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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 12 Jan 2011 [PDF]
• Airmen build foundation of Iraqi air force AFNS 12 Jan 2011 -- In an effort to strengthen the strategic partnership between Iraq and U.S., Airmen assigned to the 821st Expeditionary Training Squadron here are helping the Iraqi government and its people develop a stable and self-reliant air force for their nation.
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Detain Taliban Leaders AFPS 12 Jan 2011 -- Afghan and coalition forces detained several Taliban leaders and other insurgents in operations yesterday in Afghanistan, military officials reported.
• Mullen: Afghanistan Remains Focus of U.S. Security Strategy AFPS 12 Jan 2011 -- America’s national security strategy remains focused on countering terrorism in Afghanistan and the region, the nation’s senior military officer said today.
• ISAF continues to engage insurgents Army News 12 Jan 2011 -- Numerous insurgents were killed by International Security Assistance Forces in eastern and southern Afghanistan over the past 24 hours.
• Soldiers test new beta voice-translation smart phones Army News 12 Jan 2011 -- Soldiers from Task Force Currahee are the first in eastern Afghanistan to test the new smart phone, beta-version of a voice language translation program to be fielded in early January.
• Renewable energy vital to Marines success in Afghanistan USMC News 12 Jan 2011 -- The Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment have tapped into a vital renewable energy source – the sun – to help take the fight to the enemy in Sangin District.
• German gov't okays one-year extension of Afghan military mission IRNA 12 Jan 2011 -- Germany's center-right government on Wednesday has approved a one-year extension of the Afghan military mandate amid mounting public opposition to Berlin's controversial operation in that war-stricken country.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Mullen Cites Strategic Importance of China-U.S. Relationship AFPS 12 Jan 2011 -- Building a strong U.S.-China relationship is important from a national security strategy perspective, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today.
• Gates Says China Relations Ready for Next Level AFPS 12 Jan 2011 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates ended his meetings in China today, saying the discussions he had with Chinese officials will take the military-to-military relationship between the two countries to the next level.
• US Defense Secretary Calls China Talks Productive VOA 12 Jan 2011 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in Tokyo, following three days of meetings in China that he called productive.
• Media Availability with Secretary Gates at the Great Wall of China DoD 12 Jan 2011 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• Gates Arrives in Japan for Military Talks AFPS 12 Jan 2011 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Tokyo today, the second leg of a three-country tour that started with a four-day visit to China.
• DoD News: DOD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for Fiscal Year-to-Date 2011, through December DoD 12 Jan 2011 -- The Department of Defense announced today recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for fiscal year-to-date 2011, through December.
• Active-duty Services Report Recruiting Success AFPS 12 Jan 2011 -- All four active services met or exceeded their recruiting and retention goals for the fiscal year through December, Defense Department officials announced today.
• Biden Focuses on Regional Peace, Stability in Pakistan Visit AFPS 12 Jan 2011 -- Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, today for discussions White House officials said are focused on U.S. relations with that country and joint efforts toward regional peace and stability.
• Biden: US, Pakistan Have Enduring Partnership VOA 12 Jan 2011 -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says the U.S. and Pakistan have forged an "enduring partnership" against "extreme ideologies" - a relationship based on common interests.
• Obama Honors Haiti Earthquake Victims, Notes Relief Efforts AFPS 12 Jan 2011 -- On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the earthquake that leveled Haiti, President Barack Obama yesterday honored the memory of the 250,000 Haitian people who died in the disaster, and highlighted relief and recovery efforts.
• Hue City Begins Cruiser Modification NNS 12 Jan 2011 -- The Ticonderoga Class guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) began the process of cruiser modification Sept. 29, to extend the ship's life and enhance combat capability.
• Blue to Green Is Option for Sailors Facing Separation NNS 12 Jan 2011 -- In a climate where Sailors may face separation due to high year tenure or Perform-to-Serve/Fleet Rating Identification Engine, Navy leadership is reminding Sailors in 2011 that Operation Blue to Green could keep them serving.
• Global Observer makes first hydrogen-powered flight AFNS 12 Jan 2011 -- The Global Observer unmanned aircraft system successfully completed its first flight powered by the aircraft's hydrogen-fueled propulsion system here Jan. 6.
• Combat rescue, special tactics officer bonus still available AFNS 12 Jan 2011 -- For the second year in a row, qualified special operations officers are still eligible for a maximum of $80,000 in critical skills retention bonus money if they voluntarily extend their active-duty service commitment for up to four years.
• ECBC supports Corps of Engineers with munitions destruction Army News 12 Jan 2011 -- U.S. Army scientists are destroying conventional munitions discovered in a northwest Washington residential area.
• U.S. Army Africa logistics assessment paves way for Burundian Defense Forces ADAPT Army News 12 Jan 2011 -- Two United Stated Army Africa personnel from the Directorate of Logistics conducted a deployment capability assessment with uniformed and civilian members of the Burundian Defense Forces in Bujumbura, the capital, Dec. 14-17.
• Tobyhanna manufactures 1 million helmet brackets Army News 12 Jan 2011 -- Tobyhanna has a million reasons to celebrate the new year.
