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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 12 Jul 2011 [PDF]
• Half-Brother's Death Deals Blow to Afghan President VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- The killing of Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s half-brother has removed a key power broker from the Afghan political scene.
• Karzai's Slain Brother a Controversial Power Broker VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- The younger half-brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai was considered the most powerful figure in the southern province of Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban.
• Profile: Why Was The Afghan President's Brother Ahmad Wali Karzai So Controversial? RFE/RL 12 Jul 2011 -- In the murky world of Afghan politics, there were few figures murkier - yet more important - than Ahmad Wali Karzai.
• Secretary Clinton Statement on Assassination of Ahmed Wali Karzai US Dept. of State 12 Jul 2011
• Petraeus Offers Condolences to Afghan President Karzai AFPS 12 Jul 2011 -- Army Gen. David H. Petraeus offered condolences to Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his family in the wake of today’s assassination of the president’s half-brother.
• Hamid Karzai confirms his brother's assassination RIA Novosti 12 Jul 2011 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai confirmed his half brother Akhmed Wali Karzai 's assassination in the city of Kandahar on Tuesday.
• Afghan President's Half-Brother Assassinated VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Ahmad Wali Karzai, the half brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai and a powerful political figure in his own right, has been killed in his home in Kandahar, apparently by his own bodyguard.
• Afghan President's Brother Assassinated RFE/RL 12 Jul 2011 -- Ahmad Wali Karzai, a brother of Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, has been assassinated in his home town of Kandahar.
• Security Force, Air Assault Team Kill Insurgents AFPS 12 Jul 2011 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed numerous insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader in the Azrah district of Afghanistan’s Logar province.
• Petraeus: Counterinsurgency Strategy Has ‘Borne Fruit’ AFPS 12 Jul 2011 -- The commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force assessed its results in Afghanistan as he prepares to retire.
• Shindand Air Base triples in size AFNS 12 Jul 2011 -- By expanding to nearly three times its original size, Shindand Air Base recently became the second largest airfield throughout Afghanistan.
• Interagency Task Force Confronts Drug Trafficking AFPS 12 Jul 2011 -- The poppy fields of Afghanistan may seem a million miles away from U.S. Pacific Command’s headquarters in Hawaii.
• France to Withdraw 1,000 Troops from Afghanistan VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- France says it plans to withdraw 1,000 of its combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012.
• UK unaware of Afghan casualties caused by drone attacks IRNA 12 Jul 2011 -- The British government has admitted that it is unaware of how many people in Afghanistan have been killed or injured as a result of UK unmanned aircraft.
• Musharraf: US Suspension of Aid to Pakistan 'Disastrous' VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says he regrets the U.S. decision to stop $800 million in military aid to Pakistan.
• By Holding Back On Aid, U.S. Keeps Islamabad Guessing RFE/RL 12 Jul 2011 -- Those who follow the tortured relationship between Pakistan and the US have been predicting that Washington was on the verge of losing patience with its partners in Islamabad.
• Pakistan Threatens to Pull Soldiers From Tribal Regions VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Pakistan's defense minister says if the US cuts off $800 million in military aid, the government may recall troops fighting militants in the restive tribal areas.
• Suspected U.S. Missile Strikes Kill 45 Militants In Pakistan RFE/RL 12 Jul 2011 -- Pakistani security officials say at least 45 suspected militants have been killed by suspected U.S. drone-launched missile strikes.
• Suspected US Drone Strikes Kill 42 Militants in Pakistan VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Pakistani officials say suspected U.S. drone strikes have killed at least 42 militants in Pakistan's northwest in the last two days.
• US drone kills 10 in Pakistan IRNA 12 Jul 2011 -- A US drone strike in Pakistan’s North Waziristan Monday killed at least seven suspected militants.
• Bomber kills 7 in public meeting in NW Pakistan IRNA 12 Jul 2011 -- A suicide bomber blew himself up near a public meeting of a major political party in northwest Pakistan on Monday and killed at least seven people.
• UN scales up aid to thousands fleeing Pakistan’s latest conflict zone UN News Centre 12 Jul 2011 -- The United Nations refugee agency said today it is scaling up its help to people fleeing recent fighting in north-western Pakistan.
• Series of blasts rock arms deport near Islamabad IRNA 12 Jul 2011 -- Several people were injured in series of blasts in a arms depot and near a police training center in the outskirts of Islamabad.
• NATO and Libya - Operational Media Update: 11 Jul 2011
• Press briefing on Libya by Oana Lungescu, the NATO Spokesperson and Wing Commander Mike Bracken, Operation ‘’Unified Protector’’ military spokesperson NATO 12 Jul 2011

Defense Policy / Programs

• Remarks by the President in Presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Leroy Arthur Petry The White House 12 Jul 2011
• Obama Awards Medal of Honor to Army Ranger AFPS 12 Jul 2011 -- President Barack Obama awarded the country’s highest military honor to Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry.
