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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 07 Apr 2011 [PDF]
• NATO and Libya - Operational Media Update: 07 April 2011
• NATO Will Not Apologize for Libyan Rebel Deaths VOA 08 Apr 2011 -- NATO said on Friday its airstrikes hit rebel tanks fighting government forces in eastern Libya, but said it would not apologize for the deaths. Also in the region, large popular protests rocked Yemen, Syria, and Egypt.
• NATO Regrets Accidental Strike on Libyan Rebels VOA 08 Apr 2011 -- NATO has confirmed it was responsible for airstrikes that hit Libyan rebel tanks outside the eastern oil city of Brega.
• NATO Regrets Deaths, 'Won't Apologize' For Strike On Libya Rebels RFE/RL 08 Apr 2011 -- NATO says it regrets the loss of life caused by an alliance air strike in Libya, but has refused to apologize over the incident.
• Iraqi Deputy Says U.S. Wants To Maintain Troop Presence RFE/RL 08 Apr 2011 -- An Iraqi parliament deputy says U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in Baghdad seeking a deal to allow thousands of U.S. troops to stay in Iraq after the withdrawal deadline, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI) reports.
• U.S. forces help IA complete training program Army News 08 Apr 2011 -- United States Division - South witnessed the culmination of a training iteration at Tadreeb al-Shamil during a ceremony near Nasiriyah, Iraq March 30.
• Iraqi Army assumes responsibility for JSS Heider Army News 08 Apr 2011 -- During the last seven years, U.S. Soldiers stationed at Joint Security Station Heider operating alongside their Iraqi Security Forces counterparts worked to secure the Iraqi border and protect Iraqi residents near Rabiyah.
• U.S. forces remain vigilant as drawdown deadline nears says Helmick Army News 08 Apr 2011 -- Lieutenant Gen. Frank G. Helmick, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg commanding general, who is currently serving as deputy commanding general of U.S. Forces-Iraq said Iraqi forces are taking a 'huge step in the right direction,' during a video teleconference interview Friday at Fort Bragg.
• Iraq against US troop presence after 2011 RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2011 -- Baghdad does not want the United States to maintain troops in Iraq after 2011, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Friday.
• RAF Reaper reaches 20,000 hours over Afghanistan UK MOD 08 Apr 2011 -- The RAF's Remotely Piloted Air System, the Predator MQ-9 Reaper, has notched up a landmark 20,000 operational flying hours over Afghanistan.
• Forces Detain Numerous Insurgents in Afghanistan AFPS 08 Apr 2011 -- Afghan and coalition forces today detained numerous suspected insurgents during a security operation targeting a Haqqani Network facilitator in the Sayyid Karam district of Paktiya province, military officials reported.
• Security Improves in Afghanistan's Paktika Province AFPS 08 Apr 2011 -- Seven months after his soldiers became the last combat brigade to deploy to Afghanistan as part of the troop surge, Army Col. Sean M. Jenkins reported promising signs of progress in remote but strategically important Paktika province.
• Marines and Sailors depart Oshima Island after completing clean-up USMC News 08 Apr 2011 -- Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, departed Oshima Island, April 7, after completing the clean-up of Uranohama Port, and the surrounding areas, during Operation 'Field Day'.
• Services, JSDF unite during relief efforts USMC News 08 Apr 2011 -- Marines, sailors and soldiers with Logistics Combat Element, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Forward), worked with Japan Self-Defense Force personnel completing a variety of missions to aid the Japanese from March 18 to April 6.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DOD Background Briefing with Senior Defense Officials from the Pentagon on DOD Processes in the Event of a Government Shutdown DoD 08 Apr 2011 -- Presenter: Senior Defense Officials
• Budget Deal Avoids Government Shutdown AFPS 08 Apr 2011 -- Less than an hour before the federal government would have been forced to shut down, President Barack Obama announced that leaders in both parties had reached a budget agreement.
• DOD Officials Detail Closure Effects, Plans AFPS 08 Apr 2011 -- While still hoping to be spared a shutdown, Defense Department officials are making plans should the government close over the fiscal 2011 budget impasse, a senior Pentagon official said here today.
• DOD Releases Unified Command Plan 2011 DoD 08 Apr 2011 -- The Department of Defense released today the updated the Unified Command Plan (UCP), a key strategic document that establishes the missions, responsibilities, and geographic areas of responsibility for commanders of combatant commands.
