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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 03 Dec 2010 [PDF]
• Officials Confirm Terrorist Leader's Death AFPS 03 Dec 2010 -- Officials from NATO’s International Security Assistance Force confirmed the death of a Taliban leader killed Nov. 20 in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.
• British Role in Afghanistan Blasted in Leaked US Cables VOA 03 Dec 2010 -- According to classified U.S. cables released by the online group WikiLeaks, Britain's operation in Afghanistan's Helmand province was "a mess."
• UK 'not up to task' in Afghanistan, say leaked US cable IRNA 03 Dec 2010 -- Britain’s military operations in Afghanistan have been harshly criticised by the country’s president Hamid Karzai.
• Tajikistan concerned over Afghanistan withdrawal RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2010 -- Tajikistan is concerned over the decision to gradually withdraw anti-terrorist coalition forces from Afghanistan.
• Afghanistan transit agreements Russia's contribution to NATO efforts RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2010 -- Agreements between Russia and Western countries on the transit of military and civilian cargo to Afghanistan are Russia's contribution.
• Over 120 UK war fatalities aged 21 or under IRNA 03 Dec 2010 -- Nearly a quarter of British soldiers killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were aged 21 years old or younger, Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey has revealed.
• U.S. and Afghan Army partner to supply troops on the frontline Army News 03 Dec 2010 -- For the past two months, Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), nicknamed Leader Rakkasans, have partnered with the Afghan National Army in order to supply troops fighting Taliban in the Horn of Panjwa'i, an area southwest of the Arghandab River.
• Commandos enable spread of Afghan radio, culture Army News 03 Dec 2010 -- On the streets of Kandahar walks a 21-year-old, elite Afghan soldier armed with only pen, paper and a voice recorder. His name is Shakeel Ahmed and he's taking requests for a nearby radio station called "Radio Heela," or "Radio Hope" in Kandahar province.
• Paktika PRT visits Orgun schools, conducts KLE Army News 03 Dec 2010 -- Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team civil affairs visited schools and conducted a key leader engagement in the Orgun District here, Nov. 24.
• Soldiers and ANA fight to drive out last Taliban stronghold Army News 03 Dec 2010 -- After nine years of fighting in Afghanistan, Afghan National Army soldiers, supported by U.S. forces, have established a firm position in several areas of what is being called the Taliban's last stronghold, the horn of Panjwa'i, an area southwest of the Arghandab River.
• Finding the quickest path to victory in Afghanistan - U.S. forces reach out to local leaders Army News 03 Dec 2010 -- Winning the trust and confidence of the Afghan people is considered essential to victory in Afghanistan. Gaining the faith of key local leaders is one of the best ways to do that.
• Latest WikiLeaks Releases Show Afghan Corruption VOA 03 Dec 2010 -- Hundreds of U.S. diplomatic cables released by the WikiLeaks website depict Afghanistan as a country where corruption is rampant at every level of government.
• Remarks by the President to the Troops at Bagram Air Base The White House 03 Dec 2010
• Obama: Servicemembers Prove America's Best Days Lie Ahead AFPS 03 Dec 2010 -- President Obama: Bravery, resolve, expertise and commitment of American servicemembers proves that America’s best days lie ahead.
• Obama Makes Surprise Visit to Afghanistan VOA 03 Dec 2010 -- US President Obama has made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan, to thank U.S. troops for their service.
• Obama Makes Surprise Visit To U.S. Troops In Afghanistan RFE/RL 03 Dec 2010 -- U.S. President Obama made a surprise, four-hour visit to Afghanistan on December 3.
• Obama Makes Surprise Trip to Afghanistan VOA 03 Dec 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama is making a surprise trip to Afghanistan, but bad weather will prevent him from meeting personally with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Defense Policy / Programs

• OSCE 'unfit' to deal with missile defense - Medvedev RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2010 -- The OSCE is ill-equipped to address missile defense issues, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.
• US Military Chiefs Concerned About Open Homosexual Service VOA 03 Dec 2010 -- Top officers of the US Army and Marine Corps told the Congress it should not vote to allow homosexuals to serve openly in the military at this time.