• Obama Presents Medal of Honor to US Army Ranger VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has presented the Medal of Honor to an Army Ranger who protected fellow troops from a grenade attack in Afghanistan.
• Mullen: U.S.-China Military Efforts Target Mutual Threats AFPS 12 Jul 2011 -- Progress in joint U.S.-China military initiatives targets challenges and security threats faced by both nations and the region, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said.
• Sensor Network Detects Nuclear Blasts Worldwide AFPS 12 Jul 2011 -- At any time, if a nuclear device explodes anywhere on Earth, a Defense Department network established in 1947 will know about it.
• Navy Establishes Program Executive Office for Littoral Combat Ships NNS 12 Jul 2011 -- The Navy established the Program Executive Office, Littoral Combat Ships (PEO LCS), during a ceremony at Washington Navy Yard, July 11.
• F-35C Completes First Jet Blast Deflector Testing NNS 12 Jul 2011 -- The F-35 integrated test force, along with the aircraft launch and recovery engineering team at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, completed the first jet blast deflector test on the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter.
• Global Hawk postured for success AFNS 12 Jul 2011 -- The RQ-4 Global Hawk program remains a critical component to national security and the Air Force will increase cost-saving efficiencies to ensure the unmanned aerial system's sustainment.
• Army improving UAS effectiveness Army News 12 Jul 2011 -- The 11th UAS Warfighter Forum is an opportunity for attendees to confer openly and discuss issues to identify what the Army has done.
• Eye in the sky Army News 12 Jul 2011 -- A small, raptor-like unmanned aerial system called the ScanEagle is providing Soldiers in Iraq with an ever-vigilant eye in the sky.
• KCNA on US-S. Korea Joint Military Exercise KCNA 12 Jul 2011 -- Some days ago, the United States and the south Korean military staged a joint scientific exercise.
• US army shoots at German school: media IRNA 12 Jul 2011 -- Stray bullets from a US army firing range in southern Germany accidentally struck a vocational school and a house in a nearby town during shooting practice.
• Navy Revises Career Paths to Emphasize Service at Sea NNS 12 Jul 2011 -- The Navy released a message announcing revisions to the sea/shore flow for enlisted career paths July 12.
• Warrior Forge merges experience with potential Army News 12 Jul 2011 -- Reserve Officer Training Corps Cadets from campuses across the country have descended upon JBLM for Warrior Forge 2011 and 104th Training Division Soldiers are ready for the challenge.
• State sends 22 additional Soldiers to assit with flood relief operations Army News 12 Jul 2011 -- Soldiers from the Kansas National Guard deployed to provide security patrols in Elwood, Kansas.
• Army North’s largest exercise to train DOD’s newest response forces Army News 12 Jul 2011 -- US Army North’s largest disaster response exercise is one step closer to reality.
• European missile defense stalls Russia-NATO cooperation RIA Novosti 12 Jul 2011 -- The possible deployment of a NATO missile defense shield in Europe is the only disputable point between Russia and NATO.
• Medvedev tells Defense Ministry to shop abroad for cheaper weapons RIA Novosti 12 Jul 2011 -- Russia's Defense Ministry can buy foreign military equipment if domestically produced gear is overpriced.
• Russian research vessel begins Arctic shelf research RIA Novosti 12 Jul 2011 -- Members of the expedition on the research vessel Akademik Fyodorov have begun seismic studies in the area north of Franz Josef Land.
• Varyag name and significance still debated CNA 12 Jul 2011 -- The Varyag, an aircraft carrier the People's Liberation Army acquired from Ukraine, could not be launched on July 1.
• U.S. urged to pay attention to cross-strait military imbalance CNA 12 Jul 2011 -- Taiwan urged the US to supply it with F-16C/D jet fighters to help address the growing military imbalance across the Taiwan Strait.
• Anti-aircraft carrier tactics in military drills: MND CNA 12 Jul 2011 -- Anti-aircraft carrier combat strategies have been included in Taiwan's annual military drills since 2008.
• Lafayette case closes, US$875 million paid to Taiwan CNA 12 Jul 2011 -- The French defense company Thales has wired a court-ordered fine of US$875 million into a Taiwan government bank account.
• Taiwan mulls idea of having Navy ships protect fishermen CNA 12 Jul 2011 -- Taiwan has not rejected the option of dispatching navy vessels to protect Taiwanese fishing boats in the future.
