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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 07 Jan 2010 [PDF]
• UK continues to call up reservists for Iraq IRNA 07 Jan 2010 -- The British government has renewed its call-out order for reservists to support operations in Iraq and the Persian Gulf for another year even though the main body of the UK’s armed forces were withdrawn from Iraq last June.
• BATS helps ID insurgents, hostages Army News 07 Jan 2010 -- Like technology from the latest spy movie, a system using finger prints and retina scans helps Soldiers tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys in Iraq.
• General Condemns Taliban Attack on Civilians AFPS 07 Jan 2010 -- The commander of day-to-day military operations in Afghanistan condemned a bombing attack on Gardez Bazaar in Afghanistan’s Paktia province today that killed at least four civilians and wounded several others.
• Al-Qaeda claims attack on U.S. base in Afghanistan RIA Novosti 07 Jan 2010 -- Al-Qaeda has said it was responsible for last month's deadly suicide bombing at a U.S. base in southeast Afghanistan.
• AFGHANISTAN: USAID funds Kabul clean-up project IRIN 07 Jan 2010 -- A project funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to collect rubbish from Kabul’s streets will create jobs and improve the environment, but municipal officials say a more permanent solution is needed.
• German support for Afghan war hits record low: survey IRNA 07 Jan 2010 -- German support for the war in Afghanistan has reached a record low as only 26 percent of Germans say their troops should remain in the war-stricken country, according to an opinion poll released Thursday by the public television network ARD.
• Eide Warns Of 'Negative Trends' In Afghanistan RFE/RL 07 Jan 2010 -- Outgoing UN envoy to Afghanistan Kai Eide has told the UN Security Council that many of the problems that country faced years ago remain, boosting resentment of the foreign presence in the country.
• Suicide Bomber Kills 8 in Eastern Afghanistan VOA 07 Jan 2010 -- An Afghan official says at least eight people have been killed after a suicide bomber detonated explosives in the eastern town of Gardez.
  A Paktia provincial governor's spokesman, Rohulla Samoon, says at least 24 people were wounded in Thursday's attack that apparently targeted a security vehicle convoy. The spokesman says a security personnel supervisor is among those killed.
• US Concerned About Pakistani 'Harassment,' Pakistan Critical of US Drones VOA 07 Jan 2010 -- U.S. officials in Pakistan are expressing concern about alleged ongoing harassment involving U.S. diplomatic vehicles, while Pakistan is criticizing alleged U.S. drone strikes.
• F-15s Scramble to Escort Hawaiian Airlines Flight AFPS 07 Jan 2010 -- Two Oregon Air National Guard F-15 fighters, under the direction of North American Aerospace Defense Command, intercepted Hawaiian Airlines Flight 39 yesterday after a passenger caused a disturbance on the plane and the pilot decided to return the aircraft to Portland.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript: DOD News Briefing with Brig. Gen. Cheek From the Pentagon DoD 07 Jan 2010 -- Presenter: Commander, U. S. Army Warrior Transition Command Brig. Gen. Gary Cheek
• DoD News: Army Announces Force Structure Actions DoD 07 Jan 2010 -- The Army announced today the decision to relocate Headquarters, Army Contracting Command and Headquarters, Expeditionary Contracting Command from Fort Belvoir, Va., to Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
• New era begins for Joint Base Langley-Eustis AFNS 07 Jan 2010 -- Ninth Air Force officials activated the 633rd Air Base Wing during a change-of-command ceremony Jan. 7 here.
• Mullen Lays Out Progress, Challenges in Middle East AFPS 07 Jan 2010 -- Stability in the greater Middle East remains the highest security priority for the United States, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.
• ACC to join AMC, USASAC at Redstone Arsenal Army News 07 Jan 2010 -- The Army announced today the decision to relocate Headquarters, Army Contracting Command and Headquarters, Expeditionary Contracting Command from Fort Belvoir, Va., to Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
• USS North Carolina to Homeport in Pearl Harbor Navy NewsStand 07 Jan 2010 -- Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet announced Jan. 6 that USS North Carolina (SSN 777) will be the third Virginia-class submarine homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor.
• Nimitz Hosts CNO At Sea Navy NewsStand 07 Jan 2010 -- The chief of naval operations (CNO) visited the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Jan. 6.
