Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 20 Jan 2012 [PDF]
• Army statement on MEDEVAC issue Army News 20 Jan 2012 -- Recent news items about the use of Army medical evacuation helicopters in Afghanistan contain troubling information.
• Combined Force Kills Taliban Leader AFPS 20 Jan 2012 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed a Taliban leader and two of his associates during an operation in the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.
• Statement by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on sad day for ISAF NATO 20 Jan 2012
• Defense Officials Offer Condolences for French Casualties AFPS 20 Jan 2012 -- U.S. defense officials expressed condolences to the families of four French soldiers -- members of the International Security Assistance Force -- killed today in eastern Afghanistan’s Kapisa province.
• Paris Curbs ISAF Work After Afghan Soldier Attacks French Troops RFE/RL 20 Jan 2012 -- President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that France is suspending all joint combat operations and training programs for Afghan troops after an Afghan National Army soldier apparently shot and killed four French soldiers and wounded many others in eastern Afghanistan.
• France Suspends Afghan Military Operations After Troop Deaths VOA 20 Jan 2012 -- France has suspended its military operations in Afghanistan and may withdraw its force from that country after an Afghan soldier shot dead four French troops and wounded several others.
• Russia 'Gave Finger' to Taliban's 2001 Alliance Offer RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2012 -- Russia gave the Taliban 'the finger' when the Islamist Afghan regime proposed in 2001 that Russia join in an anti-U.S. alliance, former Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told BBC in a documentary broadcast on Thursday.
• New AF camp renamed in honor of JTAC AFNS 20 Jan 2012 -- The 451st Air Expeditionary Wing's newly acquired Canada 9 compound will soon be renamed to honor a joint terminal attack controller who was posthumously awarded a Silver Star for his actions in January 2010.
• Fort Campbell MP Battalion deploys to Afghanistan for one year Army News 20 Jan 2012 -- 716th Military Police Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade preparing to head out on deployment.
• ANAD manufacturing IED-detecting scrapes Army News 20 Jan 2012 -- The depot is working quickly to equip warfighters with a new tool to combat improvised explosive devices - something that looks like it belongs in a farmer's field rather than behind a military vehicle.
• Pakistan denies restoration of NATO supply line IRNA 20 Jan 2012 -- Pakistan Foreign office has rejected speculative reports that supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan have been restored.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Panetta Lifts F-35 Fighter Variant Probation AFPS 20 Jan 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced today he's lifted probation from the Short Takeoff, Vertical Landing variant of the fifth generation F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter which is absolutely vital to maintaining air superiority.
• Panetta: U.S. Military Best in World, But Threats Remain AFPS 20 Jan 2012 -- The U.S. military is the world's best and it's on the right path to face the challenges ahead, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said here today.
• Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. DoD 20 Jan 2012 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
• Hard-bitten battalion heads home after 3rd consecutive combat deployment USMC News 20 Jan 2012 -- With three deployments in three years, the men of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment were called upon to serve as the tip of the spear for large scale offensive operations across Afghanistan's contentions Helmand Province.
• Marines prepare for Fuji artillery training USMC News 20 Jan 2012 -- Marines with Golf Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, conducted accountability checks and equipment inspections in preparation for upcoming artillery training here Jan. 15.
• Haney Assumes Command of U.S. Pacific Fleet NNS 20 Jan 2012 -- Adm. Cecil D. Haney, former deputy of the U.S. Strategic Command, relieved Adm. Patrick M. Walsh as commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet during a change of command ceremony onboard Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Jan. 20.
• USS San Juan Participates in 'Deplaquing Ceremony' at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard NNS 20 Jan 2012 -- Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS San Juan (SSN 751) participated in a 'deplaquing' ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Jan. 19, marking the end of the submarine's maintenance period.
• USS Springfield Welcomes New Commander NNS 20 Jan 2012 -- Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Springfield (SSN 761) held a change of command ceremony at the Naval Submarine Library and Museum in Groton Jan. 20.
• USS Scranton Holds Change of Command NNS 20 Jan 2012 -- Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Scranton (SSN 756) held a change of command ceremony onboard Naval Station Norfolk Jan. 20.
• Frank Cable Receives Battle 'E' NNS 20 Jan 2012 -- Submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) earned its sixth consecutive Battle Efficiency, or Battle 'E', award, Jan. 7.
• USS Memphis Participates in Final 'Deplaquing Ceremony' at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard NNS 20 Jan 2012 -- Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Memphis (SSN 691) participated in her final 'deplaquing' ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Jan. 19 signifying the end of the maintenance period as the 33-year old submarine prepares for her official decommissioning.
• Frank Cable Conducts Fire Drills At Sea NNS 20 Jan 2012 -- Sailors aboard the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) conducted flight deck fire drills while underway Jan. 14.
