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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 21 Nov 2011 [PDF]
• Tempo accelerates for convoy traffic out of Iraq Army News 21 Nov 2011 -- Units started rolling in from the north in short bursts, but now with the deadline to be out of Iraq drawing ever closer, the pace has accelerated for Soldiers departing Iraq and for those taking over their hand receipts.
• Afghanistan: General Assembly calls for global support during transition period UN News Centre 21 Nov 2011 -- The General Assembly called today on countries to reiterate and scale up their support for Afghanistan during its transition period, and outlined six major areas the country should focus on to ensure its long-term stability and progress.
• Coalition, Afghans Seize Weapons, Capture Insurgents AFPS 21 Nov 2011 -- Coalition and Afghan forces today seized weapons and drug caches in southern and eastern Afghanistan following two days of multiple engagements with insurgent fighters, military officials reported.
• USACE facilitates medical mission in Daykundi province Army News 21 Nov 2011 -- USACE's Afghanistan Engineer District-South periodically visits project sites in remote locations to check on the progress of construction. For sites like Miramor, where the district is overseeing the construction of a uniformed police district headquarters, those visits require helicopter transport and occasionally there are empty seats.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Statement by Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta on Supercommittee Negotiations DoD 21 Nov 2011 -- The failure of the Congressional Supercommittee to reach an agreement on deficit reduction is a setback for the country’s efforts to achieve fiscal responsibility while protecting our national security
• Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group Arrives in Pearl Harbor NNS 21 Nov 2011 -- Nearly 4,000 Sailors and Marines from the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Pearl Harbor, Nov. 21 for a scheduled port visit.
• USS Makin Island Arrives in Hawaii for Scheduled Port Visit NNS 21 Nov 2011 -- More than 2,000 Sailors and Marines serving aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) arrived in Pearl Harbor, Nov. 21, for a scheduled port visit, marking the first time Makin Island has visited the state of Hawaii.
• Commander Military Sealift Command Visits Cable NNS 21 Nov 2011 -- Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby, Commander, Military Sealift Command (MSC), visited submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), Nov. 20, to assess the ship's material condition and the progress of work since MSC integrated the ship with civil service mariners (CIVMAR) in February 2010.
• LPD 22 Completes Acceptance Trials NNS 21 Nov 2011 -- The future USS San Diego (LPD 22) finished acceptance trials at Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., Nov. 17, completing the final major milestone prior to the shipyard delivering the San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ship to the Navy in December.
• USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) Arrives in Guam NNS 21 Nov 2011 -- Submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) arrived at Naval Base Guam to temporarily assume the responsibilities as Guam's main submarine repair facility, Nov. 21.
• USS Ford Returns to Everett after Six-Month Deployment NNS 21 Nov 2011 -- Guided-missile frigate USS Ford (FFG 54) returned to Everett Nov. 17, after a six-month deployment to the western Pacific.
• USS Anzio Enters U.S. 6th Fleet and Begins Journey Home NNS 21 Nov 2011 -- Guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) departed U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) and enters U.S. 6th Fleet AOR, Nov. 20, to make the journey to its homeport, Norfolk, Va.
• Center for Information Dominance Establishes Two New Commands NNS 21 Nov 2011 -- In a move to make Navy Information Dominance training more mission-effective, the Center for Information Dominance (CID) officially stood up two new commands Nov. 14.
• Undersea Forces Critical to Future Defense, Commander Says AFPS 21 Nov 2011 -- Undersea forces will become increasingly important to the nation's defense and in exerting military influence in the future, the commander of Submarine Group 2 said here last week.
• HELLFIRE team sustaining fight, cutting costs Army News 21 Nov 2011 -- As equipment is transitioned out of Iraq, perhaps none is more critical than the HELLFIRE missile system. Since the drawdown began, more than 750 HELLFIRE missiles have been shipped to the 402nd Army Field Support Battalion-Qatar, where they are serviced, tested and repaired by the HELLFIRE Forward Test and Repair Facility.
