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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 21 Dec 2011 [PDF]
• Odierno Visits Soldiers in Afghanistan AFPS 21 Dec 2011 -- Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno today visited with soldiers deployed to Afghanistan to share a holiday message and convey his gratitude to troops deployed overseas during the holiday season.
• Allen Checks Troop Outposts on Afghan Border AFPS 21 Dec 2011 -- Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen surveyed coalition troops positioned along Afghanistan's border with Pakistan this week, as members of the International Security Assistance Force continued operations to seize illegal weapons and drugs in Afghanistan's southern and eastern provinces, military officials reported.
• USS Pinckney Disrupts Piracy NNS 21 Dec 2011 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91), assigned to Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, disrupted a group of suspected pirates close to the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC), south of Yemen, Dec. 19.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Annual Army Sustainability Report DoD 21 Dec 2011 -- The U.S. Army’s third annual sustainability report shows a 17.2 percent reduction in accidental military fatalities, and a 12.6 percent decrease in civilian lost time and fatal claims during fiscal 2009.
• Air Force officials announce additional force management measures AFNS 21 Dec 2011 -- In on-going efforts to continue to size and shape the force to current and future requirements, Air Force officials announced additional force management programs.
• Pentagon Official Underscores Zero Tolerance Policy for Bullying AFPS 21 Dec 2011 -- A senior Pentagon official today underscored the military's 'zero tolerance' against bullying and hazing in light of charges brought against eight soldiers.
• DOD News Briefing with George Little and Capt. Kirby from the Pentagon DoD 21 Dec 2011-- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary George Little and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Media Operations Capt. John Kirby
• Army tightens retention Army News 21 Dec 2011 -- Soldiers whose term of service is scheduled to end in fiscal year 2012 and want to stay in the Army must make that commitment sooner rather than later.
• Army Reserve opens new headquarters Army News 21 Dec 2011 -- Having celebrated its official ribbon-cutting, the Office of the Chief of the Army Reserve has relocated to its new headquarters building at Fort Belvoir, Va.
• C4ISR hosts briefing for industry, small business conference Army News 21 Dec 2011 -- Army leaders at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., hosted an advance planning briefing for industry, or ABPI, and small business conference to inform industry and business leaders of new opportunities to demonstrate their technologies for potential military use.
• Truman Installs Port Anchor Chain NNS 21 Dec 2011 -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) installed its port anchor chain Dec. 16, marking completion of another goal in Truman's docking planned incremental availability (DPIA).
• MDSU 2 Company 21 Completes Debeaching Exercise During FEP NNS 21 Dec 2011 -- Sailors assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 Company 21 and the crew of Military Sealift Command rescue and salvage ship USNS Grapple (T-ARS-53) participated in a debeaching exercise at Anzio Beach, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story, Va., Dec, 15.
• Marine Corps Forces Commander Visits Kearsarge During AMFEX NNS 21 Dec 2011 -- The commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command visited the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Dec. 15 to address more than 250 Marine second lieutenants participating in an Amphibious Familiarization Exercise (AMFEX).
• USS Chicago Celebrates 25th Anniversary NNS 21 Dec 2011 -- The Los Angeles-class submarine USS Chicago (SSN 721) celebrated its 25th anniversary this week at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam with events which include a visit to the submarine by members of the 721 Club of Chicago.
• HSV 2, U.S. and Salvadoran Marines Celebrate Partnership NNS 21 Dec 2011 -- U.S. Marines assigned to High Speed Vessel (HSV 2) Swift celebrated the conclusion of a three-week partnership with Salvadoran Marines in La Union, El Salvador, Dec. 20.
• USS Makin Island Arrives in Singapore for Port Visit NNS 21 Dec 2011 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), along with the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrived in Singapore Dec. 21 for a port visit.
• Iwo Jima ARG Completes COMPTUEX NNS 21 Dec 2011 -- The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) successfully completed Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) Dec. 21, moving one step closer to being certified and better prepared for deployment.
• NAVFAC Awards $40.3 Million Regional Support Services Contract NNS 21 Dec 2011 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a $40.3 million contract Dec. 13 to Fluor Federal Solutions, LLC a large business of Greenville, S.C. for base operations support services in Northeast Florida.