• Chairman Discusses 'Don't Ask,' Global Issues in Podcast AFPS 03 Dec 2010 -- Nation’s top officer: Repeal of the law that bans gays from serving openly in the military is a change he personally and professionally feels needs to be made.
• Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Recommends 'Don't Ask' Repeal AFPS 03 Dec 2010 -- American servicemembers “think in terms of mission accomplishment and look beyond issues of race, religion, gender and, frankly, sexual orientation,” the nation’s No. 2 military officer told Congress.
• Admiral Sees Little Impact from 'Don't Ask' Repeal AFPS 03 Dec 2010 -- A repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law would not damage naval readiness, effectiveness and cohesion, the Navy’s senior military officer told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
• Casey Supports Repeal, But Not During War AFPS 03 Dec 2010 -- Army's senior officer told the Senate Armed Services Committee today, repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law now would be a distraction during wartime.
• Amos Recommends Deferring Repeal of 'Don't Ask' Law AFPS 03 Dec 2010 -- Marine Corps top officer told the Senate Armed Services Committee today, he recommends against repealing the law at this time.
• Schwartz: Services Need Time to Implement 'Don't Ask' Repeal AFPS 03 Dec 2010 -- Allowing time to adequately prepare servicemembers prior to implementing a repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law is vital to continued mission effectiveness, the Air Force chief of staff told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
• Gay Military Officer Tells His Story about 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' VOA 03 Dec 2010 -- Top U.S. military officials have urged the Senate to vote to repeal the law banning homosexuals from serving openly in the armed forces.
• X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle lands at Vandenberg AFB AFNS 03 Dec 2010 -- The U.S. Air Force's first unmanned re-entry spacecraft landed here Dec. 3 at 1:16 a.m.
• Fort Bragg uses training to be ready for any situation Army News 03 Dec 2010 -- It's a chilling thought; an armed co-worker who comes to work ready to kill, sits in a car packed with chemicals and explosives in a crowded parking, ready to destroy everything and everyone around it. What should you do? What will you do?
• Monmouth employees begin move into their new Maryland facilities Army News 03 Dec 2010 -- Years turned into months, months turned to weeks, and weeks will soon turn into days for the CECOM Contracting Center employees moving to the Center's new facilities at Aberdeen Proving Ground in November.
• 18th CSSB surpasses Army standard during sling load training Army News 03 Dec 2010 -- About two dozen Soldiers from the 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, conducted sling load training recently completing the mission in 30 minutes, far exceeding the Army standard of 60 minutes.
• Mortarmen hit their mark Army News 03 Dec 2010 -- Mortarmen lit up the sky Wednesday around Cactus Range on Fort Benning's eastern border as they conducted a culminating live-fire event to become certified.
• Land Warfare Conference held in Australia highlights robotics Army News 03 Dec 2010 -- The Land Warfare Conference, an event that highlights the defense industry's newest equipment to meet battle contingencies, recognized advances in skilled robotics recently at the Brisbane Convention Center.
• BRAC to the Future IV Army News 03 Dec 2010 -- Leaders, elected officials, business owners and the general public from across the Tennessee Valley gathered at the Von Braun center here Friday to discuss BRAC and its impact to the community.
• Bomb squadrons rotate at Andersen AFB AFNS 03 Dec 2010 -- More than 200 Airmen and two B-52H Stratofortress aircraft arrived here recently to replace the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron.
• 2nd MLG (Fwd) preps troops, families for deployment USMC News 03 Dec 2010 -- Pre-deployment training is filled with marksmanship training, field exercises and classroom presentations and it was no different for Marines preparing to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) in 2011.
• Recon Marines take to the sea during helo operations USMC News 03 Dec 2010 -- The CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter glided precariously low over the choppy water off the beach of Camp Schwab, dropping pairs of reconnaissance Marines into the ocean. The splash of the Marines’ entry into the waves was lost in the wind-whipped water that sprayed underneath the dual rotors of the helicopter.
• Riverine Sailors Participate in Strike Group Exercise Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2010 -- Sailors assigned to Riverine Group 1 and Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 2 participated in Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) Dec 2.
