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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Russian drugs tsar laments NATO efforts in Afghanistan RIA Novosti 24 Dec 2010 -- NATO has had at best zero effect on the drugs trade in Afghanistan since its troops entered the country, and the problem remains far from a priority for the Western military alliance, Russia's top anti-narcotics official says.
• Turkey Hosts Trust-Building Talks Between Afghanistan, Pakistan VOA 24 Dec 2010 -- Turkey hosted its 5th meeting between heads of state of Afghanistan and Pakistan in Istanbul in an effort to improve relations between the two countries.
• Deadly Clashes Erupt in Pakistan Border Region VOA 24 Dec 2010 -- Pakistani security officials say some 150 militants stormed five checkpoints in northwest Pakistan Friday in a coordinated attack that left 11 soldiers and 24 militants dead. The clashes took place overnight in the Mohmand tribal region near the Afghan border.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Marines set to lead the way with implementation of DADT repeal USMC News 24 Dec 2010 -- President Barack Obama may have signed a new law Dec. 22 that allows gay service members to serve openly, but no change will take effect until the Defense Department issues implementation guidance, Marine officials said.
• New Bridge Provides Path To Realistic Training in Okinawa NNS 24 Dec 2010 -- Marines at the Jungle Warfare Training Center (JWTC) can now conduct safer and more realistic training with the opening of a new $1.1 million bridge Dec. 20 at Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan.
• New medevac helicopters take flight in Iraq Army News 24 Dec 2010 -- The Army's newest medevac helicopter is seeing action for the first time in Iraq while serving as a test bed with a Vermont National Guard aviation company.
• Records detail MiG kill by 'Diamond Lil' tail gunner AFNS 24 Dec 2010 -- If the Air Force Academy's landmarks could speak, the B-52 Stratofortress near the north gate would have quite the Christmas Eve story to tell.
• Medvedev's End-of-Year Assessment RFE/RL 24 Dec 2010 -- In an interview on with three Russian channels, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev hailed emerging from the economic crisis as one of his country's major achievements of 2010.
• Russian lawmakers split over New START ratification RIA Novosti 24 Dec 2010 -- Discussions on ratifying the new Russian-U.S. strategic arms reduction treaty (START) have divided Russian deputies into two opposing camps.
• Russia's State Duma approves first reading of new joint U.S. START ratification RIA Novosti 24 Dec 2010 -- The lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, has approved the first reading of three for the ratification bill of the new Russian-U.S. arms reduction treaty.
• Russian ratification of New START to wait until 2011 RIA Novosti 24 Dec 2010 -- The Russian parliament is likely to delay the ratification of the New START treaty until January, a senior Russian lawmaker said on Friday.
• Data exchanges to begin 45 days after New START enters force RIA Novosti 24 Dec 2010 -- Russia and the United States will begin exchanging data on their strategic arsenals within 45 days of a new nuclear arms control treaty coming into force, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller has said.
• Russia able to up nuclear arms potential after new START treaty — senator RIA Novosti 24 Dec 2010 -- Russia will be able to increase its nuclear arms potential after a new arms reduction treaty between the United States and Russia is ratified, a top Russian senator said on Friday.
• Russian, U.S. presidents discuss new START treaty ratification on phone RIA Novosti 24 Dec 2010 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama discussed the American Senate's ratification of the new arms reduction treaty between the two countries, the Kremlin said.
• Investigators to verify authenticity of video tarnishing Russian Navy RIA Novosti 24 Dec 2010 -- Russia's Investigative Committee on Friday announced it would check to establish the origins of a controversial video showing alleged Russian Navy sailors firing at a group of pirates in a boat.
• France wins tender to build warships for Russia RIA Novosti 24 Dec 2010 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy over the phone that France has won a tender to build amphibious assault ships for Russia.
• Japan should help U.S. defend Taiwan: Japanese poll CNA 24 Dec 2010 -- Nearly 60 percent of Japanese agreed to their country offering logistical support to the United States if America had to assist Taiwan militarily in a showdown with China, according to the results of a Japanese poll released Friday.
• UK faces legal challenge over training Bangladeshi paramilitary IRNA 24 Dec 2010 -- The British government faces a legal challenge to its support for a Bangladeshi paramilitary group described by human rights organisations as a 'government death squad'.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• UN hopes for peaceful solution to Ivorian crisis, stresses peacekeeping chief UN News Centre 24 Dec 2010 -- United Nations peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy has called on Laurent Gbagbo to keep his pledge not to resort to violence as the stand-off with his rival, Alassane Ouattara, who has been recognized by the international community as the winner of Côte d'Ivoire's presidential election, continues.
