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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 22 Oct 2010 [PDF]
• 3rd ID troops return to Fort Stewart Army News 22 Oct 2010 -- Family Members defied the cold and the early morning hours to welcome home Soldiers with 3rd Infantry Division's Special Troops Battalion and 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, at Cottrell Field on Fort Stewart, Oct. 16.
• Western Media Getting Afghanistan Wrong RFE/RL 22 Oct 2010 -- Behind the high walls of Kabul's tightly guarded government offices and diplomatic missions, peace and reconciliation are the new buzz words.
• ISAF Condemns Fatal Attack on Afghan District Governor AFPS 22 Oct 2010 -- NATO’s International Security Assistance Force condemned today’s insurgent attack on the district governor of Dur Baba, Nangahar province.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Gives Pakistan Long-Term Military Aid Pledge VOA 22 Oct 2010 -- The Obama administration pledged Friday to raise its military aid to Pakistan to $2 billion a year - a total increase of $10 billion over five years - to help the country fight extremism. Officials at the State Department say aid will be denied to any Pakistani army units linked to human rights abuses.
• Pakistani Units Accused of Abuses Won't Receive Military Aid, Say US Officials VOA 22 Oct 2010 -- Media reports on Friday are quoting unnamed U.S. officials as saying not all members of Pakistan's military will be benefiting from a proposed $2 billion aid package U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton unveiled Friday. According to the reports, Washington will suspend assistance to some Pakistani military units suspected of human rights abuses.
• WikiLeaks Releases 400,000 Classified US Military Files VOA 22 Oct 2010 -- The activist website WikiLeaks and several media partners have published a collection of nearly 400,000 secret U.S. military documents from the Iraq War, providing new details of well known issues, including civilian casualties, detainee abuse and meddling by Iran.
• Pentagon Prepares for Possible WikiLeaks Publication AFPS 22 Oct 2010 -- The Defense Department is preparing for an additional publication by WikiLeaks of classified military documents from Iraq operations, DOD officials said here today.
• DoD News: Army Releases September Data DoD 22 Oct 2010 -- The Army released suicide data today for the month of September.
• Army Releases September Suicide Data AFPS 22 Oct 2010 -- The Army released suicide data today for the month of September, according to a DOD release.
• George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group Rescues Sailor at Sea Navy NewsStand 22 Oct 2010 -- George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group search and rescue assets successfully rescued a Sailor at sea who was missing from the guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) Oct. 20.
• Roosevelt Completes First Berthing Upgrade Navy NewsStand 22 Oct 2010 -- The Berthing Rehabilitation Team aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 18 celebrating completion of the first birthing space upgrade.
• Enterprise Strike Group Ship Conducts VBSS Training Navy NewsStand 22 Oct 2010 -- The visit, board, search and seizure team (VBSS) aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) conducted a maritime interdiction operation (MIO) training exercise Oct 20.
• San Diego Leaders Meet, Discuss Naval Aviation Milestone Navy NewsStand 22 Oct 2010 -- Commander, Naval Air Forces addressed members of the San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC) during its monthly breakfast held at the Admiral Kidd Club in Point Loma Oct. 20
• USS Constitution Celebrates 213th Launching Day Anniversary Navy NewsStand 22 Oct 2010 -- USS Constitution and her crew got underway Oct. 21 to celebrate her 213th launching day anniversary.
• Navy Implements E-Form Process Improvement on Surface Ships Navy NewsStand 22 Oct 2010 -- The Naval Sea Logistics Center will complete automating the engineering change approval process for all surface ships Oct. 22, reducing the average processing time from 48 days to five.
• Continuing Promise 2010, Partners Leave More than Memories in Guyana Navy NewsStand 22 Oct 2010 -- U.S. Marine helicopters with the Continuing Promise 2010 (CP10) mission moved 24 pallets of supplies worth more than $136,000 outside the Corentyne School in Blackbush, Guyana Oct. 19.
• Atsugi Hosts 29th Maritime Patrol Aircraft Committee Meeting Navy NewsStand 22 Oct 2010 -- Eight Republic of Korea (ROK) navy sailors, including Rear Adm. Sang-Suk Kim and U.S. Navy Sailors, held the 29th Maritime Patrol Aircraft Committee Meeting (MPACM) aboard Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi Oct. 20.
• Navy Sailing Toward Great Green Fleet Navy NewsStand 22 Oct 2010 -- The U.S. Navy conducted a full power demonstration of a Riverine Command Boat (experimental) (RCB-X) powered by alternative fuel, Oct. 22, aboard Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
• Smoking Lamp Grows Dim On Submarines Navy NewsStand 22 Oct 2010 -- Since Commander, Submarine Forces (COMSUBFOR) announced a policy change which would ban smoking below decks aboard all U.S. Navy submarines effective beginning Dec. 31, the efforts by submarine personnel in meeting that goal early has been outstanding.
