Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 22 Feb 2012 [PDF]
• Coalition, Afghans Capture Taliban Leaders in Helmand AFPS 22 Feb 2012 -- Coalition and Afghan security forces captured three Taliban leaders and multiple other insurgents in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.
• Quran Incident Inquiry Underway, ISAF Official Says AFPS 22 Feb 2012 -- Coalition members are working with Afghan leaders to quickly and fully investigate the “grave mistake” that yesterday ended in partially burned Qurans at the Parwan detention facility near Bagram, Afghanistan.
• Carter Offers Apologies to Afghan Leaders AFPS 22 Feb 2012 -- Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter today joined other senior officials in condemning the improper disposal of religious materials, including Qurans, at Bagram Airfield.
• At Least Seven Dead In Afghan Protests As Karzai Calls For Calm RFE/RL 22 Feb 2012 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai has appealed to his countrymen for calm amid clashes between Afghan security forces and demonstrators.
• Karzai Appeals for Calm As Quran Protests Turn Deadly VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai is appealing for calm after several days of clashes between Afghan security forces and protesters left at least seven people dead across the country.
• Afghans Protest for Second Day Over Quran Burning VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- Hundreds of Afghans clashed with police and security forces for a second day of angry protests aimed at NATO troops who improperly disposed of copies of the Quran.
• DOD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Hook via Teleconference from Afghanistan DoD 22 Feb 2012
• DOD News Briefing with Brig. Gen. Jacobson via Teleconference from Afghanistan DoD 22 Feb 2012
• Afghan Insurgent Reintegration Effort Works, Official Says AFPS 22 Feb 2012 -- The Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Program, established and run by Afghans since 2010, resolves grievances that lead to fighting and delivers peace at a local level, a senior coalition officer said.
• Carter, Afghan Defense Minister Meet to Discuss Progress AFPS 22 Feb 2012 -- Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter met with Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak here today to discuss progress in the Afghan national security forces and other issues.
• Carter Reaffirms U.S. Commitment with Afghan Leadership AFPS 22 Feb 2012 -- Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter met with Afghan leadership and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to training and transitioning Afghan national security forces and a long-term U.S.-Afghan partnership.
• Afghan Soldiers run Patrol Base, secure local area USMC News 22 Feb 2012 -- Marines discovered a highly proficient and hospitable group of ANA soldiers who were able to function independently.
• Three Georgian Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan RFE/RL 22 Feb 2012 -- Georgia’s Defense Ministry has announced that three Georgian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan while serving alongside NATO-led forces.
• More Than Drones Needed to Fight Yemen's al-Qaida VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- Yemen's new transitional government is facing an emboldened al-Qaida presence, and the United States and others have pledged to help fight them.
• U.S., African Forces Mitigate Terror Group’s Impact AFPS 22 Feb 2012 -- U.S. special operations forces are helping four Central African nations reduce the size and lethality of the Lord’s Resistance Army, a group that has terrorized the region for 25 years.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army Releases January Suicide Data DoD 22 Feb 2012
• British test pilot marks milestone in the Joint Combat Aircraft NNS 22 Feb 2012 -- A royal Air Force squadron leader became the United Kingdom's first military test pilot to fly the F-35C, the carrier variant of the Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, Feb. 21.
• Vice Chief Wraps Up Visit to Singapore NNS 22 Feb 2012 -- The vice chief of naval operations concluded a two-day visit to Singapore Feb. 23.
• Four light robots put through paces Army News 22 Feb 2012 -- Infantrymen and engineers steered four small robots around the buildings and terrain at the McKenna Urban Operations Complex.
• USS Tortuga Arrives in Thailand after Cobra Gold 2012 NNS 22 Feb 2012 -- Sailors assigned to forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Tortuga and Marines with elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in Laem Chabang, Feb. 21, for a port visit.
• MDSU 2, Company 2-1 departs for Navy Dive - Southern Partnership Station 2012 NNS 22 Feb 2012 -- Sailors assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2, Company 2-1, departed Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story.
• Service Members from Mali Take Part in Aerial Resupply and Recovery Exercise AFRICOM 22 Feb 2012 -- U.S. service members joined troops from six partner nations with the purpose of sharing their knowledge of aerial resupply and recovery of as part of exercise Atlas Accord in Mali, February 2012.
