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Military


02 March 2010 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

  • OIF/OEF Casualty Update 02 Mar 2010 [PDF]

  • Iraqis Arrest 3, Seize Illegal Weapons AFPS 02 Mar 2010 -- Iraqi security forces working with U.S. advisors arrested three terrorism suspects, and a tip led to discovery of an enemy weapons stockpile in recent operations in Iraq.
  • 15th Sustainment Brigade Medic Certifies Iraqi Kurdish Troops as Combat Life Savers Army News 02 Mar 2010 -- The room full of Iraqi Kurdish Soldiers remain quiet as they focus their full attention on the American at the front of the room.
  • Coalition forces team up for vehicle training AFNS 02 Mar 2010 -- Four Airmen from the 407th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Management Flight here spent four days training Iraqi army members on basic maintenance procedures in mid-February at Camp Ur, Iraq.
  • UK plans dedicated team to investigate Iraq abuse IRNA 02 Mar 2010 -- Britain’s Ministry of Defence is considering setting up a special dedicated team to investigate all cases of alleged abuse of Iraqi civilians by UK troops but insists the move is “not an admission of fault.”

  • Forces in Afghanistan Find Drugs, Detain Insurgents AFPS 02 Mar 2010 -- Afghan and international forces seized large quantities of illegal drugs, detained suspected insurgents and seized illegal weapons in recent operations in Afghanistan.
  • Marja Clearing Phase Nears Completion AFPS 02 Mar 2010 -- The first phase of a Marine offensive in a former Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan’s Helmand province is nearing completion, the Pentagon’s No. 2 official said today.
  • McChrystal Urges Troops to Serve as Role Models AFPS 02 Mar 2010 -- As more U.S. and coalition troops arrive in Afghanistan, their top commander there has some requests for them: Recognize the impact of every action you take, and serve as role models for Afghan security forces as they build leaders and weed out corruption from their ranks.
  • Airmen prepare BEAR base for troops in Afghanistan AFNS 02 Mar 2010 -- Holloman Air Force Base Airmen began the movement of approximately 150 truckloads of assets that will directly support joint and coalition forces in Afghanistan Feb. 24 here.
  • Soldiers deploying to Afghanistan to get new MultiCam uniforms, boots, gear Army News 02 Mar 2010 -- Soldiers deploying to Afghanistan will be issued the new "MultiCam" fire-resistant Army Combat Uniform complete with new Mountain Combat Boots and MultiCam-patterned Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment, or MOLLE, gear beginning in July.
  • AFGHANISTAN: Help promised for returning Marjah IDPs IRIN 02 Mar 2010 -- Hundreds of families who fled fighting in the Marjah area of Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, in February have started returning home; conditions are difficult but steps are being taken to help them, government officials say.
  • 10th British soldier killed in Sangin this year IRNA 02 Mar 2010 -- Another British soldier has been killed in the Sangin area of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence in London announced Tuesday.
  • Afghan Government Bans Live Coverage Of Militant Attacks RFE/RL 02 Mar 2010 -- Media and rights groups have denounced a sweeping ban announced on live coverage of militant attacks in Afghanistan.

  • PAKISTAN: Swat women fear Taliban return IRIN 02 Mar 2010 -- Girls in Swat District, northwestern Pakistan, have gone back to school, and most women who had been prevented from working have returned to work, but people are still fearful.
  • Pakistani army kills Chechen fighters at Taliban, al-Qaeda base RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2010 -- The Pakistani army said on Tuesday it had seized a key Taliban and al-Qaeda complex and killed 75 militants, including fighters from Chechnya and Uzbekistan.

