Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 14 Oct 2011 [PDF]
• NATO and Libya - Operational Media Update: 13 Oct 2011
• UK operations over Libya continue UK MOD 14 Oct 2011 -- Royal Navy ships and Royal Air Force aircraft have continued operations this week to help safeguard the Libyan people as part of NATO's Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR.
• US, Afghan airmen perform 1st joint operational air-assault mission AFNS 14 Oct 2011 -- Members of the Kandahar Air Wing and U.S. Army Task Force Thunder conducted their first joint air-assault mission, 'Operation Sand Hill Crane,' together recently.
• Afghan Security Forces Learn to Protect, Serve AFPS 14 Oct 2011 -- Two years of intense education and training have turned members of the Afghan army and police into a national security force that is learning to protect and serve and that is producing a new breed of leaders, the NATO Training Mission commander said yesterday.
• Police Break Up Protest By Ousted Afghan Lawmaker RFE/RL 14 Oct 2011 -- Afghan police have broken up a protest by a hunger-striking female politician and her supporters and taken her to hospital, RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan reports.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Obama Sends U.S. Forces to Help in Central Africa AFPS 14 Oct 2011 -- President Barack Obama has authorized the deployment to central Africa of 100 combat-equipped U.S. forces whose mission is to help regional forces fight the notorious Lord's Resistance Army and its leader, Joseph Kony.
• Obama Deploys Troops to Central Africa VOA 14 Oct 2011 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has deployed 100 U.S. troops to Central Africa to help forces that are fighting the Lord’s Resistance Army group - known for its campaign of rape and killing in the region, and its use of child soldiers.
• Washington Army Reserve Unit Faces Big Challenges During Deployment Army News 14 Oct 2011 -- More than 270 Washington-based Army Reserve soldiers of the 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command arrived here Sept. 16 to begin their unit's first overseas deployment.
• Task Force seeks $7 billion in energy investments Army News 14 Oct 2011 -- A new Army task force is trying to convince private industry to invest in solar energy, wind power and other renewable-energy projects on military installations.
• Naval Energy Forum 2011: Smart Energy Choices Can Save Lives, Improve Combat Capability NNS 14 Oct 2011 -- The Navy held its 3rd annual Naval Energy Forum Oct. 13-14 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington.
• NSWC Port Hueneme, White Sands Detachment, Launches Suborbital Mission for NASA NNS 14 Oct 2011 -- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Port Hueneme Division's White Sands Detachment successfully launched a Terrier Black Brant Sounding Rocket to support a scientific mission for NASA Oct. 8.
• USS Pearl Harbor Passes CERTEX NNS 14 Oct 2011 -- Dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) successfully completed certification exercise (CERTEX) and pulled back into San Diego Oct. 14.
• ONR to Tackle Navy's Energy Challenges in Online Wargame NNS 14 Oct 2011 -- The Office of Naval Research (ONR) will launch a second scenario for its online wargame to address energy-related problems, officials announced Oct. 14 at the Naval Energy Forum.
• USS Ponce Begins Final 'Victory Lap' NNS 14 Oct 2011 -- Amphibious transport dock USS Ponce (LPD 15) began her final operational assignments Oct. 11 as the crew prepares to close out the ship's nearly 41-year career.
• McNabb Passes Transcom Command to Fraser AFPS 14 Oct 2011 -- Presiding today at the change of command at U.S. Transportation Command, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey hailed a logistics enterprise Panetta called the backbone of the U.S. military.
• Army Releases September Suicide Data DoD 14 Oct 2011 -- The Army released suicide data today for the month of September.
• 31st MEU trains for disaster relief USMC News 14 Oct 2011 -- Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in a disaster relief training exercise here Oct. 10.
• Camp Courtney remains vigilant during exercise USMC News 14 Oct 2011 -- More than 50 Marines were out in the rain during the dark hours of early morning Oct. 4 participating in Camp Courtney's anti-terrorism exercise Constant Vigilance.
• Symposium highlights training options at center USMC News 14 Oct 2011 -- Uniforms change, weapons change and tactics change, but one thing that does not change for Marines is that they train like they fight.
• Second stealth corvette joins Russian Navy RIA Novosti 14 Oct 2011 -- St. Petersburg's Severnaya Verf shipyard will deliver a new stealth corvette to the Russian Navy at an official ceremony on Friday.
• South Korean President Addresses US Congress, Stresses Strong Alliance VOA 14 Oct 2011 -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has addressed a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress and was warmly received by both Democratic and Republican members of the House and the Senate. He stressed the strong economic ties the two countries share and the mutual defense alliance they forged 58 years ago to the day Thursday.
• British Defense Secretary resigns after abuse of power scandal RIA Novosti 14 Oct 2011 -- British Defense Secretary Liam Fox resigned on Friday, following a scandal with his close friend, Adam Werritty, who was involved in ministerial affairs despite having no official government role, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
• October 14, 2011 Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jay Carney en route Detroit, Michigan The White House 14 Oct 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 14, 2011
• General Dynamics Awarded Information Assurance and Cyber Security Contract by Defense Intelligence Agency General Dynamics 14 Oct 2011 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded an $86 million task order to provide information assurance and cyber security services to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in the U.S. and worldwide.

