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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 11 Jan 2010 [PDF]
• Iraqi Forces Arrest Suspected Terrorists AFPS 11 Jan 2010 -- Iraqi security forces arrested five suspected terrorists during operations today in Baghdad and northern Iraq, military officials said.
• Ali Base drawdown in full swing AFNS 11 Jan 2010 -- Ali Base is in full drawdown mode following the presidential directive to reduce the American military presence in Iraq, and to withdraw combat forces by December 2011.
• Joint basing at Charleston moves forward with activation of 628th ABW AFNS 11 Jan 2010 -- Eighteenth Air Force officials activated the 628th Air Base Wing during an assumption-of-command ceremony Jan. 8 at Charleston AFB.
• U.S. Team Works to Improve Rule of Law in Iraq AFPS 11 Jan 2010 -- A team of U.S. forces is seeing its work pay off in ensuring that a court system created to police Iraqi law enforcement follows the law in things like due process.
• New passenger terminal means comfort for travelers Army News 11 Jan 2010 -- Soldiers and civilians traveling to and from here by aircraft now have a more comfortable place to wait for their flights with the grand opening of Ed "Too Tall" Freeman Passenger Terminal, Jan. 5.
• "Garryowen" prepares for incoming unit Army News 11 Jan 2010 -- About a year ago, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division prepared to move to Joint Security Station Istiqlaal.
• Movement Control Team Helps Joint Distribution Center Mission Move Faster Army News 11 Jan 2010 -- An operations unit at the Joint Distribution Center at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, implemented a new transportation standard Dec. 11 to decrease the wait time required to ship sustainment supply cargo throughout Iraq.
• Quartermaster Soldiers provide potable water at Poliwoda Army News 11 Jan 2010 -- A single team of Soldiers provide all the potable water used for the shower and latrine trailers, the dining facility and all other running-water facilities at Contingency Operating Location Poliwoda, Iraq.
• 509th Movement Control Team works to improve travel at Speicher Army News 11 Jan 2010 -- Although military travel is not known for its comfort, a group of Airmen at Contingency Operating Location Speicher, Iraq, work hard to make it a positive experience.
• Afghan Poll Shows Increasing Optimism, Opposition to Taliban VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- A new survey of public opinion in Afghanistan indicates that most Afghans are now optimistic about their future and the leadership of President Hamid Karzai.
• U.S. Leads Noncombat Missions in Afghanistan AFPS 11 Jan 2010 -- U.S. forces have taken part in several important noncombat missions throughout Afghanistan in recent days, including meetings between residents and government leaders, humanitarian outreach, construction training and transferring responsibilities to Afghans.
• Jordanian Suicide Bomber, in Pre-Attack Video, Vows to Avenge Taliban Chief VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- The suicide bomber who killed 7 CIA employees on a US base in eastern Afghanistan was seen, on Saturday, in a pre-attack video alongside Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud. In the video, Humam Khalil Abu Mulal al-Balawi, a Jordanian, says he will avenge the murder of Baitullah Mehsud, the father of Hakumullah Mehsud.
• Britain denies secret talks with Taliban IRNA 11 Jan 2010 -- The visiting British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has rejected reports about his secret talks with the Afghan Taliban leadership, saying the United Kingdom never held such negotiations with the Taliban or any other militant group.
• CNO Completes Visit to Afghanistan AOR Navy NewsStand 11 Jan 2010 -- The chief of naval operations (CNO) started out the new year with a trip to Afghanistan to ensure the Navy is successfully executing its overall mission and to listen to input from the Sailors currently stationed there Jan. 6–10.
• 6 Foreign Troops Reported Killed Monday in Afghan Clashes VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- NATO says three U.S. service members were killed Monday afternoon in fighting in southern Afghanistan and another two foreign troops were killed in clashes in the east.
• Troops Uncover Opium, Weapons Caches in Afghanistan AFPS 11 Jan 2010 -- Forces have uncovered numerous weapons caches and large amounts of narcotics during operations in Afghanistan over the past few days.
• Pentagon Intelligence Chief Urges Pakistan to Keep Up Pressure on Militants VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- Lieutenant General Ronald Burgess said there have been notable successes against the Taliban and al-Qaida by U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Pakistani troops on the other side of the border in South Waziristan and Swat.
• Air Force officials scramble F-16s in response of unruly air passenger AFNS 11 Jan 2010 -- Two F-16 Fighting Falcons under the direction of Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region officials launched at 11:44 a.m. Jan. 8 in response to reports of an unruly passenger aboard AirTran Flight 39 from Atlanta bound for San Francisco.

