Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Airstrike Kills Insurgents in Kunar Province AFPS 21 Aug 2012 -- An airstrike in the Watahpur district of Afghanistan’s Kunar province yesterday killed several insurgents, including an al-Qaida affiliated Taliban leader.
• Indirect fire damages Gen. Dempsey's plane ISAF 21 Aug 2012
• Rocket Attack Hurts 2, Damages Aircraft at Bagram AFPS 21 Aug 2012 -- A rocket attack slightly injured two Air Force maintainers and damaged a C-17 aircraft overnight.
• Afghan Rockets Damage US Military Chief's Plane VOA 21 Aug 2012 -- NATO officials said Afghan militants fired rockets on a U.S. airbase in Afghanistan, damaging a plane used by America's top military officer.
• Afghan Attack Damages U.S. Military Chief’s Plane RFE/RL 21 Aug 2012 -- NATO says a rocket or mortar attack at Bagram Air Field damaged the plane that was used by the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, who was making a visit to Afghanistan.
• RAF Reaper team uncovers Afghan drugs haul UK MOD 21 Aug 2012 -- An RAF team has uncovered a huge stash of drugs in a truck in Afghanistan using a Remotely Piloted Air System.
• Police Chief Fired Over Afghan Insider Attack On NATO RFE/RL 21 Aug 2012 -- An Afghan district police chief has been fired after one of his men killed a NATO soldier.
• Two Navy SEALs Killed in Helicopter Crash NNS 21 Aug 2012 -- Two SEALs died in a helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan, Aug. 16.
• Group of Death Row Inmates Escapes from Central Kabul Prison RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- Fifteen Afghan field commanders sentenced to death escaped from the central Kabul high security prison, the press secretary of the Taliban movement, Zabiulla Modjahed, said.
• Transit Center passenger experience realigned to centralized location AFNS 21 Aug 2012 -- Whether a service member is heading to Afghanistan or redeploying back to their home station, they want their transient experience to be simple.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Motion Hearings to Begin for 9/11 Defendants AFPS 21 Aug 2012 -- Those accused of planning and executing the 9/11 terrorist attacks will be back in court this month for hearings on motions made by the defense and prosecution.
• Dempsey Finds Familiar, Unfamiliar in Baghdad AFPS 21 Aug 2012 -- Arriving in this city had both familiar and unfamiliar aspects for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• Dempsey Arrives in Baghdad for Talks With Iraqi, US Officials AFPS 21 Aug 2012 -- Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey arrived here today for talks with Iraqi and American leaders.
• Top U.S. Military Officer In Iraqi Visit RFE/RL 21 Aug 2012 -- The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, has met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, eight months after the last U.S. troops withdrew from the country.
• Eighth Army taps Army Space Command for Ulchi Freedom Guardian Army News 21 Aug 2012 -- During the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise, Eighth Army typically receives augmentation from other military commands across the Korean Peninsula and around the globe.
• KCNA Commentary on US-S. Korea Military Drills KCNA 21 Aug 2012 -- The U.S. and the south Koreans, oblivious of the historical lesson, have created once again a touch-and-go situation on the Korean Peninsula, the world's biggest hotspot.
• KCNA on US-S. Korean Exercises KCNA 21 Aug 2012 -- The US and the south Koreans finally kicked off Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises
• US Africa Command Denies Plans of Establishing in Bases in Botswana AFRICOM 21 Aug 2012
• Ham Welcomes Regionally Aligned Brigade Focused on Africa AFPS 21 Aug 2012 -- The commander of U.S. Africa Command said he welcomes the arrival next spring of an Army brigade to support U.S. engagement on the African continent.
• Army invests $120 million in basic research partnership to exploit new materials Army News 21 Aug 2012 -- As the nation looks for ways to double the speed and reduce the cost of new advanced materials, recent advances have brought it closer to realizing this ability than ever before.
• Amphibious assault reflects US Marine Corps roots, unity among partners USMC News 21 Aug 2012 -- An amphibious assault defines Marines worldwide.
• McChord C-17 crews begin WinFly to Antarctica AFNS 21 Aug 2012 -- The 62nd Airlift Wing began the winter flying period Aug. 20 as part of its support of the U.S. Antarctic Program and the National Science Foundation.
• Vietnam vets join 21st Cav aviators for Hueys' final lift at Hood Army News 21 Aug 2012 -- The 21st Cavalry Brigade (Air Combat) conducted a ceremonial airlift with the final three UH-1s remaining in the active-duty Army.
