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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 02 July 2010 [PDF]
• Airpower Summary: June 30 AFNS 02 Jul 2010
• Iraqi Forces Capable, Confident as Drawdown Advances AFPS 02 Jul 2010 -- One year after U.S. forces withdrew from Iraqi cities, the chief of staff for the 3rd Infantry Division and Task Force Marne said yesterday that Iraqi security forces have proven themselves capable of conducting independent operations.
• Iraqis Kill Terror Financier, Arrest Suspects AFPS 02 Jul 2010 -- Iraqi security forces killed an al-Qaida in Iraq financier and arrested three terrorism suspects in recent operations with U.S. advisors, military officials reported.
• Taliban Insurgents Attack US Aid Offices in Northern Afghanistan VOA 02 Jul 2010 -- Taliban suicide bombers have killed at least five people, including three foreigners, in an attack on the compound of a USAID contractor in northern Afghanistan.
• Mortars light up Now Zad sky, suppress insurgents USMC News 02 Jul 2010 -- When it takes something more than the direct fire of machine guns to drive the enemy back, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, relies on a pair of mortarmen to get the job done.
• Operation New Dawn patrols lead to cache finds USMC News 02 Jul 2010 -- It became the catchphrase of the day — “I might as well be God d---ed Sherlock Holmes.”
• Marines, Afghanistan National Army address local water concerns during Operation New Dawn USMC News 02 Jul 2010 -- The relationship between the Marines and Afghanistan National Army, and the Afghans in Southern Shorsurak, Afghanistan, reached a new level when more than a dozen men met with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and ANA leadership for a shura to discuss concerns, as well as determine what type of civil affairs projects the area would benefit most from as part of Operation New Dawn, June 26.
• Insurgents Attack Outpost in Afghanistan AFPS 02 Jul 2010 -- Insurgents conducted a vehicle-borne bombing attack on an International Security Assistance Force combat outpost west of Kandahar City in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province today.
• KFOR Soldiers demonstrate quick reaction skills Army News 02 Jul 2010 -- Multinational Battle Group East (MNBG E) Soldiers tested their capacity to react quickly during exercises near the border with the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia and outside Viti/Vitina on June 22.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Obama Praises Troops in Independence Day Message AFPS 02 Jul 2010 -- In his Independence Day message, President Barack Obama praised American troops, and acknowledged the heroism of those who have fallen in the line of duty and their families. The full text of the message follows:
• Navy, Air Force Partner Under New MOA Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- The U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force are now mutual partners in defense aviation surveillance thanks to a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed June 12 by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz.
• Yuma's VMA-214 Black Sheep roam with joint, international forces during Alaska’s Red Flag exercise USMC News 02 Jul 2010 -- In a welcome change from the stifling heat of a Yuman summer, more than 180 Marines traveled to Alaska’s cooler climate to take part in Exercise Red Flag-Alaska June 14.
• More first-term re-enlistment spots available in FY-11 for Marine Corps USMC News 02 Jul 2010 -- First-term Marines eligible to re-enlist in fiscal year 2011 may find it easier to stay in the Corps this coming year despite its efforts to scale back the force from 205,000 Marines.
• Corps halves retention budget, downsizes bonuses for FY-11 USMC News 02 Jul 2010 -- Marines eligible to re-enlist in fiscal year 2011 may notice a steep decrease in their bonus options from last year due to the Corps cutting the retention budget by more than half.
• Ancient military ceremony marks 100 years of the Grafenwoehr Training Area Army News 02 Jul 2010 -- The German Army honored the 100th birthday of the Grafenwoehr Training Area with a Grand Tatoo ceremony on the Grafenwoehr parade field, June 30.
• Thunder in the Desert: Artillerymen stay on target Army News 02 Jul 2010 -- “Port-o-johns out in the open,” rang out over the hand-held radios as members of batteries A and B of the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, moved into position.
• Conference looks ahead for sustainment Army News 02 Jul 2010 -- "Resetting for the future - people, materiel and technology" was the theme of the 2010 Sustainment Commanders' Conference June 21-22 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
• Human Resources Command moves to Fort Knox Army News 02 Jul 2010 -- Two Soldiers with ceremonial rifles flanked three others, each carrying a flag important to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command: the American flag, the Army flag and a third, covered flag.
• Army Launched NASA 50 Years Ago Army News 02 Jul 2010 -- This was like a base realignment and closure move - only it all happened within the confines of Redstone Arsenal.
• Mobile nature of FRA enhances warfighter support Army News 02 Jul 2010 -- "If you want to try something new or if you're stale in your job and want to break out of the routine," said Russ Wright, "doing field work will remind you of why we're here, how important our job is and I think you'll enjoy it."
