DTN News - AFGHAN WAR NEWS: Taliban’s Murder Tactics Show Their Weakness Says Panetta

DTN News - AFGHAN WAR NEWS: Taliban’s Murder Tactics Show Their Weakness Says Panetta
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Jim Garamone - American Forces Press Service
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 2, 2012: The Taliban’s adoption of murder tactics is a sign of their weakness, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said here today.

There have been a number of so-called “green on blue” incidents, in which members of the Afghan army and police killed NATO International Security Assistance Force troops, since the accidental burning of Qurans at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan. These incidents are being taken seriously, but the United States and NATO will not change its strategy in response, Panetta told 101st Airborne Division soldiers. The secretary said he discussed these incidents with Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Panetta said Allen told him “the Taliban are going to resort to these kinds of criminal acts against our guys because, frankly, they are failing in everything else.They haven’t been able to organize themselves; they haven’t been able to retake any of the areas that we have taken. This is the one way they can get some attention,.” The military will continue with the strategy in place to work with the Afghan security forces and train them to assume the security load, Panetta said. NATO will fully transition the security responsibility to the Afghans by the end of 2014. Today, the Afghan security forces have responsibility for the security of more than half the population. The fact that members of the Taliban are trying a new tactic will not dissuade NATO and the Afghan government from continuing with the strategy, he said. “It means that our troops have to be prepared to deal with this,” the secretary said. “We’ve got a training brigade here that will be going over there. They’ve got to make sure these (Afghans) are properly screened, properly trained and they’ve got to watch each other’s backs.” While the “green on blue” incidents are horrific and tragic, people must remember that more than “99 percent of the Afghan army are doing the right thing – they’re there, they’ve shown over the past few days that they can control these demonstrations and do what they must do. “I’ve made clear and I will continue to make clear that, regardless of what the enemy tries to do to us, we are not going to alter our strategy in Afghanistan,” Panetta said. During his visit to Fort Campbell and the “legendary” 101st Airborne Division based there, Panetta met with soldiers preparing to go to Afghanistan to train National Security Forces there. He also visited the Air Assault School and said the 101st already demonstrates the agility and speed the rest of the military needs to adopt. In addition, the secretary also met with Gold Star families, who lost immediate family members in combat, and with the division’s leaders.

Biographies: Leon E. Panetta Related Sites: Video Transcript Special Report: Travels With Panetta Related Articles: ‘Green on Blue’ Deaths Won’t Derail Strategy, Spokesman Says

 
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*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Jim Garamone - American Forces Press Service
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DTN News - AIRLINES NEWS: Boeing Celebrates 1,000th 777

DTN News - AIRLINES NEWS: Boeing Celebrates 1,000th 777
*777 reaches 1,000 milestone faster than any twin-aisle airplane
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Boeing
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 2, 2012: Boeing (NYSE: BA) and more than 5,000 employees, suppliers, customers and government officials celebrated the 1,000th 777 at a special event today. The 1,000th 777 jetliner will be delivered to Dubai-based Emirates later this month.

"As the largest 777 customer, it's very appropriate that Emirates is the recipient of our milestone1,000th 777," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Emirates has set an industry high bar in providing excellent customer service and we're honored that the 777 is central to its efforts to be a global airline leader."

Last year was the best year on record for 777 sales with 200 orders from 22 customers – topping the previous record of 154 set in 2005. Production is at an all-time high for the program and a 20 percent rate increase begins this fall, increasing from seven to 8.3 airplanes per month. The program will begin building 100 airplanes per year beginning in 2013.    

Emirates is the 777 program's largest customer with 102 777s now in its fleet and 84 passenger airplanes and nine freighters on order. Emirates is the only airline that operates all six members of the 777 family.

"Emirates is honored to be the recipient of Boeing's 1000th 777 aircraft whose advanced long range capacity has been instrumental in our success of becoming a truly global airline," said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airline and Group. "As the world's largest operator of the 777, we have 93 more 777s on order, which is testament to our belief in the product and the role this aircraft will play in our goal to further establish Dubai as a central gateway to worldwide air travel."

"The ultimate measure of success in this business is when you reach the 1,000 mark," said Larry Loftis, who until recently was vice president and general manager of the 777 program. "Reaching this milestone puts the 777 in an exclusive club and I would like to thank all our employees, suppliers and customers who made it possible."

"Reaching this milestone requires two things," Loftis added. "A product that provides exceptional value and a world-class production system to reliably bring that product to the marketplace – and we have both on the 777 program. As a result, the 777 program reached this milestone faster than any other twin-aisle airplane because of the 777's proven performance, exceptional value, continuous innovation and progressive environmental performance."

The 1,000th 777 is a 777-300ER (extended range) model that seats 360 passengers in a three-class configuration.  

To date, Boeing has recorded orders for 1,361 777s to 64 customers around the globe.  

Contact:
Debbie Heathers
+1 206-579-5159
777 Communications
debbie.heathers@boeing.com

Photo and caption are available here: http://boeing.mediaroom.com

 
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Raytheon For Radar & Electronic Systems Related To U.S. Navy F/A-18

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Raytheon For Radar & Electronic Systems Related To U.S. Navy F/A-18

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources DTN News & U.S. DoD issued No. 142-12 February 29, 2012

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada – March 2, 2012: Raytheon Co., Space and Airborne Systems, Goleta, Calif., is being awarded a $77,267,880 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-09-C-0052) to exercise an option for 89 full rate production Lot 14 AN/ALR-67(V)3 radar warning receivers, and nine countermeasure signal processor weapons replacement assemblies. 

 The AN/ALR-67(V)3 enhances pilot situational awareness by providing accurate identification, lethality, and azimuth displays of hostile and friendly emitters.  It also controls the electronic warfare data bus and interfaces with electronic warfare systems, the onboard radar, airborne mission computer, and the F/A-18 weapon systems. 

Work will be performed in Forest, Miss. (34 percent); Lansdale, Pa. (18 percent); Goleta, Calif. (17 percent); Chatsworth, Calif. (11 percent); San Diego, Calif. (10 percent); Sydney, Australia (4 percent); Milwaukie, Ore. (3 percent); and McKinney, Texas (3 percent). 

Work is expected to be completed in December 2014.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources DTN News & U.S. DoD issued No. 142-12 February 29, 2012
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Bell Helicopter Textron For Repair Works On H-1 Helicopter

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Bell Helicopter Textron For Repair Works On H-1 Helicopter

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources DTN News & U.S. DoD issued No. 142-12 February 29, 2012
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada – March 2, 2012: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.*, Hurst, Texas, is being awarded $11,057,924 for delivery order 7001 under previously awarded contract (N00383-11-D-012N) for the repair of four items supporting the H-1 helicopter:  Cobra main rotor blade; combining gearbox assembly; right hand stub wing; and left hand stub wing.  Work will be performed in Hurst, Texas, and the expected completion date is November 2013. 

 The Navy Working Capital Funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 

One company was solicited for this requirement and one offer was received in response to the solicitation. 

NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources DTN News & U.S. DoD issued No. 142-12 February 29, 2012
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