• Collaborative Multiagency Exercise Tests Bethesda's Emergency Response Navy NewsStand 22 Oct 2010 -- National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) and Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bethesda hosted the annual Collaborative Multiagency Exercise (CMAX) Oct. 14, testing their emergency response skills and efforts.
• Commander, Amphibious Squadron Eight Relieves USS New York CMC Navy NewsStand 22 Oct 2010 -- Commander, Amphibious Squadron 8 relieved the command master chief of the Norfolk-based amphibious transport dock USS New York (LPD 21) Oct. 21 due to misconduct.
• 'Night Ops' reduce power costs by millions AFNS 22 Oct 2010 -- Arnold Engineering Development Center officials averted a $4.86 million energy bill for its customers with an energy conservation program called "Night Ops."
• Gen. McKinley: Collaboration saved Minnesota fighter wing AFNS 22 Oct 2010 -- Collaboration between Duluth, Minn., and the Minnesota Air National Guard officials saved the 148th Fighter Wing from closure and will help it grow in the future, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said Oct. 22.
• Amos Succeeds Conway as Marine Commandant AFPS 22 Oct 2010 -- In a sun-drenched ceremony here today, Gen. James F. Amos received the battle flag of the U.S. Marine Corps from Gen. James T. Conway and became the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps.
• Poll Shows High Public Confidence in Military AFPS 22 Oct 2010 -- Americans have more confidence in the military than they have in banks, the media, public schools and organized religion, according to a recent national poll.
• Soldiers get realistic training at Battle Command Training Center Army News 22 Oct 2010 -- The art of war is getting a high-tech spin at Fort Sam Houston's Battle Command Training Center as Army Medical Department Soldiers use state-of-the-art interactive computer programs to fight and train on virtual battlefields.
• 249th Quartermaster Soldiers return to renovated barracks Army News 22 Oct 2010 -- Soldiers from the 249th Quartermaster Company were surprised when they came home to freshly renovated barracks on Sept. 22.
• Friendly force visibility to improve with handhelds and TIGR integration Army News 22 Oct 2010 -- Through an unconventional approach - connecting an everyday cell phone to a tactical radio - Soldiers could soon have a handheld device to access information about their mission and surroundings.
• 53rd IBCT DE-MOB ROC Drill hosted at Fort Stewart Army News 22 Oct 2010 -- As the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team begins to return next month from their deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, they will be demobilizing through Fort Stewart, Ga., with the support of the 188th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division East.
• Depot Sidewinder Missile team wins Shingo medallion Army News 22 Oct 2010 -- Depot employees have earned a Shingo Bronze Medallion following a Value Stream Analysis and multiple Lean events that yielded efficiencies to the repair process for Sidewinder Missile guidance and control sections (GCS).
• Contracting warriors sharpen their military skills Army News 22 Oct 2010 -- It was anything but fun and games as members of the Expeditionary Contracting Command Headquarters conducted warrior task training recently at Fort Belvoir, Va.
• Saber Strike 2011 kicks off in Latvia Army News 22 Oct 2010 -- The flags of four nations bonded by the war in Afghanistan waved side by side during the opening ceremony of Saber Strike 11, at Adazi Training Area Oct. 18.
• 45th IBCT launches new Shadow Army News 22 Oct 2010 -- Members of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team successfully launched and recovered its first RQ-7 unmanned aerial system at the Henry Post Army Airfield, October 19.
• Transition calls for employees to 'brush up' resumes AFNS 22 Oct 2010 -- Following the success of a seven-month pilot program using a resume-based system to fill vacant positions at 16 locations across the service, current Air Force civilian employees will now apply for vacant position using USAJOBS beginning Nov. 15.
• 3rd MLG conquers jungle training USMC News 22 Oct 2010 -- After what seemed like hours waiting in the cold, ankle-deep water, Marines broke through the jungle foliage running at full speed to reach their next checkpoint.
• GME rolls out with electric vehicles USMC News 22 Oct 2010 -- Garrison Mobile Equipment unveiled new, electric vehicles while celebrating The Green Line's nine-year anniversary, Thursday at the Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster.
• Marines raid beach during Phiblex '11 USMC News 22 Oct 2010 -- Concealed under the cover of darkness, 60 Marines from Company B, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, and 48 Philippine Marines from 12th Marine Battalion Landing Team, Armed Forces of the Philippines, conducted a bilateral boat raid here Oct. 11.
• UK nuclear submarine runs aground off Scotland IRNA 22 Oct 2010 -- Britain’s newest and largest nuclear-powered attack submarine has run aground near the Isle of Skye off Scotland, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on Friday.
• Russia completes creation of new military command system RIA Novosti 22 Oct 2010 -- The creation of four unified strategic commands to replace four military districts as part of Russia's military reform has been completed ahead of schedule, Defense Minster Anatoly Serdyukov said on Friday.
