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Military


11 March 2010 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

  • OIF/OEF Casualty Update 11 Mar 2010 [PDF]

  • Northern Iraq Commander Might Need Combat Troops Beyond August VOA 11 Mar 2010 -- The commander of U.S. forces in northern Iraq says it might be necessary to keep some American combat forces in the country beyond the August 31 deadline, to continue serving as a buffer between Iraqi national and Kurdish regional forces. But the officer says the situation is improving and the two groups might not need a third-party to help them for very long.
  • Airmen train Iraqi aerial gunners aim to protect helicopters, defend Iraq AFNS 11 Mar 2010 -- Most U.S. Airmen know the "sound of freedom" when they hear the unmistakable sound of a fighter jet soaring above. Now Iraqi air force airmen have cause to feel that same pride when they hear their helicopters.
  • 'Longhorns' provide critical support services Army News 11 Mar 2010 -- Combat units are the key elements to fighting and winning wars; however, they must function in concurrence with their respective service support elements.
  • U.S. troops in Iraq adopt new role Army News 11 Mar 2010 -- Some of the 98,000 U.S. military forces in Iraq already have made the transition from security to stability operations ahead of the September deadline, American military commanders said.
  • Iraqi canine unit helps secure national elections Army News 11 Mar 2010 -- As his U.S. counterparts walked toward him, the commander of the Iraqi canine unit broke into a smile and held out his hand.
  • Iraqi Security Forces ensure safe national elections Army News 11 Mar 2010 -- In 2005, faced with staunch resistance from extremists looking to overthrow the government, Coalition Forces provided security for Iraqis as they elected their new leaders.

  • Gates: Iran Provides 'Limited' Support for Taliban VOA 11 Mar 2010 -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said Thursday that Iran's support for the Taliban in Afghanistan is "pretty limited".
  • American servicemembers help Afghans make strides AFNS 11 Mar 2010 -- Some Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul military members will soon prepare to travel back to their duty stations after assisting their Afghan partners with improvements in Zabul province communities.
  • Karzai Welcomes Pakistan's Help in Negotiating with Taliban VOA 11 Mar 2010 -- Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai has concluded two days of meetings with Pakistani civilian and military leaders, saying Islamabad has a "significantly important" role to play in peace talks his government is encouraging with Taliban insurgents.
  • Forces in Afghanistan Detain Suspects, Find Weapons AFPS 11 Mar 2010 -- Afghan and international forces detained numerous suspected insurgents, including two Taliban operatives, and seized enemy weapons in operations over the last two days, military officials reported.
  • AFGHANISTAN: Talking to the Taliban IRIN 11 Mar 2010 -- The insurgents in Afghanistan have shown interest in negotiating with the UN and aid agencies on humanitarian access and aid distributions, according to a purported Taliban spokesman.
  • Afghanistan to demand extradition of Taliban leader: spokesman IRNA 11 Mar 2010 -- Afghanistan will call for extradition of captured senior Taliban leaders in talks between Pakistan leaders and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who arrived in Islamabad on 2-day state visit on Wednesday, Afghan Presidential spokesman said.
  • Karzai Stresses Pakistan's Role In Afghan Reconciliation RFE/RL 11 Mar 2010 -- Visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai says Islamabad has an "important" role to play in Kabul's proposed reconciliation talks with Afghan insurgent groups.

  • Comfort Crew Reflects On Mission During Memorial Ceremony Navy NewsStand 11 Mar 2010 -- During their last day off the coast of Port-au-Prince, crew members gathered on USNS Comfort's (T-AH 20) flight deck for a remembrance ceremony to honor the people of Haiti still recovering from the aftermath of an earthquake that struck the Caribbean nation nearly two months ago.
  • HAITI: US remittances keep the homeland afloat IRIN 11 Mar 2010 -- Haiti's economy depends on the estimated US$1.5 billion a year in remittances sent home by its million-strong diaspora. Dilip Ratha, lead economist at the World Bank, said the figure could be even higher, accounting for perhaps half the national income.
  • 470th MI Brigade information gathering aids Haiti response Army News 11 Mar 2010 -- Members of the teams that quickly deployed to Haiti in response to the Jan. 12 earthquake have returned with first-hand accounts of what they experienced.

  • Freedom Intercepts Drug Vessel In Caribbean, Makes Second Narcotics Seizure Navy NewsStand 11 Mar 2010 -- The littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1), conducting counter-illicit trafficking (CIT) operations in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of focus, intercepted and captured a high-speed "go-fast" vessel carrying more than 1 1/2 tons of cocaine on March 3.