• USS Underwood, Carr Resupply At Sea With USNS Sacagawea NNS 21 Aug 2012 -- The USS Underwood and USS Carr took part in an underway replenishment at sea with the supply ship USNS Sacagawea, Aug. 20.
• USS Carr Conducts Last Replenishment at Sea NNS 21 Aug 2012 -- USS Carr conducted what is scheduled to be the ship's last underway replenishment, Aug. 20 before decommissioning in March 2013.
• Task Force Viper Trains at Falcon Focus Army News 21 Aug 2012 -- Task Force Viper is in Camp McGregor, N.M., for Falcon Focus, an eight-week intensive training exercise designed to prepare the brigade for its upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.
• Training at Vibrant Response exercise ensures agile joint force Army News 21 Aug 2012 -- The exercise confirms the operational readiness and tactical capabilities of specialized military forces tasked with responding to natural and man-made incidents in support of local, state, and federal civilian agencies.
• New Training Management Doctrine on its way Army News 21 Aug 2012 -- Soon the Army will publish a new series of manuals that will reflect a different approach to writing doctrine and lessons learned in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• USS Winston S. Churchill Aids M/V Belde NNS 21 Aug 2012 -- USS Winston S. Churchill rendered medical assistance to Panamanian-flagged, bulk carrier M/V Belde, Aug. 20, approximately 110 miles north of Socotra Island, Oman.
• AFPC officials streamline PCS orders process AFNS 21 Aug 2012 -- Air Force Personnel Center officials here have centralized how Permanent Change of Station orders are processed, validated and authenticated.
• Sukhoi T-50 Stealth Fighter Completes Tanker Plug Trial RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- Russian fighter maker Sukhoi's T-50 fifth-generation stealth fighter has completed initial approach trials to a flight refuelling aircraft.
• Russian Paratroopers Test New 120-mm Mortars RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- Servicemen from an air assault brigade deployed in the Southern military district have held live-firing drills using new 120-mm semi-automatic mortars.
• Russian Plant to Make Mi-171 Helicopters for China RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- Russian Helicopters’ Ulan Ude factory will build Mi-171E multipurpose helicopters under a recent contract with China.
• Iran defense capabilities should stop bullying powers, President IRNA 21 Aug 2012 -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran has witnessed great achievements in the area of defense.
• IRGC: Iran's defense industry symbol of country's might and national production IRNA 21 Aug 2012 -- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a communiqué on August 21st, Defense Industry Day, attributing Iran's deterrence power to Jihadi and prestigious efforts of combination of system's defense generation apparatus at IRI Army and IRGC.
• Iran Unveils Upgraded Weapons On Defense Industry Day RFE/RL 21 Aug 2012 -- Iran's military has marked Defense Industry Day by unveiling upgraded versions of several weapons, including what officials say is an improved short-range surface-to-surface missile.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, August 21, 2012 US Dept. of State 21 Aug 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 21, 2012
• US Beats Russia to India Helicopter Gunship Deal RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- U.S. aerospace giant Boeing has won a $1.4 billion deal to supply India with 22 helicopter gunships, beating off competition from Russia's Mil Mi-28.
• Aeroflot Halts Plans to Buy An-148 Planes RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- Russian flagship carrier Aeroflot has no plans to buy any new An-148 airliners for its subsidiary GTK Rossia.

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 21 August 2012 United Nations 21 Aug 2012
• UN, Arab League appoint Deputy for new representative on Syrian crisis UN News Centre 21 Aug 2012 -- Former Palestinian Authority official Nasser Al-Kidwa will follow up his work as Deputy for Kofi Annan.
• Syria: West Looking for Excuse to Send in Troops VOA 21 Aug 2012 -- Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Qadri Jamil says the West is looking for an excuse for military intervention in his country, a move he says would be impossible.
• Syria Dismisses Obama Invasion Threat as Election Ploy RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- Syrian Deputy PN Jamil: US President Barack Obama’s threat to intervene in Syria is an element of his election campaign.
• Moscow Defends Syrian Regime Against Threat Of Foreign Interference RFE/RL 21 Aug 2012 -- Russia has defended Syria's government against the threat of foreign interference one day after U.S. President Barack Obama warned that the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime would represent a "red line."
