Defense Dept.

Washington -- 23 June 2008 -- A U.S. federal appeals court has struck down the U.S. military's classification of a Guantanamo Bay detainee as an enemy combatant. This is the first time the U.S. court system has overruled the Bush administration's designation of a detainee since the Guantanamo facility began operations in early 2002.

Guantanamo protesters, Barcelona: Photo by Quim (CC)    » read more »

June 17, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pvt. Eugene D. M. Kanakaole, 19, of Maui, Hawaii, died June 11 in Balad Iraq, of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident.

He was assigned to the 87th Engineer Company, 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

The incident is under investigation.

Source: DOD

June 17, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. 1st Class Gerard M. Reed, 40, of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, died June 11 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident.

He was assigned to the 86th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Campbell, Ky.

This incident is under investigation.

Source: DOD

June 16, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of four Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. Michael Toussiant-Hyle Washington, 20, of Tacoma, Washington

Lance Cpl. Layton Bradly Crass, 22, of Richmond, Indiana

Pfc. Dawid Pietrek, 24, of Bensenville, Illinois

Pfc. Michael Robert Patton, 19, of Fenton, Missouri

All four Marines died June 14 while supporting combat operations in Farah Province, Afghanistan.

They were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Source: DOD

CONTRACTS

NAVY

Walsh Construction, Chicago, Ill., is being awarded a $71,566,848 firm-fixed price contract for the construction of a four-story addition to the James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, North Chicago, Ill., the first joint Veterans Affairs (VA)/Navy care facility. The work also provides for some demolition and renovation work for tie-in connections to the VA Medical Center, North Chicago.    » read more »

CONTRACTS

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Hesco Bastion Ltd., Great Britain, is being awarded a maximum $800,000,000 fixed price with economic price adjustment indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for facilities maintenance. Using services are Army and Marine Corps.

The original proposal was Web solicited with 2 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is June 12, 2010. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM8E6-08-D-0252).

NAVY    » read more »

June 17, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- Below is a statement from Barack Obama on disturbing reports that 'mentally distressed veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are being recruited for government tests on pharmaceutical drugs linked to suicide and other violent side effects.' Full story follows.

"It is outrageous and unacceptable that our government would irresponsibly endanger veterans who have already sacrificed so much for our country. Our veterans - particularly those suffering from mental health injuries - should have the very best health care and support in the world, they should never be needlessly exposed to drugs without proper notification of the dangers involved or effective monitoring of the side effects.    » read more »

June 17, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today issued the following statement after reviewing a report issued by the Veterans Affairs Office of Resolution Management (ORM) which assessed the work environment at the VA Medical Center in Marion, Illinois.

“This new report from the VA confirms many of our suspicions about the problem that existed at the Marion VA Medical Center. The report paints a disturbing picture -- a management culture that compounded problems at the facility; management at the regional level that did not serve as a quality check on the Marion facility; and no way for employees to complain or make meaningful suggestions about problems when they arose.”    » read more »

Part I of the Committee’s Inquiry into the Treatment of Detainees in U.S. Custody

June 17, 2008 -- Today’s hearing will focus on the origins of aggressive interrogation techniques used against detainees in U.S. custody. We have three panels of witnesses today and I want to thank them for their willingness to voluntarily appear before the Committee.

Intelligence saves lives. Knowing where an insurgent has buried an IED can keep a vehicle carrying Marines in Iraq from being blown up. Knowing that an al Qaeda associate visited an internet café in Kabul could be the key piece of information that unravels a terrorist plot targeting our embassy. Intelligence saves lives.    » read more »

17 June 2008 -- The Pentagon says reports that Taliban forces have taken over several villages in southern Afghanistan are false, and that any Taliban offensive in the area will be defeated.

The Pentagon says a U.S. patrol in the Arghandab district of Kandahar Province Tuesday encountered no Taliban forces.

Troops in Kandahar City, Afghanistan: Photo by Pierre Gazzola (CC)    » read more »

17 June 2008 -- U.S. officials say there are no talks with Lithuania about hosting a missile defense site, even though talks with Poland's new government have been moving more slowly than the United States would like. But the Pentagon spokesman says time is running out on the Bush administration and officials might be forced to move to what he calls "a backup option."

The Pentagon and State Department spokesmen are disputing a statement attributed to Poland's chief negotiator (Witold Waszczykowski) by the Reuters News Service. The report says the United States has opened a parallel set of talks with Lithuania in case the effort to negotiate the placement of missile interceptors in Poland fails.    » read more »

June 16, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Kelly E. C. Watters, 19, of Virginia Beach, Virginia died June 11, from wounds suffered while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

   » read more »

June 16, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Javier Perales Jr., 19, of San Elizario, Texas, died June 11, from a non-hostile incident in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The incident is currently under investigation.

Source: DOD

June 16, 2008 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has directed that flags at all state office buildings remain at half-staff in honor of a Fort Campbell soldier who died June 12 supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

According to the Department of Defense, Sgt. John D. Aragon, 22, of Antioch, Calif., died in Kadamiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of the funeral, for which arrangements are pending.    » read more »

June 13, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. John D. Aragon, 22, of Antioch, California, died June 12 in Kadamiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

   » read more »