Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Taliban Leader Arrested in Kandahar AFPS 06 Sep 2012 -- An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban network leader in the Kandahar district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province today, military officials reported.
• Allen: ISAF ‘Absolutely Driven’ to Reduce Insider Threat AFPS 06 Sep 2012 -- The threat of attacks on coalition service members by Afghan security forces is a complex problem that requires a comprehensive, integrated and combined response from coalition and Afghan officials.
• 10th Sustainment Brigade makes history, conducts aerial delivery operations at Salang Pass Army News 06 Sep 2012 -- The 10th Sustainment Brigade conducted the first aerial delivery mission near the Salang tunnel.
• Kidnapped Former Afghan Attorney General Free RFE/RL 06 Sep 2012 -- RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan reports that Afghanistan's former attorney general Abdul Jabar Sabet has contacted security forces to inform them he has been freed from kidnappers after 11 months in captivity.
• Pakistani Militants Launch Counteroffensive From Afghan Safe Haven RFE/RL 06 Sep 2012 -- Fighting has been raging for more than a week in Pakistan's Bajaur tribal agency as militants surge back into the region from safe havens across the border in Afghanistan.
• Pakistan Expels CIA-Linked Charity's Foreign Staff VOA 06 Sep 2012 -- Pakistan has ordered Save the Children's foreign staff members to leave the country.
• Pakistan Expels 'Save The Children' Foreign Staff RFE/RL 06 Sep 2012 -- Pakistani authorities have expelled foreign staff of the Save The Children aid group, apparently in connection with government suspicion about U.S. spy links.
• Pakistani Cabinet Approves New Draft Counterterrorism Laws RFE/RL 06 Sep 2012 -- Pakistan's cabinet has adopted new draft counterterrorism laws aimed at making the financing of terrorism a crime punishable by the freezing of bank accounts and property seizures.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Putin: U.S. Military Won't Let Obama Get Flexible on Missile Shield RIA Novosti 06 Sep 2012 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has said U.S. President Barack Obama is willing to revive deadlocked talks on a planned U.S. missile shield in Europe.
• Navy Signs Specification Document for the Ohio Replacement Submarine Program, Sets forth Critical Design Elements NNS 06 Sep 2012 -- The Navy formalized key ship specifications for both the United States' Ohio Replacement and United Kingdom's Successor Programs in a document signed Aug. 31 at the Washington Navy Yard.
• Future USS Michael Murphy Sails Away from Shipyard NNS 06 Sep 2012 -- The future USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) departed General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard Sept. 5 for New York City, where she will join the fleet in a commissioning ceremony, Oct. 6.
• Hawaii Visits Subic during Western Pacific Deployment NNS 06 Sep 2012 -- The Virginia-class submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) arrived in Subic Bay Sept. 7 for a visit as part of its deployment in the Western Pacific.
• DISA to Embrace New Internet and Communication Technologies AFPS 06 Sep 2012 -- The Defense Information Systems Agency is taking a new tack by embracing smartphones, tablets and other commercial mobile-device technologies considered vital to improving communications access and data sharing.
• Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 returns to Iwakuni USMC News 06 Sep 2012 -- Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 returned to Iwakuni Aug. 21 after participating in Exercise Southern Frontier and Pitch Black 2012.
• Steppe Eagle Military Maneuvers Kick Off RFE/RL 06 Sep 2012 -- Kazakhstan's Defense Ministry said the "Steppe Eagle 2012" international peacekeeping maneuvers started in the Ile Military Training complex in the southern Almaty region on September 6.
• Marines and sailors from Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa train with elite Djiboutian forces USMC News 06 Sep 2012 -- Marines and sailors from Special-Purpose Marine-Air Ground Task Force Africa began a four-week training evolution with Djibouti’s Group d’Intervention de la Genarmerie Nationale, Aug. 25.
• 16 African Nations, AFRICOM Gather for Africa's Largest Pandemic Response Planning Conference AFRICOM 06 Sep 2012 -- Representatives from 16 African nations and the United States came together for the largest pandemic conference ever conducted among African nations.
• ANG, Coast Guard complete joint rescue mission AFNS 06 Sep 2012 -- California Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing, in a joint mission with the U.S. Coast Guard, successfully completed the rescue of two distressed fishermen aboard a fishing vessel about 1,400 miles off the coast of Acapulco, Mexico.
• What are the Addicks and Barker Dams and Reservoirs? Army News 06 Sep 2012 -- In response to devastating floods that occurred in Houston in 1929 and 1935, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District began construction of Addicks and Barker Dams.
• Hazy Future for Ground-Effect Craft: Who Will Pay for Sea Skimmers? RIA Novosti 06 Sep 2012 -- Russia is taking up the development of wing-in-ground effect vehicles again.
• Russia Suspends MiG-29 Flights After Crash In Chita RFE/RL 06 Sep 2012 -- Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has ordered a temporary suspension to flights of MiG-29 warplanes after one of those planes crashed in the Chita area of eastern Russia.
