Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• U.S. General Says Closure Of Pakistan Supply Routes Complicates Afghan Pullout RFE/RL 29 Feb 2012 -- The U.S. military's top transport commander says overland cargo routes through Pakistan must be reopened to NATO for the United States to complete its pullout from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
• Transcom Continues Mission Despite Challenges, Commander Says AFPS 29 Feb 2012 -- U.S. Transportation Command continues to meet all of its obligations to military combatant commanders and warfighters despite increasingly tighter budgets and an access dispute with Pakistan.
• At Least 20 Injured In Afghan Attacks RFE/RL 29 Feb 2012 -- At least 20 people have been reported injured in two explosions in Afghanistan, one targeting a supply convoy for NATO-led forces, and the second targeting a bank in the northeast.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Schwartz: Smaller Air Force Will Concentrate on Key Capabilities AFPS 29 Feb 2012 -- As the Air Force gets smaller in the years to come, it will have to emphasize the areas that will be the most relevant to defense, the Air Force chief of staff said.
• Eucom Boss Calls Troop Reductions ‘Manageable, Appropriate’ AFPS 29 Feb 2012 -- Planned reductions to U.S. forces in Europe is an extension of the post-Cold War drawdown that is both manageable and appropriate in the new global context.
• Commander: Countering Extremists Tops Africom’s Priorities AFPS 29 Feb 2012 -- In its mission to strengthen the defense capabilities of African states, the U.S. Africa Command considers countering extremist organizations its top job.
• High-value Guantanamo Detainee Pleads Guilty in Deal AFPS 29 Feb 2012 -- The only legal U.S. resident being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba became the first high-value detainee to plead guilty.
• NATO Military Committee visits US Navy Destroyer with BMD Capabilities NATO 29 Feb 2012 -- The USS Laboon's Ballistic Missile Defence capabilities are also a good example of a design belonging to the Connected Forces Initiative.
• Tokyo May Cancel Order for U.S. Combat Jets if Price Rises RIA Novosti 29 Feb 2012 -- Japan may cancel its order to buy 42 U.S.-made F-35 Lightning II stealth combat aircraft if prices grow or delivery is delayed.
• Ohio Airmen help F-16 go 'green' AFNS 29 Feb 2012 -- The F-16 Fight Falcon is currently undergoing a field service evaluation of biofuel.
• Schwartz Details Dover’s Handling of 9/11 Victims’ Remains AFPS 29 Feb 2012 -- In the wake of a report issued by a panel that investigated operations at the Dover Port Mortuary in Delaware, the Air Force’s top officer said that mortuary personnel followed policies in place at the time.
• Contracting team supports unconventional warfare exercise Army News 29 Feb 2012 -- Members of the 621st Contingency Contracting Team deployed in August to provide dedicated contracting officer support and subject matter expertise during the 5th Special Force Group (Airborne) capstone training exercise.
• 7th Civil Support Command oversees Montenegro humanitarian assistance mission Army News 29 Feb 2012 -- US Army Europe has deployed a 7th Civil Support Command led task force to the Balkan nation to provide much-needed humanitarian assistance.
• USS Simpson Bids Farewell to First APS Shipriders NNS 29 Feb 2012 -- African sailors who spent 27 days aboard USS Simpson as part of Africa Partnership Station 2012, departed Simpson, Feb. 27.
• Remarks by Deputy Secretary of Defense Carter at the ARPA-E Innovation Summit DoD 29 Feb 2012
• Israel Helped Russia Hack Georgian Drones – Wikileaks RIA Novosti 29 Feb 2012 -- A swap deal between Russia and Israel in 2008 provided secret codes for Georgian drones and information on Iranian missile systems.
• Russia Sees No Progress at Missile Defense Talks RIA Novosti 29 Feb 2012 -- Russia has seen no progress in missile defense talks with NATO.
• Russia’s Baltic Radar to Go on Stream 2014 RIA Novosti 29 Feb 2012 -- Russia’s new radar in the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad will go into operation in 2014.
• Russia Signs Contract for Navy MiG-29K Fighter RIA Novosti 29 Feb 2012 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has signed a contract with aircraft maker MiG for the delivery of 20 MiG-29K and four MiG-29KUB carrier-based fighter aircraft.
• Russia Lays down New Warship at Baltic Shipyard RIA Novosti 29 Feb 2012 -- Construction of a Project 11356 frigate was launched at the Yantar shipyard in Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad.
