Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 12 Jan 2012 [PDF]
• Panetta Orders Investigation of Video, Vows Accountability AFPS 12 Jan 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta released a statement today strongly condemning the actions of a small group of Marines depicted in a video that began circulating online yesterday.
• Top U.S. Officials Condemn Afghan Corpse Abuse Video RFE/RL 12 Jan 2012 -- Top U.S. officials have condemned as "utterly deplorable" a video depicting what appears to be U.S. Marines urinating on the corpses of Taliban fighters.
• US Defense Chief Condemns Alleged US Abuse of Taliban Corpses VOA 12 Jan 2012 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is promising a full investigation after seeing a video that shows four men dressed in U.S. Marine uniforms urinating over what appear to be the bodies of dead Afghans.
• Afghan leader condemns urinating-Marines video RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2012 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday strongly condemned an online video appearing to show US Marines urinating on the bloodied corpses of several Taliban fighters, world media said.
• Combined Force Seizes Suspects, Explosives, Weapons AFPS 12 Jan 2012 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained seven suspected insurgents and seized weapons caches while searching for a Taliban leader in the Khugyani district of Afghanistan's Ghazni province today, military officials reported.
• Taliban 'ready' to resume peace talks RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2012 -- The Taliban is ready to restart peace talks to end the violence in Afghanistan, the militant group said on Thursday.
• Taliban Ready For Afghan Peace Talks VOA 12 Jan 2012 -- The Taliban says its political wing is ready to enter peace talks to end the war in Afghanistan, but that it will not give up its armed struggle against international forces.
• MPs ready for mission Army News 12 Jan 2012 -- The 42nd Military Police Brigade's Headquarters and Headquarters Company cased its colors Jan. 4 in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan.
• Six die in US drone strike in NW Pakistan IRNA 12 Jan 2012 -- A U.S. spy aircraft Thursday fired missiles on a vehicle in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region and killed at least six people.
• 16 Pakistan soldiers killed in bomb attack, firing IRNA 12 Jan 2012 -- At least 16 Pakistani paramilitary soldiers were killed in a bomb attack and firing in the volatile southwestern Balochistan province, officials said Thursday.
• Last logistics battalion returns from Iraq Army News 12 Jan 2012 -- Soldiers from the 275th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion deployed to Iraq last March on a historic 10-month mission.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Navy Christens Littoral Combat Ship Coronado DoD 12 Jan 2012 -- The Navy will christen the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Coronado, Saturday, Jan. 14, during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony in Mobile, Ala.
• Marine Corps welcomes first F-35B aircraft to its fleet USMC News 12 Jan 2012 -- The Marine Corps welcomed its first F-35B aircraft, the Marine Corps variant of the F-35 Lightning II, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 11.
• New F-35B joint strike fighters arrive at Eglin AFNS 12 Jan 2012 -- A resolution to be even more expeditionary will be met this year, now that Marines here received their first two F-35B Lightning II variants of DoD's fifth generation fighter Jan. 11.
• Marine Corps Welcomes First F-35B Aircraft to its Fleet NNS 12 Jan 2012 -- The Marine Corps welcomed its first F-35B aircraft, the Marine Corps variant of the F-35 Lightning II, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 11.
• Army to Replace 2 Brigades in Europe With Rotating Units AFPS 12 Jan 2012 -- Ground forces will remain important to the U.S. defense strategy, but the employment of the forces will change, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.
• Panetta: Military Will Be Smaller, More Agile, Deployable AFPS 12 Jan 2012 -- To accomplish the new mission sets for the 21st century, the United States needs a smaller, quicker, more agile military, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said.
• Dempsey: New Strategy Offers More Opportunities Than Liabilities AFPS 12 Jan 2012 -- The Defense Department’s new military strategy offers it more opportunities than liabilities, and the military is not being victimized by the need for a leaner budget, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said.
• Remarks by Secretary of Defense Panetta at the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, Texas DoD 12 Jan 2012 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
• Town Hall with Secretary Panetta with Soldiers and Family Members of the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, Texas DoD 12 Jan 2012 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
• Roundtable with Secretary Panetta and U.S. Representative Silvestre Reyes at Fort Bliss, Texas DoD 12 Jan 2012 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta and U.S. Representative Silvestre Reyes
• Rodong Sinmun Urges U.S. to Pull Its Forces out of S. Korea at Earliest Possible Date KCNA 12 Jan 2012 -- The building of a peace-keeping mechanism on the Korean Peninsula entirely depends on the attitude of the United States.
• Panetta Hosts First Official U.S.-Netherlands Defense Meeting AFPS 12 Jan 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta hosted a Pentagon honor cordon today for his counterpart from the Netherlands during the two leaders' first official bilateral meeting.