• Chance Still Left for Syria Reconciliation - Lavrov RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- A chance still remains for national reconciliation in the conflict in Syria, despite the large number of opponents of that process including those outside the country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
• Russia Denies Sending Chemical Weapons to Syria RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- Syria has no Russian-made chemical weapons stockpile, Deputy Director of the Federal Agency for Safe Storage and Destruction of Chemical Weapons Col. Vladimir Mandych said.
• ISRAEL-SYRIA: Could a new regime in Syria be good for the Golan Heights? IRIN 21 Aug 2012 -- While conflict rages just kilometers away in Syria, the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights remains quiet.
• Malian Government Focuses on Regaining Control of North VOA 21 Aug 2012 -- A Malian official says the country's new national unity government will focus on re-taking control of the north from radical Islamist groups.
• Israel Wants Egyptian Forces out of Sinai RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- Israel has asked Egypt to remove its tanks from the Sinai Peninsula because their continued presence violates the peace agreement between the two countries.
• US: Sudan Should Accept Plan for Demilitarized Zone with South Sudan VOA 21 Aug 2012 -- The United States says it is time that Sudan accept an African Union plan to pull back troops from both sides of its contentious border with South Sudan.
• DRC: Violence hampers aid work in Ituri IRIN 21 Aug 2012 -- Inter-ethnic tensions have again turned violent in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri region, compromising the delivery of humanitarian aid to more than 100,000 people, according to officials there.
• Turkish President Calls Bombing 'Crime Against Humanity' VOA 21 Aug 2012 - -Turkey's President Abdullah Gul has called a fatal bomb attack on the town of Gaziantep a "crime against humanity."
• Japan, S. Korea Disputed Island Spat Heats Up VOA 21 Aug 2012 -- Japan delivered a diplomatic document to South Korea proposing that the two countries should take their territorial dispute over a group of small islets to the primary judicial entity of the United Nations.
• President Ma suggests taking Tiaoyutai disputes to international court CNA 21 Aug 2012 -- President Ma reiterated Taiwan's sovereignty over the disputed Tiaoyutai Islands.
• Taiwan not to join with China against Japan on island dispute: Ma CNA 21 Aug 2012 -- President Ma insisted his administration has no intention to join with China against Japan in the territorial dispute.
• Taiwanese operating near Tiaoyutais will be protected: MOFA CNA 21 Aug 2012 -- Taiwanese sailing in waters in the vicinity of the disputed Tiaoyutai Islands will be protected, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs vowed.
• Taiwan reiterates claim over Taiping amid Vietnam protest CNA 21 Aug 2012 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Taiwan's claim to Taiping Island, following a report by Vietnamese media that Taiwan's plan to conduct an exercise there was a violation of Vietnam's sovereignty over the island.
• KPA Panmunjom Mission Clarifies Its Stand to Not Miss Opportunity for Reunification KCNA 21 Aug 2012 -- The Panmunjom Mission of the Korean People's Army issued the following statement.
• Rodong Sinmun Urges U.S. to Make Switchover in Its Policy toward DPRK KCNA 21 Aug 2012 -- The U.S. should immediately roll back its anachronistic policy toward the DPRK.
• DPRK Servicepersons Inspired by Supreme Commander's Order KCNA 21 Aug 2012 -- Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Un ordered the servicepersons to deal at once deadly counter-blows at the enemy if even a single shell is dropped on the waters or in the area of the DPRK and lead the battle to a sacred war for national reunification.
• DPRK Servicepersons Ready to Cope with Military Drill in S. Korea KCNA 21 Aug 2012 -- Some days ago, Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Un inspected island defence detachments stationed in the biggest hotspot in the southernmost part of the southwest front.
• Rodong Sinmun Calls for Defending Peace through Nationwide Drive KCNA 21 Aug 2012 -- Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises make all Koreans in the north and the south and abroad renew their pledge to turn out in the nationwide sacred war.
• Kosovo: UN envoy calls for ‘creative, bold’ approach to tough political issues UN News Centre 21 Aug 2012 -- UN Secretary-General's representative for Kosovo called on the Security Council to encourage leaders in Serbia and Kosovo to take a bolder approach to core political issues facing the region.
• UN Urges Serbia-Kosovo Talks VOA 21 Aug 2012 -- The top United Nations diplomat for Kosovo, Farid Zarif, called on the U.N. Security Council Tuesday to press Serbia and Kosovo to take a bold approach to their talks.

News Reports

• Islamists Excluded from New Malian Unity Government VOA 21 Aug 2012 -- An official of Mali’s interim government said radical Islamists who are in control of the country’s north have no place in a new national unity government.
