Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 11 Jan 2012 [PDF]
• Report: Afghans Will Require Substantial Help After 2014 VOA 11 Jan 2012 -- A respected London research organization says the Afghan government likely will be able to retain control of the country after foreign troops end their combat role in three years. But the International Institute for Strategic Studies says Western nations will need to provide financial and military support for Afghanistan for much longer.
• Coalition Force Captures Taliban Leader AFPS 11 Jan 2012 -- An Afghan-led and coalition-supported force captured a Taliban facilitator in the Ghazni district of Afghanistan's Ghazni province today, military officials reported.
• Coalition aviators train Afghans to perform critical supply run AFNS 11 Jan 2012 -- The pilot's eyes squint as he tries to locate his landing zone located in the terrain covered by a rolling and twisting blanket of dust. The trip to the Kunar Valley in northern Afghanistan is treacherous with numerous towering mountains as tall as 12,000 feet, providing an obstacle course of a flight path. Navigating his MI-17 helicopter, which is fully loaded with vital ammunition and supplies, is a challenging task.
• US resume drone strikes in Pakistan as 4 die in attack IRNA 11 Jan 2012 -- The United States Wednesday resumed drone strikes in Pakistan after a two-month lull and killed four people in a pre-dawn attack in the country's tribal region, tribesmen in the area said.

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S.-Iran Tensions Easing, Pentagon Officials Say AFPS 11 Jan 2012 -- Pentagon officials said today they believe tensions between the United States and Iran have cooled in recent days.
• DOD News Briefing with George Little and Capt. Kirby from the Pentagon DoD 11 Jan 2012-- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary George Little and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Media Operations Capt. John Kirby
• Navy to Maintain Focus on Middle East, Strait of Hormuz AFPS 11 Jan 2012 -- The Navy will remain focused on the Middle East, particularly the strategic Strait of Hormuz, while ensuring its sailors operating there are remain properly equipped for the mission, the chief of naval operations said yesterday.
• Greenert: Navy Advances Asia-Pacific Partnerships AFPS 11 Jan 2012 -- The Navy is working to bolster existing partnerships and forge new ones in Asia and the Pacific, an initiative that supports U.S. Pacific Command's overarching goals in implementing the new defense strategic guidance, the service's top officer said here yesterday.
• Officials Discuss India, Egypt, South Sudan AFPS 11 Jan 2012 -- The U.S. military relationship with India, support to a United Nations mission in South Sudan, and the Defense Department's view of recent events in Egypt were among topics in a Pentagon media briefing today.
• Efforts Continue to Improve Pakistan Relations, Spokesman Says AFPS 11 Jan 2012 -- The Defense Department remains committed to trying to improve its relationship with Pakistan, a Pentagon spokesman said here today.
• US Military to Help Build South Sudan VOA 11 Jan 2012 -- The United States military is joining efforts to help build the newly independent nation of South Sudan.
• Enterprise Gets Underway for Final Qualifications NNS 11 Jan 2012 -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) departed its homeport of Norfolk, Va., Jan. 11 to participate in a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX).
• USS Georgia's Blue Crew Holds Change of Command NNS 11 Jan 2012 -- Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729) (Blue) held a change of command ceremony on the island of Diego Garcia, in the British Indian Ocean Territory, Jan. 10.
• Send in the Supplies: RoboCopters in Marines' Future NNS 11 Jan 2012 -- Office of Naval Research announced Jan. 10, it is seeking researchers who will develop threat- and obstacle-detection and avoidance systems, as well as autonomous landing capabilities that can operate across different types of aircraft as part of a new program.
• Nimitz Reaches One Year in Yards NNS 11 Jan 2012 -- USS Nimitz (CVN 68) marked one year since it officially began its docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) in Bremerton, Wash., Jan. 11.
• USS Milius Gets Underway for Scheduled Deployment NNS 11 Jan 2012 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) departed for a scheduled independent deployment to the western Pacific and U.S. Central Command areas of responsibility.
• Surface Force in Action as Leaders Gather for SNA National Symposium NNS 11 Jan 2012 -- As Navy leaders and senior industry representatives gather during the 24th annual Surface Navy Association National Symposium in Crystal City, Va., Jan. 10-12, events around the world continue to illustrate the importance of the Surface Force.
