Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Combined Force Captures Taliban Leader AFPS 18 Jan 2012 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader during an operation in the Panjwai district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.
• Bomb Attacks Kill 16 in Southern Afghanistan VOA 18 Jan 2012 -- Afghan officials say two bomb attacks in the volatile southern Helmand province killed at least 16 people.
• Two Attacks In Southern Afghanistan Kill 13 RFE/RL 18 Jan 2012 -- Authorities say 13 people, including a local intelligence official, were killed in two attacks in southern Afghanistan.
• Analysts Cautious About Chances for Taliban Peace Talks VOA 18 Jan 2012 -- News that the Afghan Taliban will be opening an office in the Gulf state of Qatar triggered speculation about possible talks for a political settlement in Afghanistan.
• Britain Probes Reports Troops Abused Afghan Children VOA 18 Jan 2012 -- Britain's military says it is investigating allegations of inappropriate behavior by British troops in Afghanistan.
• British Troops In Afghan Child Abuse Investigation RFE/RL 18 Jan 2012 -- Britain's Defense Ministry says an investigation has been launched into media allegations that two British soldiers sexually abused children in Afghanistan.
• Guard troops train for threefold Afghan mission Army News 18 Jan 2012 -- A Georgia Army National Guard unit will play a significant role in the expected reduction of United States forces in Afghanistan.
• Pakistan Delays US Envoy's Visit VOA 18 Jan 2012 -- Pakistan is delaying a visit by U.S. Special Envoy Marc Grossman until Islamabad completes a review of U.S.-Pakistani relations.
• Official: Pakistan Putting Off Visit By U.S. Envoy RFE/RL 18 Jan 2012 -- A Pakistani government spokesman says Pakistan is postponing a visit by a special U.S. envoy.
• Pakistan refuses to welcome US special envoy IRNA 18 Jan 2012 -- Pakistani daily reported that the US State Department has confirmed that Pakistan had asked US not to send its special envoy to the country.
• Dewey Aids Sinking Iranian Fishing Dhow NNS 18 Jan 2012 -- USS Dewey rendered aid to the crew of a sinking Iranian fishing dhow in the central Arabian Sea, Jan. 18.
• Panetta: U.S. Presence in Gulf Unchanged by Iranian Threats AFPS 18 Jan 2012 -- The US military has continually maintained a strong presence in the Middle East and will continue to do whatever is necessary to maintain peace there.
• NAM condemns US invasion of Iran's airspace IRNA 18 Jan 2012 -- Member states of Non-Aligned Movement condemned violation of Iranian airspace by the US drone, stressing that the move was against international norms.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DOD News Briefing with Secretary Panetta from the Pentagon DoD 18 Jan 2012
• Chairman Explains Joint Operational Access Concept AFPS 18 Jan 2012 -- Nation’s top military officer: New Defense Department concept to assure U.S. forces entry and sustained access to any contested domain: land, air, space, sea or cyber.
• Defense, State Agree to Pursue Conduct Code for Outer Space AFPS 18 Jan 2012 -- The departments of Defense and State have agreed an international code of conduct should govern activities in outer space.
• U.S., coalition nations form Wideband Global Satellite partnership AFNS 18 Jan 2012 -- Senior defense officials from six countries announced a multilateral partnership in wideband global satellite communication.
• Record first quarter for foreign military sales Army News 18 Jan 2012 -- The Security Assistance Command has exceeded its total foreign military sales for fiscal 2011 in the first quarter of the new fiscal year and could finish fiscal 2012 with record sales.
• Truman Completes Anchor Installation NNS 18 Jan 2012 -- The deck department aboard USS Harry S. Truman installed two 30-ton anchors Jan. 10, bringing Truman closer to completing its docking planned incremental availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
• Burning rubber helps land U-2 safely AFNS 18 Jan 2012 -- Going 100 mph down the flightline might be normal for an F-16 Fighting Falcon, but for the drivers of the U-2 chase car it's also a daily event on the ground.
• Vigilant Pursuit system aims to improve field intelligence Army News 18 Jan 2012 -- The Army is looking to decrease the time between intelligence data collection and Soldier action by the spring with the Vigilant Pursuit system.
• MOP Team earns William J. Perry Award AFNS 18 Jan 2012 -- Members of the Massive Ordnance Penetrator program team received the 16th annual William J. Perry Award in recognition of their contributions to precision strike systems.
