NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
31 Aug 07. Iraq: OP TELIC. From 1 Jan 06 to 15 Aug 07, 277 personnel were categorised as Wounded in Action and 1,127 were aeromedically evacuated. (MoD, 31 Aug 07.) From 1 to 15 Aug 07, the figures were 10 and 32.
“The Army is certainly stretched.” (CGS TV interview, 19 Aug 07.)
RFA Sir Bedivere is on patrol in the Gulf in support of Iraq training and coalition maritime operations.
(MoD, 22 Aug 07.)
“The situation in Baghdad is very different to that in Basrah and as such, different responses are required.” (MoD, 23 Aug 07.)
“The expected withdrawal of British troops from the Basrah Palace base represents a significant step on the road to Provincial Iraqi Control in Basrah Province.” (MoD, 28 Aug 07.)
Comment: The Basrah Palace compound is garrisoned by 4th Bn The Rifles, who have taken their share of casualties. Those sent home have expressed particular pleasure in the bottle of whisky each has received from the Battalion’s Royal Colonel, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0734, 03 Sep 07)
25 Aug 07. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. Three Privates from 1st Bn The Royal Anglian Regiment were killed after air support during a fire fight resulted in a bomb striking their position, North West of Kajak, on 23 Aug 07. (MoD, 25 Aug 07.) A senior Aircraftman from the RAF Regiment was killed when his vehicle was caught in an explosion at Kandahar on 30 Aug 07. (MoD, 31 Aug 07.) UK deaths since the start of Operations in November 2001 thus rose to 74, of whom 49 have been classified as killed in Action and two as Died of Wounds sustained in action. (MoD, 30 Aug 07.)
From 1 Jan 06 to 15 Aug 07, 235 personnel were categorised as Wounded in Action and 614 were aeromedically evacuated. (MoD, 31 Aug 07.) From 1 to 15 Aug 07, the figures were 12 and 25.
The Chief of the General Staff visited Afghanistan and subsequently wrote to The Sun newspaper, asking for its continued support. (MoD, 20 Aug 07.)
The daily calorific value of the rations is “well in excess of 3,600 calories”. (MoD, 23 Aug 07.)
The Armed Forces’ Minister toured British bases shortly after taking up his appointment. (MoD, 28 Aug 07.)
Comment: One result of CGS’ visit is that the Royal Mail has agreed to provide a free parcel service to troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, until Christmas. Morale in Afghanistan appears to be bolstered by ‘mail, medals and money’. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0734, 03 Sep 07)
USA
30 Aug 07. GAO: Bidders Given Too Little Time to Respond to USAF’s Helo RFP. The U.S. Air Force did not give bidders enough time to respond to May’s revised request for proposals in the controversial combat search-and-rescue helicopter contract, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision issued Aug. 30. “[W]here, as here, an agency materially changes the solicitation’s evaluation scheme, offerors must be given a reasonable opportunity to respond to the revised evaluation scheme,” the decision said. But the GAO rejected additional complaints from Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky Aircraft, saying that the agency found the service’s methodology “unobjectionable.” As of Thursday evening, the Air Force was still working out the next steps in what has already been an arduous process for the next-generation CSAR-X helicopter program. Service officials had originally awarded the $15bn contract to Boeing and its Chinook. “We are committed to providing an urgently needed capability, but we are equally dedicated to properly conducting our evaluations of offeror’s proposals. The Air Force is reviewing the GAO decision and developing our plan of action to address the findings,” said Sue C. Payton, the services acquisition czar. Last November, Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky protested the Air Force’s decision to replace its HH-60 Pave Hawks with Boeing’s modified Chinook. In a Feb. 26 report, GAO recommended that the Air Force change the proposal request and reopen discussions wi