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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 22 Nov 2010 [PDF]
• Snipers ready IA for competition Army News 22 Nov 2010 -- At a shooting range just outside the gates of a joint security station in northern Iraq, the sound of gunfire echoed through the morning air.
• Checkpoint medic training Army News 22 Nov 2010 -- Combat medics assigned to A Co., 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, provided training on how to properly splint fractures and broken bones at a checkpoint in Wanah, Iraq, Nov. 15.
• Special academy in Iraq graduates first NCOs Army News 22 Nov 2010 -- An Army aviation brigade deployed to Iraq graduated its first students Saturday from a seven-day program designed to develop the full spectrum of leadership skills for future noncommissioned officers.
• Transfer of Excess Non-Standard Equipment in Iraq to State and Local Governments Army News 22 Nov 2010
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Detain Insurgents, Find Caches AFPS 22 Nov 2010 -- Afghan and coalition forces detained several insurgents, found weapons and uncovered drug caches during operations today in southern and eastern Afghanistan, military officials reported.
• Children Safe in Kabul, Says NATO Ambassador; Aid Groups Disagree VOA 22 Nov 2010 -- A comment by NATO's Ambassador to Afghanistan, Briton Mark Sedwill, that Kabul is safer for children than New York or London has angered children's aid organizations which say Afghanistan is one of the worst places on the planet to be a child.
• Training Pays Dividends for 101st Soldiers in Afghanistan AFPS 22 Nov 2010 -- A rigorous training regimen the 101st Airborne Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team set into motion when it received short notice that it would deploy to Afghanistan as part of the troop surge is paying off –- and, two months into the deployment, it is showing no signs of letting up.
• NATO withdrawal delay means continuation of war: Taliban IRNA 22 Nov 2010 -- Afghan Taliban dismissed as ‘irrational’ NATO decision to stay in Afghanistan till 2014 and said that delay in the withdrawal of foreign ‘invading troops’ from Afghanistan would continue the ‘meaningless, imposed and unwinning war’.
• US drone kills four ‘foreigners’ in NW Pakistan IRNA 22 Nov 2010 -- US drone aircraft fired missiles into Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region Sunday killing at least four foreign militants, security officials in the region said.

Defense Policy / Programs

• S. Korea Could Seek Deployment of US Tactical Nuclear Weapons VOA 22 Nov 2010 -- South Korea's defense minister says his country may consider having U.S. tactical nuclear weapons deployed on its soil for the first time in 19 years.
• Services Meet New Fiscal Year With Recruiting Success AFPS 22 Nov 2010 -- Defense Department officials announced the services’ recruiting and retention numbers for the first month of the new fiscal year, as well as a change in the way they report recruiting numbers to the public.
• Opportunities for Cooperation Highlight Bilateral Meetings AFPS 22 Nov 2010 -- Opportunities to expand military cooperation highlighted discussions Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates had here yesterday with two of his South American counterparts.
• DoD News: DOD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for Fiscal Year-To-Date 2011 Through October DoD 22 Nov 2010 -- The Department of Defense announced today recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for fiscal year-to-date 2011, through October.
• MAFEX takes off AFNS 22 Nov 2010 -- Seven C-17 Globemaster III and eight KC-135 Stratotanker aircrews practiced executing airlifts and airdrops in medium threat environments Nov. 17 as part of the Mobility Air Force Exercise, a biannual Air Force-wide training opportunity hosted by the Air Force Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
• Media Roundtable with Secretary Gates from Santa Cruz, Bolivia DoD 22 Nov 2010 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• Army Conducts Successful High Altitude Airship Flight Demonstration Army News 22 Nov 2010 -- The HiSentinel80 unmanned high altitude airship completed a successful test Nov. 10 launching from Page, Ariz., and tracking northeast toward Utah and Colorado.
• Air Guard top enlisted Airman addresses force AFNS 22 Nov 2010 -- The training and experience level of the Air National Guard's enlisted force has expanded during the past decade and, as a result it, has made considerable contributions to both the overseas and domestic missions, said the Air Guard's top enlisted leader Nov. 18.