• MiG-29 Fighter Jet Crashes in Siberia RIA Novosti 06 Sep 2012 -- A Russian Air Force MiG-29 fighter crashed on Thursday near Chita, in Siberia.
• Russia to Sell 52 Mi-171E Helicopters to China RIA Novosti 06 Sep 2012 -- Russia signed a $600 mln contract with China for the delivery of 52 Mi-171E (Hip) transport helicopters.
• Russia, Italy to Make Patrol Seaplane RIA Novosti 06 Sep 2012 -- Russia and Italy will develop a new patrol hydroplane, Russian Technologies State Corporation’s deputy chief Dmitry Shugayev said.
• Speech by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the Yerevan State University in Yerevan, Armenia NATO 06 Sep 2012
• Opening remarks by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the joint press conference with the President of Armenia, Mr. Serzh Sargsyan NATO 06 Sep 2012
• NATO Chief 'Deeply Concerned' Over Azerbaijani Killer Pardon RFE/RL 06 Sep 2012 -- NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says he's "deeply concerned" about Azerbaijan's pardon of a soldier who who was sentenced to life in prison.
• NATO Chief 'Concerned' by Azeri Killer’s Pardon RIA Novosti 06 Sep 2012 -- NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he was “deeply concerned” about the pardoning of an Azerbaijani soldier sentenced to life for axing an Armenian to death in Hungary.
• NATO Secretary General praises Georgia's progress toward NATO in visit to Tbilisi NATO 06 Sep 2012 -- NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen praised Georgia for its strong commitment to NATO and to democratic reforms during a visit to the country.
• Final Type 45 destroyer sets off on maiden voyage UK MOD 06 Sep 2012 -- Duncan, the Royal Navy's sixth and final powerful new Type 45 destroyer, has put to sea for the first time for trials where a blend of Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems personnel will put her through her paces.
• Turkish Ammunition Depot Blast Kills 25 VOA 06 Sep 2012 -- An explosion at an ammunition depot in western Turkey has killed 25 soldiers and injured four others.
• Turkish Army Says 25 Killed In Blast At Ammo Depot RFE/RL 06 Sep 2012 -- The Turkish military says 25 soldiers have been killed in an explosion at an ammunition storage depot in western Turkey.
• Hundreds of Thousands of Cluster Munitions Destroyed VOA 06 Sep 2012 -- A new report says governments that joined the treaty banning cluster munitions have destroyed nearly 750-thousand of the weapons since 2008.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 06 Sep 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for September 06, 2012

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 06 September 2012 United Nations 06 Sep 2012
• General Assembly meeting highlights need to end nuclear testing for a safer world UN News Centre 06 Sep 2012 -- The end of nuclear tests is one of the key means of achieving a safer and more secure world, United Nations officials stressed.
• Syrian Forces Turn to Air Power as Insurgency Gains VOA 06 Sep 2012 -- Syrian government forces are coming in for fierce international criticism as they turn increasingly to air power to counter rebel strength on the ground.
• Putin Defies West, Maintains Syria Stance VOA 06 Sep 2012 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow is not ready to shift its stance on supporting the Syrian government.
• Putin Warns West’s Syria Policy could Backfire RIA Novosti 06 Sep 2012 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned Western powers that their “dangerous” stance on the Syria crisis could come back to haunt them.
• Syria: UNICEF scales up health and nutrition response for children affected by crisis UN News Centre 06 Sep 2012 -- United Nations agencies and their partners are carrying out nutrition screening and vaccination campaigns as part of a regional response to meet the health and nutrition needs of some 1.3 million children affected by the ongoing crisis in Syria.
• Remarks With Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao US Dept. of State 06 Sep 2012
• Background Briefing by Senior State Department Official en Route to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei US Dept. of State 06 Sep 2012
• Background Briefing by Senior State Department Official on Timor-Leste US Dept. of State 06 Sep 2012
• Clinton: US Will Engage China Where it Can VOA 06 Sep 2012 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Washington will not back away from differences with China about Syria and the South China Sea.
• Clinton Arrives in Brunei VOA 06 Sep 2012 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has landed in Brunei, becoming the first top U.S. diplomat to visit all 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
• China Slammed for Forcibly Returning Burma Refugees VOA 06 Sep 2012 -- Human Rights Watch has sent a letter to China accusing it of violating international law by forcing thousands of Burmese to return to their conflict-torn homeland.
• Taiwan keeping eye on Japan's reported plan to buy Tiaoyutai isles CNA 06 Sep 2012 -- Taiwan's government said it is keeping a close eye on Japan's reported plan to buy three of the disputed Tiaoyutai Islands.
• Taiwan Pres. to advocate peace on visit to isle near Tiaoyutais CNA 06 Sep 2012 -- President Ma will lay out the details to realize his "East China Sea Peace Initiative" when he visits an islet near the disputed Tiaoyutai Islands.
• Taiwan Navy frigates to protect Ma during visit to Pengjia Islet CNA 06 Sep 2012 -- Three Navy frigates will protect President Ma during his first visit to Taiwan-controlled Pengjia Islet not far from the disputed Tiaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea.
