Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 04 Sep 2012 [PDF]
• Combined Force Arrests Suspected Taliban Explosives Dealer AFPS 04 Sep 2012 -- An Afghan special operations unit, supported by coalition troops, arrested a suspected Taliban explosives dealer during an operation in Kandahar province.
• ISAF, Afghans Working to Curb Insider Threats, Spokesman Says AFPS 04 Sep 2012 -- U.S. special operations forces have paused training for 1,000 new Afghan local police recruits, but partnered operations between coalition forces and established members of the local police remain ongoing.
• NATO Chief Says Afghan Attacks Will Not Hasten Pullout RFE/RL 04 Sep 2012 -- NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the alliance will not leave Afghanistan ahead of its end-of-2014 pullout date because of a surge in attacks against NATO-led troops by rogue members of the Afghan security forces.
• Afghan Suicide Bomber Kills At Least 25 At Funeral RFE/RL 04 Sep 2012 -- Afghan officials say at least 25 people were killed and 30 others injured by an apparent suicide bombing at a funeral in eastern Afghanistan.
• Suicide Blast in Afghanistan Kills at Least 20 VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- Afghan officials say a suicide bombing has killed at least 20 people, in one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in Afghanistan in recent weeks.
• 18th Financial Management Center helps open Afghan bank branch Army News 04 Sep 2012 --For members of the Afghan National Police simply getting paid can mean putting their life at risk.
• Afghan NGO Inspires Unlikely Reconciliation RFE/RL 04 Sep 2012 -- Recent Afghan history has been marked by war, much of it fought among Afghans themselves on the basis of religious, ethnic, or political rivalries.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Upcoming U.S., Israeli Exercise Underscores Relations AFPS 04 Sep 2012 -- U.S. and Israeli forces will team up this fall for Austere Challenge 12, a major exercise that provides important training for the defense of both nations.
• Obama to 'Move Forward' with Missile Shield - Platform RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2012 -- U.S. President Barack Obama believes Washington and Moscow can cooperate on a planned U.S.-led missile shield in Europe, but is determined to move forward with the plans regardless of Russia's stance.
• Moscow Rejects U.S. Claims of Arms Control Breaches RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2012 -- Moscow dismissed on Tuesday U.S. allegations of its noncompliance with arms control and nonproliferation obligations.
• Concerns Persist Over Ex-SEAL’s bin Laden Raid Book AFPS 04 Sep 2012 -- Defense Department officials continue to weigh their legal options against a former Navy SEAL who may have revealed classified information in a book he wrote about the Osama bin Laden raid.
• Pentagon Says Bin Laden Raid Book Contains Secrets RFE/RL 04 Sep 2012 -- A Pentagon official says that a former Navy SEAL's insider account of the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May 2011 contains classified information.
• DOD News Briefing with George Little from the Pentagon DoD 04 Sep 2012
• F-35B Completes First Airborne Engine Start Tests NNS 04 Sep 2012 -- The F-35 integrated test force announced the completion of a major prerequisite test for in-flight performance on the short take-off and vertical landing variant of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Sept. 4.
• Upgrade to first increment of Army's tactical network to improve interoperability Army News 04 Sep 2012 -- Tshe Army is executing upgrades to the current network backbone in order to increase the interoperability and commonality of current and future network increments.
• Rifleman Radio, Nett Warrior increase situational awareness in field Army News 04 Sep 2012 -- During training here the last week of August, Soldiers with the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division learned the benefits of having the Rifleman Radio and Nett Warrior systems with them in the field.
• Blue Ridge Returns to Yokosuka NNS 04 Sep 2012 -- U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge returned to Yokosuka, Japan, Sept. 4 after concluding its participation in Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2012 (UFG12).
• Frank Cable Arrives in Subic Bay NNS 04 Sep 2012 -- USS Frank Cable arrived in the Republic of the Philippines for some well-deserved liberty, Sept. 3.
• Jason Dunham Departs Haifa NNS 04 Sep 2012 -- USS Jason Dunham departed Haifa, Israel, for the second time on her maiden deployment following a scheduled four-day port visit, Sept. 3.
• USS Fort McHenry Departs Dublin; Heads for APS NNS 04 Sep 2012 -- The USS Fort McHenry departed Dublin, Ireland, after a four-day port visit, Sept. 3.
• 'King of Battle' reigns at Fort Bragg Army News 04 Sep 2012 -- The 82nd Airborne Division's 18th Fires Brigade (Airborne) looked to maintain their place on the throne as they took to the field last week to conduct its first Division Artillery Readiness Test in more than five years.
• New Unmanned Air System Training School Welcomes Marines USMC News 04 Sep 2012 -- Future Unmanned Air System (UAS) operators now have access to a new training and logistics activity in Camp Lejeune, N.C.
• NORAD Exercise Planned for National Capital Region DoD 04 Sep 2012
• Two firefighting C-130s head home AFNS 04 Sep 2012 -- Two C-130 Hercules from the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing were deactivated Sept. 2, and returned here from Boise, Idaho.