• No more DD-214 discharge papers mailed to exiting Marines USMC News 02 Jul 2010 -- In a move to help separating Marines, the Corps announced new delivery guidelines for the DD 214 form, which is a record of service and separation status.
• Pearl Harbor Shipyard & IMF Completes USS O'Kane Maintenance Period Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF) completed USS O'Kane's (DDG 77) Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) on time and within budget June 19.
• NAVSEA Reviewing Required Preventive Maintenance Aboard Surface ships Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) announced July 1, efforts to ensure surface ships are properly maintained are continuing through a pilot initiative on board two Norfolk-based ships.
• Group Sail Sets Stage for RIMPAC 2010 Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- USS Chosin (CG 65) pulled into Lualualei, Hawaii July 1, marking the end to a group sail that has brought ships representing Canada, France, Australia, Japan and the United States from the International Fleet Review in Victoria, British Columbia to the Hawaii Operating Area in preparation for Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010.
• Pacific Rim Nations Prepare for 'Ultimate' Exercise Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- The commander of Australia's contingent to exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 says RIMPAC will be among the largest and most important exercises Australia has participated in for many years.
• Joint Effort Leads To Success In Timor Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- Sailors and Marines attended the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for a community center in the Fatuhada district of Dili, Timor-Leste, June 24.
• GW Completes UNREP with Tippecanoe Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) completed an underway replenishment (UNREP) June 30 while on its 2010 summer patrol.
• Makin Island Wraps up PSA Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- USS Makin Island (LHD 8) returned to port July 1 following two days underway for sea Trials and continued preparations for final contract trials, ending the ship's four-month Post-Shakedown Availability (PSA).
• Nimitz Tests AFFF Firefighting Systems Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- Sailors aboard aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) successfully tested the ship's aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) systems July 1.
• ESSM Production Record Increases from Previous Years Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- The NATO SeaSparrow Missile Project Office (NSPO) announced, June 30, a 12-month Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) production record of 366 missiles ¯ eclipsing the previous year's production record by more than 160 missiles.
• Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Participates in RIMPAC Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment is participating in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2010 (RIMPAC) in Pearl Harbor June 23 to Aug. 1.
• Commander, Naval Air Forces Holds Change of Command Ceremony Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF) held a change of command ceremony, July 1, aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).
• 'Fightin Mary' Hosts Group of Scientist Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- Defense Science Study Group toured a ballistic missile submarine USS Maryland (SSBN 738)(Blue) pierside at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., June 26.
• Marine Corps Warfighting Lab Launches Experiments in Pearl Harbor Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab will culminate its enhanced company operations experiment series July 11-14 in Pearl Harbor.
• NFELC, 31st SRG Welcome New Commander Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center (NFELC) and 31st Seabee Readiness Group (31st SRG) held a change of command ceremony June 30.
• Nimitz Merges S-3, S-5 Divisions Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- USS Nimitz (CVN 68) merged the S-3 and S-5 divisions July 1 to increase efficiency the Supply department aboard the aircraft carrier.
• NSWC Crane Partners with Naval Research Lab to Develop Image Analysis Software Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane (NSWC Crane) personnel developed image analysis software for a joint project with the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in mid-June.
• Indian Naval Attache Visits NAS Jacksonville P-8 A Sites Navy NewsStand 02 Jul 2010 -- The Embassy of India naval attache and the director for international engagement (OPNAV N52) visited Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksvonille, Fla., June 23.
• Air Force officials award cleanup contract for former Mather Air Force Base AFNS 02 Jul 2010 -- Air Force Real Property Agency officials announced July 1 the award of a multi-year performance-based contract to URS Group, Inc. to perform environmental restoration activities at the former Mather Air Force Base in Rancho Cordova, Calif.
• Airmen participate in RIMPAC 2010 international maritime exercise AFNS 02 Jul 2010 -- The 613th Air and Space Operations Center here is serving as the central hub for data and voice communications during the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise June 23 through Aug. 1.
• Airmen, civilians cope with traumatic events AFNS 02 Jul 2010 -- A variety of events, from a death in the family to battlefield casualties, can take a tremendous psychological toll on servicemen and civilians alike.
• Official Details Foreign Language Program’s Progress AFPS 02 Jul 2010 -- The U.S. military’s efforts to have more language-qualified servicemembers are beginning to pay off, the Defense Department’s senior language authority said this week.
• Officials Work to Resolve Wind Energy, Radar Dilemma AFPS 02 Jul 2010 -- Defense Department officials are reaching out to academia and the energy industry to strike a balance between its support for alternative energy sources and its need to protect national security.
• Mullens Advocate More Reserve Support AFPS 02 Jul 2010 -- Military leaders are working hard to create the same kind of support network for the reserve components that exists for the active duty, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said yesterday.
