Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Reduction of Afghan forces can lead to catastrophe - Defense Minister RIA Novosti 18 Feb 2012 -- Reducing the number of Afghan security forces, army and police, by more than one-third after 2014 could lead Afghanistan to a catastrophe.

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S., S. Korea to Stage Military Exercises KCNA 18 Feb 2012 -- The U.S. and south Korean naval forces have planned to stage joint military exercises in waters of the West Sea of Korea off Kunsan, North Jolla Province.
• General Explains Human Factor in Failed Bulava Launches RIA Novosti 18 Feb 2012 -- Unsuccessful launches of Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile happened due to human factor.
• Russia Lays Down New Corvette for Pacific Fleet RIA Novosti 18 Feb 2012 -- The Amur Shipyard in Russia’s Far East has started the construction of a new Steregushchy class corvette for the Russian Pacific Fleet.
• Iran Deploys Warships To The Mediterranean RFE/RL 18 Feb 2012 -- Iran's navy says its warships have entered the Mediterranean after crossing the Suez Canal to show Tehran's "might" to regional states.
• Iranian Warships Enter Mediterranean VOA 18 Feb 2012 -- Iranian warships have passed through Egypt's Suez Canal and entered the Mediterranean Sea, in a move likely to be watched closely by Israel.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Syrian Troops Fire on Protesters in Damascus VOA 18 Feb 2012 -- China's Deputy FM Zhai met with Syrian President President al-Assad, as the latest government offensive entered a second week.
• China Urges All Sides in Syria to End Violence VOA 18 Feb 2012 -- China's Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun has called on all sides in Syria to end the violence and allow elections to proceed peacefully.
• China Says It Backs Assad's Referendum Plan RFE/RL 18 Feb 2012 -- China says it backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's plans for a referendum to end the violence in his country.
• Activists Urge Stronger US Policy Toward Two Sudans VOA 18 Feb 2012 -- While negotiations stall between the two Sudans on many issues that threaten their coexistence, activists and analysts are urging a stronger U.S. policy.
• UN relief chief voices alarm at humanitarian situation in Sudanese states UN News Centre 18 Feb 2012 -- The United Nations relief chief has expressed deep concern at the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Sudan's states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.
• Somalia Leaders Sign Agreements on Government Formation VOA 18 Feb 2012 -- Somalian leaders have concluded a conference in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland with an agreement on the formation of a new elected government.

News Reports

• Iran Envoy Blames Israel for Bangkok Bombings RIA Novosti 18 Feb 2012 -- Iranian Ambassador to Thailand Majid Bizmark claimed that the bombings in Bangkok on February 14 were organized by Israel.
• British Minister Says Iran Nuclear Program Could Start Arms Race RFE/RL 18 Feb 2012 -- Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague says that Iran is clearly attempting to develop nuclear-weapons capability.
• Defense ministry to help in decoding downed US drone IRNA 18 Feb 2012 -- Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said that his ministry is ready to accept an offer to decode the downed US spy drone.
• Tehran is Ready to Resume Diplomatic Relations with Egypt RIA Novosti 18 Feb 2012 -- Tehran is ready to resume diplomatic relations with Egypt within a day, the Egyptian media said quoting Head of Iran's Interests Office in Egypt Mojtaba Aman.
• Egypt Sets Date for Trial of US Democracy Activists VOA 18 Feb 2012 -- Egyptian state media has announced that the judiciary will go ahead with the trial of 43 democracy advocates, including 19 Americans.
• UN welcomes start of relocation of Iranian exiles to new camp in Iraq UN News Centre 18 Feb 2012 -- The United Nations has welcomed safe relocation of about 400 residents of the Iraqi settlement formerly known as Camp Ashraf.
• Iraq Moves First Batch Of Iranian Dissidents From Camp RFE/RL 18 Feb 2012 -- Iraq has evacuated an initial batch of 400 Iranian dissidents from Camp Ashraf to a transit camp near Baghdad's airport.
• Latvians Reject Russian As Second Language RFE/RL 18 Feb 2012 -- Near-complete official results of a Latvian referendum showed that 75 percent of voters had rejected the plan to change the constitution and introduce Russian as an official second language in the country.
• Latvia Holds Referendum On Russian Language RFE/RL 18 Feb 2012 -- Latvians have flocked to the polls to vote in a referendum on whether to make Russian the second official language of the country.
• Latvians Vote to Make Russian an Official Language VOA 18 Feb 2012 -- Citizens in the European nation of Latvia are voting in a referendum Saturday to decide whether to make Russian the country’s official second language.
• Latvia to Hold Referendum on Russian as Second Language RIA Novosti 18 Feb 2012 -- Latvia will hold a national referendum on Saturday on whether to accept Russian as the country’s second official language.