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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 12 Oct 2011 [PDF]
• NATO and Libya - Operational Media Update: 11 Oct 2011
• DOD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Buchanan via Teleconference from Iraq DoD 12 Oct 2011 -- Presenter: Director of Strategic Communication (J9) and Official Spokesman for U.S. Forces-Iraq Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan
• Iraq Drawdown Continues as Partnership Takes Shape AFPS 12 Oct 2011 -- With 100,000 U.S. forces already gone from from Iraq since January 2009 and more to follow, the Defense Department is working to ensure a successful transition to a State Department-led U.S. presence there, senior DOD officials told Congress today.
• U.S. Forces Have Met All Obligations in Iraq, General Says AFPS 12 Oct 2011 -- U.S. forces are 'completely on track' to make a total military withdrawal from Iraq by the end of the year, even while U.S. and Iraqi officials discuss the possibility of some staying longer, U.S. Forces Iraq's spokesman and director of strategic effects said today.
• ESC provides modern air traffic control system for Iraq AFNS 12 Oct 2011 -- Members of the Electronic Systems Center completed work in September that improves and upgrades Iraq's air traffic control system.
• Force Captures Insurgent Leaders in Afghanistan AFPS 12 Oct 2011 -- Combined Afghan and coalition forces captured insurgent leaders, detained suspected insurgents and seized weapons in numerous operations throughout Afghanistan in recent days, military officials reported.
• Security Council extends mandate of international force in Afghanistan UN News Centre 12 Oct 2011 -- The Security Council today extended the authorization of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan for another year, welcoming the agreement between the country and troop-contributing States to gradually transfer key security responsibilities to the Afghan Government by the end of 2014.
• Poland extends military presence in Afghanistan until Apr. 2012 RIA Novosti 12 Oct 2011 -- Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski extended on Wednesday the mandate for the country's peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan until April 13, 2012, the Polish press agency said.
• Pakistan daily warns against expansion of US drone raids IRNA 12 Oct 2011 -- Pakistani news daily on Wednesday said that increasing US drone strikes in Pakistan's tribal region amounted to trampling of sovereignty of the country.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Panetta: Services Must Work Jointly on Budget 'Storms' AFPS 12 Oct 2011 -- The services must work together to face mounting budget pressures and determine the nation's future military needs, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today.
• Chairman: Transition is Military's Task at Hand AFPS 12 Oct 2011 -- Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said today his job as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will center on leading transitions: from war to readiness, from bigger to smaller budgets, and from uniformed service members to veterans.
• Air Force building the future force AFNS 12 Oct 2011 -- Changes are coming to the Air Force and officials are working with the Department of Defense to prioritize current and future resources as part of a national priority to reduce spending.
• Army modernizing, networking its future force Army News 12 Oct 2011 -- The U.S. Army approach to modernization seeks to blend a clear, uncompromising emphasis upon locating, developing and harvesting the best emerging technologies able to help Soldiers in combat with a stepped-up effort to pursue affordability and consider cost as its own 'independent' variable in the acquisition decision-making process, service leaders told attendees Oct. 11, at the 2011 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting and Exposition held in Washington, D.C.
• Enemy strategy to 'bleed us by a thousand cuts' at squad level Army News 12 Oct 2011 -- The conventional Infantry squad still faces a fair fight against the current enemy despite advances in technology and the 'digital comfort' this generation of Soldiers is born into. To overmatch the enemy, leaders must focus on bringing the nine-man squad into the 21st century, said Maj. Gen. Robert Brown in a briefing to senior military leaders, coalition forces and industry representatives Tuesday.
• Army remains Soldier-focused in constrained environment Army News 12 Oct 2011 -- The Army is focusing on bringing the Soldier more capabilities faster, through a culture of teamwork and collaboration, streamlining logistics, and increasing industry interactions, officials said Tuesday.
• LandWarNet implementing common operating environment Army News 12 Oct 2011 -- 'We're executing our strategy. We're not developing it. We're not thinking about it. We are executing the Army's network modernization strategy as it relates to mission command,' said Col. John Morrison, G-3/5/7 director, LandWarNet/Battle Command.
• Training Brain Injects Complexity of operational environment into Army training Army News 12 Oct 2011 -- After years of combat operations in an unpredictable, complex and changing operational environment, or OE, the Army is working to replicate those conditions through its Training Brain Enterprise.
• Afghanistan Theater Receives State-of-the-Art MRI Systems NNS 12 Oct 2011 -- The top doctor for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps announced the delivery of two mobile Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems to Afghanistan Oct. 4-7.
