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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 07 Dec 2011 [PDF]
• DOD News Briefing with Lt. Gen. Helmick via Teleconference from Iraq DoD 07 Dec 2011-- Presenter: Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Forces-Iraq, Lt. Gen. Frank G. Helmick
• General Calls Iraq Operations ‘Worth It’ in Final News Briefing AFPS 07 Dec 2011 -- As the final U.S. military convoys roll out of Iraq these next three weeks, marking the end of eight years of operations, Americans can be proud of the work service members did there, U.S. Forces Iraq’s deputy commanding general said today.
• US Withdrawal From Iraq Nears Completion VOA 07 Dec 2011 -- The United States' eight-year military operation of Iraq is coming to an end. Military commanders in Iraq say the withdrawal of troops and equipment from the country is nearly complete. Fewer than 4,000 remain in the country and officials say they will likely be out in the next few days, in keeping with President Obama's orders for a pullout by the Christmas holiday.
• Combined Force Captures Taliban Facilitator AFPS 07 Dec 2011 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban facilitator and detained seven suspected insurgents during an operation in the Qalat district of Afghanistan’s Zabul province today, military officials reported.
• Croatian projects building trust in Afghanistan Army News 07 Dec 2011 -- Three separate villages in the Balkh province of northern Afghanistan will benefit from projects led by members of the Croatian armed forces.
• Zaranj shows promise to future of Nimroz province USMC News 07 Dec 2011 -- Leaders of the C-9 Support Operations section aboard Camp Leatherneck met with Nimroz province officials in Zaranj, Dec. 2, to discuss future development in the region as 'Tranche II' remains in effect.
• Afghan President Vows to 'Confront Pakistan' Over Holy Day Terror Attack VOA 07 Dec 2011 -- A day after a suicide bomb tore through central Kabul and , Afghan President Hamid Karzai is blaming a Pakistan-based group for the attack. Another explosion Wednesday killed at least 19 more Afghan civilians.
• Full text of Iran FM speech in Bonn int'l conference ISNA 07 Dec 2011 -- The full text of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi before the second international conference on Afghanistan in Bonn, Germany comes as follows.
• Afghanistan and regional partners launch UN plan to boost counter-narcotics efforts UN News Centre 07 Dec 2011 -- Senior officials from Afghanistan and neighbouring countries today launched a United Nations plan to strengthen counter-narcotics efforts and boost regional stability.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Force cuts may mean new job for some Soldiers Army News 07 Dec 2011 -- With the Army leaving Iraq by the end of the month and large drawdowns coming in Afghanistan, officials said the service may shrink by 50,000 over the next few years.
• Lincoln Carrier Strike Group Deploys NNS 07 Dec 2011 -- Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, embarked on its flagship USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), along with Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9 and USS Momsen (DDG 92), got underway Dec. 7 from Naval Station Everett for the last time for a scheduled routine deployment.
• Clinton Warns of Bio-Weapons Threat, Terrorism VOA 07 Dec 2011 -- The ability of terrorists and others to develop and use biological and toxin weapons is growing, according to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She underscored the nature of the bio-weapons threat is evolving.
• Pentagon Official Lauds Services for Energy Strategies AFPS 07 Dec 2011 -- The Defense Department is the largest energy user in the country, but the military services are doing their part to further renewable energy, a senior Pentagon official said here today.
• Officials Announce Absentee Voting Guidelines AFPS 07 Dec 2011 -- The Federal Voting Assistance Program and the Military Postal Service Agency yesterday announced absentee ballot mailing date guidelines that apply to various overseas locations.
• Saudi Arabia to buy 270 German Leopard 2 tanks: daily IRNA 07 Dec 2011 -- Saudi Arabia is to buy 270 German-made Leopard 2 tanks, the Hamburg-based weekly newspaper Die Zeit reported Wednesday.
• Russian task force goes on mission in Atlantic, Mediterranean RIA Novosti 07 Dec 2011 -- A Russian naval task force from the Northern Fleet has left its base in Severomorsk on a training mission in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, a fleet's spokesman Capt. 1st Rank Vadim Serga said.
• HMS Diamond ready for operations UK MOD 07 Dec 2011 -- The UK now has three groundbreaking Type 45 destroyers ready to deploy on operations after HMS Diamond passed her final, demanding test.
• Russia to sell six Su-30 fighter jets to Indonesia – paper RIA Novosti 07 Dec 2011 -- Russia started the first day at an arms show in Malaysia with a preliminary agreement on the delivery of six Su-30MK2 fighters to Indonesia, the Kommersant business daily said on Wednesday.
• India alert to growing military might of China IRNA 07 Dec 2011 -- India remains alert to the growing military might of China, even as New Delhi has sought to strengthen its bilateral dialogue with Beijing over the last two decades, a top Indian diplomat has said.
• December 7, 2011 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 07 Dec 2011
• Press Gaggle with Press Secretary Jay Carney and Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin on Cordray Nomination, 12/7/2011 The White House 07 Dec 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 07, 2011
• Boeing Receives Contract for 1st Major Upgrades to Malaysian F/A-18D Hornets Boeing 07 Dec 2011 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] on Nov. 28 received a U.S. Navy contract under the Foreign Military Sales Program to provide the first major upgrades for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) fleet of eight F/A-18D Hornet fighter aircraft.
• Lockheed Martin Delivers M-TADS/PNVS Modernized Laser Rangefinder for the U.S. Army’s Apache Helicopter Lockheed Martin 07 Dec 2011 -- Lockheed Martin delivered the first Modernized Day Sensor Assembly (M-DSA) upgrade prototype units to the U.S. Army for use on the Apache attack helicopter.
• Lockheed Martin Submarine Combat System Succesfully Tested in Brazilian Navy Sea Trials Lockheed Martin 07 Dec 2011 -- The Brazilian Navy recently tested an integrated combat system provided by Lockheed Martin on the SS Tapajo, a U209 (Tupi)-class submarine. The exercise marks Brazil’s first use of the combat system and demonstrates its compatibility with international allied navies.
• Northrop Grumman LITENING Advanced Targeting System Awarded Four-Year Support Contract Extension by Royal Australian Air Force Northrop Grumman 07 Dec 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a four-year extension by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to the existing support contract for the LITENING AT system, used as the RAAF's Target Designation System for F/A-18 Hornet aircraft (HTDS).
• Lockheed Martin Delivers Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance System to U.S. Air Force Lockheed Martin 07 Dec 2011 -- An airborne signals intelligence system configured specifically for the newest C-130J aircraft has been delivered to the U.S. Air Force by Lockheed Martin. The system, which is part of the Senior Scout program that enables C-130 aircraft to be used for tactical signals intelligence and reconnaissance, will undergo acceptance testing in December.
• Boeing Receives US Air Force Reusable Booster System Contract Boeing 07 Dec 2011 -- The Boeing Company has received a $2 million contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to define requirements and design concepts for the Reusable Booster System (RBS) Flight and Ground Experiments program. This program will enhance space launch capability by providing a reliable, responsive and cost-effective system.

