reported.
• Soldiers Work With Afghan Border Police AFPS 23 Dec 2009 -- On a rugged mountaintop bordering Pakistan, less than two miles from Northern Waziristan, sits Combat Outpost Chergotah in Afghanistan’s Khost province.
• UK probes second ‘friendly fire’ death in Afghanistan IRNA 23 Dec 2009 -- A second British soldier has died after being wounded in a suspected "friendly fire" incident in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

Defense Policy / Programs

• NY Times: Closure of Guantanamo Prison Will Take Longer Than Expected VOA 23 Dec 2009 -- The New York Times newspaper says the Obama administration may not be able to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and transfer terrorism suspects held there until 2011 at the earliest.
• Hundreds Attend Public Hearing on Plan to Transfer Guantanamo Detainees to US Prison VOA 23 Dec 2009 -- While many residents in the area support the move because of the jobs they hope it will bring, many across the state oppose any plan to house detainees on U.S. soil. The hearing in the town of Sterling, Illinois, offered a chance for the public to hear from officials on the plan.
• Fast-Track Field Experimentation Program Accelerates Delivery of Tools to the Battlefield Navy NewsStand 23 Dec 2009 -- A fast-track field experimentation (FX) program at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) has significantly reduced the time it normally takes for new battlefield technologies to be vetted through the defense acquisition and field-testing/evaluation processes.
• Exercise Iron Magic Concludes in Arabian Gulf Navy NewsStand 23 Dec 2009 -- The exercise was a culmination of the training conducted during the weeklong exercise which included host nation Marines training alongside the aviation combat element, ground combat element and logistics combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).
• DESRON 21 Holds Change of Command Ceremony Navy NewsStand 23 Dec 2009 -- Destroyer Squadron 21 (DESRON 21) held a change of command ceremony at Naval Base San Diego Dec. 18.
• Obama Taps Winnefeld to Head Northcom, NORAD AFPS 23 Dec 2009 -- President Barack Obama has nominated Navy Vice Adm. James A. “Sandy” Winnefeld Jr. to be the next commander of U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
• PBCDF surpasses 50% completion of final disposal campaign Army News 23 Dec 2009 -- The Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (PBCDF) successfully surpassed the 50 percent completion mark for processing the mustard agent-filled ton containers, the final disposal campaign of the Arsenal's chemical weapons stockpile, December 23, 2009.
• ANNISTON DISPOSAL OPERATIONS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED Army News 23 Dec 2009 -- Chemical munitions stockpile demilitarization operations at the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (ANCDF) were temporarily suspended following an interruption in the robotic disassembly of a mortar tonight.
• Rocket-motor test supports NASA, DOD and commercial missions AFNS 23 Dec 2009 -- A high-visibility test on a second-stage developmental rocket motor set a new record in the Arnold Engineering Development Center's J-6 large-rocket motor-testing facility Dec. 9.
• Naval Research Lab Studies Solar Storms AFPS 23 Dec 2009 -- Imagine a threat to the global community with the potential to damage communication satellites, interrupt navigation systems, shut down regional power grids, impede oil and gas exploration, expose aircraft crews to high levels of radiation, and endanger the lives of astronauts.
• Robins home to southeast's first-of-its-kind solar technology AFNS 23 Dec 2009 -- The Robins AFB community has consistently been a leader in testing alternative power technologies, but perhaps no other effort has been as visible to the general base populace then a recently installed solar panel.
• 8th Fighter Squadron flagship arrives AFNS 23 Dec 2009 -- The 8th Fighter Squadron received its first of 20 F-22 Raptors Dec. 21 here.
• EOD: Volunteering for danger AFNS 23 Dec 2009 -- When Staff Sgt. Kenneth Guinn decided on an Air Force career field, he didn't want to be indoors behind a computer.
• AQF holds first depot meeting in Anniston Army News 23 Dec 2009 -- The Army Materiel Command Quality Federation met Dec. 8 and 9 at Anniston Army Depot. It was the first time the organization has chosen to hold their meeting at a depot.
• Army secretary visits troops at Landstuhl Army News 23 Dec 2009 -- During his first trip downrange as Secretary of the Army, John McHugh was in familiar territory in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well during his subsequent visit to wounded warriors at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center today.
• Army North members learn, share medical planning experience Army News 23 Dec 2009 -- A seamless medical response to a disaster won't happen unless a multitude of agencies share a common language and a common understanding of how the others operate.
• Greywolf brigade uncases colors, resumes command at Fort Hood Army News 23 Dec 2009 -- 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division held an uncasing ceremony Dec. 15, in front of the brigade's headquarters to signify that the brigade has resumed its command on Fort Hood.
• MCLB Albany inks 1st landfill gas to energy project in Corps USMC News 23 Dec 2009 -- After years of working hard, planning, strategizing and negotiating, the long awaited landfill gas to energy partnership between Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Ga., and Dougherty County was officially signed Monday.
• U.S. Lawmaker Urges Rearming Of Georgia RFE/RL 23 Dec 2009 -- A senior member of the U.S. Republican Party is urging the Obama administration and European allies to consider rearming Georgia.
• Russia to develop new strategic bomber by 2017 RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2009 -- A new-generation Tu strategic bomber will be developed by 2017, Russian aircraft maker Tupolev said on Wednesday.
• Russia could start 5th generation fighter tests by yearend RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2009 -- Russia could start tests of its fifth-generation fighter in late 2009 or early 2010, a deputy prime minister said on Wednesday.
• New Russian nuclear submarine to enter service in 2010 RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2009 -- A new Russian nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine should enter service by late 2010, the developer said on Wednesday.
• Jalili: Nuclear weapons cannot provide security in world IRNA 23 Dec 2009 -- Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said Iran believes that nuclear weapons cannot ensure security in the world.
• No reason to cancel S-300 contract with Iran: Borodavkin IRNA 23 Dec 2009 -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin said on Wednesday there is no reason for Russia to cancel the S-300 missile contract with Iran.
• Thailand to send results of N.Korean arms cargo probe to UN RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2009 -- Thailand will submit to the United Nations next week the results of an investigation into the seizure of a cargo plane carrying North Korean weaponry, the Thai prime minister said.
• Myanmar to buy 20 MiG-29 fighters for $570 mln - paper RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2009 -- A 400 million-euro ($570 mln) contract has been signed for the delivery of Russian MiG-29 fighters for the Myanmar Air Force, a source close to Russia's arms export monopoly told a business daily on Wednesday.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 15, 2009
• Oshkosh Defense Awarded $5 Million LVSR Delivery Order Oshkosh 23 Dec 2009 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), has been awarded a delivery order to an existing contract with the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) for more than 10 Logistics Vehicle System Replacements (LVSR). The delivery order for the cargo variant of the vehicle is valued at more than $5 million and brings the total number of LVSRs under contract to 875.
• Northrop Grumman's Hunter Unmanned Aircraft System Equipped With Tactical Common Data Link Northrop Grumman 23 Dec 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has equipped and fielded Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL) on a U.S. Army Hunter MQ-5B Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), which has been deployed in support of the Afghanistan surge. The TCDL increases data transfer rates and doubles the communications range on the MQ-5B Hunter, enabling additional payload capabilities.

