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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 20 Oct 2010 [PDF]
• Long Knife cavalry scouts train ISF Army News 20 Oct 2010 -- Standing side-by-side outside the gate of an American compound, Sgt. Curtis Jones and his Iraqi counterpart, Pvt. Fayez Ramthan Ali, keep a watchful eye over a nearby checkpoint; pulling security and searching personnel entering the combat outpost.
• M1A1 Abrams transfer marks significant milestone Army News 20 Oct 2010 -- Iraqi and U.S. senior leaders gathered at Camp Iraqi Hero Oct. 14 to commemorate the Iraqi Army's expanding inventory of M1A1 Abrams tanks, increasing its conventional defensive capabilities.
• Simple, Deadly Afghan Bombs Frustrate High-Tech US Solutions VOA 20 Oct 2010 -- The commander of the Pentagon's special unit that tries to counter roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan says technology is helping, and more is on the way, but the most effective way to find the bombs before they explode continues to be the most dangerous -- a simple foot patrol.
• Afghanistan: top UN envoy welcomes release of preliminary poll results UN News Centre 20 Oct 2010 -- The top United Nations official in Afghanistan today welcomed the publication of preliminary results of last month’s parliamentary elections, but cautioned that the electoral process is not over, with considerable fraud having been identified.
• Afghan President Says He Sees Hope for Peace VOA 20 Oct 2010 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the hope for peace in Afghanistan has increased, with the war-torn nation and its allies working to improve security over the next two years.
• Officials Cancel About 23 Percent of Parliamentary Votes VOA 20 Oct 2010 -- Election officials in Afghanistan have canceled nearly 23 percent of the 5.6 million ballots cast in last month's parliamentary election.
• Paktika Operation Leaves Enemy Fighters Dead AFPS 20 Oct 2010 -- An overnight operation targeting a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator in Afghanistan’s Paktika province left more than 10 enemy fighters dead, military officials reported.
• Third British soldier killed in Nahr-e Saraj this month IRNA 20 Oct 2010 -- Another British soldier has been killed in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has announced Wednesday.
• Afghan Election Body Voids One In Four Votes RFE/RL 20 Oct 2010 -- Afghanistan's election body says it has nullified 1.3 million votes -- or nearly one-quarter of the ballots cast -- in last month's parliamentary election due to fraud or other irregularities.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Saudi Arabia – F-15SA Aircraft DSCA 20 Oct 2010 -- The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Saudi Arabia of 84 F-15SA Aircraft
• Saudi Arabia – AH-64D APACHE, UH-60M BLACKHAWK, AH-6i Light Attack, and MD-530F Light Turbine Helicopters DSCA 20 Oct 2010 -- The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Saudi Arabia of 36 AH-64D Block III APACHE Helicopters, 72 UH-60M BLACKHAWK Helicopters, 36 AH-6i Light Attack Helicopters, 12 MD-530F Light Turbine Helicopters
• Saudi Arabia – AH-64D APACHE Longbow Helicopters DSCA 20 Oct 2010 -- The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Saudi Arabia of 24 AH-64D Block III APACHE Longbow Helicopters
• Saudi Arabia – AH-64D Longbow Helicopters, Engines and Night Vision Sensors DSCA 20 Oct 2010 -- The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Saudi Arabia of 10 AH-64D Block III APACHE Longbow Helicopters
• US Confirms $60 Billion Arms Sales Package for Saudi Arabia VOA 20 Oct 2010 -- The Obama administration announced plans Wednesday to sell up to $60 billion worth of advanced fighter aircraft, helicopters and related weapons systems to Saudi Arabia. The package is aimed at helping Saudi Arabia deal with potential threats from Iran and regional terrorism.
• Government Files Emergency Appeal on ‘Don’t Ask’ Injunction AFPS 20 Oct 2010 -- The Justice Department today filed an emergency appeal on behalf of the Defense Department to halt a federal judge’s injunction against the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.
• U.S. Military Allows Openly Gay Recruits RFE/RL 20 Oct 2010
• AF starts migration of information, services to new total-force website AFNS 20 Oct 2010 -- Air Force personnel specialists are in the process of migrating personnel information and services to the new Air Force Personnel Services website.
• EOD team trains with new response vehicle AFNS 20 Oct 2010 -- Technicians from the 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight here displayed the effectiveness of a new, four-wheeled weapon that helps improve their response time and capabilities during a training scenario Oct. 13.
• 2000-pound bomb detonated at New Boston AFNS 20 Oct 2010 -- New Boston Air Force Station personnel discovered an AN-M66 2000-pound, general-purpose bomb during recent unexploded-ordnance remediation activities here recently.
• Official Details DOD Cybersecurity Environment AFPS 20 Oct 2010 -- Cyberspace is a new world and a new domain for combat. The Defense Department is working to understand the threats and opportunities that this new domain poses.
• Warfighters meet in second coalition virtual battle AFNS 20 Oct 2010 -- The United States rarely goes to war on its own now. More than ever U.S. servicemembers work with coalition partners to win on the battlefield. In order to train for this, the 705th Combat Training Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. spent the last year preparing to host the second Coalition Virtual Flag exercise which took place recently in a virtual environment.
• Military Leaders Discuss U.S.-Pakistani Partnership AFPS 20 Oct 2010 -- Defense Department leaders met today with Pakistan’s army chief of staff to discuss military-to-military partnership and security assistance as part of the Third U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue under way this week.
• Army testing diesel-electric truck Army News 20 Oct 2010 -- The Army is now testing a new Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck, or HEMTT A3 -– a 35,000-pound, diesel-electric-powered truck able to improve fuel economy by 20 percent and transport up to 100 kilowatts of exportable power.
• Depot closes doors on ammunition mission Army News 20 Oct 2010 -- It has been more than 67 years since the first 250 pound bomb was transported and stored here at Sierra Army Depot, thus beginning the main mission for storing all classes of ammunition and explosives, except chemical ammunition.
• Using lessons learned in Haiti, SDDC trains for Pacific disaster relief Army News 20 Oct 2010 -- A humvee pulled off the U.S. Army Vessel Calaboza onto a boat ramp in Ito City, Japan, Sept. 1, signaling the beginning of American aid to an area devastated by earthquake. All roads in and out of the peninsula had been severed during an 8.7 temblor earlier that day, leaving only passage by helicopter or sea available.
• CCAD Returns First OH-58 Armed Scout Helicopter to the Fight Army News 20 Oct 2010 -- Corpus Christi Army Depot sent its first OH-58D Kiowa Warrior back to the fight during a roll-out ceremony held in the depot's Hangar 44, Oct. 14, 2010. The unprecedented OH-58D crash battle damage repair is the first step to increasing the number of Kiowa Warriors at a time when cost-effective measures are critical to support the war effort.
• Army Reserve chief announces realignment Army News 20 Oct 2010 -- As part of the Army Reserve's ongoing and continuous transformation, the Army Reserve Chief announced another step in his plans to reorganize and realign his headquarters to better support worldwide operations and establish the foundations for an enduring Army Reserve.
• The 2010 Army Accessions Command Mission Success Army News 20 Oct 2010
• US, Pakistan Conduct Strategic Dialogue VOA 20 Oct 2010 -- U.S. and Pakistani officials are meeting Wednesday in Washington to begin a third round of a strategic dialogue aimed at strengthening ties between their two nations.
• Army Announces Changes at Arlington National Cemetery AFPS 20 Oct 2010 -- The Army and the Veterans Affairs Department have entered into a formal agreement that will allow Arlington National Cemetery employees to enroll in VA’s National Cemetery Administration Training Center, Army Secretary John M. McHugh announced yesterday.
• Operational Reserve Makes Business Sense, General Says AFPS 20 Oct 2010 -- Department stores hire temporary workers for the holiday crunch time, then lay them off when the demand wanes in early January. Given the opportunity, commercial airlines would love to pay their pilots only while they’re in the cockpit, taking them off the clock –- and off the payroll –- once they land.
• DoD News: Statement by Press Secretary Geoff Morrell on the U.K. Strategic Defense and Security Review DoD 20 Oct 2010 -- "The U.K. Strategic Defense and Security Review and accompanying National Security Strategy have undertaken the difficult but necessary task of setting priorities and making choices during tough fiscal times."
• UK cuts ends chapter of Iraq-style invasions IRNA 20 Oct 2010 -- Britain's armed forces would be no longer able to mount the kind of military operations conducted in Iraq and Afghanistan due to the scale of cuts announced in the government's strategic defence review, analysts have said.
• Indo-UK joint air exercise begins in West Bengal IRNA 20 Oct 2010 -- Indian Air Force's (IAF) frontline Su-30 MKI fighter jets and Eurofighter Typhoons of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Wednesday began a 17-day wargames codenamed 'Ex-Indradhanush' at the Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal.
• Pakistan army chief leaves for US strategic dialogue IRNA 20 Oct 2010 -- Pakistan's army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani left for Washington to meet US defence leaders and to take part a three-day strategic dialogue, the military said Tuesday.