• NPS 'Network in a Box' Delivers Emergency Communications to Disaster Response NNS 12 Oct 2011 -- In honor of the 30th year of San Francisco's Fleet Week, Oct. 6-11, the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) took the opportunity to support the theme of this year's events - humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HA/DR) - with a display featuring some of the school's research projects in the field.
• USS New Orleans Completes CERTEX NNS 12 Oct 2011 -- USS New Orleans (LPD 18) returned to San Diego Oct. 12, after completing its final pre-deployment exercise in preparation for its upcoming deployment later this year.
• USS Chafee Holds Change of Command NNS 12 Oct 2011 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) held a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Oct. 5.
• New Camp Pendleton BEQ Built to LEED Platinum Standards NNS 12 Oct 2011 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest and members of the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton community celebrated the completion of a bachelor enlisted quarters (BEQ) built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum standards, Sept. 23.
• Transition Benefits: Veterans Can Continue Public Service in Civilian Careers NNS 12 Oct 2011 -- Civilian careers with the Department of the Navy (DON) can provide veterans with another opportunity to continue government service.
• Emory S. Land Conducts Coordinated Mooring in Malaysia NNS 12 Oct 2011 -- Submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) arrived in Sepangar Oct. 11 as part of the U.S. Navy's theater security cooperation and friendship mission.
• 31st MEU conducts TRAP mission USMC News 12 Oct 2011
• Russian Air Force gets six new attack helicopters RIA Novosti 12 Oct 2011 -- A new batch of Mi-28N Night Hunter attack helicopters has been delivered to a pilot training center near Moscow, Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik said on Wednesday.
• Indian Navy-Net security provider to Island nations in IOR: Antony IRNA 12 Oct 2011 -- India's Defence Minister, A K Antony Wednesday assured maritime neighbors of the country's 'unstinted support for their security and economic prosperity'.
• 16 Air Assault Brigade prepares for rapid reaction role UK MOD 12 Oct 2011 -- Soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade are taking part in Exercise Joint Warrior in Scotland to train for the resumption of their role as the British Army's rapid reaction force.
• Taiwan seeking further French La Fayette-related compensation CNA 12 Oct 2011 -- The government is seeking more compensation from France for its violation of a no-commission promise in a sub-contract related to a 1991 deal in which Taiwan obtained six French-made La Fayette warships, Defense Minister Kao Hua-chu said Wednesday.
• October 12, 2011 Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney The White House 12 Oct 2011
• October 12, 2011 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 12 Oct 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 12, 2011
• Further Chilean Armed Forces Upgrade Work for BAE Systems BAE Systems 12 Oct 2011 -- BAE Systems has signed a £3.3m contract with the Chilean Navy to upgrade a radar sub-system of the Type 911 tracker on the Chilean Type 23 frigates.
• Joint press release: CASSIDIAN and Northrop Grumman present first EURO HAWK® for German Armed Forces EADS 12 Oct 2011 -- EURO HAWK®, the premier Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for the German Armed Forces, was presented today to government officials and media during a rollout ceremony held in Manching, Germany.
• Northrop Grumman Awarded Production Contract to Supply Navigation Lights Shapes and Sounds System for Next-Generation U.K. Aircraft Carriers Northrop Grumman 12 Oct 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporationhas signed a full production contract for the Navigation Lights Shapes and Sounds (NLSS) signaling system for the Royal Navy's next-generation Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers.
• Raytheon Aims to Integrate STM on Light-Attack Aircraft Raytheon 12 Oct 2011 -- Raytheon Company is seeking to integrate its Small Tactical Munition onto a wide variety of light-attack aircraft.
• Raytheon Excalibur Ia-2 Ready for Use in Afghanistan Raytheon 12 Oct 2011 -- Raytheon Company successfully fired nine rounds in U.S. Army lot acceptance tests, which means the Excalibur Ia-2 precision-guided projectile is ready for U.S. Army and Marine Corps use in Afghanistan.
• SAIC Awarded Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic Contract SAIC 12 Oct 2011 -- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) today announced it was awarded a prime contract by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SSC) Atlantic to provide information assurance (IA) and cybersecurity services in support of its mission to provide U.S. tactical, strategic, and operations support.
• Lockheed Martin Successfully Completes End-To-End System Test Of First MUOS Satellite Northrop Grumman 12 Oct 2011 -- The first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) military communications satellite built by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Navy has successfully completed a major end-to-end system test, validating satellite performance and functionality with user ground terminals.