• Navy Annex Cornerstone Removal Begins Historical Building Demolition NNS 20 Jan 2012 -- Contractors removed a cornerstone at Navy Annex Jan. 18, also known as The Federal Office Building No. 2 (FOB 2), setting in motion the scheduled demise to an historical Navy building located near Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.
• NAS Oceana Air Detachment Realigns to Naval Station Norfolk NNS 20 Jan 2012 -- A disestablishment and realignment ceremony was held on board Naval Station Norfolk, Jan. 20.
• Naval Special Warfare Celebrates 50 Years of SEAL Teams NNS 20 Jan 2012 -- The Naval Special Warfare community celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Navy SEAL teams Jan. 1.
• Secretary Clinton Remarks With German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle US Dept. of State 20 Jan 2012
• Dempsey Meets with Israeli Officials AFPS 20 Jan 2012 -- Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, traveled to Israel this week where he met with his Israeli counterpart and other officials for the first time as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• CSAF: Airmen key to new defense strategy AFNS 20 Jan 2012 -- Airmen will play an important role in the joint team's effort to achieve the priorities laid out in the new defense strategic guidance, according to the Air Force's top uniformed officer.
• AF officials launch fourth WGS satellite AFNS 20 Jan 2012 -- Air Force officials launched an United Launch Alliance Delta IV-Medium rocket carrying the fourth Wideband Global SATCOM satellite Jan. 19 from Space Launch Complex 37 here.
• Marines practice rescue skills Army News 20 Jan 2012 -- Soldiers and Marines stationed in the National Capital Region keep their rescue skills ready for any incident within the region.
• Army Study Shows Decline in Behavioral Health Stigma AFPS 20 Jan 2012 -- A newly released Army study on behavioral health shows a decline in soldier suicides and more seeking treatment for their problems.
• Army Crash Dynamics Lab nears completion Army News 20 Jan 2012 -- The Crash Dynamics Lab (CDL), a state-of-the-art training facility for Army safety investigators, took a giant step toward completion Jan. 18 with the placement of a salvaged CH-47 'Chinook' helicopter for an accident display.
• Anniston Army Depot aligning workforce to declining workload Army News 20 Jan 2012 -- With the completion of the war in Iraq, the need for military equipment repair at Anniston Army Depot is also declining.
• Army to Consolidate Personnel Assistance Point Operations at Atlanta Airport DoD 20 Jan 2012
• Unemployment High for Young US Military Veterans VOA 20 Jan 2012 -- While members of the military make up a tiny fraction of the U.S. population, the unemployment rate for America’s military veterans far exceeds the national average.
• Clinical Trials Begin for ‘Travelers’ Diarrhea’ Vaccine AFPS 20 Jan 2012 -- Navy medical researchers have expanded the knowledge of the bacterium that causes “travelers’ diarrhea” and are in the early stages of clinical trials of a vaccine they developed for it.
• U.S., NATO Have Some 1,000 Interceptor Missiles - Rogozin RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2012 -- The United States and its NATO allies already have about one thousand missiles capable of intercepting Russia's intercontinental ballistic missiles, the Russian deputy premier in charge of defense said.
• Russia's Bulava Carrying Sub to Enter Service by June RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2012 -- Russia's newest nuclear-powered submarine, the Yury Dolgoruky, will be put into operation in the second quarter of the year, the United Shipbuilding Corporation said on Friday.
• Aerospace Defense Holding Proposed for Russia RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2012 -- The expert council on Russia's Aerospace Defense System (ADS) has proposed consolidating all the related defense-industry enterprises into a single holding, council executive director Boris Cheltsov said on Friday.
• Russian Air Force Gets First An-140 Passenger Plane RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2012 -- The Russian Air Force took delivery of the first Antonov An-140-100 passenger/transport plane on Friday, Defense Ministry spokesman Col Vladimir Drik said.
• Russia Denies Paying Fine on Iran Missile Contract RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2012 -- Russia has returned a prepayment it received for S-300 surface-to-air missile systems it ultimately refused to deliver to Iran but has paid no penalty, Russian Technologies chief Sergei Chemezov said on Friday.
• Royal Navy returns pirated dhow to owner UK MOD 20 Jan 2012 -- Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel embarked on Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel Fort Victoria have successfully rescued a dhow from the clutches of 14 suspected Somali pirates and returned it to its rightful Yemeni owner.
• Thames exercise prepares Marines for Olympic security role UK MOD 20 Jan 2012 -- This week's Olympic security training exercise on the River Thames in London, involved nearly 100 Royal Marines joining up with police.
• Pakistan-US ties still on hold: Pakistan's FM IRNA 20 Jan 2012 -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has said that relations between US and Pakistan are still on hold.
• Armenian Army Death Toll Down In 2011 RFE/RL 20 Jan 2012 -- Armenian's chief military prosecutor says the number of Armenian soldiers who died in action and noncombat circumstances fell by 33 percent to a total of 36 last year, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.
• Analysts: Bangladesh Needs to Be Vigilant About Hardliners in Army VOA 20 Jan 2012 -- A day after the army in Bangladesh said it had foiled a coup attempt, analysts say the Muslim-majority country needs to stay vigilant about the presence of hardliners within the military.
• Press Briefing by the Press Secretary Jay Carney, 1/20/12 The White House 20 Jan 2012
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, January 20, 2012 US Dept. of State 20 Jan 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 20, 2012
• CASSIDIAN and Rheinmetall pool their Unmanned Aerial Systems activities EADS 20 Jan 2012 -- Cassidian and Rheinmetall have agreed to pursue Rheinmetall’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) activities together in a Joint Venture. It was agreed in a contract that Cassidian should hold 51 percent and Rheinmetall 49 percent of the shares in the newly established Joint Venture.

Other Conflicts

• 20 January 2012 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 20 Jan 2012
• Despite Criticism, Russia Stands By Syria VOA 20 Jan 2012 -- As Syria takes criticism from almost all quarters, one nation - Russia - stands virtually alone in defending the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
• U.S. Seeks Russia's Explanation on Syria-Bound Weapons Ship RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2012 -- The U.S. Department of State said it was seeking explanations from Moscow over a ship that probably headed from Russia with a cargo of weapons to Syria.
• 4 Killed in Syria, Pressure Mounts on Arab League VOA 20 Jan 2012 -- Syrian opposition groups are stepping up calls for the Arab League to seek foreign intervention in Syria, since critics say the League's observer mission failed to curb violent outbreaks there.
• AU, Government Troops Seize al-Shabab Positions in Mogadishu VOA 20 Jan 2012 -- Officials say African Union and Somali government troops have seized positions from militant group al-Shabab in the capital, Mogadishu.
• UN Reports Record Number of Horn of Africa Refugees VOA 20 Jan 2012 -- The U.N. refugee agency says a record number of people - 103,000 - crossed from the Horn of Africa to Yemen last year, fleeing violence, poverty, and the regional drought.
• Record number of refugees, migrants risked lives to reach Yemen in 2011 – UN UN News Centre 20 Jan 2012 -- More than 103,000 refugees and asylum-seekers from the Horn of Africa made the perilous journey across the Gulf of Aden to reach Yemen during 2011, the United Nations refugee agency said today, while warning of increasing violence directed towards migrants.
• Record Number of East Africans Flee to Yemen VOA 20 Jan 2012 -- The United Nations refugee agency reports nearly twice as many Africans crossed the Gulf of Aden or Red Sea to Yemen in 2011 than in the previous year.
• Ban voices concern over tensions between Sudan and South Sudan UN News Centre 20 Jan 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced deep concern over continuing tensions along the border between Sudan and South Sudan, as well as the current crisis over oil, saying that the situation represented a worrying deterioration in the relationship between the two countries.
• Number of people affected by South Sudan clashes has doubled – UN UN News Centre 20 Jan 2012 -- More than 120,000 people affected by the recent violence in South Sudan's Jonglei state may need emergency assistance – double the number of those originally thought to need help – the United Nations humanitarian official in the country said today.
• In Brief: Southern Sudanese women face multiple risks - report IRIN 20 Jan 2012 -- The main threats to women in South Sudan derive from chronic deficits in health, economic opportunities, access to food and gender equality, rather than weapons, despite the prevalence of militias and armed conflict, according to the Small Arms Survey.
• South Sudan Threatens Oil Production Shutdown VOA 20 Jan 2012 -- South Sudan says it may shut down oil production because neighboring Sudan is seizing southern oil flowing through its pipelines.
• Bomb Explosions Rock Nigeria's Second Largest City VOA 20 Jan 2012 -- Three huge bomb explosions have targeted police and government offices in Nigeria's second-largest city, Kano.
• NIGERIA: Timeline of Boko Haram attacks and related violence IRIN 20 Jan 2012 -- Bombings and shootings by the militant Islamic group Boko Haram - also known as Jama'atu Ahlus Sunnah Lid Da'awati Wal Jihad - have increased sharply in recent months, leaving many worried that wide-scale sectarian violence could break out. Some 80 people have been killed in Boko Haram (BH) attacks in recent weeks, while 500 are reported to have been killed over the past year. Tens of thousands of Nigerians have been forced to flee their homes.
• DR Congo: UN concerned over new displacement of thousands of civilians UN News Centre 20 Jan 2012 -- The United Nations refugee agency today voiced concern over fresh violence in eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that has forced more than 100,000 civilians to flee their homes in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu since November.
• SOUTH AFRICA: Red tape ensnares asylum-seekers IRIN 20 Jan 2012 -- Asylum-seekers entering South Africa are no longer being issued with the necessary documents to apply for refugee status. Without a so-called section 23 permit, they are being turned away from Refugee Reception Offices (RROs) and denied the opportunity to legalize their stay in the country.
• Ban looks forward to ‘concrete’ progress at upcoming meeting of Cypriot leaders UN News Centre 20 Jan 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is looking forward to “concrete progress” when the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders meet in New York next week to discuss reunifying the divided Mediterranean island nation, his spokesperson said today.
• UN calls on Cambodia to appoint international judge to genocide court UN News Centre 20 Jan 2012 -- The United Nations today voiced concern at Cambodia’s decision not to appoint the current reserve judge as the new international co-investigating judge at the tribunal set up to try former Khmer Rouge leaders, saying it breaches the agreement that set up the court.
• Mali becomes first African nation to agree to imprison ICC convicts UN News Centre 20 Jan 2012 -- Mali has become the first African country to conclude an agreement to enforce sentences of imprisonment handed down by the International Criminal Court (ICC), it was announced today.

News Reports

• Moscow Denies Canada Expelled Diplomats RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2012 -- The Foreign Ministry in Moscow denied on Friday reports that four Russian embassy staff in Ottawa were expelled following the arrest of of a Canadian military officer accused of spying for Russia.
• US Military Chief in Israel for Talks on Iran Nuclear Program VOA 20 Jan 2012 -- The top U.S. military official held closed talks with Israeli leaders over how to respond to Iran's controversial nuclear program.
• All options on table if IR Iran under serious threat: Khazaei IRNA 20 Jan 2012 -- All options will be on the table if Tehran becomes under serious threat, Iran's Ambassador to the UN Mohammad Khazaei said here on Thursday.
• Supreme Leader: Young elite martyrs are source of honor for Iran IRNA 20 Jan 2012 -- Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei says young elite martyrs are source of honor for the country as their martyrdom in the path of God would pave the ground for progress of Islam.
• Iran pursues path of dialogue with P 5+1: Diplomat IRNA 20 Jan 2012 -- Deputy for the foreign policy and international affairs of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Baqeri said that it goes without saying that pursuing dialogue with the 5+1 Group will provide a win-win situation for both sides.
• Sarkozy Warns Attack On Iran Could Unleash 'Chaos' RFE/RL 20 Jan 2012 -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy has warned that a military strike on Iran would "trigger war and chaos in the Middle East."
• West Unlikely to Freeze Iranian Oil Export – Ambassador RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2012 -- The European countries that will negotiate on Monday on a planned embargo of Iranian oil exports are unlikely to impose it, Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Seyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi said on Friday.
• France: Time Running Out for Iran RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2012 -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday urged 'more decisive' sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program but warned that time was running out to avoid military intervention.
• DPR Korea: UN expert urges new leaders to improve human rights UN News Centre 20 Jan 2012 -- An independent UN expert urged the new leadership in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to address pressing human rights concerns.
• Readout of the President’s call with Egyptian Field Marshal Tantawi The White House 20 Jan 2012
• Burma's President Says No Turning Back on Reforms VOA 20 Jan 2012 -- Burma's president says there is no turning back on democratic reforms, and is urging the West to lift sanctions on his country.
• U.S. Denies Link to Mars Mission Failure RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2012 -- A spokesperson at the Department of State denied information that the crash of the Phobos-Grunt probe to the Martian moon Phobos could have been caused by a powerful electromagnetic emission from a U.S. radar.
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Death of Cuban Activist Wilmar Villar The White House 20 Jan 2012
• Controversy Surrounds Inquest Into Former Zimbabwe Army Chief's Death VOA 20 Jan 2012 -- The inquest into the 2011 mysterious fire death of Solomon Mujuru, Zimbabwe’s former army chief and liberation war hero, is hearing testimony from some 40 witnesses.
• GUINEA-BISSAU: Possibilities and pitfalls following president's death IRIN 20 Jan 2012 -- The death of Guinea-Bissau President Malam Bacai Sanha on 9 January from health complications could either perpetuate the instability that has long plagued the country, or provide an opportunity for political parties to negotiate a smooth, constitutional transfer of power which could in turn help shore up the country's development, say analysts and diplomats.
• Hungary Bows to EU Demands on Disputed Laws VOA 20 Jan 2012 -- Hungary is bowing to European Union demands that it change several of its laws that called into question the independence of its central bank, the judiciary and media.