Other Conflicts

• 7 December 2011 - DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 07 Dec 2011
• UN enhancing cooperation with regional blocs to improve crisis response – Ban UN News Centre 07 Dec 2011 -- Regional organizations are often better placed to detect potential crises early and to mobilize a coordinated international response, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, noting that the United Nations has strengthened or established conflict prevention and mediation partnerships with such blocs over the past five years.
• UN urges better protection for world's forcibly displaced, stateless people UN News Centre 07 Dec 2011 -- The United Nations refugee chief today called on the international community to assume its shared duty to protect and assist millions of forcibly displaced and stateless people around the world, as he opened the largest-ever conference on the issue in Geneva.
• Syria's Assad denies ordering to kill protesters RIA Novosti 07 Dec 2011 -- Embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has denied his responsibility for the bloody crackdown on dissent and said he did not feel guilty for the crimes committed by 'extremists' and 'terrorists' in his country.
• Assad Denies Responsibility for Syrian Protest Deaths VOA 07 Dec 2011 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has denied he ordered the killing of thousands of anti-government protesters, telling a U.S. journalist he does not control the forces implementing his country's brutal crackdown.
• Burundi consolidating peace despite challenges – UN envoy UN News Centre 07 Dec 2011 -- Burundi is making steady progress in consolidating peace after years of conflict, the United Nations top official in the country told the Security Council today, noting that considerable socio-economic challenges remain.
• Cooperation of States vital as UN war crimes tribunal press ahead with completing work UN News Centre 07 Dec 2011 -- The cooperation of States, whether in tracking and arresting fugitives or providing information, is vital to the ability of the United Nations war crimes tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda to complete their mandates, top officials said today.
• Unemployment in Gaza remains high despite improved economy – UN UN News Centre 07 Dec 2011 -- The rate of unemployment among refugees registered with the United Nations in the Gaza Strip in the occupied Palestinian territory stands at 33.8 per cent, indicating that their participation in the labour market has declined despite growth in the construction industry, a new report unveiled today indicates.
• MYANMAR: Landmine survivor needs outstrip aid IRIN 07 Dec 2011 -- Myanmar has one of the world's highest casualty tolls by landmines, but for years the country has received little international aid for survivor assistance, risk education and other mine action. The numbers are changing, however.
• YEMEN: Taiz facing a humanitarian crisis IRIN 07 Dec 2011 -- Yemen's southern city of Taiz – scene of mass protests demanding the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh - is facing an increasingly serious humanitarian situation, with dozens killed and injured, and limited access to water, health and education after several days of fierce fighting.

News Reports

• Gorbachev Calls for New Elections, Russian Security Forces Patrol Moscow Streets VOA 07 Dec 2011 -- Russia’s protest movement continues to move from the Internet to the streets and protesters have won an unexpected ally, the last leader of the Soviet Union.
• Poll protests continue in Russia, more arrests RIA Novosti 07 Dec 2011 -- Demonstrations against alleged electoral fraud in favor of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's United Russia party continued for a third night on Wednesday, with arrests in both Moscow and St. Petersburg, police said.
• Ahmadinejad signs into law bill for downgrading ties with UK ISNA 07 Dec 2011 -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad signed into law the bill for downgrading ties with the UK.
• Russian army officer jailed for spying for Georgia RIA Novosti 07 Dec 2011 -- A former Russian Army major was given a 12-year prison term on Wednesday for spying for Georgia, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported from the courtroom.
• Pakistan President To Remain Under Observation In Dubai Hospital RFE/RL 07 Dec 2011 -- The office of Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said the country's president, Asif Ali Zardari, would remain in a Dubai hospital for medical checks related to a heart condition as officials sought to head off speculation that Zardari might be forced to resign.
• Pakistani President's Dubai Trip Spurs Rumors VOA 07 Dec 2011 -- President Asif Ali Zardari has traveled to Dubai for medical treatment of a heart condition, spurring rumors of his resignation.
• Armenian President Signals New Delay In Nuclear Plant Closure RFE/RL 07 Dec 2011 -- President Serzh Sarkisian has given further indication that Armenia's government will delay the decommissioning of the controversial Metsamor nuclear power station that was expected to start by 2017, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.
• Northrop Grumman Makes Significant Spacecraft Progress for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Northrop Grumman 07 Dec 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation delivered to NASA the flight software that will enable the James Webb Space Telescope to communicate with its ground station nearly a million miles away after it passed formal verification testing. The company is leading the telescope's design and development effort for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.