Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 01 Feb 2012 [PDF]
• Media Availability with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta DoD 01 Feb 2012
• Combined Force Captures Taliban Leader AFPS 01 Feb 2012 -- An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader today in the Kandahar district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.
• Pakistan: 'No Hidden Agenda' in Afghanistan VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- Pakistan says it has no “hidden agenda” in Afghanistan and has rejected as “frivolous” allegations that it is supporting Afghan Taliban insurgents in their deadly attacks on NATO forces.
• Pakistan Dismisses Allegations of Afghan Taliban Support VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- Pakistan has dismissed a leaked NATO report that accuses it of secretly assisting the Taliban.
• Leaked NATO Report Shows Pakistan Support For Taliban RFE/RL 01 Feb 2012 -- A classified NATO military report obtained in Afghanistan by news organizations says Pakistan's secret services are helping Taliban in directing attacks against foreign troops in Afghanistan.
• Panetta Remarks Illuminate US Thinking on Afghanistan Timeline VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta that U.S. military forces in Afghanistan could begin shifting from combat to a training and advisory role as early as mid-2013 are a significant development.
• Panetta: Afghanistan Tops NATO Conference Topics AFPS 01 Feb 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said he will stress during this week’s NATO defense ministers conference that ongoing coalition commitment is essential to success in Afghanistan.
• Panetta: US, NATO Seek to End Afghan Combat Mission in 2013 VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the US and NATO will seek to end combat operations in Afghanistan in the second half of next year.
• Special Envoy Says US Determined to Encourage Afghan Dialogue VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- The U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Marc Grossman, says the United States is using "all of its contacts in the region" in order to get Afghans talking to Afghans.
• 'Insider Attacks' Against Coalition Forces by Afghan Security Guards Probed in US Congress VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- A congressional panel held a hearing on the increasing number of "insider attacks" by Afghan forces and Afghan private security guards on U.S. and NATO troops they are supposed to protect.
• Surge of Afghan Insider Attacks Alarms US, NATO VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- A growing number of attacks by Afghan troops on U.S. and NATO forces is raising questions as Afghanistan prepares to take more responsibility for security.
• Man In Afghan Army Uniform Kills NATO Soldier RFE/RL 01 Feb 2012 -- The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan says a man wearing an Afghan army uniform has shot and killed a NATO soldier in the south of the country.
• NATO Copes With Early French Afghan Withdrawal VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels this week to discuss the way forward in Afghanistan, among other issues.
• UN-backed survey shows improving public perception of Afghan police UN News Centre 01 Feb 2012 -- Public perception of the police in Afghanistan has improved over the past three years with the proportion of Afghans expressing personal respect for the country’s law enforcement rising to 81 per cent.
• U.S. Temporarily Lifts Ban On Military Assistance To Uzbekistan RFE/RL 01 Feb 2012 -- The US has temporarily waived a ban on providing military assistance to Uzbekistan because of the country's crucial role in transiting supplies to forces in Afghanistan.
• RAF snipers protect Afghan family from insurgent attack UK MOD 01 Feb 2012 -- Snipers from the RAF Regiment used their skills and training to protect an Afghan family caught up in an attack by insurgents in Helmand province.
• US drone kills 12 in NW Pakistan IRNA 01 Feb 2012 -- An American spy aircraft fired missiles into a Pakistani tribal region killing 12 people.
• Fighter jets strike kill 20 militants in NW Pakistan IRNA 01 Feb 2012 -- At least 20 militants were killed when fighter jets pounded militant hideouts in Orakzai tribal region.
• Pakistani forces kill 18 militants IRNA 01 Feb 2012 -- Pakistani forces killed 18 militants in Kurram tribal region.
• Insurgents kill 14 Pakistani soldiers in Balochistan IRNA 01 Feb 2012 -- Insurgents have killed 14 paramilitary soldiers in Pakistani’s southwestern Balochistan province in an attack on their check post.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Secretary Clinton Remarks With Singaporean Foreign Minister and Minister for Law K. Shanmugam US Dept. of State 01 Feb 2012
• Chairman Notes Transition Challenges in Years Ahead AFPS 01 Feb 2012 -- As the U.S. military faces a constrained budget environment in the years ahead, it will build on experience gained in expansions and contractions throughout its history.
• Official Cites Innovation as Hallmark of Future Force AFPS 01 Feb 2012 -- Budget constraints are helping to produce a smaller, more agile and technologically enabled joint force by 2020.
• Air Force leaders publish new strategy document AFNS 01 Feb 2012 -- Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz released the 'Air Force Priorities for a New Strategy with Constrained Budgets' white paper Feb 1.
• KCNA on US Military Police KCNA 01 Feb 2012 -- The U.S. is pushing ahead with its plan for starting a new war on the Korean Peninsula.
• Minju Joson on U.S.-S. Korean Joint Military Maneuvers KCNA 01 Feb 2012 -- The south Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command announced that it would stage Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military maneuvers from February 27 to the end of April.
• RLT-2 and Italian Navy partner during Exercise Bold Alligator 2012 USMC News 01 Feb 2012 -- Marines, Sailors and coalition partners from around the world are gathering aboard ships off the Virginia and North Carolina coasts in execution of Exercise Bold Alligator 2012.
• U.S., Canada Expand Joint Planning, Operational Options AFPS 01 Feb 2012 -- Agreements signed last week in the Canadian capital of Ottawa set up a roadmap for U.S. and Canadian officials to work together in the event of a natural disaster or attack.
• Jacksonville District's NOVA Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program soars Army News 01 Feb 2012 -- The NOVA Unmanned Aerial Vehicle offers a low-cost method of obtaining pictures from the air.
• Army teams with Coast Guard on aircraft towing system Army News 01 Feb 2012 -- The U.S. Army teamed with the U.S. Coast Guard on the Standard Aircraft Towing System Joint Venture during a Roll-Off Ceremony at the NMC-Wollard facility today in Eau Claire, Wis.
• Watercraft Soldiers prep for disaster-relief exercise in Japan Army News 01 Feb 2012 -- Soldiers performed maintenance checks and repairs on a U.S. Army watercraft here today to ensure the vessel will be ready for use in a Japanese government-led exercise.
• HSV-SPS NCIS Continue Subject Matter Expert Exchange in Peru NNS 01 Feb 2012 -- A Naval Criminal Investigative Service team embarked on High Speed Vessel Swift as HSV-Southern Partnership Station 2012 began the second iteration of its subject matter expert exchange in Callao, Peru, Jan. 30.
• Navy Surgeon General Highlights Warfighter Support Role During Military Health System Conference NNS 01 Feb 2012 -- The top medical officer for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps highlighted the key role his medical forces play in support of the operating forces.
• NWS Seal Beach Det. Norco Celebrates New Main Gate Sign, Name Change NNS 01 Feb 2012 -- Navy and Norco community leaders celebrated the unveiling of the new main gate sign at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Detachment Norco Jan. 30.
• Russian Navy to Receive Mistral Warship in 3 Years RIA Novosti 01 Feb 2012 -- The first Mistral class amphibious assault ship will be put in service with the Russian Navy in 36 months, Russian Navy Commander Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky said.
• Russia to Scrap 3 Mln Tons of Munitions by 2014 RIA Novosti 01 Feb 2012 -- The Russian Defense Ministry is planning to dispose of three million tons of ammunition by the end of 2013 because its service life expired.
• Russia Lays Down New Corvette RIA Novosti 01 Feb 2012 -- A first Gremyashchy class corvette was laid down at Russia’s Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg.
• MOD sets out plans to ensure investment in state-of-the-art defence equipment UK MOD 01 Feb 2012 -- The Government has set out its plans to prioritise investment in Science and Technology, in order to ensure the UK's Armed Forces continue to have state-of-the-art technology, equipment and support.
• India’s biggest ever military contract bagged by French company IRNA 01 Feb 2012 -- French firm Dassault Rafale bagged India's biggest-ever military contract for supplying 126 combat aircraft for the Air Force.
• International naval programme MILAN begins IRNA 01 Feb 2012 -- MILAN 2012, the biennial congregation of naval forces of 13 countries, began at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar islands today.
• India, Sri Lanka hold defence cooperation dialogue IRNA 01 Feb 2012 -- Aiming to enhance bilateral defence cooperation and to discuss the regional security situation, India and Sri Lanka have held the inaugural round of Annual Defence Dialogue.
• Iran’s unveiling of laser-guided shells gets wide coverage IRNA 01 Feb 2012 -- Pakistani media have given wide coverage to Iran’s manufacturing of laser-guided artillery shells.
• Iran launches defense projects ISNA 01 Feb 2012 -- Iran launched two major defense projects on the occasion of the Ten-Day Dawn celebrations (February 1-11) marking the anniversary of the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, 2/1/12 The White House 01 Feb 2012
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, February 1, 2012 US Dept. of State 01 Feb 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 01, 2012
• Lockheed Martin-Built Mobile User Objective System Satellite Encapsulated In Launch Vehicle Payload Fairing Lockheed Martin 01 Feb 2012 -- The first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, was encapsulated into its payload fairing January 29 in preparation for a February 16 liftoff aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
• Boeing Begins Production of F/A-18E/F Distributed Targeting System Boeing 01 Feb 2012 -- Boeing today announced that it has started production of the new Distributed Targeting System (DTS) for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter.
• General Dynamics and BAE Systems Team to Develop Affordable ?Smart’ 81mm Mortar Round General Dynamics 01 Feb 2012 -- General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems and BAE Systems have teamed to develop, demonstrate and produce the 81mm Roll Controlled Guided Mortar (RCGM), an affordable 81mm precision mortar round.

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 1 February 2012 United Nations 01 Feb 2012
• Clinton: UN Must Be On 'Right Side of History' On Syria VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: UNSC faces a historic choice between supporting the Syrian people or the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
• Diplomats: Progress on Syria Resolution at UN VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- U.N. Security Council diplomats sounded cautiously optimistic for the first time that they might reach agreement on a resolution supporting an Arab League plan to end the violence in Syria.
• Syrian Troops Intensify Crackdown, As Russia Stands By Assad RFE/RL 01 Feb 2012 -- Syrian rights activists say at least eight civilians and 15 soldiers have been killed by fighting in the central Syrian city of Homs.
• Tension Grows In UN Over Syrian Unrest RFE/RL 01 Feb 2012 -- The UN Security Council met on January 31 to listen to the Arab League report on the situation in Syria.
• UN Calls for End to Syria Violence VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- The United Nations Secretary-General has called for immediate action to end the bloodshed in Syria.
• Russia Believes Syria Consensus in UN Possible - Envoy RIA Novosti 01 Feb 2012 -- The UN Security Council should reach consensus on a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria, Russia’s envoy to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, said.
• Clinton Rules Out Libyan Scenario in Syria RIA Novosti 01 Feb 2012 -- U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton dismissed Russia’s fears that a “Libyan scenario” could repeat in Syria.
• Russia’s UN Envoy Urges Start of Inter-Syrian Dialogue RIA Novosti 01 Feb 2012 -- Russia’s envoy to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, on Tuesday urged the parties to the Syrian conflict to start dialogue.
• Russia to Veto Syria Arms Embargo - Envoy RIA Novosti 01 Feb 2012 -- Russia will not support any arms embargo on Syria, Russia’s envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin said.
• Syrian Refugees Struggle in Squalid Conditions on Lebanese Border VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- A report from the United Nations says there has been a spike in the number of Syrian refugees registering in Lebanon.
• In Middle East, Ban urges stepped-up efforts to resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflict UN News Centre 01 Feb 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban called on Israelis and Palestinians to take steps that will build trust and ensure an environment conducive to sustained negotiations.
• ISRAEL-OPT: Key West Bank settlement outpost slated for evacuation IRIN 01 Feb 2012 -- Israel’s High Court of Justice has ordered Israeli settlers in the Migron settlement outpost in the West Bank to leave by 31 March.
• Nigeria Arrests Alleged Boko Haram Spokesman VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- Nigerian secret police have arrested an alleged spokesman for Boko Haram, a militant group that has claimed responsibility for attacks that have killed hundreds of people over the past two years.
• South Sudan: UN relief chief stresses vast scale of humanitarian needs UN News Centre 01 Feb 2012 -- The UN relief chief underlined the enormity of the humanitarian challenges facing South Sudan.
• Rival Libyan Militias Battle In Tripoli RFE/RL 01 Feb 2012 -- Reports from Libya say a gun battle between rival militia groups erupted in central Tripoli on February 1.
• Côte d’Ivoire: UN disarmament operation continues near Abidjan UN News Centre 01 Feb 2012 -- A United Nations voluntary disarmament operation began in a suburb north of the Ivorian city of Abidjan.
• Jackson-Vanik Law 'Should Be Repealed' For Moldova RFE/RL 01 Feb 2012 -- Moldova should be exempted from the Jackson-Vanik amendment to allow for normal trade relations with the United States.
• EU's New Kosovo Envoy Says Serb-Albanian Divide Remains Biggest Challenge RFE/RL 01 Feb 2012 -- The European Union's new special representative to Kosovo says integrating ethnic Serbs in the territory's north will be the biggest challenge as he seeks to bring Kosovo closer to the EU.

News Reports

• U.S. Officials: Diplomacy May Still Work In Iran RFE/RL 01 Feb 2012 -- U.S. intelligence officials have suggested that Iran may still be open to negotiations to resolve the international dispute over nuclear program.
• UN atomic agency to hold further discussions with Iran over nuclear programme UN News Centre 01 Feb 2012 -- Experts from the United Nations atomic energy watchdog have wrapped up their visit to Iran.
• UN Nuclear Experts Plan Another Visit to Tehran VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- The United Nation's nuclear agency's chief inspector says he had a "good" visit to Iran and plans to make another trip in the "very near future" to discuss Iran's controversial nuclear program.
• Salehi: Nuclear talks with group 5+1 to be held in near future IRNA 01 Feb 2012 -- Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday that nuclear talks with Group 5+1 will be held in near future.
• Iran, IAEA agree to continue talks ISNA 01 Feb 2012 -- Iran and IAEA inspectors agreed to continue talks, after three-day dialogue held in Tehran.
• IAEA Inspector Praises 'Good' Iran Trip, Says Work Remains RFE/RL 01 Feb 2012 -- The United Nations nuclear watchdog agency has cautiously praised the outcome of a three-day trip to Iran by its inspectors.
• US Envoys Seek Progress on North Korea VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- Senior U.S. diplomats have been consulting with South Korea and Russia regarding North Korea's nuclear program.
• KCNA on the Cheonan KCNA 01 Feb 2012 -- The true story about the sinking of the south Korean navy vessel "Cheonan" carried in some newspapers.
• Deadly Anthrax Sent to Office of Pakistani PM VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- A Pakistani official says a package containing deadly anthrax was mailed last year to the office of Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
• Package With Anthrax Sent To Pakistani Prime Minister's Office RFE/RL 01 Feb 2012 -- Authorities in Pakistan said that a package containing white anthrax powder was sent to the office of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani.
• Chinese Say 'Trained Separatists' Responsible for Tibetan Violence VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- Chinese officials say trained Tibetan separatists who attacked police are responsible for instigating deadly violence last week.
• Rights Group Demands Inquiry into Deadly Egypt Soccer Violence VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- U.S.-based Human Rights Watch is demanding an impartial and a comprehensive investigation into stadium disaster that left at least 73 people dead and hundreds injured.
• Iraqi Premier: Corruption 'As Dangerous' As Terrorism RFE/RL 01 Feb 2012 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is quoted as saying corruption is "as dangerous a threat" to his country's national stability as terrorism.
• WikiLeaks' Assange In U.K. Court Over Extradition To Sweden RFE/RL 01 Feb 2012 -- Britain’s Supreme Court has opened a two-day hearing on a final appeal by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange against his extradition to Sweden.
• Assange’s Extradition Battle Enters Final Stage RIA Novosti 01 Feb 2012 -- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s legal battle against his extradition to Sweden is entering its final stage.
• Ivorian Opposition Welcomes Court Election Ruling VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- Ivory Coast’s high court has overturned the election of 11 members of parliament from President Alassane Ouattara’s party following last December’s parliamentary election.
• UN Chief Calls for Calm in Senegal VOA 01 Feb 2012 -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is appealing for calm in Senegal, where riot police clashed with protesters demanding President Abdoulaye Wade not run for a third term.
• Kazakhstan: Jailed Human Rights Defender Amnestied RFE/RL 01 Feb 2012 -- The prominent Kazakh human rights activist Yevgeny Zhovtis has been granted amnesty, after serving more than a half of his four-year jail sentence for manslaughter.