Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 29 Dec 2009 [PDF]
• Iraqi Forces Arrest Terrorist Suspects AFPS 29 Dec 2009 -- Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. advisors, arrested nine suspected terrorists today in Iraq, military officials reported.
• Rule of Law Director Discusses Iraqi Transitions AFPS 29 Dec 2009 -- U.S. forces are training and advising Iraqi officials in forensics, evidence collection, human rights and how a legal system is managed in a democracy.
• Forces Capture Taliban Commanders in Afghanistan AFPS 29 Dec 2009 -- Afghan and international security forces captured some Taliban commanders and other suspected militants and seized weapons yesterday in Kandahar and Khowst, Afghanistan, military officials reported.
• Insecurity lowers Afghan returns 2009, UN reports UN News Centre 29 Dec 2009 -- The number of Afghan refugees trickling home from Iran and Pakistan plummeted this year, with the United Nations refugee agency pinning the blame for the low number of returns on insecurity, limited economic opportunities and political insecurity in the wake of August’s national polls.
• Afghanistan Determined to Hold May Parliamentary Elections VOA 29 Dec 2009 -- Afghanistan says it is determined to hold parliamentary elections in May, despite Western concerns that the Kabul government has not corrected the fraud that marred the August presidential vote.
• Georgia Air Guard Teams With Fighting 48th in Afghanistan AFPS 29 Dec 2009 -- Georgia Air National Guardsmen assigned to the 165th Air Support Operations Squadron have teamed up with 48th Infantry Brigade soldiers in eastern Afghanistan.
• AFGHANISTAN: Refugee returns in 2009 lowest since 2002 IRIN 29 Dec 2009 -- The number of Afghan refugees who returned home from Pakistan and Iran in 2009 has dropped to the lowest level since 2002, according to the government and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
• British deaths in Afghanistan double in 15 months IRNA 29 Dec 2009 -- A British soldier has been killed in the Kajaki area of Helmand province brining the total number of UK fatalities to 244 since the overthrow of the Taliban regime in 2001, the Ministry of Defence has announced.
• Berlin backs off threats to boycott London Afghan confab IRNA 29 Dec 2009 -- The German government on Tuesday backed off its threats to boycott next month's London conference on Afghanistan, IRNA office in Belin reported.
• Russia's Lavrov to take part in Afghanistan talks on January 28 RIA Novosti 29 Dec 2009 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will take part in an international conference on Afghanistan in London on January 28, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
• PAKISTAN: Displaced suffer as winter sets in IRIN 29 Dec 2009 -- Thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from conflict-hit areas in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) have been experiencing increased hardship as temperatures drop to freezing in many northern regions, IDPs have told IRIN.
• Guard Members Respond to Holiday Storms AFPS 29 Dec 2009 -- More than 100 National Guard soldiers and airmen responded over the holiday and through the weekend to support callouts by governors in four Midwest states hit by severe winter weather.

Defense Policy / Programs

• USAFE Airmen retool to enhance tradition of Building Partnerships AFNS 29 Dec 2009 -- The Airmen of U.S. Air Forces in Europe are charting new territory in tackling one of the Air Force's newest core functions: Building Partnerships.
• NAVSEA Shipyard Completes USS Chung-Hoon Availability Early Navy NewsStand 29 Dec 2009 -- Workers at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF) completed USS Chung-Hoon's (DDG 93) fiscal 2009 Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) Dec. 11, five days earlier than scheduled.
• PCU New Mexico Delivered to Navy Four Months Early Navy NewsStand 29 Dec 2009 -- The Navy took delivery of its newest attack submarine, PCU New Mexico (SSN 779), from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) Dec. 29, four months earlier than its contract delivery date. New Mexico is the sixth Virginia-class submarine and the third delivered by NGSB.
• UK Flagged MV St. James Park Pirated in the Gulf of Aden Navy NewsStand 29 Dec 2009 -- The M/V St James Park, a UK flagged ship, was pirated Dec. 29 while transiting the Internationally Recognised Transit Corridor (IRTC) through the Gulf of Aden.
• NIOC Team Shapes BHR ARG Understanding of the Maritime Domain Navy NewsStand 29 Dec 2009 -- Sailors from Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Hawaii, NIOC San Diego, and NIOC Whidbey Island are playing a crucial role in the daily operations of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility.
• Aircraft Ramp Opens at Camp Lemonnier Navy NewsStand 29 Dec 2009 -- CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti — After more than nine months of work and $12 million in funding, a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules became the first aircraft to utilize a new apron at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ), Dec. 22, marking the beginning of operational missions on the apron known as 'Enduring Ramp'.