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 23 Dec 2009
• UN official Warns Rebels Not to Attack Refugees VOA 23 Dec 2009 -- The UN Secretary General’s Special Representative to the Central African Republic (CAR) and Chad has warned armed groups that it is “unacceptable” to attack refugees.
• UN expert urges Israel to end Gaza blockade as anniversary of campaign looms UN News Centre 23 Dec 2009 -- Ahead of the first anniversary of the Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip, a United Nations independent expert is urging Israel’s European and North American allies to use the threat of economic sanctions to pressure the country into ending the blockade and calling for the swift implementation of the findings of the so-called Goldstone Report.
• DR Congo: UN peacekeepers to use ‘all necessary means’ to protect civilians UN News Centre 23 Dec 2009 -- Faced with widespread reports of massacres and other serious human rights abuses by Government soldiers and rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Security Council today again called on United Nations peacekeepers to “use all necessary means” to protect civilians from threats from any party.
• Security Council imposes sanctions on Eritrea UN News Centre 23 Dec 2009 -- The Security Council today imposed arms and travel sanctions on Eritrea for supporting insurgents trying to topple the nascent government in nearby Somalia.
• UN humanitarian chief calls for stronger steps against Ugandan rebels in DR Congo UN News Centre 23 Dec 2009 -- On the eve of the anniversary of last year’s Christmas Day massacre of at least 477 civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by the rebel Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), the top United Nations humanitarian official called for stronger measures to protect civilians still vulnerable to attacks.
• Security Council Imposes Tough Sanctions on Eritrea VOA 23 Dec 2009 -- The U.N. Security Council has placed sanctions on Eritrea for aiding Somali rebels and refusing to resolve a border dispute with neighboring Djibouti.
• CHAD: Fighting banditry in the east IRIN 23 Dec 2009 -- Days after a UN convoy was attacked in eastern Chad, humanitarians and security officials are debating how to prevent kidnappings and carjackings that persist despite the presence of a multi-million-dollar UN-led peacekeeping force.
• SOMALIA: Galkayo IDPs on the run IRIN 23 Dec 2009 -- Hundreds of internally displaced people (IDPs) who have fled violence in north Galkayo in the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland have begun arriving in southern Somalia.
• Talks only way to settle Transdnestr conflict -President Smirnov RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2009 -- The president of Moldova’s breakaway republic of Transdnestr said Tuesday there is no alternative to talks to settle the conflict.
• UN boosts peacekeeping force in troubled area of Central African Republic UN News Centre 23 Dec 2009 -- United Nations peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR) are stepping up their presence near a refugee camp in the country’s northeast where deadly clashes last week have increased tensions in an already unstable area.
• Russian Says Defected To Georgia For Moral, Political Reasons RFE/RL 23 Dec 2009 -- A Russian soldier who asked for political asylum in Georgia says his decision to leave the Russian Army was morally and politically motivated, RFE/RL's Echo of the Caucasus reports.
• Israel Attaches New Conditions to Prisoner Swap with Hamas VOA 23 Dec 2009 -- A German mediator has brought Israel's latest proposal on a prisoner swap to the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
• UN Security Council Imposes Sanctions on Eritrea VOA 23 Dec 2009 -- The United Nations Security Council has imposed sanctions on Eritrea, who it accuses of arming insurgents in Somalia and refusing to settle a border dispute with Djibouti.
• US 'Deeply Concerned' About Tensions in Sudan VOA 23 Dec 2009 -- The United States says it is "deeply concerned" about political developments in Sudan, where new laws have raised tensions between the northern-based government and semi-autonomous south.

