Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 11 May 2012 [PDF]
• Most 'Green on Blue' Attacks Individually Motivated AFPS 11 May 2012 -- The Defense Department believes recent incidents in which members of the Afghan National Security Forces have attacked their coalition trainers are individual acts of grievance, a senior DOD spokesman said today.
• ISAF Condemns Taliban Bomb Attack in Helmand Province AFPS 11 May 2012 -- The International Security Assistance Force today condemned yesterday's Taliban roadside-bomb attack that killed seven innocent civilians in Afghanistan's Helmand province, military officials reported.
• EOD Marines return home USMC News 11 May 2012 -- Eighteen Marines were welcomed home here May 4 after a six and a half-month deployment in Afghanistan.
• Uniformed Attacker Kills NATO Soldier in Afghanistan VOA 11 May 2012 -- An attacker wearing an Afghan army uniform has opened fire on a group of NATO troops in eastern Afghanistan, killing one service member.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DOD Announces the Expansion of Defense Industrial Base (DIB) Voluntary Cybersecurity Information Sharing Activities DoD 11 May 2012 -- The Department of Defense in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security announced today important developments in defense industrial base cyber security activities.
• DOD Expands Contractor Cyber-threat Protection Program AFPS 11 May 2012 -- The Defense Department is expanding one pilot program and enhancing another, both of which involve sharing cyber-threat data with cleared defense contractors who work with DOD intellectual property, senior defense officials said yesterday.
• Panetta, Bahraini Crown Prince Meet at Pentagon AFPS 11 May 2012 -- Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta and Bahraini Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa met today at the Pentagon to discuss regional and bilateral issues, a senior DOD official said.
• Readout of Secretary Panetta's Meeting with the Bahraini Crown Prince DoD 11 May 2012
• Underwood Rescues Peruvian Fishermen NNS 11 May 2012 -- Sailors assigned to the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) rescued six Peruvian fishermen drifting in a disabled vessel off the coast of Peru, May 10.
• Expeditionary Training Group Reaches Exercise Milestone NNS 11 May 2012 -- Expeditionary Training Group (ETG) reached a milestone May 3, when the command conducted and assessed an integrated certification exercise for three commands that will deploy together.
• Phoenix Express 2012 Conducts Maritime Interdiction Training NNS 11 May 2012 -- Maritime forces participated in a multinational maritime interdiction operation (MIO) training exercise at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operation Center in Souda Bay, Greece, as part of exercise Phoenix Express 2012 (PE12), May 10.
• Navy Lays Keel for PCU North Dakota NNS 11 May 2012 -- The Navy celebrated the keel laying of Pre-Commissioning Unit North Dakota (SSN 784) at General Dynamics Electric Boat-Quonset Point division in North Kingstown, May 11.
• USS Blue Ridge Sailors Work to Sustain Indonesian Partnership NNS 11 May 2012 -- Sailors from 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), embarked 7th Fleet staff and Marines assigned to Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Pacific arrived in Jakarta for a port visit, strengthening bonds between the American and Indonesian navies and governments, May 11.
• NAVFAC Southwest Awards $7.3 Million Contract to Renovate Monterey BEQ NNS 11 May 2012 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest awarded Bilbro Construction Co. Inc. of Escondido, Calif. a $7.3 million contract April 30 for a design-build renovation of Watkins Hall bachelor enlisted quarters (BEQ) located at Naval Support Activity Monterey.
• VFA-151 Receives Top Hook Award NNS 11 May 2012 -- The Vigilantes of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151 were named as the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 Top Hook squadron for carrier landing performance aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), April 20.
• U.S., Kuwaiti military holds MEDEVAC exercise Army News 11 May 2012 -- Third Army and the Kuwait military conducted a joint medical evacuation exercise April 26.
• U.S. Vows to Go Ahead with Missile Shield, Hopes for Russia's Cooperation RIA Novosti 11 May 2012 -- The United States and NATO will proceed with its European missile defense program despite Russia's concerns while continuing to seek Moscow's cooperation on the issue, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon said.
• 'Whole-of-Government' Focus Boosts Eucom's Effectiveness AFPS 11 May 2012 -- Some staff members at U.S. European Command, the oldest and in some people's view, most traditional of the U.S. combatant commands, thought the 'whole-of-government' concept introduced about three years ago was nothing but a fad.