• Watervliet Arsenal hosts largest HAZMAT exercise in New York's Capital District Army News 21 Nov 2011 -- The Watervliet Arsenal and more than 100 local emergency first responders from four New York counties were activated Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, to respond a simulated attack by a disgruntled employee who was attempting to perform a terrorist act.
• Russian response to NATO missile defense to be 'reasonable' – Medvedev RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2011 -- Russia's response to the deployment of a U.S. missile defense system in Europe will be 'reasonable and adequate,' but will not end the possibility of further negotiations, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday during a meeting with officers of the Southern Military District.
• U.S. ready to provide Russia with missile shield details RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2011 -- The United States is ready to provide Russia with technical specifics of interceptor missiles of the European missile defense system, Russia's Kommersant daily said on Monday, citing U.S. sources.
• Defender completes her first sea trials UK MOD 21 Nov 2011 -- Defender, the Navy's fifth state-of-the-art Type 45 destroyer, has successfully completed her first set of sea trials, with her speed, manoeuvrability, sensors and weapons having been tested over three weeks off Scotland.
• Malaysian exercise resounding success for RAF Typhoon squadron UK MOD 21 Nov 2011 -- Pilots and ground crew from Number 6 Squadron have gained priceless experience in operating the Tranche 2 Typhoon aircraft in unfamiliar conditions during Exercise Bersama Lima in Malaysia.
• Military spokesman denies officers intend to retire en masse CNA 21 Nov 2011 -- A military spokesman denied a local news report Monday that many career officers and soldiers are planning to retire over a new government measure to levy income tax on their salaries from Jan. 1.
• Defense ministry denies plan to deploy naval patrol in Indian Ocean CNA 21 Nov 2011 -- Contrary to media reports, the Navy has no immediate plans to send a patrol fleet to the Indian Ocean to protect Taiwanese fishing boats in the pirate-infested area, a defense ministry official said Monday.
• Broad global support for Middle East nuclear-weapon-free zone, says UN official UN News Centre 21 Nov 2011 -- Broad international support exists for a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, although there are long-standing differences of opinion about it among the region's countries, the head of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.
• November 21, 2011 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 21 Nov 2011
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 11/21/2011 The White House 21 Nov 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 21, 2011
• Lockheed Martin-Raytheon Team Submits Final Proposal For Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Contract Lockheed Martin 21 Nov 2011 -- Lockheed Martin announced today that it has submitted its final proposal revision for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Development and Sustainment Contract. The Lockheed Martin-Raytheon GMD team delivered its final offer to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA’s) GMD Joint Program Office in Huntsville, Ala., Nov. 18.
• Northrop Grumman Creates Significant Efficiencies to Move U.S. Air Force's Defense Weather Satellite System Forward Northrop Grumman 21 Nov 2011 -- An early program planning and testing approach implemented by Northrop Grumman Corporation is setting a new standard for efficiency in building military weather satellites.
• General Dynamics Awarded $73 Million to Support Naval Sea Systems Command General Dynamics 21 Nov 2011 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics, has been awarded a contract for Hull, Mechanical and Electrical (HM&E) Machinery and Systems support by the U.S. Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD). The five-year indefinite-delivery, indefinite quantity contract has a potential value of $73.3 million if all options are exercised.
• General Dynamics Awarded $57 Million for Submarine Repair and Advanced Technology Development General Dynamics 21 Nov 2011 -- General Dynamics Electric Boat recently was awarded two U.S. Navy contracts worth $56.7 million to perform submarine modernization and maintenance work and develop advanced technologies for current and future undersea platforms. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics.
• Rheinmetall transfers first Kodiak armoured engineering vehicle to Sweden Rheinmetall Defence 21 Nov 2011 -- Having recently used a high-energy laser weapon to down an unmanned aircraft at a proving ground in Switzerland, Rheinmetall has demonstrated the operational potential of combining a powerful laser weapon with an advanced air defence system.