• Geospatial training coming to Fort Leonard Wood Army News 18 Jan 2012 -- The mission of moving Geospatial Engineer training from Fort Belvoir, Va., to Fort Leonard Wood is underway.
• Busy Installation Enters New Era Army News 18 Jan 2012 -- Since 2005, USAG Redstone has focused much of its efforts on preparing and welcoming new tenants as ordered by the last round of Base Realignment and Closure recommendations.
• AMC passenger travel to be more predictable AFNS 18 Jan 2012 -- Select passenger terminals across Air Mobility Command are establishing pages on Facebook to provide passengers more predictability when it comes to space-available and space-required passengers.
• Panetta Pledges to Hold Sexual Assault Offenders Accountable AFPS 18 Jan 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta took the podium at the Pentagon briefing room to announce new policies and respond to reporters’ questions on an issue he called a top priority: sexual assault in the military.
• Panetta Announces Initiatives Targeting Sexual Assault AFPS 18 Jan 2012 -- Sexual assault has no place in the Defense Department, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today, calling the crime “a stain on the good honor of the great majority of our troops and their families.”
• Navy Solar Farm Construction Underway NNS 18 Jan 2012 -- The Navy made another leap into renewable energy integration Jan. 18 with groundbreaking on a new 118 acre solar farm in China Lake, Calif.
• Russia Defiant on Syria 'Arms Delivery' RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2012 -- Russia is under no obligation to provide an explanation for a recent alleged delivery of arms to Syria, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
• Russia to Train Contract Soldiers for Yars Missile Systems RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2012 -- More than 4,000 contracted soldiers will take training courses in 2012 to be able to operate the new Yars missile systems.
• Russia Allocates $160 Mln for Drone Development RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2012 -- Russian Helicopters has received $160 mln from the federal budget for the development of three types of unmanned aerial vehicles.
• Russia Faces Shortage of Military Draftees RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2012 -- Russia is facing a serious shortage of new recruits during the spring military draft.
• Joint press point with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu NATO 18 Jan 2012
• Ma wants small, strong, flexible, skillful military CNA 18 Jan 2012 -- Establishing a small but strong and skillful military force has been a steadfast target of Taiwan's military preparations, President Ma said.
• Navy maneuvers ahead of Lunar New Year CNA 18 Jan 2012 -- The Navy dispatched two of its four Kidd-class destroyers and anti-submarine warfare helicopters to take part in a maneuver off the coast of Yilan.
• Iran builds smart remote-control submarine ISNA 18 Jan 2012 -- Iranian researchers built a smart remote-control submarine with the subsurface speed of 10 meter per second.
• Tons of Mustard Gas Remain Undestroyed in Libya RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2012 -- Some 11 metric tons of lethal mustard gas, also known as sulfur mustard or yperite, remain in existence in Libya.
• Press Briefing by the Press Secretary Jay Carney, 1/18/12 The White House 18 Jan 2012
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, January 18, 2012 US Dept. of State 18 Jan 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 18, 2012
• 4th Boeing Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite Ready for Liftoff Boeing 18 Jan 2012 -- Boeing today announced that the fourth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite the company is delivering to the U.S. Air Force has successfully completed prelaunch testing and is ready for launch. WGS-4, the first spacecraft in the program's upgraded Block II series, is scheduled to launch at 7:38 p.m. Eastern time on Jan. 19 aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
• Boeing to Build More Wideband Global SATCOM Satellites for US Air Force Boeing 18 Jan 2012 -- Boeing has received authorization from the U.S. Air Force to produce and launch the eighth and ninth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellites. The WGS-9 authorization and the WGS-8 production option, which was authorized last month, have a combined value of $673 million and are part of the $1.09 billion contract modification announced by the Air Force in September 2011.
• U.S. Army Awards Bridge Contract to Oshkosh Defense for Heavy Vehicle Fleet Oshkosh 18 Jan 2012 -- The U.S. Army has awarded Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, a bridge contract to continue production and support of the Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV).
• Sagem’s Sigma 30 navigation and pointing system chosen to modernize M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems for three European armies Sagem (Safran group) 18 Jan 2012 -- Sagem (Safran group) has won a contract from Cassidian (an EADS company) to supply Sigma 30 navigation and pointing systems to modernize the self-propelled M270 Mars MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) artillery systems deployed by the armies of Germany, Italy and France.

