Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 03 May 2012 [PDF]
• F-15E crashes in Southwest Asia AFNS 03 May 2012 -- An Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle crashed May 3 at 11:40 a.m. local time while conducting a routine training mission.
• Afghan-led Force Detains Insurgent Leader AFPS 03 May 2012 -- An Afghan-led, coalition-supported security force detained an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan terrorist group leader in the Iman Sahib district of Afghanistan’s Kunduz province.
• Combat Logistics Battalion 4 expands patrols to include new supply routes USMC News 03 May 2012 -- CLB-4 patrol delivered 235 tons of supplies and 5,000-gallons of fuel during the operation and retrograded 155 tons of supplies and equipment on their return trip.
• Kyrgyz President Appears To Soften Position On Manas RFE/RL 03 May 2012 -- Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev says keeping a U.S. air base in his country beyond June 2014 depends on the course of developments in Afghanistan and whether Washington is prepared to pay higher rent.
• India to invite Iran, China, Pak for meet on Afghanistan IRNA 03 May 2012 -- Iran, China and Pakistan will be among the 13 countries participating in the regional investors' meet on Afghanistan to be hosted by India.
• Briefing: The right way forward for Afghan refugees? IRIN 03 May 2012 -- A meeting of representatives of the Afghan, Iranian and Pakistani governments and the UN Refugee Agency opened to discuss a new strategy for dealing with the most protracted refugee crisis in the world.
• AFGHANISTAN: Concerns over child detention conditions in Kandahar IRIN 03 May 2012 -- A government plan to relocate an all-boys juvenile rehabilitation centre in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan could expose the children to significant risk, according to observers.
• Bomb Attacks Kill Five In Pakistan's Northwestern Tribal Region RFE/RL 03 May 2012 -- Two bomb blasts targeting anti-Taliban tribal elders and security forces have killed five people in Pakistan's northwest.
• Bin Laden Document Reveals Sophisticated U.S. Media Strategy RFE/RL 03 May 2012 -- Among the newly released trove of documents found by U.S. forces during their raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound last year is one that reveals what until now was an unknown interest of his Al-Qaeda terror network: the U.S. media landscape.
• Bin Laden Documents Reveal Splits in al-Qaida VOA 03 May 2012 -- A selected set of documents seized from the compound of Osama bin Laden last year sheds new light on the terrorist leader.
• Bin Laden Letters Show Desire to Attack U.S. Targets AFPS 03 May 2012 -- Osama bin Laden’s letters urged jihadist groups to stop domestic attacks that killed Muslim civilians and focus on the United States.
• Seized Letters Reveal Frustrated Bin Laden VOA 03 May 2012 -- Documents reveal a terrorist leader frustrated with regional jihadi groups and his own inability to exercise control over them.
• U.S. Releases Documents From Bin Laden Compound RFE/RL 03 May 2012 -- A selection of documents seized in last year's raid on Osama bin Laden's Pakistan hideout has been posted online by the U.S. Army's Combating Terrorism Center.
• Gov't, Army played major role in Osama killing: Minister IRNA 03 May 2012 -- Pakistani Defense Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar has said that the government of Pakistan and the armed forces played a huge part in the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Defense Policy / Programs

• NATO’s vision for missile defense cooperation with Russia NATO 03 May 2012
• NATO calls for close partnership with Russia on missile defence NATO 03 May 2012-- NATO’s Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, called for close cooperation between NATO and Russia on missile defence.
• Moscow Takes Harder Line, But NATO Chief Still 'Hopeful' On Missile Defense RFE/RL 03 May 2012 -- NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has expressed hope that an agreement can still be reached with Russia on a NATO missile-defense system in Europe.
• Russia, NATO Missile Talks Reach ‘Dead-End’ RIA Novosti 03 May 2012 -- Russia and NATO remain at loggerheads over a U.S.-led project to build a missile shield in Europe, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said.
• Russia: No Plans to Pull Out of INF Treaty RIA Novosti 03 May 2012 -- Russia has no plans to pull out of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in response to a European missile defense system.
• Russia Does Not Rule Out Preemptive Missile Defense Strike RIA Novosti 03 May 2012 -- Russia does not exclude preemptive use of weapons against missile defense systems in Europe but only as a last resort.
• Missile Defense May Void Chinese Deterrent Soon - Ministry RIA Novosti 03 May 2012 -- Creation of a missile defense system for Europe may neutralize the deterrent of China's nuclear weapons much sooner than Russia's.