• DOD Announces U.S. Force Posture Revision in Europe DoD 08 Apr 2011 -- The Department of Defense announced today that it is revising its 2004 plan to withdraw two of its four brigade combat teams (BCTs) from Europe.
• MCTAG Marines prepare Georgian soldiers for Afghanistan USMC News 08 Apr 2011 -- The Georgian 31st Light Infantry Battalion (31st LIB) kicked off its six-month training package prior to deploying to Afghanistan in support of the Georgia Deployment Program – International Security Assistance Force (GDP-ISAF) this week at Krtsanisi Training Area, Republic of Georgia.
• Testing Moves Navy Closer to Lasers for Ship Self-Defense NNS 08 Apr 2011 -- The Office of Naval Research and its industry partner marked a milestone for the Navy by successfully testing a solid-state, high-energy laser (HEL) from a surface ship, which disabled a small target vessel, April 6.
• USS George Washington Conducts Small Boat Training NNS 08 Apr 2011 -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) Sailors conducted rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) training operations to help cement valuable navigation and search and rescue procedures, April 8.
• Japan Stop Movement Lifted for Navy's Military Personnel NNS 08 Apr 2011 -- Navy released NAVADMIN 123/11 April 8th announcing the movement of Navy military personnel to commands and activities in Japan is authorized, effective immediately.
• Gates: Services Must Balance Old, New Capabilities AFPS 08 Apr 2011 -- As they move ahead, the services must find the right balance between the new capabilities they've had to develop in Iraq and Afghanistan while maintaining the traditional capabilities they used in previous wars, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today.
• Bulk of FY12 budget request to sustain personnel Army News 08 Apr 2011 -- As Congress continued to debate this year's budget, striving to avoid a federal shutdown, the Army's budget deputy paused to explain that the service's proposal for fiscal year 2012 will continue to focus on sustaining the volunteer force.
• More CROWS Coming Army News 08 Apr 2011 -- Ever since the first four CROWS saw action in an operational assessment in 2004, the word from Soldiers in the field has been 'more,' and the Army continues to answer the call.
• Army adjusting retention-control points Army News 08 Apr 2011 -- New retention-control points for privates through staff sergeants will take effect June 1.
• Signal battalion unveils new building at Fort Bragg Army News 08 Apr 2011 -- The 18th Human Resources Company, 82nd Sustainment Brigade will open a retail post office April 15 to complete the third component of the postal training facility that was opened here in August 2009.
• 56th Signal Battalion uncases colors, changes responsibility Army News 08 Apr 2011 -- Another U.S. Army unit now calls Fort Sam Houston home, as the 56th Signal Battalion uncased its colors in a ceremony at the post flagpole April 1.
• Private investment key to 'Net Zero' initiative Army News 08 Apr 2011 -- The Army is collaborating with private-sector investors to increase energy efficiency and cost savings.
• Air Force announces MC-12 basing decision AFNS 08 Apr 2011 -- The Department of the Air Force recently announced it will base the MC-12W Liberty aircraft here.
• Gates Wraps Up Iraq Visit, Arrives in UAE AFPS 08 Apr 2011 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates concluded a three-day visit to Iraq with two stops in the north today before flying here to meet with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nubayan.
• Media Availability with Secretary Gates in Mosul, Iraq DoD 08 Apr 2011 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• Two units redesignate to test, integrate air, space, cyber C2 domains AFNS 08 Apr 2011 -- To effectively test and integrate operational air, space and cyber command and control, or C2, domains, two units redesignated as test organizations here April 5.
• Guard leaders to House Subcommittee: National Guard should remain Operational AFNS 08 Apr 2011 -- As part of the Total Force, the National Guard has successfully transformed to an operational Reserve and must not be put back on the shelf as a strategic Reserve, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said last week.
• Maritime Contingency Force proves ready for all missions USMC News 08 Apr 2011 -- Most associate service members with combat and training to fight our nation's wars. However, as the Asia-Pacific region's force-in-readiness, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is always prepared to support any operation including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
• Marines remain ready to respond USMC News 08 Apr 2011 -- Marines with Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Forward), III MEF, traveled from Sendai, Japan, to Okinawa April 5 after assisting in relief efforts for Operation Tomodachi.
• Camp Foster Mess Hall celebrates grand reopening USMC News 08 Apr 2011 -- After almost two years of renovations, the Camp Foster Mess Hall officially reopened its doors March 29.