• Nimitz Onloads Hundreds of Vehicles for Transit from San Diego to Bremerton Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2010 -- USS Nimitz (CVN 68) completed an onload of 393 privately owned vehicles (POVs) Dec. 2, as part of an Opportune Lift (OPLIFT) program to assist Sailors and their families with the ship's homeport shift from Naval Base Coronado, to Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Wash.
• Navy Warfare Center Supports Coast Guard Ship Maintenance Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2010 -- The Navy's independent assessment authority installed the eLog electronic maintenance database software aboard two U.S. Coast Guard cutters, Nov. 23, eliminating paper records collection for shipboard maintenance.
• Construction Underway for Replacement Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2010 -- A groundbreaking ceremony was held Dec. 2 to officially begin construction on a replacement Naval Hospital aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton at the 70 acre site near the main entrance of the base.
• First Lady Michelle Obama Dedicates NNMC Fisher Houses Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2010 -- First Lady Michelle Obama visited National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) Bethesda, Md. Dec. 3, to dedicate the first of three new Fisher Houses aboard the facility.
• CNO Releases 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Message to the Fleet Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2010 -- The chief of naval operations (CNO) released a video message discussing the DoD comprehensive review of the issues associated with the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (DADT) policy following his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Dec. 3.
• USS George H.W. Bush Aids Vessel in Distress Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2010 -- USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) delivered aid to a stranded sailboat in distress approximately 90 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., Dec. 3.
• HSV 2 Swift Hosts Chilean CNO Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2010 -- High Speed Vessel 2 (HSV 2) Swift welcomed the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet Commander and the Chilean chief of naval operations aboard for a bay tour of Puerto Valparaiso Dec. 2, in support of Expo Naval 2010 and Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2011.
• FISC Yokosuka logistics teams support POTUS visit to Western Pacific Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2010 -- President Barack Obama's recent Western Pacific trip, reinforcing U.S. diplomacy efforts and economic interests, had 24/7 support from Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC) Yokosuka, Nov. 9 to 14, during the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Yokohama.
• Navy Training Leader Addresses Annual Training, Simulation Conference Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2010 -- Speaking to an audience of defense contractors and military representatives at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) Nov. 30, the head of the U.S. Navy's lead training command said it is people who make the U.S. Armed Forces formidable.
• Cambodian-Born Navy Commander Visits Homeland Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2010 -- Commanded by a man who was born in the rice fields of Cambodia, the guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) arrived in Sihanoukville, Cambodia for a port call Dec. 3.
• Groundbreaking Held for New Seabee Headquarters Navy NewsStand 03 Dec 2010 -- The 1st Naval Construction Division (1NCD) broke ground at a new headquarters building at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va., Nov. 30.
• The U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization Army News 03 Dec 2010 -- The U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization (USASATMO) is a brigade-equivalent command, headquartered at Fort Bragg.
• Aircrews provide training for weapons school AFNS 03 Dec 2010 -- Flares popped from the side of C-17 Globemaster IIIs and C-130 Hercules aircraft and fell to the desert floor, filling the skies with smoke.
• Gaming Console Supercomputer Can Read, Correct Input AFPS 03 Dec 2010 -- What once was a big black box with a bad video version of ping-pong is now a sleek, motion-capturing, high-resolution computer system capable of networking around the world.
• What's next for the Russian Air Force? RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2010 -- Deputy Commander of the Russian Air Force Igor Sadofiyev: In the next 10 years, Russia will acquire more than 1,500 new aircraft.
• CIS chiefs of staff want military integration RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2010 -- The chiefs of the CIS general staffs on Friday spoke in favor of the integration of the national armed forces of the organization's member states.
• Russia, Italy to stage Navy, Army drills in 2011 RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2010 -- Russia and Italy will hold joint naval and ground force exercises in 2011, Russian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Irina Kovalchuk said.
• Russia to buy 10 Italian armored vehicles RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2010 -- Russia will buy 10 Lynx light multi-role armored vehicles (LMV) from Italy's Iveco, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said.