Defense Policy / Programs

Defense Industry

  • DoD News: Contracts for March 11, 2010
  • Manufacturing Work Starts on First UK F35 Lightning II Aircraft BAE Systems 11 Mar 2010 -- Manufacturing work has started on the first F-35 Lightning II aircraft that will be delivered to the UK Ministry of Defence. Quentin Davies, UK Minister of Defence Equipment and Support, marked the occasion by signing the F-35 frame before it was loaded into the assembly jig at the BAE Systems site in Samlesbury, Lancashire.
  • US Air Force Increases Order for Boeing-built Joint Direct Attack Munition Kits Boeing 11 Mar 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has received a contract modification from the U.S. Air Force for the fiscal year 2010 production of more than 6,000 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits. The modification increases the overall value of this phase from $72 million to $229 million.
  • L-3 Awarded Two Contracts in Support of Iraq and Special Operations L-3 Communications 11 Mar 2010 -- L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) announced today that its STRATIS division has been awarded a three-year contract valued at $230.9 million to provide intelligence support services to United States and multinational forces in Iraq.
  • Aegis Weapon System Tested During International Multiple Ship Demonstration Lockheed Martin 11 Mar 2010 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), in support of the U.S. Navy, successfully completed Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT) for Aegis Combat Systems installed aboard U.S. and Spanish navy ships. The last time these two nations participated in a combined CSSQT was in 2007.
  • Lockheed Martin Awarded Arizona Support Center Contract for M-TADS/PNVS Lockheed Martin 11 Mar 2010 -- The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a contract to support the Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (TADS/PNVS) and Modernized TADS/PNVS (M-TADS/PNVS) systems on the AH-64 Apache helicopter at the Arizona Support Center (ASC). The contract has a potential value of $36.8 million for the next three years.
  • F-35B STOVL-mode Flight Lockheed Martin 11 Mar 2010 -- The first Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter passes overhead at 40 knots (46 mph) prior to a slow landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., on Wednesday, March 10. The flight was one of the last missions before the aircraft's first vertical landing, and confirmed the jet's power and controllability at very low speeds. The aircraft's short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) propulsion system generates more than 41,000 pounds of vertical thrust, and enables airspeeds from zero to Mach 1.6. The F-35B will be flown by the United States Marine Corps, the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and the Italian Air Force and Navy. It will be capable of operating from small ships and austere bases near front-line combat zones. F-35 Lead STOVL Pilot Graham Tomlinson was at the controls for Wednesday's flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Randy Hepp)
  • GeoEye Selects Lockheed Martin To Build Next-Generation Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite System Lockheed Martin 11 Mar 2010 -- Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, a core business area of the Lockheed Martin Corporation [NYSE: LMT], announced today that it has been selected by GeoEye, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEOY) to build the company's next-generation, high-resolution Earth imaging satellite system known as GeoEye-2. Financial terms are not being disclosed at this time.
  • Northrop Grumman Awarded U.S. Army Europe Linguist Contract Northrop Grumman 11 Mar 2010 -- U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a contract to provide interpreter and translator services.
  • Northrop Grumman to Supply Integrated Bridge Systems for New Indian Navy Fleet Tankers Northrop Grumman 11 Mar 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been selected to supply integrated bridge systems (IBS) for two new fleet tankers being built in Italy for the Indian Navy.

Other Conflicts

News Reports

  • Gates Says Sanctions Can Work Against Iran AFPS 11 Mar 2010 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with leaders of the United Arab Emirates here today and discussed Afghanistan, Yemen, the elections in Iraq and bilateral military-to-military relations, but the main discussion point was Iran.

  • Centrist Groups Take Early Lead in Iraq Vote VOA 11 Mar 2010 -- The first partial results from Iraq's national elections Sunday indicate the Shi'ite coalition led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has a slight lead in two mainly Shi'ite provinces in the south. Another centrist bloc, Iraqiya, appears to be doing well in the north. The votes continue to be counted, some candidates are raising objections.
  • Maliki Coalition Ahead In Early Iraqi Vote Count RFE/RL 11 Mar 2010 -- Partial preliminary results from Iraq's parliamentary elections suggest that the State of Law coalition of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is taking the largest share of votes but appears unlikely to win a majority.
  • Initial Iraqi Election Results Show Maliki Group In Lead VOA 11 Mar 2010 -- The first partial results from Iraq's national elections Sunday indicate the Shi'ite coalition led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has a slight lead in two mainly Shi'ite provinces in the south. Even as the votes continue to be counted, some candidates are raising objections.

