Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 16 Mar 2012 [PDF]
• Afghan Mission Maintains Momentum, Spokesman Says AFPS 16 Mar 2012 -- Despite tragic incidents over the past several months in Afghanistan, the security strategy in that nation is working and coalition and Afghan forces are committed to its successful end, a Pentagon spokesman said here today.
• Officials Offer More Detail on Failed Attack at Bastion AFPS 16 Mar 2012 -- The senior NATO International Security Assistance Force commander in southern Afghanistan's Helmand Province was among the welcoming party at Bastion Airfield threatened by the driver of a stolen vehicle, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters today.
• Commander Outlines Afghanistan Campaign Objectives AFPS 16 Mar 2012 -- Coalition troops and their Afghan partners have a new initiative and momentum going into this year's fighting season, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Curtis 'Mike' Scaparrotti, commander ISAF Joint Command, said here yesterday.
• Allen Expresses Condolences Over Helicopter Crash AFPS 16 Mar 2012 -- The commander of the International Security Assistance Force, Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, expressed his condolences over the crash of an ISAF helicopter in the Bagrami district of Afghanistan's Kabul province today, military officials reported.
  
• Afghan Leader Says U.S. Not Cooperating On Massacre Probe RFE/RL 16 Mar 2012 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai has criticized the United States, saying it's not cooperating on an investigation into a killing spree allegedly carried out by a U.S. soldier.
• Lawyer: U.S. Soldier Accused Of Massacre Reluctant To Deploy To Afghanistan RFE/RL 16 Mar 2012 -- The lawyer who's been asked to defend the U.S. soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers, including nine women and three children, said his client was reluctant to leave on his fourth deployment.
• Hunger Strike Revives Allegations Of Mistreatment At Afghan Prisons RFE/RL 16 Mar 2012 -- The notorious Pul-e-Charkhi prison outside Kabul has long been a byword for torture and violence.
• Lawyer: Afghan Suspect Was Upset About Comrade's Injury VOA 16 Mar 2012 -- The civilian lawyer for the U.S. soldier accused of carrying out a deadly shooting rampage in Afghanistan says his client was likely suffering from stress after witnessing the grave injury of one of his fellow soldiers.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Statement from Secretary of the Air Force on Office of Special Counsel Release of Reprisal Report of Investigation DoD 16 Mar 2012
• Donley: Air Force Will Not Tolerate Wrongdoing AFPS 16 Mar 2012 -- The Air Force will not tolerate wrongdoing, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said in a statement today in response to a report by the independent Office of Special Counsel.
• Press Gaggle with Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta at Kabul, Afghanistan DoD 16 Mar 2012 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
• Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta Interview with Al Hurra Television DoD 16 Mar 2012 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
• Jurisdiction of SOFA criminal cases in Japan now clarified USMC News 16 Mar 2012 -- The governments of the United States and Japan reached a new agreement regarding criminal jurisdiction in cases involving status of forces agreement members Nov. 23.
• Marines, JGSDF come together for Forest Light USMC News 16 Mar 2012 -- For most military members, seeing a helicopter land is a common occurrence. Seeing one land at sea is not so common. Riding in a helicopter equipped with skis as it lands on a blanket of snow on a mountainside is even less common.
• Navy Funds Fiscal Year 2012 Littoral Combat Ships NNS 16 Mar 2012 -- The Navy issued contract modifications to Lockheed Martin Corporation and Austal USA under their respective littoral combat ship (LCS) block buy contracts to add funding for construction of two fiscal year 2012 littoral combat ships each, March 16.
• Spruance Grand Slam Sets U.S. Navy Distance Record NNS 16 Mar 2012 -- USS Spruance (DDG 111) set the Navy record for distance while firing a missile during Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trial (CSSQT), March 13.
• Benfold Hosts Admirals from Mexican Navy NNS 16 Mar 2012 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) hosted the Mexican commander of the second naval zone, as well as other officers and dignitaries March 15.
• San Diego Departs for Homeport, Namesake City NNS 16 Mar 2012 -- After nearly five years of construction, the future USS San Diego (LPD 22) departed Huntington Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., Mar. 15, and began her transit to her future homeport of San Diego.
• NATO allies synch communication AFNS 16 Mar 2012 -- The Turkish and U.S. air forces successfully synched a communication system together during the bilateral training exercise Anatolian Falcon 2012 here March 13.
• U.S., Turkish air forces complete Anatolian Falcon 2012 AFNS 16 Mar 2012 -- Anatolian Falcon 2012, a bilateral training exercise between the Turkish and U.S. air forces, ended here March 16.
• Navy Looks to Bolster Capabilities in Persian Gulf AFPS 16 Mar 2012 -- The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global choke point and the U.S. Navy is ensuring it has all the capabilities needed for this transit point to remain open, Navy Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, chief of naval operations, said today.
• Navy Leader Calls 'Don't Ask' Repeal 'Non-story' AFPS 16 Mar 2012 -- The Navy has not seen much difference following last fall's repeal of the Defense Department's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, the chief of naval operations told reporters here today.
• Utah National Guard, Republic of Korea Army conduct artillery exercise Army News 16 Mar 2012 -- South Korean and U.S. Army units unleashed a precise barrage of 155m self-propelled artillery rounds during a live-fire exercise March 15 at a training range close to the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
• Secretary Panetta's Remarks at Forward Operating Base Shukvani DoD 16 Mar 2012 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
• HMS Bulwark lands commandos in the Arctic UK MOD 16 Mar 2012 -- HMS Bulwark has landed Royal Marines from 42 Commando on the shores of Norway for NATO's winter war games, Exercise Cold Response.
• India hikes Defence Budget by more than 17 per cent IRNA 16 Mar 2012 -- With several defence deals including the one to procure 126 combat aircraft for the IAF expected to be clinched this year, the Defence Budget was today substantially hiked by more than 17 per cent to Rs 1,93,407 crore from last year's Rs 1,64,415 crore.
• March 16, 2012 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 16 Mar 2012
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jay Carney en route Chicago, Illinois, 3/16/2012 The White House 16 Mar 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 16, 2012
• Boeing Wins Contract to Paint Royal Australian Air Force Fleet Boeing 16 Mar 2012 -- Boeing subsidiary Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) has been awarded a three-year contract to perform aircraft surface finishing services for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft fleet.
• U.S. Navy Issues Lockheed Martin $715 Million Contract Modification to Construct Two Littoral Combat Ships Lockheed Martin 16 Mar 2012 -- The U.S. Navy has issued a Lockheed Martin-led industry team a $715 million contract modification to add funding for construction of two Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) – the third and fourth in a 10-ship contract awarded in December 2010.

