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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 03 Jan 2011 [PDF]
• 'Lightning' battalion senior enlisted leaders forge partnership with Iraqi Federal Police Army News 03 Jan 2011 -- One of the major efforts of the U.S. advise and assist mission in Iraq has been the development of a strong and capable noncommissioned officer corps.
• 'Dragon' battalion teaches Iraqi Army Soldiers map reading, land navigation skills Army News 03 Jan 2011 -- December has been a busy month for Soldiers with Company B, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division - Center. The first week of the month was a flurry of activity, as the company transitioned into its new role in Iraq while training, advising and assisting their Iraqi Security Forces partners.
• Suicide Bomber Kills 1, Wounds 28 in Iraq VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- Iraqi officials say a suicide bomber has attacked a police intelligence office northeast of Baghdad, killing one person and wounding at least 28 others.
• Readout of the Deputy National Security Advisor's Recent Trip to Afghanistan The White House 03 Jan 2011
• Coalition Condemns Insurgent Attacks, Continues Operations AFPS 03 Jan 2011 -- Four Afghan civilians were killed and at least eight others were seriously wounded today in two insurgent attacks that followed several days in which Afghan and coalition troops killed or captured numerous insurgent leaders in Afghanistan, military officials reported.
• ISAF condemns bomb attack in Helmand Province Army News 03 Jan 2011 -- NATO's International Security Assistance Force condemned today's indiscriminate insurgent Improvised-Explosive-Device attack in Afghanistan's Helmand Province that killed at least 10 Afghan civilians and injured several more, military officials reported.
• Marines expand operations in parts of Afghanistan USMC News 03 Jan 2011 -- The Marines of 3rd Platoon, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, with their Afghan National Army counterparts, set out on a patrol to "draw lines in the sand," outside Patrol Base Fulod in Sangin District, Dec. 30.
• Attacking IED networks Army News 03 Jan 2011 -- When a roadside bomb killed 14 Afghan civilians Dec. 30, including women and children, it was clear who was responsible for the blast. Taliban insurgents, under increased pressure from a superior force newly flush with resources and additional troops, rely heavily on the devices to inflict casualties and avoid face-to-face confrontations that could further decimate their ranks.
• ANP compete in first aid competition in Kandahar Army News 03 Jan 2011 -- Afghan National Police officers competed in a first aid competition Dec. 30, at Camp Nathan Smith, Afghanistan, to test their medical treatment skills against each other and determine which police sub-station was the best.
• 3-401st keeps Buffalos on the road Army News 03 Jan 2011 -- Searching out improvised explosive devices is the daily mission for members of the 264th Route Clearance Company/ Battalion Route Clearance Package 38, based at Forward Operating Base Shank in eastern Afghanistan. Their mission puts them in frequent danger, but their services are essential for the movement of vehicles and supplies.
• 3-401st moves materiel in Afghanistan Army News 03 Jan 2011 -- Standing in the middle of a dust bowl, bright sun reflecting off their orange safety vests, Sgt. John L. Kammer and Spc. Taylor Bonin directed the massive push of Force Package 3 equipment to fighting forces.
• Soldiers, 3-401st contractors team to improve M-ATVs Army News 03 Jan 2011 -- Looking to improve their vehicles' performance, two Soldiers came up with an idea for a new bumper on the mine-resistant, ambushed-protected all-terrain vehicle. Members of the 426th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, they named it the Bastogne bumper for their 101st forebears who stood fast in the Belgian city during the World War II Battle of the Bulge.
• NMCB 3 Maiwand Detachment Builds Patrol Base for British Troops NNS 03 Jan 2011 -- On Dec. 29th 31 Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 returned to the safety of Camp Leatherneck after spending 17 days building a patrol base in the Maiwand District of Afghanistan.
• PRT assists villagers with canal reinforcement Army News 03 Jan 2011 -- A truck full of cement bags and gabions -- rock-filled baskets used for fortification -- were delivered to the Shutol District Center by a local contractor and the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team civil affairs members, Dec. 20, to assist in the re-creation of an irrigation canal.
• NATO: No Pause in Afghan Winter Fighting VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- NATO said there will be no letup in fighting during the winter months in Afghanistan.
• Contracting battalion continues operations in Haiti Army News 03 Jan 2011 -- When the 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated the small Caribbean nation of Haiti in January 2010, the 410th Contracting Support Brigade, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, deployed teams within 24 hours to support and sustain the Joint Task Force-Haiti mission, Operation Unified Response.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Wingmen: Airmen look after military working dogs AFNS 03 Jan 2011 -- Every day Airmen take care of each other, and the 52nd Security Forces Squadron's military working dog handlers have a furry wingman that requires a little extra care during the winter here.
• Mullen: Leadership Key to Nation’s, Military’s Future AFPS 03 Jan 2011 -- Because leaders at all levels are key to U.S. success, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a CNN interview broadcast yesterday, his main concern is ensuring the military continues to develop and encourage great leaders for the country.