  • Comfort Sailors Host Secretary of the Navy Navy NewsStand 02 Mar 2010 -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus visited Sailors aboard USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) March 1 to thank them for their continued efforts in supporting Operation Unified Response by providing critical medical care to the people of Haiti.
  • SECNAV Visits Bataan, Thanks Crew for Efforts in Haiti Navy NewsStand 02 Mar 2010 -- Sailors aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and embarked Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU) hosted the 75th Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) March 1, as the ship continues to support disaster relief efforts off the coast of Haiti.
  • Seabees Make Improvements to School in Port-au-Prince Navy NewsStand 02 Mar 2010 -- Naval Special Warfare Group (NSWG) 2 Logistics and Support Unit Seabees completed improvement projects Feb. 25 at the Quisqueya School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
  • NBG 2 Sailors Help People of Haiti Navy NewsStand 02 Mar 2010 -- Naval Beach Group (NBG) 2 Sailors completed several construction jobs in Port-au-Prince and participated in community relations projects while deployed in support of Operation Unified Response.
  • UN continues to help meet Haiti’s post-quake health needs UN News Centre 02 Mar 2010 -- Seven weeks after a catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti, health needs remain great, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said today, emphasizing the need for stepped-up disaster risk reduction and early recovery efforts to help the devastated nation.

Defense Policy / Programs

  • DoD News: Army Ground Combat Vehicle Request for Proposal Released DoD 02 Mar 2010-- The Army released last Thursday a request for proposal (RFP) for the technology development phase of the Infantry Fighting Vehicle being developed under the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) effort.
  • Army solicits proposals for new combat vehicle Army News 02 Mar 2010 -- The Army released a request for proposal for the Ground Combat Vehicle Feb. 25 -- marking an official start for defense contractors to begin competing for the right to build the service's next combat vehicle.

  • Gates Issues Terms for ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Review AFPS 02 Mar 2010 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today released the guidelines and parameters of a Defense Department review of the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law in preparation for its potential repeal.

  • Nassau ARG Relieves Bonhomme Richard ARG in 5th Fleet Navy NewsStand 02 Mar 2010 -- The Nassau Amphibious Ready Group (ARG)/24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) relieved the Bonhomme Richard ARG/11th MEU in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility March 1.
  • Lincoln Ready for INSURV Navy NewsStand 02 Mar 2010 -- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) left its homeport of Everett, Wash., Feb. 23 in preparation for a material assessment conducted by the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). Lincoln began the multiple-day evaluation in San Diego, Feb. 28.
  • NAVFAC Southwest Solar Energy Contract Will Generate 40 Megawatts Navy NewsStand 02 Mar 2010 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) awarded a $200 million contract on Feb. 24 to construct up to 40 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic power plants at Navy and Marine Corps installations throughout the southwestern United States.
  • BNS Godetia kicks off its APS West mission in Douala, Cameroon Navy NewsStand 02 Mar 2010 -- The European-led portion of Africa Partnership Station (APS) West engagement began here, March 1, with the Belgian Navy command and logistical support ship BNS Godetia (A 960) pulled into the Djeujo commercial port.
  • MSRON 10 Sailors Prepare to Deploy Navy NewsStand 02 Mar 2010 -- Sailors from Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 10 will conduct pre-deployment training in Cape Canaveral March 2-7.
  • Airmen arrive in Thailand for Cope Tiger 2010 AFNS 02 Mar 2010 -- Airmen arrived in Thailand Feb. 26 to join servicemembers from Singapore and Thailand for the Cope Tiger 2010 field training exercise.
  • VA announces $41 million in hospital contracts Army News 02 Mar 2010 -- The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the award of two contracts totaling $41.5 million to create a "polytrauma center" that cares for the most severely injured Veterans and to improve the existing wards at the Audie L. Murphy VA Medical Center.
  • USACE completes last of Wye River Accord projects in Israel Army News 02 Mar 2010 -- With the completion of an $8 million vehicle maintenance facility at Nachshonim Dry Storage Base in central Israel, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finished the last of dozens of military construction projects originally ordered by the Wye River Memorandum, an agreement brokered to ease tension between Israel and the then-Palestine Liberation Organization.
  • Airmen help thousands during exercise in Philippines AFNS 02 Mar 2010 -- Operation Pacific Angel 10-1 officially ended Feb. 22 after seven days of civic assistance projects here that provided medical care to nearly 14,000 patients, veterinary care to more than 3,300 animals, and new classrooms for approximately 480 local children.
  • Air Combat Command leader visits Holloman Airmen AFNS 02 Mar 2010 -- The commander of Air Combat Command visited here Feb. 22 to get an up-close look at the Holloman Air Force Base mission.
  • Social Media Policy Balances Web 2.0 With Security AFPS 02 Mar 2010 -- The new policy allowing access to social media from computers connected to the Defense Department’s unclassified network balances the mission value of Web 2.0 tools and the need for security, a top defense official said.