• 'Kevlar underpants' protect pelvic region Army News 22 Feb 2012 -- For dismounted Soldiers patrolling Afghanistan roads, improvised explosive devices can be even more devastating than for those in armored vehicles, but a new line of protection may help.
• Army unveils world's first military fleet of fuel cell vehicles Army News 22 Feb 2012 -- U.S. Army, Pacific, today unveiled a fleet of 16 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that the military services in Hawaii are testing in an effort to research efficient, clean and renewable energy sources, and reduce the U.S. military's dependence on petroleum.
• Russia to Revamp Ballistic Missile Arsenal by 2020 RIA Novosti 22 Feb 2012 -- The share of new weaponry in the arsenal of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) will reach 97% by 2020.
• Russia to Launch 100 Military Satellites in Next Decade RIA Novosti 22 Feb 2012 -- Russia is planning to launch at least 100 military satellites in the next 10 years to boost its reconnaissance and missile detection capabilities.
• Russia to Rebuild Military Airfields near NATO Borders RIA Novosti 22 Feb 2012 -- The Russian Defense Ministry will modernize two airfields in its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad.
• Russian Military Plans to Buy Foreign Helicopters RIA Novosti 22 Feb 2012 -- The Russian Defense Ministry is planning to buy at least 45 light multipurpose helicopters from a foreign manufacturer.
• MOD to order four new RFA tankers UK MOD 22 Feb 2012 -- A new generation of 37,000-tonne tankers is to be ordered for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) to support future Royal Navy operations around the globe.
• Iran's armed forces evaluate radars in air drill ISNA 22 Feb 2012 -- Iranian armed forces evaluated all radars as they started the third day of aerial defense maneuver.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 2/22/12 The White House 22 Feb 2012
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, February 22, 2012 US Dept. of State 22 Feb 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 22, 2012
• Boeing Completes F/A-18E/F, EA-18G Multi-Year Procurement II Deliveries Ahead of Schedule Boeing 22 Feb 2012 -- Boeing today announced that it has completed delivery of 257 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters and EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft to the U.S. Navy. Each aircraft was delivered ahead of schedule and within the contract budget.
• Lockheed Martin Expands Facility For F-35 Component Manufacturing In Pinellas Park, Fla. Lockheed Martin 22 Feb 2012 -- Lockheed Martin’s operation in Pinellas Park officially opened a new 57,000 square foot manufacturing facility today to produce aircraft canopy components for the F-35 Lightning II fighter.
• Oshkosh Defense, U.S. Military Complete 3,500 M-ATV Underbody Kit Installations In-Theater in Seven Months Oshkosh 22 Feb 2012 -- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, and the U.S. military have reached a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against improvised explosive devices (IED) in Afghanistan, having recently completed the in-theater installation of the 3,500th Oshkosh MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) Underbody Improvement Kit (UIK) in less than seven months to give Warfighters new levels of protection against the threats.
• Lockheed Martin Foliage Penetrating Reconnaissance Radar Deployed to Support U.S. Southern Command Lockheed Martin 22 Feb 2012 -- After successfully completing operational demonstrations, Lockheed Martin’s penetrating radar capable of detecting objects that are buried, camouflaged or concealed under dense foliage was deployed to support U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
• Third MEADS Battle Manager Arrives In Huntsville for Integration Testing Lockheed Martin 22 Feb 2012 -- Lockheed Martin has begun integration testing on the third completed Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) battle manager at its facility in Huntsville, Ala.

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 22 February 2012 United Nations 22 Feb 2012
• Ban asks top UN official to visit Syria to assess humanitarian situation UN News Centre 22 Feb 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban has asked the UN relief chief to visit Syria to assess the humanitarian situation.
• 'Friends of Syria' to Meet in Tunis VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- Officials from dozens of countries meet in Tunis Friday to coordinate efforts to support the Syrian opposition.
• Syria Shelling Kills 74, Including Two Journalists VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- Syrian government troops kept up shelling of the protest-hub city of Homs Wednesday, killing more than 70 people including two Western journalists.
• Journalists Killed In Syria Amid Violence RFE/RL 22 Feb 2012 -- Two western journalists have been killed as a result of Syrian government shelling that hit a makeshift media center in the besieged city of Homs.