• NMCB 3 Steelworkers Improve Naval Station Rota Water Treatment Facility Navy NewsStand 07 Jan 2010 -- Eleven Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 recently began work on a galvanized steel catwalk as an improvement project for the Naval Station Rota, Spain, water treatment facility.
• Navy Installations Getting Greener Navy NewsStand 07 Jan 2010 -- The Department of the Navy has implemented a policy mandating the use of low-impact development techniques, which has made installations more environmentally and economically efficient to construct, operate, and maintain.
• Medical Readiness: Preparing for Deployment Navy NewsStand 07 Jan 2010 -- Medical readiness is essential for deployment and he National Naval Medical Center ensures its Sailors are ready for any mission.
• Work Begins on New Energy Conservation Project, Saving $3.3 Million Annually Navy NewsStand 07 Jan 2010 -- Projects have begun on the recently awarded Utility Energy Services Contract (UESC) expecting to reduce electrical energy and water consumption by an estimated $3.3 million annually at Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS JAX).
• Army to increase medevac support, add new CAB, more UAVs Army News 07 Jan 2010 -- The Army's top operations officer said yesterday that not only will the Army add a new combat aviation brigade to the warfight, it will also increase the number of aircraft in medical evacuation companies.
• FORSCOM commander says Fort Bragg 'premier installation' Army News 07 Jan 2010 -- On Wednesday, Fort Bragg received a visit from Gen. Charles C. Campbell, the commander of United States Army Forces Command.
• AAFES continues to grow at Bliss Army News 07 Jan 2010 -- Growth is quickly peering over the horizon for not only Fort Bliss, but for its facilities, as well.
• Strategic, Space command officials improve GPS coverage AFNS 07 Jan 2010 -- Officials from the U.S. Strategic Command and Air Force Space Command here initiated an effort that will improve global coverage for users of the Global Positioning System constellation.
• African Counterterrorism Gets Greater Focus AFPS 07 Jan 2010 -- Counterterrorism in Africa has come into greater focus since the United States cited five African countries on a list of nations deserving more scrutiny amid heightened airport security following a botched terrorist attack on a Christmas Day flight.
• US Navy Concerned About Alleged Al-Qaida Threat to US Ships VOA 07 Jan 2010 -- The U.S. Navy says it is on heightened alert after receiving what it calls "credible" al-Qaida threats against American warships and commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf. The latest threat from Osama bin Laden's terror network calls on followers to gather intelligence about ships and their sailors so that they can be targeted for attacks.
• Chairman Cites ‘One Team’ of Military, Intelligence AFPS 07 Jan 2010 -- In the wake of a Dec. 31 suicide bombing attack that killed seven CIA operatives in eastern Afghanistan, the military’s highest-ranking officer yesterday underscored the close ties between American armed forces and the U.S. intelligence community.
• U.S. office confirms PAC-3 missiles sale to Taiwan CNA 07 Jan 2010 -- The United States' de facto embassy here - the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - confirmed Thursday that the U.S. government has awarded contracts to defense manufacturers to build Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles for Taiwan, which were part of an arms package Washington agreed to sell to Taipei in 2008.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 07, 2010
• CACI Awarded $100 Million Task Order to Provide U.S. Army Battle Command Systems CACI 07 Jan 2010 -- CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI) announced today that it has been awarded a $100 million task order to continue providing technical, engineering, logistics, business, and program support services to the Program Executive Office Command, Control and Communications Tactical (PEO C3T) Program Manager Battle Command family of products.
• Helibras will upgrade 34 Eurocopter helicopters for the Brazilian Army EADS 07 Jan 2010 -- Helicópteros do Brasil S.A.-Helibras, Eurocopter subsidiary in Brazil, signed on the 24th of December 2009 a contract to upgrade 34 AS365K Panther helicopters of the Brazilian Army Aviation.
• Lockheed Martin F-35B Begins In-Flight STOVL Operations Lockheed Martin 07 Jan 2010 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) stealth fighter engaged its STOVL propulsion system in flight for the first time today. The successful test is the first in a series of planned STOVL-mode flights that will include short takeoffs, hovers and vertical landings.