• Russia Sees Missile Defense as ‘Space Threat’ RIA Novosti 03 May 2012 -- A European missile defense system may threaten Russian satellites, Space Defense Forces chief Lt. Gen. Oleg Ostapenko said.
• Iranian Missile Program 'No Threat to Europe Yet' - Miraillet RIA Novosti 03 May 2012 -- Iran’s ballistic missile program does not yet pose a threat to Europe or the United States.
• Moscow Hosts Missile-Defense Meeting RFE/RL 03 May 2012 -- Russia is hosting a conference on missile defense today in the capital, Moscow.
• Navy to Christen USNS Cesar Chavez DoD 03 May 2012
• Air Force accepts final F-22 Raptor AFNS 03 May 2012 -- Senior Air Force officials attended a ceremony here May 2 commemorating the delivery of the final F-22 Raptor to the service.
• Little Rock AFB members say goodbye to last C-130E AFNS 03 May 2012 -- Airmen gathered for a ceremony here May 1 to say goodbye to the first C-130E Hercules ever produced and the last one to be retired.
• USNS MERCY (T-AH 19) departs for Pacific Partnership 2012 NNS 03 May 2012 -- SAN DIEGO, CA - U.S. Pacific Fleet's humanitarian and civic assistance (HCA) mission, known as Pacific Partnership, deployed aboard U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) May 3, 2012, for a four-month deployment to the host nations of Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia.
• Pearl Harbor Shipyard Workers Test Corrosion Prototypes NNS 03 May 2012 -- Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility tested prototypes of new equipment under actual work conditions during the first Submarine Corrosion Control Applied Innovation Challenge, April 16-20.
• USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Celebrates 37th Birthday NNS 03 May 2012 -- The crew of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) paused to celebrate the 37th anniversary of the ship's commissioning with an all hands picnic, May 3.
• Underwood Kicks Off Southern Seas 2012 NNS 03 May 2012 -- The Mayport-based Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) began Southern Seas 2012, May 2.
• CSTFL Leader Visits Churchill, Discusses COMPTUEX Training NNS 03 May 2012 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) received a visit from Commander, Strike Force Training Atlantic (CSFTL), while at sea, on its progress though a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), May 1.
• Stavridis: Europe Remains Vital to Current, Future Security AFPS 03 May 2012 -- U.S. European Command, along with NATO allies and other close partnerships in Europe, remains critical to the United States, even as it implements new defense strategic guidance.
• Taiwan to be briefed on Chinese defense minister's U.S. visit CNA 03 May 2012 -- The United States will update Taiwan on Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie's visit to Washington, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
• USNS Mercy Departs for Humanitarian Mission AFPS 03 May 2012 -- Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy left Naval Station San Diego to begin its part in Pacific Partnership 2012.
• U.S., Philippines conclude Balikatan Army News 03 May 2012 -- The Republic of the Philippines and the U.S. celebrated the successes of Exercise Balikatan 2012 during a closing ceremony here April 27.
• Minehound sniff's out explosives at Fort Stewart Army News 03 May 2012 -- Soldiers across the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team recently had an opportunity to train with the Army's newest minesweeping equipment, the Minehound.
• Panetta: Environment Emerges as National Security Concern AFPS 03 May 2012 -- Climate and environmental change are emerging as national security threats that weigh heavily in the Pentagon’s new strategy, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told an environmental group last night.
• DOD Offers First-responder Viewing Site for 9/11 Arraignment AFPS 03 May 2012 -- First responders to the 9/11 attack sites will be able to view military commissions proceedings resulting from the attacks that begin May 5 from a site specifically set up for their use.
• Ground-based air defence systems tested in Olympics security exercise UK MOD 03 May 2012 -- Testing of air defence missile systems as part of the Olympic Games security plan began today at sites across London.
• Russia Seeks to Expand Foothold on Kazakh Arms Market RIA Novosti 03 May 2012 -- Russia is looking to expand its presence on Kazakhstan’s arms market during the Kadex-2012 defense exhibition.
• Young Russian Man Suffering from Cancer Conscripted to Army RIA Novosti 03 May 2012 -- A Russian conscript has been diagnosed with an advanced stage bone cancer four months into his military service.
• Ukraine, Kazakhstan Sign $150 Mln Armored Vehicle Deal RIA Novosti 03 May 2012 -- Ukraine and Kazakhstan are to jointly produce the Ukrainian BTR-4 armored personnel carrier in a $150-million deal signed.
• Indian Army Chief witnesses war exercise ‘Shoorveer’ in Rajasthan desert IRNA 03 May 2012 -- Indian Army carried out battle drills in synergy with the Air Force to fine tune war fighting concepts.