• Statement by the President on the Death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia The White House 21 Aug 2012
• Secretary Clinton on the Passing of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi US Dept. of State 21 Aug 2012
• Africans Ponder Future After Ethiopian Prime Minister's Death VOA 21 Aug 2012 -- News of the death of long-time Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi shocked many people throughout Africa.
• Ethiopia's Deputy PM Takes Over After Meles' Death VOA 21 Aug 2012 -- Ethiopia's deputy prime minister, Hailemariam Desalegne, has become the country's acting leader after the death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
• Spokesman: Ethiopia PM's Death No Cause for Worry VOA 21 Aug 2012 -- Ethiopia's communications minister says there is "no worry" about the country's future after the death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who ruled Ethiopia for more than 20 years.
• Meles Zenawi Leaves Mixed Legacy After 20 Years in Power VOA 21 Aug 2012 -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has died at the age of 57 after months of speculation about his health.
• Ethiopia Mourns PM Meles Zenawi's Death VOA 21 Aug 2012 -- Meles died late Monday of an unspecified infection while seeking treatment outside the country.
• Ethiopian PM Meles Dies at 57 VOA 21 Aug 2012 -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has died at the age of 57, after months of speculation about his health.
• Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi Dies RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has died in a hospital from an infection.
• Seven Servicemen Injured in Lebanon Clashes RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- Seven servicemen were injured in clashes between Sunni Muslim and Alawite neighbourhoods in Lebanon’s second largest city of Tripoli.
• Enemy afraid of martyrdom-seeking spirit of Iranians: Culture Min IRNA 21 Aug 2012 -- Enemy is afraid of martyrdom-seeking spirit of Iranian nation, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Mohammad Hoseini said.
• U.S. Issues Blanket License To Aid Iranian Earthquake Victims RFE/RL 21 Aug 2012 -- The United States has said it has issued a temporary general license to ease sending aid to victims of Iran’s August 11 deadly earthquakes.
• U.S. Accuses Assange Of Trying To Distract From Sex Case RFE/RL 21 Aug 2012 -- The Obama administration has accused WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange of making "wild assertions" about his possible prosecution in the United States.
• Washington Says Assange’s Assertions about U.S. Groundless RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is making “wild assertions” about the United States in an attempt to divert public attention from justice he faces in Sweden.
• Chavez Warns London Against Assaulting Ecuadorian Embassy RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened London with radical measures in case British authorities attempt to break into the Embassy of Ecuador to arrest WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
• HRW Report: Ugandan Civil Society Under Attack VOA 21 Aug 2012 -- Threats and intimidation of civil society groups is on the rise in Uganda, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch.
• UN working group on women calls on Tunisia to protect achievements in equality UN News Centre 21 Aug 2012 -- The United Nations Working Group on discrimination against women in law and in practice called on the new Tunisian Government to take all necessary steps to safeguard the country's achievements.
• Second Party Created in Turkmenistan RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- A second political party was created in Turkmenistan on Tuesday, ending the more than two decades the Central Asian nation spent as a one-party state, local media said.
• ECHR Prioritizes Putin Death Plot Suspect Case RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- The European Court of Human Rights gave a priority status to the case of Adam Osmayev, who is accused of masterminding a plot to kill Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• Ukraine Suspends Extradition For Suspect In Alleged Putin Plot RFE/RL 21 Aug 2012 -- Ukrainian authorities have suspended the extradition to Russia of the main suspect in an alleged plot to assassinate President Vladimir Putin.
• Pussy Riot to Appeal Sentence Next Week RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- The defense team will appeal the two-year prison sentence for members of punk group Pussy Riot next week.
• Ukrainian Court Adjourns Tymoshenko Hearing RFE/RL 21 Aug 2012 -- A Ukrainian high court hearing the appeal of jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko adjourned to deliberate its decision.
• Romanian Court Rules Presidential Impeachment Vote Invalid RFE/RL 21 Aug 2012 -- Romania's Constitutional Court has ruled that a referendum to impeach President Traian Basescu was invalid.
• Bishkek Asks Belarus To Arrest Brother Of Ousted President RFE/RL 21 Aug 2012 -- Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Ministry has said it has officially asked authorities in Belarus to arrest and extradite Janysh Bakiev, a brother of ousted Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev.
• Rescuers Find Body of Philippine Minister After Plane Crash RIA Novosti 21 Aug 2012 -- Divers have discovered the body of Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, who was killed in a plane crash last week.