Other Conflicts

• 16 March 2012 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 16 Mar 2012
• Press Conference by Organization of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General United Nations 16 Mar 2012
• UN-Arab League envoy sending team to Syria to continue talks on ending crisis UN News Centre 16 Mar 2012 -- The Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States for Syria, Kofi Annan, today said he will send a team to the country at the weekend to continue discussions on proposals he has presented to the leadership as he tries to find a peaceful solution to the year-long bloody conflict.
• Annan Urges UN Security Council To Break Syria Deadlock RFE/RL 16 Mar 2012 -- UN diplomats say the UN-Arab League envoy on the Syrian crisis, Kofi Annan, has urged the Security Council to overcome its deadlock and unify in support of his efforts to end deadly violence in the country.
• Turkey Urges Its Citizens To Leave Syria RFE/RL 16 Mar 2012 -- Turkey is urging its citizens in Syria to return home as quickly as possible due to the violence convulsing the neighboring country.
• Annan Asks for UN Action on Syria VOA 16 Mar 2012 -- The U.N. and Arab League's chief peace envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, called on Security Council members Friday to end their stalemate and decide what to do to pressure Syria into ending its deadly crackdown on dissent.
• Syrian Refugees in Jordan Confirm Reports of Abuse, Torture VOA 16 Mar 2012 -- Human rights activists increasingly are voicing alarm over reports of abuse and torture in Syria, where an uprising against the government has entered its second year. Syrian refugees in Jordan confirm such reports.
• Secretary-General urges restraint after Ethiopian attack on Eritrean bases UN News Centre 16 Mar 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to avoid any action that could escalate tensions between the Horn of Africa neighbours, following Ethiopia's attack yesterday on military bases in Eritrea.
• Eritrea Calls for UN to Respond After Ethiopian Attack VOA 16 Mar 2012 -- Eritrea is calling for the United Nations to impose penalties on arch-rival Ethiopia, after Ethiopian forces attacked a military base inside Eritrea.
• Côte d'Ivoire: UN mission satisfied with pace of arms collection UN News Centre 16 Mar 2012 -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d'Ivoire has said it is encouraged by the pace of its arms collection exercise that started in June last year, but noted that much remains to be done to take away weapons from civilians and those who may have participated in past conflicts.
• ICC conviction of Congolese warlord vital step to fight impunity – Security Council UN News Centre 16 Mar 2012 -- The Security Council today noted with appreciation the issuance of the first verdict of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which this week found Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga Dyilo guilty of conscripting child soldiers under the age of 15 into his militia.
• S. Sudan Agrees to Release Child Soldiers VOA 16 Mar 2012 -- The United Nations says a new deal signed with South Sudan's army could lead to the newest country being delisted from nations which use and recruit child soldiers. Special Representative to the U.N. Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, announced in Juba Friday that the deal signed this week could lead to 2,000 more children being released soon.
• Northern Ugandans Criticize Kony 2012 Campaign VOA 16 Mar 2012 -- Although Invisible Children's Kony 2012 video is stirring up debate around the world, few in northern Uganda - the region most affected by Lord's Resistance Army violence - have even seen the online video. But many of those who have are critical of the campaign's message.