• Bulk fuel Marines set up, run amphibious assault fuel system USMC News 11 May 2012 -- Bulk fuel Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion conducted an amphibious assault fuel system exercise at the Camp Hansen parade deck May 7.
• Top U.S. General Condemns Anti-Islamic Training Course RFE/RL 11 May 2012 -- The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff has condemned a Defense Department training course that taught troops to prepare for a "total war" against Islam.
• NATO Chief Looks To Summit, Dismisses Russian Rhetoric On Missile Shield RFE/RL 11 May 2012 -- NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has dismissed recent warnings by Russian officials about the defense alliance's plans to set up a missile-defense system in Europe
• Afghanistan, capabilities and partnerships top busy Chicago Summit agenda NATO 11 May 2012 -- Afghanistan, future capabilities and strengthening partnerships will top the agenda of next week’s Chicago Summit, said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on 11 May 2012.
• CDS explains reasons for changes to Joint Strike Fighter capability UK MOD 11 May 2012 -- Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards has written in today's Daily Telegraph why the MOD's decision to use the short take-off and vertical landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter to deliver the UK's Carrier Strike capability is the right one. Here follows the full article.
• India Inks $660 Mln Deal to Buy U.S. Howitzers RIA Novosti 11 May 2012 -- India has signed a $660 million contract on the purchase 145 M777 ultralight howitzers manufactured in the U.S. by BAE Systems Land & Armaments, IANS news agency reported on Friday.
• American Hypersonic Weapons 'Threat to Russia' - Rogozin RIA Novosti 11 May 2012 -- American research into hypersonic weapons, which the U.S. aims to complete by 2015, represents an especially serious threat to Russia, acting Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Friday.
• Russia, Norway to Hold Joint Naval Drills RIA Novosti 11 May 2012 -- The Russian-Norwegian Pomor-2012 naval drills will begin in the Arctic on Friday, the Russian Northern Fleet spokesman said.
• In UN-backed meeting, countries reaffirm their commitment to ban nuclear testing UN News Centre 11 May 2012 -- Meeting in Vienna today, members of the United Nations-backed treaty to ban nuclear testing reiterated their commitment to seek a safer world without nuclear weapons.
• May 11, 2012 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 11 May 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 11, 2012

Other Conflicts

• 11 May 2012 - Daily Press Briefing by the Offices of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General and the Spokesperson for the General Assembly President United Nations 11 May 2012
• Mass Protests Across Syria, Bomb Plot Foiled VOA 11 May 2012 -- Mass protests broke out across Syria on Friday, a day after at least 55 people were killed in twin bombings that marked the deadliest attack since the start of the anti-government uprising 14 months ago.
• U.S. Provided $40 Mln for Syria Relief Efforts RIA Novosti 11 May 2012 -- The United States has allocated $40 million to assist relief agencies aiding victims of the Syrian crisis, the Department of State has said.
• Mass Protests Break Out in Syria After Bombings VOA 11 May 2012 -- Mass protests broke out across Syria on Friday, a day after at least 55 people were killed in twin bombings that marked the deadliest attack since the start of the anti-government uprising 14 months ago.
• Evidences show China's sovereignty over Huangyan Island China.org 11 May 2012 -- From ancient times to the present, China's absolute territorial sovereignty over Huangyan Island has been well supported by historical records and international laws, according to a report in the People's Liberation Army Daily yesterday.
• Protesters Rally in China, Philippines Against S. China Sea Claim VOA 11 May 2012 -- Activists opposed to China's territorial claims in the South China Sea marched on the Chinese embassy in Manila Friday, further escalating the two countries' territorial dispute.
• UN official voices concern over human rights situation in eastern DR Congo UN News Centre 11 May 2012 -- A senior United Nations official today voiced concern over the human rights situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has experienced a recent upsurge in violence.
• South Sudan must sustain efforts to protect human rights, says UN official UN News Centre 11 May 2012 -- Welcoming South Sudan's commitment to human rights, a top United Nations official today encouraged the country on its 'very long and difficult path to peace, prosperity and a full realization of human rights,' and stressed the importance of addressing issues such as arbitrary detentions, torture and violence against women.
• South Sudan Skeptical of Talks with Khartoum, Report Says VOA 11 May 2012 -- A new report from the Enough Project says South Sudan's leadership is showing more reluctance than before to engage Khartoum to settle outstanding issues, following recent bouts of violence.