• Russia to develop S-500 air defense system by 2016 - designer RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2011 -- Russia's Almaz-Antei design bureau is planning to complete the development of the advanced S-500 air defense system by 2015-2016, the company's deputy general director Yury Solovyev said Friday.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 08, 2011
• Lockheed Martin Awarded $43.3 Million Contract For Concept Definition of Standard Missile-3 Block IIB Lockheed Martin 08 Apr 2011 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today that the U.S. Missile Defense Agency has awarded it a $43.3 million contract for concept definition and program planning for the Standard Missile-3 Block IIB (SM-3 IIB).
• U.S. Navy, Northrop Grumman Accomplish Goals for At-Sea Demonstration of Maritime Laser Northrop Grumman 08 Apr 2011 -- The U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) have successfully demonstrated high-energy, solid-state laser defenses at sea by completing a 'counter-material' test of the Maritime Laser Demonstrator (MLD) against small boats.
• Raytheon Awarded $42 Million for Next-Generation Standard Missile-3 Interceptor Raytheon 08 Apr 2011 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) was awarded $42 million for the initial concept development and program planning for the Standard Missile-3 Block IIB, which is the Missile Defense Agency's next-generation Aegis missile.
• Additional Orders For DRAC Air Vehicles For The French Army EADS 08 Apr 2011 -- Cassidian has been notified by the French defence procurement agency (DGA) of the confirmation of additional orders for DRAC air vehicles and systems for the French Army.
• General Dynamics Selected by Department of Justice to Provide Information Technology Support Services General Dynamics 08 Apr 2011 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a contract under the U.S. Department of Justice's Information Technology Support Services 4 (ITSS4) program.

Other Conflicts

• 8 April 2011 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 08 Apr 2011
• UN chief to chair international meeting on Libya next week UN News Centre 08 Apr 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel to Egypt next week to chair a meeting of regional organizations convened in an effort to ensure continued coordination of the international response to the crisis in Libya, his spokesperson said today.
• LIBYA: Timeline of key events since February 2011 IRIN 08 Apr 2011 -- The crisis in Libya began in mid-February and has since led to deaths, injuries and the displacement of thousands. Nearly half a million people, including many third-country nationals who were working in Libya, have left the country. Some are still stranded at border points. Here is a timeline of some key events since February:
• Killings in Ivory Coast Causing More to Flee VOA 08 Apr 2011 -- The United Nations Human Rights Office reports an escalation in human rights violations since forces loyal to internationally recognized president Alassane Outtara have been closing in on his rival Laurent Gbagbo. At the same time, U.N. agencies report more people are fleeing to other countries.
• Ivory Coast: Ouattara Blockades Gbagbo, UN Finds Massacre Victims VOA 08 Apr 2011 -- Fighters loyal to Ivory Coast's internationally-recognized president are blockading the compound of the country's incumbent leader, who is refusing to give up power. U.N. human rights investigators say they have found more than 100 bodies that appear to be victims of ethnic killing.
• UN human rights team finds over 100 bodies over past day in Côte d'Ivoire UN News Centre 08 Apr 2011 -- The United Nations human rights office said today that its investigators have found more than 100 bodies over the past 24 hours in three different towns in strife-torn Côte d'Ivoire, with some of them appearing to be ethnic killings.
• COTE D'IVOIRE-LIBERIA: Refugees report murder, rape, abuse IRIN 08 Apr 2011 -- Ivoirians who have fled across the border to Liberia have reported incidents of rape, sexual abuse and murder to NGOs and human rights groups working in Grand Geddeh and Nimba counties.
• Secretary-General and Israeli leader discuss impasse in Middle East peace process UN News Centre 08 Apr 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Israeli President Shimon Peres discussed the continuing impasse in the Middle East peace process during a meeting today between the two leaders at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
• Iraqi troops attack exiled Iranian armed group RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2011 -- At least 3 people were killed and many more injured in Friday's attack by Iraqi troops on a base of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI), an exiled Iranian armed organization, located to the north of Baghdad, doctors say.
• Hamas Announces Ceasefire VOA 08 Apr 2011 -- Israeli air and ground attacks continued into early Friday. It was a response to the firing by Palestinian militants in Gaza of an anti-tank missile that hit a school bus in southern Israel that had just dropped off most the children it was carrying.