• December 3, 2010 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 03 Dec 2010
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes en route Bagram Air Base The White House 03 Dec 2010
• Press Briefing by General Lute and Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Rhodes on the President's Visit to Afghanistan The White House 03 Dec 2010

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 03, 2010
• Boeing to Provide A160T Hummingbird Unmanned Aircraft for US Marine Corps Boeing 03 Dec 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has awarded the company a $29.9 million contract for Cargo Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Services to support the U.S. Marine Corps. Boeing will provide two A160T Hummingbird unmanned vehicles, three ground control stations, spares, training and support.
• Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 300 Jobs, $14 Million to Oregon Boeing 03 Dec 2010 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that Oregon will benefit from an estimated 300 total jobs and generate an estimated $14 million in annual economic impact if the Boeing NewGen Tanker is selected as the U.S. Air Force's next aerial refueling aircraft.
• Northrop Grumman Wins Contract to Support Hull and Deck Machinery Systems Northrop Grumman 03 Dec 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) subsidiary AMSEC LLC has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy for engineering services and technical, logistics, maintenance and installation/alteration support on cargo and weapons handling systems.
• Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Successfully Completes 1st Flight Boeing 03 Dec 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced the successful de-orbit and landing of the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), also known as the X-37B, for the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO). The X-37B landed at 1:16 a.m. Pacific time today, concluding its more than 220-day experimental test mission. It was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on April 22.
• Boeing Named NASA's Large Business Prime Contractor of the Year Boeing 03 Dec 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has been named the Large Business Prime Contractor of the Year by NASA for outstanding contributions to the agency’s small-business program on the Checkout, Assembly and Payload Processing Services (CAPPS) contract at Kennedy Space Center.
• Lockheed Martin-Raytheon Team Will Apply Proven Experience in Bidding for Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Contract Lockheed Martin 03 Dec 2010 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today that the Lockheed Martin-Raytheon team competing for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Development and Sustainment Contract has received the final request for proposal from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

Other Conflicts

• 3 December 2010 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 03 Dec 2010
• South Korea to Retaliate If Bombed Again VOA 03 Dec 2010 -- A top South Korean presidential security advisor says Seoul is prepared to bomb North Korea if Pyongyang again hits the South with artillery.
• Japan, U.S. start largest ever military drills amid Korean tensions RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2010 -- Japan and the US launched their biggest ever joint military exercises amid tensions on the Korean peninsula.
• Ban calls for resumption of Israeli-Syrian talks, extension of UN force UN News Centre 03 Dec 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban recommended that the UN force monitoring the ceasefire between Israel and Syria be extended.
• Central African Republic: Ban advises extension of UN peacebuilding office UN News Centre 03 Dec 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban recommended that the mandate of the UN peacebuilding office in the Central African Republic be extended.
• Armenia Threatens To Recognize Disputed Karabakh Region RFE/RL 03 Dec 2010 -- Armenia has threatened to formally recognize the breakaway Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state.
• BURUNDI: Delays in justice mechanisms "fuel impunity" IRIN 03 Dec 2010 -- Ten years after the signing of an accord, Burundi has yet to establish transitional justice mechanisms aimed at enhancing reconciliation.
• Terrorist threat in Russia 'high' - interior minister RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2010 -- The terrorist threat throughout Russia remains high, Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev said.
• Window of opportunity in Cyprus talks 'rapidly closing,' Ban warns UN News Centre 03 Dec 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban is calling on the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders to ready a practical plan by January to overcome major differences.

News Reports

• Soltanieh criticizes IAEA's double standards IRNA 03 Dec 2010 -- Iran's ambassador to the IAEA insists that resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors and the UNSC against the Islamic Republic have no legal basis.
• Clinton Urges 'Constructive Engagement' by Iran in Nuclear Talks VOA 03 Dec 2010 -- US Secretary of State Clinton hopes Iran will come to big-power talks in Geneva Monday in a spirit of "constructive engagement".
• Clinton Calls On Iran To Be 'Constructive' At Nuclear Talks RFE/RL 03 Dec 2010 -- US Secretary of State Clinton has called on Iran to be "constructive" at talks on its controversial nuclear program.
