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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 24 Aug 2010 [PDF]
• White House: Iraq Now Able to Defend Itself VOA 24 Aug 2010 -- White House officials said Tuesday that Iraqi troops are ready to enforce their country's security. The United States has met President Barack Obama's goal of reducing the number of American troops in Iraq to fewer than 50,000 by the end of this month.
• As troops leave, choppers stay Army News 24 Aug 2010 -- As U.S. combat troops leave Iraq, the helicopters are sticking around.
• 1st AAB conducts humanitarian aid drop in Iraq Army News 24 Aug 2010 -- The advent of Operation New Dawn will mean business as usual for some Soldiers -- especially those already well versed in conducting humanitarian missions.
• US Troops in Iraq Drop Below 50,000 VOA 24 Aug 2010 -- The U.S. military says the number of its troops in Iraq is now less than 50,000, the lowest level since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
• Air Force filling holes in communication during drawdown AFNS 24 Aug 2010 -- While convoys are operating in areas where ground communications are limited, joint airborne battle staff crews are stepping in to bridge the gap during the responsible drawdown of forces where communication is critical to ensure U.S. Forces redeploy safely.
• Top US Marine Predicts Security Transfer for Afghan South Will Take Years VOA 24 Aug 2010 -- The commandant of the United States Marine Corps said Tuesday that he expects his forces to be in southern Afghanistan for several more years, even though some U.S. troops will begin withdrawing from the country next July. General James Conway noted that wrong expectations about President Barack Obama's Afghanistan strategy are helping the Taliban in the short term, but might come back to hurt them after the target date passes.
• Conway Predicts Ongoing Marine Presence in Afghanistan AFPS 24 Aug 2010 -- The commandant of the Marine Corps predicted a continued Marine presence in sou
• Afghan Airmen Qualify for Night Vision Flights AFPS 24 Aug 2010 -- Some Afghan air force members have qualified to fly helicopters using night vision goggles, military officials reported.
thern Afghanistan well after July 2011, when a transfer of security responsibilities to the Afghan government is slated to begin. Video
• Air Force Statement regarding Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern AFNS 24 Aug 2010
• Top US Marine Predicts Security Transfer for Afghan South Will Take Years VOA 24 Aug 2010 -- The commander of the U.S. Marine Corps says it likely will take a few years to transfer security duty to Afghan forces in the country's key southern provinces.
• Afghanistan: From Taliban to Taliban IRNA 24 Aug 2010 -- Nine years has elapsed since the US-led invasion to Afghanistan which primarily aimed to topple the Taliban.
• NMCB-21 Dedicates Building to Fallen Marine Advisor Navy NewsStand 24 Aug 2010 -- Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 21 dedicated a double connecting super Southwest Asian (SWA) hut at Kandahar Airfield's Mustang Ramp during an Aug. 18 ceremony designed to remember the battalion's Marine advisor.
• Marines Support Pakistan Flood Relief Efforts AFPS 24 Aug 2010 -- The Marine Corps has responded to the crisis in Pakistan with troops, aircraft and a host of evacuation support, and relief supplies, the service’s commandant said here today.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Transcript:DOD News Briefing with Gen. Conway from the Pentagon DoD 24 Aug 2010 -- Presenter: Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James Conway
• USS Texas Returns from U.S. 4th Fleet Deployment Navy NewsStand 24 Aug 2010 -- Virginia-class submarine USS Texas (SSN 775) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Aug. 23 after completing a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet Area of Responsibility.
• Canadian Sub Visits Groton Port Call Navy NewsStand 24 Aug 2010 -- Canadian Navy Victoria-class long-range patrol submarine HMCS Corner Brook (SSK 878) arrived at Naval Submarine Base New London Aug. 16.
• Costa Rica Embraces Continuing Promise 2010 at Opening Ceremony Navy NewsStand 24 Aug 2010 -- Costa Rican officials and service members from USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) participated in an Aug. 21 ceremony in Limon, Costa Rica, which marked the beginning of a ten-day humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) mission in support of Continuing Promise 2010 (CP 10)–Partnership of the Americas.
• MCAST Members Host SME Exchange in Barbados Navy NewsStand 24 Aug 2010 -- Members of the Maritime Civil Affairs Security Training (MCAST) Security Force Assistance detachment, currently deployed aboard High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV) 2, hosted a two-week subject matter expert (SME) exchange in Bridgetown, Barbados, Aug. 9-20.