• Task Force Conducts Bomb Training With Philippine Police AFPS 29 Dec 2009 -- Members of Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines taught more than 40 Philippine National Police officers how to identify homemade bombs during training conducted in Zamboanga del Norte province Dec. 22 and 23.
• Military partners with communities to extend services Army News 29 Dec 2009 -- As a result of multiple deployments over nearly nine years of war in two theaters, many families of service members are choosing to remain in their established neighborhoods or return to a relative's hometown when their Soldier deploys.
• Tricare officials expanded benefits and customer service in 2009 AFNS 29 Dec 2009 -- The past year has been a busy one for Tricare officials with the introduction of a new Web-based counseling program and major enhancements to several other Tricare benefits.
• Putin: Russia Should Develop Offensive Arms To Counter U.S. RFE/RL 29 Dec 2009 -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is quoted as saying that Russia must develop offensive weapons systems to counter U.S. missile-defense plans.
• Ask The Expert: Putin's Missile Statement Shows 'Who's In Charge In Russia' RFE/RL 29 Dec 2009 -- which is practically the same as the Topol-M, but with multiple-warhead capability. When we talk about offensive strategic systems in Russia, we are speaking only about nuclear weapons.
• Russian Navy takes delivery of a new submarine for lease to India RIA Novosti 29 Dec 2009
• Russia-U.S. arms reduction talks continue RIA Novosti 29 Dec 2009 -- Russia and the United States have not halted talks on a new arms reduction treaty to replace a landmark deal that expired on December 4, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
• Russia to continue offensive arms to balance U.S. shield - Putin RIA Novosti 29 Dec 2009 -- Russia will continue developing offensive armaments to counter U.S. missile defenses, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told reporters on Tuesday.
• Putin Urges US to Provide Missile Defense Information VOA 29 Dec 2009 -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday urged the United States to provide Moscow with data about U.S. missile defense developments as part of an information exchange under a new arms treaty. The previous treaty expired December 5.
• President pledges no relaxation of military preparedness CNA 29 Dec 2009 -- President Ma Ying-jeou pledged Tuesday that Taiwan will not relax its military preparedness, despite increased regional stability as a result of reduced cross-Taiwan Strait tension.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 29, 2009
• Northrop Grumman Delivers New Mexico Submarine Ahead of Schedule in Record Time Northrop Grumman 29 Dec 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) delivered the sixth submarine of the Virginia class, New Mexico (SSN 779), to the U.S. Navy today, four months ahead of schedule
• Second Lockheed Martin F-35B Arrives At Navy Test Site Lockheed Martin 29 Dec 2009 -- The second Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) stealth fighter arrived today at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.
• Northrop Grumman Delivers New Mexico Submarine Ahead of Schedule in Record Time Northrop Grumman 29 Dec 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) delivered the sixth submarine of the Virginia class, New Mexico (SSN 779), to the U.S. Navy today, four months ahead of schedule.
• Boeing: Brigade Combat Team Modernization Increment 1 to Enter Production Boeing 29 Dec 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that Increment 1 of the U.S. Army's Brigade Combat Team Modernization program was approved to begin Low-Rate Initial Production early in 2010 as a result of the Milestone C production review by the Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) on Dec. 22.
• Lockheed Martin-Built Trident II D5 Missile Achieves 130th Consecutive Successful Test Flight Lockheed Martin 29 Dec 2009 -- The U.S. Navy conducted a successful test flight Dec. 19 of a Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT). The Navy launched the unarmed missile from the submerged submarine USS ALASKA (SSBN 732) in the Atlantic Ocean.

Other Conflicts

• Israeli PM Netanyahu to try to revive Mideast peace process RIA Novosti 29 Dec 2009 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will on Tuesday discuss with Egyptian authorities the opportunities to revive the Middle East peace process, Egyptian media reported.
• UN expert repeats call for threat of sanctions against Israel over Gaza blockade UN News Centre 29 Dec 2009 -- The United Nations independent expert on Palestinian rights has again called for a threat of economic sanctions against Israel to force it to lift its blockade of Gaza, which is preventing the return to a normal life for 1.5 million residents after the devastating Israeli offensive a year ago.
• Joint UN-African Union force and Sudan agree to boost blue helmets’ security UN News Centre 29 Dec 2009 -- The joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in the war-torn Darfur region and the Sudanese Government have taken the first steps to bolstering the safety of peacekeepers due to a surge in attacks against blue helmets in recent months.
