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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 21 May 2012 [PDF]
• At NATO summit, Ban urges commitment to 'enduring' support for Afghanistan UN News Centre 21 May 2012 -- While re-affirming the continued engagement of the United Nations in Afghanistan, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged the country's international partners to remain committed to supporting the Central Asian nation even as they pull out their troops.
• Summit Charts NATO Course in Afghanistan, for Future AFPS 21 May 2012 -- NATO hasn't just endured, it has thrived, President Barack Obama said at the conclusion of the alliance's summit in Chicago.
• Panetta Thanks Central Asian Nations for Distribution Network AFPS 21 May 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta expressed his appreciation today to several Central Asian nations for allowing the transit of troops and goods through their territory to supply the International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan.
• Readout of Secretary Panetta's Meeting with Ministers from Central Asian Nations DoD 21 May 2012
• Combined Afghan, Coalition Force Detains Taliban Facilitator AFPS 21 May 2012 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban facilitator in the Zharay district of Afghanistan's Kandahar province today, military officials reported.
• Allen Explains Priorities in Afghanistan AFPS 21 May 2012 -- Coalition forces will fulfill their missions in Afghanistan, Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen said yesterday.
• ISAF Nations to Decide on Next Transition Milestone AFPS 21 May 2012 -- Representatives from 50 nations that contribute to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan will decide today on the next milestone for the transition in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama said here today.
• World leaders gather at NATO Summit to commit to Afghan future NATO 21 May 2012 -- International leaders are meeting on Monday, May 21, at the NATO Summit in Chicago to discuss how to complete the NATO-led ISAF mission in Afghanistan by the end of 2014 and how to show their continued commitment to the Afghan people beyond that date.
• Obama: World Has Vital Interest in Success of Afghanistan Mission VOA 21 May 2012 -- President Barack Obama said the world has a vital interest in the long-term success of the NATO mission in Afghanistan.
• Panetta: U.S., Pakistan Progressing in Supply-line Talks AFPS 21 May 2012 -- The United States continues to negotiate with Pakistan toward a resolution that will lead to the reopening of transport routes that have been closed since November to supplies bound for troops in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said here today.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Remarks by Secretary of Defense Panetta and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Shinseki at the James Lovell Federal Health Care Center DoD 21 Apr 2012 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki
• 26th MEU practices underwater egress USMC News 21 May 2012
• Navy Welcomes USS San Diego to the Fleet NNS 21 May 2012 -- The U.S. Navy commissioned the latest San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) during a ceremony in San Diego, May 19.
• Mass Casualty Drill Brings Phoenix Express 2 Shore Training to a Close NNS 21 May 2012 -- Service members from Algeria, Greece, Morocco, Turkey and the U.S. teamed up aboard guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) to conduct a mass casualty drill in support of Exercise Phoenix Express 2012 (PE12) in Souda Bay, Crete, May 18.
• USS Carl Vinson Strike Group Returns to San Diego May 23 NNS 21 May 2012 -- Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), and guided missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97) are scheduled to return to their homeport of San Diego, May 23.
• UNITAS Pacific 53-12 Participants Prepare for Advanced Phase NNS 21 May 2012 -- Commanding officers of the Chilean, Colombian, Mexican, Peruvian and U.S. Navy ships participating in UNITAS Pacific (PAC) gathered aboard Peruvian frigate Mariategui (FM 54) for a mid-exercise brief, May 19.
• Experts meet to discuss COIN manual revision Army News 21 May 2012 -- More than 200 military practitioners and civilian counterinsurgency theorists, academicians, and representatives from civilian research institutions met at Fort Leavenworth May 8-11 to provide input to the Counterinsurgency Center's revision of the Army/Marine Corps counterinsurgency manual.
• Navy Secretary Hosts USS Hudner Naming Ceremony DoD 21 May 2012-- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will host a ship naming ceremony in honor of the USS Thomas Hudner on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at 11 a.m. EDT on board the USS Constitution at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, Mass.
• Electronic Health Record Milestone DoD 21 May 2012 -- Today, Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced a milestone in the Integrated Electronic Health Record (iEHR) effort: in 2014, initial capabilities of iEHR will be rolled out at two test sites
• Rotational Deployments to Boost U.S. Asia-Pacific Presence AFPS 21 May 2012 -- Welcoming new Marine rotational deployments in Australia and Navy rotations planned for Singapore, the top U.S. Pacific Command officer said he'll seek similar arrangements, possibly to include the Army, that expand U.S. presence in the region without the need for more permanently based forces.
