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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• NATO and Libya - Operational Media Update: 20 May 2011
• Aviation elements return to Cherry Point from 26th MEU USMC News 21 May 2011 -- The Marine Corps prides itself on being a force in readiness, able to be wherever needed at a moment's notice. Epitomizing the mission is the Marine expeditionary unit, a force of approximately 2,200 Marines and Sailors that operate from amphibious platforms at sea.
• Marines dedicate Afghanistan compound to fallen lieutenant colonel USMC News 21 May 2011 -- Deployed Marines and sailors honored the life and service of former 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion commanding officer, Lt. Col. Benjamin J. Palmer, by dedicating to him the Marine Air Control Group 28 compound on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 21.
• Suicide Blast Kills 6 Medical Students in Major Afghan Hospital VOA 21 May 2011 -- Afghan officials say a Taliban suicide bomber infiltrated the country's main military hospital Saturday, killing at least six medical students and wounding 23 other people.
• US drone attacks continue in Pakistan despite concerns IRNA 21 May 2011 -- United States is continuing with policy of drone attacks on Pakistani soil despite strong reaction shown by Pakistani Parliament against the moves.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Wikileaks Cables Indicate Close Combat Cooperation Between US, Pakistan VOA 21 May 2011 -- A leading Pakistani newspaper has joined with the online whistleblower Wikileaks to publish diplomatic cables which indicate a closer cooperation between the U.S. and Pakistani military in counter-terrorism operations than had been previously known.
• George H.W. Bush Strike Group Participates in Saxon Warrior NNS 21 May 2011 -- George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWB CSG) commenced Saxon Warrior '11, May 19.
• USS Boone, USS Thach Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile NNS 21 May 2011 -- Frigates USS Boone (FFG 28) and USS Thach (FFG 43) arrived in Punta Arenas, Chile, May 20, as part of their six-month deployment in support of Southern Seas 2011.
• USNS Comfort Brings Goodwill to Ecuador NNS 21 May 2011 -- Continuing Promise 2011 (CP11) personnel embarked aboard USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) held a Project Handclasp donation ceremony at Manta Port, May 18.
• USS Mitscher Welcomes Spanish Navy Sailors NNS 21 May 2011 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) embarked seven Spanish navy sailors from the Spanish frigate ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbon (F 102), May 18.
• Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Changes Command NNS 21 May 2011 -- Command of Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock changed hands May 20.
• Helena Departs Shipyard Following Maintenance Period NNS 21 May 2011 -- USS Helena (SSN 725) departed from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) May 20, following completion of extended maintenance.
• Joint Strike Fighter Makes First Air Show Appearance NNS 21 May 2011 -- The F-35C Joint Strike Fighter made its first public appearance at an air show May 21.
• U.S., African Militaries Share Problems, Solutions AFPS 21 May 2011 -- Senior leaders representing 17 African national militaries came together with their American counterparts here this week to better understand U.S. Africa Command and to help in developing the noncommissioned officers corps in their nations.
• Mullen: New Army Officers Should be Soldiers, Statesmen AFPS 21 May 2011 -- The newly commissioned officers of the U.S. Military Academy's Class of 2011 should strive to be soldiers as well as statesmen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the academy's commencement here today.
• India successfully test fired Astra Missile for second day IRNA 21 May 2011 -- For the second day in a row, India conducted a successful ballistic flight test of indigenously developed Astra - Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile - from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Orissa state, on Saturday.
• Iran Starts Mass-Production of Powerful Anti-Armor Munitions IRNA 21 May 2011 -- Iran started mass-production of anti-armor ammunition in an official ceremony attended by the country's Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi.
• Iran opens production lines of new ammunitions ISNA 21 May 2011 -- Iran unveiled new ammunitions on Saturday as it prepares to mark anniversary of liberation of its southwestern city of Khorramshahr on Tuesday.
• Iranian navy saves Malta's ship in high seas ISNA 21 May 2011 -- Iranian navy saved a ship named 'Dandle' and attacked by pirates while carrying flag of Malta.
• Iran rejects claims on troops dispatch to Syria for crackdown ISNA 21 May 2011 -- The Head of Iran's Bassij paramilitary forces Mohammad Reza Naghdi said on Saturday that allegations on dispatch of Iranian Bassij forces and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to Syria are ridiculous.