• US, Kazakhstan governments celebrate opening of canine training center to combat narcotics trafficking Army News 04 Sep 2012 -- Representatives from the U.S. and Kazakhstan governments celebrated the opening of the regional canine training center at the Border Guard Academy in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Aug. 11.
• Battaglia Asks Leaders to Engage, Troubled Troops to Reach Out AFPS 04 Sep 2012 -- The military’s top enlisted leader wants service members to use September’s National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month as an opportunity to learn what to do when a fellow service member, family member or veteran reaches out for help.
• New DOD policy for TDY and PCS cancellations AFNS 04 Sep 2012 -- Beginning October 1, 2012, any travel authorization that includes air travel must be approved and ticketed at least 72 hours in advance of the scheduled flight departure to avoid airline reservations from being cancelled.
• Joint press point by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Gjorge Ivanov NATO 04 Sep 2012
• 31 Squadron Tornados head to Gulf for Ex Shaheen Star UK MOD 04 Sep 2012 -- Royal Air Force personnel and aircraft from RAF Marham will shortly be departing for Exercise Shaheen Star, taking place in the United Arab Emirates later this month.
• India, China to Resume Military Exercises VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- India and China will resume military exercises after a gap of four years.
• Fuji Firepower demo shows off Japanese defense force's weapons, aircraft capabilities Army News 04 Sep 2012 -- The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force displayed its tactical, weapons and aircraft capabilities to the public during the annual Fuji Firepower Demonstration.
• Tehran Plans Massive Military Drills RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2012 -- The Iranian Army will hold a series of exercises with airborne and armor units before the end of the current Iranian calendar year.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, September 4, 2012 US Dept. of State 04 Sep 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for September 04, 2012

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 04 September 2012 United Nations 04 Sep 2012
• Syria Rebuffs Egypt's Bid for Negotiated End to Conflict VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- The Syrian government has again lashed out at its regional critics, in particular Egypt, whose leader has called on President Bashar al-Assad to step down.
• UN Chief Urges End to Militarization of Syria Crisis VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- The U.N. secretary-general told the international community Tuesday that the continuing militarization of the Syrian conflict is “deeply tragic and highly dangerous.”
• UN chief urges strong support for work of new Syria envoy UN News Centre 04 Sep 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban appealed to Member States to provide strong and unified support to the new Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis, Lakhdar Brahimi.
• Ban to Tell UN Syria Situation Grave and Deteriorating VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plans to tell the U.N. General Assembly the humanitarian situation in Syria is grave and deteriorating.
• More than 100,000 Syrians sought asylum in August – UN refugee agency UN News Centre 04 Sep 2012 -- The United Nations refugee agency reported that the number of those fleeing to neighbouring countries rose to over 100,000 in August.
• UN Refugee Agency Says 100,000 Fled Syria Last Month RFE/RL 04 Sep 2012 -- The UNHCR, the United Nations' refugee agency, says some 100,000 people fled war-torn Syria in August to seek refuge in neighboring countries.
• Berlin to Host Session of Syrian Opposition Members RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2012 -- A working group on the economic restoration and development of Syria, that consists of Syria’s opposition members, will gather for a session in the German Foreign Ministry.
• UN official voices concern as Lebanon faces growing number of Syrian refugees UN News Centre 04 Sep 2012 -- The growing number of Syrian refugees is proving to be an increasingly heavy burden on Lebanon.
• Hezbollah Denies Having Chemical Weapons RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2012 -- Lebanon’s Shiite group Hezbollah has no chemical weapons, but enough missiles to inflict a considerable damage on Israel in case of an assault, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said.
• Secretary Clinton Remarks With Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Before their Meeting US Dept. of State 04 Sep 2012
• Secretary Clinton Meeting with ASEAN Secretary General Surin US Dept. of State 04 Sep 2012
• Will South China Sea Disputes Lead to War? VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Beijing to push China toward a diplomatic resolution over territorial disputes it has with its South China Sea neighbors.
• Clinton Urges China to Resolve Sea Dispute VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Beijing as part of a regional tour aimed partly at urging China and its neighbors to agree on a system for resolving territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
• S. China Seas to Top Clinton Agenda in China VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- Contested territory in the South China Seas will be at the top of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's agenda in her talks with Chinese leaders this week.
• Clinton Meets ASEAN Leaders About South China Sea VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met in Indonesia with the secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to discuss rival territorial claims to the South China Sea.
• President Ma to visit islet close to Tiaoyutais CNA 04 Sep 2012 -- President Ma will soon fly to a small Taiwan-held islet not far from the Tiaoyutais to assert the Republic of China's sovereignty over the disputed island chain in the East China Sea.
• Taiwan should strengthen presence in Spratlys: lawmakers CNA 04 Sep 2012 -- A group of Taiwanese lawmakers suggested that the government establish a stronger presence on Taiping Island to safeguard the country's territory.
• New weapons to help safeguard Taiwan's territory in South China Sea CNA 04 Sep 2012 -- The weapons recently deployed on Taiping Island will help Taiwan safeguard its territory amid escalating territorial claims over the South China Sea.