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S. Has 'Contingency' Plan To Deal With Iran Nuclear Program RFE/RL 11 Jan 2010 -- A top U.S. general says Washington has developed what he describes as a "contingency" plan for dealing with Iran's nuclear program if diplomacy and sanctions fail to rein in the Iranian program.
• US General statements ‘unmeasured” IRNA 11 Jan 2010 -- Latest comments made by a senior US commander about attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities were “unmeasured and irresponsible,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mihman-Parast said Monday.
• Petraeus: Aid to Yemen Likely to Double in 2010 AFPS 11 Jan 2010 -- The U.S. counterterrorism approach to Yemen likely will entail doubling the amount of aid there, but does not include deploying American troops, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus said.
• Yemen: The Money is There, The Question is Using It VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- World powers are scrambling to find a way to help Yemen fight extremism and the conditions that breed it. Britain is hosting an international conference later this month on military, economic and development aid to the impoverished Arab nation. But, help has been available for years; the hard part is getting it to make a difference.
• Obama: No Plan to Send US Troops to Yemen, Somalia VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama says he has no intention to send American troops to battle extremists in Yemen or Somalia.
• Air Force officials release F-16 accident report AFNS 11 Jan 2010 -- Air Combat Command officials here Jan. 11 released the results of their investigation into the Oct. 15, 2009 collision of two F-16 Fighting Falcons that occurred 126 nautical miles southwest of Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. during a night close-air support training mission.
• Ohio Air Guard officials expand solar energy field AFNS 11 Jan 2010 -- Officials from the 180th Fighter Wing Air National Guard Base at the Toledo Express Airport in Ohio celebrated the fourth phase expansion of their solar field Jan. 5 here.
• Iron Brigade prepares for deployment with cultural awareness training Army News 11 Jan 2010 -- What is the most important thing American Soldiers need to know about the culture of the Islamic people?
• President of Croatia visits Camp Bondsteel Army News 11 Jan 2010 -- During his recent visit to Kosovo, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic stopped here to see his nation's Air Force personnel who are serving in NATO's peacekeeping operations throughout Kosovo.
• Force Protection Detachment conferences expand for 470th MI Brigade Army News 11 Jan 2010 -- Future 470th Military Intelligence Brigade Force Protection Detachment conferences will take on added importance as they have grown to include more agents and agencies.
• Navy Supply Corps School Commanding Officer Relieved Navy NewsStand 11 Jan 2010 -- The commanding officer of the Navy Supply Corps School (NSCS) in Athens, Ga. was relieved of his duties Jan. 8.
• Air Forces in Europe commander visits Spangdahlem, discusses legacy fighter retirements AFNS 11 Jan 2010 -- The U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander emphasized the important role each Airman fulfills in supporting the mission both at home station and in the deployed environment during his visit Jan. 8, to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.
• Mobility commander visits Georgia, Florida wings AFNS 11 Jan 2010 -- The commander of Air Mobility Command visited the 165th Airlift Wing, the 6th Air Mobility Wing and the 927th Air Refueling Wing to continue his efforts to view the air mobility mission "through the eyes of the Airmen."
• Better Mental Fitness Will Help Prevent Suicide, Sutton Says AFPS 11 Jan 2010 -- Preventing suicide is more than simply recognizing the signs, it involves building strong community and individual support before the idea ever sets in, the Army's top psychiatrist and director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury said here today.
• Defense, VA Officials Address Suicide at Conference AFPS 11 Jan 2010 -- There are no clear-cut answers to suicide prevention, but through collaboration and team work from federal and private institutions, the nation can better address the challenge, Defense and Veteran Affairs department officials said today.
• Toolkit helps answer servicemembers' health care questions AFNS 11 Jan 2010 -- One in five servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffers from major depression or post traumatic stress disorder, according to officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
• China tests missile-defense system RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2010 -- China tested a ground-based system to intercept missiles in midflight on Monday, the Xinhua news agency reported.
• India test fires air-to-air Astra Missile IRNA 11 Jan 2010 -- India on Monday test fired Indigenously developed and beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile 'Astra' from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Orissa state.
• India test-launches air-to-air missile RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2010 -- India on Monday successfully test fired a new solid-propellant air-to-air missile, the IANS news agency reported.
• Russia to float out last 2 frigates for Indian Navy by yearend RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2010 -- A Russian shipyard will float out the last two of three frigates for India's Navy by the end of the year, a Yantar spokesman said on Monday.
• MND denies having finalized aging frigate replacement plan: MND CNA 11 Jan 2010 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has yet to decide on any specific plan to replace the military's aging Chiyang-class frigates, the ministry said in a statement Monday.