Other Conflicts

• 14 October 2011 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 14 Oct 2011
• UN diplomat delivers sobering report on Libya RIA Novosti 14 Oct 2011 -- A report by the UN special envoy to Libya has fueled concerns among UN diplomats over the effectiveness of the UN efforts to stabilize the situation in the country.
• Gunbattles and Explosions Rock Libya's Capital VOA 14 Oct 2011 -- Explosions have rocked Tripoli on Friday after gunbattles erupted between loyalists to former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and provisional government fighters.
• Somalia has best chance for peace in years, says UN envoy UN News Centre 14 Oct 2011 -- Somalis currently have a rare opportunity to advance peace in their country and establish a fully functioning government, says the United Nations envoy to the Horn of Africa nation.
• Somali PM Condemns Refugee Camp Kidnapping VOA 14 Oct 2011 -- Somalia's Prime Minister has condemned the kidnapping of two Spanish doctors from the Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya, in an attack blamed on the Somali militant group al-Shabab. Tthe kidnapping has raised concerns about security in the sprawling camps.
• Extending UN peacekeeping force in Haiti, Security Council cuts troop numbers UN News Centre 14 Oct 2011 -- The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for another year and agreed to reduce the number of troops on the ground by 2,500.
• International Criminal Court prosecutor to visit Côte d'Ivoire UN News Centre 14 Oct 2011 -- The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno-Ocampo, will travel to Côte d'Ivoire for an official visit to meet people the Government, members of the opposition and people affected by the post-election violence that engulfed the West African country at the start of the year.
• UN legal chief to discuss concerns about genocide court during Cambodia visit UN News Centre 14 Oct 2011 -- The United Nations Legal Counsel will travel to Phnom Penh next week for meetings concerning the Cambodia genocide tribunal in the wake of the resignation of one of the judges.
• German spy chief confirms role in Israeli-Palestinian prisoner swap IRNA 14 Oct 2011 -- The head of Germany's foreign secret service (BND), Ernst Uhrlau, on Friday said his agency has been involved in the Israeli-Palestinian prisoner exchange.
• COTE D'IVOIRE: Conditions for displaced worsening IRIN 14 Oct 2011 -- Almost half a million Ivoirians remain displaced five months after the country's post-electoral civil conflict ended, afraid of returning to their homes for fear of reprisals, while a sluggish response to funding appeals means living conditions for many are getting worse.
• In South Sudan, UN envoy welcomes civilian-led disarmament process UN News Centre 14 Oct 2011 -- The United Nations envoy to South Sudan today visited one of the country's states that has been beset by violent ethnic tensions since independence to commend local communities for their involvement in a new, civilian-led disarmament process.

News Reports

• UN: Syria Death Toll Rises Above 3,000 RFE/RL 14 Oct 2011 -- The death toll in Syria has risen to over 3,000 as violence there continues on a daily basis.
• UN human rights chief urges immediate action on Syria as death toll passes 3,000 UN News Centre 14 Oct 2011 -- The United Nations human rights chief today urged the international community to act immediately to protect lives in Syria, where the number of people killed since the violence started in March has now exceeded 3,000, including over 180 children.
• Thousands Protest in Support of Syrian Army Defectors VOA 14 Oct 2011 -- Thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets across Syria following Friday prayers, in what organizers are calling the 'Friday of the Free Army.' The government crackdown goes on with the United Nations estimating that 3,000 people have been killed since protests began in mid March.
• Some Lawmakers Call for Tougher US Action Against Iran VOA 14 Oct 2011 -- U.S. lawmakers are calling for senior Obama administration officials to step up the pressure on Iran, after an alleged Iranian plot was disrupted to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States. Several members of Congress complained that sanctions against Iran do not appear to be working, and that stronger action is required.
• Supreme Leader: Basiji spirit should get ever growing in all pillars of Iranian society IRNA 14 Oct 2011 -- Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, says Basiji spirit should get ever growing in all pillars and segments of Iranian society.
• IRGC CDR: US, Israel desperate more than ever IRNA 14 Oct 2011 -- Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Hossein Salami, said here late Thursday that the US and the Zionist Regime of Israel are now desperate more than ever, witnessing failure of their regional and global policies.
• SBU questions Tymoshenko again over new gas case RIA Novosti 14 Oct 2011 -- The Ukrainian Security Services (SBU) resumed questioning former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Friday in a new criminal investigation in which she is accused of attempting to embezzle $405 million, prosecutor's office spokesperson Yury Boichenko said on Friday.
• UN agency ramps up food assistance to flood-affected Pakistanis UN News Centre 14 Oct 2011 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said today it is continuing to scale up the delivery of vital assistance to the worst-affected areas of Pakistan's Sindh province as part of its efforts to assist the country's 2.5 million flood victims.