• Cyprus releases Russian Syria-bound 'ammunition' ship RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2012 -- A Russian-owned ship reportedly carrying ammunition to Syria was allowed to leave Cyprus after giving assurances it would switch course, the island nation's officials said on Wednesday.
• Russia to complete delivery of 21 helicopters to Afghanistan by July RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2012 -- Russia will fulfill a contract to deliver 21 helicopters to Afghanistan in the first half of the year, the Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service said on Wednesday.
• HMS Daring sets sail on maiden deployment UK MOD 11 Jan 2012 -- The first Type 45 destroyer, HMS Daring, sets sail today, 11 January 2012, on her maiden deployment in a landmark event for the Royal Navy.
• Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest en route Chicago The White House 11 Jan 2012
• January 11, 2012 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 11 Jan 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 11, 2012
• Boeing Awarded US Army Contract for 14 Additional CH-47F Chinook Helicopters Boeing 11 Jan 2012 -- The Boeing Company has received a U.S. Army contract valued at approximately $370 million for 14 CH-47F Chinook helicopters to support Foreign Military Sales efforts. The aircraft will be delivered to the U.S. Army beginning in 2014; all but one are intended for Australia and the United Arab Emirates.
• CACI Awarded Prime Position on $9.7 Billion Multiple-Award Contract to Provide Linguist Services for U.S. Army CACI 11 Jan 2012 -- CACI International Inc announced today that it has been awarded one of six prime positions on the Defense Language Interpretation Translation Enterprise (DLITE) contract to support the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM).
• Lockheed Martin Delivers First Two Marine Corps F-35s To Eglin Lockheed Martin 11 Jan 2012 -- The first two Lockheed Martin production model F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft were delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps.
• Raytheon Awarded $80 Million for First International Airborne Low Frequency Sonar Contract Raytheon 11 Jan 2012 -- Raytheon Company has been awarded an $80.8 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy in support of a Foreign Military Sale of the AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low Frequency Sonar to the Royal Australian Navy. ALFS is the primary undersea warfare sensor for the U.S. Navy's MH-60R multimission helicopter.
• Raytheon Awarded $60 Million for LPD 26 Raytheon 11 Jan 2012 -- Raytheon Company has been awarded a $60.3 million U.S. Navy contract to develop and integrate the total ship electronics systems for LPD 26, the 10th ship of the Navy's LPD 17 class of expeditionary warfare ships.
• US Army Testing Demonstrates Readiness of Raytheon's MAINGATE Radio to Provide Tactical Networking Vision Raytheon 11 Jan 2012 -- Raytheon Company's Mobile Ad hoc Interoperability Network GATEway (MAINGATE) radio system successfully provided tactical networking capabilities at two major U.S. Army exercises, giving soldiers reliable battlefield information.
• U.S. Air Force Awards Contract to Lockheed Martin for GPS III Launch and Checkout Capability Lockheed Martin 11 Jan 2012 -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $21.5 million contract to provide a Launch and Checkout Capability (LCC) to command and control all GPS III satellites from launch through early on-orbit testing.

Other Conflicts

• 11 January 2012 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 11 Jan 2012
• Qatar PM: Syria Appears Unwilling to Change Course VOA 11 Jan 2012 -- Qatar's prime minister said Wednesday that the Syrian government appears unwilling to change course and is continuing to attack its own people as the Arab League considers the effectiveness of its observer mission there. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton cautions that the monitoring mission can not continue indefinitely.
• Assad Rallies Syrians; Western Journalist Killed VOA 11 Jan 2012 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made a rare public appearance Wednesday, telling thousands of supporters in Damascus that his government will defeat a 'conspiracy' behind 10 months of opposition unrest.
• U.S. Denounces Speech By Syrian Leader RFE/RL 11 Jan 2012 -- The United States has denounced Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's latest speech on the crisis in Syria, and again called on him to step down.
• Arab Monitor Quits Syria Mission, Assad Appears At Rally RFE/RL 11 Jan 2012 -- An Arab League observer has left Syria, saying he had witnessed grave scenes of violence, which the Arab monitoring team sent to the country was doing nothing to prevent.