News Reports

• Iran rules out nuclear deadline, Mihman-Parast IRNA 23 Dec 2009 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mihman-Parast said on Wednesday that Iran still waits to hear response from G5+1 on nuclear fuel swap.
• Uranium to be enriched inside Iran, if not supplied by others IRNA 23 Dec 2009 -- Visiting Majlis Speaker of Iran Ali Larijani said on Tuesday that if other countries failed to supply the necessary uranium for Tehran’s research reactor, Iran would manage to enrich it inside the country.
• No report proves Iran deviated from peaceful nuclear program:Moussa IRNA 23 Dec 2009 -- Secretary-General of the Arab League said on Wednesday that none of the IAEA’ reports or statements indicates that Iran’s nuclear program has been military oriented.
• Iran Clashes Accompany Fresh Montazeri Memorial RFE/RL 23 Dec 2009 -- 90 percent of them youth that came to Qom from places far and near -- they were shocked and they reacted [angrily]."
• Iranian Security Forces, Mourners Clash in Isfahan, Other Cities VOA 23 Dec 2009 -- Reports from Iran say security forces have clashed with protesters and mourners of the late Ayatollah Hussein Ali Montazeri in the city of Isfahan, and dozens of arrests were made. There are scattered reports of unrest in other Iranian cities, as well.
• Prominent Chinese Dissident Goes On Trial On Subversion Charges RFE/RL 23 Dec 2009 -- Liu Xiaobo, one of China's most prominent dissidents and a veteran of the 1989 Tiananmen democracy protests, has gone on trial in Beijing on charges of "inciting subversion of state power."
• Well Known Chinese Dissident Goes on Trial for Subversion VOA 23 Dec 2009 -- One of China's best-known dissidents has gone on trial, more than a year after he was taken into custody. The dissident has been accused of subversion and faces a maximum of 15 years in jail.
• Russian High Court Declares Khodorkovsky Co-Defendant's Arrest Illegal RFE/RL 23 Dec 2009 -- The Presidium of Russia's Supreme Court has ruled that the June 2003 arrest and subsequent pretrial detention of Platon Lebedev, the former head of the financial arm of the Yukos oil company, was illegal.
• PACE Officials Critical Of Armenian Parliament Report RFE/RL 23 Dec 2009 -- A Council of Europe deputy says officials monitoring the political situation in Armenia have criticized an Armenian parliamentary report defending the use of deadly force against opposition protesters after last year's disputed presidential election, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.
• Uzbekistan Airs Documentary Denouncing Imprisoned Rights Activists RFE/RL 23 Dec 2009 -- Uzbek state television has broadcast a documentary denouncing imprisoned human rights activists as it increases pressure on activists in the run-up to parliamentary elections on December 27, RFE/RL's Uzbek Service reports.
• Guinea Marks First Anniversary of Military Coup VOA 23 Dec 2009 -- Guinea is quietly marking the first anniversary of a military government the United Nations says has committed crimes against humanity. All demonstrations are banned.
• Former Kazakh Uranium Company Chief Hospitalized During Trial RFE/RL 23 Dec 2009 -- Mukhtar Dzhakishev, the former head of Kazakh uranium producer KazAtomProm, was taken from an Astana courtroom and hospitalized today, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.