• Saudi Arabia King: Current Dialogue on Syria 'Useless' RIA Novosti 22 Feb 2012 -- Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that any dialogue on the Syrian crisis resolution is "useless" at the moment.
• UN deplores Israeli approval of more settlements in West Bank UN News Centre 22 Feb 2012 -- The top UN envoy for the Middle East peace process described as “deplorable” Israel’s announcement that is has given approval to a large number of new settlement units deep inside the occupied Palestinian territory.
• Peace Talks with Israel Stalled, But Not Over - Abbas RIA Novosti 22 Feb 2012 -- Peace Negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis have stalled, but there is still hope to continue the dialogue.
• AU Official Welcomes London Somali Conference, Capture of Baidoa VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- An official of the African Union has said the capture of a rebel stronghold, and the U.N. Security Council’s decision to increase troop levels, bolsters security ahead of the London Conference on Somalia.
• War in Somalia Splits Families VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- Somalia's Islamist militant group al-Shabab is fighting on multiple fronts against Kenya, Ethiopian and African Union forces.
• Faltering al-Shabab Surrenders Strategic Somali City VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- Al-Qaida linked rebels have surrendered Somalia's third largest city, Baidoa, without a fight, fleeing in the face of a joint offensive by pro-government forces and Ethiopian troops.
• Al-Shabab Loses Key Somali Town VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- Ethiopian and Somali government troops have captured a key stronghold of the Somali militant group al-Shabab.
• Kenya Refocuses Fight Against Al-Shabab VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- KDF commanders say they are working to pacify "liberated" towns like Tabda before they resume a forward march on al-Shabab strongholds including Kismayo.
• UN Increases Troops for AU Somalia Force VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- The United Nations Security Council has authorized an increase in troop strength for the African Union force in Somalia, known as AMISOM.
• Security Council calls for large increase to African peace force in Somalia UN News Centre 22 Feb 2012 -- The Security Council called on the African Union to increase the strength of its peacekeeping force in Somalia by almost 50 per cent.
• Somalia PM: London Conference A ‘Game-Changer’ VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- Representatives of more than 50 governments and international organizations are converging on London for an international conference designed to be a catalyst for rebuilding Somalia.
• Briefing: Somalia's political roadmap IRIN 22 Feb 2012 -- In August, Somalia faces constitutional limbo if the key provisions of a political "roadmap" agreed in September 2011, and one of the topics of this week's conference in London, are not met.
• South Sudan Expels Chinese Chief of Major Oil Firm VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- South Sudan has expelled the Chinese leader of its largest foreign oil firm, further raising the stakes in a bitter oil dispute with Sudan.
• UGANDA: Evictions leave former IDPs in limbo IRIN 22 Feb 2012 -- Some 6,000 people in northern Uganda spent years displaced as the army pursued the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army.
• KCNA on S. Korean Unification Minister's Remarks KCNA 22 Feb 2012 -- South Korean "Minister of Unification" Ryu U Ik: "the north's continuous criticism of the south is against the spirit of the south-north agreed framework and is not helpful to the bilateral relations".
• Rodong Sinmun on S. Korean Military Drill KCNA 22 Feb 2012 -- The south Koreans went ahead with their planned live-fire drills from Paekryong, Yonphyong and other islands in the West Sea on Feb. 20.
• Kosovo Talks Resume In Brussels RFE/RL 22 Feb 2012 -- Representatives of Serbia and Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leadership have resumed European Union-mediated talks in Brussels.
• Abkhaz Leader Escapes Assassination Attempt RFE/RL 22 Feb 2012 -- The leader of the separatist Georgian region of Abkhazia has survived an assassination attempt.
• Abkhaz President Survives 5th Assassination Attempt RIA Novosti 22 Feb 2012 -- The attack occurred morning near the town of Gudauta when Ankvab was going to work in the capital of the region, Sukhumi.
• Stability in Chechnya Thanks to Putin - Army Commander RIA Novosti 22 Feb 2012 -- The situation in Chechnya has stabilized in the late 2000s thanks to Vladimir Putin, said airborne troops commander, Lieutenant-General Vladimir Shamanov.