• Taiwanese lawmakers observe drill in Spratlys CNA 04 Sep 2012 -- A group of Taiwanese lawmakers visited Taiping Island to observe a live-fire drill in the disputed South China Sea conducted by Coast Guard personnel stationed there to safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty over the territory.
• Taiwan unmoved by Vietnam's protest against drill on Taiping CNA 04 Sep 2012 -- Taiwan has taken note of Vietnam's protest against a live-fire drill on Taiping Island in the disputed South China Sea, but remains unmoved in its position on the issue, an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
• Taiwan Lawmakers Land on Disputed South China Sea Island VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- A group of Taiwanese legislators landed on an islet in the hotly disputed South China Sea to inspect the level of coast guard protection for its claims in the Spratly archipelago.
• Islamic Militant Group in Northern Mali Expanding Southward VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- A relatively new al-Qaida offshoot in northern Mali has pushed south, seizing a town less than 200 kilometers from the Malian army frontline.
• Official: Kenyan Navy Shells Somali Port City VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- A Kenyan warship has fired shells at the Somali town of Kismayo, the largest remaining stronghold of Somali militant group al-Shabab.
• DRC Says Rwanda Withdraws Troops Helping Rebels VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government says Rwanda has been smuggling troops out of the eastern DRC.
• DRC Government Seeks UN Mission Change VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo has asked the U.N. Security Council to change the mandate of its peacekeeping mission to help solve the country’s ongoing battles with insurgents, a government official says.
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Government of Colombia’s Peace Negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) The White House 04 Sep 2012
• EU Suggests Azerbaijan Broke Pledges, Pardon 'Endangers' Region RFE/RL 04 Sep 2012 -- A spokeswoman for the European Union's foreign policy chief says Azerbaijan appears to have abandoned pledges it made to EU member Hungary.
• Ingushetia Leader Accuses Kadyrov Of 'Provocations' RFE/RL 04 Sep 2012 -- The head of Russia's southern republic of Ingushetia, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, has accused his Chechen counterpart Ramzan Kadyrov of "provocations" because of remarks Kadyrov made about their border.
• Chechnya Might Reclaim Two Ingush Districts - Kadyrov RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2012 -- Chechen authorities have evidence that two districts currently part of Ingushetia used to be a part of Chechnya, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said.
• IRAQ: Still no clear policy to tackle displacement IRIN 04 Sep 2012 -- A dusty settlement on the outskirts of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, Al-Rustumiya is more a collection of rags, rubble and garbage than a neighbourhood.
• SRI LANKA: Refugees in India reluctant to return IRIN 04 Sep 2012 -- More than three years after the end of Sri Lanka’s 1983-2009 civil war, most Sri Lankan refugees in India say they would rather not return, citing economic hardship and concern over human rights abuses.
• Dacic Says Belgrade Committed To Kosovo Dialogue, EU Integration RFE/RL 04 Sep 2012 -- Serbia's new Prime Minister Ivica Dacic says his government is committed to a dialogue with Kosovo's leadership and to pursuing European Union membership.

News Reports

• Iran to Get Full Control of Bushehr Nuclear Plant in Dec. RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2012 -- Iran will be on its own with its first nuclear power plant after Russia officially hands Bushehr over at the end of December.
• Mir Hossein Musavi 'Is Fine' RFE/RL 04 Sep 2012 -- "[Mir Hossein Musavi's] health is fine," Iranian Judiciary spokesman Mohseni Ejei was quoted as saying at a September 3 press briefing with reporters.
• Iran Frees Two Azeri ‘Spies’ RIA Novosti 04 Sep 2012 -- Tehran has released the two Azeri nationals who were arrested in May on espionage charges, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said.
• Bahrain Court Upholds Jail Sentences For Opposition Activists RFE/RL 04 Sep 2012 -- A civilian court in Bahrain has upheld the prison sentences given to 20 opposition activists charged with plotting to overthrow the Gulf Arab monarchy.
• Donors Pledge Another $2.4 Billion to Yemen VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- International donors Tuesday pledged another $2.4 billion in aid to Yemen, bringing the total to $6.4 billion promised this year.
• Burma Monk Protests of Rohingya Denounced by Rights Groups VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- For a third day, Buddhist monks in Burma are leading demonstrations supporting deportation of Muslim minority Rohingya, raising concerns of rights groups.
• Rodong Sinmun Calls for Increasing Role of Youth as Young Vanguard KCNA 04 Sep 2012 -- The five million members of the young vanguard constitute a strong pillar and invincible power of the Workers' Party of Korea.
• Gambian Diaspora Declares Tuesday Day of Outrage VOA 04 Sep 2012 -- Gambians in the United States and elsewhere around the world declared Tuesday a National Day of Outrage against President Yahyah Jammeh for the executions last month of nine death row prisoners.
• Putin Reshuffles Nuclear Supervisory Council RFE/RL 04 Sep 2012 -- President Vladimir Putin has replaced five of the nine members of the supervisory council of the Russian state nuclear power corporation Rosatom, and appointed a new chairman.