• Duma committee recommends Russia-U.S. arms deal ratification RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2011 -- The foreign relations committee of the lower house of the Russian parliament on Wednesday recommended that a new arms reduction deal with the United States be approved in its second reading, committee head Konstantin Kosachyov said.
• Russia lifts ban on Tu-95 bomber flights RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2011 -- The Russian Air Force has lifted a ban on the flights of Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers imposed after an An-22 Cock transport plane was destroyed in a crash last December.
• European missile shield should stipulate joint decision making - Russian NATO envoy RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2011 -- The creation of a European missile shield should stipulate joint decision making, while a simple sharing of defense information among the project participants would only restrict Russia's nuclear potential, the Russian envoy to NATO said in an interview with the Izvestia daily.
• Pentagon says no change in U.S. policy on arms sales to Taiwan CNA 12 Jan 2011 -- The U.S. Department of Defense reaffirmed on Tuesday that U.S. policy toward China is based on three joint communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act, which requires Washington to sell Taiwan defensive weapons.
• U.S. military support boosts Taiwan's confidence: official CNA 12 Jan 2011 -- Military support provided by the United States helps boost Taiwan's confidence in negotiating with China, which has continued its massive deployment of missiles targeting Taiwan despite the resumption of cross-Taiwan Strait dialogue, a Taiwanese official said Tuesday.
• Taiwan must separate China ties from U.S. arm sales: legislator CNA 12 Jan 2011 -- The development of ties with China must be treated as a separate issue from U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, said Kuomintang (KMT) lawmaker Lin Yu-fang on Wednesday, and he urged the government to deal with both gingerly to gain maximum protection militarily and economically.
• MAC gives cold shoulder to Beijing proposal on military talks CNA 12 Jan 2011 -- The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) , Taiwan's top agency on China affairs, gave the cold shoulder Wednesday to a proposal by China that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should hold military negotiations.
• January 12, 2011 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 12 Jan 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 12, 2011
• BAE Systems Submits Proposal To Support 25 Year Flying Training Service To UK Armed Forces BAE Systems 12 Jan 2011 -- BAE Systems has submitted its proposal to support a flying training service to the UK’s armed forces. If successful the BAE Systems led team will be responsible for ensuring a range of aircraft and systems are available to train aircrew in basic, elementary and multi engine fixed wing flying, across the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.
• Northrop Grumman Delivers 20,000th LN-200 Inertial Measurement Unit Northrop Grumman 12 Jan 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Navigation Systems Division has achieved a significant milestone by delivering its 20,000th LN-200 Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), a highly versatile device which can be used for instrument stabilization, motion compensation and as a backup navigation sensor.
• Lockheed Martin Receives $360 Million in Contracts to Support U.S. Navy MH-60R Helicopter Fleet Lockheed Martin 12 Jan 2011 -- The U.S. Navy demonstrated its continued commitment to keeping its MH-60R Seahawk helicopter fleet at the forefront of anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, awarding Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a variety of production and development contracts totaling $360 million. The end-of-year awards cover a spectrum of systems aboard the MH-60R, built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation [NYSE: UTX].
• Lockheed Martin Awarded C4ISR Contract for Coast Guard’s Fourth National Security Cutter Lockheed Martin 12 Jan 2011 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] received a $66 million contract to provide the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) system for the United States Coast Guard’s fourth National Security Cutter (NSC).
• Northrop Grumman's Hunter Reaches 100,000 Flight Hours Operational Milestone Northrop Grumman 12 Jan 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Hunter Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), in use with the U.S. Army since 1996, recently surpassed 100,000 flight hours in service, more than 72,000 of which were flown in combat.

Other Conflicts

• 12 January 2011 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 12 Jan 2011
• UN deplores ambush of peacekeepers in Côte d’Ivoire UN News Centre 12 Jan 2011 -- The week-long independence referendum in South Sudan passed its half-way mark today with 12 January 2011 – The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire today spoke out against an ambush of its peacekeepers by armed forces loyal to outgoing president Laurent Gbagbo in the country’s capital of Abidjan overnight.
• Troops Surround Hotel of Internationally-Recognized Winner of Ivory Coast Vote VOA 12 Jan 2011 -- Ivory Coast's disputed election has produced two rival presidents who head two competing governments. But only one of those leaders occupies the presidential palace. The other is in a resort hotel protected by U.N. peacekeepers. Most of the world leaders now recognize the Abidjan hotel as the country's seat of power.
• With strong independence vote turnout in South Sudan, UN sees no need for extension UN News Centre 12 Jan 2011 -- The week-long independence referendum in South Sudan passed its half-way mark today with a continued large turnout, and a United Nations monitor said there should be no need to extend the vote, which could split Africa’s largest country in two.
• Conflict in Southern Sudan Could Harm Food Security VOA 12 Jan 2011 -- The U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization and World Food Program warn recent gains in food security in Sudan could be reversed by increasing food prices and an escalation of localized conflict. The agencies say states bordering on northern Sudan, such as Upper Nile and Unity, are most vulnerable.