• U.S. Held 5 Inspections of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces - SMF Commander RIA Novosti 21 May 2012 -- U.S. military inspectors have conducted five inspections of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) arsenal over the last six months as part of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-3), SMF Commander Lt. Gen. Sergei Karakayev said on Monday.
• Putin Maintains Control over Government (WRAP) RIA Novosti 21 May 2012 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin looks set to dominate the country’s new government after the appointment of loyalists to key cabinet posts on Monday, in a move that raises questions over the role of new Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
• NATO Commits to Leaner, More Effective Command VOA 21 May 2012 -- In addition to pledging an 'irreversible transition' in Afghanistan, NATO's 28 partner nations agreed at their Chicago summit on steps to ensure the alliance's viability, and its ability to respond effectively to future threats and challenges in tight economic times.
• NATO leaders meet with partners in Chicago NATO 21 May 2012 -- NATO Allies welcomed in Chicago leaders from partner countries from across the globe in different partnership meetings and thanked them for the contributions they make to the work of the Alliance.
• NATO Chicago summit meets its goals NATO 21 May 2012 -- NATO leaders concluded a decisive summit in Chicago on 21 May, taking key decisions on the Alliance’s future engagement in Afghanistan, military capabilities and worldwide partnerships.
• Clinton Affirms NATO Open-door Membership Policy AFPS 21 May 2012 -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said at NATO's summit in Chicago today that member nations are committed to the organization's open-door membership policy, which she called a 'powerful motivation' for countries wishing to join the alliance.
• NATO Secretary General Terms Summit a Success AFPS 21 May 2012 -- Heads of state and government, their foreign and defense ministers and others who gathered in Chicago have accomplished what they set out to do, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said today.
• NATO Unveils 'Working' European Missile Shield At Chicago Summit RFE/RL 21 May 2012 -- NATO has announced that its long-planned European missile shield is up and running, with a basic capability to shoot down incoming missiles.
• Rasmussen Announces First Step of European Missile Defense RIA Novosti 21 May 2012 -- NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has announced the 'first step' of a European missile defense system at a NATO summit in Chicago.
• Moscow Reiterates Missile Defense Threats RIA Novosti 21 May 2012 -- Moscow recapitulated its position on European missile defense Monday, saying it will reserve the right to retaliate unless it receives legal guarantees that a NATO missile defense will not be directed at it.
• China set to build two aircraft carriers: Taiwanese official CNA 21 May 2012 -- China has plans to build two aircraft carriers in the coming years, with an estimated completion period of seven years, a Taiwanese security official said Monday.
• Defects Spotted in Ukrainian Armored Vehicles for Iraq RIA Novosti 21 May 2012 -- Baghdad experts have discovered serious defects in the armored vehicles Ukraine has manufactured for Iraq, Ukraine's Segondya daily reported on Monday.
• U.S. congress to continue pushing for advanced arms sales to Taiwan CNA 21 May 2012 -- The United States Congress will continue to push for sales of advanced weapons to Taiwan to meet its defense needs, a senior congresswoman pledged in Taipei Monday.
• Japanese Boost Nuclear Submarine Reactor Disposal RIA Novosti 21 May 2012 -- Seventy reactors from decommissioned nuclear submarines are scheduled for disposal in Russia's Far Eastern Primorye Territory by 2020, the regional Legislative Assembly has reported.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 21, 2012

Other Conflicts

• 21 May 2012 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 21 May 2012
• Ban and President of France discuss Syria and other issues at NATO summit UN News Centre 21 May 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today discussed various issues of global concern with President François Hollande of France, including the situation in Syria and the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, next month.
• UN peacekeeping chief in Syria to assess progress of military observers UN News Centre 21 May 2012 -- The head of UN peacekeeping, Hervé Ladsous, today met with Syrian government and opposition group representatives in the city of Homs, during a visit to assess progress made on the ground by UN military observers.
• Airlift takes home thousands of South Sudanese citizens from Sudan – UN official UN News Centre 21 May 2012 -- So far, some 4,200 of the estimated 12,000 South Sudanese who were stranded at a river port in Sudan for months awaiting transportation back to their country have been flown to Juba, in South Sudan, in an ongoing airlift, a senior United Nations official said today.