• Indian Navy commissions Fast attack craft INS Koswari IRNA 12 Jul 2011 -- Indian Navy commissioned indigenously built Fast Attack Craft in a function held at the eastern naval command in Visakhapatnam.
• Cypriots Riot After Deadly Munitions Blast VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Police on Cyprus used tear gas to break up a crowd that stormed onto the grounds of the presidential palace in Nicosia Tuesday during a protest over a fatal blast at a naval base.
• Cyprus: UN Would Not Authorize Disposal of Munitions that Caused Blast VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Cyprus says it tried to get rid of the containers of confiscated munitions that exploded Monday, killing 12 people, including the Cypriot naval commander.
• Facts About Turkmen Blast Hard To Come By RFE/RL 12 Jul 2011 -- Nearly a week after a deadly series of blasts outside the capital, Ashgabat, many in Turkmenistan still don't know the extent of what really happened as they await permission to return to their homes.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 7/12/2011 The White House 12 Jul 2011
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, July 12, 2011 US Dept. of State 12 Jul 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 12, 2011
• New lease of life for HMS Victory BAE Systems 12 Jul 2011 -- Visitors to HMS Victory, the oldest commissioned warship in the world, have a rare opportunity to see how the great sailing warships of the 18th century were built and maintained, as a team of BAE Systems engineers has started work on the restoration of Nelson's flagship.
• Boeing EA-18G Growlers Complete 1st Combat Deployment Boeing 12 Jul 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] EA-18G Growlers operated by U.S. Navy electronic attack squadron VAQ-132 safely returned to their home base at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., on July 9, after completing an eight-month deployment that included combat operations in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) areas of responsibility.
• DCNS delivers MU90 torpedo simulator to German Navy DCNS 12 Jul 2011 -- DCNS has successfully delivered the SIMOPE (SIMulateur OPErationnel) MU90 torpedo simulator to the German Navy. SIMOPE is designed to prepare and simulate operational launch scenarios with the MU90 lightweight anti-submarine torpedo, in an extremely realistic configuration.
• General Dynamics Receives $16 Million Navy Award for Common Missile Compartment Work General Dynamics 12 Jul 2011 -- The U.S Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $15.8 million contract modification for continued engineering, technical services, concept studies and design in support of the Common Missile Compartment under development for the United Kingdom's Successor ballistic-missile submarine and the U.S. Ohio replacement submarine. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• Northrop Grumman Awarded DoD Civil Engineering Support Contract Northrop Grumman 12 Jul 2011 -- The General Services Administration (GSA), in partnership with the Headquarters Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency (AFCESA), has awarded the Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a five-year contract to perform engineering services supporting the Department of Defense's civil engineering mission worldwide.

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 12 July 2011 United Nations 12 Jul 2011
• Ban urges effective mechanism to apply responsibility to protect principle UN News Centre 12 Jul 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban called for a concerted international effort to develop a mechanism for applying the principle of the global responsibility to protect.
• UN Condemns Attacks on Schools, Hospitals in Armed Conflict VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on children and armed conflict, particularly condemning groups that attack schools and hospitals.
• Italy Calls For Political Solution In Libya RFE/RL 12 Jul 2011 -- Italy is reportedly calling for a political solution to the conflict in Libya that envisions Muammar Qaddafi "leaving the scene."
• US Backs Russian Mediation in Libya VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- The US says it is prepared to support Russia's mediation efforts in Libya.
• U.S. to support Russia's mediation efforts in Libya RIA Novosti 12 Jul 2011 -- The US will support Russia's crisis mediation efforts in Libya provided embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi steps down.
• Struggling Tunisian Economy Gets Boost From Libyan Conflict VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- More than six months after its revolution, the North African country of Tunisia is struggling to get back on its feet.
• ASEAN Meeting to Examine South China Sea Dispute VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Asia’s surging economies are hungry for natural resources and that is drawing new attention to the reserves that lie under the South China Sea.
• Vietnam Shifts Approach to Territorial Dispute with China VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Vietnam’s recent crackdown on anti-Chinese protesters marks a shift in its handling of its territorial dispute with Beijing.
• Abbas: Lack of Mideast Talks' Statement a Bad Sign for Peace Prospects VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says the lack of a statement from a meeting of the Middle East Quartet of peace mediators is a bad sign.
• Mideast Quartet urges direct peace talks between Israel, PA RIA Novosti 12 Jul 2011 -- The Middle East Quartet of negotiators again urged the Israelis and Palestinians to resume direct talks without any preconditions.
• OPT: Growing economy, uneven benefits IRIN 12 Jul 2011 -- The Palestinian economy is growing but remains unsustainable, with large sections of the population still unemployed and trapped by rising poverty.