• Task Force Prepares for Horn of Africa Mission AFPS 22 Nov 2010 -- Leaders preparing to deploy to Djibouti in January as the next headquarters staff at Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa just wrapped up the first phase of a new, four-part training program designed to prepare them as well as the follow-on task force for the unique, strategically important mission.
• Gates Endorses Disaster Relief Proposal at Conference AFPS 22 Nov 2010 -- A proposal that would improve international cooperation among Western Hemisphere nations in disaster relief efforts received a strong endorsement from Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates here today.
• Gates Cites Importance of Transparency, Civilian Expertise AFPS 22 Nov 2010 -- Transparency in defense spending breeds trust among nations, and civilian expertise is vital to any nation’s defense establishment, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today.
• Flournoy Reinforces U.S. Commitment to Asia, Pacific AFPS 22 Nov 2010 -- The United States is a Pacific power and will remain committed to security and stability in Asia, Michele Flournoy, the undersecretary of defense for policy, said.
• Influx of stop loss claims may cause approval delays AFNS 22 Nov 2010 -- An influx of claims in October and November by members applying for retroactive stop loss special pay is leading to an increased processing time as the Dec. 3 deadline nears.
• New water survival qualification streamlines training, enhances individual Marine USMC News 22 Nov 2010 -- Effective now, the Marine Corps has implemented a new qualification system for combat water survival. The new system enhances safety, increases effectiveness and simplifies qualification requirements.
• USS Michigan Gold Crew Returns Home Following 7th Fleet Deployment Navy NewsStand 22 Nov 2010 -- Sailors from the Gold Crew of the guided-missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727) returned to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor Nov. 20, after a three-month deployment, receiving a warm welcome from families and friends.
• Naval Hospital Bremerton Opens New Simulation Center Navy NewsStand 22 Nov 2010 -- A ribbon cutting ceremony marked the official grand opening of Naval Hospital Bremerton's Simulation Center Nov. 18.
• Schweinfurt plays host to Europe-wide training exercise Army News 22 Nov 2010 -- Despite, or perhaps thanks to rainy and muddy conditions, a group of maintenance and ordnance Soldiers from U.S. Army Garrisons across Germany received crucial training in wheeled vehicle extraction and removal at Schweinfurt's Pfändhausen Training Area over two weeks this November.
• New Commander Takes Over Fargo-Based Brigade Army News 22 Nov 2010 -- Col. Lannie Runck assumed command of the North Dakota Army National Guard's only deployable brigade-level military unit at a Change of Command Ceremony here on Sunday.
• Robots to rescue wounded on battlefield Army News 22 Nov 2010 -- A robot being tested now may soon have the ability to rescue wounded Soldiers under fire without risking additional lives.
• MilTube brings video-sharing behind the DoD firewall Army News 22 Nov 2010 -- The military workforce can now share videos behind secure network firewalls with the debut of milTube.
• 160th Signal Brigade Conducts Change of Responsibility Army News 22 Nov 2010
• Remarks by Secretary Gates at Conference of the Defense Ministers of the Americas in Santa Cruz, Bolivia DoD 22 Nov 2010 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• Artillery Marines survive jungle with teamwork, determination USMC News 22 Nov 2010 -- An early October morning, rain pouring, Marines wait patiently under the protection of a steel-dome overhead. It's only for a short while; their final test in the thick of the jungle is about to begin.
  "Challenge group," a Jungle Warfare Training Center instructor yells. "Let's go, get up there."
• Obama's final push for New START RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama signaled from his bully pulpit that he intends to push for Senate ratification of the New START arms reduction treaty with Russia before the end of the year, while his Democrats still enjoy a large majority in the Senate. Obama sat down for a high-profile meeting at the White House on Thursday with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden and a group of former secretaries of state, who served under both Republican and Democratic presidents, and who unanimously support the new treaty.
• 45th Space Wing launches NRO satellite AFNS 22 Nov 2010 -- The 45th Space Wing successfully launched a United Launch Alliance-built Delta IV-Heavy Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle from Space Launch Complex 37 Nov. 21, carrying a classified National Reconnaissance Office satellite.
