Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• ISAF Troops Defeat Camp Bastion Attackers AFPS 15 Sep 2012 -- Nearly 20 insurgents infiltrated the perimeter of Camp Bastion in Helmand province, Afghanistan, yesterday and attacked International Security Assistance Force personnel and facilities using small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and suicide improvised explosive device vests, military officials reported.
• Total force effort brings people home after Libyan attack AFNS 15 Sep 2012 -- A C-17 Globemaster III answered the urgent call to fly 36 passengers to safety out of Libya following the attack on the U.S. consulate Sept. 12 that had resulted in the death of the U.S. ambassador and three others.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Obama: Nation Must 'Carry On' Work of Fallen Heroes AFPS 15 Sep 2012 -- As the loss of four Americans serving at a diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, resonates globally, President Barack Obama in his weekly address today thanked the fallen for their service and pledged that their killers will not escape justice.
• Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta Holds a Press Briefing En Route to Tokyo DoD 15 Sep 2012 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
• Navy's Second Joint High-Speed Vessel Christened NNS 15 Sep 2012 -- USNS Choctaw County (JHSV 2), the second of the Navy's new joint high-speed vessels (JHSV) designed for rapid intra-theater transport of troops and military equipment, was christened, Sept. 15, during a ceremony at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.
• Frank Cable Partners with Philippine Navy to Repair Ship NNS 15 Sep 2012 -- Sailors assigned to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) volunteered to assist the Philippine frigate BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF 15) with maintenance, technical assistance and training while visiting Subic Bay, Sept. 3-12.
• Underwood Arrives In Key West For UNITAS Atlantic, Pins New Chiefs NNS 15 Sep 2012 -- Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) arrived in Key West, Fla., for the start of UNITAS Atlantic (LANT) 53-2012 and pinned seven new Chief Petty Officers, Sept. 14.
• US Joint Forces Complete Valiant Shield SINKEX NNS 15 Sep 2012 -- A live-fire exercise, part of Valiant Shield 2012, sank the ex-USS Coronado (AGF-11) in waters 3,045 fathoms (18,270 feet) deep, 102 nautical miles south of Guam at about 3:20 pm local time, Sept. 12.
• Exercise Valiant Shield Kicks Off NNS 15 Sep 2012 -- More than 25 U.S. joint forces began Valiant Shield 2012 (VS12) in the Guam operating area, Sept. 11.
• U.S., Australia Strengthen Regional Partnership in Asia-Pacific NNS 15 Sep 2012 -- Australian Army officers came aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), Sept.14, to observe the amphibious capabilities of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group(ARG) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit(MEU) during a certification exercise(CERTEX).
• NATO Military Chiefs Discuss Afghanistan, Transformation AFPS 15 Sep 2012 -- NATO chiefs of defense are fleshing out the post-2014 role for alliance forces in Afghanistan while planning how the alliance will reshape itself to face future threats during a meeting of the Military Committee here today.
• S. Korea Stages Drills KCNA 15 Sep 2012 -- The south Koreans staged combined firing drills of motorized troops and air force units in Phochon, Kyonggi Province on Sept. 13.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Joint UN-Arab League envoy and Syrian President discuss worsening crisis UN News Centre 15 Sep 2012 -- The Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis, Lakhdar Brahimi, discussed the ongoing violence and worsening humanitarian situation with President Bashar al-Assad during a meeting in Damascus on Saturday.
• UN Syria Envoy Says Mission 'Nearly Impossible' VOA 15 Sep 2012 -- The international peace envoy to Syria has met with President Bashar al-Assad, and says the crisis in the country is getting worse.
• Sudans Nearing Final Agreements, Except on Borders VOA 15 Sep 2012 -- Sudan and South Sudan are reaching the final stages of their negotiations. Agreements can be finalized next week on most issues, except for the border.
• Anti-Japan protests raging in China CNA 15 Sep 2012 -- Anti-Japan protests, triggered by Japan's purchase of some of the Diaoyutai Islands last week, raged Saturday in many Chinese cities.

News Reports

• Violent Protests Against Islam-Bashing Film Enter Fifth Day RFE/RL 15 Sep 2012 -- Protests against a trailer for a film insulting to Islam show no sign of abating as the unrest targeting Western embassies continue for a fifth day.
• Security Council condemns violent attacks against diplomatic premises UN News Centre 15 Sep 2012 -- The members of the Security Council have condemned 'in the strongest terms' the series of violent attacks against embassies and consular premises of Member States in multiple locations on 13 and 14 September.
• Rodong Sinmun Calls for Stepping Up General Advance by Dint of Army-People Unity KCNA 15 Sep 2012 -- The great unity between the army and people in the DPRK is the precious revolutionary legacy bequeathed down by Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and the biggest pride of Songun Korea.
• Ground-breaking Ceremony for Hwanggumphyong EZ Management Board Building Held KCNA 15 Sep 2012 -- A ground-breaking ceremony for a building of the management board for the Hwanggumphyong Economic Zone to be jointly developed and run by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and China, took place on Hwanggumphyong Islet.
• Resilient Protesters Return to Moscow Streets RIA Novosti 15 Sep 2012 -- The political opposition opened a new rally season in Moscow on Saturday with the third installment of its 'March of Millions,' which showed the core of the protests was not dwindling despite a lack of apparent success in its standoff with the Kremlin.
• Putin Detractors Kick Off 'March Of Millions' In Moscow, Other Cities RFE/RL 15 Sep 2012 -- Demonstrations have begun in Moscow and other Russian cities against President Vladimir Putin in an opposition effort to mobilize millions of Kremlin critics around the country.
• Tens Of Thousands March For Russian Reforms RFE/RL 15 Sep 2012 -- Tens of thousands of Russians have taken part in a demonstration in the Russian capital to demand social and political reforms - and to keep the pressure on President Vladimir Putin.
• Russian Opposition Returns to Streets in Protest VOA 15 Sep 2012 -- Thousands of people streamed into central Moscow Saturday to protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin and his unprecedented third term as president.
• Hailemariam Desalegn Becomes New Ethiopian Leader VOA 15 Sep 2012 -- Hailemariam Desalegn is the new leader of Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) voted unanimously for Hailemariam as the party's chairperson, making him in line to become the new prime minister.