• Lockheed Martin Demonstrates Advanced Airborne Border Surveillance in Europe Lockheed Martin 21 Nov 2011 -- During a recent European exercise, Lockheed Martin demonstrated advanced border surveillance capabilities from an optionally piloted vehicle. Lockheed Martin and its team showcased how traditional defense focused integrated airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities can be quickly adapted to address dynamic border protection as well as maritime search and rescue needs.

Other Conflicts

• 21 November 2011 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 21 Nov 2011
• SECURITY: LRA Briefing IRIN 21 Nov 2011 -- The Lord's Resistance Army was one of several armed groups to emerge in northern Uganda in the late 1980s with the aim of overthrowing the government of Yoweri Museveni, who himself came to power at the head of a rebellion in 1986.
• SECURITY: US advisers limited to 'support' role in tracking down LRA IRIN 21 Nov 2011 -- The main stated aim of the US deployment of 100 military advisers to central Africa is to improve coordination among the armies of countries affected by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) to avoid repeating the fiasco of the 2008 multinational offensive against the group.
• Analysis: Taking on the LRA IRIN 21 Nov 2011 -- Washington's contribution of 100 military advisers to help central African forces neutralize the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has been welcomed by some in the countries where the insurgency sows terror, but has also been met by caveats and calls for a negotiated path to peace.
• UGANDA: Peter Maido, 'These LRA rebels are more than monster killers' IRIN 21 Nov 2011 -- The latest wave of LRA violence in South Sudan, Central African Republic (CAR) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has left hundreds of civilians affected. Peter Maido, an aid worker with the Justice and Peace Commission in Tombora, in South Sudan's Western Equatoria state, fled his village of Ezo after surviving recent LRA attacks in the area.
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Waiting for Washington IRIN 21 Nov 2011 -- 'We want American soldiers here on the ground. They could sort this out. Just having two of them here would make a big difference.' Sitting outside his office in Zémio, 730km east of the Central African Republic capital, Bangui, the mayor, Pierre-Raymond Agueboti, spoke with anger and frustration about the havoc wrought by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in his region.
• Russia's 2008 war with Georgia prevented NATO growth - Medvedev RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2011 -- By going to war with Georgia in 2008, Russia halted NATO's expansion eastward, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday.
• Chisinau, Tiraspol to resume peace talks RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2011 -- Igor Smirnov, president of Moldova's breakaway republic of Transdnestr, and Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat signed a joint document on resuming the 5+2 talks on Monday.
• UN envoy urges diplomatic path forward in Israeli-Palestinian peace process UN News Centre 21 Nov 2011 -- The top United Nations envoy to the Middle East today called on Israel and the Palestinians to refrain from provocations and submit concrete proposals to revive the peace process and engage in direct negotiations.
• UN human rights chief welcomes start of second Khmer Rouge trial UN News Centre 21 Nov 2011 -- The United Nations human rights chief today welcomed the opening of the genocide trial of three former senior Khmer Rouge leaders in Cambodia, while stressing the need for vigilance to ensure that victims' rights are respected.
• Trial of Khmer Rouge Leaders Starts in Phnom Penh VOA 21 Nov 2011 -- On Monday the long-awaited trial of three surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge opened in Phnom Penh. This week the tribunal hears opening arguments by the prosecution and by the defense. The three accused are charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
• Somalia: UN envoy urges concerted global support for efforts to restore stability UN News Centre 21 Nov 2011 -- The United Nations envoy for Somalia today emphasized the importance of the roadmap adopted in September setting out a series of tasks to be completed ahead of concluding the country's political transition process, and called for coordinated international efforts to ensure the implementation of the plan.
• 14 Pakistani paramilitary soldiers die in shootout with militants IRNA 21 Nov 2011 -- At least 14 Pakistani paramilitary soldiers have been killed in clashes with militants in southwestern Balochistan province, security sources and local media reported on Monday.