• Russia Proposes Divided Anti-Missile Defense System VOA 22 Nov 2010 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has proposed to NATO leaders a joint missile defense system that divides military protection of Europe between the former Cold War rivals.
• UK must free last British resident in Guantanamo, says Amnesty IRNA 22 Nov 2010 -- Amnesty International Monday urged the UK to act to ensure the last British resident held by the US in Guantanamo Bay concentration camp is freed or put on trial.
• Soldiers Arrested Over Army Deaths In Armenia, Karabakh RFE/RL 22 Nov 2010 -- Military officials in Yerevan reported today three arrests in the latest army shootings in the breakaway Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh and in Armenia, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.
• Global pact on explosive remnants of war deserves universal support, says Ban UN News Centre 22 Nov 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today highlighted the critical role that the global pact on explosive remnants of war plays in eliminating these deadly weapons, and urged all States that have not jointed the treaty to do so as soon as possible.
• Eight Central African Countries Sign Small Arms Trafficking Treaty VOA 22 Nov 2010 -- Eight Central African nations have signed a small arms treaty that observers hope will bring stability to the region.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 11/22/2010 The White House 22 Nov 2010
• November 22, 2010 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 22 Nov 2010

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 22, 2010
• CASSIDIAN supplies innovative high-performance radar for German F125 frigates EADS 22 Nov 2010 -- Cassidian, the recently renamed defence and security division of EADS, is equipping the German Navy’s new F125 stabilisation frigates with their newly developed TRS-4D/NR radar, which detects movements on the sea and in the air with previously unattainable precision.
• GE Awarded Full Turbofan Demonstrator Contract for Critical USAF Development Effort GE Aviation 22 Nov 2010 -- The United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has increased GE Aviation's research contract for the Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology (ADVENT) program to include the design, build, and test of a full turbofan demonstrator engine. This modification will enable GE to address the USAF's next-generation propulsion requirements by fully assessing the innovative ADVENT portfolio of technologies in a complete propulsion system.
• Lockheed Martin Receives $15.6 Million to Produce Paveway II Enhanced Laser Guided Trainings Rounds for the U.S. Navy Lockheed Martin 22 Nov 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] received a $15.6 million contract to produce paveway II Enhanced Laser Guided Training Rounds (ELGTR) for the U.S. Navy. This award is for the first year of a planned three-year procurement that will maintain continuous production on the ELGTR, with work under this contract beginning in the third quarter of 2011 at Lockheed Martin’s Archbald, PA, operation.
• Poll Shows Sailors Learning Positive Stress Coping Behaviors Navy NewsStand 22 Nov 2010 -- The Navy's 2010 Behavioral Health Quick Poll (BHQP) results indicate an increased awareness of the Stress Continuum and positive coping behaviors; however, results also indicate an increase in perceived operational stress among Sailors.
• Oshkosh Defense to Supply More Than 4,700 FMTV Trucks and Trailers to the U.S. Army Oshkosh 22 Nov 2010 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), will supply more than 4,700 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) trucks and trailers to the U.S. Army under a new delivery order from the Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC).
• Lockheed Martin’s JAGM Hits Target From 6 Kilometers Lockheed Martin 22 Nov 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] scored a hit on a main battle tank at six kilometers in a company-funded, multiple-mission firing of its Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM). The complex flight test, at White Sands Missile Range, NM, demonstrated the ability of the imaging infrared (I2R) sensor in the missile’s cooled tri-mode seeker to lock on before launch at extended range.
• Lockheed Martin to Continue Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion in Hawaii Under New Contract Lockheed Martin 22 Nov 2010 -- The U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a $4.4 million contract modification to advance the design for an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) pilot plant off the coast of Hawaii.
• Raytheon Awarded $32 Million U.S. Navy Bomb Rack Contract Raytheon 22 Nov 2010 -- The U.S. Navy's Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) a $32.4 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for engineering and manufacturing development of the BRU-69/A Multi-Purpose Bomb Rack system.
• Boeing Phantom Ray Completes Low-speed Taxi Tests Boeing 22 Nov 2010 -- The Boeing [NYSE: BA] Phantom Ray unmanned airborne system successfully completed low-speed taxi tests on Nov. 18 at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis.