• Ban extends mandate of UN-backed tribunal in Lebanon UN News Centre 22 Feb 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban has extended the mandate by another 3 years of the United Nations-backed independent tribunal set up to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

News Reports

• Iran ready to help identify culprits behind Thailand explosions IRNA 22 Feb 2012 -- FM Spokesman Mehmanparast expressed Iran’s readiness to cooperate in identifying culprits behind Thailand explosions.
• Thai Police Hoping To Detain Iranian Suspect Longer RFE/RL 22 Feb 2012 -- Thai police are hoping to extend the detention for an Iranian suspected in a bomb plot.
• Azerbaijan says it Uncovered Iran-linked Terrorist Group RIA Novosti 22 Feb 2012 -- Azerbaijan's National Security Ministry has said it uncovered a terrorist group with links to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Sepah and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
• UN nuclear agency laments lack of progress during Iran visit UN News Centre 22 Feb 2012 -- The United Nations atomic energy watchdog has voiced disappointment at the lack of progress made during a two-day visit to Iran.
• IAEA 'Disappointed' as Iran Blocks Experts From Visiting Military Site VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- The U.N. chief nuclear inspector says a two-day visit to Iran has ended.
• IAEA 'Disappointed' After Iran Visit RFE/RL 22 Feb 2012 -- The UN nuclear watchdog has expressed disappointment after a two-day visit to Iran by a team of UN nuclear experts.
• IAEA Inspectors Barred from Iran Military Site RIA Novosti 22 Feb 2012 -- The UN’s atomic watchdog said on Wednesday it failed to gain access to a key Iranian military site.
• Soltanieh: Second round of talks with IAEA ends IRNA 22 Feb 2012 -- Iran Ambassador and Permanent Representative in International Atomic Energy Agency said the second round of talks between Iran and the agency in Tehran has ended.
• Iran's Supreme Leader Says Islamic Republic Not Seeking Nuclear Weapons RFE/RL 22 Feb 2012 -- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has offered new assurances that Iran is not seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
• Supreme Leader: Nuclear weapons do not bring power IRNA 22 Feb 2012 -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said that sense of self-respect and national dignity is the outcome of Iran's achievements in science and technology.
• Russia Warns Attack On Iran Would Lead To Catastrophe RFE/RL 22 Feb 2012 -- A Russian deputy foreign minister has warned that an attack on Iran could have what he described as "catastrophic" consequences for regional and possibly international relations.
• Iran to launch home-made satellite in 3 months ISNA 22 Feb 2012 -- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Vahidi said Fajr (Dawn) satellite would be sent into space by the next three months.
• Security Council welcomes peaceful staging of presidential poll in Yemen UN News Centre 22 Feb 2012 -- The Security Council welcomed the holding of presidential elections in Yemen and encouraged the country’s leaders to move on to the next stage of transition process.
• India's breeder reactor to be commissioned early next year: report IRNA 22 Feb 2012 -- India plans to commission the first-of-its-kind Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor early next year.
• Taliban, al-Qaeda planned attack on Benazir Bhutto IRNA 22 Feb 2012 -- Pakistan Interior Minister Malik has made public parts of an investigation report about the 2007 assassination of former PM Bhutto.
• Red warrant for Musharraf will be issued in Bhutto murder IRNA 22 Feb 2012 -- Pakistan’s Interior Minister Malik said that a red warrant for the arrest of former President Pervez Musharraf would be issued.
• Tibetans Mark Solemn New Year Amid Standoff With China VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- Tibetans are refraining from annual celebrations to mark their traditional new year holiday.
• China Complains About Japanese Mayor's Massacre Denial VOA 22 Feb 2012 -- China says it has lodged an official complaint with Tokyo, after the mayor of a Japanese city again denied well-documented pre-World War II massacre.
• Timor-Leste has made significant progress towards peace and stability – UN envoy UN News Centre 22 Feb 2012 -- Timor-Leste has made significant progress in strengthening national peace and stability, the United Nations envoy for the country told the Security Council.
• UN expert urges dialogue after Latvia votes against Russian as official language UN News Centre 22 Feb 2012 -- The United Nations independent expert on minority issues encouraged the Government of Latvia to ensure protection of the rights of the country’s Russian-speaking minority.