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Military


18 February 2010 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

  • Airpower Summary: Feb. 14 AFNS 18 Feb 2010
  • Airpower Summary: Feb. 13 AFNS 18 Feb 2010
  • Airpower Summary: Feb. 12 AFNS 18 Feb 2010

  • Deployed Global Hawks surpass 30,000 combat flying hours, 1,500 sorties AFNS 18 Feb 2010 -- One of the largest unmanned aerial systems operating in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, the RQ-4 Global Hawk, surpassed 30,000 combat flying hours and 1,500 combat sorties Feb. 10 here.

  • Commercial Movement Division manages Iraqi transportation companies Army News 18 Feb 2010 -- In the past seven months, the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) has aided in the expansion of Al Sequir's Iraqi Transportation Network and other companies that support the movement of equipment and supplies throughout Iraq.
  • Press conference reveals progress in Babil Army News 18 Feb 2010 -- Key leaders with the Babil Provincial Reconstruction Team and the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, held a press conference Feb. 15, 2010, at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, to present U.S. personnel to the Iraqi media and discuss current and future efforts in rebuilding Iraq's essential services.
  • Iraqi Army's UAVs give troops the big picture Army News 18 Feb 2010 -- The RQ-11 Raven miniature unmanned aerial vehicle provides Iraqi troops on the ground quick, accurate aerial surveillance to support operations and assess potential threats.

  • Transcript: DOD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Carter from Afghanistan DoD 18 Feb 2010 -- Presenter: Commander, NATO-ISAF Regional Command South Maj. Gen. Nick Patrick Carter, British Army
  • Forces Uncover Multiple Weapons Caches in Afghanistan AFPS 18 Feb 2010 -- Combined patrols of Afghan and international security forces uncovered multiple weapons caches during operations throughout Afghanistan yesterday.
  • Assault on Taliban Stronghold Yields Early Progress AFPS 18 Feb 2010 -- NATO and Afghan forces have made early progress in an ongoing offensive on a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan, but have encountered some stiff resistance and may need another 25 to 30 days to secure the entire area, a top military official said.
  • Capture of No. 2 Taliban Leader Called ‘Significant Win' AFPS 18 Feb 2010 -- The recent capture of the Afghan Taliban’s No. 2 leader and top operational commander represents a “significant win,” a White House official said.
  • NATO Says 30 Days Needed to Secure Marjah VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- NATO commanders in southern Afghanistan says allied troops will need 25 to 30 days to overcome what he called "stiff resistance" from Taliban fighters and secure Marjah.
  • Afghan Governor: Two Senior Taliban Leaders Arrested in Pakistan VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- Afghan officials say authorities in Pakistan have arrested two senior Taliban commanders, who were acting as "shadow governors" in northern Afghanistan. The reported arrests come days after U.S. and Pakistani officials revealed they have been interrogating the Taliban's top operational commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani, also known as Mullah Baradar.
  • Civilians Who Remained Behind Endure Marjah Offensive RFE/RL 18 Feb 2010 -- Ahead of the massive offensive being conducted in the Helmand Province city of Marjah, young farmer Rahman Shah fled for the safety of nearby Lashkar Gah.
  • AFGHANISTAN: Where patients fear to tread IRIN 18 Feb 2010 -- The only functioning health post in conflict-affected Marjah in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, is not being used because people fear they could get caught in crossfire if they try and get there, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
  • Analysts: Afghan Taliban Links to al-Qaida Murky VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- The militant jihadist groups operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan have some common ideology with each other, but not necessarily the same goals. Analysts say the Afghan Taliban has been putting some distance between itself and al-Qaida, at least publicly, with an eye toward future negotiations, while the Pakistani Taliban has gone in the opposite direction.
  • Afghanistan Wants Custody of Captured Taliban Leader VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- Afghan intelligence officials are requesting that a recently captured top Taliban commander be turned over to Afghan authorities.
  • Taliban meets Afghan govt's envoys in Maldives IRNA 18 Feb 2010 -- A Maldives government spokesman said Thursday that delegations representing the Taliban and the Afghan government held talks in the Maldives at the end of January.
  • Pakistan confirms arrest of top Taliban leader IRNA 18 Feb 2010 -- Pakistan's Army Wednesday confirmed arrest of top Taliban Commander, Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar.