Other Conflicts

• 12 October 2011 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 12 Oct 2011
• Security sector reform in African countries emerging from conflict vital, UN says UN News Centre 12 Oct 2011 -- The Security Council today debated the need to reform the security sector in African countries emerging from conflict, with the United Nations peacekeeping chief calling it crucial to ensuring stability, reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development.
• Israel, Hamas Both Benefit from Prisoner Swap VOA 12 Oct 2011 -- Palestinians and some Israelis are celebrating an agreement to free more than 1,000 Palestinians and a young Israeli soldier in the coming days. The deal comes after five years of hard negotiations between the Israeli government and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Sealing the deal was in the interests of the various parties.
• OPT: Tunnels boost Gaza mosque reconstruction IRIN 12 Oct 2011 -- An increased flow of building materials entering the Gaza Strip via underground tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border has allowed reconstruction work to begin on hundreds of religious sites damaged or destroyed during the 23-day Israeli offensive which ended in January 2009.
• ISRAEL-OPT: Families relieved by prisoner swap IRIN 12 Oct 2011 -- Palestinian families are eagerly awaiting the publication of the names of the more than 1,000 detainees that are to be released in a ground-breaking prisoner swap deal with Israel.
• SUDAN: Blue Nile hospital struggles to treat shrapnel wounds IRIN 12 Oct 2011 -- Kurmuk hospital in Sudan's southern crisis-hit Blue Nile State is struggling to cope with an influx of war wounded, according to hospital doctor Evan Atar.
• UN may step up mine clearance efforts in South Sudan after deadly blast UN News Centre 12 Oct 2011 -- United Nations mine clearance workers in South Sudan are considering expanding their operations in the country's north in the wake of an explosion, apparently from an anti-tank mine recently laid by rebels, that has killed at least 20 people.
• Judge in UN-backed Cambodian court pledges to press on after colleague resigns UN News Centre 12 Oct 2011 -- The national co-investigating judge in the United Nations-backed Cambodian genocide tribunal today affirmed that he will continue to fulfil his mandate independently and in compliance with the principles stipulated in the law, despite the resignation of his international colleague.

News Reports

• Clinton: Plot Shows 'Dangerous Escalation' of Iran's Terrorism Role VOA 12 Oct 2011 -- The United States is urging tightened sanctions against Iran following exposure of an alleged assassination plot that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said shows a 'dangerous escalation' of Iranian involvement in terrorism. The Tehran government continues to vigorously deny that it plotted to kill the Saudi ambassador to Washington.
• Iran Rejects US Claims of Saudi Plot VOA 12 Oct 2011 -- Iranian officials have strongly denounced U.S. allegations of a Tehran-linked plot to kill a Saudi diplomat in the United States. Some in Iran are arguing that the case has been fabricated to provoke a military confrontation with the Islamic Republic.
• Iran rejects accusation of plotting to assassinate Saudi envoy IRNA 12 Oct 2011 -- Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mihman-parast called false claim of plotting to assassinate Saudi ambassador to Washington a 'prefabricated scenario'.
• US new anti-Iran scenario, clumsy- FM IRNA 12 Oct 2011 -- Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said Wednesday that the new anti-Iran scenario initiated by the US was 'clumsy.'
• Foreign Ministry summons Swiss diplomat to protest US Scenario IRNA 12 Oct 2011 -- Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned Swiss charge d' affaires to protest the US anti-Iran scenario that Iran had hired Mexican drug cartel to assassinate Saudi ambassador to Washington.
• Iran expresses outrage to United Nations at US anti-Iran propaganda IRNA 12 Oct 2011 -- Iranian Permanent Ambassador to United Nations Mohammad Khazaee expressed outrage at the United States anti-Iran propaganda that Iran hired Mexican drug cartel to assassinate Saudi ambassador to Washington.
• Iran's foreign policy focuses on regional peace, security : Salehi IRNA 12 Oct 2011 -- Supporting regional peace and security is an important part of Iran foreign policy, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday.
• Salehi dismisses US claim of Iran's plotting against Saudi, Zionist embassies IRNA 12 Oct 2011 -- Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi on Wednesday dismissed the US charges that Iran had planned bomb blasts at the Saudi and Zionist regime embassies in Washington, calling them 'already failed, funny and ridiculous scenarios.'
• Iran sends letter to Ban Ki-moon over US claim on assassination ISNA 12 Oct 2011 -- Iran sent a letter to the UN Chief Ban Ki-moon following allegations leveled by United States' officials against the country.
• Iran says US claims on Saudi diplomat 'lie' ISNA 12 Oct 2011 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast strongly rejected the US false allegation that has linked Iran to the assassination of Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States, Adel al-Jubeir.