• Russia, Ukraine to regulate size of the Black Sea Fleet RIA Novosti 20 Oct 2010 -- Moscow and Kiev will soon sign an agreement regulating the upcoming overhaul of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, the Russian defense minister said on Wednesday.
• CIS air defense units to hold live firing drills in 2011 RIA Novosti 20 Oct 2010 -- Units from a joint air defense system of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will conduct exercises involving live firing drills in August-September 2011, the Russian defense minister said on Wednesday.
• CIS defense ministers to meet in Ukraine RIA Novosti 20 Oct 2010 -- A CIS defense ministers meeting will be held on Wednesday in Crimea, Ukraine, the Russian defense minister's press secretary said.
• Indonesia set to continue buying arms from Russia RIA Novosti 20 Oct 2010 -- Indonesia will continue its military-technical cooperation with Russia, the country's defense minister said on Wednesday.
• October 20, 2010 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 20 Oct 2010
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Aboard Air Force One en route Portland, Oregon The White House 20 Oct 2010

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 20, 2010
• ATK Awarded $67-Million Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contract for AAR-47 Missile Warning System Components for U.S. and Allied Military Aircraft ATK 20 Oct 2010 -- ATK (NYSE: ATK) has received a $67-million Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract from the U.S. Navy for the production of AAR-47 Missile Warning System Weapon Replaceable Assemblies (WRAs). The award encompasses production of new and retrofit components, including optical sensors, control indicators and computer processors.
• Northrop Grumman Announces $62 Million Advance Procurement Contract for 11th San Antonio (LPD 27) Class Amphibious Ship Northrop Grumman 20 Oct 2010 -- The U.S. Navy awarded a $62 million cost plus fixed-fee advance procurement contract modification to Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) that will provide long lead materials for LPD 27, the11th amphibious transport dock ship of the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) class.
• BAE Systems Completes Acquisition of OASYS Technology BAE Systems 20 Oct 2010 -- BAE Systems has completed its acquisition of OASYS Technology, LLC, a privately owned company. The proposed acquisition was announced on September 7.
• CASSIDIAN protects German Navy ships with the latest identification systems EADS 20 Oct 2010 -- Cassidian, the recently re-named defence and security pillar of EADS, protects German Navy ships with identification systems to avoid confrontations with unknown aircraft. With the equipping of the frigate “Niedersachsen” in Wilhelmshaven at the beginning of September, the programme to modernise the frigates of the “Brandenburg” (F123) and “Bremen” (F122) classes is now completed.
• Lockheed Martin’s Sniper Pod Is Majority Winner for Advanced Targeting Pod-Sensor Enhancement Contract; Total Potential Value Exceeds $1 Billion Lockheed Martin 20 Oct 2010 -- The U.S. Air Force selected Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] as the winner of the 60 percent share of the Advanced Targeting Pod-Sensor Enhancement (ATP-SE) competition. Lockheed Martin’s Sniper® pod offering was determined to be the best overall value to the U.S. Government.
• Lockheed Martin Completes Preliminary Design for Next Generation Long-Range Surveillance Radar Lockheed Martin 20 Oct 2010 -- The U.S. Air Force has approved Lockheed Martin’s [NYSE: LMT] preliminary design for its next-generation mobile, long-range surveillance and ballistic missile defense radar.
• U.S. Marine Corps Awards Raytheon $49.8 Million Raytheon 20 Oct 2010 -- Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), has received a $49.8 million contract to re-manufacture, overhaul and repair equipment primarily for the U.S. Marine Corps Logistics Command (MCLC) in Albany, Ga. Additional work will be performed in MCLC, Barstow, Calif.; Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Camp Lejeune, N.C.; and Okinawa, Japan.
• Sikorsky Commits to Build X2 TechnologyTM Prototypes to Advance Military Rotary Wing Operations Sikorsky 20 Oct 2010 -- Sikorsky Aircraft will design, build and fly two prototype light tactical helicopters as the follow-on advancement to the X2 TechnologyTM demonstrator aircraft that unofficially shattered the helicopter world speed record here in September with a flight speed of 250 knots (287 mph). The decision to continue development of the next-generation rotary wing technology will enable Sikorsky and select suppliers to offer the high speed X2 prototype vehicles for flight test and evaluation by U.S. armed forces. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
• IAI Introduces Its New Ultra Light MiniPOP Payload Israel Aerospace Industries 20 Oct 2010 -- Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is introducing the newest member of its MiniPOP (plug-in optronic payload) family: the Ultra Light MiniPOP.
• Thales Unmanned Systems for Naval Operations Thales 20 Oct 2010 -- founding partnerships with manufacturers of underwater and surface vehicles to develop concrete solutions for these systems of the future.
• Israel Aerospace Industries to Unveil Its New Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Vehicle at the 2010 Annual AUSA Meeting & Exposition Israel Aerospace Industries 20 Oct 2010 -- Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will unveil its advanced ISRV (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance vehicle) at the 2010 Annual Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Meeting & Exposition in Washington, DC, October 25-27, 2010

Other Conflicts

• 20 October 2010 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 20 Oct 2010
• UN force handing over security tasks to Chadian units ahead of departure UN News Centre 20 Oct 2010 -- The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Chad, which also has a mandate for the Central African Republic (CAR), said today that the force is handing over its tasks to local military units that will assume security responsibilities in Chad when blue helmets leave at the end of this year.
• Security Council reiterates support for Nepal’s peace process UN News Centre 20 Oct 2010 -- The Security Council today reaffirmed its support for the peace process in Nepal, which is currently in the throes of a political impasse, as the United Nations special political mission in the Asian nation is set to wrap up next January.
• Sudan's Bashir Vows No Renewal of Civil War VOA 20 Oct 2010 -- Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir said there will be "no return to war" in his country, despite rising tensions between the north and south as a vote on southern independence draws near. State media quoted Mr. Bashir as saying Wednesday his government is working to maintain peace all over the country.
• Georgia Offers North Caucasus Residents Visa-Free Travel As Kremlin Cries Foul RFE/RL 20 Oct 2010 -- Russia closed the Zemo Larsi crossing in 2006, as relations between Moscow and Tbilisi deteriorated following the arrest of four alleged Russian spies by Georgian authorities. Diplomatic relations were ultimately severed following the five-day war in August 2008.
• Death toll from Pakistan ethnic, political violence reach 53 IRNA 20 Oct 2010 -- Death from political and ethnic violence in the Pakistani southern port city Karachi reaches 53 in a week, police sources said Tuesday.
• Pakistan's Karachi Shuts Down after Political Violence VOA 20 Oct 2010 -- Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi has shut down for a day of mourning, following political violence that has killed at least 56 people since Saturday.

News Reports

• North Korea 'in favor' of denuclearization of Korean Peninsula RIA Novosti 20 Oct 2010 -- North Korea is in favor of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and is ready to abide by the agreements reached at the 2005 six-party talks in Beijing, Pyongyang's acting Charge d'Affaires in Russia, O Seung-Ho, said on Wednesday.
• Supreme Leader: Iranian nation will confront enemies' hegemonism IRNA 20 Oct 2010 -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that great Iranian nation will seriously deal with the enemies’ hegemonism.
• Russia 'would welcome' Iranian decision to restart nuclear talks RIA Novosti 20 Oct 2010 -- Russia would welcome an Iranian decision to resume talks with the group of six international mediators over its nuclear program, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
• Iran says US Hikers to Be Put on Trial November 6 VOA 20 Oct 2010 -- Iranian officials are indicating two American hikers imprisoned in Tehran for more than a year on espionage charges will be put on trial next month.
• Iraqi PM Seeks Political Support in Egypt VOA 20 Oct 2010 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met with officials in Egypt Wednesday as part of his regional tour to boost support for his bid to stay in power.
• ECOWAS to Monitor Guinea Run-Off Election Sunday VOA 20 Oct 2010 -- A top official of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has welcomed the decision by Guinea’s rival parties to support the new chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission ahead of Sunday’s presidential run-off vote.
• Importance of UN, European cooperation tops Ban’s talks with senior EU official UN News Centre 20 Oct 2010 -- The importance of the cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union on a range of issues, including on the Middle East, topped Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s talks today with a senior EU official in France.
• Nominee For Moscow Mayor Set To Impose Kremlin Control RFE/RL 20 Oct 2010 -- Moscow's city legislature is set to easily confirm a new mayor who's expected to deliver control of the city to the Kremlin, following the sacking of the longtime mayor last month.
• Medvedev Brings A Strong Hand To Gas Negotiations With Turkmenistan RFE/RL 20 Oct 2010 -- Not so long ago Russia, or rather the state-owned gas company Gazprom, was willing to buy as much Turkmen gas as it could, and was willing to pay top dollar for it.
• Commentary : Who Will Choose Kyrgyzstan's Future? RFE/RL 20 Oct 2010 -- Despite the fact that Kyrgyzstan's October 10 parliamentary elections went off smoothly and without violence, the vote has produced shocking and unexpected results. Most observers -- myself included -- were surprised that the Ata-Jurt (Fatherland) party placed first with 8.7 percent. Most of that party's leaders support former President Kurmanbek Bakiev, who was ousted from office by a popular uprising in April and has since been living in Belarus.