• Military Study Aims to Aid Troops With Mild TBI AFPS 12 Jan 2012 -- A team of experts at San Antonio Military Medical Center here has launched a military study aimed at improving outcomes for service members suffering from a signature wound of today's wars: traumatic brain injury.
• Army outlines challenges for aviation branch Army News 12 Jan 2012 -- Commander of the Army's Aviation Center of Excellence stressed that while there's no doubt Army aviation continues to meet the needs of the nation today, significant challenges lie ahead for Army aviation as it grows.
• Team accelerates test, delivers B-1B close-air support capability to warfighter AFNS 12 Jan 2012 -- A developmental test team here partnered with an operational test team from Texas to accelerate testing and deliver to the warfighter B-1B Lancers that can find and strike moving targets in close-air support of ground troops even quicker than before.
• Cameron University students aid Army artillery Army News 12 Jan 2012 -- A simple meeting of the minds at Cameron University may have made the Army's artillery power more deadly.
• Navy Accepts Delivery of USNS Howard O. Lorenzen NNS 12 Jan 2012 -- The Navy accepted the delivery of missile range instrumentation ship USNS Howard O. Lorenzen (T-AGM 25) Jan. 10.
• A-10C accident investigation report released AFNS 12 Jan 2012 -- Dual engine failure during a functional check flight caused the crash of an A-10C Thunderbolt II Sept. 26, 2011, according to the Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released Jan. 11.
• Record long-range bomber flight turns 50 AFNS 12 Jan 2012 -- Fifty years ago on Jan. 11, 1962, a crew of eight Airmen embarked on a historic feat that would take them half way across the globe and reaffirm to the world America's dominance in long-range aircraft strike capabilities.
• UH-1 helicopters retire from service at National Training Center Army News 12 Jan 2012 -- The National Training Center held a retirement ceremony Dec. 13 for several UH-1 Huey helicopters it had been using since 1980.
• Air Force medics train host nation on emergency response AFNS 12 Jan 2012 -- Airmen deployed to the 380th Expeditionary Medical Group joined with fellow healthcare professionals from the host nation air force for patient transport training Jan. 11.
• Wildcat begins sea trials with Iron Duke UK MOD 12 Jan 2012 -- Wildcat, the Navy's next-generation helicopter, has begun its most extensive trials yet, joining a frigate at sea for the first time.
• JAGO awarded for DataMan mapping system UK MOD 12 Jan 2012 -- The DataMan geographic system, developed by the MOD's Joint Aeronautical and Geospatial Organisation (JAGO), has been recognised as one of 2011's top five programmes and innovations in the ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) community.
• Pakistani PM defends sacking of top defense official IRNA 12 Jan 2012 -- Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani defended his decision to dismiss the country's top defense official amidst increasing tension with the military over an alleged memo.
• Russian weapons ship arrives in Syria - paper RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2012 -- A Russian-owned ship reportedly carrying weapons to Syria docked in Tartus on Thursday despite assurances it would change destination, Turkey's Hurriyet Daily News reported.
• January 12, 2012 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 12 Jan 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 12, 2012
• GE Selected as Engine Supplier for Next-Generation Military Helicopter GE Aviation 12 Jan 2012 -- GE Aviation has been selected by Sikorsky Aircraft as a member of a newly-formed team that is building a next-generation helicopter for evaluation by the U.S. military. GE Aviation will provide the engine to enable the aircraft — designated the S-97 RAIDERTMhelicopter - to demonstrate state-of-the-art advancements in rotorcraft technology.
• Lockheed Martin F-35 Program Exceeds 2011 Flight Test Goals Lockheed Martin 12 Jan 2012 -- The Lockheed Martin F-35 System Development and Demonstration 2011 flight test program resulted in the completion of more test flights and test points than in any year.
• Sagem signs life-cycle support contract for STRIX sights on French army Tiger helicopters Sagem (Safran group) 12 Jan 2012 -- Sagem (Safran group) signed a contract with SIMMAD to provide life-cycle support for the STRIX turret-mounted, gyrostabilized observation and sighting systems on Tiger HAP combat and fire support helicopters deployed by the French army’s air arm (ALAT).
• Raytheon Awarded $179.5 Million Contract for US Air Force Field Service Support Raytheon 12 Jan 2012 -- Raytheon Company has been awarded a $179.5 million follow-on contract by the U.S. Air Force to provide Contractor Field Service (CFS) support for U-2 sensors, data links and the Air Force Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS). Raytheon has been prime on the CFS program providing support to the warfighter since the original contract was awarded in 1999.
