Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Army Identifies Afghanistan Shooting Suspect AFPS 17 Mar 2012 -- The Army has identified the U.S. soldier accused of killing Afghan civilians in a March 11 rampage as Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, according to a statement released here last night.
• Goals in Afghanistan Remain the Same, Dempsey Says AFPS 17 Mar 2012 -- While recent incidents have challenged U.S. operations in Afghanistan, the long-term objectives there remain the same, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey told Charlie Rose.
• Kabul Says 'Nothing New' In Request To U.S. To Pull Back To Bases RFE/RL 17 Mar 2012 -- Afghanistan says there is 'nothing new' in a demand by President Hamid Karzai for U.S. troops to leave villages and withdraw to their bases.
• Suspect in Afghanistan Rampage Identified RIA Novosti 17 Mar 2012 -- The U.S. soldier accused of killing 16 civilians in house-to-house shooting spree in southern Afghanistan has been identified as Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, U.S. media reported on Friday.
• US Soldier Accused of Afghan Massacre in US Prison VOA 17 Mar 2012 -- The U.S. army says the American soldier suspected of killing 16 Afghan civilians early this week has arrived at a military prison in the central U.S.

Defense Policy / Programs

• 21st Century Sailor and Marine Initiative Arrives in Djibouti NNS 17 Mar 2012 -- The assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs and the chief of navy reserve arrived here March 16 for the first stop in an overseas tour highlighting the 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative.
• Patriot participates in Foal Eagle 2012 NNS 17 Mar 2012 -- Mine countermeasures ship USS Patriot (MCM 7) is currently operating in support of the bilateral exercise Foal Eagle (FE) 2012, which runs March 1 to April 30.
• Enterprise Engineers Power Through NNS 17 Mar 2012 -- While getting underway from Naval Station Norfolk March 11, 2012, aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) experienced extensive fouling to three of her four main engines and five of the ship's eight service turbine generators.
• USS Asheville Holds Change of Command NNS 17 Mar 2012 -- Cmdr. Douglas Bradley relieved Cmdr. Gerald Miranda as commanding officer of USS Asheville (SSN 758) during a pierside ceremony on Naval Base Point Loma Mar. 16.
• Marines, Georgian infantry brigade participate in combined training exercise USMC News 17 Mar 2012 -- Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task, Force Black Sea Rotational Force-12 battled the wind and snow alongside their counterparts in the Georgian 4th Infantry Brigade during Exercise Agile Spirit-12 on Vaziani Training Area in Georgia, March 12-21.
• Iran Could Make Gross Misjudgment, Chairman Says AFPS 17 Mar 2012 -- Iranian leaders could make a gross misjudgment of American will and suffer the consequences, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said last night.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• UN chief condemns bomb attacks in Syrian capital UN News Centre 17 Mar 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned today's bomb attacks in the Syrian capital, Damascus, which killed or wounded scores of people.
• U.S. 'Concerned' About Iranian Flights to Syria RIA Novosti 17 Mar 2012 -- The United States has expressed concern that Iranian cargo planes overflying Iraq may be shipping weapons to Syria.
• 27 Killed as Two Explosions Rock Damascus VOA 17 Mar 2012 -- Syria says twin car bombings in Damascus on Saturday have killed at least 27 people.
• Air shelling kills eight militants in NW Pakistan IRNA 17 Mar 2012 -- At least eight militants were killed and several injured in aerial bombing in Pakistan north western tribal region on Saturday, security officials said.

News Reports

• Japan Can Crash Down N.Korea Satellite If Necessary - Minister RIA Novosti 17 Mar 2012 -- The Japanese Armed Forces could shoot down North Korea's satellite, planned to be launched next month, as the need arises, Japan's Sankei newspaper reported on Saturday quoting Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka as saying.
• KCNA Reports about Preparations for Satellite Launch KCNA 17 Mar 2012 -- The Korean Central News Agency issued report on Saturday.
• Report Says Bin Laden Was Plotting Obama's Assassination VOA 17 Mar 2012 -- A major U.S. newspaper reports Osama bin Laden ordered al-Qaida to assassinate U.S. President Barack Obama and General David Petraeus, who was then the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan.
• India Pursuing Fourth Iranian in Delhi Bombing VOA 17 Mar 2012 -- Indian authorities are going after a fourth Iranian in connection with a plot to attack Israeli diplomats.