• Latest fighting in Somalia displaces 33,000 people, UN agency says UN News Centre 08 Apr 2011 -- Fighting in southern and central Somalia between Government forces and Al-Shabaab militants has displaced about 33,000 people in the past six weeks, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.
• PHILIPPINES: Moves to end use of child soldiers, but problem persists IRIN 08 Apr 2011 -- The Philippines has made significant strides in stamping out the use of children as combatants by insurgent groups, but the problem continues, say officials.
• Death of Chechen militant leader Umarov not confirmed RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2011 -- Scientists carrying out DNA tests on the bodies of militants killed in a recent anti-terrorist operation say they have not yet found any evidence that Chechen warlord Doku Umarov was killed, a special services source said on Friday.

News Reports

• Witnesses: 17 Dead in Syria's Anti-Government Protests VOA 08 Apr 2011 -- Witnesses say Syrian security forces have killed at least 17 people during protests against President Bashar al-Assad and his ruling Baath Party.
• Fukushima: What's A Safe Distance? RFE/RL 08 Apr 2011 -- Four weeks into Japan's nuclear crisis, nobody seems able to agree on how far the danger of radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station extends.
• Iran fully confident about safety of Bushehr nuclear power plant IRNA 08 Apr 2011 -- The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) News Agency announced on Friday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is fully confident about safety of its Bushehr nuclear power plant.
• Bushehr nuke plant being reloaded with fuel - Russian contractor RIA Novosti 08 Apr 2011 -- The reactor at Iran's Bushehr Power Plant is being loaded with nuclear fuel again after an inspection and a clean-up of the reactor and the plant's circulation piping, Russia's Atomstroyexport company said on Friday.
• Annual U.S. Rights Report Singles Out Arab Regimes, Others RFE/RL 08 Apr 2011 -- In its annual report on human rights conditions around the world, the United States has leveled a harsh critique of Arab governments currently embroiled in popular pro-democracy upheavals, saying rights abuses in those countries were 'especially serious' last year.
• Successful polls a sign of Haitians' yearning for better future – UN envoy UN News Centre 08 Apr 2011 -- The United Nations envoy for Haiti said today that the recent successful electoral process in the Caribbean nation is a demonstration of the resilience of its people and an indication of their determination to build a better country for themselves.
• Egypt makes progress on human rights but challenges remain, UN team finds UN News Centre 08 Apr 2011 -- Egypt has made progress on human rights since the revolution that toppled the regime of Hosni Mubarak earlier this year, a United Nations team reported, while noting a number of challenges that need to be tackled such as combating impunity and ensuring an inclusive dialogue during the transition period.
• Press Conference by Secretary-General's Special Representative for Haiti United Nations 08 Apr 2011
• Iraqis deserve to see dividends of recent democratic gains, UN envoy says UN News Centre 08 Apr 2011 -- Recent political and democratic gains in Iraq will seem hollow to the country's people unless its leaders produce the benefits that they have promised, the top United Nations envoy to Iraq told the Security Council.
• Wave of enforced disappearances in China sparks concern from UN rights experts UN News Centre 08 Apr 2011 -- A group of United Nations human rights experts today voiced serious concern about the recent wave of enforced disappearances reported to have taken place in China, calling on authorities in the Asian nation to release all those who have been forcibly disappeared.
• Kosovo's New President: A Political Novice With Broad Support RFE/RL 08 Apr 2011 -- Kosovo's highest-ranking policewoman and a political unknown, Atifete Jahjaga, this week became that country's third president in seven months. Her age, 36, also makes her the youngest serving head of state in Europe.
• Russia's Star On Rise Again In Kyrgyzstan RFE/RL 08 Apr 2011 -- Outside forces have competed for influence in Kyrgyzstan since the vacuum left by the Soviet Union's collapse two decades ago.
• Kenyan officials suspected of poll violence appear at International Criminal Court UN News Centre 08 Apr 2011 -- Three senior Kenyan officials, including the deputy prime minister, today appeared before the International Criminal Court (ICC), which set 21 September as the date for the start of a hearing on the confirmation of charges preferred against them in connection with the 2008 post-election violence.
• Obama's UN Envoy Defends U.S. Funding Level RFE/RL 08 Apr 2011 -- The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has been forced to defend the level of financial contribution Washington gives the world body after a senior member of Congress proposed withholding U.S. dues until reforms are undertaken.