• Jimmy Carter Hails Unity Among Southern Sudanese VOA 12 Jan 2011 -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has praised southern Sudanese President Salva Kiir for uniting southern Sudanese in their latest effort to become Africa’s newest nation, depending on the outcome of this week’s referendum that ends Saturday.
• South Sudan Vote Passes 60 Percent Participation VOA 12 Jan 2011 -- Southern Sudanese officials say they have received the 60 percent voter turnout needed to validate the region's landmark independence referendum.
• UGANDA: On the trail of the LRA IRIN 12 Jan 2011 -- US President Barack Obama's policy document on the Lord's Resistance Army presented a blunt critique of the efforts to tackle the Ugandan rebel group, but some argue it contained little practical help to those trying to apprehend the group’s leaders.
• NEPAL: UN peace mission ends amid political deadlock IRIN 12 Jan 2011 -- A UN mission established to monitor Nepal’s post-civil war transition will end on 15 January amid concerns the country’s still “fragile” peace process could unravel.
• UN-backed talks on Cyprus reunification gain momentum ahead of meeting with Ban UN News Centre 12 Jan 2011 -- Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders discussed governance and power-sharing today as they prepare to meet with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon later this month in United Nations-sponsored talks aimed at reunifying the Mediterranean island.

News Reports

• Obama Meets With Hariri; Lebanese Government Collapses VOA 12 Jan 2011 -- The government of Lebanon collapsed Wednesday, shortly after Prime Minister Saad Hariri met with President Barack Obama at the White House. Top U.S. officials have condemned the move by Hezbollah and its allies to bring the government down.
• Clinton: Hezbollah Tribunal Move Is Transparent Effort to Subvert Justice VOA 12 Jan 2011 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Wednesday said the effort by Hezbollah to undermine the U.N.-backed tribunal in Lebanon is a transparent effort to subvert justice that is destined to fail. Clinton discussed the Lebanese government crisis with U.S. Gulf allies in Doha.
• UN chief closely following developments in Lebanon, urges calm and dialogue UN News Centre 12 Jan 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is closely monitoring developments in Lebanon and has emphasized the importance of preserving calm there, his spokesperson said today.
• Lebanese Government Collapses As Hezbollah Exits VOA 12 Jan 2011 -- Lebanon's unity government collapsed Wednesday after Hezbollah ministers and their allies resigned.
• Lebanon's 'Unity' Government Collapses As Hizballah Ministers, Allies Resign RFE/RL 12 Jan 2011 -- Lebanon is in the throes of political crisis today after 11 members of the country's 14-month-old "unity" government resigned.
• Lebanon's Government Collapses With Cabinet Resignations VOA 12 Jan 2011 -- Lebanon's coalition government collapsed on Wednesday as members of the opposition Hezbollah party and its allies announced they were resigning from the Cabinet.
• Lebanese military on alert in south Lebanon IRNA 12 Jan 2011 -- Following a political crisis in Lebanon and possible resignation of ministers of the March 8 alliance, the Lebanese government has put its military on alert in south of this country.
• IAEA Envoy: Istanbul talks is a historic opportunity for west IRNA 12 Jan 2011 -- Iran's representative to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called Istanbul talks 'a historic opportunity for west to return to negotiation table'.
• Iran says no plans to discuss nuclear program in Istanbul RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2011 -- Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday Tehran will not discuss its controversial nuclear program at talks with the Group of Six in Istanbul on January 21-22.
• Detained Thais Face Spy Charges in Cambodian Court VOA 12 Jan 2011 -- A prominent Thai nationalist activist and his aide faced questioning in a Cambodian court Wednesday on espionage charges. The two are among seven Thais, including a lawmaker, charged with illegally entering Cambodia in a case that threatens to bring a simmering diplomatic dispute to a boil yet again.
• Civilian nuclear breakthrough for U.S.-Russian reset project RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2011 -- The U.S.-Russian Agreement for Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, also known as the U.S.-Russia 123 Agreement, signed for 30 years, came into force without any protest from the U.S. Congress on January 11.
• Blair faces second questioning on Iraq war on January 21 IRNA 12 Jan 2011 -- Former prime minister Tony Blair is to reappear to face questioning for the second time about the Iraq war on January 21, the official inquiry announced Wednesday.
• Kaczynski plane crash caused by pilot error - Russian investigators RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2011 -- Pilot error was the main cause of the plane crash that killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski and 95 other top officials in April 2010, a Russian investigative team said in a new report released on Wednesday.
• Clinton Seeks Persian Gulf Cooperation in Qatar VOA 12 Jan 2011 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is continuing her tour of the Persian Gulf in Qatar, where she is scheduled to discuss regional issues with foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council.
• Iran to launch 'Fajr' home-made satellite in near future IRNA 12 Jan 2011 -- Iran's Communications and Information Technology Minister said on Wednesday Iran will launch a home-made satellite called 'Fajr' by the end of current Iranian year on March 20.
• Russia to launch ocean satellite in March RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2011 -- Russia will launch an oceanography satellite in March to keep track of a vast amount of data that will help improve weather, climate and ocean forecasts, a Russian scientist said on Wednesday.