• CNO Visits Norway, Sweden Navy NewsStand 24 Aug 2010 -- The chief of naval operations (CNO) visited Norway and Sweden to strengthen maritime partnerships and international relationships Aug. 16-20.
• NCIS Exchanges Information, Tactics With Barbados Defense Force Navy NewsStand 24 Aug 2010 -- Navy Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) personnel embarked on board High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV) 2 hosted subject matter expert (SME) information exchanges Aug. 23 with the Barbados Defense Force (BDF) as part of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2010.
• Wasp Hosts Aircraft Testing Teams Navy NewsStand 24 Aug 2010 -- Military and civilian personnel tested several new types of aircraft aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1) July 26 to Aug. 6.
• Head of 37th Training Group Observes Navy Security Forces Navy NewsStand 24 Aug 2010 -- The U.S. Air Force 37th Training Group commanding officer visited Naval Technical Training Center aboard Lackland Air Force Base Aug. 17.
• British Mine Countermeasures Ship Welcomes US Navy Admiral Navy NewsStand 24 Aug 2010 -- The commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet/Combined Maritime Forces visited British mine countermeasures (MCM) ship HMS Chiddingfold (M37) and U.S. MCM USS Gladiator (MCM 11) Aug. 18, to observe a mine countermeasures training evolution in the Arabian Gulf.
• PHIBRON 5 Holds Change of Command Navy NewsStand 24 Aug 2010 -- Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 5 held a change of command ceremony aboard USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Aug. 22.
• Empire Challenge pulls worldwide resources for exercise AFNS 24 Aug 2010 -- Representatives from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Japan and many more partner nations, recently participated in the annual Empire Challenge 10 here and at locations worldwide simultaneously July 26 through Aug. 13.
• Logistics Agency Supplier Conference Opens in Columbus AFPS 24 Aug 2010 -- The doors are open for small businesses wanting to partner with the Defense Logistics Agency, the agency’s commander said yesterday at the start of the first-ever DLA Enterprise Supplier Conference and Exhibition taking place through Aug. 25 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center here.
• Missions Show U.S. Commitment in Pacific, Latin America AFPS 24 Aug 2010 -- As the U.S. military conducts disaster response operations in flood-stricken Pakistan, it’s also engaged in major humanitarian and civic assistance missions in the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Largest airborne military exercises since Sov.Union begin in central Russia RIA Novosti 24 Aug 2010 -- The largest airborne military exercises since the collapse of the Soviet Union have kicked off in central Russia, an airborne troops spokesman said on Tuesday.
• The Wider Implications Of The Russian-Armenian Defense Deal RFE/RL 24 Aug 2010 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian signed a protocol last week prolonging the two countries' 1995 bilateral defense treaty. While the protocol is deemed a mere prolongation of the existing treaty, there are important new features.
• Germany Considers Major Restructuring of Military VOA 24 Aug 2010 -- Germany's defense minister has proposed shrinking the country's military and effectively ending the draft. The move would dramatically transform the third biggest member of the NATO coalition in Afghanistan.
• International coast guard drills to be held in Sea of Japan RIA Novosti 24 Aug 2010 -- Russian, Chinese and South Korean coast guards will hold joint anti-piracy and anti-terrorism drills in the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) border guard spokeswoman has said.
• August 24, 2010 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 24 Aug 2010
• Press Briefing by Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton and Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security John Brennan, 8/24/2010 The White House 24 Aug 2010

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 24, 2010
• Lockheed Martin Receives $111.4 Million Contract Modification For F-22 Raptor Sustainment Lockheed Martin 24 Aug 2010 -- Lockheed Martin Corp. [NYSE: LMT] has received a $111.4 million contract modification from the U.S. Air Force for sustainment of the F-22 Raptor fleet, resulting in a contract value of $709 million. This modification is for the 2010 Follow-On Agile Sustainment for the Raptor (FASTeR) sustainment contract, which was issued initially in 2008 and extended in 2009.
• Boeing to Build Additional Military Hosted Payload for Intelsat Satellite Series Boeing 24 Aug 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced it has received a contract from Intelsat S.A. to provide a second ultra-high frequency (UHF) hosted payload on another of the four commercial communications satellites that Intelsat ordered from Boeing last year. Financial details were not disclosed.
