Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• 'Diligent' Battalion focuses on Afghan partnership Army News 17 Jun 2012 -- The 701st Brigade Support Battalion, a support unit for 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, officially assumed responsibility for support operations in eastern Afghanistan's Paktika Province June 11 from the 172D Support Battalion.
• 'Dragon' Brigade to focus on Afghan partnership Army News 17 Jun 2012 -- Since the brigade stood up in 2006, combat actions were its primary function. But for more than a year, the brigade has been preparing for a role unknown to them: advisory.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Senator Urges Independent Probe of National Security Leaks VOA 17 Jun 2012 -- An influential U.S. senator has added his voice to a growing chorus urging an independent probe of national security leaks to the news media.The chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Joseph Lieberman, appeared on U.S. television Sunday.
• Historian Describes 'Stonewall' Jackson's Rise to Prominence AFPS 17 Jun 2012 -- A hundred and fifty years after Confederate Army Maj. Gen. Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson's Valley Campaign, a renowned Civil War historian spoke about it at the Pentagon, describing how a great success can boost a military leader's reputation to the point that it has a major impact on his future operations.
• International Partnerships Strengthened at Navy Receptions NNS 17 Jun 2012 -- Receptions for American and coalition military personnel and dignitaries were held, June 14, aboard the Danish navy ship HDMS Esbern Snare (L-17) and German navy ship FGS Hessen (F-221) during Navy Week Baltimore 2012.
• UK to Allocate $1.5 Bln to Build Reactors for Next Generation Submarines RIA Novosti 17 Jun 2012 -- The UK will allocate 1 billion pounds ($1.5 billion) for building two reactors for next-generation nuclear-powered submarines, the BBC reported on Sunday.
• Navy to retire six-decade-old ship CNA 17 Jun 2012 -- The Republic of China Navy will retire one of its vessels, which had been earlier scheduled to be scrapped before it entered Taiwanese military service in 1987, military officials said in Taipei Sunday.
• Rodong Sinmun on Japan's Attempt to Purchase F-35 KCNA 17 Jun 2012 -- Japan's attempt to purchase F-35 is a vivid expression of its wild ambition.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Head of UN mission appeals for release of civilians trapped in Syria violence UN News Centre 17 Jun 2012 -- The chief United Nations observer in Syria has appealed to the parties to enable civilians trapped by the escalating violence to leave conflict zones.
• Syrian Government Forces Escalate Attacks VOA 17 Jun 2012 -- Syrian government forces stepped up their attacks across the country Sunday, employing artillery barrages in the flashpoint city of Homs, as well as the suburbs of Damascus and Aleppo, and the towns of Rastan, Telbiseh and Deir ez Zor.
• Russia Rejects Media Reports of Sending Warship to Syria RIA Novosti 17 Jun 2012 -- The media reports that a large Russian amphibious ship carrying weapons and troops was en route to Syria are false, a source in the Russian Black Sea Fleet told RIA Novosti on Sunday.
• Libya: UN envoy calls on authorities to address root causes of recent conflicts UN News Centre 17 Jun 2012 -- The top United Nations envoy in Libya has voiced his concern at renewed fighting in several localities that has led to a number of deaths, injuries and displacement, and called on the authorities to address the causes of the conflicts and protect civilians.

News Reports

• Intelligence minister: 20 agents behind nuclear scientists assassinations arrested IRNA 17 Jun 2012 -- Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi said on Sunday that 20 agents behind assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists have been arrested.
• MP: West has no choice but acknowledge Iran's nuclear rights IRNA 17 Jun 2012 -- Chairman of National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Majlis Alaedin Broujerdi said west has no choice other than acknowledging Iran's inalienable nuclear rights.
• Iranian nuclear negotiators arrive in Moscow IRNA 17 Jun 2012 -- Iran's team of nuclear negotiators, led by Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, arrived in the Russian capital Sunday.
• Iran expects G5+1 to abide by former accords IRNA 17 Jun 2012 -- Deputy Secretary of the Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Bagheri, said on Sunday that Iran expects G5+1 to abide by the former accords made in the context of Istanbul-2 and Baghdad talks by Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili and EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton.
• President: IR Iran ready for Moscow talks IRNA 17 Jun 2012 -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared to negotiate with the Group 5+1 in an upcoming meeting slated for June 18-19 in Moscow about 20-percent uranium enrichment.
• Baqeri: G5+1 should be committed to previous agreements in Moscow IRNA 17 Jun 2012 -- Deputy secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Ali Baqeri, called for Group 5+1's abiding by the agreements of Istanbul2 and Baghdad, and during a telephone conversation between SNSC's secretary, Saeed Jalili, and EU's foreign policy chief.
• Iran has firm stance in Moscow talks: Informed source IRNA 17 Jun 2012 -- An informed source in team of Iranian nuclear negotiators said here on Sunday that the Islamic Republic of Iran has adopted a firm stance in the upcoming talks slated for June 18-19 in Moscow.
• Egypt Polls Close, Military Asserts Power VOA 17 Jun 2012 -- Egyptians are awaiting the results of an election for their first post-revolution president. But shortly after the polls closed, the role of the new leader became less certain.
• Low Voter Turnout Reported in Egypt's Round-Off Vote VOA 17 Jun 2012 -- An official of the U.S.-based group Human Rights Watch (HRW) says it appears there was low voter turnout during Egypt's two-day presidential round-off vote.
• Analysts: Egyptian Military Likely to Come Out on Top in Presidential Runoff VOA 17 Jun 2012 -- It was pushing 40 degrees Celsius in Cairo as Egypt's presidential runoff election was in its second and final day. But as voters around the country cast their ballots for a successor to ousted president Hosni Mubarak, they did not know what powers their new leader would have, nor what checks on his authority there would be.
• Greek Pro-Bailout Parties Begin Coalition Talks RFE/RL 17 Jun 2012 -- Alexis Tsipras, leader of the antibailout Syriza party, has conceded defeat in Sunday's parliamentary elections in Greece.
• Greek Conservative Party Projected to Win Parliamentary Election VOA 17 Jun 2012 -- The Greeks voted again Sunday after an inconclusive general election in May failed to produce a government. Greece's conservative New Democracy party is projected to win Sunday's parliamentary elections. Official estimates show New Democracy winning 29.5 percent of the vote, with the leftist Syriza party receiving 27.1 percent.
• French Socialists Win Majority in Parliamentary Vote VOA 17 Jun 2012 -- Initial results show that France's Socialist Party has captured the absolute majority of the country's National Assembly seats in Sunday's runoff elections, giving newly elected President Francois Hollande a strong mandate to carry out his economic policies. But the French elections were shadowed by those in Greece, which might determine that country's future in the eurozone.