Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 08 Feb 2012 [PDF]
• Military Has Crushed al-Qaida Since 9/11, Official Says AFPS 08 Feb 2012 -- The United States hasn’t seen a large-scale terrorist attack since 9/11 because U.S. forces have crushed al-Qaida over the last decade, a senior Defense Department official said.
• DOD News Briefing with Lt. Gen. Scaparrotti from the Pentagon DoD 08 Feb 2012
• Combined Force Captures Taliban Leaders AFPS 08 Feb 2012 -- An Afghan and coalition security force captured two Taliban leaders during an operation in the Lashkar Gah district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province.
• Joint Command Boss Says ISAF Has Momentum to Succeed AFPS 08 Feb 2012 -- Afghan national security forces and the International Security Assistance Force have the right plan, the momentum and the will to succeed in the country, the commander of ISAF Joint Command said.
• US Defends Progress in Afghanistan VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- One of the top U.S. commanders in Afghanistan is defending the progress coalition troops are making in Afghanistan, after a U.S. Lieutenant Colonel publicly countered U.S. assertions the allied campaign is succeeding against Taliban insurgents.
• Taliban Killing of Afghans Rose in 2011, General Says AFPS 08 Feb 2012 -- The Taliban are responsible for the rising civilian death toll in Afghanistan, a top military commander in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said.
• Pakistan, NATO Hold Border Talks Following Deadly Attack VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- Pakistani military and NATO officials are holding talks on border security after last November's cross-border coalition attack that killed 24 Pakistani troops.
• Pakistan Says Army Chiefs Meeting With NATO, Afghan Commanders RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- Officials say Pakistan's military leadership is holding talks with NATO and Afghan commanders to improve coordination along the Afghan-Pakistani border.
• Afghanistan's Cultural Riches Threatened By Mineral Wealth RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- Flanked by waves of mountains and gray desert, the road leading from the Afghan capital to the ancient ruins of Mes Aynak ends abruptly at the foot of a dusty hilltop.
• Drone Strike Kills 10 In Pakistan Tribal Area RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- A suspected U.S. drone has fired missiles into Pakistan's tribal area near the Afghan border.
• US drone kills 6 in NW Pakistan IRNA 08 Feb 2012 -- A US drone fired missiles into a house, killing six people in Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal region.
• Police In Peshawar Raid Unregistered Madrasahs RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- Reports from Pakistan say police in Peshawar have detained more than 100 in raids on unregistered madrasahs.
• Multinational Operation Targets Transnational Organized Crime AFPS 08 Feb 2012 -- The United States is joining with European and Western Hemisphere partners in a multinational effort targeting illicit trafficking along the Central American isthmus.
• U.S. 4th Fleet Supports Multinational Operations to Combat Organized Crime NNS 08 Feb 2012 -- U.S. 4th Fleet is supporting Joint Interagency Task Force-South's Operation Martillo with deployed maritime and aviation assets.

Defense Policy / Programs

• United States - Japan Joint Statement on Defense Posture US Dept. of State 08 Feb 2012
• U.S., Japan Release Joint Defense Posture Statement AFPS 08 Feb 2012 -- The United States and Japan have agreed to “delink” two aspects of the planned relocation of U.S. forces in Japan.
• Russia, U.S. Sign Telemetric Data Exchange Agreement RIA Novosti 08 Feb 2012 -- Russia and the United States have signed agreements on the exchange of telemetric information on ICBM and SLBM launches.
• Energy Sustainment Agreement Signed DoD 08 Feb 2012
• Official Cites Importance of Sustaining Special Ops Forces AFPS 08 Feb 2012 -- The United States must be prepared to sustain its special operations forces during fiscally constraining times, a senior Pentagon official said.
• Contracting Remains Growth Area for Army AFPS 08 Feb 2012 -- While the U.S. military will shrink in the coming years, the contracting career field will buck the trend and grow, officials at the U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center said.
• 31st MEU arrives in Kingdom of Thailand for 31st Cobra Gold USMC News 08 Feb 2012 -- Elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in the Kingdom of Thailand to participate in the 31st iteration of Exercise Cobra Gold, Feb. 8.
• U.S., Korean, Singaporean militaries welcomed by Thais to Cobra Gold USMC News 08 Feb 2012 -- Royal Thai Navy and Marine Corps officials welcomed visiting military forces, including members of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
• KCNA on US-Japan Exercises KCNA 08 Feb 2012 -- The 8th U.S. Army in south Korea took part in a recent U.S.-Japan joint military maneuver staged in Japan.
• Blue Ridge Departs Tomakomai NNS 08 Feb 2012 -- Sailors and Marines from 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge, embarked 7th Fleet staff and Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Pacific completed a port visit to Tomakomai, Japan, Feb. 8.