  • World space agencies confirm serviceability of ISS through 2020 RIA Novosti 11 Mar 2010 -- There are no technical constraints to extending the operation of the International Space Station (ISS) until at least 2020, top international space officials said on Thursday.
  • U.S. lifts sanctions against Russian space company RIA Novosti 11 Mar 2010 -- The U.S. government has lifted sanctions against the Russian space organization Glavkosmos, the U.S. Federal Register said on Thursday.

  • Ukraine Appoints Pro-Moscow Government RFE/RL 11 Mar 2010 -- Ukraine's parliament appointed a new prime minister after pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych formed a new governing coalition in the legislature today.
  • Tymoshenko to stay in politics, lead opposition RIA Novosti 11 Mar 2010 -- Ukraine's former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said on Thursday she would not quit politics and would lead the opposition to the government.
  • Biography of new Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov RIA Novosti 11 Mar 2010 -- Ukraine's parliament on Thursday approved Mykola Azarov, 62, an ally of President Viktor Yanukovych, as prime minister.
  • Ukraine parliament approves new government RIA Novosti 11 Mar 2010 -- The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday approved a new government led by newly appointed Prime Minister Mykola Azarov.
  • Ukraine parliament dismisses national security chief RIA Novosti 11 Mar 2010 -- Ukraine's parliament on Thursday dismissed by a narrow margin of 230 of a minimum 226 votes needed the head of the National Security Service (SBU), Valentyn Nalivaichenko.
  • Ukraine forms parliamentary coalition to end political chaos RIA Novosti 11 Mar 2010 -- The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday formed a majority parliamentary coalition loyal to new President Viktor Yanukovych and appointed a new prime minister, ending a political stand-off between the legislature and the head of state.
  • Ukraine parliament approves Mykola Azarov prime minister RIA Novosti 11 Mar 2010 -- Ukraine's parliament on Thursday approved President Viktor Yanukovych's ally Mykola Azarov as prime minister, with 242 deputies voting for the approval, with a minimum of 226 needed.
  • New Ukrainian Prime Minister Seen Loyal to President VOA 11 Mar 2010 -- A new parliamentary coalition in Ukraine has approved a prime minister considered loyal to recently inaugurated President Viktor Yanukovych. But the ousted prime minister says the new government is illegitimate.

  • US Human Rights Report Hits Conditions in Iran, China, North Korea VOA 11 Mar 2010 -- The U.S. State Department's annual report on human rights world-wide issued Thursday cited an upsurge in efforts to restrict access to the Internet and other new communications means, and escalating persecution of vulnerable minorities. The report was sharply critical of the rights performance of several countries including China, North Korea and Iran.
  • U.S. Says 'Serious Violations' Of Human Rights Continued In 2009 RFE/RL 11 Mar 2010 -- The U.S. State Department says in its annual human rights report that many governments worldwide continued to perpetrate grave rights violations.
  • Interview: UN Envoy On Torture Says Concerned About Iran RFE/RL 11 Mar 2010 -- In the wake of the UN Human Rights Council's recent session on Iran, RFE/RL's Radio Farda correspondent Javad Kouroshy asked Manfred Nowak, the UN's special rapporteur on torture, about his attempts to visit Tehran and his efforts to make governments around the world take better care of their detainees. Nowak also discussed his hopes of seeing the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay closed.

  • Analysis: Poll puts Rwanda under scrutiny IRIN 11 Mar 2010 -- Rwanda's upcoming presidential elections has cast a spotlight on its democratic credentials, with observers warning that allegations of intimidation of opposition leaders could mar the process.
  • UGANDA: One doctor for 16,200 refugees IRIN 11 Mar 2010 -- Inadequate healthcare is just one of many challenges facing the 16,200 refugees in this sprawling camp in western Uganda, which is served by a single doctor.
  • SRI LANKA: Dengue spread slows in north IRIN 11 Mar 2010 -- The spread of Dengue fever has eased in Sri Lanka's conflict-affected north, but health officials warn continued vigilance is necessary.
  • Turkish Official: Ratifying Armenia Protocols Currently 'Almost Impossible' RFE/RL 11 Mar 2010 -- An official in Turkey's ruling party says Ankara is extremely unlikely to ratify its fence-mending protocols with Armenia at this juncture, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.
  • Polish PM Talks Economy In Georgia, Energy In Azerbaijan RFE/RL 11 Mar 2010 -- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is in Georgia on a visit aimed at boosting economic ties, as he continues a tour of the South Caucasus.
  • Africa still hungry despite annual $3 billion of aid and $33 billion of food imports – UN UN News Centre 11 Mar 2010 -- One in three Africans is chronically hungry, despite $3 billion spent on food aid for the continent annually and $33 billion in food imports, the director of the food security at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has warned.



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