• Pilot of Crashed Su-30 Jet Hospitalized RIA Novosti 29 Feb 2012 -- The pilot of the Su-30 fighter jet that crashed on Tuesday in Russia’s Far East has been admitted to hospital with multiple rib fractures.
• Tajikistan Wants Russia To Pay Rent For Military Bases RFE/RL 29 Feb 2012 -- Tajikistan's ambassador to Russia says his country expects Russia to pay rent for bases it uses on Tajik territory.
• Defence Secretary responds to criticism over Navy tankers order UK MOD 29 Feb 2012 -- Letter from Defence Secretary Philip Hammond responding to calls that the MOD contracts for new Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers should have been awarded to UK firms.
• Apaches return to HMS Illustrious UK MOD 29 Feb 2012 -- Three Apache crews from 656 Squadron Army Air Corps joined helicopter assault ship HMS Illustrious this week to refresh their knowledge of operating the aircraft at sea.
• Defence Secretary observes Olympic air security exercise UK MOD 29 Feb 2012 -- Philip Hammond observed Armed Forces personnel in Yorkshire today training for their role in providing air security for the Olympic Games.
• Minju Joson on Japan Policy KCNA 29 Feb 2012 -- Some time ago, the Japanese prime minister expressed an intention to examine the issue of dispatching Self-Defense Forces to Hormuz Strait.
• Iran Sees 'Creeping Zionist Influence' In South Caucasus RFE/RL 29 Feb 2012 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned Azerbaijani Ambassador Javanshir Akhundov to explain Baku's purchase of some $1.6 billion in weapons from Israel.
• Azerbaijan Rejects Iran Complaints Over Israel Arms Buy RFE/RL 29 Feb 2012 -- Azerbaijan has dismissed Iranian protests over its reported deal to buy arms worth $1.5 billion from Israel.
• Security Council urges prompt action by Gulf of Guinea nations to counter piracy UN News Centre 29 Feb 2012 -- The Security Council urged countries of the region of the Gulf of Guinea to take prompt action to develop and implement to counter piracy and armed robbery at sea.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 2/29/12 The White House 29 Feb 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 29, 2012
• ATK Receives a Fourth Contract Option for Continued Production of 30mm PGU Ammunition ATK 29 Feb 2012 -- ATK was recently awarded a fourth contract option to produce 30mm PGU-15A/B cartridges for the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Contracting Center (RICC), Rock Island, Ill.
• Boeing Receives Contract for AC-130U Components Boeing 29 Feb 2012 -- Boeing has received an $11.4 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract from the U.S. Air Force. The first delivery order under this contract is worth $4.6 million and will provide parts to be used to complete installation of 25mm Ammunition Storage and Handling Systems (ASHS) on four AC-130U gunships.
• General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Awarded Contract to Build Additional DDG 51-class Destroyer General Dynamics 29 Feb 2012 -- The U. S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, a $663 million modification to a previously awarded contract to construct DDG 116, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer.
• Lockheed Martin Team Completes On-Orbit Testing Of First AEHF Satellite Lockheed Martin 29 Feb 2012 -- Lockheed Martin announced today the successful completion of on-orbit testing for the first Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications space vehicle (SV-1).
• Thales Alenia Space ETCA to supply the electrical core of eight Galileo satellites Thales 29 Feb 2012 -- Thales Alenia Space ETCA, a subsidiary of Thales Alenia Space based in Charleroi, received an order from the German company OHB System to supply eight electronic modules for the last eight satellites in the Galileo* constellation.
• Finmeccanica Cyber Solutions Team Awarded Contract to Provide NATO's Cyber Security Requirement Northrop Grumman 29 Feb 2012 -- Finmeccanica (FNC IM, SIFI.MI), through SELEX Elsag and VEGA, together with its partner Northrop Grumman Corporation, has been awarded a contract by the NATO Consultation, Command and Control (NATO C3) Agency to develop, implement and support the NATO Computer Incident Response Capability (NCIRC) - Full Operating Capability (FOC).

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 29 February 2012 United Nations 29 Feb 2012
• China Wages Diplomatic Offensive With Arab Countries VOA 29 Feb 2012 -- China is waging a diplomatic offensive to mend ties with Arab countries, especially those that were angered by its veto of a United Nations resolution condemning the violence in Syria.
• Elite Syrian Army Units Besiege Rebel Districts, Activists Say VOA 29 Feb 2012 -- Syrian security forces have launched a ground assault on the besieged city of Homs, in an attempt to overrun rebel-held districts that have endured nearly a month of bombardment.