• USS Oak Hill Successfully Completes 'Southern Partnership Station' Deployment NNS 21 Dec 2011 -- More than 700 Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, Airmen and Coast Guardsman aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) returned home here Dec. 21 following an 80-day deployment to Central America.
• USS Iwo Jima Returns From Successful COMPTUEX NNS 21 Dec 2011 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) returned home Dec. 21 after wrapping up composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX).
• Department at 'Turning Point' Following Historic Year AFPS 21 Dec 2011 -- The military is at a turning point following a remarkable and historic year, Defense Department officials said today.
• Air Force provides interim report on Dover to Defense Secretary AFNS 21 Dec 2011 -- On Dec. 16, the Secretary of the Air Force provided the Secretary of Defense an interim report addressing the disciplinary actions taken in response to substandard management practices and procedures at the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center at Dover Air Force Base, Del.
• Army Charges Eight in Death of Fellow Soldier AFPS 21 Dec 2011 -- Eight U.S. soldiers deployed to southern Afghanistan were charged today in connection with the death of a fellow soldier, military officials reported.
• Russia ready to support private arms makers RIA Novosti 21 Dec 2011 -- Russia's Defense Ministry is ready to lend support to private manufacturers of arms, especially small arms and light weapons, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Wednesday.
• Russia stays loyal to Kalashnikov RIA Novosti 21 Dec 2011 -- The Russian military will not abandon the legendary Kalashnikov AK assault rifle, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Wednesday.
• 80 new warships to invigorate the Navy in couple of years IRNA 21 Dec 2011 -- The Navy is all set to get younger with over 80 new warships, including two aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines each, scheduled to join its fleet.
• Indian Army postpones 'twin test of Prithvi-II' missile IRNA 21 Dec 2011 -- A twin user trial of India's nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile by the Army was deferred Wednesday due to a technical problem at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near Balasore in Odisha state.
• IRI missile capability deters enemy threats: IRGC Commander IRNA 21 Dec 2011 -- Islamic Republic of Iran's missile defense power has deterred enemy's threats against country, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG) Commander Mohammad-Ali Jafari said here Wednesday.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 12/21/2011 The White House 21 Dec 2011
• December 21, 2011 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 21 Dec 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 21, 2011
• Department of Defense Awards Raytheon Nearly $100 Million in Air-Launched Weapons Contracts Raytheon 21 Dec 2011 -- The Department of Defense awarded Raytheon Company two separate air-launched weapons contracts with a combined value of nearly $100 million.
• US Army Declares Raytheon Counter-IED System a 'Greatest Invention' Raytheon 21 Dec 2011 -- The U.S. Army has named a system developed and produced by Raytheon Company to defeat improvised explosive devices (IEDs) one of "the most innovative advances in Army technology."

Other Conflicts

• 21 December 2011 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 21 Dec 2011
• Syrian Opposition Urges UN to Act After 'Massacre' VOA 21 Dec 2011 -- The opposition Syrian National Council has urged the United Nations Security Council and the Arab League to take action after reports that government troops "massacred" more than 200 people in two days.
• Key organizers of Rwandan genocide jailed for life by UN tribunal UN News Centre 21 Dec 2011 -- Two key organizers of the Rwandan genocide in 1994 were today sentenced to life in prison by the United Nations tribunal dealing with war crimes in the country which resulted in the deaths of some 800,000 people in just 100 days.
• Security Council extends mandate of peacebuilding office in Guinea-Bissau UN News Centre 21 Dec 2011 -- The Security Council today renewed the mandate of the United Nations office that is assisting Guinea-Bissau to consolidate peace and stability, and called on the Government and all political actors to work together towards this goal.
• Central African Republic: Security Council extends mandate of UN office UN News Centre 21 Dec 2011 -- The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations peacebuilding office in the Central African Republic (CAR) for another year, stressing the need to ensure effective coordination of the work of UN agencies, funds and programmes in the country.
• UN's regional African offices meet to discuss common security issues UN News Centre 21 Dec 2011 -- The United Nations political offices in West Africa and Central Africa have held a joint meeting on common cross-border threats, such as piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, the aftermath of the Libyan crisis on security across the Sahel and the activities of the notorious rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).