• Clinton Urges Iran to 'Engage Seriously' on Nuclear Program VOA 03 Dec 2010 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is urging Iran to "engage seriously" with the international community about its nuclear program.
• Amano welcomes Iran-G5+1 talks IRNA 03 Dec 2010 -- IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said that he welcomes Iran-G5+1 talks.
• China welcomes resumption of talks between Iran, G5+1 IRNA 03 Dec 2010 -- Chinese government has welcomed resumption of new round of talks between Iran and G5+1, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jiang Yu said.
• WikiLeaks cables claim Iran procures uranium in Latin America RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2010 -- Iranian engineers have been actively searching for uranium deposits in Venezuela and Bolivia since 2006.
• Recent terrorist move perpetrators to be brought to justice IRNA 03 Dec 2010 -- Judiciary Chief First Deputy Hojjatoleslam Ebrahim Reissi said that perpetrators of recent terrorist act will undoubtedly be brought to justice.
• Sweden Issues 2nd Arrest Warrant for WikiLeaks' Assange VOA 03 Dec 2010 -- Sweden has issued a European arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
• WikiLeaks Exploits Weaknesses in Technology, Human Nature VOA 03 Dec 2010 -- Historians, anti-war activists and armchair observers of human nature have had plenty to mull over.
• WikiLeaks not critical for Russia, U.S. relations - Medvedev RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2010 -- The recently released WikiLeaks files are not critical for Russian-U.S. relations, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.
• Taiwan: Task force formed to monitor Wikileaks documents CNA 03 Dec 2010 -- A special task force has been established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to monitor Taiwan-related docs expected to be released soon.
• Ivory Coast Vote Results Overturned; President Declared Winner VOA 03 Dec 2010 -- Ivory Coast's Constitutional Council says the country's incumbent president has been re-elected, overturning results from the electoral commission.
• UN chief supports certification of Ivorian presidential poll, congratulates Ouattara UN News Centre 03 Dec 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban voiced his support for today’s certification by his envoy in Côte d’Ivoire of the result of last Sunday’s presidential run-off.
• Ivory Coast Election Results Contested; Military Closes Border VOA 03 Dec 2010 -- Ivory Coast's borders are closed and foreign news broadcasts suspended as the president challenges election results that show him losing to a former prime minister.
• Ban welcomes conclusion of presidential election in Guinea, urges reconciliation UN News Centre 03 Dec 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban welcomed the certification of the results of the presidential poll in Guinea.
• Guinea Supreme Court Declares Conde the New President VOA 03 Dec 2010 -- According to Guinea's Supreme Court, Alpha Conde captured more than 52% of the votes to win the nation's presidential election.
• Kyrgyz Leader To Task New Party On Coalition Talks RFE/RL 03 Dec 2010 -- On December 4, Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbaeva will task another political party to form a coalition government.
• On visit to Nepal, UN political chief urges parties to advance peace process UN News Centre 03 Dec 2010 -- The UN political chief arrived in Nepal to assess progress in the country’s peace process.
• Russia Hands Over Katyn Documents To Poland RFE/RL 03 Dec 2010 -- Russia has handed over more documents on the World War II Katyn massacres to Poland, ahead of an upcoming visit by President Dmitry Medvedev to Warsaw.
• Some Chinese Dissidents See Subtle Changes Towards More Freedoms VOA 03 Dec 2010 -- An awards ceremony will be held in Norway next week for jailed Chinese dissident, Liu Xiaobo.
• Haiti: Ban appeals for immediate massive aid to fight deadly cholera epidemic UN News Centre 03 Dec 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the international community to provide immediate massive aid to Haiti to fight a deadly cholera epidemic raging through the impoverished country, warning that hundreds of thousands of lives are at risk.
• Ban voices support for UN-backed body tackling impunity in Guatemala UN News Centre 03 Dec 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his strong support for the work being done by the United Nations-backed commission charged with dismantling illegal armed groups and tackling impunity in Guatemala.
• Pakistan's flood-affected people in need of more assistance - UN official UN News Centre 03 Dec 2010 -- The United Nations humanitarian chief visited the flood-ravaged area of Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh.