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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Airpower Summary: May 30 AFNS 31 May 2010
• Airpower Summary: May 29 AFNS 31 May 2010
• Airpower Summary: May 28 AFNS 31 May 2010
• Airpower Summary: May 27 AFNS 31 May 2010
• New Riverine squadron gets feet wet in Basra Army News 31 May 2010 -- The river delta of southern Iraq is the livelihood for many Iraqis in the area, providing important waterways for commerce and an all-important source of irrigation for farmers.
• NATO Commander In Afghanistan Says Iran Helping Taliban RFE/RL 31 May 2010 -- The commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan has said that Iranian assistance to Afghanistan is "natural."
• At least 19 killed, 23 injured in suicide bombing in Afghanistan RIA Novosti 31 May 2010 -- At least 19 national army soldiers died and 23 were injured in a suicide terrorist attack in Afghanistan's Khost Province.
• ANALYSIS: “Flawed” peace strategy in Afghanistan IRIN 31 May 2010 -- As hundreds of delegates from across Afghanistan arrive in Kabul for a three-day meeting to discuss the prospects for peace, experts are warning of major flaws and risks in the government’s draft peace plan.
• German President Resigns Amid Criticism Over Remarks On Afghan Mission RFE/RL 31 May 2010 -- German President Horst Koehler has announced his resignation, saying the decision takes effect immediately.
• German president resigns over controversial Afghanistan statements IRNA 31 May 2010 -- German President Horst Koehler announced his sudden resignation in the wake of his controversial remarks over Germany's role in Afghanistan.
• Pakistani extremist groups join Taliban, al-Qaeda: minister IRNA 31 May 2010 -- Pakistan's Interior Minister Malik: Banned extremist groups have now become part and parcel of Taliban and al-Qaeda.
• Mullen: Military Will Continue to Support Spill Effort AFPS 31 May 2010 -- The military will continue to support the effort to cap and mitigate the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but it does not have the technical expertise to take over the operation, the nation’s top military officer said on the morning news shows today.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Obama Visits Troops at New Fisher House AFPS 31 May 2010 -- President Barack Obama visited gravestones at the Lincoln Cemetery near Chicago today, but when torrential rains cancelled his prepared Memorial Day remarks, paid a stop at a newly opened Fisher House.
• Leaders Salute Fallen Troops at Arlington AFPS 31 May 2010 -- Vice President Joe Biden today hailed the unselfish service and sacrifices of past and present generations of U.S. servicemembers during the annual Memorial Day observance held at Arlington National Cemetery.
• UAV pilots maintain situational awareness above battlefield Army News 31 May 2010 -- Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pilots maintain an "eye-in-the-sky" view providing real-time surveillance high above the battlefield in order to keep Soldiers safe from unexpected enemy attacks at the U.S. Army National Training Center.
• MNBG E Soldiers show adaptability during exercise Army News 31 May 2010 -- Soldiers of Multinational Battle Group East took part in a large exercise May 27 that involved multiple situations and tested the agility and adaptability of Kosovo Forces (KFOR).
• Truman Completes Deployment's First Replenishment At Sea Navy NewsStand 31 May 2010 -- The USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) received 500,000 gallons of JP-5 jet fuel from fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO) on May 29 during the first replenishment-at-sea (RAS) of the deployment.
• Russia cannot afford professional army in near future RIA Novosti 31 May 2010 -- Russia will continue to rely heavily on conscription to man its Armed Forces in the near future.
• Russia may export 232 new fighter jets in next 3 years RIA Novosti 31 May 2010 -- Russia may export 232 new multi-role fighters worth over $10 billion in 2010-2013.
• Russian military transport aviation to be upgraded by 2020 - Air Force official RIA Novosti 31 May 2010 -- Russia's military transport aviation will be modernized by 2020.
• Crew for An-70 military transport plane to be trained in Russia RIA Novosti 31 May 2010 -- The crew members for the new An-70 military transport aircraft, jointly developed by Russia and Ukraine, will be trained in Russia.
• Taipei nixes Tokyo's plan to redraw air defense identification zone CNA 31 May 2010 -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy C.T. Yang said Monday that a Japanese plan to redraw its air defense identification zone (ADIZ) west of its Yonaguni Island is "unacceptable." The decision to refuse to approve the Japanese plan was made jointly by his ministry and the Ministry of National Defense, Yang told the Legislative Yuan.
• Mediated solution not an option for Taiwan in Lafayette case CNA 31 May 2010 -- Taiwan did not renege on a tacit agreement to solve the Lafayette frigate case dispute with France as has been reported and will not opt for a mediated solution in the future, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Monday.
• Post-Soviet bloc supports Medvedev's pan-European security plan RIA Novosti 31 May 2010 -- The Parliamentary Assembly Council of the CSTO bloc has given its support to Russian President Medvedev's initiative to improve European security.
• Source denies reports of Israel subs sailing near Iranian waters IRNA 31 May 2010 -- An Iranian source at the Armed Forces General Headquarters refuted claims that three submarines are in the vicinity of Iranian territorial waters.
• IAEA chief welcomes outcome of nuclear treaty review conference UN News Centre 31 May 2010 -- The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today welcomed the unanimous adoption at the end of the latest review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of a document which, among other things, contains steps towards achieving a nuclear-free Middle East.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Secretary-General 'shocked' by deadly raid on Gaza aid flotilla UN News Centre 31 May 2010 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed his shock at the deadly military interception on boats loaded with relief supplies headed for Gaza, calling on Israel to fully explain its actions.
• Obama Urges Israeli PM to Get Facts on Deadly Raid VOA 31 May 2010 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to find out all the facts of the deadly raid on a Gaza-bound international aid flotilla.
• Israel: Commandos Acted in Self-Defense VOA 31 May 2010 -- Israel says its commandos acted in self-defense when they stormed a flotilla of aid ships bound for Gaza. The raid in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Israel killed at least nine pro-Palestinian activists, and left many more wounded. The flotilla was trying to break a three-year-old blockade of the Palestinian enclave.
• Israel Faces International Criticism for Raid on Gaza Aid Flotilla VOA 31 May 2010 -- Israel's prime minister has canceled a visit to Washington following a raid on ships taking aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip, which left at least nine people dead. While a White House spokesman said the United States regrets the loss of life, harsh condemnation of Israel was leveled in the rest of the world.
• Arabs React Angrily to Israeli Storming of Gaza Aid Convoy VOA 31 May 2010 -- Arab officials are condemning Israel's storming of an aid convoy bound for Gaza.
• Turkey Protests Israeli Raid on Gaza Aid Flotilla VOA 31 May 2010 -- The reported killing of at least 10 people by Israeli forces during a raid on ships seeking to break the Israeli and Egyptian blockade on the Palestinian Gaza Strip has provoked public and diplomatic anger from Turkey, which has recalled its ambassador to Israel.
• Activists Killed as Israeli Commandos Storm Gaza Flotilla VOA 31 May 2010 -- At least 10 pro-Palestinian activists are dead and several others wounded after Israeli commandos stormed a flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. The demonstrators were trying to break the blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt.
• UN Security Council Holds Emergency Session on Israeli Raid VOA 31 May 2010 -- The U.N. Security Council met in emergency session Monday on how to respond after Israeli commandos intercepted a ship carrying humanitarian aid in international waters and killed at least nine pro-Palestinian activists.
• Israeli PM Cancels White House Meeting VOA 31 May 2010 -- Israel's PM Netanyahu has canceled plans to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama following a deadly naval raid that killed at least 10 pro-Palestinian activists.
• US is accomplice with Israel in massacre of human rights activists IRNA 31 May 2010 -- Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili: US president is accomplice with Israel in massacre of human rightrs activists on board the convoy of aid ships ferrying toward Gaza.
• UK sides with Israel in opposing Gaza Freedom Flotilla IRNA 31 May 2010 -- Foreign Secretary Hague declined to directly condemn Israel’s massacre of up to 15 passengers on board the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.
• World Leaders Express Regret, Outrage at Israeli Raid on Aid Flotilla VOA 31 May 2010 -- The United States has expressed regret at Israel's attack on an aid flotilla that killed 10 pro-Palestinian activists.
• World leaders condemn Israeli storming of Gaza aid ships RIA Novosti 31 May 2010 -- The international community condemned Israeli aggression against international ships carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
• UN Rights Chief Slams Israel Storming of Relief Boat to Gaza VOA 31 May 2010 -- The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has joined a chorus of international condemnations of Israel's storming of a boat carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.
• EU condemns lethal Israeli attack on Gaza peace flotilla IRNA 31 May 2010 -- EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton condemned Israel's storming of the Gaza peace flotilla which killed and injured dozens of people.
• Russia condemns Israel over Gaza flotilla attack RIA Novosti 31 May 2010 -- Russia's Foreign Ministry criticized an Israeli raid on ships taking humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in which at least 10 people were killed.
• Turkey condemns Israeli storming of Gaza aid ships RIA Novosti 31 May 2010 -- The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the storming by Israeli commandos of international ships carrying humanitarian aid to the occupied Gaza Strip.
• Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Ships, 10 Killed VOA 31 May 2010 -- A confrontation at sea between Israeli commandos and pro-Palestinian activists has left at least 10 dead.
• At Least 10 Killed In Israeli Raid On Gaza Aid Flotilla RFE/RL 31 May 2010 -- At least 10 pro-Palestinian activists were killed after Israeli commandos stormed a flotilla of ships carrying supplies for the Gaza Strip.
• Israeli military confesses to interception of aid ship in neutral waters RIA Novosti 31 May 2010 -- The Israeli military has admitted that it intercepted an international aid ship en route to the Gaza Strip in neutral waters in the Mediterranean Sea.
• Israeli navy attacks Pro-Palestinian aid flotilla; 2 killed RIA Novosti 31 May 2010 -- There were reports that Israeli warships had attacked at least one of six ships carrying pro-Palestinian activists and aid bound for blockaded Gaza.
• Israeli commandos reportedly storm ships carrying aid to Gaza RIA Novosti 31 May 2010 -- The Israeli military have stormed international ships carrying humanitarian aid to the occupied Gaza Strip, with 10 people reported killed.
• Aid Convoy Heads for Blockaded Gaza VOA 31 May 2010 -- A six-ship flotilla carrying more than 600 pro-Palestinian activists and 10,000 tons of supplies is heading for the Gaza Strip as the Israeli navy prepares to intercept it.
• President: Support for oppressed Palestinians, main task of Muslims IRNA 31 May 2010 -- President Ahmadinejad: Support for the oppressed Palestinian nation is the most important task of Muslim states across the world.
• Chinese, Japanese Leaders Discuss N. Korea Tensions VOA 31 May 2010 -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama met in Tokyo Monday for talks that included rising tensions between North and South Korea over the sinking of South Korean warship in March.
• Sudan: resolving humanitarian crisis requires funding, peace pact, says UN official UN News Centre 31 May 2010 -- Funding in Southern Sudan and a peace agreement in Darfur are key ingredients for resolving the humanitarian crisis in the two regions, a senior United Nations official said today, wrapping up a four-day visit to Sudan.
• At ICC review conference, Ban declares end to 'era of impunity' UN News Centre 31 May 2010 -- More than one decade after the International Criminal Court (ICC) was set up, a new “age of accountability” is replacing the “old era of impunity,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underlined today.
• Sierra Leonean judge re-elected head of UN-backed war crimes tribunal UN News Centre 31 May 2010 -- Justice Jon Kamanda of Sierra Leone has been re-elected to serve as President of the United Nations-backed war crimes tribunal set up to deal with the worst acts committed during the long and brutal civil war in the West African nation.
• African Mediation Efforts Have Mixed Results VOA 31 May 2010 -- Africa has a history of producing mixed results on mediation efforts to end conflicts. Successes include Mozambique. Failures include Somalia and eastern Congo. Our correspondent spoke with several Africa experts in the United States about lessons learned and what seems to have worked.

News Reports

• Iran, Brazil call Tehran Declaration important IRNA 31 May 2010 -- President Ahmadinejad and his Brazilian counterpart called the Tehran Declaration as a great and important measure towards bringing about peace.
• Kyrgyz Regimes Share Same Bloody Entrances, But Profoundly Different Inheritances RFE/RL 31 May 2010 -- In early April, when the people of Kyrgyzstan chased their president from power for the second time in five years, it appeared spasmodic regime change was becoming a permanent fixture of Kyrgyz politics.
• OSCE Notes 'Significant Shortcomings' In Georgia Vote RFE/RL 31 May 2010 -- The main international observer mission to Georgia's municipal polls says the May 30 election was marred by "significant shortcomings."
• EU Plans To Scrap South Caucasus, Moldova Envoys RFE/RL 31 May 2010 -- The EU's foreign policy chief, Cathering Ashton, has reportedly proposed abolishing the posts of EU special representatives for the South Caucasus and Moldova.
• French President Backs Africa U.N. Security Council Seat VOA 31 May 2010 -- Kabiru Mato, professor of political science at Nigeria’s University of Abuja has welcomed a French pledge to support Africa’s representation on the U.N. Security Council.
• Russia completes first stage of Polish presidential plane crash probe RIA Novosti 31 May 2010 -- Russian investigators have completed the first stage of investigation into the plane crash in western Russia.