• Security Council extends mandate of UN force in Golan Heights UN News Centre 21 Dec 2011 -- The Security Council today agreed to extend the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping force monitoring the ceasefire between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights for another six months.
• UN agency alarmed by series of blasts in camps for Somali refugees in Kenya UN News Centre 21 Dec 2011 -- The United Nations refugee agency today voiced alarm over a spate of deadly attacks using explosive devices in camps in Kenya that shelter more than 460,000 refugees, the majority of them from Somalia.

News Reports

• Egypt Continues Voting After Violence VOA 21 Dec 2011 -- Voters in nine Egyptian provinces have begun voting in runoff elections in the country's multi-stage parliamentary poll, which comes after days of deadly clashes between protesters and security forces in the capital.
• Egypt Scoffs 'Foreign Interference' After Clinton Comments VOA 21 Dec 2011 -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr said Cairo was seeking 'clarification' concerning statements made by foreign officials. On Monday, Clinton said the violence in Egypt was shocking and served as a 'systematic degradation of women.'
• Kim Jong Il Will Always Be with Us KCNA 21 Dec 2011 -- Portraits of smiling Kim Jong Il set up in plazas in Pyongyang are being visited by an endless stream of mourners.
• Kim Jong Il's Life Bright as Snow KCNA 21 Dec 2011 -- Snow fell over Pyongyang on Wednesday when its citizens are overwhelmed with bitter sorrow and grief over the loss of the sun of the nation.
• Kim Jong Il's Field Jacket Cherished in Hearts of People KCNA 21 Dec 2011 -- Portraits of smiling Kim Jong Il in simple khaki jacket were set up in various places of Pyongyang Tuesday.
• Rodong Sinmun on Kim Jong Il's Feats for National Reunification KCNA 21 Dec 2011 -- Leader Kim Jong Il was the father of the nation, peerless patriot and outstanding leader who performed immortal feats in the cause of the country's reunification with his great patriotic devotion since he embarked on the sacred road of the struggle for the country and the nation.
• People Vow Their Loyalty at Kumsusan Memorial Palace KCNA 21 Dec 2011 -- An increasing number of people are visiting the Kumsusan Memorial Palace where the bier of leader Kim Jong Il is placed.
• Increasing Number of People Visit Mourning Sites KCNA 21 Dec 2011 -- Mourning sites can be seen here and there in the DPRK being visited by an increasing number of people from all walks of life and school youth and children. They are ardently yearning for leader Kim Jong Il in bitter grief.
• Endless Stream of Mourners Visit Bier of Kim Jong Il KCNA 21 Dec 2011 -- A great number of people visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where the bier of leader Kim Jong Il is placed, to express condolences on Tuesday.
• New Stamps Issued to Mark Anniversary of Kim Jong Il as Supreme Commander KCNA 21 Dec 2011 -- The State Stamp Bureau of the DPRK issued stamps on the 20th anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's assumption of the supreme commandership of the Korean People's Army (December 24).
• 'Such Biggest Loss Can't Happen, Unbelievable' KCNA 21 Dec 2011 -- At 1:00 a.m. on Dec. 21 snow fell on the plaza of Pyongyang Indoor Stadium where the portrait of smiling leader Kim Jong Il is displayed.
• Unforgettable Last Days of Kim Jong Il's Life KCNA 21 Dec 2011 -- The weather data on the last days of leader Kim Jong Il's revolutionary activities are moving the hearts of all the Korean people.
• Korean People Ardently Yearn for Kim Jong Il KCNA 21 Dec 2011 -- The Korean people's voices yearning for leader Kim Jong Il are growing louder as they are overwhelmed by great sorrow at the loss of the benevolent father of the nation.
• Korean People Make Uninterrupted Efforts to Build Thriving Nation KCNA 21 Dec 2011 -- The army and people of the DPRK are seized with the bitterest grief over the greatest loss to the nation but they are now rising up to the hard time, holding back tears, to push forward the drive to build a thriving nation.
• Pyongyangites Feel Extremely Regretful KCNA 21 Dec 2011 -- 'After displaying the portrait of smiling leader Kim Jong Il at the plaza of Pyongyang Indoor Stadium I can't raise my head and watch the sun in the sky, feeling guilty for failing to fulfill the responsibility as an official and filial duty as a soldier and disciple,' said Jon Yong Gun, 52, manager of the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium. This reflects the guilty conscience of Pyongyangites who failed to erect a statue of Kim Jong Il in any place of the country.