  • Blast Kills 25 in NW Pakistan VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- Authorities in Pakistan say a bomb blast in a northwest tribal region has killed at least 25 people.

  • USS Bataan Turns Over Mission in Grand Goave, Continues Relief Efforts Navy NewsStand 18 Feb 2010 -- Crew members aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) turned over relief operations in Grand-Goave, Haiti, Feb. 15, having completed their final Sailors Ashore Mission (SAM) in this location.
  • Civil Affairs Team Helps Strengthen U.N., Government of Haiti, NGO Network in St. Marc Navy NewsStand 18 Feb 2010 -- A Joint Forces Special Operations Component Command civil affairs team assigned to St. Marc is helping to strengthen the network of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and Government of Haiti members that will continue to operate as the U.S. military reduces its role.
  • Soldiers bring fresh, clean water to Haiti Army News 18 Feb 2010 -- Since they arrived last month, some American Soldiers here have been saving lives by purifying and distributing clean water.
  • U.S. Army Civil Affairs teams making a difference in Hinche Army News 18 Feb 2010 -- A civil affairs team from U.S. Army Special Operations Command along with United Nations officials and non-governmental organizations helped facilitate the distribution of food and medical aid Feb. 13 for more than 380 families from the Haitian city of Hinche.
  • U.S. Army South to Support Customs Mission in Haiti Army News 18 Feb 2010 -- A six member team from U.S. Army South is on the way to Haiti in support of Operation Unified Response to help facilitate the return of Soldiers and equipment currently deployed there. The team includes civilian and three Soldiers from the Provost Marshal's Office, and two Soldiers from the U.S. Army South Special Troops Battalion.
  • Press Conference by Force Commander of United Nations Mission in Haiti United Nations 18 Feb 2010
  • AMC Total Force provides hope to Haiti AFNS 18 Feb 2010 -- One day after an earthquake devastated the island nation of Haiti Jan. 12, Air Mobility Command Airmen along with its total force partners began operations to support the crippled nation.
  • Haiti: UN launches largest-ever appeal for natural disaster UN News Centre 18 Feb 2010 -- The United Nations and its aid partners today issued a call for nearly $1.5 billion to assist 3 million Haitians – one third of the Caribbean nation’s population – following last month’s colossal earthquake, making it the largest-ever humanitarian appeal launched in the wake of a natural disaster.

Defense Policy / Programs

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

News Reports

  • Soldiers Topple Niger's President VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- Soldiers in Niger say they have toppled President Mamadou Tandja.
  • Niger President Reported Held in Coup Attempt VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- Diplomatic and military sources say Niger President Mamadou Tandja has been seized by mutinous soldiers during a coup attempt in Niger's capital.
  • Gunfire Reported Around Niger's Presidential Palace VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- There was shooting and several small explosions around the presidential palace in Niger Thursday.
  • Ban closely following developments in Niger after reported coup UN News Centre 18 Feb 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is closely following developments in Niger, where renegade soldiers reportedly stormed the presidential palace earlier today and the whereabouts of the West African nation’s leader remains unclear.
  • NIGER: Constitution crisis turned coup IRIN 18 Feb 2010 -- Small vendors abandoned their stalls as the typical lunch hour break opened with gunfire at the presidential palace shortly after 1pm local time in Niger’s capital, Niamey. Firing continued intermittently with the military blocking all roads leading to the palace. Government helicopters were circling the city and fired in the afternoon, according to residents.
  • ECOWAS Abhors Coup D’états, Says President Chambas VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is expressing concern over tensions in Niger after mutinous soldiers ousted embattled President Mamadou Tandja in a coup d’état Thursday.
    • li>Attempted Coup Underway in Niger's Capital VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- Witnesses reported heavy gunfire started about midday local time.
  • NIGER: Timeline of constitution controversy IRIN 18 Feb 2010 -- Calls to change Niger’s constitution to allow President Mamadou Tandja to stay in office have been met with protests from parts of Niger’s civil society, a negative ruling from the country’s highest court and a regional sanctions threat. Against the backdrop of the onset of the rainy season - and attendant concerns of heightened flooding and malnutrition - preparation continues to hold a constitutional referendum on 4 August. Below is a timeline of events that may affect Niger’s governance, regional trade and aid.