• Russia to produce 150 Bulava missiles before 2020 - expert RIA Novosti 22 Oct 2010 -- Russia will need to build more than 150 Bulava ballistic missiles in the next decade, an expert on the Russian arms industry said on Friday.
• New African Standby Force Faces First Test VOA 22 Oct 2010 -- The mythical island nation of Carana, off the east coast of Africa, is in a state of near-collapse, and African Union rapid deployment forces are battling to save it. That is the scenario being played out this week in a crisis-response exercise involving military, civilian and police units from across Africa.
• Merkel welcomes Medvedev's decision to attend NATO summit RIA Novosti 22 Oct 2010 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has welcomed Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's decision to participate in the forthcoming NATO summit in Lisbon.
• Russian, Kazakh pilots to hone live-firing skills prior to CSTO drills RIA Novosti 22 Oct 2010 -- Russian and Kazakh combat pilots will take part on Friday in live-firing exercises in preparation for the upcoming large-scale exercises of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Russian Defense Ministry said.
• October 22, 2010 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 22 Oct 2010
• 22 October 2010 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 22 Oct 2010

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 22, 2010
• BAE Systems Improving Soldier Protection Through U.S. Army Vehicle Armor Contract BAE Systems 22 Oct 2010 -- BAE Systems has received an $11 million U.S. Army contract to produce bar armor kits that protect soldiers in ground vehicles from rocket-propelled grenade attacks. The company will continue to produce L-ROD® bar armor kits for the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command's RG-31 Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles.
• Oshkosh Defense Displays New Tactical Wheeled Vehicles and Technologies at U.S. Army Annual Meeting Oshkosh 22 Oct 2010 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), will showcase new technologies and vehicles at the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition at the Washington Convention Center October 25 – 27 in booth 2639. The displays illustrate Oshkosh’s commitment to innovation and providing the U.S. Army with leaner, more mobile and modern fleets.
• Raytheon Tests New Weapon Designed for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Raytheon 22 Oct 2010 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) successfully flight tested Small Tactical Munition, a new weapon specifically designed to be employed from unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). STM is a 13-pound guided bomb that is approximately 2-feet long, making it the smallest bomb in the Raytheon family of weapons.
• WM Family celebrates 40 years of reliable service Thales 22 Oct 2010 -- Exactly 40 years ago, Thales's first WM-20 naval surveillance and tracking system was sold to Thailand (HTMS Tapi). In the years that followed WM-22 up to WM-29 joined the family.

Other Conflicts

• Ban calls for predictable funding for African Union peace initiatives UN News Centre 22 Oct 2010 -- The African Union (AU) continues to face difficulties in securing the necessary funding for its peace efforts on the continent, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, appealing to the international community to find sustainable ways of supporting the pan-African body’s initiatives.
• Press Conference by Representative of Secretary-General on Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons United Nations 22 Oct 2010
• Press Conference by Special Rapporteur on Situation of Human Rights in Palestinian Territories Occupied Since 1967 United Nations 22 Oct 2010
• Gaza blockade continues to exact high humanitarian toll – UN rights expert UN News Centre 22 Oct 2010 -- The people of Gaza continue to suffer from the humanitarian consequences of the Israeli blockade of the area, despite the recent partial easing of the restrictions, a United Nations independent human rights expert said today.
• Proposed Loyalty Oath Stirs Anger Israeli-Arab Minority VOA 22 Oct 2010 -- A push by Israeli leaders to require all new immigrants to recognize the country as a Jewish and democratic state is causing outrage among Israel's 1.5-million-strong Arab minority, most of whom are Muslim. Israeli leaders are concerned, among other things, by the reluctance of Palestinian leaders to acknowledge Israel as the Jewish state.
• UN Envoy Condemns New West Bank Settlements VOA 22 Oct 2010 -- The United Nations special envoy for Mideast peace, Robert Serry, has condemned Israel's renewed building in dozens of West Bank settlements, saying the construction is "illegal under international law" and "will only further undermine trust."
• Deadly violence continues in Darfur, Ban says in latest report UN News Centre 22 Oct 2010 -- Although there have been substantially fewer clashes between parties to the conflict in Darfur, deadly fighting between communities in the war-ravaged Sudanese region continues, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a new report.
• US Officials : No More Time to Waste for Referenda in Sudan VOA 22 Oct 2010 -- U.S. officials say there is no more time to waste for finalizing preparations for two votes in Sudan on possible southern separation. They are urging progress during a new round of talks due next week in Ethiopia.
• At Least 20 Killed In Somali Fighting VOA 22 Oct 2010 -- At least 20 people have died in Somalia in a gun battle between al-Shabab militants and pro-government forces.