• Sudan: UN reports ongoing heavy bombardment in Southern Kordofan UN News Centre 12 Jul 2011 -- The situation in Sudan’s Southern Kordofan state has remained unpredictable with heavy bombardment continuing.
• Botswana, African Union Disagree Over International Criminal Court Warrants VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Botswana will continue to support trials by the ICC of accused human rights abusers in Africa, despite opposition by the African Union.
• Lebanon's Former PM Critical of Handling of Hariri Probe VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Former Lebanese PM Hariri says if his government were still in power, it would have made efforts to search for the Hezbollah suspects indicted by a U.N.-backed tribunal.

News Reports

• Congressional Panel Calls for UN Action on Syria VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Experts have told a hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on Capitol Hill that the human rights situation in Syria is grim.
• Syria: Ban and Security Council condemn attacks on embassies UN News Centre 12 Jul 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council condemned attacks against embassies in the Syrian capital.
• UN Security Council Condemns Damascus Embassy Attacks VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- The U.N. Security Council has condemned attacks by demonstrators on the U.S. and French embassies in Damascus.
• UN Security Council Condemns Attacks On Embassies In Syria RFE/RL 12 Jul 2011 -- The UN Security Council has condemned "in the strongest terms" attacks against the U.S. and French embassies in Damascus.
• Syria Lashes Out at US Following Clinton Comments VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Syria has sharply criticized U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, after she said President Bashar al-Assad had "lost legitimacy."
• Tension Rises in Egypt Between Government, Protesters VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Young people in a tent city at the center of Cairo's Tahrir Square chanted a song from the 1950s, with words updated to refer to their revolution.
• Egypt's Military Warns Cairo Protesters Against Further Disruptions VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Egypt's military rulers say they will "confront" any actions that "harm public interests" as anti-government protesters occupy central Cairo's Tahrir Square for a fifth day.
• Court Convicts Mubarak-Era Officials Of Corruption RFE/RL 12 Jul 2011 -- An Egyptian court has convicted a Mubarak-era prime minister and two cabinet ministers of corruption and sentenced them to up to 10 years in jail.
• Iran, UN Watchdog Appear Deadlocked on Nuclear Dispute VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency appear to remain deadlocked in a dispute over the Iranian nuclear program.
• IAEA statement concerning meeting between Amano and Salehi IRNA 12 Jul 2011 -- IAEA issued a statement concerning meeting between Director General of the Agency Yukiya Amano and Iran's FM Salehi.
• Iran FM holds private talks with IAEA chief in Vienna IRNA 12 Jul 2011 -- Iran’s FMr Salehi held talks with Director General of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano in Vienna.
• Austrian FM: EU is ready to restart talks on Iran’s nuclear program IRNA 12 Jul 2011 -- Austrian FM and Deputy Chancellor Spindelegger: Catherine Ashton EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and 3+3 group are ready to restart Iran’s nuclear talks.
• Iran, IAEA agree to hold talks based on modality ISNA 12 Jul 2011-- Iran and the IAEA agreed to hold talks based on modality plan to resolve issues.
• Salehi: Iran never gives up its nuclear rights IRNA 12 Jul 2011 -- Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi: Islamic Republic of Iran will never give up its legitimate nuclear rights while remaining committed to its international commitments.
• UN rights chief hails Senegal’s decision not to repatriate former dictator to Chad UN News Centre 12 Jul 2011 -- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights welcomed Senegal’s decision not to repatriate former dictator Hissène Habré to Chad.
• Malaysia: UN rights office voices concern about recent crackdown on protesters UN News Centre 12 Jul 2011 -- The UN human rights office voiced concern about the apparent use of excessive force against protesters on the weekend by Malaysian police.
• Turkmen Opposition Leader Says Jail Terms Prevent Dissidents' Return RFE/RL 12 Jul 2011 -- An exiled Turkmen opposition leader says President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov's call for dissidents to return and take part in the 2012 presidential election is unrealistic.
• UN and partner agency need $21 million to help Angolan refugees return home UN News Centre 12 Jul 2011 -- The UN refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration launched an appeal for $21 million to help some 60,000 Angolan refugees return home this year and next.
• Over 20 police injured in latest Belfast riots IRNA 12 Jul 2011 -- More than 20 police officers were injured during the latest outbreak of rioting in Belfast overnight with sectarian tensions remaining high
• Dalai Lama Feels 'Freer' Since Giving up Political Role VOA 12 Jul 2011 -- Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has been in Washington since last week, celebrating his birthday and guiding followers of Tibetan Buddhism in a multi-day prayer and meditation ritual.
• Ukraine Ready To Build Chornobyl Shelter RFE/RL 12 Jul 2011 -- Ukraine says it has enough money to start construction of a new shelter on the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster.