Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 05 Oct 2012 [PDF]
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Would-be Suicide Bombers AFPS 05 Oct 2012 -- Afghan and coalition forces killed several would-be suicide bombers and detained additional insurgents during a security operation in Wardak province.
• How the Royal Military Police support operations UK MOD 05 Oct 2012 -- Half-soldier, half-police, wholly committed, Ian Carr writes from Camp Bastion about the work of the Royal Military Police.
• Russia Keeps Tajik Base, Risking Taliban Face-Off RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2012 -- Russia won a 30-year deal on a military base in Tajikistan, but the price includes risk of placing Russian servicemen under fire if violence flares up in volatile Central Asia.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta Holds a Press Briefing En Route to Lima, Peru DoD 05 Oct 2012 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
• Panetta Hails New Era for Security in the Americas AFPS 05 Oct 2012 -- A transformation has taken place over the past decade in the Western Hemisphere, where countries are doing more than they ever have to advance peace and security within and beyond their borders, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today.
• DOD Clarifies Civilian Overseas Assignment Policy AFPS 05 Oct 2012 -- The Defense Department wants to clarify a personnel policy -- generally known as the 'five-year rule' -- that establishes time limits for civilian overseas assignments, an official said here today.
• Building foundations: Miramar creates home for future squadrons USMC News 05 Oct 2012 -- Aircraft noise on the flight line aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., is not the only thing heard across the air station. Construction on a new MV-22B 'Osprey' hangar, an addition to an existing CH-53E 'Super Stallion' hangar and work on taxi ways and aircraft parking areas, known as aprons, are all underway.
• Multimillion Dollar V-22 Joint PBL Contract Awarded by NAVSUP Weapon System Support NNS 05 Oct 2012 -- NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support awarded a $218.4M Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract to Bell-Boeing for the V-22 Osprey Oct. 4.
• Renovation of Historic Building begins at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam NNS 05 Oct 2012 -- Project managers and the project construction team held a ceremony Sept. 20 before beginning the renovation of Bldg. 9 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
• USS Bonhomme Richard Visits Subic Bay, Philippines NNS 05 Oct 2012 -- Sailors aboard amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and embarked Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Subic Bay, Philippines, Oct. 5.
• NAVFAC Far East Awards Singapore Construction Contracts NNS 05 Oct 2012 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Far East awarded multiple award construction contracts (MACC) for general construction projects in Singapore, Sept. 28.
• Panetta to Meet With Top Officials in Peru, Uruguay AFPS 05 Oct 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will implement elements of the 2012 DOD Strategic Guidance related to the Western Hemisphere.
• Buccaneers arrive at Red Flag-Alaska AFNS 05 Oct 2012 -- Members of the 428th Fighter Squadron arrived here Oct. 3 to participate in the realistic, 10-day air combat training exercise known as Red Flag-Alaska.
• HMS Diamond foils F-15 'attack' UK MOD 05 Oct 2012 -- Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond tested her mettle against two of the fastest jet fighters in the world when she played cat and mouse with US Air Force F-15 Strike Eagles.
• Officials Confirm Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay Deadline AFPS 05 Oct 2012 -- Pentagon officials have confirmed the Oct. 21 deadline to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay has not been extended by the recently enacted Continuing Resolution.
• Is 'Soviet Union Light' the Future of Putin's Russia? VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin once described the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union as “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.”
• Russia Signs Deal To Prolong Troop Presence At Tajik Military Base RFE/RL 05 Oct 2012 -- Russia and Tajikistan have signed an agreement allowing Russian troops to stay at a military base in Tajikistan until 2042.
• Russia to Keep Tajik Military Base Until 2042 RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2012 -- Moscow and Dushanbe reached an agreement on Friday on a Russian military base in Tajikistan, which will remain in the former Soviet republic until at least 2042.
• Russian, Central Asian Pilots in Air Defense Drills RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2012 -- Russian and Central Asian military pilots are carrying out joint exercises to repel missile strikes over Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
• Russian Military to Receive First Il-476 Transport Plane in 2014 RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2012 -- The Russian Armed Forces will start receiving Il-476 heavy transport planes in 2014.
• October 5, 2012 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 05 Oct 2012
• Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest aboard Air Force One en route Cleveland, OH, 10/05/12 The White House 05 Oct 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 05, 2012

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 05 October 2012 United Nations 05 Oct 2012
• With zero reserves, UN refugee agency faces ‘unprecedented’ combination of crises UN News Centre 05 Oct 2012 -- With its financial reserves at zero, the United Nations refugee agency is facing an “unprecedented” combination of crises.
• Turkey Warns Syria About Cross-Border Attacks VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is warning Syria against carrying out more attacks on Turkish soil.
• Turkish-Syrian Border Quiet After Deadly Attack VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- Turkish forces are patrolling near the Syrian border following a deadly attack earlier this week.
• Erdogan: Turkey does not want war with Syria IRNA 04 Oct 2012 -- Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey does not want to engage in a war with Syria, but on the contrary Ankara only wants peace and security in the Middle East region.
• Turkey-Syria war against interests of Muslim Ummah: IRI Staff Chief IRNA 04 Oct 2012 -- Worsening of Turkey and Syria conflict is against the interests of Muslim Ummah and will only benefit the US, Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Hassan Firouzabadi said.
• Pres. Gul: Iran-Turkey relations to contribute to regional peace, stability IRNA 04 Oct 2012 -- Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul said in his meeting with IRI Veep Mohammad-Reza Rahimi, “I hope Iran-Turkey relations would contribute to establishment of peace, tranquility, stability, and well being for regional nations.”
• Turkey Warns Syria Against Further Attacks RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2012 -- Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has said that his country has no plans to start a war but would act with determination to defend its citizens and borders.
• Turkey Warns Syria Against 'Testing Patience' RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2012 -- Turkey does not want a war with Syria but cannot rule out armed conflict, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
• Iraqi Inspection of Iranian Flights US Dept. of State 05 Oct 2012
• Syrians Take Refuge in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- As refugees continue streaming out of Syria to escape the violence of the civil war, tens of thousands of them are taking shelter in Lebanon, many in towns like this one near the frontier in the Bekaa Valley.
• Syrian Christians Caught in Sectarian Fears VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- Syria's conflict is sometimes cast as a religious one, between the Sunni majority and the leadership of an Alawite minority.
• Syria: UN Security Council condemns terrorist attacks in Aleppo UN News Centre 05 Oct 2012 -- The members of the United Nations Security Council condemned “in the strongest terms” the terrorist attacks which took place in the Syrian city of Aleppo.
• UN Security Council Condemns Syria Attack on Turkey RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2012 -- The UN Security Council has issued a statement strongly condemning a recent shelling of a Turkish town by Syria that killed five civilians and called on Damascus to respect sovereignty of its neighbors.
• Chinese vessels patrolling Diaoyutai waters: Japanese media CNA 05 Oct 2012 -- Four Chinese maritime surveillance vessels were spotted in waters near the disputed Diaoyutai Islands, in what may become a routine occurrence in the near future.
• Japan agrees with 'spirit' of Taiwan's East China Sea initiative CNA 05 Oct 2012 -- Japan agrees with the basic concept and spirit of Taiwan's East China Sea Peace Initiative, Japan's foreign minister said.
• Japan Protests South Korean Media Tour to Disputed Isle VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- Japan has officially complained to South Korea about a trip to a disputed rocky island organized for selected foreign media organizations.
• Asian Nations Meet on Island Disputes VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- Delegates with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a handful of East Asian countries and other Western powers skirted controversy over the heated issue of conflicting claims in Asia-Pacific waters during a meeting this week in the Philippines.
• DRC: Call to implement peace agreements in North Kivu IRIN 05 Oct 2012 -- Experts have called on donors and the international community to exert pressure on governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to stop the escalation of violence in the DRC’s North Kivu region.
• UN agency receives 11 million euros from European Commission to help Palestine refugees UN News Centre 05 Oct 2012 -- The European Commission will contribute 11 million euros (about $14.3 million) to support the work of the United Nations assisting Palestinian refugees.

News Reports

• Extradited Terror Suspects Appear in US Court VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- Radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri and four other terrorism suspects who fought for years to avoid facing charges in the United States appeared in U.S. courts Saturday, hours after being extradited from Britain.
• Average Iranians Struggling To Make Ends Meet Amid Currency Crisis RFE/RL 05 Oct 2012 -- The Iranian currency is in a free fall, the economy is in shambles, and Iranian citizens across the country are bearing the brunt.
• Afghan Currency-Exchange Window Closing For Iranians RFE/RL 05 Oct 2012 -- Facing a crippling currency crisis, Iranian businesses and individuals are looking for ways to protect their assets and ease their financial woes.