• Top UN official says 400 people killed in Syria in two weeks RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2012 -- More than 400 people have been killed in Syria in just the two weeks since Arab League observers were deployed in the country in late December as part of a peace plan to end months of bloodshed there, United Nations political chief B. Lynn Pascoe said.
• Syrian President Says Country Will Triumph Over 'Conspiracy' VOA 11 Jan 2012 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has told thousands of supporters the country will triumph over the 'conspiracy' he has blamed for 10 months of anti-government unrest.
• UN official notes promising steps on implementation of Darfur peace document UN News Centre 11 Jan 2012 -- The head of the United Nations department of peacekeeping told the Security Council today that initial steps by the Sudanese Government and one of the rebel movements in Darfur to implement the peace document signed in Qatar last year have been promising, and urged the international community to support their efforts.
• French Probe Seemingly Clears Rwanda's Kagame in Genocide Events VOA 11 Jan 2012 -- A new French report appears to erase suspicions that Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his associates triggered the events leading to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Previous accusations froze French-Rwandan ties that only recently have warmed up.
• Security Council urges reliable support for African peacekeepers in Somalia UN News Centre 11 Jan 2012 -- The Security Council today called for predictable, reliable and timely resources to support the African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Somalia to strengthen its capability to help the country's transitional government implement its commitments to restore peace and stability.
• CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN highlights 'security vacuum' as northern clashes continue IRIN 11 Jan 2012 -- Among the most pressing security threats in the Central African Republic (CAR) is a Chadian armed group active in the north of the country, which allegedly continues to recruit and acquire weapons, despite having undertaken to return to Chad.
• SRI LANKA: Tamil refugees slowly return from India IRIN 11 Jan 2012 -- For Thangamma*, returning to Sri Lanka's once-embattled northern town of Jaffna is nothing short of a pilgrimage. 'I waited for two decades to leave India,' she said.

News Reports

• US Denies Role in Iranian Nuclear Scientist's Death VOA 11 Jan 2012 -- The United States has denied any role in Wednesday's killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist in Tehran.
• University lecturer killed in car explosion in Tehran IRNA 11 Jan 2012 -- A university lecturer was killed and two others injured when a magnetic bomb attached to a car exploded Wednesday morning.
• Enemies cannot hamper Iranian nation progress: VP IRNA 11 Jan 2012 -- Enemies should know that they are not able to prevent the Iranian nation from achieving its objectives in various scientific fields, said First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi while condemning this morning terrorist attack in Tehran.
• Antagonists of Iran not sincere in finding peaceful solution for its nuclear issue IRNA 11 Jan 2012 -- Iran on Wednesday said that its antagonists are not sincere in finding peaceful solution of its nuclear issue.
• China recognizes Iran's right to have active nuclear installations IRNA 11 Jan 2012 -- Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lio Wi Min on Wednesday said China recognizes Iran's right to have active nuclear installations.
• Lawmaker: Zionist regime, US behind assassination of Iranian scientist IRNA 11 Jan 2012 -- Rapporteur of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Kazem Jalali said on Wednesday the Zionist and US intelligence agencies are behind the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist.
• Iran blames Zionist regime for scientist assassination ISNA 11 Jan 2012 -- Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi blamed Zionist regime for assassination of Iranian scientist in a bomb blast Wednesday.
• Iran says Russian phased plan still on the table ISNA 11 Jan 2012 -- Iranian ambassador to Moscow said Russian-proposed 'step-by-step' approach is still on the table.
• Bomb Kills Iran Nuclear Scientist, Bodyguard RFE/RL 11 Jan 2012 -- Iran says the assassination of one of its nuclear scientists in Tehran will not stop the progress of its nuclear program, in the fourth attack targeting an Iranian nuclear physicist in two years.
• Iran nuclear scientist killed in car bomb blast RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2012 -- An Iranian scientist who died in a car bomb explosion in the capital Tehran on Wednesday was the deputy director of the country's largest uranium enrichment plant, according to Iran's IRNA news agency.