  • Westerwelle presses for removal of US nukes from German soil IRNA 02 Mar 2010 -- German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Tuesday reaffirmed the need for the withdrawal of American nuclear weapons from his country.

  • Russia close to arms reductions deal with U.S. - Medvedev RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2010 -- President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday that Russia and the United States are close to completing negotiations on a new treaty on strategic arms cuts, and expressed the hope that the document could be signed soon.

  • Russia, India to develop joint 5G-fighter by 2016 RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2010 -- A Russian-Indian fifth-generation fighter jet could be developed by 2015-2016, a Russian defense industry official said on Tuesday.
  • India set to buy 42 more Russian Su-30 fighter jets RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2010 -- India and Russia are negotiating a new contract on the delivery of 42 Su-30MKI to the Indian Air Force, an Indian newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing military sources.

  • Two S. Korean fighter jets crash during training flight RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2010 -- Two F-5 Tiger fighter jets crashed into a mountain in eastern South Korea during a routine training flight on Tuesday, the Yonhap news agency reported.

  • U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 02 Mar 2010

Defense Industry

  • DoD News: Contracts for March 02, 2010
  • Boeing Receives Contract for US Navy Direct Attack Moving Target Capability Boeing 02 Mar 2010 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has been awarded an $11.4 million contract to supply Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions (Laser JDAM) to meet the U.S. Navy’s Direct Attack Moving Target Capability (DAMTC) requirement.
  • AxleTech International Independent Suspension Wins Again with General Dynamics RG-31 MRAP Vehicle General Dynamics 02 Mar 2010 -- AxleTech International, a General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) company, announced today that it has won a significant award to supply 250 new RG-31 MRAP vehicles with its proprietary 4500 Series ISAS® product. The independent suspension systems will be delivered to BAE Systems’ Land Systems South Africa division in South Africa for integration into vehicles being manufactured under a contract awarded by the U.S. Marine Corps on February 16 to General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada, the prime contractor for the award.
  • Tunisia Orders Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules Airlifters Lockheed Martin 02 Mar 2010 -- The government of Tunisia has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] for the purchase of two C-130J Super Hercules airlifters with an initial three years of logistics support.Tunisia's new C‑130Js, scheduled to be delivered in 2013 and 2014, will be the longer fuselage or "stretched" variant of the C-130J.
  • U.S. Air Force Extends Range Standardization and Automation Phase IIA Contract Lockheed Martin 02 Mar 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced today that it has been awarded a $23 million contract to provide services which will extend Range Standardization and Automation (RSA) IIA support to complete the Western Range Mission Flight Control Center (MFCC) for Space and Missile Systems Center, U.S. Air Force.
  • Northrop Grumman, Air Force Set to Resolve Critical B-2 Sustainment Issue Northrop Grumman 02 Mar 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the U.S. Air Force hope to soon resolve, once and for all, a technical issue that's challenged engineers and maintainers of the nation's fleet of B-2 stealth bombers for more than 20 years: cracking in the B-2's aft deck, a metallic panel on the bomber's upper surface that shields its composite airframe from the heat of engine exhaust.
  • E-8C Joint STARS Awarded $223.6 Million Production Contract for New Engines Northrop Grumman 02 Mar 2010 -- The U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a $223.6 million contract for two E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) Propulsion Pod System (PPS) shipsets and FAA certification.
  • Raytheon Awarded $18 Million for SLAMRAAM Long-Lead Purchase Raytheon 02 Mar 2010 -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Surface Launched Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (SLAMRAAM) program has received approval from the U.S. Army for long-lead purchases, not to exceed $18 million, leading to low rate initial production.
  • Norwegian Defence Procurement Division (NDPD) contracts Thales for a significant extension of its secure information exchange service Thales 02 Mar 2010 -- NDPD has signed a new contract with Thales for further development of XOmail, an efficient and fully secure communication system, in order to provide a secure information exchange service for all defence branches.
  • 3rd Boeing-Built WGS Satellite Passes On-Orbit Tests; Air Force Accepts Control of Spacecraft Boeing 02 Mar 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today that the U.S. Air Force accepted control of the third Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) military communications satellite on March 1, after the spacecraft passed several weeks of rigorous on-orbit tests.
  • U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Awards Contract To SAIC SAIC 02 Mar 2010 -- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) to support the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC), and other customers, with CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive) support services. The multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract has a five year period of performance, and a total value of $485 million for all awardees. Work will be performed at ECBC facilities on Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Md., at SAIC offices near APG, and at other customer sites as required.