• Somali Leaders Race to Meet August 20 Transition Deadline VOA 21 May 2012 -- The leaders of Somalia's competing political factions are meeting with international mediators to tackle critical issues standing in the way of the formation of a post-transition government.
• Taiwan will not work with China on South China Sea issues: official CNA 21 May 2012 -- It is impossible that Taiwan will cooperate with China on issues related to the disputed South China Sea region at present, an official told lawmakers Monday.
• SRI LANKA: Legacy of war - unemployment and homelessness IRIN 21 May 2012 -- Life is slowly returning to normal in northern Sri Lanka, but three years after a decades-long conflict was officially declared over, jobs and housing are the prevailing concerns of returnees.
• NATO: Russia Must Revise Recognition of Abkhazia, S.Ossetia RIA Novosti 21 May 2012 -- NATO member states once again called on Russia on Monday to reverse Moscow's decision concerning the recognition of the former Georgian republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
• Mbeki Expects Sudans to Resume Talks Soon VOA 21 May 2012 -- The head of the African Union panel mediating talks between Sudan and South Sudan says he expects the two countries to agree on a date to resume negotiations this week.
• State Media Blames Kachin Rebels for Electricity Shortage in Burma VOA 21 May 2012 -- Rare street protests of months of electricity cuts are being held in Burma's second-largest city, Mandalay. Burma's state media blames attacks by ethnic-Kachin rebels for worsening chronic power shortages.

News Reports

• North Korea Warned of Deeper Isolation Should Provocations Continue VOA 21 May 2012 -- A high-level U.S. delegation focused on North Korean matters met with South Korean and Japanese diplomats in Seoul Monday. The group had words of warning for North Korea.
• IAEA Chief, AEOI Head discuss issues of mutual interest IRNA 21 May 2012 -- Director General of the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukio Amano met and conferred with Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Fereydoun Abbassi here on Monday.
• Nuclear talks in Baghdad expected to lead to lifting sanctions IRNA 21 May 2012 -- Nuclear talks with Group 5+1 in Baghdad is expected to lead to lifting sanctions on Iran, Deputy Chairman of Majlis Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy Hojatoleslam Hossein Ibrahimi said on Monday.
• UN Nuclear Chief Seeks Weapons Probe Deal In Tehran RFE/RL 21 May 2012 -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States -- in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on March 23.
• UN, Iran Report Positive Nuclear Talks VOA 21 May 2012 -- A senior Iranian official and the United Nations nuclear affairs chief say they made progress in talks in Tehran Monday, as they laid the groundwork for nuclear negotiations between Iran and major world powers on Wednesday.
• President: No distance between govt., Majlis IRNA 21 May 2012 -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says there is no distance between Majlis and government.
• Security Council and UN chief condemn deadly terrorist attack in Yemen UN News Centre 21 May 2012 -- The United Nations Security Council and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned a terrorist attack in the city of Sana'a, the Yemeni capital, which reportedly killed at least 96 soldiers and wounded more than 300 people.
• Al-Qaida Says Yemen Suicide Bombing Was 'Revenge' VOA 21 May 2012 -- Al-Qaida says a suicide bomber's attack in Yemen that killed at least 96 troops and wounded more than 200 on Monday was revenge for what it called a U.S.-backed war on its followers.
• Scores of Yemeni Soldiers Killed in Bomb Attack VOA 21 May 2012 -- Yemeni officials said a suicide bomber has killed at least 96 soldiers and wounded more than 200 during a military parade rehearsal in the capital Sana'a.
• High-ranking Chinese official on Taiwan affairs makes low-key visit CNA 21 May 2012 -- A Chinese deputy minister for Taiwan affairs, Ye Kedong, arrived in Taipei Monday for a visit at the invitation of the National Policy Foundation, a ruling Kuomintang think tank.
• New leadership in Beijing unlikely to change course on Taiwan: MAC CNA 21 May 2012 -- China is expected to maintain its general approach to cross-Taiwan Strait policies when its fifth generation leader takes power, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in a report Monday.
• U.S. May Extradite Bout Under Bilateral Convention – Foreign Ministry RIA Novosti 21 May 2012 -- Convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout may be sent to Russia under the European Council-backed Russian-U.S Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, though it will require many talks from both sides on the ministerial level, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
• Mali Interim President Attacked, Taken to Hospital VOA 21 May 2012 -- Mali's interim president has been rushed to a hospital after being beaten by protesters who broke into the presidential palace.