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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 19 Feb 2010 [PDF]
• DoD News: Army Selects New Camouflage for Afghanistan DoD 19 Feb 2010 -- The secretary of the Army announced today that the Army will provide combat uniforms in the MultiCam pattern to all soldiers deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, starting this summer.
• General Sees Positives in Afghan Army Training AFPS 19 Feb 2010 -- Though training an Afghan army essentially from the ground up has been a difficult undertaking, an Army general involved in the effort said yesterday that he’s seeing positive results.
• Forces Uncover Weapons Caches in Afghanistan AFPS 19 Feb 2010 -- Combined Afghan and international patrols uncovered six caches scattered throughout Afghanistan yesterday, netting rocket-propelled grenades, mortar rounds, rifles and a multitude of other weapons.
• Two British soldiers killed in Afghan offensive IRNA 19 Feb 2010 -- Two more British soldiers have been killed while taking part in a major offensive against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has announced.
• More Afghan Civilians Leaving Marjah Ahead Of Offensive RFE/RL 19 Feb 2010 -- The scene in the Bolan Desert on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Afghanistan's volatile southern Helmand Province, is heart-wrenching. The frail faces of hungry children shivering in the desert cold and their desperate parents await help, which has yet to appear.
• U.S. Af-Pak Envoy Holbrooke Heading To Central Asia RFE/RL 19 Feb 2010 -- Richard Holbrooke, President Barack Obama's special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, is set to make a quick but thorough swing through Central Asia this weekend.
• General: NATO Controls Marjah's Main Roads and Markets VOA 19 Feb 2010 -- A U.S. Marine general says U.S.-led forces now control the main roads and markets in the Taliban stronghold of Marjah in southern Afghanistan, but a NATO commander says it will take a month to secure the area.
• Brother of Key Afghan Warlord Killed in Drone Attack in Pakistan VOA 19 Feb 2010 -- Pakistani officials say the brother of an Afghan warlord tied to the Taliban has been killed in a U.S. missile strike in northwestern Pakistan.
• U.S. Strike In Pakistan Kills Afghan Militant's Son RFE/RL 19 Feb 2010 -- A son of the leader of a major Taliban faction attacking Western forces in Afghanistan was killed in a recent missile strike by a U.S. drone in Pakistan, security officials said today.
• Russia may send weapons to Afghanistan, but no troops RIA Novosti 19 Feb 2010 -- Moscow is considering a request to send weapons to Afghanistan but will not send troops, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Friday.
• Army Sustainment Command personnel continue Haiti humanitarian assistance efforts Army News 19 Feb 2010 -- Army Material Command - Haiti, led by a contingent from the Army Sustainment Command, headquartered at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., continues to provide humanitarian assistance in support of Operation Unified Response as the island nation rebounds.
• Haiti’s humanitarian situation improving but challenges remain – UN relief official UN News Centre 19 Feb 2010 -- More and more survivors of Haiti’s earthquake are receiving vital assistance but it is clear that not everyone in need has yet been reached and much more remains to be done, particularly in terms of emergency shelter and sanitation, a top United Nations official said today.
• Civil Affairs Teams Help Displaced Haitians AFPS 19 Feb 2010 -- Members of a U.S. special operations civil affairs team visited a sprawling tent city here yesterday as part of an effort to assess conditions in the camp and better align the delivery of food and medical aid.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Biden Urges Senate To Ratify Nuclear Test Ban Treaty RFE/RL 19 Feb 2010 -- U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden says the United States will ask for concrete commitments from other nations to secure their loose nuclear material at a summit this April in Washington.
• DoD News: DOD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for January 2010 DoD 19 Feb 2010 -- The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for January 2010.
• Secretary Donley addresses steps to strengthen Air Force AFNS 19 Feb 2010 -- The Air Force secretary discussed the outlook for the Air Force's future during the Air Force Association's Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition Feb. 18 here.
• 2nd Fleet Enhances Readiness through Operation Bold Spectrum Navy NewsStand 19 Feb 2010 -- Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet conducted a Fleet Synthetic Training (FST) event called Operation Bold Spectrum Feb. 16-18 that provides valuable training to a range of ships and commands at various stages in their pre-deployment training cycle.