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Offices of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General and the Spokesperson for the General Assembly President, 18 January 2012 United Nations 18 Jan 2012
• Seventy years on, principles that led to UN Charter more important than ever - Ban UN News Centre 18 Jan 2012 -- Principles and origins that led to the United Nations remain more important than ever, Secretary-General Ban said.
• Responsibility to Protect: Ban urges action to make UN-backed tool 'a living reality' UN News Centre 18 Jan 2012 -- The principle of ?responsibility to protect’ was tested as never before in 2011, resulting in tens of thousands of lives saved and vital lessons learned, Secretary-General Ban said.
• Syrian Uprising Moves Closer to Capital VOA 18 Jan 2012 -- Damascus has been spared much of the violence gripping Syria, although there are signs that the uprising is moving closer on the capital.
• Activists: Syrian Government Agrees to Truce With Rebel-Held Town VOA 18 Jan 2012 -- Syrian opposition activists say government forces have agreed to a cease-fire with rebels holding a town near Damascus.
• Russia Says Will Stand Firm On Syria RFE/RL 18 Jan 2012 -- Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says that Moscow will offer no explanation for suspected arms deliveries to Syria.
• Russia Says Foreign Troops Will Not Deploy in Syria VOA 18 Jan 2012 -- Syrian ally Russia says it will not allow the deployment of foreign troops in Syria.
• West Wants Removal of No-Use-of-Force Statement from Syrian Resolution - Lavrov RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2012 -- Western countries are insisting on removing the no-use of force statement from the UN resolution on Syria.
• Lavrov Skeptical Over Syrian No-Fly Zone RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2012 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed skepticism on Wednesday about the possible introduction of a no-fly zone in Syria being discussed in the West.
• U.S. to Continue Syria Resolution Discussions with Russia RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2012 -- The United States is holding consultations with Russia on its new draft resolution on Syria, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
• UN agency set to scale up response to growing humanitarian needs in Yemen UN News Centre 18 Jan 2012 -- The UN World Food Programme is set to scale up its assistance in response to the growing needs in Yemen.
• Humanitarian situation in West Bank and Gaza remains a concern - UN official UN News Centre 18 Jan 2012 -- The UN humanitarian chief reiterated her concern over the impact of Israel’s continued settlement activity in the West Bank.
• UN Official Meets With Security Council on Israeli Settlements VOA 18 Jan 2012 -- The UN' humanitarian chief Valerie Amos spoke to the Security Council regarding her concerns about the impact of Israeli settlement activity.
• Top Suspect in Nigerian Christmas Bombing Escapes Police VOA 18 Jan 2012 -- Nigerian authorities say their top suspect in a deadly Christmas Day bombing at a Catholic church in the capital, Abuja, has escaped.
• India, China sign border management pact IRNA 18 Jan 2012 -- India and China signed an agreement for setting up a mechanism to avert any untoward incident on border with PM Singh saying good cooperation between the two countries would bring 'great changes' in the world.
• Nagorny Karabakh Meeting between Russian, Armenian, Azeri leaders RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2012 -- The Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents are to meet to discuss the Nagorny Karabakh issue in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi on January 23.
• Côte d'Ivoire needs continued humanitarian support, stresses UN relief official UN News Centre 18 Jan 2012 -- Côte d’Ivoire remains in great need of humanitarian assistance nine months after the end of the bloody post-election violence.
• Cambodia: Ban designates new adviser for Khmer Rouge trials UN News Centre 18 Jan 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban designated David Scheffer of the US as the Special Expert to advise on the United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials.

News Reports

• Lavrov: New Iran Sanctions Aimed At Provoking Popular Discontent RFE/RL 18 Jan 2012 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says new Western sanctions against Iran are aimed at "strangling" the economy and possibly inciting popular unrest.
• Russia Warns Against Iran Attack RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2012 -- Russia warned that an attack on Iran would be a "catastrophe" for the region and said world powers should adopt a policy of non-intervention in the Middle East and North Africa.
• Arab Spring not over yet - Russia RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2012 -- The landmark events that swept the Arab world last year are far from at an end and the international community should maintain a policy of non-intervention in the Middle East and North Africa, Russia's foreign minister said on Wednesday.