• UN brings Sudanese tribes together for historic peace talks UN News Centre 29 Dec 2009 -- The United Nations has paved the way for historic talks between clashing tribes to bolster the fragile peace in the disputed oil-rich area of Abyei, close to the border between Sudan’s north and south and where a referendum on its future is scheduled to be held in 2011.
• Eritrean Official Denies Sponsoring Insurgents to Destabilize Neighbors VOA 29 Dec 2009 -- Eritrea’s information minister has described as an unfortunate publicity stunt accusations that President Isaias Afeworki’s government is arming insurgents to destabilize both Ethiopia and Sudan ahead of their scheduled elections in 2010.

News Reports

• Israeli Police Arrest Nuclear Whistleblower VOA 29 Dec 2009 -- Israeli police have arrested nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu for allegedly violating a ban on speaking to foreigners.
• Year In Review: Election Dispute Challenges Iranian Establishment RFE/RL 29 Dec 2009
• Iran Denounces Western Criticism of Protest Crackdown VOA 29 Dec 2009 -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accused the United States and Israel of staging Sunday's anti-government protests in which at least eight people died.
• Iranian Cleric Calls Opposition 'Enemies of God' VOA 29 Dec 2009 -- An Iranian cleric who is close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei says the country's opposition leaders are "enemies of God" who could be executed according to Islamic law.
• Tehran prosecutor says 7 killed in Ashura riots IRNA 29 Dec 2009 -- Tehran’s Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor Abbas Ja'fari Dolatabadi said 7 people were killed in the Ashura riots which happened on Sunday.
• UK ambassador to be summoned for explanations on Ashura Day events IRNA 29 Dec 2009 -- the British ambassador in Tehran is to be summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday for some explanations over the insulting events happened on the Ashura Day (December 27), the FM spokesman said.
• Larijani calls for harshest punishment for Ashura offenders IRNA 29 Dec 2009 -- Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani called on Iranian authorities Tuesday to mete out harshest punishment to those who insulted against religious values on Ashura Day (December 27).
• Obama Condemns Violence In Iran, Urges Release Of Detainees RFE/RL 29 Dec 2009 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has condemned the Iranian government's violent crackdown on protesters, referring to the bloodshed and arrests that have taken place as an "iron fist of brutality."
• Senator Joe Lieberman Voices U.S. Support For Iranian People RFE/RL 29 Dec 2009
• Moscow says no need for new Iran sanctions RIA Novosti 29 Dec 2009 -- Further sanctions against Iran have until recently not been an option, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
• Iran authorities need common policy to quell protests - expert RIA Novosti 29 Dec 2009 -- Iranian authorities need to determine whether to retort to more repressive measures or to democratic methods in order to bring opposition protests back under control, a Russian expert said.
• Iranian Parliament Speaker Lashes Out at West, as Crackdown Widens VOA 29 Dec 2009 -- The Iranian government has widened its efforts to crack down on the opposition, arresting scores of journalists, political leaders, students and professorse
• U.S. rights activist arrested in N.Korea on border violations RIA Novosti 29 Dec 2009 -- North Korean authorities have detained a U.S. citizen, who crossed into the country from China to draw attention to human rights abuses in North Korea, South Korean Yonhap news agency said on Tuesday.
• North Korea Confirms Illegal Entry By 'US Citizen' VOA 29 Dec 2009 -- KNorth Korea appears to have confirmed reports of incursion last week by an American religious activist.
• UN health chief cautions H1N1 may not be conquered until 2011 UN News Centre 29 Dec 2009 -- The moderate impact of the H1N1 pandemic is the “best possible health news of the decade,” but the head of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today warned that more people – particularly in the southern hemisphere – could become sick this season and that it would be premature to say the health risk is over.
• H1N1 Influenza Pandemic to Last Another Year VOA 29 Dec 2009 -- The director-general of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, predicts the H1N1 swine flu virus is likely to continue circulating around the world for another year. She warns nations must remain vigilant because the H1N1 virus could mutate into a more dangerous form.
• Statement by the President on Preliminary Information from his Ongoing Consultation about the Detroit Incident The White House 29 Dec 2009
• Press Background Briefing By Senior Administration Official The White House 29 Dec 2009
• Press Briefing by Denis McDonough, Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Council Chief of Staff The White House 29 Dec 2009
• Obama: 'Systemic Failure' Permitted Foiled Airline Attack VOA 29 Dec 2009 -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday that a "systemic failure" in security allowed the attempted Christmas Day attack on a Northwest Airlines flight. Mr. Obama said information that could have prevented the would-be bomber from boarding the plane did not get the attention it deserved.