• No Taiwan-China collaboration in South China Sea: official CNA 03 May 2012 -- The island groups in the South China Sea are inherent parts of the territory of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and there will be no cooperation between Taiwan and China in the area.
• Taiwan rejects idea of deploying missiles in S. China Sea CNA 03 May 2012 -- The Ministry of National Defense turned down the idea of Taiwan redeploying short-range air defense missiles in a disputed area in the South China Sea.
• Defense Ministry apologizes for soldier's suicide CNA 03 May 2012 -- Deputy Defense Minister Chao Shih-chang said that he felt misery and regret about the suicide of a military police conscript who killed himself while standing guard at the Presidential Office earlier in the day.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 5/3/12 The White House 03 May 2012
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, May 3, 2012 US Dept. of State 03 May 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 03, 2012

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 03 May 2012 United Nations 03 May 2012
• Press Conference by Security Council President on Work Programme for May United Nations 03 May 2012
• UN Observers See Syria Battered by Violence VOA 03 May 2012 -- U.N. observers toured the battered flashpoint Syrian cities of Homs and Hama.
• Activists Say Syrian Forces Raided College Dorms VOA 03 May 2012 -- Syrian activists say government forces have raided college dorms and killed at least four people after an anti-government protest in Aleppo.
• HRW Accuses Damascus Of War Crimes RFE/RL 03 May 2012 -- Human Rights Watch has accused Damascus of war crimes in last month's run-up to a UN-brokered truce.
• South Sudan Accuses North of New Bombings VOA 03 May 2012 -- South Sudan is accusing Sudan of bombing its border region Thursday despite a U.N. Security Council warning for the countries to end hostilities or face sanctions.
• Sudan Accepts AU Peace Roadmap VOA 03 May 2012 -- The African Union says Sudan has accepted an AU roadmap for halting violence and resolving issues with neighboring South Sudan.
• Gulf Council Warns Iran About Stirring Up Trouble RFE/RL 03 May 2012 -- Saudi Arabia has again warned Iran not to stir up trouble among Gulf Arab states.
• Trial Of Fugitive Iraqi Vice President Postponed RFE/RL 03 May 2012 -- The trial in absentia of Iraq's fugitive Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi has been postponed for a week, until May 10.
• UN envoy urges Israel to preserve health of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike UN News Centre 03 May 2012 -- A senior UN official said he was deeply troubled by reports about the critical condition of at least two Palestinians being held by Israel, who have been on hunger strike for over two months.
• DR Congo: UN envoy concerned about possible sexual violence amid latest fighting UN News Centre 03 May 2012 -- A top United Nations official has voiced her concern about the latest wave of fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Deadly Blasts Rock North Caucasus City RIA Novosti 03 May 2012 -- Two powerful blasts rocked the Dagestani capital of Makhachkala evening, killing five people and injuring 17, a law enforcement source in the city told RIA Novosti, citing the latest information.
• LIBYA: Detained migrants face harsh conditions, legal limbo IRIN 03 May 2012 -- During Libya’s uprising, a number of sub-Saharan African migrants were accused of working as mercenaries for Gaddafi.
• Impunity remains a concern in Burundi despite progress on human rights – UN official UN News Centre 03 May 2012 -- Burundi is making progress in improving it human rights record, but impunity remains a challenge, a senior United Nations official said.
• Report: In Burundi, Hundreds of Extrajudicial Killings VOA 03 May 2012 -- Human Rights Watch released an 81-page report on Wednesday in the capital, Bujumbura, documenting scores of killings by state agents and rebel groups.
• OSCE Says Kosovo Serbs Can Vote In Serbian Polls RFE/RL 03 May 2012 -- The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe says that ethnic Serbs in Kosovo are eligible to cast their ballots in the Serbian parliamentary and presidential elections this weekend.
• Serbia's Tadic Vows EU Integration if Reelected President RIA Novosti 03 May 2012 -- Serbia's Boris Tadic, who stepped down as president last month ahead of May elections, said he would keep Serbia on the path to European integration if elected to a third term.
• Romanian President Says Moldova 'No Buffer Zone' RFE/RL 03 May 2012 -- Romania's head of state says neighboring Moldova should no longer be regarded as a buffer zone between NATO and Russia.

News Reports

• World Powers Urge Iran to Grant Access to Nuclear Sites VOA 03 May 2012 -- World powers are pressuring Iran for "urgent" access to sites involving its controversial nuclear program.
• World Powers Urge Iran To Give Nuclear Access RFE/RL 03 May 2012 -- The five permanent members of the UN Security Council have stepped up the pressure on Iran to allay international concerns about its nuclear program.