News Reports

• DPRK to Launch Application Satellite KCNA 16 Mar 2012 -- The DPRK is to launch a working satellite, Kwangmyongsong-3, manufactured by itself with indigenous technology to mark the 100th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
• Korean People Confident of Successful Satellite Launch KCNA 16 Mar 2012 -- A spokesman for the Korean Committee for Space Technology made public a statement at noon Friday that the DPRK will launch an application satellite, Kwangmyongsong-3, manufactured by local scientists and technicians.
• Satellite Launch to Display National Strength of Korea KCNA 16 Mar 2012 -- A spokesman for the Korean Committee for Space Technology announced at noon Friday that the DPRK is to launch Kwangmyongsong-3, a polar-orbiting earth observation satellite, in mid-April.
• Announcement on Upcoming Satellite Launch Delights Korean Scientists KCNA 16 Mar 2012 -- A spokesman for the Korean Committee for Space Technology (KCST) announced Friday that the DPRK would launch Kwangmyongsong-3, a polar-orbiting earth observation satellite, by carrier rocket Unha-3 between April 12 and 16 to mark the 100th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.
• Launch of Working Satellite Will Represent Might of DPRK KCNA 16 Mar 2012 -- The spokesman for the Korean Committee for Space Technology announced Friday that the DPRK will launch a home-made application satellite to mark the centenary of birth of President Kim Il Sung (April 15).
• Launch of Kwangmyongsong-3 Will Be Pride for DPRK KCNA 16 Mar 2012 -- The spokesman for the Korean Committee for Space Technology in a statement Friday announced that a home-made application satellite would be launched to mark the centenary of birth of President Kim Il Sung (April 15).
• DOD: North Korea Rocket Launch Would Destabilize Region AFPS 16 Mar 2012 -- The April launch of a long-range rocket announced by North Korea today would violate U.N. resolutions and represent a destabilizing influence in the region, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby said here today.
• UN chief urges DPR Korea to reconsider decision to launch 'satellite' UN News Centre 16 Mar 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to reconsider its decision to launch a so-called 'application satellite' next month and fully comply with relevant Security Council resolutions.
• US: N. Korea Rocket Launch Would Make Food Aid 'Hard to Imagine' VOA 16 Mar 2012 -- The United States says North Korea's planned rocket launch imperils the delivery of food aid as part of last month's agreement on nuclear inspections. North Korea announced Friday that it will launch a satellite-carrying a long-range rocket in April.
• North Korea to Launch Satellite for Kim's Birthday RIA Novosti 16 Mar 2012 -- North Korea will launch an earth observation satellite next month to mark the 100th birthday of its late founding leader Kim Il-sung, the state news agency KCNA reported on Friday.
• Russia Warns N.Korea Against Satellite Launch RIA Novosti 16 Mar 2012 -- Russia urged Pyongyang on Friday not to go ahead with its planned satellite launch, which would set it against the international community.
• North Korea Plans April 'Space' Launch VOA 16 Mar 2012 -- In what is likely to be widely considered a violation of its recent agreement to halt ballistic-missile tests, North Korea has made a surprise announcement that it intends to conduct a satellite launch next month.
• Evidence Shows Tehran Connection in New Delhi, Bangkok Bombings VOA 16 Mar 2012 -- India is seeking international arrest warrants for three Iranians suspected of being part of a plot to attack Israeli diplomats.
• Pakistan PM refuses to accept court order IRNA 16 Mar 2012 -- Pakistan Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, on Friday publicly refused to accept orders by the country's Supreme Court to write letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
• Iraq Better off After U.S. Withdrawal – Moscow RIA Novosti 16 Mar 2012 -- Russia reckons that the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq has not made the situation in the country worse, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Friday.
• Coup-Prone Guinea Bissau Calm Ahead of Election VOA 16 Mar 2012 -- Guinea Bissau's nine presidential hopefuls are wrapping up what has been a calm campaign season.
• Brazil: UN welcomes prosecution of retired colonel for abuses during military rule UN News Centre 16 Mar 2012 -- The United Nations human rights office today welcomed the prosecution of a retired Brazilian army colonel for disappearances during the country's military dictatorship as a 'first and crucial step' in fighting the impunity that surrounds that period.