• All Survive Navy Helicopter Crash in West Virginia Navy NewsStand 19 Feb 2010 -- The commodore of Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Atlantic held a press conference with local media to announce all 17 personnel on board the Navy MH-60S Nighthawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26 based at Naval Station Norfolk, were successfully rescued from the aircraft.
• Rescue Efforts Continuing in Navy Helicopter Crash Navy NewsStand 19 Feb 2010 -- Rescue and recovery efforts are still ongoing following the Feb. 18 crash of a U.S. Navy MH-60S "Knighthawk" helicopter in a remote area of West Virginia, with the majority of the personnel safely extracted from the crash site.
• Mattis: Obsolete Thinking Worse Than Obsolete Weapons AFPS 19 Feb 2010 -- The only thing worse than obsolete weapons in war is obsolete thinking, a top U.S. commander cautioned in remarks on revitalizing America’s military officer corps.
• Military Eases Thumb Drive, Flash Media Bans AFPS 19 Feb 2010 -- New guidelines from U.S. Strategic Command officials allow servicemembers to use “thumb drives” and other flash media to store computer data under specific circumstances.
• BCT Modernization: Versatile Capabilities for an Uncertain Future Army News 19 Feb 2010 -- In his February 2010 report to Congress on the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates asserts that "the United States faces a complex and uncertain security landscape in which the pace of change continues to accelerate."
• Army Chemical Corps holds quarterly conference at Fort Bragg Army News 19 Feb 2010 -- Chemical Corps Soldiers from units all across the country convened at Fort Bragg Feb. 3, for the quarterly chemical conference where unit leaders provided updates on their training and activities.
• DoD News: DOD Announces Return of Facilities in Belgium DoD 19 Feb 2010 -- The Department of Defense today announced that it will return ten buildings at Florennes Air Base, Belgium, in 2010 to the host nation of Belgium.
• Generals discuss Guard, Reserve, on call Air Force AFNS 19 Feb 2010 -- Two Air Force generals explained the importance of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard to the on-call Air Force during the Air Force Association's Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition Feb. 19 here.
• MP Company employs new combat convoy simulator USMC News 19 Feb 2010 -- There is more to military police than the provost marshal’s office. The Marines of Military Police Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, are responsible for convoy security and route presences among other things during their high tempo of deployments.
• Guard Evacuates Downed Helicopter’s Passengers AFPS 19 Feb 2010 -- Thirteen of the 17 passengers stranded in a remote region of West Virginia’s Pocahontas County have been evacuated from a Navy MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter that was forced to land in the area yesterday, National Guard officials said.
• Chief of staff highlights importance of space to Air Force mission AFNS 19 Feb 2010 -- The Air Force's highest ranking uniformed officer spoke on the value of space and the emerging medium of cyberspace during the Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition Feb. 18 in Orlando.
• Russia says may yet deploy Iskander missiles in Baltic exclave RIA Novosti 19 Feb 2010 -- Russia could still deploy Iskander missiles in its exclave on the Baltic Sea if new threats emerge in Europe, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov warned on Friday.
• IAF Mig-21 aircraft crashes IRNA 19 Feb 2010 -- An Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter jet Friday crashed near Bagdogra in West Bengal minutes after take-off but the pilot ejected to safety.
• MiG-29 fighter planes join Indian Navy IRNA 19 Feb 2010 -- India Friday inducted MiG-29 fighter aircraft into the Navy.
• Russian MiG-29K jets officially enter service with Indian Navy RIA Novosti 19 Feb 2010 -- The Indian Navy on Friday formally took delivery of Russian-made MiG-29K fighters, which will eventually be deployed on an aircraft carrier being refitted in Russia.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 19 Feb 2010

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 19, 2010
• TERRIER Engineer vehicle passes two key milestones BAE Systems 19 Feb 2010 -- The BAE Systems’ programme to deliver 60 TERRIER™ vehicles to the British Army has taken two important steps forward.
• General Dynamics Awarded USD$29 Million for RG-31 MRAP Independent Suspension Kits General Dynamics 19 Feb 2010 -- U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada a USD$29.2 million delivery order to supply 127 independent suspension kits for its Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program. General Dynamics Land Systems, the Canadian company’s parent corporation, is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

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 19 Feb 2010
• UK denies being tipped off about Mossad assassination IRNA 19 Feb 2010 -- Britain’s MI6 intelligence service was tipped off that Israeli agents were going to carry out an 'overseas operation' using fake UK passports, according to the country’s Daily Mail.
• Israel In Firestorm as Fingers Point to Mossad In Dubai Murder VOA 19 Feb 2010 -- Israel's ambassador to Britain has been asked to explain how some members of a hit squad that killed a Hamas commander in a Dubai hotel last month were carrying British passports. Authorities in Dubai have said they are almost certain that Israel's spy agency, Mossad, carried out the murder. The case touched off an international firestorm this week as several Israeli residents, whose names appear on the fraudulent passports, came forward and said their identities were stolen.
• Nearly 20,000 Somalis have fled capital so far this month, UN reports UN News Centre 19 Feb 2010 -- Nearly 20,000 people have been uprooted from their homes in the Somali capital by renewed clashes between the forces of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and opposition groups since the start of February, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.
• UN hails first ratification of African pact to protect millions of displaced people UN News Centre 19 Feb 2010 -- The United Nations refugee agency today called on all African Union (AU) member countries to follow Uganda's example and ratify the first legally binding international treaty to provide legal protection and aid to millions of people displaced within their own countries by conflicts and natural calamities.
• Ban calls on parties in Côte d'Ivoire to resolve difficulties and hold elections UN News Centre 19 Feb 2010 -- Voicing grave concern at the political situation in Côte d'Ivoire after last week’s dissolution of the Government and the independent electoral authority, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on all sides to keep up momentum for the much-delayed elections in the divided West African country.
• SUDAN: Elections in a volatile climate IRIN 19 Feb 2010 -- Officials are appealing for calm during the campaign period ahead of upcoming historic elections in April as insecurity remains a major concern in Southern Sudan.
• Resources needed for aid delivery, early recovery in Yemen – UN development chief UN News Centre 19 Feb 2010 -- The top United Nations development official has called on the international community to provide urgently needed resources to respond to the humanitarian needs stemming from the conflict in northern Yemen and to enable early recovery to begin now that a ceasefire has been announced.
• Tackling impunity key challenge for Central African Republic, says UN rights chief UN News Centre 19 Feb 2010 -- Addressing impunity for human rights violations is one of the top challenges facing the Central African Republic (CAR), as it enters the final stretch before elections, a senior United Nations official said today.
• International Criminal Court asks for more data for Kenyan violence probe UN News Centre 19 Feb 2010 -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) today asked for additional information as it decides whether or not to go forward with an investigation into the deadly post-election violence clashes which rocked Kenya in December 2007 and January 2008.
• Ivory Coast Without Government for a Week, Tensions Mount VOA 19 Feb 2010 -- Ivorians continue to wait for Prime Minister Guillaume Soro to announce a new government, as violence and political unrest mount in the country's interior.

News Reports

• Justice Department and FBI Announce Formal Conclusion of Investigation into 2001 Anthrax Attacks US Dept. of Justice 19 Feb 2010 -- The Justice Department, FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service today announced that the investigation into the 2001 anthrax attacks, which killed five individuals and sickened 17 others, has formally concluded.
• Soldiers Name New Leader in Niger, International Community Opposes Coup VOA 19 Feb 2010 -- Soldiers in Niger have named a new military leader following Thursday's coup against President Mamadou Tandja.
• NIGER: Do two wrongs make a right? IRIN 19 Feb 2010 -- Opposition parties, Niger’s largest union and members of civil society announced their support on 19 February for a military ruling council that abducted President Mamadou Tandja the day before and suspended a contested constitution.
• Soldiers Name New Leader in Niger VOA 19 Feb 2010 -- Soldiers in Niger have named a new military leader following Thursday's coup against President Mamadou Tandja.
• Deploring coup in Niger, Ban calls for peaceful resolution UN News Centre 19 Feb 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today condemned the coup d’état in Niger after renegade soldiers reportedly stormed the presidential palace on Thursday with the stated aim of returning the country to democracy.
• China Lodges Protest of Dalai Lama's White House Meeting With US Ambassador VOA 19 Feb 2010 -- Officials in Beijing have summoned the U.S. ambassador to China to protest President Barack Obama's meeting Thursday with the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet.
• Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei Says Islam Opposes Nuclear Weapons VOA 19 Feb 2010 -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is reiterating a previous claim that Islam is "opposed to nuclear weapons," insisting that Tehran is not trying to build them. Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency is also calling a leaked report that Tehran is working to build a nuclear warhead "baseless."
• MP: New IAEA report signifies Iran’s peaceful N-program IRNA 19 Feb 2010 -- An Iranian lawmaker said on Friday that the new unofficial IAEA report on Iran has re-confirmed peaceful nature of the country’s nuclear activities.
• Supreme Leader: Iran has no belief in atom bombs IRNA 19 Feb 2010 -- Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said Iran has not the least belief in making nuclear bombs.
• Jamaran destroyer launched in Supreme Leader’s presence IRNA 19 Feb 2010 -- The first Iranian navy destroyer, `Jamaran’, was launched in this port city and joined the Islamic Republic Navy fleet, in the presence of the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.
• Soltanieh: IAEA Chief admits Iran’s N-activities are peaceful IRNA 19 Feb 2010 -- Iran’s IAEA envoy Ali-Asghar Soltanieh said here Thursday that the IAEA Chief Yukiya Amano has confirmed peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear activities.
• Why Iran's Green Movement Objects To President's Economic Style RFE/RL 19 Feb 2010 -- now leaders of the Green Movement -- The chants of "death to the dictator" have been temporarily stilled since Iran's Green Movement was muscled off the streets during the 31st anniversary celebrations of the Islamic Revolution on February 11.
• Interview: IAEA Report Shows 'Greater Sense of Urgency' About Iran's Nuclear Progress RFE/RL 19 Feb 2010 -- In a new report, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) suggests for the first time that Iran is actively pursuing a nuclear-weapons capability.
• International Outcry Follows IAEA Iran Report RFE/RL 19 Feb 2010 -- The latest IAEA report on Iran is eliciting strong expressions of concern from many capitals over Iran's nuclear intentions.
• Russia says sanctions on Iran over nuclear ambitions possible RIA Novosti 19 Feb 2010 -- Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Friday Iran may face sanctions over its controversial nuclear program although the issue is not currently being discussed at the UN Security Council.
• Khamenei: Iran Not Seeking Nuclear Weapons VOA 19 Feb 2010 -- Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, insisted Friday that Iran is not trying to develop nuclear weapons.
• Russia opposes 'endless' sanctions against North Korea RIA Novosti 19 Feb 2010 -- Russia argued on Friday against the "endless" continuation of sanctions against North Korea, saying they should be revoked once they have had their effect.
• North Korea to hold live artillery drills near South RIA Novosti 19 Feb 2010 -- North Korea is planning a show of force near its sea borders with the South as calls for a return to disarmament talks intensify, the Yonhap news agency said on Friday.
• Shuttle Endeavour to undock from ISS Saturday RIA Novosti 19 Feb 2010 -- NASA's Endeavour space shuttle will undock from the International Space Station (ISS) on February 20 after a 9-day mission, NASA reported on Friday.
• Tymoshenko's appeal shows contempt for law - Ukrainian president RIA Novosti 19 Feb 2010 -- Ukraine's outgoing President Viktor Yushchenko on Friday criticized Yulia Tymoshenko's move to contest the results of the recent presidential runoff as disregard for law and the electorate's opinion.
• Ukrainian Court Reviews Election Fraud Claim VOA 19 Feb 2010 -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko urged a court Friday to examine carefully all the evidence regarding Ukraine's run-off presidential election, which she says was rigged.
• UN agency pledges $25 million to reinforce good governance in developing nations UN News Centre 19 Feb 2010 -- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has pledged $25 million to strengthen credible national institutions like parliaments, human rights organizations and anti-corruption commissions in developing countries during 2010, with more than half going for elections in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Moscow reiterates pledge to protect Russian arms dealer's rights RIA Novosti 19 Feb 2010 -- Moscow will take further steps to protect the rights and interests of Russian businessman and alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout facing new charges in the United States, the Foreign Ministry's spokesman said on Friday.
• UN Envoy Denied Meeting with Burma's Suu Kyi VOA 19 Feb 2010 -- The United Nations' special envoy on human rights in Burma says he deeply regrets that Burma's military government denied him a meeting with opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently under house arrest.