• U.S. Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin Contract for Third and Fourth GPS III Satellites Lockheed Martin 12 Jan 2012 -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $238 million contract for production of the third and fourth satellites in the next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation, known as GPS III.
• Raytheon to Develop Mission Critical Launch and Check Solution for the Global Positioning System Raytheon 12 Jan 2012 -- Raytheon Company has been awarded a $27.4 million contract by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center for development of a Global Positioning System (GPS) Launch and Checkout System (LCS), which will provide early launch and checkout of GPS III satellites starting with the first GPS III launch in 2014.

Other Conflicts

• 12 January 2012 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 12 Jan 2012
• Syrian Rights Group: More Arab League Observers Leaving Country VOA 12 Jan 2012 -- A Syrian rights group says more Arab League observers are leaving the country to protest the Syrian government's deadly crackdown on a 10-month opposition uprising.
• AFRICA: AU wants peace, security and bigger global role in 2012 IRIN 12 Jan 2012 -- The African Union (AU) has unveiled an ambitious wish-list of priorities for Africa that would give the continent a stronger global voice, boost democracy and encourage peace and security.
• Vital African Union-UN partnership can be strengthened further, Security Council told UN News Centre 12 Jan 2012 -- The collective efforts by the United Nations and the African Union in peace and security matters are having an important impact on the continent, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council today, while stressing the need to further strengthen this vital partnership.
• Press Conference by UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia United Nations 12 Jan 2012
• Somalia requires continued assistance despite gains against famine – UN official UN News Centre 12 Jan 2012 -- The top United Nations relief official in Somalia said that international humanitarian support last year in the face of drought and famine in the country succeeded in saving numerous lives.
• SOMALIA: ICRC suspends aid deliveries IRIN 12 Jan 2012 -- One of the few aid agencies excluded from a ban imposed by Al-Shabaab insurgents in Somalia has suspended food and seed distributions to 1.1m people in the south and centre of the country after local authorities repeatedly blocked its deliveries.
• Kenyan Security Forces Accused of Abuses Against Somalis VOA 12 Jan 2012 -- Human Rights Watch released a statement Thursday accusing Kenyan security forces of abusing Kenyan Somalis and Somali refugees in northeastern Kenya, particularly in the provincial capital and around the Dadaab refugee camp. A military official, in turn, says that the army has nothing against Somalis and Kenyan-Somalis.
• ICRC Suspends Food Aid to 1.1 Million Somalis VOA 12 Jan 2012 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it has suspended aid to 1.1 million Somalis because local authorities linked to al-Shabab have blocked aid to central and southern parts of the country.
• Analysis: 2012 – 'The Year of Crisis' in the Middle East IRIN 12 Jan 2012 -- If you thought 2011 was a historic year for the Middle East, 2012 is likely to be even more unpredictable.
• Burma Signs Cease-Fire with Karen Rebel Group VOA 12 Jan 2012 -- The Burmese government has signed a cease-fire with the ethnic Karen rebel group, in an apparent move toward ending one of the world's longest-running insurgencies and meeting a key condition for improved ties with the West.
• Myanmar government, rebels move to end 60-year conflict RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2012 -- The government of Myanmar and the rebel Karen National Union (KNU), one of the world's longest-running insurgencies, signed on Thursday a ceasefire agreement that is seen as a first step toward a lasting peace, the Bangkok Post said.
• UN human rights chief urges bold effort by Nigeria's leaders to end sectarian violence UN News Centre 12 Jan 2012 -- The United Nations human rights chief today urged a bold effort by Nigeria's political and religious leaders to halt the spiralling sectarian violence unleashed by a series of recent attacks by the Boko Haram group.

News Reports

• Iran says continuous scientists' assassination, sign of U.S., Zionist plots ISNA 12 Jan 2012 -- Assassination of another Iranian nuclear scientist came on the second anniversary of the martyrdom of Iranian university professor and nuclear scientist, Massoud Ali Mohammadi, January 11.
• U.S., EU Condemn Iran Nuclear Work RFE/RL 12 Jan 2012 -- The United States, France, Britain, and Germany have condemned Iran's decision to start enriching uranium at an underground facility after a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council.
• Special Report of Political Bureau of C.C., WPK KCNA 12 Jan 2012 -- The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea issued the following special report.
• North Korea's Kim Jong-il to be embalmed RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2012 -- The body of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is to be embalmed and put on display at a palace in the capital, Pyongyang, state media have said.
• Afghanistan: UN-backed survey shows sharp rise in opium production and prices UN News Centre 12 Jan 2012 -- The price of opium in Afghanistan rose dramatically last year, according to a joint survey by the United Nations and the Government that was released today, which also shows that the farm-gate income from the narcotic probably amounted to over $1.4 billion, equivalent to nine per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).