• U.S. condemns Iran's decision to start uranium enrichment RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2012 -- Washington slammed on Tuesday the Iranian government's decision to begin uranium enrichment operations at a facility near the city of Qom in the country's north.
• China Insists On Dialogue to Resolve Iran Crisis VOA 11 Jan 2012 -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is seeking China's support for new U.S. sanctions against Iran. The Chinese government says it is concerned about reports that Iran is enriching weapons-grade uranium, but is sticking to its position that dialogue, not sanctions, is the way to resolve the issue.
• Kim Jong Un Inspects Construction Projects Undertaken by KPA KCNA 11 Jan 2012 -- Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Un, supreme leader of the Workers' Party of Korea, state and army, inspected various construction projects undertaken by KPA service personnel including the Pyongyang Folk Park and the Meat Shop in Hero Street.
• DPRK Will Follow U.S. Moves: FM Spokesman KCNA 11 Jan 2012 -- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA on Wednesday as regard the U.S. offer of food aid:
• PM Gilani fires Secretary of Defence IRNA 11 Jan 2012 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday sacked Secretary of Defence Lt Gen (Retd) Khalid Naeem Lodhi, media reported.
• Pakistan Army angrily reacts to PM's memo statement IRNA 11 Jan 2012 -- Reacting angrily to Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani's allegation of bypassing the executive by army and intelligence chiefs, the pakistan army Wednesday warned that his remarks could result in dire consequences.
• Pakistani cabinet to back PM, President amid crisis IRNA 11 Jan 2012 -- Pakistani Federal Cabinet Wednesday expressed confidence in President Asif Ali and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani a day after the country's Supreme Court warned the Prime Minister of disqualification for failing to act on an earlier court order.
• Pakistani PM Fires Defense Secretary RFE/RL 11 Jan 2012 -- Pakistan's prime minister has dismissed the country's defense secretary, retired Lieutenant General Naeem Khalid Lodhi, in a move expected to increase tensions between Pakistan's powerful military and its civilian leadership.
• PAKISTAN: Mutilated for venturing outdoors IRIN 11 Jan 2012 -- In Bajaur Agency, one of seven tribal areas in northwestern Pakistan, very few girls go to school due to threats by the Taliban.
• Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp Now 10 Years Old RFE/RL 11 Jan 2012 -- Today marks the 10th anniversary of the opening of the U.S. military detention camp for terrorist suspects at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
• Haunting Past Casts Pall On Future RFE/RL 11 Jan 2012 -- Abdukarim Ergashev says it was a twist of fate that led him to Guantanamo in the first place, and seven years after his return to Tajikistan he finds that time has not healed all wounds.
• Free From Repression, But Far From Home RFE/RL 11 Jan 2012
• From One Hell To Another, With No End In Sight RFE/RL 11 Jan 2012 -- For Rasul Kudaev, release should have been a blessing. During his three years at Guantanamo, Kudaev contracted hepatitis and suffered chronic pain from a bullet lodged at the base of his spine, an injury he says he received after his arrest by U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
• From Prison To Kabul's Presidential Palace RFE/RL 11 Jan 2012 -- In the spring of 2003, Haji Nahim Kuchi was a number - US9AF-000931DP - in a Guantanamo detainment cell.
• Russia's wayward Mars probe 'may fall Jan.14-16' RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2012 -- Russia's troubled Phobos-Grunt spacecraft will fall back to Earth between January 14 and 16, possibly some place in the Indian Ocean, Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said on Wednesday.
• Press Conference on 'Group of 77' Chairmanship Handover, Situation in Algeria United Nations 11 Jan 2012
• YEMEN: Coping with unrest - aid workers turn to the community IRIN 11 Jan 2012 -- Unrest in Yemen for almost a year has affected the government's capacity to function, forcing aid agencies to work more closely with, and through, community-level partners and volunteers, says a senior aid worker with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
• Boeing Begins NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Study Boeing 11 Jan 2012 -- The Boeing Company has begun work on a four-month NASA contract to develop a mission concept study for solar electric propulsion technologies. Under the $600,000 firm, fixed-price contract, Boeing will evaluate concepts that combine high-power solar arrays with advanced electric thrusters to power spacecraft and payloads to high Earth orbit and deep space destinations.