• Suicide Prevention Alliance Focuses on Troops, Veterans AFPS 03 Jan 2011 -- A suicide prevention task force for troops and veterans has been added to a national alliance that officials hope will help bring more attention to the issues and offer solutions in the future.
• U.S. Military fields new mine roller technology to defeat IEDs Army News 03 Jan 2011 -- The U.S. military is fielding new mine roller technology expected to provide even more protection from improvised explosive devices.
• US Marines Being Trained for Cultural Sensitivity Before Deployment VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- The U.S. military is expected to withdraw from Afghanistan by 2014. But thousands of U.S. Marines will still deploy there within the next year to support the war.
• Reservists load humanitarian aid bound for Nicaragua AFNS 03 Jan 2011 -- A C-17 Globemaster III from the Air Force Reserve Command's 315th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., landed here Dec. 30 to load humanitarian aid headed for Managua, Nicaragua.
• Chief Roy visits Misawa, meets with Airmen AFNS 03 Jan 2011 -- The 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited here Dec. 28 through Dec. 29, as part of a tour of several installations within the Pacific Air Forces.
• Japan hopes for security alliance with South Korea RIA Novosti 03 Jan 2011 -- Japan wants to establish an alliance with South Korea to ensure security in East Asia against a backdrop of possible provocations from North Korea, the Japanese foreign minister, Seiji Maehara, said.
• KCNA on Japan's Policy toward US KCNA 03 Jan 2011 -- The approval rating for Naoto Kan, Prime Minister of Japan, has reached the lowest. The support rate for the ruling Democratic Party of Japan markedly sank as compared with that in the past.
• WikiLeaks: Iran Can Attack Israel With Less Than 12 Minutes Warning VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- U.S. diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks reveal that Israel believes it would have 10-12 minutes' warning should Iran launch a rocket attack against the country.
• Leaked Cables Show US-German Spy Satellite Program VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- Leaked U.S. diplomatic cables show that the United States and Germany allegedly are developing together a spy satellite system despite strong opposition from countries such as France.
• Iraqi soldiers complete commando training Army News 03 Jan 2011 -- Pvt. Salah Kahdumm, a 25-year-old soldier assigned to the 11th Iraqi Army Division, recently finished a nearly three-week-long commando school. He's ready for the challenge it will bring.
• Iraqi commandos trained, ready Army News 03 Jan 2011
• January 3, 2011 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 03 Jan 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 03, 2011
• General Dynamics to Deliver Open Architecture-based Combat Systems for 10 Littoral Combat Ships General Dynamics 03 Jan 2011 -- General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems has been awarded a contract by Austal USA to be the Platform Systems Engineering Agent (PSEA) of the Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). The initial contract award is for one ship, with nine additional ships in the following five years. The work on the initial contract will be performed through 2014. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• Lockheed Martin’s JAGM Successfully Completes Flying Qualities Tests On Navy’s Super Hornet Lockheed Martin 03 Jan 2011 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has successfully completed a comprehensive series of tests to demonstrate the flight characteristics of the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F while carrying the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM). The flying qualities test series consisted of six flights from Patuxent River Naval Air Station, MD, between October 5 and November 2 with a total flying time of 11.2 hours.
• ORBIT Awarded UAV Tracking and Communication System Contract Valued at $3.1 Million Orbit 03 Jan 2011 -- ORBIT Communication Systems, Ltd., a satellite communications, tracking, and airborne communications-management systems provider, has been awarded a contract valued at $3.1 Million for the supply of multiple ship borne Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) tracking and communications systems to an undisclosed customer.
• Pratt & Whitney's Short Take Off Vertical Landing Variant F135 Engine Receives Initial Service Release Pratt & Whitney 03 Jan 2011 -- Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company, has achieved initial service release (ISR) for the short take off and vertical landing variant (STOVL) F135 engine, marking another major milestone. The propulsion system is now certified as the production configuration and cleared for flight in the Lockheed Martin F-35B stealth fighter. Pratt & Whitney received ISR for the conventional take off and landing/carrier variant (CTOL/CV) F135 engine in February 2010.

Other Conflicts

• Earliest End to Moves to Escalate Confrontation with DPRK Urged KCNA 03 Jan 2011 -- If the Korean nation is to pave the way for reunification and prosperity at an early date, it is necessary to put an immediate end to the dangerous moves of the south Korean authorities.
• KCNA on Lee Myung Bak's DPRK Policy KCNA 03 Jan 2011 -- The Democratic Party of south Korea flailed the policy pursued by the government to escalate the confrontation with the DPRK.
• All Koreans Urged to Strive for National Reunification KCNA 03 Jan 2011 -- Rodong Sinmun in a bylined article calls upon all Koreans at home and abroad to usher in a new phase of independent reunification.
