Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Provider commanding general checks progress on fuel farms Army News 26 Dec 2009 -- The commanding general of the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) out of Fort Hood, Texas, visited Camp Cedar II, Iraq, and Contingency Operating Location Adder, Iraq, Dec. 21 to see the progress being made toward moving the fuel farm from Cedar II to COL Adder.
• Taliban Commander Killed in Mosque Shootout VOA 26 Dec 2009 -- NATO says a heavily armed Taliban commander has been killed in a shootout at a mosque in eastern Afghanistan.
• Pakistani Officials: 5 Killed in US Drone Strike VOA 26 Dec 2009 -- Pakistani security officials say five people have been killed in a U.S. drone attack on a suspected militant target in Pakistan's northwest tribal region.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Bangkok may seek UN sanctions over N.Korean arms plane soon - UK RIA Novosti 26 Dec 2009 -- The Thai government may report its probe to the UN into the recent seizure of a cargo plane laden with illegal weaponry from North Korea later in 2009, Britain's envoy to the U.N. said on Saturday.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Six Palestinians killed in West Bank, Gaza RIA Novosti 26 Dec 2009 -- Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers killed three Palestinians in the West Bank and another three in the Gaza Strip early on Saturday, Israel's Haaretz reported.
• Israeli Forces Kill 6 Palestinians VOA 26 Dec 2009 -- Six Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the deadliest violence in months.

News Reports

• Nigerian Charged with Trying to Blow Up Airliner VOA 26 Dec 2009 -- U.S. authorities have charged a Nigerian man with trying to blow up a plane on its descent into the city of Detroit on Friday. The man, who comes from a prominent Nigerian family, was read the charges in a hospital Saturday, where he is being treated for burns.
• Security Heightened At U.S. Airports After 'Bomb Attack' RFE/RL 26 Dec 2009 -- Security measures have been stepped up at U.S. airports after a Nigerian man with suspected Al-Qaeda links allegedly tried to blow up a U.S. airliner in an apparent Christmas Day terrorist attack.
• U.S. plane terror suspect was on intelligence 'watch-list' — senator RIA Novosti 26 Dec 2009 -- A self-proclaimed terrorist detained at Detroit airport after allegedly trying to blow up a plane has appeared on a U.S. intelligence agency's "watch-list", the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee told CNN.
• Passenger arrested at U.S. airport, claims terrorist links RIA Novosti 26 Dec 2009 -- U.S. intelligence officials arrested a passenger who was reportedly trying to blow up a plane after it landed at Detroit airport, American television said on Saturday.
• US Calls Explosion on Airplane 'Attempted Act of Terrorism' VOA 26 Dec 2009 -- The United States is increasing security for air travel across the country after a Nigerian man set off a small explosion aboard a flight bound for the U.S. city of Detroit. White House officials are calling it "an attempted act of terrorism."
• Nigeria Launches Investigation into Airline Incident VOA 26 Dec 2009 -- The Nigerian government says it has launched its own investigation into the apparent attempt by a Nigerian man to ignite an explosive device aboard an international flight bound for Detroit.
• Attempted Terrorist Attack on Airliner Sparks New Concerns About al-Qaida VOA 26 Dec 2009 -- The White House is calling a small explosion aboard an international flight bound for the U.S. city of Detroit "an attempted act of terrorism." Counterintelligence officials say a Nigerian engineering student tried to blow the plane up shortly before it landed. Senior U.S. lawmakers are now expressing concerns about possible links between the attack and the al-Qaida terrorist network.
• Pakistani Officials: US Men Planned to Attack Sites in Pakistan VOA 26 Dec 2009 -- Pakistani officials say five American men recently arrested in Pakistan had planned to attack sites in that country, including possibly a nuclear plant.
• Clashes Reported As Iran's Opposition Holds Fresh Protests RFE/RL 26 Dec 2009 -- Iranian security forces are reported to have clashed with opposition protesters using a religious ritual to stage fresh antigovernment demonstrations.
• UN Security Council may impose new sanctions on Iran in Feb. - UK RIA Novosti 26 Dec 2009 -- The UN Security Council could introduce new sanctions against Iran by late February unless Tehran accepts the Iran Six's offer on its controversial nuclear dossier, Britain's UN envoy said on Saturday.
• Iranian Security Forces Clash With Hundreds of Protesters in Tehran VOA 26 Dec 2009 -- Eyewitnesses are reporting that crowds clashed with Iranian security forces in parts of Tehran and several provincial cities, Saturday. Police reportedly swung batons at protesters, smashing car-windows and fired teargas and pepper spray to try and disperse crowds.
• Mihmanparast: Saudis not yet taken any action to identify Laden’s daughter IRNA 26 Dec 2009 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said here Saturday that Saudi Arabia has not yet taken any action in connection with identity of the daughter of al-Qaeda leader, Bin Laden.
• Pyongyang Silent on American Activist Who Entered Country VOA 26 Dec 2009 -- Authorities in North Korea continue their silence about the fate of an American missionary who crossed into the country on Friday.
• Asia Remembers Deadly 2004 Tsunami VOA 26 Dec 2009 -- People across Asia paused Saturday to observe the fifth anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2004 that killed up to 230,000 people in about a dozen countries.
• Call for Greater Disaster Preparedness Five Years After Tsunami VOA 26 Dec 2009 -- Five years after the devastating tsunami struck the Asia Pacific region, aid agencies say communities have largely recovered and early warning systems are in place. But, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warns people not to be complacent. It urges greater action on disaster risk reduction efforts.
• Ukraine to develop its own oil, gas off Black Sea from 2010 - PM RIA Novosti 26 Dec 2009 -- Ukraine is set to start developing offshore oil and gas fields in the Black Sea from 2010, the Unian news agency quoted the ex-Soviet state’s prime minister as saying on Saturday.
• Yushchenko pledges to pay for Russian gas on schedule RIA Novosti 26 Dec 2009 -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has said his country would pay for Russian gas consumed in December on schedule.
• Yanukovych intends to boost ties with Russia if elected president RIA Novosti 26 Dec 2009 -- Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych has said that should he win the country's upcoming presidential elections, he will seek for improving ties with Russia which has deteriorated during Viktor Yushchenko's presidency.
• Yushchenko orders investigation into conspiracy scandal RIA Novosti 26 Dec 2009 -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has ordered the country's prosecutor general to investigate allegations of his conspiracy with the country's opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych ahead of Ukrainian presidential polls.
• Violence in Iraq as Shi'ite Muslims Mark Ashura VOA 26 Dec 2009 -- Iraqi police say a roadside bombing in Baghdad Saturday killed at least two people who were taking part in a Shi'ite Muslim religious procession.