• CH-53K Helicopter Program Sustains Progress With Successful Integration Design Review Sikorsky 07 Jan 2010 -- Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today announced that an Integration Design Review (IDR) of the CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter program has charted a course for a successful Critical Design Review in 2010.

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 07 Jan 2010
• Use of child soldiers ‘particularly abusive,’ UN expert testifies UN News Centre 07 Jan 2010 -- Children cannot consent to their own exploitation, making the use of children in warfare “particularly abusive,” a top United Nations official said today at the trial of a Congolese warlord accused of enlisting child soldiers.
• Southern African Ministers Prepare Report on Regional Crises VOA 07 Jan 2010 -- Southern African ministers are meeting in Mozambique to prepare for next month's summit of the African Union. Madagascar, Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of Congo are major topics of discussion.
• Press Conference by United Nations Human Rights Expert Concerning Authenticity of Channel 4 Videotape Depicting Extrajudicial Executions in Sri Lanka United Nations 07 Jan 2010
• Deeming Sri Lanka execution video authentic, UN expert calls for war crimes probe UN News Centre 07 Jan 2010 -- An independent United Nations human rights expert said today there are strong indications that the video of alleged extrajudicial executions by Sri Lankan soldiers that aired last August on British television is authentic, and called for an inquiry into possible war crimes committed during the conflict with Tamil rebels.
• SUDAN: Attack leaves 140 dead as agencies issue "wake-up call" to international community IRIN 07 Jan 2010 -- Violence in Southern Sudan continues to escalate, with the latest incident claiming 140 lives, even as 10 aid agencies called for urgent international intervention to prevent a return to war between the north and south.
• Spectre of war threatens Sudan, aid agencies warn IRNA 07 Jan 2010 -- The world must act now to prevent the collapse of a 2005 peace deal in Sudan, ten international aid agencies warned Thursday.
• Groups Warn of Return to Sudanese War VOA 07 Jan 2010 -- Ten international aid groups, including Oxfam, World Vision, the International Rescue Committee, and Save the Children, have released a report urging sustained international engagement with Sudan's two ruling peace partners in order to avoid a return to conflict.
• Tribal Violence in Southern Sudan Kills 139 VOA 07 Jan 2010 -- At least 139 people have been killed and 5,000 cattle seized in southern Sudan in clashes between rival tribes.
• Dozens of Darfur residents complete UN-backed human rights training UN News Centre 07 Jan 2010 -- More than two dozen women, sheikhs and local community representatives in Sudan’s North Darfur region today completed United Nations-backed training on human rights and gender-based violence.
• Somali Officials to Meet WFP to Resume Humanitarian Operations VOA 07 Jan 2010 -- A Somali government spokesman says administration officials will meet representatives of the World Food Program this weekend to urge the humanitarian agency to resume its operations.
• Israel Drops Warning Leaflets in Gaza After Mortar Firings VOA 07 Jan 2010 -- Israeli warplanes have dropped leaflets warning Gaza residents to stay clear of the border, after Palestinian militants fired at least 10 mortar shells at Israel.
• Ban phones Cypriot leaders ahead of intensified reunification talks UN News Centre 07 Jan 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon phoned the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders today ahead of intensive United Nations-backed talks on reunifying the Mediterranean island, urging them to show flexibility on the many issues under discussion, from governance and power-sharing to the economy and property.
• YEMEN: “Dire” IDP situation made worse by cold weather IRIN 07 Jan 2010 -- The plight of tens of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in tents or deserted houses in the volatile northern Yemeni governorate of Saada and surrounding areas is worsening because of cold winter weather, aid workers and local officials warn.
• Defence kicks off case for Congolese warlord at International Criminal Court UN News Centre 07 Jan 2010 -- The defence team of a Congolese warlord accused of enlisting child soldiers began its presentation today as part of the first-ever trial to be held by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
• DR Congo: UN support for army’s new anti-rebel offensive tied to protecting civilians UN News Centre 07 Jan 2010 -- A controversial United Nations-backed Government offensive against rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), during which Congolese soldiers are alleged to have committed massacres and gang-rape, has been replaced by a new UN-supported operation with a central focus on protecting civilians.
• 22-hour long gun battle ends in Srinagar IRNA 07 Jan 2010 -- The 22-hour long gun battle ended in Srinagar as Security forces on Thursday stormed the hotel in Lal Chowk killing three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists.