• US Willing to Help Ivory Coast's Gbagbo Make 'Dignified Exit' VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- As West African leaders press Ivory Coast's incumbent president to cede power to the winner of the country's recent presidential election, a U.S. official says Washington is willing to help Laurent Gbagbo make a "dignified exit." But, State Department officials say Mr. Gbagbo has shown no signs of leaving Ivory Coast.
• ECOWAS: Ivorian Leader Leaves 'No Option' But Force VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- An official of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said the sub-regional bloc has no option other than to “activate a legitimate force” to remove Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo from power.
• African Leaders Seek Resolution to Ivory Coast Political Crisis VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- African leaders are in Abidjan for more talks with Ivory Coast's rival presidents. The country's political crisis has sent thousands of refugees into Liberia.
• Ban reaffirms support for presidential poll result in Cote D'ivoire IRNA 03 Jan 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has reaffirmed the United Nations' “principled and unwavering” stand that the outcome of the recent presidential election in Côte d'Ivoire reflected the will of the people and the result must therefore be upheld.
• Sudan President’s Visit to Juba Seen as 'Good Gesture' VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- South Sudan’s envoy to the United States and United Nations has welcomed as a positive gesture Tuesday’s scheduled visit of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to the region ahead of Sunday’s referendum.
• Organizers '100 Percent' Ready for South Sudan Poll VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- Organizers of southern Sudan's independence referendum say they are "100 percent prepared" for the vote, to be held this coming Sunday.
• Asia 1 convoy arrives in Gaza with humanitarian aid RIA Novosti 03 Jan 2011 -- The Asia 1 convoy carrying humanitarian and medical aid to Gaza has crossed the Palestinian enclave's border with Egypt, the Al Quds radio station reported on Monday.

News Reports

• China says mastered nuclear fuel reprocessing RIA Novosti 03 Jan 2011 -- Chinese scientists have developed own technologies for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, which could increase the country's power supply dramatically, state television reported on Monday.
• South Korea Tells North Door to Dialogue Remains Open VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- Both Koreas are starting off 2011 expressing a desire for dialogue to ease tensions.
• Mass Rally in North Korea to Promote 2011 Policy Goals VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- North Korea's government has staged a mass rally in the capital, Pyongyang, to show support for policy goals outlined in its annual New Year message.
• Pakistani Prime Minister Scrambles To Forge New Ruling Coalition RFE/RL 03 Jan 2011 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani faces the difficult task of restoring his government's majority after a key coalition partner went into opposition.
• Pakistan Government Scrambles to Survive Coalition Defections VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- Pakistan's ruling party is struggling to keep its grip on power a day after a key partner quit the governing coalition, denying it the majority in the national parliament. The prime minister is meeting with opposition politicians in a bid to head off a possible no-confidence vote.
• Two die as swine flu returns to Germany IRNA 03 Jan 2011 -- Two people have died of swine flu in the German state of Lower Saxony, a state Social Ministry spokesman announced Monday.
• Terror Trial of Eight Men Begins in France VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- Eight men are on trial in Paris on charges of armed robbery to finance Islamist extremism. As the proceedings begin, there is heightened concern about terrorism in Europe.
• WikiLeaks: US Diplomats Help Boeing Sales VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- New revelations from WikiLeaks show haggling between U.S. diplomats and foreign governments over sales of high-tech products worth tens of billions of dollars that support thousands of American jobs.
• Egyptian Investigators Suspect 'Foreigners' in Church Bombing VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- Egyptian investigators say they may have uncovered a number of people with possible links to Saturday's church bombing in Alexandria. Meanwhile, Egyptian religious leaders are working to maintain a precarious calm between Christians and Muslims after several days of angry demonstrations.
• Egyptian Government May Have Identified Suspects in Church Bombing VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- Egyptian investigators say they may have uncovered a number of suspects with possible links to Saturday's church bombing in Alexandria. Meanwhile, Egyptian religious leaders are working to maintain a precarious calm between Christians and Muslims after several days of angry demonstrations.
• Hu-Obama meeting unlikely to jeopardize U.S.-Taiwan ties: envoy CNA 03 Jan 2011 -- Taiwan's top representative to the United States, Jason Yuan, said in Washington Sunday that he does not think the upcoming visit to the U.S. by China President Hu Jintao will jeopardize Taiwan's interests.
• AFGHANISTAN: Unpaid volunteers prop up health system IRIN 03 Jan 2011 -- Some 22,000 community health volunteers in Afghanistan are vital to the country’s health system but some are beginning to wonder if they might provide a more effective service if they were paid, and had formal work contracts.
• Viktor Bout tells RIA Novosti of his life in American jail RIA Novosti 03 Jan 2011 -- Suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, extradited from Thailand to the United States in mid-November, has given an interview to RIA Novosti.
• Belarusian ex-presidential candidate released from custody RIA Novosti 03 Jan 2011 -- Ex-presidential candidate Vitaly Rymashevsky detained two weeks ago over his involvement in Belarus post-election rally has been released, his party's website said.