  • Obama Meets With Dalai Lama at White House VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has met with the Dalai Lama Thursday, defying China's warnings against the meeting. The president encouraged Tibetans and the Chinese government to resolve their differences through dialogue.
  • Obama Meets Dalai Lama at White House VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama met the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, at the White House Thursday despite intense protests from China.

  • West has no choice but to accept nuclear Iran: diplomat IRNA 18 Feb 2010 -- A senior Iranian diplomat said that West should face up to the fact that Iran has currently become a nuclear country, it was reported Thursday.
  • Iran says looks to UN agency to protect its nuclear rights RIA Novosti 18 Feb 2010 -- Iran hopes the International Atomic Energy Agency will produce an unbiased report on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and protect its right to nuclear energy, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

  • Iran Sentences Man To Death For Ties To Monarchist Group RFE/RL 18 Feb 2010 -- An Iranian court has sentenced Amir-Reza Arefi to death for ties to an illegal group called the Iranian Royalist Society, RFE/RL's Radio Farda reports.

  • New York prosecutors bring new charges against Russian 'Merchant of Death' RIA Novosti 18 Feb 2010 -- Russian businessman and alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout, dubbed the "Merchant of Death," is facing new charges in New York for concealment of illegal income.
  • Russian arms dealer says unsurprised over new U.S. charges RIA Novosti 18 Feb 2010 -- Russian businessman and alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout, dubbed the "Merchant of Death," said on Thursday he was not surprised at the new indictment brought against him in New York.
  • 'Merchant of Death' Faces New Extradition Hearing in Thailand VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- The alleged arms dealer to the world, Viktor Bout, could face another extradition hearing in Thailand after new charges were filed against him in New York. The possibility comes after a Thai court ruled it could not extradite Bout to face charges in the United States of supporting terrorism.

  • Kremlin Calls for Major Russian Police Reduction VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- Russian President Dmitri Medvedev is calling for major police reforms, including a 50 percent reduction in the number of officials working at Interior Ministry headquarters and sub-units. The Kremlin leader is also seeking to increase compensation for Interior Ministry police.
  • Russia's Medvedev Orders Police Cuts, Cleanup RFE/RL 18 Feb 2010 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has fired two deputy interior ministers and 16 other high-ranking police officials as part of a reform of the country's beleaguered law enforcement bodies.

  • BANGLADESH: Rohingya humanitarian crisis looms IRIN 18 Feb 2010 -- A violent crackdown on undocumented Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh is pushing humanitarian conditions to the brink at a makeshift camp for them, aid workers and campaigners warn.
  • EGYPT: H1N1 flu down but not out IRIN 18 Feb 2010 -- The number of H1N1 influenza patients has fallen sharply in Egypt since the start of 2010, but health officials say they are bracing for a second wave of infections.
  • US Policy Appears to Single Out Arab, Muslim Travelers VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- Civil liberties advocates are joining Arab and Muslim American groups in expressing concern over the government's recent decision to single out travelers from more than a dozen mostly Middle Eastern countries for increased scrutiny.
  • International Space Station Now Has New View of World VOA 18 Feb 2010 -- Crew members of the U.S. space shuttle Endeavour opened the shutters on the International Space Station's new observation deck Wednesday, revealing a spectacular view of Earth.
  • What Can Washington Expect From Renewed Ties With Damascus? RFE/RL 18 Feb 2010 -- President Barack Obama's decision to send a U.S. ambassador back to Syria after a five-year absence restores a diplomatic relationship that just two years ago would have been unthinkable.
  • Thales Alenia Space shipped the second ComSatBw satellite to Kourou Thales 18 Feb 2010 -- Thales Alenia Space announced today that it has shipped to the Kourou spaceport the second ComSatBw satellite, which will be launched on March 24 by an Ariane 5 ECA. As satellite prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space designed, built, integrated, tested and delivered both ComSatBw satellites on behalf of EADS Astrium, the space segment prime contractor.



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