• MWSS-171 trains to recognize, identify, avoid IEDs USMC News 02 Jul 2010 -- A Marine motor transport convoy carrying armaments, medical supplies and other mission essential provisions rumbles through the rugged terrain in some remote location in the mountains of Afghanistan.
• CLC-36 to participate in Exercise Dragon Fire 2010 to improve combat effectiveness USMC News 02 Jul 2010 -- The Marines of Combat Logistics Company 36 here are scheduled to participate in Exercise Dragon Fire 2010 at the base of Mount Fuji in mid-July.
• ABGD hit ground running in Thunder Horse USMC News 02 Jul 2010 -- Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 air base ground defense platoon began immediate action drills for reaction to improvised explosive devices and small arms fire at the north side football field here June 23.
• MWSS-171 concludes weeklong training exercise at Penny Lake USMC News 02 Jul 2010 -- Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 Marines conducted Exercise Thunder Horse at Penny Lake field here June 21-25.
• Royal Marines arrive for training in North Carolina USMC News 02 Jul 2010 -- Amidst one of North Carolina’s humid, starless nights, a colossal gray hull appeared in the Port of Morehead City, N.C., June 24, 2010. The seemingly abandoned ship quietly nestled in beside a dry dock just before the sky opened up to let loose a torrential downpour. When the rain finally subsided, it was clear that the “Largs Bay,” a Bay Class Landing Ship Dock, was actually teeming with life – several hundred troops from the United Kingdom.
• Equal Opportunity remains training priority for II MEF USMC News 02 Jul 2010 -- People from all walks of life join the Marine Corps in hopes of fulfilling a goal in their lives.
• 2nd Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company changes command USMC News 02 Jul 2010 -- Lt. Col. Leland Suttee took command of 2nd Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, during a change of command ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 30, 2010.
• 31st MEU recon assaults combat town USMC News 02 Jul 2010 -- Central Training Area – Marines with the Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force, conducted a direct action raid on combat town, central training area, June 25.
• Clinton Tells Ukraine That Door To NATO Remains Open RFE/RL 02 Jul 2010 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today said the door to NATO membership remains open for Ukraine and that she backs the ex-Soviet republic's efforts to secure a new deal with the International Monetary Fund.
• Post-Soviet bloc plans to establish joint military holdings RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2010 -- The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) countries plan to develop a system of interstate holding companies for the production of military equipment, the CSTO Deputy Secretary General said.
• Iran wants to produce long-range missiles for air defense — minister RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2010 -- The Iranian defense minister said Tehran intends to produce its own long-range missiles to provide air defense for the country, the Iranian Press TV news website reported on Friday.
• Larijani: Broad talks need to be held with Russia on S-300 missiles’ delivery IRNA 02 Jul 2010 -- Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani says more extensive talks need to be held with Russia on the S-300 air defense missiles contract.
• July 2, 2010 - UN calls for continued restraint in Guinea after delay in election results US Dept. of State 02 Jul 2010

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 02, 2010
• General Dynamics Awarded $52 Million for Maintenance Work on USS New Mexico General Dynamics 02 Jul 2010 -- General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded a $51.8 million contract modification by the U.S. Navy to plan and perform the post-shakedown availability (PSA) on the nuclear submarine USS New Mexico (SSN-779). Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• Northrop Grumman to Compete for U.S. Army Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System Northrop Grumman 02 Jul 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced today that it will compete as the prime contractor for the U.S. Army's Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS).

Other Conflicts

• 2 July 2010 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 02 Jul 2010
• Press Conference by Security Council President on Programme of Work for July United Nations 02 Jul 2010
• Briefing on the Upcoming Visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Dan Shapiro, Senior Director for The Middle East and North Africa The White House 02 Jul 2010
• Hamas Declines Israeli Offer for Prisoner Swap VOA 02 Jul 2010 -- Palestinian militants have rejected a new Israeli offer for a prisoner exchange.
• Death toll from Pakistan’s shrine attacks reaches 43 IRNA 02 Jul 2010 -- Death toll from suicide attacks in the Pakistani city of Lahore on Thursday night, has reached 43 as more died in hospitals of wounds, health officials said on Friday.
• Suicide Bombers Strike Pakistan Religious Shrine VOA 02 Jul 2010 -- Authorities have tightened security around religious places across the country, a day after two suicide bombers struck a famous Muslim Sufi shrine in the eastern city of Lahore, killing 42 people and wounding more than 180 others.
• SOMALIA: New Somaliland president sets sights on corruption IRIN 02 Jul 2010 -- Opposition leader Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud “Siilanyo” of the Peace, Unity and Development Party (Kulmiye), has been elected president of the self-declared republic of Somaliland, after he won just under 50 percent of votes cast on 26 June, in the first democratic handover in the Horn of Africa. He will be inaugurated next month.