• Taiwan Coast Guard plans fleet upgrade to strengthen patrols CNA 06 Sep 2012 -- The Coast Guard Administration will upgrade its fleet of vessels to strength its marine patrol capability.
• SOMALIA: Kismayo feels the heat ahead of AMISOM assault IRIN 06 Sep 2012 -- Hundreds of civilians have over recent weeks fled the Somali port city of Kismayo in the run-up to an African Union military operation to dislodge Al-Shabab militants from their last stronghold in the country.
• US Urges Sudan to Resolve Outstanding Issues with South VOA 06 Sep 2012 -- The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, has expressed concern about the Sudanese government's failure to resolve outstanding issues with South Sudan.
• Former Militants Offer to Help Niger Delta Combat Piracy VOA 06 Sep 2012 -- Former militants are offering to help security forces combat what appears to be a surge in piracy and kidnapping in the Niger Delta.
• UN Hopes Karabakh Talks Continue Despite Killer Pardoning RIA Novosti 06 Sep 2012 -- UN Secretary General Ban hopes that tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the pardoned killer of an Armenian soldier would not affect the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
• UN-backed genocide tribunal in Cambodia releases over 1,700 confidential documents UN News Centre 06 Sep 2012 -- The United Nations-backed genocide tribunal in Cambodia trying cases of mass murder and other crimes committed under the Khmer Rouge regime ordered that more than 1,700 confidential documents.

News Reports

• Experts Split on Bo Xilai's Fate VOA 06 Sep 2012 -- A former Chinese police chief at the center of a major Communist Party political scandal has been charged with defection, taking bribes, and abuse of power.
• Russia Says No Evidence Iran Working On Nuclear Arms RFE/RL 06 Sep 2012 -- A senior Russian official says Moscow has seen no evidence indicating that Iran is working on a nuclear weapon.
• Soltanieh calls for Iran-IAEA technical cooperation away from media hype IRNA 06 Sep 2012 -- Iran's representative to IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh on Thursday called for Iran-IAEA technical cooperation away from media hype.
• Reza’ie: Resistance economy not same as austerity economy IRNA 06 Sep 2012 -- Secretary of Iran’s Expediency Council Mohsen Reza’ie said here Wednesday Iran’s newly adopted resistance economy is by no means the same as well known austerity economy.
• Delisting of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) US Dept. of State 06 Sep 2012
• US Removes Nepal's Maoists from Terror List VOA 06 Sep 2012 -- The United States has removed the Communist Party of Nepal from its list of terrorist organizations.
• Nepal Maoists Taken off U.S. Terror List RIA Novosti 06 Sep 2012 -- The United States has removed the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) from its list of terrorist organizations, the State Department said.
• Sanity Speaks In Pakistan, Eventually RFE/RL 06 Sep 2012 -- Rimsha Masih, the 14-year-old Christian girl accused of blasphemy and currently in police custody in Pakistan, has stirred public sentiment on both sides of the divide in Pakistani society.
• HRW: Pakistan Government Should Act on Shi'ite Killings VOA 06 Sep 2012 -- Human Rights Watch is urging Pakistan to act to protect Shi'ite Muslims and not stand by as members of the country's religious minority are "slaughtered."
• HRW Calls For 'Urgent' Action In Pakistan To Protect Shi'a RFE/RL 06 Sep 2012 -- Human Rights Watch has called on Pakistani authorities to "urgently act" to protect minority Shi'ite Muslims from rising sectarian attacks by members of the rival majority Sunnis.
• Formation of Coalition Government in the Kyrgyz Republic US Dept. of State 06 Sep 2012
• Compromise Kyrgyz Prime Minister Faces Tough Challenges In Divided Country RFE/RL 06 Sep 2012 -- Jantoro Satybaldiev's confirmation as Kyrgyzstan's prime minister might just be what the country needs to get through the current crisis that threatens to tear it apart along north-south lines.
• Kyrgyz President Formally Appoints Prime Minister, New Cabinet RFE/RL 06 Sep 2012 -- President Almazbek Atambaev has signed decrees formally appointing Kyrgyzstan's new cabinet and prime minister.
• As presidential vote nears, UN envoy urges Somali parliamentarians to choose wisely UN News Centre 06 Sep 2012 -- Top United Nations envoy in the country urged them to choose a credible and effective leader who can advance peace and development in the Horn of Africa nation.
• Harsh sentences for Bahraini activists 'deeply regrettable' – UN human rights chief UN News Centre 06 Sep 2012 -- The United Nations human rights chief described the a Bahraini appeals court’s decision to uphold convictions and sentences of 20 human rights activists and political opponents as “deeply regrettable.”
• Angola's UNITA - From Battlefield to Ballot Box VOA 06 Sep 2012 -- Angola is still waiting for final results of the parliamentary elections, which are likely to be won by the ruling party MPLA and its leader, incumbent president José Manuel Dos Santos.
• Guinea's Electoral Commission Chief Resigns VOA 06 Sep 2012 -- The head of Guinea's electoral commission says he is stepping down as part of an eventual reorganization of the country's electoral body.