• Group5+1 countries prepare ground for Iran, G5+1 talks IRNA 03 May 2012 -- G5+1 countries are preparing the ground for nuclear talks with Iran, French Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Bernard Valero said.
• Iran and Russia talk on next round of Iran G5+1 negotiations IRNA 03 May 2012 -- Deputy Secretary of IRI National Security Council Ali Baqeri-Kiani and Deputy Foreign Minister of Russian Federation Sergei Ryabkov talked on next round of Iran-Group 5+1’s next round of nuclear talks.
• Bushehr to Switch to Full Capacity from Late May RIA Novosti 03 May 2012 -- Bushehr, Iran’s first nuclear power plant, will start switching to full capacity from May 23, Atomstroyexport, part of Russia's civilian nuclear power corporation Rosatom, said.
• S. Korea Satisfied with UN Tightening of N. Korea Sanctions VOA 03 May 2012 -- South Korea is declaring itself satisfied with the latest action by the U.N. Security Council against its arch-rival, North Korea.
• Bahrain Ratifies Changes to Constitution VOA 03 May 2012 -- Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Thursday approved changes to the country's constitution aimed at ending a nearly 15-month-old popular revolt in the Gulf state.
• Attack on people protesting army rule in Cairo leave 20 dead IRNA 03 May 2012 -- At least 20 people protesting the army rule were killed and more than 160 people were wounded in the Egyptian capital outside the Defence Ministry on Wednesday.
• Chen Guangcheng: The Man Suddenly At The Center Of U.S.-China Relations RFE/RL 03 May 2012 -- Chen Guangcheng is no stranger to adversity. Nor is he a stranger to the limelight. But with his dash for refuge at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and his plea days later to come to the United States, the activist now finds himself at the center of an unfolding crisis between two world powers.
• Secretary Clinton Remarks at U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue Opening Session US Dept. of State 03 May 2012
• Blind Chinese Activist Faces Familiar Choice VOA 03 May 2012 -- After leaving the U.S. embassy and checking into a Chinese hospital, Chen Guangcheng may have lost his best chance to leave the country.
• US Looking to Meet Again With Chinese Dissident Chen VOA 03 May 2012 -- U.S. officials say they are trying to meet again with Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, who is now appealing for asylum in the United States after leaving the U.S. embassy in Beijing.
• Activist Accuses Chinese Police of Blocking Access to US Diplomats VOA 03 May 2012 -- The blind Chinese human rights activist at the center of a festering diplomatic standoff between Beijing and Washington said he believes Chinese authorities are blocking U.S. officials from contacting him in a Beijing hospital.
• Blind activist wants to leave China: friends CNA 03 May 2012 -- Two Chinese who had access to blind activist Chen Guangcheng said that after learning what was happening around him, Chen has changed his mind and said he and his family would like to leave China.
• Chinese Dissident Changes Mind, Now Wants US Asylum VOA 03 May 2012 -- Questions hang over the fate of blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, who is now appealing for asylum in the United States.
• Chinese Dissident Now Seeking U.S. Asylum RFE/RL 03 May 2012 -- The United States has confirmed that the blind Chinese activist at the center of a diplomatic standoff between Washington and Beijing now wants to leave China with his family.
• Clinton Urges China to Protect Human Rights VOA 03 May 2012 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged China to protect human rights, at the start of annual talks in Beijing that have been overshadowed by the case of a dissident who is seeking U.S. protection.
• West African Leaders Meet on Guinea-Bissau, Mali VOA 03 May 2012 -- West African heads of state are meeting in Senegal's capital, Dakar, to talk about what one official called the "double crisis" of Guinea-Bissau and Mali.
• Secretary-General concerned over worsening situation in Guinea-Bissau UN News Centre 03 May 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban expressed deep concern that despite the international community’s calls for the restoration of civilian rule in Guinea-Bissau, the military junta there remains in power.
• Russia’s Election Chief Receives State Honor RIA Novosti 03 May 2012 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev decorated Central Election Commission head Vladimir Churov with the Order of Alexander Nevsky.
• Russia Vows to Avenge U.S. Visa Bans for Russian Officials RIA Novosti 03 May 2012 -- Russian will not leave U.S. “attempts to interfere in our domestic affairs” without response, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
• Latvia President Urges Reconciliation of Red Army, Waffen SS Vets RIA Novosti 03 May 2012 -- Latvian President Andris Berzins has called on World War II veterans who had fought on different sides to bury the hatchet, the presidential press service said.