• Russian warship escorts convoy off Horn of Africa RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2010 -- A Russian warship on Monday escorted a three-vessel convoy through a pirate-infested area off the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden, a Navy spokesman said.
• Former Kyrgyz Defense Minister Sentenced To Eight Years RFE/RL 11 Jan 2010 -- A Bishkek Military Court today sentenced former Kyrgyz Defense Minister Ismail Isakov to eight years in prison for corruption while in office, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
• Georgian Court Hands Down Heavy Sentences In Mutiny Trial RFE/RL 11 Jan 2010 -- A Georgian court has convicted three men on charges of organizing a military rebellion and sentenced them to lengthy jail terms.
• Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 1/11/10 The White House 11 Jan 2010
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 11 Jan 2010

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 11, 2010
• Boeing Team Delivers 2 Osprey Trainers to Marines Boeing 11 Jan 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and partner Bell Helicopter delivered two MV-22 Osprey Containerized Flight Training Devices (CFTD) to the U.S. Marines at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar in California in the last quarter of 2009.
• Lockheed Martin Receives $344 Million In Ongoing Funding For C-5 Modernization Program Lockheed Martin 11 Jan 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received ongoing funding through a recently issued Acquisition Decision Memorandum (ADM) that authorizes Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) associated with the C-5 Super Galaxy Reliability Enhancement and Re-Engining Program (RERP).
• Kuwait Air Defense Forces Conduct Successful Patriot Test Firings Raytheon 11 Jan 2010 -- The Kuwait Air Defense Forces successfully test fired Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Patriot Air and Missile Defense System against tactical ballistic missiles. The test firings were held last month at the Udairi Range in Kuwait in conjunction with other Kuwait Air Defense and Land Forces elements during a joint exercise.
• Lockheed Martin to Integrate Legacy Waveforms into the Airborne, Maritime/Fixed Station Joint Tactical Radio System Lockheed Martin 11 Jan 2010 -- True tactical communications interoperability for joint forces is becoming a reality, as more radio waveforms are slated to be integrated into the revolutionary Airborne, Maritime/Fixed Station Joint Tactical Radio System (AMF JTRS). The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team recently received a modification to their existing contract for the porting, integration and test of five additional waveforms. This exercised contract option is valued at $29 million.
• Northrop Grumman Makes Early Delivery of Mine Detection System Northrop Grumman 11 Jan 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) delivered the first Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Phase 2 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) to the U.S. Navy more than six weeks ahead of schedule.
• Northrop Grumman Wins $577 Million Army Integrated Battle Command System Contract Northrop Grumman 11 Jan 2010 -- The U.S. Army has selected Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) to develop the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) under a $577 million, five-year, cost-plus-incentive-fee/cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for system design and development.

Other Conflicts

• SRI LANKA: Concern grows over IDP voting rights IRIN 11 Jan 2010 -- Tens of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) and new returnees in Sri Lanka may miss out on voting in this month's presidential election on 26 January.
• SUDAN: Drought, insecurity hurting food production in South IRIN 11 Jan 2010 -- Several states in Southern Sudan are facing food shortages due to widespread drought and conflict, officials said.
• Indian forces foil infiltration along Indo-Pak bord IRNA 11 Jan 2010 -- Indian Border Security Force (BSF) foiled an infiltration attempt along Indo-Pak border Monday morning.
• India lost substantial land to China IRNA 11 Jan 2010 -- The area along Line of Actual Control with China has "shrunk" over a period of time and India has lost "substantial" amount of land in the last two decades, says an official report.
• Israel to build fence on border with Egypt RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2010 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday ordered the construction of a fence along two segments of Israel's border with Egypt "to stem the infiltration of migrant workers and terrorists into Israel," the Haaretz newspaper said.
• Rival Somali Islamic Militias Clash in Power Struggle VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- After two days of clashes, a military commander for the Sufi militia, Ahlu-Sunna Wal-Jamaa, says his forces have seized the town of Beledweyne in the Hiran region from Hizbul Islam rebels.
• Angola’s Cabinda Province Poor Choice for Football Tournament, says Analyst VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- An analyst calls the decision by the Angolan government to hold Cup of Nations football matches in Cabinda Province stupid and tragic.
• Cold Weather Adds to Misery of Yemen's Displaced VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- Tens of thousands of people have fled the conflict in northern Yemen over the past five months. And, they continue to leave in large numbers.
• Angola Arrests 2 Suspects in Connection with Togo Team Attack VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- The arrests came amid an intense hunt for the estimated one dozen gunmen who attacked Togo's national football team Friday as it traveled by bus from its training camp in Congo Republic to the Angolan enclave of Cabinda.