• UN Humanitarian Chief Denied Syria Access As Homs Attack Intensifies RFE/RL 29 Feb 2012 -- UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos says Syria has denied her repeated requests to visit the country.
• UN relief chief ‘deeply disappointed’ by inability to visit Syria UN News Centre 29 Feb 2012 -- The head of United Nations relief operations said that she was “deeply disappointed” that she has not yet been able to visit Syria.
• Activists: Syrian Security Forces Launch Ground Assault in Homs VOA 29 Feb 2012 -- Syrian security forces have launched a ground assault on the besieged city of Homs, in an attempt to overrun rebel-held districts.
• UN: 'Well Over' 7,500 Killed In Syrian Fighting RFE/RL 29 Feb 2012 -- The chief UN political affairs officer, Lynn Pascoe, has told a Security Council review session that the number of people killed in the fighting in Syria is estimated to be "well over" 7,500.
• Blast kills 3 in NW Pakistan IRNA 29 Feb 2012 -- At least three people including two women were killed and three others wounded in powerful blast in Pakistan’s tribal region.
• At Least Eight Killed In Iraq Attacks RFE/RL 29 Feb 2012 -- At least eight people have been reported killed in Iraqi violence.
• Clinton: MKO Cooperation 'Key' In Considering Terrorist Designation RFE/RL 29 Feb 2012 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says that cooperation by MKO during the closure of its Iraqi base will be "a key factor in any decision" on whether to change the organization's terrorist designation.
• Gunmen kill blue helmet serving with UN-AU mission in Darfur UN News Centre 29 Feb 2012 -- A peacekeeper serving with the joint United Nations-African Union operation in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region has been killed after unidentified gunmen ambushed a patrol earlier today.
• More Than 1,000 Chadian Migrants Flee Fighting in Nigeria VOA 29 Feb 2012 -- The International Organization for Migration (reports more than 1,000 Chadian migrants have fled from violence in Nigeria to a remote area along the Chad-Nigerian border.
• UN envoy: Libya can overcome challenges UN News Centre 29 Feb 2012 -- The top United Nations envoy to Libya expressed confidence that the North African nation will be able to overcome current difficulties.
• LIBYA: What the analysts are saying IRIN 29 Feb 2012 -- One year after a popular uprising toppled its former dictator, Libya’s new transitional government has failed to provide coherent state leadership and control.
• KCNA on Lee Myung Bak and Japan's Territorial Ambition KCNA 29 Feb 2012 -- South Korea's Lee Myung Bak has drawn public criticism after the disclosure of his pro-Japan remarks on Tok Islets that he denied at the beginning of his office.
• International Criminal Court to deliver its first verdict next month UN News Centre 29 Feb 2012 -- The International Criminal Court announced that next month it will deliver its first ever verdict, issuing a judgment in the war crimes trial of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo.
• Ban appoints prosecutor and judge for UN-backed tribunal for Lebanon UN News Centre 29 Feb 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban appointed Norman Farrell of Canada as the prosecutor of the UN-backed independent tribunal set up to try those responsible for the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.
• UN appoints senior officials to help finish work of war crimes tribunals UN News Centre 29 Feb 2012 -- The Security Council appointed a prosecutor for the mechanism set up in 2010 to finish the remaining tasks of the United Nations war crimes tribunals for former Yugoslavia and Rwanda when their mandates expire.

News Reports

• India refuses to comment on reports suggesting Iran’s involvement IRNA 29 Feb 2012 -- Indian Government said probe into terror attack on an Israeli diplomat was going on right track.
• Iran Nuclear Dispute Enters New Phase VOA 29 Feb 2012 -- The international dispute with Iran over its nuclear program is entering a new phase.
• Certain states must not sabotage Iran's cooperation with IAEA: envoy IRNA 29 Feb 2012 -- Iran's Permanent Ambassador to IAEA Soltanieh called on certain member states of Board of Governors not to sabotage Iranian cooperation with IAEA.
• Iran’s nuclear chief: No nuclear activities in Parchin so far IRNA 29 Feb 2012 -- Head of Iran’s Nuclear Energy Organization Fereydoun Abbasi said no nuclear activities have been carried out in Parchin so far.
• There is no reason to give response to any IAEA requests: Iran's Abbasi ISNA 29 Feb 2012 -- The Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Fereydoun Abbasi said there is no reason to give response to any IAEA requests.
• Soltanieh: Iran does not reject IAEA visit to Parchin nuclear site ISNA 29 Feb 2012 -- Iran's envoy to IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh said the country does not reject the agency inspectors' visit to Parchin nuclear site.