  • Russia's United Aircraft Corporation to double production by 2012 RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2010 -- Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is to double production by 2012 from 2009 to 200 planes, the company said on Tuesday.

Other Conflicts

News Reports

  • Press Conference by Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator United Nations 02 Mar 2010
  • Death toll from massive Chilean earthquake tops 720, reports UN health agency UN News Centre 02 Mar 2010 -- The death toll from the strongest earthquake to strike Chile in more than 50 years officially stands at 723 people, the public health arm of the United Nations in the region said today, as it assesses the healthcare needs of survivors.
  • Clinton Visits Chile, Pledges Support in Wake of Deadly Earthquake VOA 02 Mar 2010 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged U.S. support Tuesday to earthquake-stricken Chile during the third stop on her six-nation tour of Latin America.

  • Medvedev: Russia Could Back 'Smart' Iran Sanctions RFE/RL 02 Mar 2010 -- President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia could consider approving what he calls "smart" sanctions against Iran if diplomatic efforts fail to persuade Tehran to take steps to ease international concerns over the Iranian nuclear program.
  • Russia, China promise nothing on Iran sanctions - Netanyahu RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2010 -- Israel has received no guarantees from Russia or China that they will support sanctions against Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday, as quoted by national media.
  • Iran Accuses IAEA Chief of Bias VOA 02 Mar 2010 -- Iran's top nuclear official is accusing the U.N. nuclear agency's new chief of taking sides against Iran for saying the agency cannot confirm that Tehran's nuclear program is peaceful.

  • Chalabi Takes Center Stage In Iraqi Election Dispute RFE/RL 02 Mar 2010 -- Inside and outside Iraq, there are many who hope the March 7 parliamentary elections will be a major, unifying event for the country.

  • Britain to Ban Somali Islamic Militant Group VOA 02 Mar 2010 -- The British government says it is banning the Somali militant group, al-Shabab and designating it a terrorist organization.

  • France to pay Russia $1 billion for 14 Soyuz carrier rockets RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2010 -- France has put aside some $1 billion to buy 14 Soyuz carrier rockets from Russia, French satellite launch firm Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall said Tuesday.
  • Russian spacecraft successfully orbits 3 Glonass satellites RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2010 -- A Proton-M carrier rocket has successfully orbited three Glonass satellites, a spokesman for the Space Forces said on Tuesday.

  • Ukraine's Orange Coalition Collapses RFE/RL 02 Mar 2010 -- Weeks after losing a presidential election, Ukraine's Yulia Tymoshenko now faces losing her job as prime minister.