• Iran Assassination Plot Raises Questions RFE/RL 12 Oct 2011 -- In announcing details of the alleged Iranian plot to carry out a spate of terrorist attacks in Washington, including murdering the Saudi Arabian ambassador, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder left little room for doubt.
• U.S. Threatens Measures Over Alleged Iran-Saudi Attack Plot RFE/RL 12 Oct 2011 -- The United States and Saudi Arabia say Iran will face consequences for an alleged plot to kill the Saudi ambassador in Washington.
• Washington charges Iranians in assassination plot RIA Novosti 12 Oct 2011 -- U.S. federal prosecutors in New York have charged two Iranians with plotting to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the U.S.
• US Issues Worldwide Travel Warning VOA 12 Oct 2011 -- The U.S. State Department has issued a worldwide alert for American citizens about possible 'anti-U.S. actions' following charges against two Iranians accused of conspiring with Tehran to kill the Saudi ambassador to the United States.
• Saudi Arabia: Iran Must Pay for Alleged Plot VOA 12 Oct 2011 -- Saudi Arabia has vowed that Iran must 'pay the price' for an alleged scheme to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States, as U.S. and British officials say they are discussing a push for a new round of sanctions against Tehran.
• Biden: Tehran Must Be Held Accountable VOA 12 Oct 2011 -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says an alleged Iranian-backed attempt to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States is an 'outrageous act' for which Iran has to be held accountable. Tehran has denied involvement in the case.
• Statement of Attorney General Eric Holder on Guilty Plea by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab US Dept. of Justice 12 Oct 2011 -- Attorney General Eric Holder today issued the following statement on the guilty plea by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in the Eastern District of Michigan
• Al-Qaida Leader Urges Algerian Overthrow; Calls for an Islamic Libya VOA 12 Oct 2011 -- Al-Qaida's leader has called for Algerians to follow the example of others in the Middle East and overthrow their government, and urged Libyans to establish an Islamic state.
• Virginia Man Accused of Acting as Unregistered Agent of Syrian Government and Spying on Syrian Protestors in America US Dept. of Justice 12 Oct 2011 -- Mohamad Anas Haitham Soueid, 47, a resident of Leesburg, Va., has been charged for his alleged role in a conspiracy to collect video and audio recordings and other information about individuals in the United States and Syria who were protesting the government of Syria and to provide these materials to Syrian intelligence agencies in order to silence, intimidate and potentially harm the protestors.
• Egyptian Military Defends Handling of Deadly Copt Protest VOA 12 Oct 2011 -- Egyptian military officials have denied reports that troops opened fire on Coptic Christian protesters on Sunday, during an incident that marked the country's worst violence since former President Hosni Mubarak's resignation in February.
• MYANMAR: Political prisoners among those released in amnesty IRIN 12 Oct 2011 -- A 24-year-old political prisoner in Myanmar who expected to spend the next eight years in prison walked free today, as one of the first to be released in a mass amnesty announced this week by the government.
• Nuclear safety dialogue to be transparent under new pact: MAC CNA 12 Oct 2011 -- Frequent and transparent information exchanges between Taiwan and China on nuclear safety will take place after both sides sign a nuclear safety pact in the upcoming top-level talks, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Lai Shin-yuan said Wednesday.
• Ukraine's Tymoshenko to Appeal Seven-Year Jail Sentence VOA 12 Oct 2011 -- Lawyers for former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko have announced plans to appeal her seven-year jail sentence.
• SWAZILAND: Corruption exceeds social services budget IRIN 12 Oct 2011 -- Swaziland's Minister of Finance, Majozi Sithole, has told the Senate that each year the country loses nearly double the annual social services budget to corruption, and non-governmental organizations are not being spared.
• Kyrgyz President's Chief Of Staff: Bakiev Had 'Black Battalion' RFE/RL 12 Oct 2011 -- Kyrgyz presidential chief of staff Emilbek Kaptagaev says former President Kurmanbek Bakiev had a 'black battalion' of professionally trained killers to liquidate his opponents, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
• UN food agency warns of serious humanitarian situation in Yemen UN News Centre 12 Oct 2011 -- An increase in food prices, political uncertainty and fuel shortages are severely straining Yemenis' ability to feed their families, the United Nations Food Programme (WFP) warned today, adding that the country is now facing a serious humanitarian situation.
• India successfully launches PSLV-C18 carrying 4 satellites IRNA 12 Oct 2011 -- India on Wednesday successfully launched Indo-French climate monitoring satellite 'Megha-Trpiques and three other nano satellites on board PSLV-C18 from the spaceport of Sriharikota in southern state of Andhra Pradesh.