• Nukes has no place in Iran's defense doctrine: Salehi ISNA 29 Feb 2012 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said nuclear weapon has no place in Iran's defense doctrine.
• Sanctions-Hit Iran To Accept Payment In Gold From Trading Partners RFE/RL 29 Feb 2012 -- Sanctions-hit Iran has announced it will take payment from trading partners in gold instead of dollars.
• Supreme Leader: Nation to deal big blow to enemies in Friday elections IRNA 29 Feb 2012 -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the Iranian nation will slap the hegemonic powers in the face in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
• North Korea Takes ‘Positive First Step’ on Nukes, Official Says AFPS 29 Feb 2012 -- The North Korean government has agreed to stop all nuclear activities at its main production and testing plant.
• DPR Korea: UN nuclear agency calls US announcement ‘important step’ UN News Centre 29 Feb 2012 -- The UN atomic watchdog called announcement over the DPRK’s nuclear programme “an important step forward.”
• N. Korea to End Nuclear Tests for Food Aid VOA 29 Feb 2012 -- North Korea has agreed to temporarily suspend nuclear tests, long-range ballistic missile launches, and other nuclear activities.
• North Korea Agrees To Nuclear Moratorium, IAEA Monitors RFE/RL 29 Feb 2012 -- The U.S. State Department and North Korea's official news agency have announced that North Korea has agreed to suspend uranium enrichment.
• North Korea Agrees to Nuclear Moratorium RIA Novosti 29 Feb 2012 -- North Korea has agreed to suspend nuclear activities and allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor compliance.
• DPRK Foreign Ministry Spokesman on Result of DPRK-U.S. Talks KCNA 29 Feb 2012 -- The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on result of the latest DPRK-U.S. high-level talks.
• Egyptian Presidential Election Set For May 23-24 RFE/RL 29 Feb 2012 -- Egyptian election officials say May 23 and 24 are set as the dates for the country's first presidential election since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak a year ago.
• China Accuses Ethnic Separatists in Xinjiang Killings VOA 29 Feb 2012 -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry is accusing separatists in a restive ethnic Uighur region of northwestern China of attacking civilians.
• Twenty Killed In Attack In China's Xinjiang RFE/RL 29 Feb 2012 -- Twenty people were killed when a group of men wielding axes and knives attacked a market in China's western Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
• US Mosques Increase in Number Despite Post - 9/11 Suspicions VOA 29 Feb 2012 -- A new survey finds that the number of U.S. mosques has grown dramatically in the decade since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
• Burmese Focus on Aung San Suu Kyi's Campaign Trail VOA 29 Feb 2012 -- As the campaign for Burma’s by-election heats up, the party of Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is the dominant face of the political opposition.
• Senegal's Wade Expected to Face Tough Run-off Vote VOA 29 Feb 2012 -- Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade is expected to face a tough run-off vote against former prime minister Macky Sall, who is working to round up opposition support.
• Armenian Ruling Party 'Regrets' French Decision On Genocide Denial RFE/RL 29 Feb 2012 -- Armenia's ruling Republican Party of Armenia says it "regrets" a decision by France's Constitutional Court invalidating a law that made it a crime to deny killings by Ottoman Turks in 1915 constituted genocide.
• Thousands of Ivorians, Liberians Being Repatriated VOA 29 Feb 2012 -- Thousands of Ivorian refugees living in Liberia and thousands of Liberian refugees in Ivory Coast are being voluntarily repatriated by the International Organization for Migration and the U.N. Refugee Agency.
• If Elected Russian President, Putin Faces Tough Choices VOA 29 Feb 2012 -- Russians go to the polls Sunday to elect a new president. There's much at stake for the former president, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
• OSCE Observers Arrive For Presidential Poll RIA Novosti 29 Feb 2012 -- Observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe will arrive in Russia to monitor presidential elections on March 4.
• Putin Warns of ‘Sacrificial Killing’ RIA Novosti 29 Feb 2012 -- The opposition may stage provocations, including “bumping off” some high-profile figure and blaming it on the authorities, Russian Prime Minister and presidential hopeful Vladimir Putin said.
• Minsk Says EU 'Escalating Tensions' RFE/RL 29 Feb 2012 -- Belarus has accused the European Union of "escalating tensions" with Minsk by recalling ambassadors to the East European country.
• U.S. Warns Belarus of Deepening Isolation RIA Novosti 29 Feb 2012 -- The Unites States has expressed “deep regret” over the Belarusian authorities’ decision to expel two European Union diplomats in retaliation for new EU sanctions.