• Pandemic Influenza Table Top Exercise Kicks Off in Elmina, Ghana AFRICOM 08 Feb 2012 -- Civilian and military representatives from 5 African nations and the US came together for a weeklong exercise to assess the current capability of the Ghanaian government to respond to a potential pandemic outbreak of influenza.
• DOD Supports Parades When All Combat Troops Return AFPS 08 Feb 2012 -- Pentagon officials say they’re all for a “New York-style tickertape parade” honoring combat troops who served in Iraq.
• Navy Training Aircraft Find New Life at Local College NNS 08 Feb 2012 -- Navy officials donated two T-34 training aircraft that have been in the Navy for more than 60 years combined to Del Mar College Feb. 6.
• Defense Ministry Drops Contracts for ‘Inferior’ Arms RIA Novosti 08 Feb 2012 -- Substandard and uncertified models of arms and military equipment have been excluded from the 2012 state defense order.
• Army Introduces Ammo Destroyer RIA Novosti 08 Feb 2012 -- The Russian military is introducing new technology for destroying obsolete ammunition, with the straightforwardly-named “Destroyer” set to replace the current dangerous practice of just blowing up old bombs and rockets.
• Russian Helicopters Denies China Mi-2 Project RIA Novosti 08 Feb 2012 -- Russian Helicopters has denied press reports that it intends to take part in a joint venture to produce Mi-2A light helicopters in China.
• Russian Soldiers Hospitalized, One Dead As Pneumonia Strikes Military Unit RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- Officials say 39 Russian soldiers in one unit have been hospitalized and one has died from pneumonia in the Krasnoyarsk Krai region in Siberia.
• MOD to buy extra C-17 aircraft UK MOD 08 Feb 2012 -- Prime Minister David Cameron has today announced that the MOD is to order an additional C-17 Globemaster, taking the number of aircraft in the RAF's fleet to eight.
• S. Korean Army Wages Military Drill KCNA 08 Feb 2012 -- The 39th division of south Korean military began military exercises in Changwon, South Kyongsang Province.
• India successfully test flies indigenously developed ‘Lakshya-1’ IRNA 08 Feb 2012 -- India's indigenously developed micro-light pilot-less target aircraft 'Lakshya-1' was successfully test flown.
• Joint naval exercises “TROPEX 2012” begin in India IRNA 08 Feb 2012 -- The annual joint naval fleet exercises codenamed “TROPEX 2012” Tuesday began in the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh state.
• Two new Submarines join navy fleet IRNA 08 Feb 2012 -- Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said that the two new submarines have been added to the submarine fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Navy.
• Iran welcomes Saudi cooperation proposal with Iranian Navy fleet IRNA 08 Feb 2012 -- FM Spokesperson Mehmanparast welcomed Saudi Arabia's cooperation proposal with Iranian Navy's fleet of warships.
• Ukrainian President Sacks Defense Minister, Appoints New One RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has sacked Defense Minister Mykhailo Yezhel, replacing him with Dmytro Salamatin.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 2/8/12 The White House 08 Feb 2012
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, February 8, 2012 US Dept. of State 08 Feb 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 08, 2012
• General Dynamics Awarded Contract to Support Naval Medical Logistics Command Investigational Research General Dynamics 08 Feb 2012 -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics, was awarded a contract to support Naval Medical Logistics Command and U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery investigational research programs and centers.
• Hamilton Sundstrand completes first delivery of Electronic Propeller Control System Equipped Aircraft to U.S. Navy Reserve Hamilton Sundstrand 08 Feb 2012 -- Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation recently completed first delivery of its Electronic Propeller Control System (EPCS) upgraded aircraft to the U.S. Navy Reserve.
• Israel Aerospace Industries Awarded $150 Million Contract Israel Aerospace Industries 08 Feb 2012 -- Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) ELTA Systems will provide fire control radars (FCR) for installation onboard a foreign customer's fighter aircraft.
• Northrop Grumman Awarded Contract to Perform Repairs for U.S. Navy's SH-60 and EA-6B Aircraft Northrop Grumman 08 Feb 2012 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) to repair avionics equipment on the SH-60 Seahawk helicopter and the EA-6B Prowler jet.
• Northrop Grumman Wins $103 Million Army National Guard Training Support Task Order Northrop Grumman 08 Feb 2012 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a three-year, $103 million contract to support the Mission Command Training Support Program (MCTSP).

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 8 February 2012 United Nations 08 Feb 2012
• Activists Say Syrian Troops Kill 50 in Homs VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- Syrian rights activists say government forces have killed at least 50 people in an ongoing assault on the central city of Homs.
• Syria: UN and Arab League consider joint observer mission to try to stop killings UN News Centre 08 Feb 2012 -- The United Nations and the League of Arab States are considering sending a joint observer mission to Syria to try to end the crisis.
• UN Chief: Arab League Mission to Return to Syria VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- The U.N. Secretary-General said that the Arab League has asked for U.N. help in sending its observer mission back to Syria.
• Turkey Wants International Conference on Syria VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- Turkey is calling for renewed international efforts to end bloodshed in neighboring Syria, where a government assault on the city of Homs.
• Turkey Calls For International Syria Conference To Stop Violence RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says his country is ready to host an international conference on the Syria crisis.
• Moscow, Turkey to Pool Efforts on Syria Crisis RIA Novosti 08 Feb 2012 -- Russian President Medvedev and Turkish PM Erdogan agreed to coordinate their efforts in search for a solution to the Syria crisis.
• Syrian Troops Pound Homs as Russia Warns Against Intervention VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- Syrian troops are continuing their assault on the protest hub of Homs, reportedly killing dozens of civilians.
• Syrian Activists Say Troops Continue Deadly Homs Assault VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- Syrian activists say government troops have killed scores of civilians in Homs, continuing a months-long siege of the city.
• Medvedev to Sarkozy on Syria: Avoid Hasty Unilateral Steps RIA Novosti 08 Feb 2012 -- Russian President Medvedev told French President Sarkozy that the international community's position on Syria should be objective and balanced.
• Britain, France Skeptical Of Russia's Syria Initiative RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- France and Britain have expressed doubts about Russian efforts to mediate in the Syrian crisis.
• U.S. Skeptical About al-Assad’s Reconciliation Initiatives RIA Novosti 08 Feb 2012 -- The United States fears that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s national reconciliation initiatives will lead to nothing.
• UN rights chief reminds world leaders of their ‘responsibility to protect’ Syrian people UN News Centre 08 Feb 2012 -- The UN human rights chief urged the international community to protect civilians in Syria.
• UN Rights Chief Condemns 'Massacre' By Syrian Government RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- The United Nations' human rights chief, Navi Pillay, has called for urgent international action to protect civilians in Syria from a "massacre" as government troops continue to shell residential neighborhoods in the city of Homs.
• Reports: Syrian Troops Storm Homs Neighborhoods After Overnight Shelling RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- Syrian government forces reportedly were intensifying an offensive against residential neighborhoods in Homs on February 8.
• Lavrov: Give Syrian Dialogue a Chance RIA Novosti 08 Feb 2012 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on the Arab world, the United States and Europe to refrain from passing judgment on the national dialogue in Syria before it has even begun.
• Putin Condemns Syria Violence but Warns against Interference RIA Novosti 08 Feb 2012 -- Russia condemns the ongoing violence in Syria but is against outside interference, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.
• Russia Maps Rebel Forces for Assad RIA Novosti 08 Feb 2012 -- Russia used its satellites to help the Syrian government fight growing insurgency in the country.
• Turkey will do its best for release of Iranians in Syria: Davutoglu ISNA 08 Feb 2012 -- Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the country would do its best to secure release of other Iranians kidnapped in Syria.
• Salehi: Abducted Iranians will be delivered to Iran embassy ISNA 08 Feb 2012 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said the 11 Iranian nationals abducted in Syria would be delivered to Iranian embassy in Turkey.
• Iraq Executes Al-Qaeda Members RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- Iraq's Justice Ministry says 14 Iraqis, most of them members of Al-Qaeda, have been executed for terrorism and criminal offenses.
• Al-Shabab Claims Responsibility for Mogadishu Suicide Bombing VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- Somali militant group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for a suicide car bomb explosion Wednesday outside a hotel in the capital, Mogadishu.
• SUDAN-SOUTH SUDAN: Pressgangs "still operating in Khartoum" IRIN 08 Feb 2012 -- Rebel groups fighting South Sudan’s government have bolstered their ranks through the forced recruitment of southerners living in Khartoum.
• South Sudan Businesses Fear Oil Shutdown Fallout VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- When South Sudan decided to shut down its oil production to protest against alleged injustices from the north, the country was also cutting off 98 percent of its revenue.
• Ban welcomes launch of Darfur mechanism aimed at helping to resolve conflict UN News Centre 08 Feb 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban welcomed the inauguration of the Darfur Regional Authority, a body intended to stimulate development and facilitate peace in the war-torn western region of Sudan.
• Press Conference by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, 8 February 2012 United Nations 08 Feb 2012
• UN official stresses need to boost peacekeeping operations in DR Congo UN News Centre 08 Feb 2012 -- The top UN peacekeeping official stressed the need to boost the mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• ECOWAS Team to Investigate Fighting in Mali VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- An official of the Economic Community of West African States said a fact-finding mission is scheduled to arrive in Mali’s capital, Bamako, to ascertain the extent of the security and humanitarian problems caused by fighting.
• Ban voices concern over outbreak of fighting in northern Mali UN News Centre 08 Feb 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban voiced deep concern over the outbreak of fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebel groups in northern Mali.
• Existing cross-strait accords part of 'peace pact': President CNA 08 Feb 2012 -- All 16 agreements signed between Taiwan and China since 2008 can be seen as part of a broadly defined cross-strait peace agreement.
• Britain Dismisses Argentinian UN Threat Over Falklands RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- Britain has dismissed Argentina's new threat to complain to the United Nations over the disputed Falkland Islands.
• Serbia-Kosovo dialogue eases tensions, but challenges remain – UN official UN News Centre 08 Feb 2012 -- The resumption of dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo has led to the easing of tensions on the ground.
• KCNA on Japan's and the Tok Islets KCNA 08 Feb 2012 -- The Japanese authorities made reckless remarks again in a bid to grab Tok Islets.
• Separatist Republic Drained of Money RIA Novosti 08 Feb 2012 -- BUG: the mark does not exist in the description file
• Alleged Liberian War Criminal Faces US Deportation VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- The former chairman of Liberia’s disbanded Truth and Reconciliation Commission has welcomed a decision by a U.S. immigration judge to deport Liberian George Boley.

News Reports

• Iran 'Can Attack U.S. Forces Anywhere' RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- Iran's ambassador to Russia says Iran is capable of striking U.S. military forces around the world if attacked by the United States.
• Egypt PM: Aid Cutoff Threats Won't Deter NGO Case VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- Egypt's army-appointed prime minister says Cairo will not halt its investigation into foreign-funded pro-democracy groups despite what he called threats to cut off aid from the United States and other countries.
• Cairo Dismisses U.S. Aid Threat RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- Egypt says it will not be persuaded by the potential loss of U.S. aid to end an investigation into foreign-funded nongovernmental organizations.
• YEMEN: Players who could throw the upcoming elections off-track IRIN 08 Feb 2012 -- Yemen is preparing for presidential elections on 21 February and the sole candidate, Vice-President Abdu Rabo Mansour Hadi, kicked off his campaign.
• Pakistani PM Files Appeal in Contempt Case VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- Pakistani PM Gilani has filed an appeal against a Supreme Court summons calling for him to appear in court to face charges of contempt.
• Pakistani Prime Minister Appeals High Court Summons RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- Pakistani PM Gilani has appealed his summons by Pakistan's Supreme Court to face indictment on contempt-of-court charges.
• Biden, Xi Discuss Upcoming US Visit VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- The U.S. and Chinese vice presidents have conferred by telephone ahead of next week's visit to the White House by China's vice president Xi Jinping, who is expected to assume his country's presidency in 2013.
• Maldives Protesters Clash With Police After Leader Ousted VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- Supporters of the former president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, clashed with police Wednesday, a day after an alleged coup forced his resignation.
• New Maldives Prez assures rule of law will be upheld IRNA 08 Feb 2012 -- New Maldives President Dr Mohamed Waheed has assured that rule of law will be maintained in the country.
• Ethiopian PM Defends Anti-Terror Law, Condemns Critics VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- Ethiopia has launched a vigorous defense of an anti-terrorism law that has been used to imprison journalists and opposition politicians.
• Senegal's President Begins Bid for Controversial Third Term VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- Senegal's presidential election campaign is officially underway with 13 candidates seeking to prevent President Abdoulaye Wade from winning a controversial third term in the February 26 election.
• Haiti making progress on rule of law, but faces serious challenges – UN expert UN News Centre 08 Feb 2012 -- Haiti has made some progress in restoring the rule of law, the United Nations independent expert on the human rights situation in the Caribbean country said.
• Hungary's PM Condemns International Critics Amid Economic Uncertainty VOA 08 Feb 2012 -- A defiant Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is defending his financially troubled nation's new constitution and related laws, saying those criticizing it are motivated by greed and want to keep Hungary indebted.
• UN human rights experts express concern about trial of prominent Spanish judge UN News Centre 08 Feb 2012 -- A series of independent United Nations human rights experts voiced concern about the impact of the trial of a prominent Spanish judge on his independence.
• Last Known World War I Veteran Dies RFE/RL 08 Feb 2012 -- The last known surviving veteran of World War I has died at the age of 110.