  • UGANDA: 300 feared dead as landslides bury villages in the east IRIN 02 Mar 2010 -- At least 300 people, including 100 children, are believed to have been killed when landslides buried three villages in eastern Uganda late on 1 March after heavy rains. Some 2,000 people have been displaced and entire fields of crops ruined.
  • UN chief calls for peaceful polls in Togo UN News Centre 02 Mar 2010 -- This week’s presidential election is a “crucial opportunity” for Togo to continue efforts to consolidate democracy, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, appealing for the poll to be unscarred by violence.
  • Ban encourages all Nigerians to work together to overcome current challenges UN News Centre 02 Mar 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today encouraged all Nigerians to continue supporting Acting President Goodluck Jonathan – who was chosen to lead the country while President Umaru Yar’Adua recovers from illness – and the Government in overcoming its current challenges.
  • Turkey PM's Attack on Media Could Quell Progress on EU Membership VOA 02 Mar 2010 -- Observers say the Turkish prime minister's threats over the media's coverage of the recent political crisis is adding to growing questions about what direction the country is heading.
  • EU Said To Be Working Behind The Scenes On Greek Assistance Plan RFE/RL 02 Mar 2010 -- There is something in the air in Athens. Intangible, but growing. It's hope, that Greece's European Union partners will come to the rescue of that financially stricken country.
  • Armenian Opposition Leader Says Government Will Fall RFE/RL 02 Mar 2010 -- Armenian opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrossian has harshly criticized the country's leadership as thousands of his supporters marked the second anniversary of the deadly 2008 postelection violence in Yerevan, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.
  • UN air service in Guinea threatened by lack of funding UN News Centre 02 Mar 2010 -- Lack of funding is threatening the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) in Guinea, which needs over $3 million before the end of March to be able to continue transporting urgent relief items and aid workers in the country and the wider region.
  • US Deputy Secretary of State Arrives in Beijing for Talks VOA 02 Mar 2010 -- Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg arrived in Beijing Tuesday, to begin the first talks since relations soured because of a range of issues from cyber-spying to trade.
  • Fresh Political Uncertainties Lie on Thai Political Horizon VOA 02 Mar 2010 -- A Thai Supreme Court verdict last week against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, accused of abuse of power and concealing his wealth, has eased the political uncertainty that had gripped the country in recent months. But, new uncertainties have emerged as pro-Thaksin supporters vow to mobilize against the government to force new elections, as a way to bring Thaksin back to power.
  • Obama Extends Sanctions on Zimbabwe Leaders VOA 02 Mar 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has extended sanctions against Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and his key supporters for another year.
  • Ethiopia Opposition Rethinks Election Campaign After Candidate Killed VOA 02 Mar 2010 -- Ethiopia's main opposition bloc is reconsidering whether to contest the May parliamentary elections following brutal attacks on two candidates, one of them fatal. Opposition leaders are blaming Ethiopia's ruling party for inflaming passions in the tense Tigray region, where the attacks occurred.
  • UN Human Rights Chief Denounces Migrant Killings by Egyptian Forces VOA 02 Mar 2010 -- U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says migrants often lose their lives when traveling in over-crowded boats or trying to cross remote borders. But what is happening in Egypt, she says, is different and deplorable.
  • GLOBAL: Are we heading for another food crisis? IRIN 02 Mar 2010 -- Long dry spells in parts of Africa and erratic rainfall in Asia have cast uncertain clouds over crop yields for 2010 in the world's poorest countries. Food prices in most developing countries are down from their 2008 crisis levels, but still higher than they were in 2007.
  • Nigerian Minister Fears Instability Over President's Ill-Health VOA 02 Mar 2010 -- Nigeria's information minister says lack of information about the state of health of President Umaru Yar'Adua is becoming a source of instability in Africa's most populous nation. The ailing president, whose return to Nigeria last week sparked renewed uncertainty, is under pressure to resign or be removed.



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