• UN envoy holds consultations on Western Sahara UN News Centre 02 Jul 2010 -- The United Nations envoy dealing with Western Sahara is holding consultations in the capitals of the nations comprising the so-called Group of Friends, a diplomatic cluster working to help resolve the dispute over the territory.
• Freedom of movement for peacekeepers in Lebanon must be ensured, says UN envoy UN News Centre 02 Jul 2010 -- The freedom of movement of United Nations peacekeepers serving in south Lebanon must be fully respected, the world body’s top official in the country said today, voicing concern at recent incidents involving protests directed at blue helmets.
• UN calls for continued restraint in Guinea after delay in election results UN News Centre 02 Jul 2010 -- The top United Nations official in West Africa has urged Guinea’s presidential candidates and their supporters to continue to show restraint ahead of the much anticipated release of results from the country’s first democratic elections since it gained independence more than half a century ago.
• Wrapping up visit to Kyrgyzstan, UN official calls for reconciliation UN News Centre 02 Jul 2010 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has appealed for continued calm in the wake of deadly ethnic clashes in southern Kyrgyzstan to allow for reconciliation efforts to gain traction.
• DRC-RWANDA: Land rows complicate refugees’ return IRIN 02 Jul 2010 -- Tens of thousands of Congolese Tutsi refugees living in Rwanda for more than a decade are preparing to return to North Kivu province. But longstanding and unresolved tensions over land threaten to upset their homecoming.
• SRI LANKA: East feels left behind as agencies move north IRIN 02 Jul 2010 -- Communities in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province - a region of 1.5 million people still recovering from civil-war violence - fear they have been forgotten as humanitarian agencies shift recovery efforts to the north.
• Top Suspect in Rwandan Genocide Arrested VOA 02 Jul 2010 -- Ugandan police have announced the arrest of a pastor accused of organizing mass killings in Rwanda's 1994 genocide.
• House Panel Backs Continued U.S. Aid To Karabakh RFE/RL 02 Jul 2010 -- A U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee has rejected a White House proposal to end direct U.S. assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.
• PACE fails to reach consensus over Russia-Georgia dossier RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2010 -- The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has not yet reached a consensus on the Russian-Georgian dossier, the Assembly's President Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday.
• Numbers of Somali refugees down, but situation still dire, UN agency reports UN News Centre 02 Jul 2010 -- Although the flow of Somali refugees into neighbouring countries has weakened, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today cautioned that the Horn of Africa nation’s security and humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.

News Reports

• Is This Espionage 2.0? RFE/RL 02 Jul 2010 -- The media following the intriguing story of the FBI’s roll-up of a network of alleged Russian spies have been obsessed with the Facebook pictures of one of the accused, Anna Chapman -- a striking redhead who posted numerous sexy poses of herself taken against the Manhattan skyline.
• New York judge grants 1 Russian 'spy' bail RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2010 -- A New York judge on Thursday granted the release on $250,000 bail of Vicky Pelaez, one of the 11 suspects accused by the United States of spying for Russia.
• Iranian Officials Scoff at Impact of New US Economic Sanctions VOA 02 Jul 2010 -- Iranian officials are ridiculing the importance of new U.S. economic sanctions against Tehran. Opinions of Iranians outside the country, however, are divided on what impact the sanctions will have.
• Obama Signs Iran Sanctions Into Law RFE/RL 02 Jul 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has signed legislation imposing tough new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
• Kyrgyzstan: Anatomy Of A Conflict RFE/RL 02 Jul 2010
• How Strong Is Kyrgyzstan's New Constitution? RFE/RL 02 Jul 2010 -- Kyrgyzstan's new constitution does what often seems to be the unthinkable in Central Asia and across the former Soviet Union: It limits the power of the head of state in a region where a single man -- call him president or prime minister or simply leader of the nation -- reigns supreme.
• Nepal: Ban calls on all sides to form consensus government after key resignation UN News Centre 02 Jul 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on Nepal’s political parties to step up their efforts to form a consensus government in the wake of this week’s resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
• Clinton Begins Five-Nation Central Europe-Caucasus Trip in Kyiv VOA 02 Jul 2010 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, at the start of a five-nation trip to central Europe and the Caucasus region. She holds talks with Ukrainian officials, including President Viktor Yanukovych, who was voted back into office earlier this year after a six-year absence.
• Turkish nuclear plant deal with Russia submitted to parliament RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2010 -- A Russian-Turkish intergovernmental agreement on the construction of Turkey's first nuclear power plant has been submitted to the Turkish parliament, national media said on Friday.
• Russian space freighter to dock with ISS as scheduled - Mission Control RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2010 -- Russian cargo spacecraft Progress M-06M will dock with the International Space Station as scheduled on Friday night, a spokesman for the Russian Mission Control said.