• Airliner Attack Reminder of Long Struggle Against Terrorism VOA 29 Dec 2009 -- U.S. government officials, members of Congress and terrorism experts say Americans should brace for a long struggle against al-Qaida in the wake of Friday's failed bomb attack on a U.S. jetliner that landed safely in Detroit, Michigan.
• Obama Vows to Disrupt and Dismantle Terrorists in Wake of US Plane Incident VOA 29 Dec 2009 -- U.S. President Barack Obama says the United States will use every element of its national power to thwart and defeat enemies seeking to launch terror attacks. Mr. Obama's remarks came in the wake of Friday's foiled bomb attack on a U.S. airliner.
• Web Posts Suggest Terror Suspect was Lonely, Depressed VOA 29 Dec 2009 -- Internet postings believed to have been written by the Nigerian man accused of trying to bomb a U.S. airliner suggest that he was lonely and depressed.
• Germany tightens airport security after Nigerian terrorist plot IRNA 29 Dec 2009 -- A spokeswoman for the German interior ministry said security measures at airports across the country have been stepped up in the wake of the recent apparent attempt to set off an explosion on a US flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.
• Obama Says U.S. Will Pursue Plane Attackers RFE/RL 29 Dec 2009 -- U.S. President Barack Obama spoke publicly for the first time on December 28 about the attempt to blow up a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day, vowing that the United States "will not rest" until it finds everyone responsible for the attack.
• Obama pledges aggressive response to terror attacks RIA Novosti 29 Dec 2009 -- U.S. President Barack Obama pledged on Monday a harsh response to terrorist attacks following a failed attempt by a Nigerian national to blow up a plane carrying close to 300 passengers on Christmas.
• Airline Bombing Suspect Spent Months in Yemen in 2009 VOA 29 Dec 2009 -- Authorities in Yemen say the Nigerian man accused of trying to destroy a U.S. jetliner last week lived in Yemen for months, and was in the country as recently as this month.
• African Group with Al-Qaida Ties Says it Kidnapped Italian Couple VOA 29 Dec 2009 -- Italy says it will not negotiate with an al-Qaida group that has claimed responsibility for kidnapping two Italians in Mauritania. The North African al-Qaida branch known as al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb said on Sunday that it was behind the recent kidnapping of an Italian couple in Mauritania.
• UN-backed container-profiling project leads to seizure of drugs, counterfeit goods UN News Centre 29 Dec 2009 -- Latin American port authorities are seizing more drug consignments and counterfeit goods along container routes thanks to a United Nations-backed initiative that is showing growing success after its inception six years ago.
• Pakistani President appeals for calm and restraint IRNA 29 Dec 2009 -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has appealed all sections of society for calm and restraint and urged people of Karachi not to be provoked by “most reprehensible act of terror on solemn occasion of an Ashura Day procession in Karachi, Monday.
• Ashura Procession Bombing Puts Focus On Karachi RFE/RL 29 Dec 2009
• Five years after Indian Ocean tsunami, affected nations rebuilding better – UN UN News Centre 29 Dec 2009 -- Five years after the massive Indian Ocean tsunami, which left a devastating trail of death and destruction, millions of people have benefited from the influx of aid by rebuilding stronger infrastructure, social services and disaster warning systems than existed before the catastrophe, according to the United Nations agencies at the core of the recovery effort.
• MALI: The paradox of plenty IRIN 29 Dec 2009 -- Sikasso is one of Mali's most fertile regions, but under-five malnutrition is as high here as in the country’s barren north, according to government health data.
• SOMALIA: Puntland authorities crack down on people smugglers IRIN 29 Dec 2009 -- The authorities in Somalia's self-declared autonomous region of Puntland are moving to halt the smuggling of people - mainly Somalis and Ethiopians - into Yemen and the Gulf States, senior Puntland officials told IRIN.
• Burundi: UN helps distribute free identity cards for next May’s polls UN News Centre 29 Dec 2009 -- One million Burundians old enough to vote next May will receive a free national identity card, thanks to a campaign supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other agencies.
• UN asks Laos for access to thousands of Hmong deported from Thailand UN News Centre 29 Dec 2009 -- The United Nations refugee agency today asked the Government of Laos for access to some 4,000 ethnic Hmong Laotians who were deported from Thailand yesterday although many had been there for over 30 years and some were recognized as being in need of international protection.