• Kashmir gunbattle enters second day IRNA 07 Jan 2010 -- Red Square, the nerve centre of Kashmir capital, witnessed heavy exchange of firing during the morning hours today as the stand off between Indian security forces and the two militants besieged in a hotel building entered into second day.

News Reports

• Iran State TV Suggests Neda's Iconic Death Was 'Faked' RFE/RL 07 Jan 2010 -- and he didn't stop there. He also said they were responsible for the death of Ali Musavi -- the 35-year-old nephew of opposition leader Mir Hossein Musavi who was killed during rallies on December 27 in which eight protesters died.
• Kazakhstan Faces Responsibility, Scrutiny As OSCE Chair RFE/RL 07 Jan 2010 -- whose head, Kanat Saudabaev, is tasked with carrying out the duties of chairman in office in his capacity as foreign minister -- is making every effort to demonstrate that it is up to the task.
• Remarks by the President on Strengthening Intelligence and Aviation Security The White House 07 Jan 2010
• Briefing by Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano, Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Brennan, and Press Secretary Gibbs, 1/7/10 The White House 07 Jan 2010
• Obama: Agencies Failed to 'Connect' Intelligence on Failed Airline Plot VOA 07 Jan 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama says U.S. agencies failed to "connect and understand" intelligence that could have kept an alleged bomber off a jetliner that flew to Detroit from Amsterdam on Christmas Day.
• Lax Security May Have Contributed to CIA Deaths VOA 07 Jan 2010 -- The recent suicide bombing at a Central Intelligence Agency outpost in Afghanistan was the type of incident that was not entirely unexpected. The CIA has been targeting al-Qaida for years, even before the attacks of September 11, 2001, and retaliation was inevitable. But, a combination of lax security and an insatiable hunger for information by the CIA may have contributed to the success of the al-Qaida attack.
• Yemen Links Nigerian Airline Plotter With Radical Cleric VOA 07 Jan 2010 -- A top Yemeni official confirms that the Nigerian man suspected of trying to blow up an airplane last month met with an extremist Muslim cleric linked to other violence in the U.S. But the official says that although the suspect lived for a while in Yemen, he was radicalized in Britain.
• Airline Bombing Suspect Was to Be Questioned on Landing VOA 07 Jan 2010 -- U.S. security officials say they identified the suspect in the attempted Christmas Day, December 25 airline attack for extra screening and were going to question him when he landed in Detroit.
• Al-Qaida Claims CIA Attack Was Revenge VOA 07 Jan 2010 -- Al-Qaida is praising the suicide bombing that killed seven U.S. intelligence officers in Afghanistan, and says it carried out the attack to avenge the deaths of militant leaders.
• Europe Debates Airport Security VOA 07 Jan 2010 -- European aviation officials are meeting in Brussels to discuss airport security measures and British authorities are doing the same as governments try to decide the best way to protect planes and air passengers in the wake of a failed bombing attempt on an American airliner on Christmas day.
• Mongolia Receives First Batch of Swine Flu Vaccines VOA 07 Jan 2010 -- The World Health Organization says Mongolia became the first developing country to receive doses of donated H1N1 swine flu vaccines. A WHO spokeswoman tells VOA more vaccines will be distributed for use in 95 poor countries during the next few months.
• PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Manam Island IDPs feel forgotten IRIN 07 Jan 2010 -- When a devastating volcano forced thousands to leave Manam Island, off the coast of northern Papua New Guinea, little did they know that five years later they would still be displaced.
• Yugoslav General Declared Traitor To Get Retrial RFE/RL 07 Jan 2010 -- The Serbian Supreme Court has ruled that former Yugoslav General Vlado Trifunovic -- who was jailed after being declared a traitor -- should have his case retried, RFE/RL's Balkan Service reports.
• UN sends help for 30,000 flood victims in Kenya UN News Centre 07 Jan 2010 -- The United Nations is sending health care kits and other supplies for 30,000 victims of massive flooding in Kenya, where thousands of others are feared to be at risk if heavy rains persist.
• Azerbaijani Villagers Held By Police In Exclave RFE/RL 07 Jan 2010 -- Residents of an Azerbaijani village say security forces have arrested scores of people after clashes between police and villagers, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.