• Pakistan, India to hold talks on Siachen on June 11-12 IRNA 11 May 2012 -- Pakistan and India will hold top level talks on the long-standing dispute over Siachen in Islamabad on June 11-12, the Foreign Ministry has said.
• Russia Again Alleges Georgian Connivance With Chechen Militants RFE/RL 11 May 2012 -- Russia’s Antiterrorism Committee (NAK) issued a statement on May 10 claiming that the Federal Security Service (FSB), in cooperation with its Abkhaz counterpart, had found a huge arms cache on Abkhaz territory that self-styled Caucasus Emirate leader Doku Umarov intended to use to attack targets in Sochi in the run-up to - and during - the 2014 Winter Olympics.
• UN-backed African initiative keeps Lord's Resistance Army on the run – official UN News Centre 11 May 2012 -- The United Nations-backed military initiative launched recently by the African Union against the terror group known as the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has kept its members constantly on the move and unable to settle down in any one place for long, according to a UN envoy.
• Charles Taylor's Lawyers Say Proposed Sentence is Vindictive VOA 11 May 2012 -- Lawyers for Charles Taylor are protesting the 80-year jail sentence being sought by prosecutors after Taylor's conviction for crimes against humanity.

News Reports

• Ruling Party Wins Big in Algerian Elections VOA 11 May 2012 -- Algeria on Friday declared its ruling party the winner of a parliamentary election.
• IR of Iran is well-informed about West's plots, says Ahmadinejad IRNA 11 May 2012 -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asked the West to abandon dictatorship, adding that IR of Iran is well informed about western plots against Tehran.
• Soltaniyeh: Iran to continue uranium enrichment IRNA 11 May 2012 -- The Preparatory Session of nuclear NPT Revision Committee ended activities here Friday after a fortnight with its manor news being Iran's message of incessant pursuance of its peaceful nuclear activities, including continuing uranium enrichment.
• DPRK Foreign Minister Slams UN's Application of Double Standards KCNA 11 May 2012 -- Now the UN has been abused for justifying the high-handed practices and application of double standards by a tiny handful of its member states instead of speaking for the general will of all countries, said DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun who is head of its delegation at the ministerial meeting of non-aligned countries in Egypt Wednesday.
• DPRK Experiences High-temperature Weather KCNA 11 May 2012 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has been experiencing exceptionally high temperature weather.
• Rodong Sinmun Calls for Attaining This Year's Goal of Grain Production KCNA 11 May 2012 -- Rodong Sinmun Friday editorially calls upon the whole party and country and all the people to turn out as one to attain without fail the goal of grain production set by the Workers' Party of Korea and translate into reality the last instructions of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il who walked along lanes across fields all their lives.
• Despite concerns, Iraq making progress on path to stability – UN envoy UN News Centre 11 May 2012 -- Despite some predictions in the wake of the United States troop withdrawal from Iraq, the Middle Eastern country is making progress on its path to stability, according to the United Nations envoy there.
• Guinea Opposition Calls for More Protests VOA 11 May 2012 -- Guinea's opposition called on its supporters to not go out or do business Friday in an effort to shut down the capital, Conakry. The opposition said it will hold daily protests against alleged fraud in the organization of much-delayed legislative elections until the government consents to dialogue. The movement kicked off Thursday with a march through the capital that descended into riots and clashes with security forces that injured at least 30 people.
• Double Agent in U.S. Plane Bomb Plot 'British National' RIA Novosti 11 May 2012 -- The spy who helped thwart a plot to bomb a U.S.-bound plane was a British national of Middle Eastern origin, U.S. media reported, quoting unidentified sources.
• Russian Arms Dealer Bout Faces 'Supermax' Prison RIA Novosti 11 May 2012 -- The U.S. penitentiary authority has ordered transferring convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout from his Brooklyn jail to a super maximum security prison in Colorado, defense lawyer Andrei Garkusha told RIA Novosti on Friday.
• American Family Believes Missing Son Held in North Korea VOA 11 May 2012 -- The parents of an American college student, who went missing in China nearly eight years ago, are now certain he is being held in North Korea. But authorities in Washington and Beijing say there is no evidence about the fate of David Sneddon.
• Superjet 100 Crash Probe May Take More than One Year RIA Novosti 11 May 2012 -- It may take experts up to 15 months to investigate the crash of a Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft in Indonesia, a representative of the Indonesian transport security committee said on Friday.