• ATK's EO-1 Satellite Far Exceeds Design and Mission Life ATK 22 Nov 2010 -- ATK (NYSE: ATK) and NASA are marking the 10-year anniversary of NASA's Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite. The spacecraft, built by ATK for the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, had an initial design and mission life of one year, but continues operating today, more than nine years past the initial mission.
• Astrium – the double prime contractor for the 54th Ariane 5 launch EADS 22 Nov 2010 -- The Highly Adaptable Satellite (HYLAS) 1, which was designed and built by Astrium for the satellite broadband operator Avanti Communications, has been fully fuelled and integrated with the Ariane 5 launch vehicle at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.
• Pioneering Hyperion Hyperspectral Imager Built by Northrop Grumman Marks 10th Anniversary On-Orbit, Continues to Deliver Outstanding Data Northrop Grumman 22 Nov 2010 -- NASA's first hyperspectral imager in space, built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) for the Goddard Space Flight Center, is observing its tenth anniversary on-orbit, outliving its design life by 1000 percent. Originally designed for one year of operation with a two year goal, Hyperion continues to deliver highly detailed observations of the Earth's surface, atmosphere and biomass.
• Orbital Successfully Launches Minotaur IV Rocket for U.S. Air Force Orbital Sciences Corp. 22 Nov 2010 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, today announced that it successfully launched a Minotaur IV space launch vehicle in support of the U.S. Air Force’s Space Test Program-S26 (STP-S26) mission.
• U.S. Delta IV rocket with secret satellite blasts off RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2010 -- A Delta IV rocket carrying a secret payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) blasted off on Monday from Cape Canaveral, the launch company said on its website.
• Second prototype fifth-generation fighter to fly before yearend RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2010 -- Flight trials of the second prototype of Sukhoi's fifth-generation T-50 fighter aircraft are due before the end of the year, Sukhoi holding CEO Mikhail Pogosyan said on Monday.

Other Conflicts

• 22 November 2010 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 22 Nov 2010
• Security Council focuses on efforts to spare civilians from effects of war UN News Centre 22 Nov 2010 -- The Security Council today once again called on parties to conflict to take steps to protect civilians affected by hostilities, demanding that they put an end to practices such as sexual violence, forced recruitment and other violations of international humanitarian law.
• UN Urges Protection of Civilians in Conflict Zones VOA 22 Nov 2010 -- The United Nations Security Council on Monday called for the protection of civilians threatened by conflict.
• Sudan: UN referenda panel concerned at low voter registration in north UN News Centre 22 Nov 2010 -- Few people from Southern Sudan who live in the north are turning out to enrol as voters for the referenda on the future of the south, the chairperson of the United Nations-appointed panel monitoring the process said today, citing various reasons for the dismal turnout, including lack of awareness and uncertainty.
• ICC war crimes trial of former DR Congo leader begins UN News Centre 22 Nov 2010 -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) today began the trial of former Congolese leader Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, who stands accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed in the Central African Republic (CAR) between 2002 and 2003.
• YEMEN: Renewed violence stops IDPs from returning home IRIN 22 Nov 2010 -- Dozens of people have been reportedly killed and several injured in ongoing clashes between Houthi-led Shia rebels and pro-government tribesmen in Qutaber and Bani Awair districts in the northern Saada governorate.
• CENTRAL AFRICA: New arms deal elicits optimism IRIN 22 Nov 2010 -- Officials and analysts expressed optimism that a convention signed in Brazzaville, the Congolese capital, on 19 November would succeed in stemming the flow of small arms in central Africa, as long as it is backed by robust implementation measures.
• UK criticised for arming Israel IRNA 22 Nov 2010 -- British arms companies have faced heavy criticism at the Russell Tribunal on Palestine (RTP) for aiding and abetting Israeli war crimes and human rights abuses.
• UN envoy urges compromise as Somalia’s parliament meets to endorse cabinet UN News Centre 22 Nov 2010 -- The United Nations envoy for Somalia today urged the country’s transitional parliament to exercise the spirit of compromise in the debate expected to culminate in the endorsement of a new cabinet.