• SOMALIA: Stability in Somaliland boosts education prospects IRIN 22 Oct 2010 -- Somalis from south-central Somalia and those in the diaspora have taken advantage of the stable environment in the self-declared republic of Somaliland to put their children through school there, boosting enrolment in private and public education institutions in the region, officials said.
• SRI LANKA: Government defends reconciliation commission IRIN 22 Oct 2010 -- The government of Sri Lanka has dismissed widespread criticism of a government-appointed commission to probe “lessons to be learnt from events” in a civil war that led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians and an unknown number of deaths.
• COTE D'IVOIRE: Spiral of lawlessness in Côte d’Ivoire’s Wild West IRIN 22 Oct 2010 -- Residents of western Côte d’Ivoire are relentlessly subjected to brutal physical and sexual violence by armed groups as the region festers in a state of near lawlessness, according to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) released today.
• Nepal: UN rights office raises concerns over extension of army officer UN News Centre 22 Oct 2010 -- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) today expressed its serious concern over the decision by the Asian nation’s Government to extend the tenure of an army officer with ties to breaches of human rights.
• Returns to northern Yemen sluggish, UN refugee agency reports UN News Centre 22 Oct 2010 -- Despite the peace agreement signed months ago between the Government and rebels in Yemen, its slow implementation is keeping many who were uprooted by the violence from returning to their homes in the country’s north, the United Nations refugee agency said today.

News Reports

• World Concern Grows At Dwindling Chinese Mineral Supplies RFE/RL 22 Oct 2010 -- Despite their name, the 17 rare-earth elements -- with exotic-sounding names like gadolinium, thulium and cerium -- are not that rare. But very few countries -- except for China -- currently mine them intensively, which means Beijing has a lock on the market.
• World Powers Renew Invitation to Iran to Restart Nuclear Talks VOA 22 Oct 2010 -- Six world powers are renewing efforts to get Iran to resume stalled talks about its disputed nuclear program, after not getting any formal response to an earlier invitation.
• Russia expects talks with Iran to be successful - deputy foreign minister RIA Novosti 22 Oct 2010 -- Russia expects forthcoming talks with Iran to be successful, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday.
• Press Conference by Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator on Humanitarian Efforts in Haiti United Nations 22 Oct 2010
• Press Conference by General Assembly President United Nations 22 Oct 2010
• Russian spy to face trial in Poland RIA Novosti 22 Oct 2010 -- Poland will begin on Friday a trial of a Russian citizen who was arrested last year on espionage charges, a Warsaw district court official said.
• Guinea: excessive force used against demonstrators, UN rights office says UN News Centre 22 Oct 2010 -- The United Nations Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) today expressed its deep concern over excessive use of force by Guinea’s security forces against demonstrators ahead of this weekend’s long-delayed presidential run-off poll.
• UN mobilizing aid to help flood-stricken Benin UN News Centre 22 Oct 2010 -- The United Nations is mobilizing aid to Benin, where nearly 700,000 people have been affected by severe flooding, with the world body and its partners shortly set to launch a humanitarian appeal to help the flood-stricken in the West African nation.
• UN and partners mobilise to respond to cholera outbreak in Haiti UN News Centre 22 Oct 2010 -- The humanitarian community has mobilized its resources to help the Haitian Government respond to an outbreak of cholera in the western region of Caribbean country, with medical supplies being provided and teams of health workers rushing to the affected area, a senior United Nations humanitarian official said today.
• Egypt's Ruling Party Announces President Mubarak Will Run Again VOA 22 Oct 2010 -- The Egyptian public, the press, and the country's opposition appear to be taking the news that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will run for sixth term as president next year with little surprise, despite rumors about his health.
• No conspiracy over Kelly’s death, post-mortem suggests IRNA 22 Oct 2010 -- The British government on Friday attempted to allay conspiracy theories over the 2003 death of David Kelly by belatedly publishing a port-mortem report suggesting that the former Iraqi arms inspector died from “self-inflicted injury.”
• Russia to launch 8 Glonass navigation satellites in 2011-2013 RIA Novosti 22 Oct 2010 -- Russia will put eight Glonass-M satellites into orbit in 2011-2013 to ensure the effective operation of its satellite navigation network, a Russian space industry official said.
• ZIMBABWE: Election call raises fears of more violence IRIN 22 Oct 2010 -- A call by President Robert Mugabe to hold national elections in 2011 and end any possibility of extending the government of national unity (GNU) has been greeted with concern by NGOs, fearing a surge in political violence.
• Guinea Electoral Commission Delays Decision on Sunday Vote VOA 22 Oct 2010 -- Guinea's electoral commission has not made a decision about delaying Sunday's presidential vote. His first day on the job, Malian General Siaka Toumany Sangare, the new head of Guinea's electoral commission said he would decide whether or not to cancel Sunday's second round presidential runoff.