• Iran Jams VOA's Satellite Broadcasts VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- The government-appointed board that oversees Voice of America and other U.S.-sponsored broadcasts has responded with outrage to the latest incidence of satellite jamming of international Persian-language broadcasts by the Iranian government
• Thousands Gather in Jordan Calling for Reform VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- Thousands of people have gathered in Jordan's capital to protest the slow pace of constitutional reforms in the country.
• Nigerian Christians, Muslims Protest Against Common Enemy VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- In the Nigerian city of Kaduna, which is known for sectarian violence, Muslims and Christians rallied together against a common enemy: the anti-Islamic video that has sparked protests around the world
• Tibetan PM-in-Exile 'Ready to Engage' in China Talks VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- Rising tensions, including an ongoing Chinese crackdown on dissent, will not stop Tibet's government-in-exile from seeking talks with Beijing.
• Pakistan has New Deadline on Corruption Showdown VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- Pakistan's highest court has given the government more time to prepare a letter asking Swiss authorities to reopen a corruption probe against Pakistan's president.
• Taiwan hoping to promote guidelines for ties with U.S. CNA 05 Oct 2012 -- Taipei is working toward the goal of forging written guidelines with Washington for future bilateral relations now that the ties have been institutionalized, Taiwan's outgoing representative to the United States said.
• Myanmar: UN refugee agency warns number of displaced people in Rakhine state still rising UN News Centre 05 Oct 2012 -- Four months after inter-communal violence erupted in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, the number of internally displaced persons continues to rise.
• Burmese President to Visit Seoul VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- Burmese President Thein Sein is headed to South Korea, the latest step in an effort to rehabilitate his country's image.
• Kyrgyz Opposition Leaders Charged With Attempt To Grab Power RFE/RL 05 Oct 2012 -- Three Kyrgyz opposition deputies have been charged with stirring public unrest in an unsuccessful attempt to seize power, amid continued protests by their supporters.
• Hundreds Rally In Jalal-Abad For Release Of Opposition Leaders RFE/RL 05 Oct 2012 -- At least 700 protesters gathered in Kyrgyzstan's southern city of Jalal-Abad on October 5 to demand the immediate release of three opposition members of parliament.
• Crime Spate Rocks Georgia's Historic Political Transition RFE/RL 05 Oct 2012 -- A crime wave is sweeping Georgia -- at least that's what some politicians from President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM) would have people think.
• Clinton Congratulates Georgian Dream on Election Victory RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2012 -- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has congratulated opposition leader Bidzina Ivanishvili and his coalition bloc with a recent victory in parliamentary elections in Georgia.
• Ugandan Opposition Leader Arrested, Released VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- Ugandan police Thursday arrested Forum for Democratic Change leader Dr. Kizza Besigye. He was later released without charge.
• Besigye: Uganda Government Squelching Protest VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- Uganda's main opposition leader says the government is trying to prevent protests during the country's 50th anniversary of independence next week.
• Poll Shows Kenyan PM Holds Small Lead in Presidential Race VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- A new poll shows Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga holding a narrow lead over his rivals in the country’s presidential race.
• Vote On Political Prisoners Highlights Azerbaijan's Attempts To 'Silence' PACE RFE/RL 05 Oct 2012 -- It was a rare battle of wills at PACE, the Council of Europe's usually humdrum parliamentary assembly.
• Former Turkmen Minister, Government Critic In Custody RFE/RL 05 Oct 2012 -- A former senior official in Turkmenistan who became a vocal critic of the current government has been arrested.
• India Announces More Economic Reforms VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- India has unveiled new measures to attract foreign investment in the insurance and pension sectors.
• UN atomic agency praises Belarus’ progress on nuclear power programme UN News Centre 05 Oct 2012 -- Belarus has made important progress in its development of nuclear infrastructure, the United Nations atomic agency said.
• Belarus Needs Nuclear Regulator - UN Watchdog RIA Novosti 05 Oct 2012 -- Belarus should create a regulatory system covering the construction and operation of its first nuclear power plant.
• Court Rules Kenyans Can Sue UK for Colonial-Era Abuses VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- A court in Britain has ruled that three elderly Kenyans can proceed with their suit against the British government for alleged torture during the anti-colonial Mau Mau rebellion.
• Land Grab in Africa Threatens Food Security VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- The International aid agency Oxfam warns that more than 60 percent of investments in agricultural land by foreign investors between 2000 and 2010 were in countries where food security was a major challenge.
• Tensions Mount As Rehabilitation Push For Serb General Progresses RFE/RL 05 Oct 2012 -- Amid mounting public tension driven by months of delay, the Municipal Court in Belgrade has declared an official date of death for Dragoljub "Draza" Mihailovic.