• Israeli Parliament to Vote on East Jerusalem, Golan Heights Referendum VOA 22 Nov 2010 -- Israel's parliament is set to vote on a bill that could further stifle future peace deals with the Palestinians or Syrians.

News Reports

• US: No Reward for North Korean for 'Bad Behavior' VOA 22 Nov 2010 -- The United States said Monday that North Korea will derive no benefit from world powers for the apparent uranium enrichment program it revealed to an American scientist earlier this month. The Obama administration is consulting with parties to the stalled North Korea nuclear talks over the development.
• North Korean Uranium Enrichment Revelation Causes Consternation RFE/RL 22 Nov 2010 -- Japan has called it totally unacceptable. South Korea has expressed "grave concern." These were the first reactions to the news that North Korea has built in secret a new facility for enriching uranium -- a step that could enhance Pyongyang's ability to produce nuclear bombs.
• North Korea uranium program developments not a crisis - U.S. envoy RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2010 -- New revelations on North Korea's uranium enrichment program are provocative, but not a full-fledged crisis, the U.S. special envoy for the secretive communist state said on Monday, regional media report.
• Bout 'scapegoat' for other people's crimes - wife RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2010 -- Suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout is being made into a scapegoat and has been transformed into a "substitute" for Osama bin Laden, his wife Alla said on Monday.
• Alleged Russian Arms Smuggler's Wife Calls US Extradition Illegal VOA 22 Nov 2010 -- The wife of alleged Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout says Thailand acted illegally in extraditing him to the United States and vows to launch a legal battle against Thai authorities.
• Georgia allows Russian official to meet with alleged spy ring RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2010 -- Georgia has allowed a Russian official to meet on Monday with four Russian nationals who are awaiting trial on espionage charges in Tbilisi, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze said.
• Iran Sets February Trial Date for US Hikers VOA 22 Nov 2010 -- The lawyer for three U.S. citizens facing espionage charges in Iran says a new trial date has been set for February 6, but the judge has refused to allow him to meet with his clients to prepare a defense.
• Relief work resumes in Haitian city after riots, UN humanitarian office reports UN News Centre 22 Nov 2010 -- The Haitian city of Cap Haïtien is now calm after several days of riots linked to the cholera outbreak in the Caribbean country, and two United Nations agencies have resumed relief operations in the city, the world body’s humanitarian arm reported today.
• New Sri Lankan cabinet sworn in IRNA 22 Nov 2010 -- All 49 members of the new Sri Lankan Cabinet sworn in Monday, heralding the second six-year term of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who retained the key portfolios of Defence and Finance.
• What Is Really Threatening Rahmon's Regime? RFE/RL 22 Nov 2010
• Egypt Rejects International Election Observers, Domestic Monitors Frustrated VOA 22 Nov 2010 -- The Egyptian government has rejected calls to allow international monitoring of parliamentary elections to be held next Sunday. The government says foreign oversight would infringe on state sovereignty. However, there are indications that authorities are also not keen on domestic monitors.
• Expected Hezbollah Indictments Have Lebanese on Edge VOA 22 Nov 2010 -- A U.N.-backed tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is expected to issue indictments in the case soon. In Lebanon, that has raised concerns of possible violence if members of Hezbollah are implicated.
• Madagascar Approves New Constitution VOA 22 Nov 2010 -- Officials in Madagascar say voters have approved a new constitution that could keep coup leader Andry Rajoelina in power indefinitely.
• Commentary: Ukrainian Democracy Will Be Built By Deeds, Not Pronouncements RFE/RL 22 Nov 2010 -- The public relations and lobbying campaign conducted in recent months by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych looks pretty impressive on paper. Some big PR guns have been hired in Brussels to complement the long-established U.S. political consultants who have worked with Yanukovych’s team since 2005.
• EU, Ukraine Agree On 'Road Map' For Visa-Free Travel RFE/RL 22 Nov 2010 -- Ukraine and the European Union, at a summit in Brussels today, agreed on an "action plan" that Kyiv hopes will lead to visa-free travel for Ukrainians within the 27-nation bloc.