• Russian task force returns home after anti-piracy mission RIA Novosti 21 May 2011 -- The Russian Pacific Fleet's task force led by the Admiral Vinogradov destroyer will arrive on Saturday in the Far Eastern port of Vladivostok after a successful anti-piracy mission off the Somali coast.
• Russia, U.S. should have separate anti-missile systems, Poland says RIA Novosti 21 May 2011 -- Russia and the United States should have separate, but cooperating missile defense systems, Polish Defense Minister Bogdan Klikh said on Saturday.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Libyan Rebels Free 4 Detained Frenchmen VOA 21 May 2011 -- The foreign ministry of France says four French nationals held by Libyan rebels on suspicion of spying have been freed.
• Palestinians Say Peace Process at Dead End VOA 21 May 2011 -- Two days after the President of the United States gave a major Middle East policy speech, peace efforts are in crisis.
• Middle East Quartet supports Obama's 1967 borders call RIA Novosti 21 May 2011 -- The Middle East Quartet mediators support recent proposals by U.S. President Barack Obama on the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
• Sudan: UN mission concerned over fighting in Abyei, urges civilian protection UN News Centre 21 May 2011 -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Sudan (UNMIS) today expressed deep concern over troop build-up and reported fighting, including the use of heavy artillery and bombing, in the disputed Abyei area and appealed to both parties in the conflict to protect civilians.
• Cyprus: UN chief to host meeting with Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot leaders in July UN News Centre 21 May 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will host a joint meeting of the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities on 7 July in Geneva, his office has announced, stressing the need for both leaders to accelerate the process of negotiations aimed at the reunification of Cyprus.
• Ivory Coast President Ouattara Formally Inaugurated VOA 21 May 2011 -- Alassane Ouattara has been inaugurated as Ivory Coast's new president, six months after he won an election that the previous president refused to recognize.
• Taiwan, China should resolve disputes peacefully: U.S. CNA 21 May 2011 -- The U.S. Department of State reaffirmed Friday that the United States has maintained a consistent policy toward China and that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should resolve their disputes in a peaceful manner.

News Reports

• Activists: Syrian Security Forces Kill 3 at Protesters' Funeral VOA 21 May 2011 -- Activists in Syria say at least three people were killed Saturday when security forces fired on mourners holding funeral services for at least 44 people killed in Friday's protest demonstrations. Opposition websites are also claiming that medics were not allowed to treat the victims. Meanwhile, in Yemen, embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh is saying once again that he will sign a Gulf Cooperation Council plan that paves the way for him to resign.
• Yemen Opposition Signs Transition Deal VOA 21 May 2011 -- Yemen's opposition says it has signed a Gulf-brokered deal that would see President Ali Abdullah Saleh transfer power within a month.
• US espionage network eliminated IRNA 21 May 2011 -- Iran's Information (Intelligence) Ministry announced Saturday that it has identified and eliminated a complicated espionage and sabotage network related to the CIA.
• CIA espionage network busted in Iran IRNA 21 May 2011 -- Information Ministry announced on Saturday that it has identified and busted a espionage and sabotage network operated by CIA, arresting some 30 people spying for the US in addition to identifying 42 CIA officers in various parts of the world.
• Giant barge arrives at Fukushima plant to store radioactive water RIA Novosti 21 May 2011 -- A giant water-storage barge has arrived at Japan's quake-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to store highly radioactive waste water from the basement of a reactor building, Kyodo news reported on Saturday.
• Is Ahmadinejad's Closest Aide About To Be Arrested? RFE/RL 21 May 2011 -- The pressure on Mahmud Ahmadinejad is mounting in the power struggle that has pitted the Iranian president against the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
• India successfully injects GSAT-8 satellite into space IRNA 21 May 2011 -- India on Saturday successfully injected latest communication satellite GSAT-8 by Arianespace from Kourou in French Guiana to give a boost to direct-to-home services in the country.
• Russia sends two Soyuz carrier rockets to French Guiana RIA Novosti 21 May 2011 -- Two Russian Soyuz-ST carrier rockets are on the way from Samara to St. Petersburg to be shipped to French Guiana for future launches from the Kourou space center, the Progress design bureau said.
• Russia launches U.S. telecoms satellite RIA Novosti 21 May 2011 -- Russia has launched a Proton-M heavy carrier rocket with a U.S. telstar-14R telecommunications satellite from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, the Russian space agency Roscosmos said.