• Israel Says Decision on Iran Attack 'Far Off' VOA 18 Jan 2012 -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak says any decision on whether to attack Iran's nuclear program is "very far off."
• U.S. State Department: 'No Regime Change Policy' On Iran RFE/RL 18 Jan 2012 -- A senior U.S. State Department official says the Obama administration is not pursuing a policy of regime change in Iran.
• Iran Says Negotiations Over Nuclear Talks Under Way RFE/RL 18 Jan 2012 -- Iran's foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, says negotiations are under way to hold new talks between global powers and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program.
• IAEA delegation to visit Iran soon: Soltanieh ISNA 18 Jan 2012 -- Iranian ambassador to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh said an IAEA high-ranking delegation would pay a visit to Iran on January 29.
• Salehi: Istanbul may be venue of Iran-G5+1 nuclear talks IRNA 18 Jan 2012 -- Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday Iran and 5+1 nuclear talks will most probably be held in Istanbul.
• Iran calls for IAEA to condemn scientists' killing ISNA 18 Jan 2012 -- Iranian representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asghar Soltanieh called for the condemnation of Iranian nuclear scientists' assassinations.
• Wave Of Arrests Reported Ahead Of Iranian Elections RFE/RL 18 Jan 2012 -- Iranian security forces arrested journalist and blogger Parastou Dokouhaki on January 16 at her home in Tehran.
• Kim Jong Il's Eldest Son Paints Grim Outlook for DPRK VOA 18 Jan 2012 -- A new book published in Japan says the eldest son of late North Korean ruler Kim Jong Il paints a grim outlook for North Korea.
• Bahrain: Assembly President welcomes announcement of reconciliation reforms UN News Centre 18 Jan 2012 -- President of the General Assembly is encouraged by Bahrain’s announcement that it will implement reforms aimed at reconciliation and strengthening unity and stability.
• Suu Kyi Files Papers to Run for Burmese Parliament VOA 18 Jan 2012 -- Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is formally a candidate to run for a parliamentary seat in an upcoming by-election.
• Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi Launches Bid For Parliament RFE/RL 18 Jan 2012 -- Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has registered her candidacy to run for parliament in an upcoming by-election.
• KCNA on Japan Military Policy KCNA 18 Jan 2012 -- Japan is persistently trying to turn itself into a military giant.
• KCNA Commentary on Japan Government KCNA 18 Jan 2012 -- Both ruling and opposition parties and people of Japan are becoming increasingly critical of the Noda government's behavior.
• Tajikistan To Lease Land To Chinese Farmers RFE/RL 18 Jan 2012 -- Tajik officials say they will allow Chinese farmers to rent hundreds of hectares of land in southern Tajikistan, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.
• Veteran Chinese Activist Charged with Subversion VOA 18 Jan 2012 -- A veteran Chinese dissident has been charged with subversion for publishing a poem urging his fellow citizens to rise up and demand freedoms.
• China Plans to Launch 30 Satellites in 2012 RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2012 -- China is planning to launch 21 carrier rockets with 30 satellites in 2012.
• Kazakhstan's U.S. Envoy Says No Ban On OSCE Election Monitors RFE/RL 18 Jan 2012 -- Kazakhstan's ambassador to the US says that despite disagreeing with the OSCE's negative assessment of the country's January 15 parliamentary elections, observers from the body will be invited to return in the future.
• Kenyan Lawmaker Sues Over Failure to Resettle IDPs VOA 18 Jan 2012 -- A Kenyan lawmaker is suing the country's prime minister, internal security minister, and others for the government's failure to resettle thousands of people displaced by ethnic violence following elections almost five years ago.
• Hungary Crisis Stokes Fears of Debt Contagion VOA 18 Jan 2012 -- The European Union is launching legal action against Hungary over new legislation passed in Budapest, which the EU claims breaks European law.
• Hungarian Prime Minister To Defend His Government At EU Parliament RFE/RL 18 Jan 2012 -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is expected to travel to the French city of Strasbourg on January 18 to defend his government's policies during a European Parliament debate.
• New U.S. Ambassador To Russia Gets Frosty Reception RFE/RL 18 Jan 2012 -- In a program aired late on January 17, Russia's state-owned Channel One accused the new U.S. ambassador, Michael McFaul, of being deployed to sow instability in the country.