• Independent Monitors Keep Eyes on Charles Taylor Trial VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- As the trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor resumes at the special tribunal in The Hague, monitors based in the United States are keeping close tabs on proceedings and making sure their information is available for the whole world on the Internet. They also say they are providing coverage traditional media have been unable to deliver.
• Ban gathers heads of regional organizations to boost cooperation on crises UN News Centre 11 Jan 2010 -- The United Nations and regional organizations will seek to further enhance their burgeoning cooperation in peacemaking and peacekeeping, conflict prevention and crisis management at a high-level two-day retreat beginning today outside New York City, hosted by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
• Lebanon: UN again protests against Israeli over-flights UN News Centre 11 Jan 2010 -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon has strongly protested to Israel over the significant number of over-flights in Lebanese airspace during the last few days in violation of a Security Council resolution ending the 34-day war between Israel and Hizbollah militants in 2006.
• Sudan: UN agency warns of massive food deficit in southern region UN News Centre 11 Jan 2010 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned today that Southern Sudan is facing a massive food deficit fuelled by drought and widespread insecurity.

News Reports

• DPRK Proposes to Start of Peace Talks KCNA 11 Jan 2010 -- The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea issued Monday the following statement:
• North Korea Calls for Peace Treaty with US Ahead of Denuclearization Talks VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- The U.S. says it wants to see North Korea return to six-party denuclearization talks before it considers negotiations involving a wider range of issues. U.S. officials commented Monday after North Korea called for peace talks with the U.S. and an end to sanctions as conditions for resuming the stalled talks.
• N. Korea Calls For Peace Talks With U.S. RFE/RL 11 Jan 2010 -- which also involve South Korea, China, Russia, Japan and the United States -- a year ago. The talks are aimed at ending the North's nuclear program in exchange for aid.
• North Korea urges talks on peace treaty to replace armistice RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2010 -- North Korea said on Monday it wanted talks with the United States on a peace treaty to replace the ceasefire that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War as a condition to restart nuclear disarmament negotiations.
• N. Korea Hints at Return to Nuclear Talks VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency carried a statement from the North Korean Foreign Ministry Monday linking a resumption of nuclear talks with an improvement in relations with the United States.
• US Envoy Urges Release of Activist Held Captive in North Korea VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- President Barack Obama's newly appointed special envoy for North Korean human rights is making his first visit to the South Korean capital. He urged the North to release a captive American citizen and says, if the North wants closer ties with Washington, it will need to address its human rights situation.
• Iran's Karroubi: Government Threats Will Not Stop Reform VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- An Iranian opposition leader says government threats will not stop the path for reform, days after an opposition Web site said gunmen attacked the leader's car.
• Former Tehran Prosecutor Blamed For Protesters' Deaths In Prison RFE/RL 11 Jan 2010 -- whose father was close to Iran's political elite -- The Iranian parliament has publicly blamed the former Tehran prosecutor for the deaths of three antigovernment protesters who died in custody in July 2009.
• No cross-strait political breakthrough is forthcoming: Premier CNA 11 Jan 2010 -- Relations across the Taiwan Strait cannot see any major political breakthrough in the foreseeable future, but there is room for innovative interaction, Premier Wu Den-yih said Monday.
• Tymoshenko hits out at Yanukovych over debates refusal RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2010 -- Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko criticized on Monday fellow presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych for his refusal to take part in televised debates ahead of the January 17 elections.
• Ukraine enters presidential polls home stretch RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2010 -- Ukrainian presidential candidates are preparing to give key speeches as the country prepares for elections on January 17.
• New EU Foreign-Policy Chief Promises Solutions For 'Jigsaw Puzzle' Of Relations RFE/RL 11 Jan 2010 -- The European Union's new high representative for foreign policy has appeared before the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee for her confirmation hearing and managed to avoid controversy.
• Clinton Begins Asia-Pacific Tour VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton begins a tour of the Asia-Pacific region Monday, focusing on security, development, the environment and maintaining strong bilateral ties with several countries.
• Croatia Elects Social Democrat Josipovic as President VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- Official results show that the candidate of the opposition Social Democrats has won the second and final round of Croatia's presidential elections. Ivo Josipovic will replace the popular Stipe Mesic, who served the legal maximum of two terms.
• Voters in Martinique, French Guiana Reject Efforts to Reduce French Control VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- Those supporting greater autonomy for France's overseas departments of Martinique and French Guiana are voicing disappointment after voters rejected the drive in referendums.
• UAE Royal Acquitted of Torture VOA 11 Jan 2010 -- Sheikh Issa, who is the half brother of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, has been cleared of all charges of torture, but the judge presiding over the case has failed to give an explanation for the verdict.