• Koreans Rise up Determined to Work Harder KCNA 21 Dec 2011 -- The Korean working people call leader Kim Jong Il in chocking voice upon hearing that he passed away from sudden illness. They are now suppressing their grief and rising up with determination.
• People of North Phyongan Province Pledge Loyalty to Kim Jong Un KCNA 21 Dec 2011 -- Grief-stricken people in North Phyongan Province, DPRK are calling leader Kim Jong Il, father of the nation, in heartrending voices upon hearing the sad news that he passed away of a sudden illness.
• In North Korea, Millions Mourn Death of 'Dear Leader' VOA 21 Dec 2011 -- North Korea appeared calm Wednesday as the nation mourned the death of Kim Jong Il, and continued the transition of leadership to his son, Kim Jong Un.
• IAEA refuses to give comment on Iran's letter ISNA 21 Dec 2011 -- The IAEA Spokeswomen Gill Tudor refused to make comment on Iranian letter to the IAEA which has invited the agency's inspectors to visit the counry's nuclear facilities.
• 1000 MW nuclear power joins Iran national grid by March ISNA 21 Dec 2011 -- 1000 megawatts nuclear power would join Iranian national grid by March 20, said Iranian Energy Minister Majid Namjou.
• 1,000MW nuclear electricity to join nationwide network - minister IRNA 21 Dec 2011 -- Energy Minister Majid Namjou said Wednesday that 1,000 MW of nuclear electricity will join the nationwide network by the end of the current Iranian year, March 19, 2012.
• Iran's Busher to enter full operation in March 2012 – agency RIA Novosti 21 Dec 2011 -- Iran's first nuclear power plant, Bushehr, will reach its nominal generating capacity in March 2012, Iran's news agency ISNA said on Wednesday referring to Energy Minister Majid Namjou.
• Iraqi VP Tells VOA Charges Against Him Politically Motivated VOA 21 Dec 2011 -- Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi says allegations that he plotted to kill other government officials are politically-motivated by a prime minister bent on consolidating power after U.S. troops withdrew this month.
• Maliki Urges Kurds to Hand Over Wanted Vice President VOA 21 Dec 2011 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has called on Kurdish authorities to hand over Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, who is wanted on allegations of plotting to kill other government officials.
• Kazakh City Under Security, Information Lockdown Following Deadly Riots RFE/RL 21 Dec 2011 -- Officials are claiming that calm has been restored in Zhanaozen, the scene of deadly riots in western Kazakhstan last week. But based on the trickle of information coming from the city, it's an eerie calm at best.
• Russia, U.S. ink uranium enrichment pact for 2013-2022 RIA Novosti 21 Dec 2011 -- Russia and the United States signed an intergovernmental agreement on Tuesday enabling the contract for uranium enrichment services in 2013-2022 to come into force, General Director of Russian state-controlled nuclear equipment exporter Techsnabexport (Tenex) Alexey Grigoriev said.
• New crew on course for space station RIA Novosti 21 Dec 2011 -- The Russian Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft carrying a new crew to the International Space Station separated from the Soyuz-FG rocket and entered an intermediary orbit on Wednesday, a Federal Space Agency official said.
• NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, Built by Northrop Grumman, Marks Significant Milestone, Completes Cryotest of All Flight Mirrors Northrop Grumman 21 Dec 2011 -- The last six primary mirror segments and the secondary mirror that will fly on the Northrop Grumman Corporation – built James Webb Space Telescope have passed their final cold test.
• Bahrain must address lack of trust in Government, says UN human rights chief UN News Centre 21 Dec 2011 -- The United Nations human rights chief today called on Bahraini authorities to address the 'deepening mistrust' between the Government and civil society, including by releasing those detained for participating in peaceful protests.
• Yemen faces critical period to cement political settlement – UN envoy UN News Centre 21 Dec 2011 -- The next few weeks will be critical as Yemen seeks to address its political, security and humanitarian challenges, a United Nations envoy stressed today, adding that the support of the international community will be vital to the transition process.