• General Dynamics Canada to Supply Smart Displays for U.S. Army MRAP Vehicles General Dynamics 24 Aug 2010 -- General Dynamics Canada received an order to supply more than 1,000 Smart Display Units (SDU) for installation in U.S. Army Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. The order represents the first use of General Dynamics Canada’s technology on the MRAP platform, expanding the reach of the company’s comprehensive suite of vehicle electronics currently embedded in the majority of the U.S. armoured vehicle fleet.
• United Kingdom Awards Lockheed Martin $5 Million Order for Desert Hawk III Unmanned Aircraft Systems Lockheed Martin 24 Aug 2010 -- The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a $5.1 million contract for additional Desert Hawk III unmanned aircraft vehicles.
• ThalesRaytheonSystems deployable Air Command and Control system successfully demonstrates air defense capabilities during NATO Exercise Thales 24 Aug 2010 -- ThalesRaytheonSystems (TRS) today announced that the deployable element of its Air Command and Control System (ACCS) program successfully performed air operations missions during NATO’s recent Joint Project Optic Windmill (JPOW) 2010.

Other Conflicts

• 24 August 2010 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 24 Aug 2010
• Experienced Senegalese general appointed adviser to UN peacekeeping operations UN News Centre 24 Aug 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye as military adviser for United Nations peacekeeping operations.
• Israel Rejects UN Council Flotilla Investigation VOA 24 Aug 2010 -- U.N. officials say the Israeli government is blocking them from speaking to Israeli soldiers about the country's raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
• More Than 30 Killed in Mogadishu Hotel Attack VOA 24 Aug 2010 -- Somalia's al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab group has taken responsibility for a suicide attack on a hotel in Mogadishu that has killed more than 30 people, including seven parliament members.
• Gunmen Kill 31 in Somalia Hotel Attack VOA 24 Aug 2010 -- Islamist militants attacked a hotel in the Somali capital of Mogadishu Tuesday, killing more than 30 people, including six members of parliament.
• Former Ambassador Calls Al Shabab Attack in Mogadishu Abhorrent VOA 24 Aug 2010 -- A former U.S. ambassador says Tuesday’s suicide bombing attack on the Muna Hotel in Mogadishu is “another sad day for all Somalis.” Over 30 people were killed in the attack.
• Top UN envoy deplores deadly attack on Somali hotel UN News Centre 24 Aug 2010 -- The top United Nations envoy for Somalia has strongly condemned today’s attack on a hotel in the capital, Mogadishu, which reportedly killed at least 30 civilians, including Members of Parliament.
• SOMALIA: Corpses litter streets amid Mogadishu fighting IRIN 24 Aug 2010 -- Deadly clashes between Islamist insurgents and African Union-backed government forces cut off many parts of Mogadishu on 24 August, when dozens of people, including several MPs, were killed during an attack on a downtown hotel.
• UN voices outrage at mass rape by rebels in eastern DR Congo UN News Centre 24 Aug 2010 -- The United Nations is dispatching a senior staff member to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as senior officials express outrage at the recent rape and assault of more than 150 civilians by rebels based in the remote and troubled east of the country.
• Dozens of Women Gang-Raped in North Kivu Province VOA 24 Aug 2010 -- The United Nations confirms dozens of women were gang raped over a four-day period earlier this month in eastern North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It says insecurity is spreading across the region, with armed groups looting and terrorizing local villages.
• Troubled camp for displaced in Darfur focus of talks between UN, AU officials UN News Centre 24 Aug 2010 -- The situation in one of the largest camps for people uprooted by the conflict in the war-ravaged Sudanese region of Darfur has topped talks between top United Nations and African Union (AU) officials.

News Reports

• UN Presses Israel on Nuclear Program VOA 24 Aug 2010 -- The top United Nations nuclear envoy has held talks with Israeli officials to push their country to be more open about its largely secretive nuclear program.
• Former President Carter Reportedly Heading to North Korea VOA 24 Aug 2010 -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is reported to be going to Pyongyang this week to gain the release of an American jailed there after illegally entering the country. The State Department has not denied the reports but stresses Mr. Carter would be going in a private capacity on a humanitarian mission without any U.S. officials accompanying him. .