• COTE D'IVOIRE: The UN's mission impossible? IRIN 24 Dec 2010 -- In Côte d’Ivoire’s post-election turmoil, with two political camps claiming power and widespread fear of renewed war, the UN’s operation in the country has been in the spotlight, and lately – literally – in the line of fire.
• African Nations Hold Emergency Talks About Ivory Coast Election Crisis VOA 24 Dec 2010 -- West African leaders are meeting to discuss the violent political showdown that has gripped Ivory Coast since last month's disputed presidential election, while a militant youth leader loyal to incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo calls for protests against what Gbagbo supporters say is foreign interference in the country's affairs.
• UN Recognizes Ouattara As Ivory Coast President VOA 24 Dec 2010 -- The United Nations General Assembly has recognized Alssane Ouattara as the winner of Ivory Coast's presidential election.
• Hamas Committed to Truce With Israel VOA 24 Dec 2010 -- A top Hamas leader says his Palestinian militant group remains committed to its truce with Israel, despite an increase in rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip.
• As Al Shabab Looms, Somali Government Running Out of Time VOA 24 Dec 2010 -- It has been another violent year in Somalia with al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militants establishing itself as a terrorist group that can strike beyond Somali borders. The U.N.-backed Transitional Federal Government, mired in its own internal problems, is still relying on African Union peacekeepers to keep insurgents from toppling the government and showing little sign that it will be able to establish a functioning administration before its mandate ends next August.
• UN-African mission voices concern over ongoing Darfur clashes UN News Centre 24 Dec 2010 -- The United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) voiced grave concern today over the ongoing clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and rebel movements in the strife-torn region.
• Diplomatic Engagement Not Enough in Sudan VOA 24 Dec 2010 -- As the referendum in south Sudan rapidly approaches, experts warn that pressure is needed from all sides to create a stable environment for the vote as well as the possible split of the war-torn country in early 2011.
• Indian security personnel killed in Maoists attack IRNA 24 Dec 2010 -- One Indian security personnel killed while another injured on Friday in two separate Maoists attacks.

News Reports

• US Approved Business with Iran, Other Blacklisted Nations VOA 24 Dec 2010 -- The New York Times is reporting the U.S Treasury Department has granted nearly 10,000 exceptions to American companies over the past 10 years so they could do business with Iran and other countries blacklisted by the U.S. as state sponsors of terrorism.
• Alleged Russian spy to fight deportation from UK IRNA 24 Dec 2010 -- Former parliamentary researcher Katia Zatuliveter says that she will fight being deported from the UK after denying allegations of being a Russian spy, according to a statement issued by her solicitors, Public Interest Lawyers (PIL).
• Russian parliamentary 'spy' denies accusations, wants to stay in Britain RIA Novosti 24 Dec 2010 -- Katia Zatuliveter officially denied accusations of using her position as a British lawmaker's aide to spy for Russia and said she was going to stay in Britain to clear her name, her lawyers said on Friday.
• Medvedev not afraid of WikiLeaks revelations RIA Novosti 24 Dec 2010 -- Documents released by the WikiLeaks website that exposed U.S. diplomats' dim view of Russia have no bearing on U.S.-Russian relations, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday.
• Iraq Announces Over 90 Arrests in al-Qaida Sweep VOA 24 Dec 2010 -- Iraq's defense ministry says security forces have arrested 93 suspects in an al-Qaida crackdown in the western Anbar province.
• Rome on High Alert After Bomb Attacks VOA 24 Dec 2010 -- Rome is on high alert Christmas Eve, one day after mail bomb explosions at the Chilean and Swiss embassies in the Italian capital seriously wounded two people.
• Belarus officially declares Lukashenko winner of presidential vote RIA Novosti 24 Dec 2010 -- Belarus' Central Election Commission officially announced on Friday that President Alexander Lukashenko won the December 19 presidential election.
• Trial doubtful on Tymoshenko's misuse of funds - Ukrainian president RIA Novosti 24 Dec 2010 -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said on Friday he doubts ex-premier minister Yulia Tymoshenko's case of misusing state funds will reach court, but if it does, then it should be fair.
• Ukraine's Tymoshenko faces new charges for misusing $131 mln RIA Novosti 24 Dec 2010 -- Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko is accused of spending 100 million euros ($131 million) from government reserves to buy cars that she later used in her presidential campaign, the Prosecutor General's Office said on Friday.
• Ugandan Opposition Leader Undaunted by President's Threat VOA 24 Dec 2010 -- In Uganda, the candidate for a four-party coalition in next year’s presidential election told VOA he will not be intimidated by President Yoweri Museveni’s threats ahead of the elections.
• China urged to address cross-strait issues with benevolence CNA 24 Dec 2010 -- China should promote a Chinese cultural renaissance and handle cross-Taiwan Strait issues with benevolence if it wants to be a great world power, former Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said Friday.