• Arrest of Qadhafi's son vital 'for the future of justice in Libya' – UN human rights chief UN News Centre 21 Nov 2011 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today welcomed the capture of one of the sons of deposed Libyan leader Muammar al-Qadhafi as well as the regime's former chief of intelligence.

News Reports

• Egypt's Cabinet Resigns Amid Deadly Clashes VOA 21 Nov 2011 -- Egypt's state television says the Cabinet has submitted its resignation to the ruling military council amid days of deadly clashes between police and pro-democracy protesters.
• Egypt's Ruling Council Calls for Crisis Talks with Political Forces VOA 21 Nov 2011 -- Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces is calling for crisis talks with the country's political forces, a day after the interim civilian cabinet submitted its resignation following three days of anti-military protests and a fierce security crackdown that killed at least 24 people.
• At Least 22 Dead In Cairo Clashes As Protests Move Into Third Day RFE/RL 21 Nov 2011 -- Hundreds of protesters have faced off against security forces in Cairo's central Tahrir Square as part of a fresh wave of protests challenging the country's ruling military authorities.
• At least 20 killed in Egypt clashes RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2011 -- At least 20 people have died in clashes between protesters and security forces in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, the country's health ministry said in a statement.
• Cairo Clashes Enter 3rd Day, Spread Across Egypt VOA 21 Nov 2011 -- Anger at the head of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, mounted Monday, as casualties from three days of fighting grew.
• Aung San Suu Kyi to Run for Burma Parliament VOA 21 Nov 2011 -- A spokesman for Burma democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi says she will run for a seat in parliament in the country's next by-election, expected by the end of the year.
• IRGC Dy Commander: Any attack on Iran will endanger whole region IRNA 21 Nov 2011 -- Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps for political affairs Brigadier General Yadollah Javani said on Monday any probable attack on Iran would endanger the whole region.
• President pays tribute to IRGC martyrs IRNA 21 Nov 2011 -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad here on Monday paid tribute to the martyrs of the recent explosion in an Islamic Revolution Guards Corps garrison in northwest Tehran.
• Salehi: Iran ready for cooperation with IAEA ISNA 21 Nov 2011 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said the country is ready for more cooperation with the IAEA if it balances its approach.
• Iran armed forces practice confrontation threats in drill ISNA 21 Nov 2011 -- Iranian armed forces practiced confrontation against enemy's threats and securing the country in the 4th day of the drill.
• Iran says it can build aircrafts ISNA 21 Nov 2011 -- Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi said Monday the country is capable to build air plane.
• UK Cuts Ties With Iranian Banks, US Set for More Sanctions VOA 21 Nov 2011 -- Western nations are increasing economic pressures against Iran in response to international concerns that Tehran is developing nuclear weapons.
• Iran Skips Talks on Nuke-Free Mideast VOA 21 Nov 2011 -- Amid the turmoil of this year's Arab Spring protests and concerns over Iran's nuclear program, representatives of Israel and some Arab states are in Vienna for talks about a nuclear-weapon-free Middle East.
• Pakistan rejects British daily report on intelligence chief meet IRNA 21 Nov 2011 -- Pakistan army Monday rejected as 'baseless and concocted' a British daily report that the intelligence chief attended a meeting between the U.S. ambassador in Islamabad and a political leader.
• S. Korea Delivers New Assurance on Safety of Nuclear Plants VOA 21 Nov 2011 -- Despite this year's nuclear reactor meltdowns in Japan, its neighbor South Korea is moving ahead with an expansion of its civilian nuclear industry. Not only is South Korea building more atomic power plants on its own, it is also increasing exports of its indigenous technology.
• Last chance to send Russian Mars moon probe expires Monday RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2011 -- The launch window to send Russia's Phobos-Grunt unmanned spacecraft to a Mars moon will close on Monday, an airspace source told RIA Novosti.