• President to attend next UN meeting with defined program IRNA 24 Aug 2010 -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would attend the next meeting of the United Nations General Assembly based on a clear and defined agenda, it was reported Tuesday.
• Presence of Turkey, Brazil in nuclear talks, useful: FM spokesman IRNA 24 Aug 2010 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast said here on Tuesday that presence of Turkey and Brazil in Iran-Vienna Group talks will be useful.
• Bushehr power plant enjoys high security: FM spokesman IRNA 24 Aug 2010 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast said here on Tuesday that the Bushehr nuclear power plant in south of Iran enjoys high standard and security for environment which is approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
• Controversial 'Family Bill' Returns To Iranian Parliament's Agenda RFE/RL 24 Aug 2010 -- Iran's parliament is preparing to discuss a bill this week that would allow men to marry additional wives without the consent of their first wife, and would tax dowries.
• UK investigator sacked for ‘unauthorised’ nuclear disclosure IRNA 24 Aug 2010 -- A British customs investigator has been sacked after being accused of leaking classified information about an international nuclear smuggling ring to two US journalists, it was reported Tuesday.
• PAKISTAN: Waiting for another round of flooding IRIN 24 Aug 2010 -- All eyes are on the Kotri Barrage in southeastern Pakistan, the last on the River Indus before it flows into the Arabian Sea. Meteorologists expect more but moderate rainfall over the upper reaches of the river, but a scientist involved in managing the ecosystem in that part of the river is optimistic.
• UN seeks more helicopters to fly aid to marooned flood survivors in Pakistan UN News Centre 24 Aug 2010 -- An estimated 800,000 people affected by the catastrophic floods in Pakistan can only be reached by helicopter, the United Nations reported today, appealing for 40 additional helicopters to deliver humanitarian aid to those stranded in areas inaccessible by land.
• Pakistani, UN Officials Report Rise in Infectious Disease Due to Flood VOA 24 Aug 2010 -- Pakistani and U.N. officials say that deadly water-borne and a number of other infectious diseases are on the rise among victims of the country's worst floods in history. As the country's president puts it, Pakistan could take years to recover from the natural disaster that has displaced millions of people across the country.
• Freed Spanish Hostages Return to Barcelona VOA 24 Aug 2010 -- Two Spanish aid workers have returned to Barcelona after being released by affiliates of the al-Qaida terrorist network who kidnapped them in Mauritania last November.
• US to Get Custody of Russian Arms Dealer VOA 24 Aug 2010 -- Reputed Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout is expected to be transferred from a Thai prison to the United States on Wednesday to stand trial on weapons-trafficking charges.
• Thailand to extradite accused Russian arms dealer Bout to U.S. Wednesday RIA Novosti 24 Aug 2010 -- Russian businessman Viktor Bout, suspected by Washington of arms trafficking, will be extradited from Thailand to the United States on Wednesday, Thai English-language daily the Nation said on Tuesday.
• Lack of funds may force UN agency to cut food aid in Central African Republic UN News Centre 24 Aug 2010 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned today that it may have to cut its feeding programme in the Central African Republic (CAR), where tens of thousands risk becoming malnourished unless new funding is secured.
• CHAD: Malnutrition outstrips response IRIN 24 Aug 2010 -- In parts of Chad acute malnutrition levels far exceed the international emergency threshold, according to a new study – fallout, partly, from crop failure hitting already fragile communities where access to basic health services is low and aid agencies are scarce.
• Interview: Scholar Says Ukraine's Greatest Achievement 'Survival' RFE/RL 24 Aug 2010 -- As Ukraine marks its Independence Day on August 24, one analyst says Kyiv's greatest accomplishment since independence has been "survival." But he adds that survival is not good enough.
• Yanukovych vows to continue democratic reforms in Ukraine RIA Novosti 24 Aug 2010 -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said on Tuesday he would continue to implement democratic reform.
• India still 'hopeful' about nuclear plant despite Russian calls for relocation - paper RIA Novosti 24 Aug 2010 -- India hopes Russia will go ahead with the construction of a nuclear power plant at Haripur in eastern India, despite Russia's concerns over ongoing local protests, the Times of India newspaper reported on Tuesday.